Season 4 – Episode 3: TBD
He couldn't be in there with the others. The last thing he needed was to see the accusations in their eyes. Another example of Michael Guerin the continuous fuck up. He still didn't have the first idea as to what had happened. He'd been in plenty of fights before and never had he felt anything like that. The worst part was that he would be lying if it wasn't the teeniest bit thrilling to be so powerful. He could actually feel Kyle's jaw break under his fist. It was like pure energy. It didn't mean that he wanted to hurt his friend. Not even close but part of him wanted to know if he could do it again or if it was a one time thing.
The conflicted emotions playing inside him were driving him crazy. Michael just kept flexing and relaxing his fist as he paced back and forth in the backyard. There would be no sitting still. Not for a while at least. So he groaned softly when he heard the back door open. It was most likely Max with another lecture. Even after renouncing the thrown, the guy still acted like he was the king. He was getting sick of it. Max couldn't have it both ways. Since they gave up the alien life to strive for a normal human existence, that meant they were equals. Though Michael wasn't convinced they would ever be "normal".
Turning toward the door, he was poised to say something to that affect when he saw Larek instead. There was no look of disappointment, anger or even wary. If anything, Larek looked sympathetic. "Thought I might find you out here" the blond man said. Michael only grunted then went back to pacing. "Look, it's like I told Max. I don't know what happened, okay?" the teenager countered before the other alien could even ask a question. Larek tilted his head and stared for a moment before sitting in one of the folding chairs on the patio. "Would you like to?"
If a blink could be audible, Michael's would have been. Coming to a stop, he slowly turned to face him. "You know what's happening to me? Yes, tell me. What in the hell is it?" Larek took his time responding. He just sat back and watched almost as if he were trying to see inside Michael or something. Finally, he replied "Though the titles were cast away, you three can only ever be what you are as proof by your growing power. Like Max and Isabel, your position comes with certain gifts. You are not of the royal line. You're family never was. So your ability is not unique to you. It's more like Max's healing. All Antarians have the ability to manipulate matter on a cellular level, so you all can heal. Only Max is able to do it to a higher degree. He is able to bring people back from near death while you or Isabel would be pushing yourselves to mend a broken bone. The same can be said for your abilities. All Antarians can push energy through themselves and even weapons but you will be able to with startling clarity. On Antar, Rath was renowned for his skills on the battlefield even before he was given the honor of second in command. After, he was near unstoppable. It was why Khivar knew he would never be able to take you head on. He had to come at you through your weakness."
Now Michael had to sit down. It was so much to take in. He used to resent the others for their power but over time he just accepted it. Now he was being told he had gifts of his own. That he was every bit as strong as the others if he could just learn to control his gifts better. "Why did it take so long to show up?" he asked as he ran his hands through his hair. Larek just shrugged. "Everyone is different. Maybe you practiced less or maybe you needed a trigger like the fight to make it manifest. There could be a hundred different reasons but either way you will need to learn to control it. Any ability attained is useless without the training necessary to wield it."
He knew Larek was right. He tried to learn with Tess years before but they were so focused on keeping a low profile that his training hadn't gotten very far. More than either of the others his powers seemed to be more closely tied to his emotional state. He knew that had the potential to make him more of a liability than even the humans in the group. After a moment, Michael looked at Larek squarely. "Teach me."
The three girls took it upon themselves to take care of the previously injured Kyle and though he protested and told them that he was fine, he was silently enjoying the attention. So many times he felt a little out of place with the group. There were the two couples and Isabel was Max's sister and an alien but he didn't really have that. His standing in the pod squad was so precarious, he couldn't help but wonder how they would fair if he just up and left. Was he really a valued member of the group or would it be a few days of missing him then business as usual?
"Maria, you really don't have to do all this. Not that I don't appreciate dinner. I do. You guys really don't have to go to any trouble though. Max patched me up better than new." He tried in vain as the girl busied herself in the kitchen. "Shut up and try this." She replied in a dismissive tone and bought the wooden spoon to his mouth so he could try the meat sauce. He obediently tasted it and nodded. "It's great." Maria grinned and went back to the stove. "I added creamer to thicken it up. Michael bitches when I do it but after what he did today he'll be lucky if I let him have any at all. I can't believe he hit you." She set the spoon down and turned to look at him. "I'm so sorry, Kyle." The sheriff's son fidgeted with the placemat in front of him. "It's fine. I broke guy code. It's as much my fault as his I think. You never initiate physical contact that close to a fight. I shouldn't have gotten in the middle of it."
Maria scoffed softly and turned back to the stove. "As if you could have stopped yourself." He looked confused and waited for her to explain but when she didn't he asked "What's that supposed mean?" The waitress turned around with a little smirk. "Guy code or not, it was still Isabel being threatened. You lo…" She stopped herself before she said more no doubt because of the look of panic that crossed his features. All he could think was Oh god, she knows. Do they all know? Does Isabel? Have they all been having a good laugh at my expense?
All these questions were racing through his head but finally, he was able to muster "How… how long have you known?" Maria turned down the heat on the stove and sat down next to him at the table. "Since Max and Liz's wedding, I think. I mean I always kind of knew you had a thing for her but it was Isabel Evans. A guy would have to catatonic to not be attracted to her. I think it was the night after the wedding that got me thinking that maybe you felt more. Remember how she was that night. She was trying to smile and be okay but it was pretty obvious that she was bumming pretty bad. And even though it must have hurt like hell, you sat with her then held her while she slept. I don't think you thought anyone was paying attention but I saw how you looked at her when you though no one was looking."
Heat crept up his neck to his face as humiliation set in. Apparently, he was every bit as transparent as he feared. "Does she know?" He asked unable to tear his gaze from the table. Maria shook her head. "I don't think so. I tried to hint at it once but the girl didn't pick up on it at all. I've never even heard the others talking about so it might just be me though I think Liz may suspect too." She paused for a moment, watching him, before she added. "So what are you going to do?"
Running both hands through his hair he finally looked at her. "What can I do, Maria? She's married. She loves the guy. And I'm just her "best friend". If I tell her, it's going to make things awkward. I don't know how but I'll get over this. I just really don't want to lose her as a friend in the process."
They'd barely said 2 words since Maria sent them out to get groceries for dinner. Isabel had made it pretty clear that she wasn't in the mood to talk about what happened with Kyle but Liz had too many questions to just let it drop. "Are we going to talk about what happened at all? Because I have to tell you, I'm pretty confused about the whole thing. Did you know that Michael was that strong?" The taller woman sighed like she'd not only been expecting this particular conversation but was dreading it. "Nope. Well, not like this. He was pretty strong when he went up against Jesse but I always assumed that it was just because he was all hyped up on Max's power."
Liz grabbed a loaf of French bread and put it into the cart before continuing. "I just don't think I understand. You and Michael have been friends your whole lives and he has never been violent with you. What were you guys arguing about that could have made him angry enough to hit you?" Isabel stopped pushing the cart and got an almost indignant air about her. "He was not going to hit me. Michael would never ever hit me. I don't care how angry he can get. We just said things. Stupid, hurtful things and it got a little crazy."
She almost didn't want to keep pushing since Isabel seemed to be getting a bit upset but she couldn't seem to let it drop. "What stupid hurtful things were you two saying?" The silence that fell made the brunette think she wasn't going to answer when she finally glanced Liz's way. "He doesn't like Mr. Peterson. I shouldn't have been surprised. Michael doesn't like anyone but he started calling him names. I got defensive. Michael Peterson is a good man and a great lawyer. You met him. You know. Well, I think I mentioned that he was dedicated to what he does and just because he didn't have our screwed up lives didn't make him a tool. That man works hard in his own right. I might have mentioned Jesse too but I don't really remember. Michael started in on my marriage, so I started talking about him and Maria. Next thing I know Kyle's on the ground with a busted face."
Isabel started pushing the cart again like that was all there was to it but Liz wasn't finished. "What about him and Maria? And what did he say about your marriage?" Liz could see Isabel roll her eyes but the blond replied anyway. "He said the reason I didn't want Jesse to come was because I knew it wouldn't work out. So I told him that he had no business judging my relationship with my husband since he didn't even have the guts to either make a serious go with Maria or let her go once and for all. All this back and forth crap isn't good for either of them." Liz's eyebrows hit her hairline. Neither comment made was one Liz hadn't wondered herself but she was more than a little surprised they brought it up. Still, she didn't think that alone would be enough for a fist fight to break out. "Well, I'm sure he didn't mean it. We all know how hard it has been for you being away from Jesse so long. I mean I don't even want to think about how hard it would be to be away from Max like that."
Liz could see Isabel physically shut down in front of her. That controlled emotionless expression filled the other girl's features. The conversation was over and the waitress knew it. They'd grown closer in the time they'd known each other but Liz knew there were still things Isabel wasn't comfortable talking about. Jesse and her marriage was one of them. So instead of pushing further she brought the conversation back to shopping hoping to bring her mood up. It didn't work. Even on the way home, Isabel's reserve never broke.