Chapter Nine
Liz changed into her sweats and a non-revealing tank top. She didn’t want to wear anything that might make Michael uncomfortable. Michael was already laying in bed, the pillow resting up against the head board, remote control in hand. At least this place had cable.
Michael watched as Liz came out of the bathroom, freshly made up for bed. He never could understand women and their need to shower before bed. It was a weird tradition and he couldn’t get used to it. Men just waited until the next morning, or at least he did.
He noticed she wasn’t wearing anything to sexy. That was good for him because it was going to be an experience just laying next to her. Would he behave? He hoped he didn’t do anything embarrassing in his sleep.
Liz pulled the covers back and looked at him. “Find anything interesting on T.V.?” she asked as she got under the covers.
“Not really,” he grumbled. He continued to flip through the channels. He was desperately trying to revert his attention to the television and not on Liz. After all, it had been a while since he’d even been near women.
All Michael could smell was her soap. She smelled so clean and fresh that he was having a hard time keeping his attention on the television. He didn’t know if he should start conversation. He wasn’t really tired anymore. He wanted to know more about the dream she had, because from the way she was screaming it had to be more then just a vision of Isabel.
Liz noticed him looking at her. “Did you want to ask me something,” she said as she pulled out a magazine from her bag.
“No,” he quickly answered, still noticing how she looked even in sweats.
“How many times have you actually seen the Matrix?” she teased him.
“Enough,” he smirked at her. “Are you tired? Will the T.V. bother you?” He was sounding quite pitiful at the moment.
“No, its fine, but are you sure you didn’t want to ask me something, earlier?” She gave him one more chance.
“You’re tired. We can talk about it in the morning.” He turned the television off and the light on his side of the bed. “Night,” he grumbled.
Coward
Liz looked at him as he turned the light on his side of the bed off. She looked at her magazine and decided she better sleep for the night. Who knew when they would get another decent night’s sleep?
She turned her light off and started to drift into a deep sleep almost instantly. Her mind was just full of thoughts, first Isabel then Max.
that was weird. She was seeing images, first Mile markers and then that dome thing Michael used to draw - Atherton’s place. What she was seeing was information Isabel was sending her, thoughts. But why? Then the car accident came into her mind, blinding her thought processes. All she could manage to get was that Max was at the scene of the crime.
Michael woke up startled. Liz had been talking in her sleep. He looked at the clock. They had only been sleeping for about 3 hours.
He nearly jumped off the bed when she let out another blood curdling scream. He quickly ran to her side and turned the light on.
“Liz,” he said shaking her gently. “Liz wake up.”
Liz opened her eyes in confusion. Why did he have that look on his face? She must have screamed in reality. Sometimes she screamed in her dream, but she didn’t think it was actually out loud. Poor Michael she thought. Waking him out of his sleep.
“What happened?” she looked at him with pitiful eyes.
“You blew my ear drum with that scream,” he smirked at her.
“Sorry,” she said looking a bit embarrassed.
“You mumbled something before the scream about Atherton.” He had this strange look on his face.
“Atherton? Why would I mumble Atherton?” She sat up rubbing her tired eyes.
“I was hoping you could tell me.” He was sitting on the edge of the bed nearly touching her leg with his.
<center>*~*</center>
Isabel fought to keep her eyes on the picture that Max had on his dashboard. It was all of them at Prom. A happy time. She was confused as to why it was there, but she would use it to her advantage and aim for someone, then try to send them messages. She was hoping that it was Michael, but it was highly likely he was good at blocking things out of his mind.
She concentrated on the center of the picture and then closed her eyes sending whatever mental images she could get out. Max was getting closer to the Dome. Was that where he was taking her? Maybe she would get lucky and Kyle would somehow manage to get the images, but that was also doubtful. She certainly hoped it wasn’t Maria because she knew Maria would have no clue as to what to do with them.
Max was humming a song. She couldn’t quite make out the tune to it. Then again he was crazy and it could have been something he made up on his own. He was paying attention to the road, which was good. She could use that to her advantage to.
Then Max stopped humming.
Please keep humming. She thought it was oddly comforting; she needed his attention to be anywhere but her. She just needed a few more minutes, to get the last mile marker in her mind.
“Are you hungry?” Max asked her in a mundane tone.
Isabel snapped out of her dream walking.
“Oh, right sorry.” He mocked her condition.
“Ass,” she mumbled under her breath.
“Hey, that will get you nowhere. I’m stopping before we get to our destination. I can help you to the bathroom if you need it.”
not a chance in hell she thought. “I’d rather pee my pants” she grumbled, in her groggy state.
“Suit yourself.” Max shrugged it off not caring, he was humming again.
Whatever hit him over the head sure did a good job of giving him brain damage. Wasn’t he the strong one of the group? Didn’t he have some mechanism that protected his mind from any intrusion? He was the king, but what if there was someone so much stronger than him? What if it was Khivar or, even worse, what if Tess didn’t really die in that building? She shook that thought out of her mind. What if something really did make him kill his own mother? He would be devastated if he ever snapped out of this waking coma he was in.
She was starting to believe that he wasn’t aware of anything he was doing. She remembered seeing a special on the history channel, with people who said they had been abducted. Their minds were literally frozen and they were being intruded in their minds. They said it was almost like they were dreaming the whole thing, but they would wake up with the residual effects of whatever procedure was performed on them. This could be what was happening to her brother. She was satisfied with hitting on a possible answer yet sad at the same time. He was innocent. He didn’t do it.
Did any of that even make sense? Of course it did. She had to believe that her brother wasn’t a killer. He was giving her clues without realizing it himself. He said she already knew who the killer was. The only person who came to mind was Tess.
But wasn’t Tess dead? And if so, could there be someone else who was after them.
<center>*~*</center>
Maria had been making good time, or so she thought. She heard an annoying pop and then her car started moving out of control.
Damn piece of shit. She had a flat tire.
She managed to get to the side of the road. She was out in the sticks. There was nobody around for miles. How would she get a tow truck out there? Maybe she would get lucky and someone would come driving by soon.
She pulled out her cell phone. It was charged to its full battery strength but there wasn’t any signal. What was she going to do? Well, she had no other choice. She had to get the stuff out of the trunk to fix her flat. Hopefully she remembered to put a new tire in the trunk to replace the last flat she had.
To her surprise, the tire was there. It was just a matter of getting the tire where it was supposed to go. She failed miserably the first attempt. She had scars on her hands to prove it.
Grabbing her cell phone again, she walked a little further trying to get a signal when she spotted headlights in the distance.
Please don’t be a psycho. Please don’t be a psycho.
The car stopped. It looked oddly familiar. It couldn’t be could it? She was confused as to how he could have found her.
The Red 2005 Ford Mustang pulled up behind her. The man slowly got out of his car. She should have known he was following her.
“So, I know I should be grateful, but I’m starting to wonder if my phone is bugged.” She glared at Darin.
“Why would I do that? I quit my job,” he said with a mundane tone, disappointed that she wasn’t happy to see him.
“Yeah, right. Fifteen years on the job and you quit just like that, losing your pension or whatever it is they give government employees?” Maria snarled.
He did look like shit. “If you didn’t bug my phone then how did you find me?” she asked impatiently.
“I heard you come in. I wasn’t really in the shower. I had already taken one.” He looked at her facial expressions to see if she was buying any of it.
“Still doesn’t explain how you found me?” she snapped.
“Let’s just say I went on a hunch. Do you want that tire fixed or not?”
“Fine, but this conversation isn’t over.”
Chapter Ten
Darin pulled the tire out of the trunk. He looked up to make sure that Maria wasn’t paying attention to him. He pulled out a jack knife from out of his pocket. He sliced a hole in the spare. He wasn’t going to let her get involved with the so called ‘Aliens’. Her life would be in danger again. She would be safe with him. He was the FBI. He took the tire out, and pretended to try and put it where the flat one used to be.
“I think we have a problem.” He tried to look disappointed.
“Problem? Problem isn’t a word in my dictionary right now.” She glared at him.
“Well, then we have a situation.” He looked at her with pleading eyes.
“Great!” She threw her hands up in the air in frustration.
“Sorry. It must have had a hole in it or maybe they gave you a bad spare.” He put the tire back in the trunk.
“I didn’t realize you were that afraid of me,” he said with desperation.
“Afraid? I’m not afraid just – well, to be honest with you, I don’t know what I am right now.” She glanced at her cell phone.
“Who are you going to call?” he said with jealousy. “Michael?” Anger rose in his voice.
“No.” She shook her head. “Just call me a tow truck. I know you did something to my phone.”
“Fine, where do you want it towed to?” He had no intention of letting her get away that easily.
“The next gas station,” she grunted, obviously irritated with him.
<center>*~*</center>
Michael waited patiently for Liz to answer. What was Isabel trying to tell them? She obviously needed help. Was Max taking her to the Dome, where they all went as group and discovered important information? But why would she send the images to Liz and not him? There was always a good reason for anything Isabel sent out. Liz just had to try harder to remember.
“Do you remember anything other then Atherton and the Dome?” he asked as calmly as he could.
“No.” She shook her head in disappointment. “Maybe if I try to go back to sleep she will keep trying to send the messages.” Liz looked directly into his eyes.
He looked directly back into her eyes. He finally felt a connection with her. “Try closing your eyes. Maybe the images will become more clear.” He held out his other hand to her. She took it without hesitation.
“I can’t promise anything,” she said with sadness. Michael squeezed her hand.
“Just try. That’s all I’m asking.”
“Okay.” Liz closed her eyes and waited a few seconds, hoping that some kind of image or thought would pop into her mind. She remembered reading an article on dreams and the thought process and that if you forced your mind to remember something it wouldn’t. It was like trying to tell someone who had amnesia the truth. You would risk forcing their memories to disappear. She had to try. She did with all her might and nothing was coming in. She let out a sigh, and looked at Michael who was still holding her hands.
“It’s not working.” She looked at him with disappointment.
“Maybe were trying too hard.” He released her hands.
“Michael, maybe it will work if I just go back to sleep.” She tried to sound reassuring.
“Is that even possible after that last scream? I don’t know. You sounded so…” He paused. “So scared.”
“I probably was, but if it’s worth saving Isabel, then I have to at least try.” She pushed her hair behind her ears and smiled. She patted the side of the bed where he was sleeping.
Michael walked around and sat down next to her. He rested his head on the headboard. This was so frustrating. They both had alien powers. His were stronger then hers. He should be able to do something to help his sister, to let her know that her message was received loud and clear. Maybe Isabel was sending the scream as a message. It did happen twice.
Liz reached for Michael’s hand. He gave it to her without a fight. “Let’s try together.” She smiled, looking at him.
He was afraid of letting Liz Parker in. He was never really close to her. This situation was more than awkward but, like she said, it was to save Isabel.
“Are you ready?” Liz asked, looking right into his eyes.
He looked at her. He was suddenly not afraid anymore. He felt the courage to do this with her, even though he was afraid she would see something he didn’t want her to see.
“I’m ready,” he sighed and closed his eyes.
<center>*~*</center>
Isabel couldn’t move anything. The drug had taken full effect. It was even stronger than the last dose Max gave her. Her mind was still able to see reality; she just couldn’t focus and she was afraid to fall asleep for fear of what her brother might do. He was humming that song again. She knew that song but she couldn’t quite make out the tune; it was muffled.
“Max,” Isabel tried to choke out.
“You interrupted me!” he snapped at her.
“Someone is doing this to you,” she managed to get out, before she started to cough. “Let me help you,” she pleaded with him.
He looked at his sister. Was she being sincere or was she trying to trick him? “I’ll make it go away if you are being honest with me.” He glanced over at her.
“That song your humming – Mom…” She coughed again. “Our Mother used to hum that to us, before we went to sleep at night. Remember?” It was really hard to move her lips. It took whatever energy she had.
“I remember,” he said, unsure of her motives.
He pulled over on the side of the road. He reached for a bottle of water and held it up to his sister’s lips. “Drink,” he said with exhaustion.
Isabel tried to sip the water bottle but her throat wouldn’t let her swallow. She gasped, then tried to take another sip. This time she was successful. “I think someone has been mind warping you,” she finally could talk without gasping for air. “They’ve been making you do things. Remember Alex?” she asked innocently.
“Tess is dead,” he bluntly stated, then looked at his sister somewhat relieved.
“Then someone else. We have a new enemy.” A look of hope and fear in her eyes, she did not want her brother to be a killer even though he was a pain in the ass.
She didn’t believe that Tess was dead. This had her name written all over it, but why would she come back after all this time? Did she want her son back? Max didn’t have him. He gave Zan up for adoption. If this was what was happening, they were all in serious trouble. A Mother scorned, was nothing to fool around with. She was obviously showing that by messing with the king of Antar.
Chapter Eleven
Maria tried to reach Liz on her cell phone, but there was no answer. She desperately needed to get in touch with Liz. This entire Darin situation was practically breaking her into shattered glass. The tow truck had called Darin and said that it would be four hours before they could come get her. Maria decided it was better to just go with Darin.
“So, what are we going to do from here?” He looked over at Maria who was fidgeting with her phone.
Darin grabbed the phone from her. He lifted the battery flap up and removed a tiny device that looked like a watch battery and threw it out the window. “See? It was all for you. I don’t want to hurt anyone.” They sat in the car in silence for a few minutes.
“Well I can’t go meet them; they aren’t too trusting when it comes to FBI agents.” She glared at him, grabbing her phone back.
“So call them. Maybe they will have some insight on this situation.” He watched her dial a number.
The phone rang but nobody answered. Maria did not like this. Had Darin somehow found Michael and Liz? She wouldn’t forgive him if that was the case. He lied to her, he used her and now he’d endangered two people that she cared about. Then again, maybe she was jumping to conclusions. He did take the bug out of her phone. But that didn’t mean anything. He could have planted one somewhere else. He might have even heard where they were staying and all hell was about to break loose. She had to get to Michael and Liz.
“They aren’t answering!” she shrieked. “How do I know you don’t have agents already at their motel?” she finally asked. How could she do this to Michael?
“You really think that low of me,” he said, disappointment coloring his voice. “Why would I hurt anyone who is close to you? Is it so hard to believe that I care about you? Maria, I love you.” He hoped she would look past all this and believe him.
“You love me?” She shook her head and tears started to form. “How can you love me?”
“My feelings have been growing for you for the past year. I just wish I could help you to get over Michael.” He tried to sound sincere.
“Right. It’s more like you wish you could use me to get to Michael.” She looked out the window.
“That is not true and you know it,” he grumbled. “This relationship wasn’t all lies.”
“Yeah, whatever, buddy. Just keep believing your lies.” She wasn’t making sense, but she rarely ever did.
*~*
Michael’s forehead was dripping volumes of sweat; he wasn’t getting any information. He could only hope that Liz was getting something. A bolt of energy went through their two bodies. Michael saw nothing and his mind went black.
The sound of a loud thump woke him out of his coma. What happened? He scratched his head and realized that Liz was on the other side of the room. That was odd. He stood up. His legs were numb and it was hard for him to walk. This is what happened when he tried to use any of his powers.
“Liz.” He bent down and tried to pull the lifeless body in his arms. he was looking at her chest hoping that he could see her chest rising up and down. He was relieved when she still had a pulse but she was out cold. That blast of energy didn’t just affect him; it obviously affected her. This entire situation was entirely too surreal for even him.
He tried to call her name but she didn’t respond. He knelt down next to her and put her head in his lap. He pushed the long brown locks of hair out of her face. She had a bruise from hitting the wall. He finally felt movement. She was coming to, or at least he hoped she was; he couldn’t lose another member of the group. He couldn’t fathom losing her.
“Liz,” he said again in a much louder tone. He patted her shoulder hoping to get her attention. Her eyes fluttered open and she saw Michael looking down at her. Her blank look instantly changed to tears. He knew she must have seen something. He hoped it wasn’t anything from his subconscious.
“Michael?” she finally managed to mumble out. “What happened?” Her voice was weak and hoarse.
“Does it hurt?” he asked her with concern. Liz Parker had made him care for the first time in his life, really care. He went to put his hand over her wound, but she pushed his hand away. Stupid, Guerin, he thought. She’s in pain from your explosion of Power.
“Yes,” she mumbled, “I need to go wash my face.” He grabbed her hand and helped her to stand up the best he could because his legs were still tingling.
Once Liz was safely in the bathroom, Michael sat on the bed and just stared at the wall in front of him. He had no patience for this drama. He needed to know what was going on so he could save his sister from the clutches of Max, the psychopath.
*~*
Isabel had managed to get a clear message through. She tried to make her feelings as clear as possible but the drug was making that hard. She looked over at Max, whom was staring out the window. She was curious what he was thinking about; actually she was scared and curious at the same time. They had been sitting on the side of the road for an hour.
“Max,” Isabel said with a motherly tone.
Max turned to look at her. He had tears in his eyes. He was happy that his sister believed him. He wasn’t happy that his surrogate Mother died because of him. He was starting to fight whatever was controlling his mind. This was a good sign. Isabel felt relieved for the first time in a long time.
“Iz, I’m,” he paused and looked away, “I’m sorry”
“Max, can you take this drug out of my system?” she tried to ask him as calmly as possible.
“As long as you promise not to leave me.” He looked down. “Promise you won’t leave me like everyone else did.” His eyes were wide and full of fear.
Isabel’s heart broke in half. “I promise I won’t leave,” she tried to reassure him.
Max checked the road to make sure that nobody was coming. He was safe to heal his sister. He placed his cold hand on her arm where he injected the drug into her body. He closed his eyes and started to heal Isabel. He felt all of the pain that she had gone through this last year. He regretted not letting her see their Mother being buried. She needed closure, and he took that right from her.
Isabel could feel the release of the drug. She could also feel the pain that Max had been feeling; he was hurt and confused. She couldn’t tell if those were really his feelings or the mind control. Maybe if they stopped for the night to sleep, she could dream walk him. She needed more time than what she had with Michael or Liz. At least she hoped that Michael or Liz were the ones to get the messages.
“Max, you know I’m really tired.” She yawned. “Can we stop for the night?” She hoped he would say yes.
“I don’t know if it is such a good idea,” he questioned her again.
“I think we both need a good nights sleep,” she said trying to make a point.
“I guess it couldn’t hurt.” He looked at the clock on the truck’s radio. It was late.
Max looked at his sister. “We will stop at the next exit, then tomorrow we have to go to the dome.”
She sighed in relief. “Thanks.” She smiled. She took the water bottle that was stashed on the seat.
*~*
Liz looked at herself in the mirror, the images going through her mind. They were choppy but this time she had feelings to go with the images. There was a first time for everything. How can I tell Michael that Max is being controlled? How can I tell him that they have a new enemy? How can I tell him?
A knock on the door interrupted her thought session. “Yeah, I’ll be out in a second.” She turned the water faucet on and splashed water on her bruised face. It was a pretty nasty bruise. She didn’t think she hit the wall that hard, but she did. The water stung when she splashed her face.
She opened the door to see a disgruntled Michael. There was a logical way to deal with this. There had to be.
“Sorry, did you need to use the bathroom again?” she smirked.
“No, I was just worried about you.” Did he actually say that out loud?
“To answer your question from before, I did see something. I also felt that something.” She searched his face for any sign of a response, but he was Michael and he was not easy to read.
“So tell me,” he said, sounding hopeful.
“I think you should sit down. I don’t need you going all Max on me,” she sighed. “Before I tell you anything I need you to promise me that you won’t get angry.”
Michael didn’t like the tone in her voice. This was the Liz he remembered from sophomore year. This Liz was in control. He could take it; at least he hoped he could take it. “Just tell me,” he sighed, following her instructions and sitting down.
“There is a new enemy,” she blurted out. “Now hear me out. The feelings Isabel sent with the images were choppy and from what I got Max was not responsible for his mother’s death. He was or is being controlled. She thinks that somehow Tess survived and is working with a new enemy.” Liz looked at Michael.
“I think you hit your head a little to hard. You hallucinated that.” He stopped then looked at Liz, that bruise was really awful. “The Tess part is a little more believable.”
“Tess? That is always possible.” She tried to not sound condescending. “You would know better then I would.” She shrugged and sat next to him on the bed, she had to refrain from sitting to close to him. She didn’t want to be thrown across the room again.
He noticed that she flinched when he looked at her, “Oh, uh-I’m sorry about blasting you across the room. I’m not really good at intense.” He looked down to the ground.
“It’s fine really.” She touched the bruise on her face as a reminder to not try this again. “I’m really starting to worry about Maria. She should have called by now. She said she would check in when she reached a halfway point.” She didn’t mean to throw any more worries in his direction, but they still had to deal with the FBI situation that Maria had gotten them into.
Michael looked up at her. He had totally forgotten about Maria, but then again she wasn’t first on his list to protect. Liz was because of her connection to Max. She was more susceptible to an alien attack. “I’m sure she’s fine. She probably stopped for the night.” He couldn’t throw himself into a panic. He couldn’t worry about what-ifs. He needed to save Isabel, and he needed to save Max. This game was switching way to fast for him.
“Famous last words.” Liz looked up at him, Is that compassion in his eyes? She felt like she was in some warped dream. Michael had compassion, Maria was dating an FBI agent and possibly kidnapped now, Max was psychotic, Isabel had been kidnapped by Max who was being controlled, and Max’s Mother being killed by another enemy of the pod squad.
“Let me fix that bruise.” Michael felt guilty.
“I thought you didn’t have healing abilities?” She jumped.
“I do. I healed Riverdog’s ankle once, and he’s perfectly fine.” He tried to reassure her.
Liz sighed. It did hurt and she didn’t want to draw attention to them. They had enough problems. They didn’t need nosey people asking questions, and she certainly didn’t want the police getting involved. She didn’t need to be mistaken for a battered wife or girlfriend.
“Okay, go ahead,” she said with reluctance in her voice.
Michael smiled. She was starting to trust him and he was starting to trust her. The two least people who would be likely to form a kinship were. Michael softly cupped her face where the bruise was imprinted. He closed his eyes, and the glow came from his hand a yellow glow.
He got flashes for the first time. They weren’t forced. They were flowing naturally into his mind. He was probably seeing what Max saw. Liz as a small child, her heart breaking when she found out their destinies, the love she had for each and everyone of them… he even felt her love for him.
Liz was surprised to see images from him. She was shocked at what she saw: Michael running from his motor home, Hank chasing after him with a belt buckle, Michael hiding in the closet shaking after he had been beaten from Hank in one of his drunken binges. The day she came to warn him that Topolsky was looking at his records and asking questions, the day she was kidnapped by Nascedo, the fear he felt that day.
A/N I want to thank my invisible helpers, you know who you are
Please be kind this is my first attempt at NC-17, as always thanks to my feedbackers it means alot
<center>
Chapter Twelve</center>
Maria sat in the passenger seat. She kept dialing Liz’s cell phone but there was no answer. She couldn’t help but think the worst. She was getting frustrated
Liz answer the damn phone. Come on, chica. I know you’re there. Why aren’t you answering?
“Still no answer?” He sounded empathetic for her benefit.
“No,” she snapped at him. “Where are we?” She hadn’t realized that they had changed direction.
“We’re headed toward a safe house,” he said bluntly.
“I never agreed to go to some safe house, and in what sense do you mean safe house?” She was really worried now.
“It is what it sounds like, Maria. You’re in danger. I’m not taking you to see a potentially dangerous person-alien-whatever he is. You’re going nowhere near him,” he raised his voice.
“Were almost to Washington D.C. I’m not turning around.” He was saddened by her lack of trust.
“Great. Just great. I’m not telling you where they are. You can just forget it,” she yelled.
“I can find them on my own,” he said in with a warning in his tone.
“Look, I’ve been through this before. I’ve had relations with Michael. He isn’t and doesn’t want to hurt anybody. I can promise you that, so just turn the car around and at least wait until I can talk to Liz,” she pleaded.
Stall him, just stall him until you get a hold of Liz. Oh yeah, breathe, De Luca, breathe.
“I can’t. I already informed my boss we were headed to the safe house. If we don’t show, agents will be scouring the countryside.”
“Then call them and tell them there isn’t a threat,” she pleaded. “Darin, please. You at least owe me that.”
“I’m sorry, Maria. I can’t.” He looked back towards the road.
<center>*~*</center>
Liz reached for Michael’s hand, which was still cupping her face. With her other hand, she reached out to caress his cheek to show sympathy for what he had been through. He started to get a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach. They just looked at each other for what seemed like an eternity.
Should she break the silence? Should she keep this going? A part of her didn’t want to let go of the moment. She couldn’t help what she was feeling.
Michael removed his hand from Liz’s face and dropped his gaze downward toward where she traced the soft circles on his cheek. Embarrassed, she tried to pull her hand away but he stopped her. He placed his hand around the back of her neck. He so badly wanted to pull her close to him.
Then she did something that took him by surprise. She moved closer to him until they were a mere breath apart.
He leaned in and put his lips to hers. He could taste her toothpaste.
Liz was surprised at what was going on. Michael was kissing her. She didn’t want to stop. She went along with it, her tongue parting his lips and the kisses becoming more intense. She couldn’t have stopped even if she wanted to.
His hand started to roam up her back. His gentle massage it sent chills through out her body. She arched closer to him wanting more, always more.
Before they knew what was happening they were touching each other in areas that neither one of them thought they would ever touch on each other. Their passion surged forth, unstoppable. Neither one wanted to pull away and, even though knowing there were more important things to deal with, they were both aware the moment wouldn’t be stopping any time soon. Something inside wouldn’t let them stop.
Was this a side affect of an alien-hybrid healing a human? Was it because she was now an alien-hybrid herself? Liz tried to force her rational mind to work, but she was clearly losing her ability to focus on anything beside Michael.
As she and Michael were kissing, there hands were roaming each other without boundaries as it seemed. Liz gasped when she suddenly started to see purple flashes in her mind. Then, just as quickly as they appeared, they morphed into something new. She started to see his life, images flashing so fast that she couldn’t see anything clear enough to make out.[/i]
She pulled away, reaching for air, hoping that it would get to her lungs. She sat there gasping for breath, her eyes searching his. “Michael?” It was one word, but her question spoke volumes.
It hurt, literally hurt when she pulled away, but he didn’t say anything. Instead he leaned in and started to kiss her again, not wanting to let go. She wasn’t going to stop him.
They moved back on the bed. He pulled her pajama top off, exposing her beautiful breasts. Without waiting she removed his shirt, exposing his muscle-toned chest. He pulled her so she was straddling him in a sitting position. He was trying to be as patient with her as possible but he didn’t know how much longer he could hold on.
His hand moved from massaging her back to just above her tailbone. He wanted to remove her pajama bottoms, but he wasn’t sure if he should be this forward. Just as he was going to stop and ask the question, he felt Liz’s hand moving towards his boxers. She was caressing him where he never thought he would be touched by Liz Parker. He let out a moan, and positioned her legs so that he could remove her pajama bottoms.
Liz jumped as a sort of a reflex when he tried to remove her pajama bottoms
Am I crazy? Is this really going to happen? Apparently it was because she was in no mood to stop. She felt so wet; God she wanted him. Not even Max could make her feel this way - so full of passion, so full of love.
She still had to wonder if this was some residual effect of the healing.
Is this just a side effect? Would Michael still want me if he weren’t an alien? She could feel the heat rising off his muscular toned chest and a small sigh escaped her lips. [/i]Parker you think to much.[/i] She felt her pajama bottoms being pulled off and her bare, just shaven legs exposed. All she had left on were her cotton whites. She couldn’t stop kissing him. His lips were just so plump and ripe. She couldn’t peel herself away from him.
<center>*~*</center>
Maria made a mental list of things she could do at this present time. She wasn’t sure that any of them were logical but she had to try.
Make him stop at the next gas station, pretend she had to go to the bathroom, then sneak out and run away while he wasn’t looking.
Mace - she had Mace in her purse. Spray his eyes with mace so the car would go out of control and they would crash and police would be called to the scene.
Go along with his little charade, so he wouldn’t hurt her or try to get to Michael and Liz.
God, how she wished she had cedar oil, lavender oil, or cypress oil; focus De Luca.
Pretend she was having a coronary. She didn’t need to pretend. Maybe he would take her to the hospital. She could join Max in the Psych ward.
Tell him she needed to see her Mother, because at this rate all of the above were not going to work. Why wasn’t Liz answering her cell phone? That girl never did remember to put her cell phone on the charger. Yup that had to be it. Why else wouldn’t she be answering her phone.
“Maria.” Darin snapped her out of her stupor.
She looked at him
Think quickly. You’re almost to the safe house.
“Could you stop? I kind of need to use the restroom.” She felt stupid but maybe it would work.
What kind of moron did she think he was? He would play along just for her amusement. “Yeah, there is a Diner up ahead, if you can wait.”
Time to try number one on her list of ways to escape the FBI mad man. “Thanks,” she smirked.
Yeah, right. She’ll never be so lucky.
<center>*~*</center>
Max and Isabel made it to the motel in Marathon, Texas. It wasn’t too bad. All Isabel wanted to do was lie down. She was exhausted from being drugged. Her emotions were scattered she was trying to get a grasp on things. The Motel had a 24-hour diner next door and they had eaten something before checking in the room. Isabel still wanted to leave, but she promised Max she wouldn’t. After all this wasn’t his fault; at least, she hoped it wasn’t his fault.
Isabel didn’t have any clothes to change into so she just laid on top of the covers and closed her eyes. Max was out for a walk. He said he needed something sane to do. Isabel had taken the Prom picture off the dash board without him thinking twice about. She touched the picture and pointed to both Michael and Liz. She had a strong feeling that they were together. She closed her eyes and started to send everything: the healing, the removal of the drug, the dome, she sent lots of energy regarding Tess and the ‘so-called new enemy’.
She was trying to send whatever else she could send. As she was sending the information, Maria flickered into her mind.
That was weird. It immediately snapped her out of her dreamwalk. She woke up to find Max sitting on the edge of the bed. He had his chin in his hand and he was crying. Had he realized the truth? Had he remembered what he did?
Isabel sat up. “Max?”
“I’m okay,” he tried to reassure her. “I’ve been thinking about things.” He turned to look at her. “Did you get through to Liz?” he asked hopeful.
“I’m trying to get through to both Michael and Liz, but I am not sure if it’s working” she said with frustration. “I’ll keep trying okay?” He needed reassurance; the look on his face was breaking her ice filled heart. “Just hold on, okay?”
“Oh, I got some weird images of Maria. I think something is wrong,” she said as an afterthought, looking at Max.
He just looked at his sister. He felt really terrible for all of things that had taken place, but he knew his mind was not his and it wasn’t his fault. He still took the blame knowing he couldn’t use that as an excuse. “Did you get enough to know what was going on?” His eyes were wide and filled with hope, something that he hadn’t had in a long time.
“No, just that she was scared. It threw me out of the dream walk.” She sighed in frustration. “I think we should call Michael. I gave him a cell phone to use for emergencies only,” she finally said.
“Does he know....” he trailed off, “about me being, you know…?” He looked at Isabel hoping she would finish the sentence for him.
“Not yourself?” she winked at him. “I think he does, but I think a part of him knows that it isn’t all your fault. I wouldn’t worry.”
<center>*~* </center>
Maria was in the bathroom in the Diner. She had brought her cell phone with her. She needed to call Sheriff Valenti. He would know what to do because it looked like she wasn’t going to get out of this safe house mess without his help.
As Maria dialed the numbers her fingers started to shake.
Focus, De Luca, focus. She punched in the numbers as she rehearsed what she would say and how she would say it. She heard the phone ring on the other end, then an all too familiar voice answered, and it was professional to her surprise.
“Roswell Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Kyle Valenti.”
“Deputy Valenti
speaking,” she heard his Father in the background yell at him.
“Uh, Kyle,” she stammered
“Hurri-Maria,” he then sighed, realizing that she was probably calling because of the alien drama he hoped to put behind him. “Let me guess. Another alien invasion?” he said with sarcasm.
“Okay, first of all, hurricane De Luca is so old that it doesn’t even fit me anymore. Second, I have to make this quick. I’m under the grasp of a rogue FBI mad man, who was supposed to be the new love of my life - you know the kind with no aliens. Anyway it turns out he is FBI and he is after Michael and Liz. Well, I also believe that Max has gone off the deep end and I don’t mean oceans. He’s gone psychotic.” She sighed breathing in air. “Kyle, are you getting any of this?”
“Go on. You’ve peaked my interest. Do I need to put this out over the emergency broadcasting system?” he snickered.
“Kyle!” Maria said sharply. “This isn’t funny!”
“Alright, alright. Point taken. Geez.” He started to get serious. “What’s your location, and how many men do I need?” He smiled as he was talking.
“Kyle, please. I’m stuck in some dingy disgusting bathroom, that looks as though as it hasn’t been cleaned since the year 1985.” She was hoping he would take this seriously.
“Can I please talk to your Father if you won’t be serious? I don’t have much time.”
“Fine, I’m being serious. Give me your location and cell phone number, and I’ll see what my Father can come up with. Sit tight.”
“Easy for you to say. Oh, and when you call back, if I’m near him, I’ll call you Liz,” she had to smile at that.
“Great. Fine. Whatever. Try stalling him for as long as you can.”
Maria gave him all the information: her cell number, the direction of the safe house in Washington D.C. Then she stayed in the bathroom for as long as she possibly could without making it look like she was up to something. But when Kyle still hadn’t called her back, she had no other choice but to go back out to the table that Darin was sitting at.
<center>*~*</center>
Michael and Liz were in an embrace. She had stripped him of his boxers leaving him fully exposed. She could feel that he was ready. Their lips were sore and rough from all of the kissing. She felt his hands slip into her panties, sliding them off and she wasn’t stopping him. It had been awhile since both of them had been in any kind of sexual situation.
Michael’s hand made his way between her thighs until he reached her folds. He wanted to make her give into the desire they were both feeling. He could hear her moaning. She wanted more, and he was going to give her more. He nudged her legs apart with his knee and moved over her.
Their eyes met. “I want you,” he whispered.
Her breath hitched, even as she nodded. Was she crazy for wanting this? She didn’t know and she didn’t care. She just wanted
him.
He reached out and smoothed the hair away from her face. It was such a gentle gesture amidst such passion.
“Michael?” she breathed.
“Shh,” he quieted her. He bent down and brushed his lips against hers, willing her to give in. She opened herself to him yet again, allowing her to taste his sweetness.
And then she could feel him pushing inside. She gasped slightly and stiffened at the pain.
Michael stilled. “Liz?” Why hadn’t she told him?
But the pain was already easing and a new ache taking it’s place. She arched toward him. “Michael, please.”
He couldn’t resist. He began to move slowly within her, gentle at first so that he wouldn’t cause her any pain. He brushed his lips against her again, kissing her so tenderly.
She closed her eyes and sighed. She felt his hands massaging her breasts, then her nipples. He teased her with his tongue. His other hand rubbed small circles, massaging her clit.
The thrusting was getting more intense. He had moved her so she was laying on her side with her back facing his chest, and he was able to move more easily. She was moaning so loud she was afraid the entire motel could hear them, but she didn’t care. This felt entirely to good to stop.
Michael was kissing the back of her neck, then the side. He brushed her long brown locks out of the way for easier access. He traced lines down her soft skin with the tip of his tongue, blowing gently on them.
She turned around breaking the thrusting for a single second. She wanted to look at him; she wanted to see his face. Feeling him inside her wasn’t enough.
He didn’t stop her. He helped roll into the position, then entered her again. Her legs wrapped around him as he surged within her again seeking a release.
She felt him release inside her and she knew that it was over. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t long enough. She needed more. She looked at him. She kissed his forehead tasting his salty sweat. They were both shivering, both exhausted. He kissed her lightly on the lips.