Chapter 6: You Give Me the Fever

Liz wondered down the school halls lost in her own thoughts. She continued to wonder weather this morning had happened or not, was she having another day-dream or had it been real. Liz didn't have much time to wonder as she was grabbed and dragged into the "eraser room".

"Max," breathed Liz as he lips descended on hers.

When he finally released her lips he was smiling. "Definitely strawberries and cream."

"Max, did you come and see me this morning?" she asked.

Max shook his head, "Nope, but I dreamed I was standing on your balcony and we were kissing. I said that you tasted like strawberries and cream. I just wanted to know if it was true."

Liz looked at Max slightly dazed. "Max I had that same dream, I tasted you and you tasted spicy and sweet."

"Wow," said Max "I wonder if this means our connection is getting stronger. If it is, are the others also experiencing the same thing? We have to find out Liz," he told her.

Liz nodded but, before she could say anything the bell rang. Sharing one more, quick kiss they headed toward their different homerooms.

Liz bumped into Maria as they headed into English. "Oh, Liz…I…I…" she stammered.

Liz grinned at her, "Listen you know when Max came in early that night." Maria nodded. "Well were in the kitchen near the fridge when he grabbed and we started making out. Maria, he had me sitting on the table and was unbuttoning my uniform when we almost got caught by my dad."

Maria laughed then mouth Thanks! as the teacher called the class to order. Later that day at lunch the group agreed to meet out at the campsite so they could discuss whatever Max and Liz wanted to talk about. After school the entire group headed out to the campsite.

"Alright Max, what's up?" asked Isabel.

"Um… Liz," he said glancing at her.

"Well, some of us may be getting physically intense. I have noticed that for the past couple of days I have been having more trouble than usual keeping my hands off of Max. I think that maybe our space faring friends' hormones are in overdrive and it is affecting their significant others," she tried to say with becoming too embraced.

"We want to find out if any of you have been feeling more…more…more…" began Max.

"More horny than usual?" asked Kyle.

"Yeah," replied Max.

"Well I will admit it," said Kyle.

After everyone gave their affirmative that they too were also experiencing the same, they agreed to avoid their significant others. When the weekend rolled around Maria elected that they hold a girls only weekend. Both Isabel and Liz agreed that it would be fun. They spent they weekend having fun watching movies, and hanging out. The guys also had themselves a guy's only weekend. By the time Monday rolled around everyone had kind of gotten over the intense need to be with one another. However they didn't want to chance it. So they decided to give it a couple more days.

That Monday morning, Max thought something might be wrong with Michael. He seemed to be intentionally avoiding him. When Max finally cornered Michael, he realized something was very wrong. Michael had a black-eye.

"What happened?" asked Max.

"Nothing," replied Michael defensively.

"Come on Michael, this is me, you are talking to. What happened?"

"Hank got drunk."

"What! We have to do something," said Max.

"No."

"Michael you have to get help."

"No."

"We have to the police, or I know you can come and talk to my Dad."

"No Maxwell, everything is under control. Okay?" said Michael.

"Just promise me you won't stay there tonight. You can have dinner and spend the night at my house," Max told him.

"Look Max, I don't think that I can handle the "Beaver Cleaver" atmosphere tonight. But I promise I won't go home tonight. Okay?" replied Michael.

Max sighed but nodded his head. He knew that was all he was going to get from him. Max decided to give it a rest until lunch, then he would try again to get Michael to stay with him and Isabel. However Max never got the chance. When lunchtime rolled around Michael wasn't any where to be seen.

That Night

Michael knew he had promised Max not to go back home. But Michael really didn't think Hank would be home. He always got paid on Mondays and always went out. Sometimes Michael didn't see Hank till Tuesday night. As soon as he opened the door he knew he should have kept his promise to Max. He could smell the alcohol that permeated through the air. He tried to leave but before he could he felt himself being slammed up against the wall.

"Wher' ya been you lille' piece a' shit?"

Hank began to pummel Michael with his fist. Michael managed to push Hank away. He turned to run and felt himself being pulled back into the house. He turned this time to try and kicked Hank off of him and felt the bat connect with his ribs. Michael didn't know what to do he was in so much pain. He threw his hand up in an attempt to shield himself when green energy flew out from his hand and slammed Hank into the wall. Michael picked himself up and ran.

Maria was sitting at the window watching the rain fall, when Michaels face suddenly appeared there.

"MICHAEL," screamed Maria, as she opened the window and helped him inside. "Oh, my gosh, what happened?"

"Hank," he gasped.

"Maria, what…" her mom said as she walked into her room,

"Mom, please call the Sheriff. Hank beat Michael."

Amy nodded her head and ran to the phone. "Here Michael lay down." Maria helped Michael to lie down she then grabbed some warm water and soft cloth. She began to gently wash his face. Michael grabbed her hand ands stared into to her eyes. Maria let her and Michael's connection surge to life. She could feel his pain and emotional anguish. She placed her hand on his chest; she didn't know what she was doing. She just wanted him to get well. Michael gasped as he felt a warmth creep through his ribs, he swore to himself that he could feel the bones knitting together.

"Maria," he breathed "I, I used my powers on Hank. I think I killed him."

"No you didn't."

"Ms. Deluca, Mom," said Maria and Michael in one voice.

"You don't have enough control to kill him, yet. And you I must say I am surprised I didn't think you were supposed to have powers, you are completely human," her mother said to both of them. Maria and Michael stared with shock.