Author: Candylovespell (aka Sparkleglow)
Title: Lost In America.
Category: M/M (yes, I'm addicted to candy) + group
Rating: R
Summary: Post-Graduation; it's my not too serious take on what they'd do to survive. It's more dull domestic detail than action adventure.
Author's note: I've taken liberties with, among other things, the landscape, the law and the timescale. It's my first fic and I'm experimenting a bit, particularly in some of the sex scenes. I've read zillions of fics, so I realize how feeble this is compared with the talent out there. Be warned - it's very long . . ..
Chapter 1: Breakfast Time
The silence in the van had been unbroken since they'd fled Roswell and cold dawn was still a couple of hours away when Maria sighed heavily and lifted her head from Michael's warm shoulder.
"Gotta pee, Max, so find somewhere to pull over soon, girlfriend," she said, catching Michael's glance in a brief flash of nostalgia for their first road trip.
"Food would be good, too, I'm starving, Maxwell."
"Michael, Maria - we can't afford to stop now, we've got to put as much distance as we can between us and the FBI! If we stop anywhere people will remember us and the Feds'll be on our trail." Max's voice was harsh and impatient, his anxiety plain to them all.
"Well, there's no way Maria's gonna be able to hold out much longer, so come up with a plan, then, Max . No? Ok, we've got to stop sometime, what say we pull off the road before the next gas station, change the plates and the color of the van, then disguise two of us to go buy gas and supplies while the rest of us sneak into the washrooms."
"Good idea, Spaceboy, you Czechoslovakians can use your Samantha/Jeanie/Alien thing to disable the security cameras so there's no record of us."
"Yeah, I need a break, too" added Liz, joining in cautiously now that some action was about to happen. She was still in shock, and Maria's need for a comfort break awoke her own. It seemed, for a moment, to bring her out of the fog of numbness that had engulfed her since they started running for their lives.
Max's mind was still in turmoil, struggling with his anger and shock, but he saw Liz's eyes pleading for him and he reluctantly caved in. How could he deny her anything when he had ruined her life just by being what he was? The other two were sunk in apathy and didn't respond when spoken to, so he drove on until they came to a stand of trees by the side of the road, where he pulled over and waited for a gap in what little traffic was about in the cold pre-dawn darkness.
Maria was first out of the van, shivering, urging them to hurry up with the changes while she kept a lookout for headlights.
The cold air revived Kyle and he watched with interest as Max quickly changed the colour of the van to a rusty red. Michael changed the NM plates to Montana and darkened the window glass at the back and sides. Isobel was still in a daze, but after some prompting from Maria changed her own hair to dirty blonde and shortened it to an unflattering style, adding heavy makeup as an extra disguise. Kyle winced behind her back, but kept his comments to himself.
He was startled when he found her staring at him with a sudden wicked gleam in her eye as she reached out and touched his hair, then waved her hand in front of his face and over his body.
He heard Michael snort behind him and Maria's muffled giggle.
"What? What the hell are you doing to me, Isobel?" he demanded.
"Sssh, don't be such a wimp, I'm just disguising you so we can go get breakfast, Kyle." She grinned unnervingly at him.
He stared at her suspiciously and felt all over his head and face. His hair was longer and - was that a beard? He rushed over to look into the wing mirror. Horrified, he found himself gazing at long, straw colored hair, thick blond eyebrows and a goatee.
"Change it back at once, Isobel Evans," he screeched, "there's no way I'm going to be seen in public like this, I look like a . . . a . . .a . . . God, I don't know what!"
"Oh, I think it looks great, Kyle, it's so you - really brings out the color of your eyes," spluttered Maria hysterically as she leaned against the van for support. " . . . and your clothes . . . can we say urban beach bum? That Hawaiian shirt is to die for!"
"That's enough!" A harsh voice cut through the laughter as Max stared at them in grim disapproval. "We are running for our lives and all you can do is joke around? Have you no thought of the danger we're in? If we get captured . . ."
His voice broke and he turned away in disgust, helping Liz climb back into the van as the others followed exchanging subdued and guilty glances. Even Kyle kept his rebellious muttering for Isobel's now unresponsive ears alone.
Five minutes later Max parked the van in a space as far from the brightly lit rest station as possible and lost control of his temper. In a low, menacing voice, he raged at them for their stupidity and irresponsibility; they should not be stopping yet; their enemies could be on them at any moment. Was he the only one who realized their lives were in danger? Five serious people looked back at him in silence until it was over. Then Michael spoke quietly, his own temper held tightly in check.
" We all know the danger, Max, we were there, too, when they came to kill us last night. I think they would have easily caught up with us by now if they'd really wanted to and that's why I think we have time to stop and take a short break. The longer we leave it, the more tired we'll be later if we do have to fight. Don't worry, we won't stay here too long, but we're gonna do it."
Max turned away and Liz rested her head on his shoulder, reaching for his hand in silent comfort. He didn't respond immediately, but then sighed and relaxed against her.
After she'd changed six of Michael's dollar bills into twenties at his suggestion, Isobel and Kyle made their way to the store for supplies. Before she left the van she had inspected the area for security cameras, spotting some around the store, restaurant and garage areas. She disabled them discreetly as she approached, Kyle trying to shield her movements from the sleepy staff and the few, indifferent customers in the restaurant.
Kyle led the way into the store, distracting the clerk with a question while Isobel stalled the cameras, then they both collected baskets before filling them with basic toiletries, long-life milk, bottled water, coffee, tea, juice, bread, butter, cold chicken and fruit. Kyle shopped for the guys and Isobel for the girls. Isobel remembered the sugar and Tabasco sauce. Kyle remembered that they would need cups and cutlery so he added picnic ware to his basket. Isobel paid the bored clerk from her roll of home-cooked twenties.
Back at the van, they loaded their purchases in through the near-side door, jumping slightly when the other door slid back and Michael climbed in on the far side. He started to paw through the bags until Isobel slapped his hand away, just giving her a teasing smirk before stretching his long length out as comfortably as he could across the back seat and closing his eyes.
Outside again Kyle whispered with a sly grin "Isobel, let's have a proper breakfast in the restaurant, it'll save on the supplies we just bought."
"I'd rather have a hot shower and feel clean." Isobel was sharp. " Besides, we'd better not draw any attention to ourselves right now. It's too close to home". She bit back a sudden sob and Kyle put a comforting arm around her shoulders.
"OK, you go get some shower time and I'll stay here and keep a lookout so Guerin doesn't eat all the supplies. Whoever gets back first can take over from me."
Climbing back into the van, Kyle settled into the front passenger seat and closed his eyes until something hit the side of his head and landed in his lap. He looked down at the banana and then twisted round until he was looking at Michael Guerin crunching an apple with his eyes closed. Peeling the banana, Kyle sighed companionably and said "Girls will be a long time in the shower, so gives us time to talk. What now, Guerin?"
"Gotta push on and make plans. Include the others in that, though I reckon they're still in shock and Max is too wired to be any use as leader for a while. I never thought I'd say this, but it looks like it's gonna be you and me to take care of things, Valenti."
"Yeah, I never thought I'd say this either but I think you're right, Guerin. It's up to us. The girls have to be protected and Max looks to be strung so tight he's gonna need watching."
There was a reflective pause between them and Kyle continued eating the banana while staring out into the dawn-streaked sky.
"This is an incredibly bad situation, but you're taking it real calmly, Guerin. If you don't mind me asking, why is that?"
For a moment he thought he wasn't going to get an answer, but then Michael replied, so softly that Kyle could only just hear him.
" It's because I've been waiting for this all my life, you know, and now it's happened it's . . . almost like relief. I've been running for so long in my mind that it's like I know what to do and where to go without even thinking about it. The only thing I wasn't prepared for is Maria coming along. She's raised the stakes. Now my main aim is keeping her safe."
Just then a side door opened and the cold breeze blew a warm scent of vanilla and lemon into the van, closely followed by Maria DeLuca fresh from a hot shower. Michael promptly froze as she snuggled wordlessly against him and then he melted around her protectively, closing his eyes in grateful appreciation.
Kyle cleared his throat loudly, but before he could comment, a door opened again and Isobel climbed into the driver's seat beside him, muttering irritably. She began to curse her brother and Liz, informing the others that the idiots were glued together outside the washrooms gazing into each others eyes with no thought of FBI trackers and apparently all the time in the world.
Michael began to sit up ready to go drag them apart, but Isobel spotted them drifting dreamily towards the van and waved him back.
"Go make room for the soul mates on the floor and cover yourselves under blankets and shopping - we need gas and you need to hide. And, by the way, we'll need to make another stop later to buy towels and a change of clothes. I'm not going to travel in this van without basic standards of hygiene, Kyle and Michael please note."
She started the engine as Max and Liz piled breathlessly through the door, landing on Michael and Maria with no apology as Isobel accelerated across the almost empty lot and over to the gas pumps. Kyle filled the tank, Isobel went to pay and then they were on the interstate going north again.
The fugitives in the back hastily disentangled themselves and resumed their seats, although this time Maria and Liz sat together in the back, checking through the supplies and talking softly about their families left behind. Max and Michael sat in the side seats staring out the windows, each lost in his own thoughts.
Kyle spent some time idly regretting his missed shower and then found his thoughts focusing firmly on breakfast. He glanced at Isobel driving north efficiently and at a responsible speed, her eyes concentrating on the road ahead, her face blank and her thoughts unreadable. His heart suddenly bled for her and he turned to the others, anxious to distract them all from their thoughts, but Michael beat him to it.
"OK, guys, keep a look out for somewhere we can stop to have a picnic and make some plans. Traffic is getting heavier, so there must be life around here. I guess someplace busy where we can get lost in a crowd would be best or else somewhere secluded where we can hide for a while."
He noticed that they had left the desert behind them and were driving through an area of low, wooded hills, with small towns and roadside businesses scattered along their route.
A few minutes later, Isobel steered the van onto an exit signposted to a town advertising agricultural produce outlets. Ten minutes further along she turned into a side road through some woodland and pulled into a space in front of a gated entrance to a field, turned the vehicle to face the way they'd come and switched off the engine.
There was a collective sigh and everyone slumped back in their seats as if suddenly boneless. Kyle wound his window down and Isobel followed his lead. Silence continued to reign and gradually they became aware of the sounds around them, birdsong, distant traffic, and the rustle of leaves. Clean, cool air swept through the van and revived the occupants enough to stir. They all climbed out and began to stretch cramped muscles and breathe fresh air.
Maria climbed onto the gate and looked over into a grassy meadow. When Michael joined her they turned to each other with the same thought, nodded and, still without speaking, went over to the van and started pulling out blankets and supplies. Isobel was oblivious to this and leaned against the van with her eyes fixed on distant treetops outlined against the blue sky.
Kyle had disappeared among the trees on the other side of the road, answering a call of nature. Max sat on the floor at the side entrance to the van, his arm around a silent Liz, ignoring everyone and lost in his own gloomy thoughts.
Once the blankets were spread on the grass and the food unpacked, Michael brought his alien powers into play. He sat down on the edge of a blanket, pulling Maria down to sit beside him. She loaded two paper plates with bread, butter and cold chicken, as he arranged the sturdy plastic cups within his reach and asked her what she wanted to drink. Maria chose coffee. She watched him in loving approval as he spooned coffee into the cup, added bottled water, heated it up and added milk just the way she liked it. He handed it to her politely and shrugged with feigned indifference as she exclaimed over the improved control of his powers. He made his own cup of coffee, adding sugar and Tabasco sauce, and as he sat enjoying the sweet and spicy concoction he had another idea. He stared at the slice of bread on his plate and held his hand over it, idly concentrating on the molecules at the surface. Soon the delicious smell of hot toast rose in the morning air and he turned the slice to brown the other side. He noticed Maria's admiring grin and presented the toast to her with a flourish. She rewarded him with a soft kiss on his cheek and stroked his thigh in what he suddenly hoped was a promise of future delights.
Their idyll was rudely interrupted by the arrival of the rest of the group, drawn by the smell of toast and coffee. He refused to make toast for anyone else but himself and Maria pointing out, sardonically, that Isobel and Max could make their own and Liz and Kyle would be able to eventually, when their powers kicked in.
"Oh, yeah, Guerin, very funny. If I don't get toast now, I swear you'll BE toast as soon as I get my powers," Kyle threatened amiably. Michael sighed a put-upon sigh and reached for another slice.
Meanwhile, the others had been making their own breakfasts, including the fashionable toast, and soon there was a circle of teens sprawled replete around the remains of the picnic.
Kyle began to pack up the food ready for their next meal, when or wherever it would be, and then they all reluctantly sat up at Maria's insistence to discuss the situation for the first time since their escape from the near- fatal graduation ceremony.
Michael spoke first.
" I've been thinking that there is a place we can go to be safe for a while - "
Max interrupted him angrily.
"Michael, there is no place we can stay and be safe. Our only chance is to keep on the move, try and keep one step ahead of the FBI. If they catch up with us it's the end. I'm not putting Liz or any of you in more danger than we are in right now. I won't listen to any more of your crazy schemes. I won't let you endanger the group. I know I said I'm no longer the king, but it's still my responsibility to keep you safe. No arguments. We keep on the move and head for Boston. We can mingle with all the new students there in the Fall and maybe Liz, Isobel and I can find some way to take classes and the rest of you can find work."
Outraged herself by this speech, Maria desperately clung to Michael's arm and sent him soothing vibes in an attempt to get him to remain calm. Kyle, on his other side, sent him a look warning him not to react. Both were happily surprised to find that their efforts were apparently successful as Michael suddenly relaxed and put his arm comfortingly around Maria, while giving Kyle a slight, reassuring nod.
Isobel was glaring furiously at her brother.
"Boston, you moron? Boston? What are you using to think with? It's certainly not what passes for your brain. Jesse will be in Boston and no doubt the FBI, too, watching to see if we contact him. God, all you think about is Liz Parker and somehow settling down cosily with her at Harvard - dream on, you fool."
Max looked stricken and his ears went bright red with anger and embarrassment. He looked helplessly at Liz, appearing to find comfort and reassurance in her wide-eyed, soulful stare.
"I'm sorry, Izzy, you're right. I hadn't thought about Jesse being in Boston. Of course we can't go there. I'm sorry I didn't think things through. We'd better head away from that area. We do need to be in a major city, though, so we can get lost among a lot of people. Where would you like to go, Isobel? Liz?"
Maria, still staring with intense calmness into Michael's eyes, opened her mouth to vent her own indignation but suddenly heard Michael's voice in her head telling her to shut up. She did so out of sheer surprise. Had she really heard his thought?
*** Yeah, I guess you did hear me, Maria, 'cuz I just heard you back. I don't know how it's suddenly happened, but keep it our secret for the moment, princess. We need time on our own to sort things out. Max is losing it and we need to think, ok?***
*** Ok, Spaceboy, this is completely weird. More alien powers, I guess. Wish I had some cedar oil . . . no, wait, I really am in an actual forest with real trees. Can I say cool? Just breathe deep, DeLuca. Ok, back to business. I totally agree we need time to ourselves, Michael. We should stop at a motel tonight***
*** Max wants us to keep moving all the time - and I think he's right about that, at least for a while - so unless we find somewhere safe to hide out I guess we'll have to go along with him for the moment***
Kyle's voice interrupted their newfound private method of communication.
"What about heading for the west coast? Big cities there, plus it's full of freaks and weirdos. You'd fit in real good, your ex-Majesty." he added snidely. Max shot him an exasperated glance but didn't rise to the bait.
"That's not a bad idea, Kyle," he said smoothly, watching the Sheriff's son clamp down on his irritation. "Get the map out and start planning our route while we drive on."
"We have enough food left for lunch, so we can stop somewhere on the road tonight and load up on more supplies. We won't be staying anywhere other than the bus for a while, it's not safe."
Liz loyally supported her boyfriend, earning a hug and a lingering kiss while the others packed up and silently got back into the van.
This time Kyle drove and Isobel sat beside him, which suited them both. Kyle wasn't in the mood to talk and Isobel had sunk back into brooding.
Max and Liz were last back to the van and had to share the double seat in the middle as Michael and Maria had claimed the more spacious rear bench seat. Both couples curled themselves around each other. Max and Liz resumed their soulmate stare, while Michael and Maria appeared to go to sleep.
They made one more stop half an hour later, on Isobel's instructions, to buy clothes and other basic necessities from one of the larger general stores passed on their way to lunch. They shopped separately in disguise, paid with more of Isobel's alien banknotes and then resumed their journey as before.
TBC . . .
Title: Lost In America.
Category: M/M (yes, I'm addicted to candy) + group
Rating: R
Summary: Post-Graduation; it's my not too serious take on what they'd do to survive. It's more dull domestic detail than action adventure.
Author's note: I've taken liberties with, among other things, the landscape, the law and the timescale. It's my first fic and I'm experimenting a bit, particularly in some of the sex scenes. I've read zillions of fics, so I realize how feeble this is compared with the talent out there. Be warned - it's very long . . ..
Chapter 1: Breakfast Time
The silence in the van had been unbroken since they'd fled Roswell and cold dawn was still a couple of hours away when Maria sighed heavily and lifted her head from Michael's warm shoulder.
"Gotta pee, Max, so find somewhere to pull over soon, girlfriend," she said, catching Michael's glance in a brief flash of nostalgia for their first road trip.
"Food would be good, too, I'm starving, Maxwell."
"Michael, Maria - we can't afford to stop now, we've got to put as much distance as we can between us and the FBI! If we stop anywhere people will remember us and the Feds'll be on our trail." Max's voice was harsh and impatient, his anxiety plain to them all.
"Well, there's no way Maria's gonna be able to hold out much longer, so come up with a plan, then, Max . No? Ok, we've got to stop sometime, what say we pull off the road before the next gas station, change the plates and the color of the van, then disguise two of us to go buy gas and supplies while the rest of us sneak into the washrooms."
"Good idea, Spaceboy, you Czechoslovakians can use your Samantha/Jeanie/Alien thing to disable the security cameras so there's no record of us."
"Yeah, I need a break, too" added Liz, joining in cautiously now that some action was about to happen. She was still in shock, and Maria's need for a comfort break awoke her own. It seemed, for a moment, to bring her out of the fog of numbness that had engulfed her since they started running for their lives.
Max's mind was still in turmoil, struggling with his anger and shock, but he saw Liz's eyes pleading for him and he reluctantly caved in. How could he deny her anything when he had ruined her life just by being what he was? The other two were sunk in apathy and didn't respond when spoken to, so he drove on until they came to a stand of trees by the side of the road, where he pulled over and waited for a gap in what little traffic was about in the cold pre-dawn darkness.
Maria was first out of the van, shivering, urging them to hurry up with the changes while she kept a lookout for headlights.
The cold air revived Kyle and he watched with interest as Max quickly changed the colour of the van to a rusty red. Michael changed the NM plates to Montana and darkened the window glass at the back and sides. Isobel was still in a daze, but after some prompting from Maria changed her own hair to dirty blonde and shortened it to an unflattering style, adding heavy makeup as an extra disguise. Kyle winced behind her back, but kept his comments to himself.
He was startled when he found her staring at him with a sudden wicked gleam in her eye as she reached out and touched his hair, then waved her hand in front of his face and over his body.
He heard Michael snort behind him and Maria's muffled giggle.
"What? What the hell are you doing to me, Isobel?" he demanded.
"Sssh, don't be such a wimp, I'm just disguising you so we can go get breakfast, Kyle." She grinned unnervingly at him.
He stared at her suspiciously and felt all over his head and face. His hair was longer and - was that a beard? He rushed over to look into the wing mirror. Horrified, he found himself gazing at long, straw colored hair, thick blond eyebrows and a goatee.
"Change it back at once, Isobel Evans," he screeched, "there's no way I'm going to be seen in public like this, I look like a . . . a . . .a . . . God, I don't know what!"
"Oh, I think it looks great, Kyle, it's so you - really brings out the color of your eyes," spluttered Maria hysterically as she leaned against the van for support. " . . . and your clothes . . . can we say urban beach bum? That Hawaiian shirt is to die for!"
"That's enough!" A harsh voice cut through the laughter as Max stared at them in grim disapproval. "We are running for our lives and all you can do is joke around? Have you no thought of the danger we're in? If we get captured . . ."
His voice broke and he turned away in disgust, helping Liz climb back into the van as the others followed exchanging subdued and guilty glances. Even Kyle kept his rebellious muttering for Isobel's now unresponsive ears alone.
Five minutes later Max parked the van in a space as far from the brightly lit rest station as possible and lost control of his temper. In a low, menacing voice, he raged at them for their stupidity and irresponsibility; they should not be stopping yet; their enemies could be on them at any moment. Was he the only one who realized their lives were in danger? Five serious people looked back at him in silence until it was over. Then Michael spoke quietly, his own temper held tightly in check.
" We all know the danger, Max, we were there, too, when they came to kill us last night. I think they would have easily caught up with us by now if they'd really wanted to and that's why I think we have time to stop and take a short break. The longer we leave it, the more tired we'll be later if we do have to fight. Don't worry, we won't stay here too long, but we're gonna do it."
Max turned away and Liz rested her head on his shoulder, reaching for his hand in silent comfort. He didn't respond immediately, but then sighed and relaxed against her.
After she'd changed six of Michael's dollar bills into twenties at his suggestion, Isobel and Kyle made their way to the store for supplies. Before she left the van she had inspected the area for security cameras, spotting some around the store, restaurant and garage areas. She disabled them discreetly as she approached, Kyle trying to shield her movements from the sleepy staff and the few, indifferent customers in the restaurant.
Kyle led the way into the store, distracting the clerk with a question while Isobel stalled the cameras, then they both collected baskets before filling them with basic toiletries, long-life milk, bottled water, coffee, tea, juice, bread, butter, cold chicken and fruit. Kyle shopped for the guys and Isobel for the girls. Isobel remembered the sugar and Tabasco sauce. Kyle remembered that they would need cups and cutlery so he added picnic ware to his basket. Isobel paid the bored clerk from her roll of home-cooked twenties.
Back at the van, they loaded their purchases in through the near-side door, jumping slightly when the other door slid back and Michael climbed in on the far side. He started to paw through the bags until Isobel slapped his hand away, just giving her a teasing smirk before stretching his long length out as comfortably as he could across the back seat and closing his eyes.
Outside again Kyle whispered with a sly grin "Isobel, let's have a proper breakfast in the restaurant, it'll save on the supplies we just bought."
"I'd rather have a hot shower and feel clean." Isobel was sharp. " Besides, we'd better not draw any attention to ourselves right now. It's too close to home". She bit back a sudden sob and Kyle put a comforting arm around her shoulders.
"OK, you go get some shower time and I'll stay here and keep a lookout so Guerin doesn't eat all the supplies. Whoever gets back first can take over from me."
Climbing back into the van, Kyle settled into the front passenger seat and closed his eyes until something hit the side of his head and landed in his lap. He looked down at the banana and then twisted round until he was looking at Michael Guerin crunching an apple with his eyes closed. Peeling the banana, Kyle sighed companionably and said "Girls will be a long time in the shower, so gives us time to talk. What now, Guerin?"
"Gotta push on and make plans. Include the others in that, though I reckon they're still in shock and Max is too wired to be any use as leader for a while. I never thought I'd say this, but it looks like it's gonna be you and me to take care of things, Valenti."
"Yeah, I never thought I'd say this either but I think you're right, Guerin. It's up to us. The girls have to be protected and Max looks to be strung so tight he's gonna need watching."
There was a reflective pause between them and Kyle continued eating the banana while staring out into the dawn-streaked sky.
"This is an incredibly bad situation, but you're taking it real calmly, Guerin. If you don't mind me asking, why is that?"
For a moment he thought he wasn't going to get an answer, but then Michael replied, so softly that Kyle could only just hear him.
" It's because I've been waiting for this all my life, you know, and now it's happened it's . . . almost like relief. I've been running for so long in my mind that it's like I know what to do and where to go without even thinking about it. The only thing I wasn't prepared for is Maria coming along. She's raised the stakes. Now my main aim is keeping her safe."
Just then a side door opened and the cold breeze blew a warm scent of vanilla and lemon into the van, closely followed by Maria DeLuca fresh from a hot shower. Michael promptly froze as she snuggled wordlessly against him and then he melted around her protectively, closing his eyes in grateful appreciation.
Kyle cleared his throat loudly, but before he could comment, a door opened again and Isobel climbed into the driver's seat beside him, muttering irritably. She began to curse her brother and Liz, informing the others that the idiots were glued together outside the washrooms gazing into each others eyes with no thought of FBI trackers and apparently all the time in the world.
Michael began to sit up ready to go drag them apart, but Isobel spotted them drifting dreamily towards the van and waved him back.
"Go make room for the soul mates on the floor and cover yourselves under blankets and shopping - we need gas and you need to hide. And, by the way, we'll need to make another stop later to buy towels and a change of clothes. I'm not going to travel in this van without basic standards of hygiene, Kyle and Michael please note."
She started the engine as Max and Liz piled breathlessly through the door, landing on Michael and Maria with no apology as Isobel accelerated across the almost empty lot and over to the gas pumps. Kyle filled the tank, Isobel went to pay and then they were on the interstate going north again.
The fugitives in the back hastily disentangled themselves and resumed their seats, although this time Maria and Liz sat together in the back, checking through the supplies and talking softly about their families left behind. Max and Michael sat in the side seats staring out the windows, each lost in his own thoughts.
Kyle spent some time idly regretting his missed shower and then found his thoughts focusing firmly on breakfast. He glanced at Isobel driving north efficiently and at a responsible speed, her eyes concentrating on the road ahead, her face blank and her thoughts unreadable. His heart suddenly bled for her and he turned to the others, anxious to distract them all from their thoughts, but Michael beat him to it.
"OK, guys, keep a look out for somewhere we can stop to have a picnic and make some plans. Traffic is getting heavier, so there must be life around here. I guess someplace busy where we can get lost in a crowd would be best or else somewhere secluded where we can hide for a while."
He noticed that they had left the desert behind them and were driving through an area of low, wooded hills, with small towns and roadside businesses scattered along their route.
A few minutes later, Isobel steered the van onto an exit signposted to a town advertising agricultural produce outlets. Ten minutes further along she turned into a side road through some woodland and pulled into a space in front of a gated entrance to a field, turned the vehicle to face the way they'd come and switched off the engine.
There was a collective sigh and everyone slumped back in their seats as if suddenly boneless. Kyle wound his window down and Isobel followed his lead. Silence continued to reign and gradually they became aware of the sounds around them, birdsong, distant traffic, and the rustle of leaves. Clean, cool air swept through the van and revived the occupants enough to stir. They all climbed out and began to stretch cramped muscles and breathe fresh air.
Maria climbed onto the gate and looked over into a grassy meadow. When Michael joined her they turned to each other with the same thought, nodded and, still without speaking, went over to the van and started pulling out blankets and supplies. Isobel was oblivious to this and leaned against the van with her eyes fixed on distant treetops outlined against the blue sky.
Kyle had disappeared among the trees on the other side of the road, answering a call of nature. Max sat on the floor at the side entrance to the van, his arm around a silent Liz, ignoring everyone and lost in his own gloomy thoughts.
Once the blankets were spread on the grass and the food unpacked, Michael brought his alien powers into play. He sat down on the edge of a blanket, pulling Maria down to sit beside him. She loaded two paper plates with bread, butter and cold chicken, as he arranged the sturdy plastic cups within his reach and asked her what she wanted to drink. Maria chose coffee. She watched him in loving approval as he spooned coffee into the cup, added bottled water, heated it up and added milk just the way she liked it. He handed it to her politely and shrugged with feigned indifference as she exclaimed over the improved control of his powers. He made his own cup of coffee, adding sugar and Tabasco sauce, and as he sat enjoying the sweet and spicy concoction he had another idea. He stared at the slice of bread on his plate and held his hand over it, idly concentrating on the molecules at the surface. Soon the delicious smell of hot toast rose in the morning air and he turned the slice to brown the other side. He noticed Maria's admiring grin and presented the toast to her with a flourish. She rewarded him with a soft kiss on his cheek and stroked his thigh in what he suddenly hoped was a promise of future delights.
Their idyll was rudely interrupted by the arrival of the rest of the group, drawn by the smell of toast and coffee. He refused to make toast for anyone else but himself and Maria pointing out, sardonically, that Isobel and Max could make their own and Liz and Kyle would be able to eventually, when their powers kicked in.
"Oh, yeah, Guerin, very funny. If I don't get toast now, I swear you'll BE toast as soon as I get my powers," Kyle threatened amiably. Michael sighed a put-upon sigh and reached for another slice.
Meanwhile, the others had been making their own breakfasts, including the fashionable toast, and soon there was a circle of teens sprawled replete around the remains of the picnic.
Kyle began to pack up the food ready for their next meal, when or wherever it would be, and then they all reluctantly sat up at Maria's insistence to discuss the situation for the first time since their escape from the near- fatal graduation ceremony.
Michael spoke first.
" I've been thinking that there is a place we can go to be safe for a while - "
Max interrupted him angrily.
"Michael, there is no place we can stay and be safe. Our only chance is to keep on the move, try and keep one step ahead of the FBI. If they catch up with us it's the end. I'm not putting Liz or any of you in more danger than we are in right now. I won't listen to any more of your crazy schemes. I won't let you endanger the group. I know I said I'm no longer the king, but it's still my responsibility to keep you safe. No arguments. We keep on the move and head for Boston. We can mingle with all the new students there in the Fall and maybe Liz, Isobel and I can find some way to take classes and the rest of you can find work."
Outraged herself by this speech, Maria desperately clung to Michael's arm and sent him soothing vibes in an attempt to get him to remain calm. Kyle, on his other side, sent him a look warning him not to react. Both were happily surprised to find that their efforts were apparently successful as Michael suddenly relaxed and put his arm comfortingly around Maria, while giving Kyle a slight, reassuring nod.
Isobel was glaring furiously at her brother.
"Boston, you moron? Boston? What are you using to think with? It's certainly not what passes for your brain. Jesse will be in Boston and no doubt the FBI, too, watching to see if we contact him. God, all you think about is Liz Parker and somehow settling down cosily with her at Harvard - dream on, you fool."
Max looked stricken and his ears went bright red with anger and embarrassment. He looked helplessly at Liz, appearing to find comfort and reassurance in her wide-eyed, soulful stare.
"I'm sorry, Izzy, you're right. I hadn't thought about Jesse being in Boston. Of course we can't go there. I'm sorry I didn't think things through. We'd better head away from that area. We do need to be in a major city, though, so we can get lost among a lot of people. Where would you like to go, Isobel? Liz?"
Maria, still staring with intense calmness into Michael's eyes, opened her mouth to vent her own indignation but suddenly heard Michael's voice in her head telling her to shut up. She did so out of sheer surprise. Had she really heard his thought?
*** Yeah, I guess you did hear me, Maria, 'cuz I just heard you back. I don't know how it's suddenly happened, but keep it our secret for the moment, princess. We need time on our own to sort things out. Max is losing it and we need to think, ok?***
*** Ok, Spaceboy, this is completely weird. More alien powers, I guess. Wish I had some cedar oil . . . no, wait, I really am in an actual forest with real trees. Can I say cool? Just breathe deep, DeLuca. Ok, back to business. I totally agree we need time to ourselves, Michael. We should stop at a motel tonight***
*** Max wants us to keep moving all the time - and I think he's right about that, at least for a while - so unless we find somewhere safe to hide out I guess we'll have to go along with him for the moment***
Kyle's voice interrupted their newfound private method of communication.
"What about heading for the west coast? Big cities there, plus it's full of freaks and weirdos. You'd fit in real good, your ex-Majesty." he added snidely. Max shot him an exasperated glance but didn't rise to the bait.
"That's not a bad idea, Kyle," he said smoothly, watching the Sheriff's son clamp down on his irritation. "Get the map out and start planning our route while we drive on."
"We have enough food left for lunch, so we can stop somewhere on the road tonight and load up on more supplies. We won't be staying anywhere other than the bus for a while, it's not safe."
Liz loyally supported her boyfriend, earning a hug and a lingering kiss while the others packed up and silently got back into the van.
This time Kyle drove and Isobel sat beside him, which suited them both. Kyle wasn't in the mood to talk and Isobel had sunk back into brooding.
Max and Liz were last back to the van and had to share the double seat in the middle as Michael and Maria had claimed the more spacious rear bench seat. Both couples curled themselves around each other. Max and Liz resumed their soulmate stare, while Michael and Maria appeared to go to sleep.
They made one more stop half an hour later, on Isobel's instructions, to buy clothes and other basic necessities from one of the larger general stores passed on their way to lunch. They shopped separately in disguise, paid with more of Isobel's alien banknotes and then resumed their journey as before.
TBC . . .
