A/N- The wildfire line is inspired by another Polar writer. Only 11 chapters left to go now.

The rest of the week passed in a blur. Liz caught up completely with her school work, even going into extra studies for extra credit while she could. She was determined to be accepted into Harvard. Michael was balancing school and his jobs well and Kyle was working as usual in the garage.

Liz had been having some new dreams- she knew unless they were very careful, no matter what happened, they would end up on the run. She was thinking this over on her balcony when Shawn called up to her for permission to come up. She gave it. Michael had been walking past when he saw Shawn climb up. He shrugged, knowing Shawn was Liz's friend and Liz loved him, he knew he had nothing to worry about. He carried on walking, then stopped, hidden from her view, wondering what she'd said.

Liz had known he'd been there, relaxing when he walked on, knowing Michael trusted her enough to leave her with Shawn alone as friends.

Shawn checked her over, sitting down on the spare chair, leaning back he commented ''You look better.'' ''I feel better.'' ''Did you mean what you said before, about needing to wait for your heart to heal?'' he asked her, uncertain of her answer.

Liz laughed. She leaned forward and put her hand on his shoulder, looking him straight in the eye, told him ''Shawn, I've told you the truth. Max broke my heart, shattered my dreams and got another girl pregnant. If I was with any guy now, I would be unfair on them. They would be a rebound and Maria would kill me if I hurt you like that. Do you understand now?''

He nodded, unhappily. ''Yeah, I get it. I don't like it but I respect it. It is your choice. What about Guerin?'' At the look of deep interest on her face, he sighed deeply. ''I am an idiot, you love him. You only held back out of loyalty, didn't you?'' She nodded, sighing ruefully, ''Yes. I do love him but I'm not ready to be in a relationship yet and he does understand that. However given the choice, it'll be him. Is that ok?'' Shawn sighed, he'd known he'd lost. Shrugging, he said finally ''Yes, it's fine.'' ''Friends?'' she asked, holding her hand out, ''Friends'' he agreed. They shared a smile. Looking at her work for school spread out, he whistled. ''That is a lot of work. Let me guess- you're trying for Harvard.'' She nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear

''Actually it's better than that, I've been offered a deal by them. I work as hard as I can and I'll get an interview after graduation.'' She grinned when his jaw dropped. Shawn pulled her into a hug ''Congratulations Parker, you'll get in. How can I help?'' Her hand covered her work, ''AP Science would be great, I'm stuck.'' At his face, she laughed, ''As you're the graduate, you can help me. Come on, take a seat'', patting the chair next to her. Shawn took his seat and they got to work.

Michael had been listening into their conversation and knew he'd been right to trust her. 'Damn, she loved him enough now to let Shawn down early. He couldn't quite believe that but it was true. Liz Parker really did love him, even if she wasn't ready to act on it yet.' He smirked at the memory of that kiss. 'Still, when he had made her lose control, damn, she had melted. She wasn't plain, she was a wild fire and soon he wouldn't be able to get enough.' He walked on, happy in his choice to give his heart to her.

A few hours later, he walked into the staff lounge and saw her sat with Kyle. With a smirk, he walked up to her, pulled her to her feet and kissed her. Leaving her dazed, she asked ''What was that for?'' ''Letting Shawn down gently'', he shrugged, smirk firmly in place. It was Kyle's silence that warned him first before Liz had shoved him backwards, hurt written all over her face, ''You listened in! I thought you trusted me!'' Michael groaned, his hands up, ''I do trust you. It was Shawn I didn't trust.'' Her face dropped in realisation. ''Oh! I'm sorry, I'm an idiot for thinking that!''. Her voice gave her away.

She was on the verge of beating herself up. Kyle wondered how Michael would handle an extremely sorry Liz. He didn't need to worry. Michael had it covered. He had brought her hands into his, bringing her forward into him and simply told her to stop. ''It's okay. I get it. You were so used to Max treating you like that that you reacted as you would have done to him'', smoothing her hair behind her ear ''But that's not fair to you'' she whispered to him.

She wanted him to understand she knew it too. He did but she had been treated badly. He got it. ''I said it's ok. Trust me on that, OK?'' She nodded, her ''OK'' was so quiet he barely heard it. He privately swore at Maxwell in his head, bring his arms around her into a tight hug, full of forgiveness. 'Thank you' was her quiet reply. She'd been quiet for too long for his liking. He needed his fiery brunette back. He mentally kissed her to bring her out of it, leaving her gasping. 'Better.' He smirked, seating her next to him.

He turned to a surprised Kyle, stretching his arm around his girl's back, settling her against him, asking him ''So what were you two talking about?'' Kyle still couldn't believe his eyes. Michael Guerin had just handled an upset Liz successfully and had left her smiling. He blinked at that. He answered ''Harvard. Liz was just telling me about the deal they offered her. I know she'll get in.'' His tone was full of his confidence he had in her.

Liz cautiously spoke up next to him. ''I have some news that affects all of us, even the others.'' Her voice was full of worry. The two friends turned to her in surprise, Michael's arm tightening around her,''What is it? What's wrong?'', his tone was unsure. Kyle's face reflected it. ''I've had a dream of the future, we're all on the run and I don't know how to stop it.'' She was scared. ''You're in the dream too.'' Kyle stated. Liz nodded and both of them breathed a sigh of relief. Michael brought her into a proper hug, whispering in her ear ''Thank goodness for that.'' She didn't have the heart to say it was one possible future, she had also dreamt she wasn't there at all in another. That was scary. She sank into Michael's embrace. Safe. Kyle quietly took out his camera and took a photo, smiling. He had a feeling things between these two would be okay in the end.

When Michael had finally come away to sit back on the sofa, Kyle gave her an equally huge hug of relief. ''I'm glad'' he stated, kissing her forehead, then thought about what she said. ''On the run, even me?'' She nodded, biting her lip. He looked at Michael, concerned. ''How do we stop it?'' He shrugged, noting Liz hadn't answered. That worried him. Michael exchanged concerned looks with him over her silence, each knowing she was thinking. It was what she was thinking that concerned them.

They were startled when she did answer. ''It's the FBI, it must be. Something must have happened in the run up to that dream to lead them right to us but what?'', her voice lost in thought. She knew that Mr Evans had tried to do an investigation and Tess was gone- Tess. Liz turned pale at that thought. Shaking her head, she thought some more.

She decided it was time to voice her thoughts. She just didn't know how well they would be taken.

''Remember the special agent Topolsky, the others nodded, what if she was followed and we have been followed since, they just don't have the proof they need yet or think we're a big enough threat. Whatever happens, it's big enough to get their attention, through Mr Evans attempt at an investigation with maybe a way to get proof and you have us on the run from the FBI in order to save our lives. Does anyone want that?''

Eyes wide, Kyle shook his head. It was predictably Michael who said ''HELL NO!''. He was mad at the thought of it. Then Kyle remembered the spy camera. ''I think Liz is right, how else would that camera be placed inMichael's place. Topolsky put it there, didn't she?'' Michael nodded, unsure of his answer. He shook his head. ''No, she didn't. Damn Liz, you're right. Remember those plain cars?'' Kyle and Liz paled. ''Crap.'' It was Kyle. Liz was shaking. 'This was all her fault. If Max hadn't healed her.. then.'

Michael turned in her direction at that thought. 'STOP THINKING THAT!'. Out loud, he said ''We need you thinking clearly, not blaming yourself.'' Liz nodded, chewing her lip as she thought. 'The FBI's Special Unit was in town, yet hadn't done anything as they hadn't made a threat to them yet. A threat would be invasion or an act of war. An explosion maybe... she was hit by a vision of herself and Tess and a government base blowing up, there was a mind warp getting through guards- hiding the thought, she knew a mind warp would keep her alive and safe at Metachem. She could do it.'

Sitting down with a thump, she got her feelings from the vision under control- one thing was for sure. 'Tess would be returning probably with her son but when?' The others had noticed her actions and her quietness. She knew something bad, bad enough to scare her into being quiet. Neither of them liked it. Kyle knelt in front of her, ''Liz talk to me please?'' ''What did you see?'' Michael had joined him. Extending her hand to him, she said ''I'll show you what happens.'' She was white. Unnerved, he took her hand and was bombarded with images of guards, Tess, a baby, Liz driving Tess past guards under a mind warp and finally both of them outside an army base, Tess blowing it up.

He came out of the vision- mad, angry and shaken. Tess would be coming back, Alex's murderer and from what he had just seen, Liz would be driving her to her death by choice it seemed. He tried to control his anger at the risk taken by Liz in the vision. Taking her by the shoulders, he asked quietly ''What would you be thinking to do THAT?'' Liz shook her head.

''I don't know.'' She was trying not to cry. Kyle wanted to see the vision too. Hesitantly, he asked ''Can I see the vision too?'' Michael looked at Liz's reaction, there was NO WAY she wanted Kyle to see her future part in someone else's death. She hated that thought. He had an idea. 'Just show him Tess.' 'NO!' her voice was full of fear, it wasn't from the vision but something else. It terrified her. Then she had a moment of calm. 'The van. It leads from graduation.' Focusing, she thought of what she could show Kyle. 'Metachem. Show him that.' Her thoughts were steady. Too steady for his liking. Autopilot. Damn. Controlling her fear and putting others first again.

She put her hand out to Kyle with the vision in mind. ''Open your mind, close any doors on any thoughts you want hidden and I'll show you.'' He did as she said and visions of Metachem filled his mind. ''Got it. Thank you.'' Her voice was weary ''You're welcome.'' She sagged against Michael. She'd used too much energy up.

''So what is the plan?'' Kyle was awed. Michael answered for a mentally tired Liz, aware she had used her power for the first time with someone else voluntarily. ''The plan is to pin every alien act we've done on Tess when she returns and make her leave town. The Special Unit can follow her. Also check Is's room for any recording equipment. It'll be justice for Alex. Liz agreed with him. Then Kyle mentioned the baby. ''What about Max's son?'' Liz froze, her feelings about that flooding Michael. That had REALLY hurt her when THAT had happened. He glared at Kyle, who noticing her face, immediately said ''sorry.''