Remnants
By Didi
Disclaimer: Haaa.... Haaa.... Haaa.... Oh, you were serious about this? Sorry, my bad. Okay, ah-hem, I do not own Roswell or any of the associated characters, situations and such. This story is written purely for entertainment purposely. (And once you've read how bad it is, it will definitely give you a laugh or two.) Please do not sue me, I only have two stuffed frogs and a couple of Care Bears that I just adore and do not plan on giving up. You can have the lint in my pocket though. Thank you.
Timeline: Roswell redone, my way. Take it back to the beginning and turn just about everything upside down and inside out. For background... read the preceding chapters first. Makes sense to read a story from the beginning, right?
Warning: This chapter contains some violence and issues of sensitive nature. Viewer's discretion is advised.
Rating: R for restriction. Read the above warning for why.
Author's Note: This chapter is all about Michael. (Sigh) If you can't tell yet, he is one of my favorite characters. I enjoyed first season's play on his character and his family life so I decided that I was going to keep it
Summary: Michael and Tess talk. Hank meets Tess. Amy steps in.
*Thoughts* "Spoken"
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Chapter 11 - Intervention
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Stepping over an old and torn tire, Tess plastered a smile on her face as she spotted a nicely firm butt incased in dirty jeans poking out of the bonnet of a sweet little European car. The sight of the middle age woman in way too much make-up flirting up a storm with the irritated Michael only served to lightened Tess's mood even more. Smiling delightfully, she decided that she's been on the receiving end of uneasy feelings long enough today. Now it was someone else's turn.
Dropping the bag of food she had brought along behind an old truck, Tess took her jacket off and played with her hair for a moment. She glanced around before fixing her makeup with a quick wave over her face. Feeling ready, she walked toward the pair, hips swaying gently, and eyes sultry with fun. When she made an effort, Tess had what Maria described as the Marilyn Monroe bedroom look.
The older woman's face fell as she spotted the pretty blonde walking their way, those blue eyes obviously appreciative of the assets she herself had been admiring. Young, fresh, beautiful... it was apparent what she was.
Flashing the obviously waiting customer a wickedly fun look which was not returned, Tess slid her hand over the curve of Michael's upper thigh, causing the would-be mechanic to start and hit his head against the lifted hood.
Cursing loudly and fluently in Spanish, which surprised the hell out of Tess, Michael turned ready to verbally blast the irritating Mrs. Steineke and was completely ill prepared for the brilliantly twinkling blue eyes that looked up at him. For a moment, he was too stunned to say a word. Then, "Tessa!"
Giggling, she turned so that she faced him alone and angled at sly look over her shoulders. "Surprised to see me, darling?"
Michael, no dummy no matter what his father... Hank says, caught on quickly. Wiping his greasy hands hastily on his equally greasy jeans, he grabbed Tess around the neck and pulled her into a hot, tongue-sweeping kiss that raised the temper of more than one observer. Too bad neither one felt more than momentary distraction from it.
Pulling back slowly, her hand lingering on the band of his jeans, tracing a line along the tilt of his hip suggestively, Tess grinned up at him full of fun and amusement. She knew how the play the game even if she didn't have any emotions, other than pure mischief, behind it. "Now that's what I call a proper hello."
The wicked chuckles from the very appreciative crowd, minus one very disgruntled middle age woman hoping for a little extramarital fun, could be clearly heard as Michael tugged Tess away from Mrs. Steineke. "Excuse us for a moment," then pulled Tess into the shaded garage and away from the roving eyes of his fellow mechanics. "Hey, thanks for the save."
"I thought you'd be," she dimpled up at him. "And I can see why the girls all think you're all that and a bag of chips." She pointed out into the sunny spot by the phone. "I brought lunch but had to leave it for the entrance I put on."
"Thanks," he looked over at the now impatient Mrs. Steineke, "I'll be done in another minute. Why don't you set up on the bed of the green truck? I'll be there in a moment."
"Sounds like a plan," then practically skipped out of the covering, flashing Mrs. Steineke a smile that was pure sweet innocence.
Taking a deep breath, and feeling a lot safer with Tess as his cover, Michael went back to work on the emissions valve. With any luck, it was just a clog valve and not a crack pipe, which would take too long to fix. "It'll just be another minute, Mrs. Steineke."
The high price perm bobbed for a moment. "Your girlfriend?"
"She's something," Michael answered ambiguously but gave plenty of impressions.
"Cute girl," she replied reluctantly.
"Yes she is," Michael removed the defective part and inspected it carefully. As he thought for the back logged sound when she drove in, it was a clog valve. Two minutes and he'll be ready to take a break until the next customer comes. It's been a slow day for a weekend. "This will only take a minute to clean out and be refitted."
"Take your time," she said. She may not get an affair out of this but she could still enjoy the nice view the kid was offering as he leaned over the engine to replace the part.
Dropping the hood, he wiped his hands clean before writing out the bill, taking the offered check and unsolicited card with her personal number on it, and watch Mrs. Steineke with her hundred dollar high heeled shoes drive off in a BMW that was ignored mechanically until it makes noise. Michael always judged people by how they treat their cars, that that woman was bad new.
Stepping around several gutted cars and the garage building, all the while ignoring the comments from the guys that were rude and embarrassing if Tess ever heard them only to find out later that she did, he was surprised at the nice little picnic that Tess had created. Spreading a big yellow blanket that Michael seemed to vaguely recognize on the truck bed, she laid out fried chicken, coleslaw, and some dainty fruits in a clear plastic bowel and orange juice in cups. Gesturing for him to join her, she tucked her legs under her and greeted him with a smile.
"Mrs. Robinson gone?"
Confusion clouded his eyes for a moment as he joined her on the blanket. "Mrs. Who?"
"Robinson," she giggled. "From 'The Graduate?' With Dustin Hoffman?" When that failed to help enlighten him, she shook her head. "Never mind."
"How did you do this?" taking the offered chicken leg.
"The blanket was hung over there so I borrowed it. I called the little ma and pa restaurant on Durango Drive and asked them to help out. They were so nice, thought it was sweet that I wanted to do a picnic with my 'boyfriend.' I didn't correct them of the impression." She reached into the bag and pulled out a plastic sandwich bag. "Look, they even put in heart shaped cookies."
He grinned at her obvious delight over the pink sprinkle covered cookies but lost his humor when he glanced over his shoulder and spotted the little crowd around the edge of the building. The guys were being nosy and chances are Hank will know Tess was here before the end of the day. "Listen, I don't have a whole lot of time..."
"I know, me too." She scooped coleslaw onto his plate and helped herself. "I've got to get back and input all the stuff from 1989. There was just so much done that year. And with Max being sick and all..."
Michael's head turned back sharply. "Max is sick?" That was definitely news considering he'd only seen him first thing this morning and Max was healthiest person he knew. He, Max and Isabel have had to fake illnesses in the past cause people found it strange that they never got sick.
"Yeah, but denied it." She shook her head and pulled out thick little squares of napkins, spreading one across her lap.
"He denied it?" concern still etched on his face.
"Yeah, but his face was all flushed and he felt hot to the touch."
Michael tilted his head; eyes watching Tess for a moment trying to imagine what could of happened. "What was he doing?"
"Inputting data, like I was. He wanted some pictures from Hubble, the satellite telescope. I handed it to him and then he was all flushed and squirming around in his seat." She shrugged. "Is he always so stubborn about things like that?"
"He's stubborn," Michael murmured softly. "But not about things like this," then glanced over just in time to see the light catch in her hair. She leaned over and brushed off some dirt from the edge of the blanket, pulling the stretchy material of her top across her chest. Knowing Max's rather unusual reaction to Tess, Michael finally put together the puzzle with a grin. "I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. I'm sure he's fine." He couldn't help but chuckle. "Nothing a long shower wouldn't cure in a hurry."
"Huh?"
"Nothing," deciding it was better to keep her ignorant of this.
Passing him a cup of juice, she pulled a small bottle of Tabasco sauce from her purse. Glancing warningly at him, "Don't laugh or gag or even react." Then poured a good amount into her orange juice.
Michael merely raised a brow before taking the bottle from her before she could slip it back into her purse like some guilty drug. As she watched surprised, he poured some into his own cup and dropped the near empty mini bottle into her purse. "I'm glad you brought it since I'm all out." Tess looked at him disbelieving him until he took a large bracing gulp of it. "You going to feed me any of that?"
She shook her head at him laughingly and offered her the container with the chicken in it. They ate quietly for a moment, enjoying the warm sun and ease company for a moment. She passed him little packets of hot pepper and was much amused when he poured two of them onto his chicken leg and offered, "I like spicy stuff."
"Are we going to talk about last night or what?" he asked, wiping his hands on the napkins and frowned at the little wet-naps she placed on his knees. "I work at a garage, dirty, greasy hands are the least of my concerns."
"Sure, we can talk about last night." She lifted her head and looked at him straight. "What the hell was it?"
"What?" not sure where she was beginning at.
"That person... thing... out there, watching us." She shuddered. "It was creepy."
"Skin crawling," he watched her careful, noting that her eyes weren't lying about her fears. "I guess wasn't exactly the best place to meet up with the unknown."
"Where is?" she asked, frowning seriously. "Michael, did you know what it was?"
He had theories, lots of them that didn't bode well for himself and Max and Isabel. But there was no need to offer these to her. "No idea."
She watched his eyes, noting that they didn't blink. Liars are notoriously difficult to spot if they were good at what they did. But she didn't believe Michael to be a bad person, and she highly doubted that he could lie straight face without a blink. Unless he's gotten use to doing so.
Like she's been.
"Michael," she began to pack up the picnic. She found it easier to talk when her hands were busy. "I would really appreciate it if we don't mention this to my sister. She's kind of a little cautious and over protective when it comes to me. For some reason, she doesn't really like you very much and..."
"She's got reason to," he interrupted.
"No she doesn't," shaking here head as she closed the containers. "She doesn't even know you."
"My reputation precedes me."
"While I'm sure you desire much of it and I think you take delight in knowing that half the school lives in fear of you," she grinned at him knowingly, "Every story has two sides and I doubt you've bothered to tell your side of it so let's not even go there."
Michael laughed, delighted with her.
"Look, I don't want Maria to have another reason to not like you."
"Does that mean you like me?" he asked suggestively.
"Once a flirt," she brushed off a few crumbs on his lap and lifted her eyes to him. "We're friends."
"We can do friends," he nodded his head, offering his hand as he stood. "And yeah, I want to keep this quiet too. No need to get me into any more trouble with the Sheriff."
"Call me if he give you a hard time, okay?" she said quietly. "And... I know that it's probably nothing but let's be cautious. No one has a reason to be watching us," at least no one has a reason to be watching him. Her, on the other hand...
Michael nodded his head in agreement, glancing at his watch. "Yeah, cautions." He didn't worry too much about her; she's got nothing to hide. But him? That's another story. "I'll walk you out."
"Well what do we have here?" the loud slurred voice was like a bucket of ice water.
If Michael were a weaker creature, he'd grabbed Tess's hand and run. But because he wasn't, and more than a little rebellious by nature, he turned to confront Hank hoping his father wasn't drunk. No such luck. "Just taking a little lunch break."
"Who's the little blonde?" Hank leered.
He didn't want to introduce them, didn't want Hank to sully Tess in any way. But Tess was polite by nature and raised to always respect elders. Sunny smile and out stretched hand, "Hi, I'm Tess."
"Tess," taking the little pale hand, engulfing it into his big one. "Ain't you the one Michael took to that school thing?" and tugged her forward until she could smell the alcohol on his breath. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing with a useless piece of..."
"That's enough, Hank," tugging Tess back and placing himself bodily between the two of them. "She's just leaving." Hoping, praying, that his drunken father would just keep his mouth shut.
"Finally wised up did she?" Hank slurred and then turned to stumble back to the garage for more beer. "Knew she would."
Michael watched him for a moment, making sure he was really gone before letting out the breath he didn't even know he had been holding. Turning around, he wasn't sure what to expect.
Tess stood there white faced and stunned speechless. "Michael, was that..."
"My dad," he finished with a sigh. "You really should go now. He's going to be a bad mood for the rest the afternoon now. I'd rather you didn't mention this to anyone." The concern in her eyes made him cringe. "It's okay, I'm sure to it." Then the sympathy he didn't want entered. "Don't."
"But Michael..."
"Tess, I'm fine." He helped her pick up the blanket, folded it neatly and walked her around the building, keeping a cautious eye on things. "Don't worry about me."
"But he..."
"Don't worry about it," he pushed her to go. "I'll talk to you at school."
She looked as if she wanted to say something more but held her tongue. Nodding her head, she walked slowly away, feeling his eyes on her the entire time. When she finally left his light of sight, she jogged lightly to the nearest phone booth. Glancing at her watch, she dialed home. After three rings, much to her disappointment, the answer machine picked up. "Mom, it's Tess. I need to talk to you about something. Could you call me at work? I'll explain when I hear from you. Love you. Talk to you soon. Bye."
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Amy shook her head but tried again to reason with her daughter as she drove. "Tess, I know that you think you're onto something here but..."
"He was drunk Mom," Tess stated again firmly. "Who drinks to a stupor at one in the afternoon?" She had had more than enough time earlier after leaving the garage to consider brief but enlightening encounter.
"Tess..." Not sure how to go about this. "It could have been cold medicine or..."
"No it wasn't. I know alcohol when I smell it."
For a usually passive girl, Tess could be quite firm when she wanted to be. Coming come at a near dead run, she had immediately demanded that her mother got into the car and help her rescue Michael. Maria, thinking it all a great joke, had burst into laugher before receiving a growl from her sister that silenced her quickly.
"You're serious?" Maria had asked, her hands paused over placing plates on the table.
"Mom," ignoring the incredulous look from her sister, "We have to go now. I've got this really bad feeling and it's been there all afternoon. I know he's in trouble, I just know it," tugging at her mother's arm as Amy hastily put the pot down in fear of scalding her daughter with hot soup.
There had been a fifteen-minute argument where Amy Harding watched her usually docile daughter turned into a rampant tigress. Words that Amy hadn't even known Tess were aware of came pouring out of that perfect Cupid's bow mouth. The woman in her had been amused to know that her child was growing up outside the box but the mother in her had been... amused as well. It was so unlike dainty little Tess that she couldn't help but laugh at a rather inopportune moment of Tess's conclusion of what was happening in the Guerin home. That had sent Tess's into a cold fury like nothing either women had seen before. Nothing would calm her until the car keys were fetched and Maria's promise to call the police if they aren't back in an hour with Michael.
"Tess," her mother began again as she frowned at a rather familiar part of town that she didn't like very much. "I know that you're trying to help and all but please don't be disappointed if it turned out to be nothing at all. I don't want you to think that..."
"I'm not going to, Mom." Tess's eyes scanned the area, watching for the trailer park sign. "This is about Michael, not me."
"As long as we're being sensible about this," Amy added, making the turn into the trailer park and coming upon a horrible scene that made her promise never to doubt Tess ever again when it comes the girl's intuitive nature.
The car's headlights helped to illuminate area where Michael had just come put of the door of his home with his father close behind. Trash bags in both hands, the teen had obviously been trying valiantly to ignore whatever his father was shouting at him. Dumping the trash into the community bins, he turned just as the older man's fist swung up, making contact with Michael's handsome face. The blow had enough force behind it to lift the tall teenager off the ground and send him crashing into the trash bins behind him.
"MICHAEL!" Tess screamed and scrambled out the door before Amy could even stop the car properly.
"TESS!" Amy made an unsuccessfully grab for her daughter's arm before having to apply herself to stopping the damn car that was currently still rolling forward.
Without thought, Tess launched herself at Hank Guerin, grabbing the man's overly muscular arms, attempting to draw him back from hitting Michael's again with those ham like fists. "STOP IT! STOP IT!" when Hank's next blow caught Michael in the shoulder while he was attempting to get up. Her little fist, the one hand that wasn't currently curled around his forearm, was making very little headway in getting his attention until she remember something about pressure puts and landed one good blow to the side of Hank's neck.
Hollering in pain, "You little brat," and backhanded Tess so hard that she saw stars for a moment before landed rather roughly on her rear end in the dirt. She blinked several times to clear her vision, having never been struck before.
Michael plowed into Hank's right side just as another blow was about to descend onto Tess's still stunned head even as they heard Amy screeched outrage. Two male bodies slammed to the ground, kicking, punching, biting, and in general, trying to deliver as much pain as humanly possible. Hank may be wider, stronger and meaner, but Michael was younger, more agile and determined that the older man got nowhere near Tess again.
Amy crashed to her knees by her daughter's side and tried to ask if she was all right. But Tess's vision had cleared by then and the wrestling bodies riveted her eyes three feet from her outstretched legs. Screaming bloody murder, she got to her feet intent on helping Michael, who had just taken a vicious elbow to the ribs, but Amy held her back all the while wondering where all the nosy neighbors were that no one was coming out to help. Then she remembered what neighborhood she was in.
Running to the side of the house, Amy grabbed the long forgotten wooden flag pole by the side of the trailer door and turned to deliver some real hurt onto the man that had dared to lay a hand on her daughter. No one but no one touched her girls.
But Michael had the situation under control... once he recovered his breath again after the fist to the stomach. When Tess distracted Hank long enough with a solid kick in the kidney from her standing position over the two men-though Michael just about had a heart attack when he saw how close she had gotten to them and how they could have accidentally rolled her into the fray-he pulled back his fist and delivered a blow that had more juice in it than what met the naked eye. But the flash of power was minimal, there and gone before anyone was wise to it.
He rolled way from his would-be father as Hank lost consciousness from the knockout punch and got to his feet quickly. Both women were staring in shock at the prone figure laying spread eagle in the dirt. There was going to be hell to pay when Hank woke up but that was something Michael will have to deal with... alone... later. Right now, there were more important things to take care of.
Grabbing Amy and Tess by the arms, he dragged them away from the scene of the fight toward their little sunshine yellow Honda. Shoving Mrs. Harding toward the driver's side, he all but carried Tess to the passenger side. Yanking the door open, Michael attempted to shove the little blonde into the car but was momentarily distracted by the redness that covered half her face in the shape of a man's fist. His stomach churned at the sight of such violence on someone that didn't deserve it.
"Go, get out of here before he wakes," pushing her a little more gently into the car.
Tess grabbed the doorframe and shook her head. "Not without you."
"This doesn't concern you, Tess," he said, prying her fingers from the door.
"But it does concern me," Amy's voice was shaking but firm. She's seen much in her career as a social worker but never has her children been involved in any of it. "Get in the car, Michael. You're coming with us."
Shaking her head, Michael again tried to get Tess in the car. "Look, I appreciate the concern and all but you two shouldn't be here. This isn't your problem, I can handle it on my own."
"You shouldn't have to," Amy said with anger now that she's had a moment to reflect. "No child should have to deal with any of it." She came around the car and opened to the door to the back seat and pulled Michael by the arm. "Get in."
"I can't," being bigger and stronger, he had no problems resisting Amy's attempt at shoving him into the car. "For better or worse, he's my dad."
"For better or worse, I'm with the DCFS and I cannot ignore the fact that your father just hit you without warning," Amy put her back into trying to push against the near solid rock that was Michael Guerin's body. "Plus there is the little fact that he just knocked my daughter silly."
Michael grabbed the door to keep from falling over. "Look, I..."
Amy stopped and panted her exhaustion at having not being able to get the stubborn boy into the car. "We're not leaving here without you. I won't do it."
"You've got your daughter to think about," he shot back without any resentment.
"Tess understands," Amy said with conviction.
Tess's hand touched Michael's arm from over the doorframe, being his attention to her. Her pretty porcelain doll face was already beginning to swell up. By morning, Michael had no doubt that it was going to be black and blue. Her mournful eyes stared at him. "Please Michael."
Looking over Amy's shoulder at Hank, still sprawled on the ground, he didn't know why he was hesitating. The man was vicious, like a bully out for the fun, but he was also the only family Michael's ever had in life. Without Hank, he wasn't sure what he would do. Plus without a family here, DCFS could send him away from Roswell, away from Max and Isabel.
The small dainty hand on his arm tightened and he looked down into a pair of eyes that promised something. "Mom wouldn't let them take you away from here. You'll have Roswell... and me, if nothing else."
He didn't know why but he believed her. He wanted to believe her, to believe in something better than the constant fear in his life. He wanted to leave.
"Come home with us," Amy added quietly, sensing that Tess was getting through where she wasn't.
He looked up at her, dark eyes touched with a hint of fear, like a cornered animal at the last chance of survival. "You won't make me leave Roswell?"
She nodded, seeing his hand close unconsciously over the smaller one on his arm. "You won't leave Roswell," reached out pull Tess around the backseat door and pushed her gently toward Michael. She wasn't above using her child to save the young man she could see having a genuinely good heart. "You have my word on it."
Looking over at Hank once more, Michael nodded slowly. "Let's get out of here then."
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TBC...
(Okay, I'm going to do one of those educational after the show things now, so bear with me.)
DCFS stands for Department of Child and Family Services, a.k.a. Social Services. Thousands of children are abused everyday by parents, guardians, foster parents and other adult who care not that these children are helpless. If you know someone that is in a situation where they are being physically, mentally or emotional abuse, please contact your local Department of Child and Family Services, located on the web or by dialing 411. Thanks.
By Didi
Disclaimer: Haaa.... Haaa.... Haaa.... Oh, you were serious about this? Sorry, my bad. Okay, ah-hem, I do not own Roswell or any of the associated characters, situations and such. This story is written purely for entertainment purposely. (And once you've read how bad it is, it will definitely give you a laugh or two.) Please do not sue me, I only have two stuffed frogs and a couple of Care Bears that I just adore and do not plan on giving up. You can have the lint in my pocket though. Thank you.
Timeline: Roswell redone, my way. Take it back to the beginning and turn just about everything upside down and inside out. For background... read the preceding chapters first. Makes sense to read a story from the beginning, right?
Warning: This chapter contains some violence and issues of sensitive nature. Viewer's discretion is advised.
Rating: R for restriction. Read the above warning for why.
Author's Note: This chapter is all about Michael. (Sigh) If you can't tell yet, he is one of my favorite characters. I enjoyed first season's play on his character and his family life so I decided that I was going to keep it
Summary: Michael and Tess talk. Hank meets Tess. Amy steps in.
*Thoughts* "Spoken"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 11 - Intervention
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stepping over an old and torn tire, Tess plastered a smile on her face as she spotted a nicely firm butt incased in dirty jeans poking out of the bonnet of a sweet little European car. The sight of the middle age woman in way too much make-up flirting up a storm with the irritated Michael only served to lightened Tess's mood even more. Smiling delightfully, she decided that she's been on the receiving end of uneasy feelings long enough today. Now it was someone else's turn.
Dropping the bag of food she had brought along behind an old truck, Tess took her jacket off and played with her hair for a moment. She glanced around before fixing her makeup with a quick wave over her face. Feeling ready, she walked toward the pair, hips swaying gently, and eyes sultry with fun. When she made an effort, Tess had what Maria described as the Marilyn Monroe bedroom look.
The older woman's face fell as she spotted the pretty blonde walking their way, those blue eyes obviously appreciative of the assets she herself had been admiring. Young, fresh, beautiful... it was apparent what she was.
Flashing the obviously waiting customer a wickedly fun look which was not returned, Tess slid her hand over the curve of Michael's upper thigh, causing the would-be mechanic to start and hit his head against the lifted hood.
Cursing loudly and fluently in Spanish, which surprised the hell out of Tess, Michael turned ready to verbally blast the irritating Mrs. Steineke and was completely ill prepared for the brilliantly twinkling blue eyes that looked up at him. For a moment, he was too stunned to say a word. Then, "Tessa!"
Giggling, she turned so that she faced him alone and angled at sly look over her shoulders. "Surprised to see me, darling?"
Michael, no dummy no matter what his father... Hank says, caught on quickly. Wiping his greasy hands hastily on his equally greasy jeans, he grabbed Tess around the neck and pulled her into a hot, tongue-sweeping kiss that raised the temper of more than one observer. Too bad neither one felt more than momentary distraction from it.
Pulling back slowly, her hand lingering on the band of his jeans, tracing a line along the tilt of his hip suggestively, Tess grinned up at him full of fun and amusement. She knew how the play the game even if she didn't have any emotions, other than pure mischief, behind it. "Now that's what I call a proper hello."
The wicked chuckles from the very appreciative crowd, minus one very disgruntled middle age woman hoping for a little extramarital fun, could be clearly heard as Michael tugged Tess away from Mrs. Steineke. "Excuse us for a moment," then pulled Tess into the shaded garage and away from the roving eyes of his fellow mechanics. "Hey, thanks for the save."
"I thought you'd be," she dimpled up at him. "And I can see why the girls all think you're all that and a bag of chips." She pointed out into the sunny spot by the phone. "I brought lunch but had to leave it for the entrance I put on."
"Thanks," he looked over at the now impatient Mrs. Steineke, "I'll be done in another minute. Why don't you set up on the bed of the green truck? I'll be there in a moment."
"Sounds like a plan," then practically skipped out of the covering, flashing Mrs. Steineke a smile that was pure sweet innocence.
Taking a deep breath, and feeling a lot safer with Tess as his cover, Michael went back to work on the emissions valve. With any luck, it was just a clog valve and not a crack pipe, which would take too long to fix. "It'll just be another minute, Mrs. Steineke."
The high price perm bobbed for a moment. "Your girlfriend?"
"She's something," Michael answered ambiguously but gave plenty of impressions.
"Cute girl," she replied reluctantly.
"Yes she is," Michael removed the defective part and inspected it carefully. As he thought for the back logged sound when she drove in, it was a clog valve. Two minutes and he'll be ready to take a break until the next customer comes. It's been a slow day for a weekend. "This will only take a minute to clean out and be refitted."
"Take your time," she said. She may not get an affair out of this but she could still enjoy the nice view the kid was offering as he leaned over the engine to replace the part.
Dropping the hood, he wiped his hands clean before writing out the bill, taking the offered check and unsolicited card with her personal number on it, and watch Mrs. Steineke with her hundred dollar high heeled shoes drive off in a BMW that was ignored mechanically until it makes noise. Michael always judged people by how they treat their cars, that that woman was bad new.
Stepping around several gutted cars and the garage building, all the while ignoring the comments from the guys that were rude and embarrassing if Tess ever heard them only to find out later that she did, he was surprised at the nice little picnic that Tess had created. Spreading a big yellow blanket that Michael seemed to vaguely recognize on the truck bed, she laid out fried chicken, coleslaw, and some dainty fruits in a clear plastic bowel and orange juice in cups. Gesturing for him to join her, she tucked her legs under her and greeted him with a smile.
"Mrs. Robinson gone?"
Confusion clouded his eyes for a moment as he joined her on the blanket. "Mrs. Who?"
"Robinson," she giggled. "From 'The Graduate?' With Dustin Hoffman?" When that failed to help enlighten him, she shook her head. "Never mind."
"How did you do this?" taking the offered chicken leg.
"The blanket was hung over there so I borrowed it. I called the little ma and pa restaurant on Durango Drive and asked them to help out. They were so nice, thought it was sweet that I wanted to do a picnic with my 'boyfriend.' I didn't correct them of the impression." She reached into the bag and pulled out a plastic sandwich bag. "Look, they even put in heart shaped cookies."
He grinned at her obvious delight over the pink sprinkle covered cookies but lost his humor when he glanced over his shoulder and spotted the little crowd around the edge of the building. The guys were being nosy and chances are Hank will know Tess was here before the end of the day. "Listen, I don't have a whole lot of time..."
"I know, me too." She scooped coleslaw onto his plate and helped herself. "I've got to get back and input all the stuff from 1989. There was just so much done that year. And with Max being sick and all..."
Michael's head turned back sharply. "Max is sick?" That was definitely news considering he'd only seen him first thing this morning and Max was healthiest person he knew. He, Max and Isabel have had to fake illnesses in the past cause people found it strange that they never got sick.
"Yeah, but denied it." She shook her head and pulled out thick little squares of napkins, spreading one across her lap.
"He denied it?" concern still etched on his face.
"Yeah, but his face was all flushed and he felt hot to the touch."
Michael tilted his head; eyes watching Tess for a moment trying to imagine what could of happened. "What was he doing?"
"Inputting data, like I was. He wanted some pictures from Hubble, the satellite telescope. I handed it to him and then he was all flushed and squirming around in his seat." She shrugged. "Is he always so stubborn about things like that?"
"He's stubborn," Michael murmured softly. "But not about things like this," then glanced over just in time to see the light catch in her hair. She leaned over and brushed off some dirt from the edge of the blanket, pulling the stretchy material of her top across her chest. Knowing Max's rather unusual reaction to Tess, Michael finally put together the puzzle with a grin. "I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. I'm sure he's fine." He couldn't help but chuckle. "Nothing a long shower wouldn't cure in a hurry."
"Huh?"
"Nothing," deciding it was better to keep her ignorant of this.
Passing him a cup of juice, she pulled a small bottle of Tabasco sauce from her purse. Glancing warningly at him, "Don't laugh or gag or even react." Then poured a good amount into her orange juice.
Michael merely raised a brow before taking the bottle from her before she could slip it back into her purse like some guilty drug. As she watched surprised, he poured some into his own cup and dropped the near empty mini bottle into her purse. "I'm glad you brought it since I'm all out." Tess looked at him disbelieving him until he took a large bracing gulp of it. "You going to feed me any of that?"
She shook her head at him laughingly and offered her the container with the chicken in it. They ate quietly for a moment, enjoying the warm sun and ease company for a moment. She passed him little packets of hot pepper and was much amused when he poured two of them onto his chicken leg and offered, "I like spicy stuff."
"Are we going to talk about last night or what?" he asked, wiping his hands on the napkins and frowned at the little wet-naps she placed on his knees. "I work at a garage, dirty, greasy hands are the least of my concerns."
"Sure, we can talk about last night." She lifted her head and looked at him straight. "What the hell was it?"
"What?" not sure where she was beginning at.
"That person... thing... out there, watching us." She shuddered. "It was creepy."
"Skin crawling," he watched her careful, noting that her eyes weren't lying about her fears. "I guess wasn't exactly the best place to meet up with the unknown."
"Where is?" she asked, frowning seriously. "Michael, did you know what it was?"
He had theories, lots of them that didn't bode well for himself and Max and Isabel. But there was no need to offer these to her. "No idea."
She watched his eyes, noting that they didn't blink. Liars are notoriously difficult to spot if they were good at what they did. But she didn't believe Michael to be a bad person, and she highly doubted that he could lie straight face without a blink. Unless he's gotten use to doing so.
Like she's been.
"Michael," she began to pack up the picnic. She found it easier to talk when her hands were busy. "I would really appreciate it if we don't mention this to my sister. She's kind of a little cautious and over protective when it comes to me. For some reason, she doesn't really like you very much and..."
"She's got reason to," he interrupted.
"No she doesn't," shaking here head as she closed the containers. "She doesn't even know you."
"My reputation precedes me."
"While I'm sure you desire much of it and I think you take delight in knowing that half the school lives in fear of you," she grinned at him knowingly, "Every story has two sides and I doubt you've bothered to tell your side of it so let's not even go there."
Michael laughed, delighted with her.
"Look, I don't want Maria to have another reason to not like you."
"Does that mean you like me?" he asked suggestively.
"Once a flirt," she brushed off a few crumbs on his lap and lifted her eyes to him. "We're friends."
"We can do friends," he nodded his head, offering his hand as he stood. "And yeah, I want to keep this quiet too. No need to get me into any more trouble with the Sheriff."
"Call me if he give you a hard time, okay?" she said quietly. "And... I know that it's probably nothing but let's be cautious. No one has a reason to be watching us," at least no one has a reason to be watching him. Her, on the other hand...
Michael nodded his head in agreement, glancing at his watch. "Yeah, cautions." He didn't worry too much about her; she's got nothing to hide. But him? That's another story. "I'll walk you out."
"Well what do we have here?" the loud slurred voice was like a bucket of ice water.
If Michael were a weaker creature, he'd grabbed Tess's hand and run. But because he wasn't, and more than a little rebellious by nature, he turned to confront Hank hoping his father wasn't drunk. No such luck. "Just taking a little lunch break."
"Who's the little blonde?" Hank leered.
He didn't want to introduce them, didn't want Hank to sully Tess in any way. But Tess was polite by nature and raised to always respect elders. Sunny smile and out stretched hand, "Hi, I'm Tess."
"Tess," taking the little pale hand, engulfing it into his big one. "Ain't you the one Michael took to that school thing?" and tugged her forward until she could smell the alcohol on his breath. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing with a useless piece of..."
"That's enough, Hank," tugging Tess back and placing himself bodily between the two of them. "She's just leaving." Hoping, praying, that his drunken father would just keep his mouth shut.
"Finally wised up did she?" Hank slurred and then turned to stumble back to the garage for more beer. "Knew she would."
Michael watched him for a moment, making sure he was really gone before letting out the breath he didn't even know he had been holding. Turning around, he wasn't sure what to expect.
Tess stood there white faced and stunned speechless. "Michael, was that..."
"My dad," he finished with a sigh. "You really should go now. He's going to be a bad mood for the rest the afternoon now. I'd rather you didn't mention this to anyone." The concern in her eyes made him cringe. "It's okay, I'm sure to it." Then the sympathy he didn't want entered. "Don't."
"But Michael..."
"Tess, I'm fine." He helped her pick up the blanket, folded it neatly and walked her around the building, keeping a cautious eye on things. "Don't worry about me."
"But he..."
"Don't worry about it," he pushed her to go. "I'll talk to you at school."
She looked as if she wanted to say something more but held her tongue. Nodding her head, she walked slowly away, feeling his eyes on her the entire time. When she finally left his light of sight, she jogged lightly to the nearest phone booth. Glancing at her watch, she dialed home. After three rings, much to her disappointment, the answer machine picked up. "Mom, it's Tess. I need to talk to you about something. Could you call me at work? I'll explain when I hear from you. Love you. Talk to you soon. Bye."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy shook her head but tried again to reason with her daughter as she drove. "Tess, I know that you think you're onto something here but..."
"He was drunk Mom," Tess stated again firmly. "Who drinks to a stupor at one in the afternoon?" She had had more than enough time earlier after leaving the garage to consider brief but enlightening encounter.
"Tess..." Not sure how to go about this. "It could have been cold medicine or..."
"No it wasn't. I know alcohol when I smell it."
For a usually passive girl, Tess could be quite firm when she wanted to be. Coming come at a near dead run, she had immediately demanded that her mother got into the car and help her rescue Michael. Maria, thinking it all a great joke, had burst into laugher before receiving a growl from her sister that silenced her quickly.
"You're serious?" Maria had asked, her hands paused over placing plates on the table.
"Mom," ignoring the incredulous look from her sister, "We have to go now. I've got this really bad feeling and it's been there all afternoon. I know he's in trouble, I just know it," tugging at her mother's arm as Amy hastily put the pot down in fear of scalding her daughter with hot soup.
There had been a fifteen-minute argument where Amy Harding watched her usually docile daughter turned into a rampant tigress. Words that Amy hadn't even known Tess were aware of came pouring out of that perfect Cupid's bow mouth. The woman in her had been amused to know that her child was growing up outside the box but the mother in her had been... amused as well. It was so unlike dainty little Tess that she couldn't help but laugh at a rather inopportune moment of Tess's conclusion of what was happening in the Guerin home. That had sent Tess's into a cold fury like nothing either women had seen before. Nothing would calm her until the car keys were fetched and Maria's promise to call the police if they aren't back in an hour with Michael.
"Tess," her mother began again as she frowned at a rather familiar part of town that she didn't like very much. "I know that you're trying to help and all but please don't be disappointed if it turned out to be nothing at all. I don't want you to think that..."
"I'm not going to, Mom." Tess's eyes scanned the area, watching for the trailer park sign. "This is about Michael, not me."
"As long as we're being sensible about this," Amy added, making the turn into the trailer park and coming upon a horrible scene that made her promise never to doubt Tess ever again when it comes the girl's intuitive nature.
The car's headlights helped to illuminate area where Michael had just come put of the door of his home with his father close behind. Trash bags in both hands, the teen had obviously been trying valiantly to ignore whatever his father was shouting at him. Dumping the trash into the community bins, he turned just as the older man's fist swung up, making contact with Michael's handsome face. The blow had enough force behind it to lift the tall teenager off the ground and send him crashing into the trash bins behind him.
"MICHAEL!" Tess screamed and scrambled out the door before Amy could even stop the car properly.
"TESS!" Amy made an unsuccessfully grab for her daughter's arm before having to apply herself to stopping the damn car that was currently still rolling forward.
Without thought, Tess launched herself at Hank Guerin, grabbing the man's overly muscular arms, attempting to draw him back from hitting Michael's again with those ham like fists. "STOP IT! STOP IT!" when Hank's next blow caught Michael in the shoulder while he was attempting to get up. Her little fist, the one hand that wasn't currently curled around his forearm, was making very little headway in getting his attention until she remember something about pressure puts and landed one good blow to the side of Hank's neck.
Hollering in pain, "You little brat," and backhanded Tess so hard that she saw stars for a moment before landed rather roughly on her rear end in the dirt. She blinked several times to clear her vision, having never been struck before.
Michael plowed into Hank's right side just as another blow was about to descend onto Tess's still stunned head even as they heard Amy screeched outrage. Two male bodies slammed to the ground, kicking, punching, biting, and in general, trying to deliver as much pain as humanly possible. Hank may be wider, stronger and meaner, but Michael was younger, more agile and determined that the older man got nowhere near Tess again.
Amy crashed to her knees by her daughter's side and tried to ask if she was all right. But Tess's vision had cleared by then and the wrestling bodies riveted her eyes three feet from her outstretched legs. Screaming bloody murder, she got to her feet intent on helping Michael, who had just taken a vicious elbow to the ribs, but Amy held her back all the while wondering where all the nosy neighbors were that no one was coming out to help. Then she remembered what neighborhood she was in.
Running to the side of the house, Amy grabbed the long forgotten wooden flag pole by the side of the trailer door and turned to deliver some real hurt onto the man that had dared to lay a hand on her daughter. No one but no one touched her girls.
But Michael had the situation under control... once he recovered his breath again after the fist to the stomach. When Tess distracted Hank long enough with a solid kick in the kidney from her standing position over the two men-though Michael just about had a heart attack when he saw how close she had gotten to them and how they could have accidentally rolled her into the fray-he pulled back his fist and delivered a blow that had more juice in it than what met the naked eye. But the flash of power was minimal, there and gone before anyone was wise to it.
He rolled way from his would-be father as Hank lost consciousness from the knockout punch and got to his feet quickly. Both women were staring in shock at the prone figure laying spread eagle in the dirt. There was going to be hell to pay when Hank woke up but that was something Michael will have to deal with... alone... later. Right now, there were more important things to take care of.
Grabbing Amy and Tess by the arms, he dragged them away from the scene of the fight toward their little sunshine yellow Honda. Shoving Mrs. Harding toward the driver's side, he all but carried Tess to the passenger side. Yanking the door open, Michael attempted to shove the little blonde into the car but was momentarily distracted by the redness that covered half her face in the shape of a man's fist. His stomach churned at the sight of such violence on someone that didn't deserve it.
"Go, get out of here before he wakes," pushing her a little more gently into the car.
Tess grabbed the doorframe and shook her head. "Not without you."
"This doesn't concern you, Tess," he said, prying her fingers from the door.
"But it does concern me," Amy's voice was shaking but firm. She's seen much in her career as a social worker but never has her children been involved in any of it. "Get in the car, Michael. You're coming with us."
Shaking her head, Michael again tried to get Tess in the car. "Look, I appreciate the concern and all but you two shouldn't be here. This isn't your problem, I can handle it on my own."
"You shouldn't have to," Amy said with anger now that she's had a moment to reflect. "No child should have to deal with any of it." She came around the car and opened to the door to the back seat and pulled Michael by the arm. "Get in."
"I can't," being bigger and stronger, he had no problems resisting Amy's attempt at shoving him into the car. "For better or worse, he's my dad."
"For better or worse, I'm with the DCFS and I cannot ignore the fact that your father just hit you without warning," Amy put her back into trying to push against the near solid rock that was Michael Guerin's body. "Plus there is the little fact that he just knocked my daughter silly."
Michael grabbed the door to keep from falling over. "Look, I..."
Amy stopped and panted her exhaustion at having not being able to get the stubborn boy into the car. "We're not leaving here without you. I won't do it."
"You've got your daughter to think about," he shot back without any resentment.
"Tess understands," Amy said with conviction.
Tess's hand touched Michael's arm from over the doorframe, being his attention to her. Her pretty porcelain doll face was already beginning to swell up. By morning, Michael had no doubt that it was going to be black and blue. Her mournful eyes stared at him. "Please Michael."
Looking over Amy's shoulder at Hank, still sprawled on the ground, he didn't know why he was hesitating. The man was vicious, like a bully out for the fun, but he was also the only family Michael's ever had in life. Without Hank, he wasn't sure what he would do. Plus without a family here, DCFS could send him away from Roswell, away from Max and Isabel.
The small dainty hand on his arm tightened and he looked down into a pair of eyes that promised something. "Mom wouldn't let them take you away from here. You'll have Roswell... and me, if nothing else."
He didn't know why but he believed her. He wanted to believe her, to believe in something better than the constant fear in his life. He wanted to leave.
"Come home with us," Amy added quietly, sensing that Tess was getting through where she wasn't.
He looked up at her, dark eyes touched with a hint of fear, like a cornered animal at the last chance of survival. "You won't make me leave Roswell?"
She nodded, seeing his hand close unconsciously over the smaller one on his arm. "You won't leave Roswell," reached out pull Tess around the backseat door and pushed her gently toward Michael. She wasn't above using her child to save the young man she could see having a genuinely good heart. "You have my word on it."
Looking over at Hank once more, Michael nodded slowly. "Let's get out of here then."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TBC...
(Okay, I'm going to do one of those educational after the show things now, so bear with me.)
DCFS stands for Department of Child and Family Services, a.k.a. Social Services. Thousands of children are abused everyday by parents, guardians, foster parents and other adult who care not that these children are helpless. If you know someone that is in a situation where they are being physically, mentally or emotional abuse, please contact your local Department of Child and Family Services, located on the web or by dialing 411. Thanks.