~~~Ch 19~~~

Max was stunned for a moment.  Sure he had known he could heal…but Liz was the first person for whom he had healed more than a scrape or a bruise.  Apparently his skill left a mark, an iridescent silver mark.  "Whoa…" he said, unconsciously reaching out to inspect the mark.

Liz stepped back, dropping the hem of her shirt.  "Look Max.  I know I don't know you that well and all…but you seem like a pretty decent guy.  I mean, you know about me and the girls and haven't turned us in…in fact you helped us out…and I'm just so grateful for that.  But we both know that I didn't really break a bottle of ketchup today.  I'm not afraid or anything…I just need to know what really happened.  Alright?"

"You're really not afraid?"

"No.  Whatever you did, you saved my life.  I know you wouldn't ever do anything to hurt me."

"Why don't we sit down," Max said, gesturing towards the couch.  "I don't know how to say this exactly…I've never told anyone before…not even my parents know the truth.  Liz, I'm not exactly from around here…" he said as they both sat down.

"What do you mean?  Where are you from—out of state?"

"Not exactly…more like outer space…" he said, laughing a little at the strangeness of the whole situation.

"You…you're not an…you couldn't be an…"

"An alien?  Well we're pretty sure that's what we are."

"We?  Oh your sister."

"Yeah...and Michael too."

"What did you mean when you said you were pretty sure that's what you were?"

"Well...we all kinda hatched from these pod-like things looking like we were six years old.  Isabel and I were found wandering in the desert by the Evans who eventually adopted us.  Michael ran off and was later found and put into foster care.  Eventually Iz and I figured out that we had abilities that normal kids didn't have…and we found Michael again in grade school.  We don't remember anything before that day that we came out of the pods and we've never found anyone else like us.  Given the circumstances…we're pretty sure we're aliens."

"So these abilities you have…that's how you healed me?"

"Yeah we can all modify molecular structures and we can make these connections with people…" 

"Connections?  What does that mean?"

"Well when I heal someone…I think I somehow connect to them and transfer my energy to them…thus healing an injury.  Sometimes I get this rush of images from the person too…"

"Did you get these images from me?"

"Yes," he said simply, remembering some of the things he saw and feeling the anger bubble up as he remembered the way Frank had treated her.  Forcing himself to calm down, he tried to continue what he had been talking about earlier.  "Besides the basics though, we each have our own power…Izzy can see into dreams, Michael…well he seems to be able to send out energy bursts, and obviously I can heal.  Although I've never tried to heal anything that serious before…"

"Max what you did today…you risked a lot of people finding out about you to try and save me.  I'm just curious…I mean we haven't even known each other that long…and I'm sure I don't seem that trustworthy running from the law and all…  What I'm trying to say is…why'd you do it?  Why risk your life and the lives of your sister and friend for me?"

Because I think I might be in love with you, he silently thought, looking away for a moment.  But how could he possibly tell her that?  She had just been told that she had been brought back to life by an alien and he was going to tell her he loved her?  Was he crazy?  She didn't need that right now.

"You know that first day that we met in the Crashdown, Michael tried to warn me that I shouldn't get involved with you…that if you found out the truth about us you would turn us in…but I told him you weren't like that…I just knew somehow."

Liz sighed heavily and reached out her hand to his face, turning it back towards her.  She let her hand rest on his cheek and waited for him to meet her gaze.  "Max…" she said gently, "you didn't answer my question."

"Really?" he asked finally looking up and directly into her eyes.  Max immediately felt as if he were drowning in her eyes.  He realized that she could ask him anything right now and he would have no choice but to tell her the absolute truth.  "What was it again?"

"Why did you risk your life for me today Max?" she repeated softly.

Just as softly he answered, "Because I've fallen in love with you …"

TBC…

And she takes another step
Slowly she opens the door
Check that he is sleeping
Pick up all the broken glass
And furniture on the floor
Been up half the night screaming
Now it's time to get away
Pack up the kids in the car
Another bruise to try and hide
Another alibi to write

Another ditch in the road
You keep moving
Another stop sign
You keep moving on
and the years go by so fast
Wonder how I ever made it through

And there are children to think of
Baby's asleep in the back seat
Wonder how they'll ever make it through this living nightmare
But the mind is an amazing thing
Full of candy dreams and new toys and another cheap hotel
Two beds and a coffee machine
But there are groceries to buy
And she knows she'll have to go home

Another ditch in the road
You keep moving
Another stop sign
You keep moving on
And the years go by so fast
Wonder how I ever made it through

Another bruise to try and hide
Another alibi to write
Another lonely highway in the black of the night
But there's hope in the darkness
You know you're going to make it

Another ditch in the road
You keep moving
Another stop sign
You keep moving on
And the years go by so fast
Silent fortress built to last
Wonder how I ever made it through