Outwardly she was calm, inwardly she was anything but. She kept herself together by going into scientist mode, recognising the shock ready to come out.
She got both of them into Kyle's car and somehow drove them to the Valenti's residence. Getting the evidence from Jim, reassuring him Kyle was ok, she left with Michael, walking him to his apartment.
She got them in, sat him down and went to make him a cup of tea. The shock hit her after she relaxed and dropped the empty mug. That got him out of his shock. He heard the mug drop and dashed to the kitchen. Liz was on her knees, staring in shock, in a panic attack.''Liz, talk to me, it's OK, Parker, PARKER, SNAP OUT OF IT!'' He was knelt in front of her now, shaking her shoulders to get her out of it. All she kept saying was ''They're dead, I..I killed them, oh my God, I KILLED THEM!'' She kept looking at her hands, seeing what she'd done in her mind's eye. She was stunned by what she'd done. She hadn't wanted to die and she had her reasons. Would that be enough?
He didn't know what to do. He had never seen her in a panic attack like this. Then again, she had never killed anyone using powers before. She had been on autopilot from the moment she had been shot, acting on instinct, all in order to save her own life and others he realised too late. With his head in one hand, he shook her shoulder with the other. ''Bloody hell, PARKER, YOU'RE SAFE NOW.''.
THAT got her attention and finally snapped out of it. Blinking, she realised where she was... safe at Michael's place. How had she got here with Michael? The last thing she remembered was ducking a bullet. Then there were fire balls, explosions and mind warps and Sean?... Puzzled, she looked up to see Michael looking at her in concern. ''What happened?'', she got up in confusion and froze seeing the evidence. There was her uniform and his file. There was her reason. She felt remorse, yes but not much.
Silently Michael watched her, unnerved by her silence. Picking up her uniform, she said something unexpected. ''I was right to kill them. All this evidence could have gone to the Special Unit. We all should be safe now. I'm going to lay down for a while, I won't be long.'' Walking to his room, she shut the door and laid down, bursting tears of relief and regret. He wasn't sure what to do now, so he fixed the mug and waited.
He didn't need to wait long. Liz had cried a bit and got herself calm again. He knew she was on a mission. 'The question was WHY?'
Liz came out, she was nervous. She was about to admit her part unwittingly in Alex's death by stepping aside for Tess and not being able to protect Alex. She had a clue but hadn't known. By the end of this, they could be over. Michael was the protector. He wouldn't like this.
Before speaking to him, she looked at him, memorising him for potentially the last time. She swallowed, eyes looking away with a hint of fear before turning to pace, speaking to him.''You won't like what I'm about to say. I wish I could tell you everything but I can't yet. I need to deal with Tess first. I owe Alex. It's to do with that wall. This secret is killing me and has been for a while and you won't like it when I tell you. There is a damn good chance that we could be over too and THAT is what I'm most afraid of. I wouldn't blame you either.''.
Michael didn't know what to say. She was scared, terrified of losing him because of whatever this secret of hers was. It was bad. Bad enough to make her fear his reaction. Fear him. She had just admitted to screwing something up to him and his gut told him that Maxwell didn't even know about this. She continued to talk, picking up her uniform from the evidence.
''This is why I owe Alex, I partly brought him into this and now he's dead. I can't change it. I almost took the bullet meant for Isabel tonight too. That's what would have almost killed her. I promised myself I wouldn't let this take me down. It almost did tonight. That's why I went there tonight after promising I wouldn't. I had to face my demons. I'm sorry I broke my promise I wouldn't go but I had no choice. I faced them and somehow lived, just.'' She sighed in disbelief, knowing the first her hadn't made it. Somehow, that ALONE made her the lucky one.
''Yeah right!''Michael had been quiet, she glanced at him. He was looking at her with a burning intensity with a look in his eyes that told her he needed to know everything. She looked away, unable to answer. THAT got his attention. She was in trouble and had been for a while now. She couldn't see a way out of this situation she was in. She was stuck. He knew this linked into the whole Kyle thing and the photo theory he had. It was official, Liz Parker was in trouble.
Liz was deciding what to tell him. Her shoulders sagged under his thoughts. Putting her uniform in the bag down, she took a deep breath. 'Just tell me the whole truth, that's all I need to know' his thought had jarred her thoughts, 'I'll tell you what I can, I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.' He looked at her in alarm. 'What did that mean? Had she done something or tried to?'.
Liz gulped at that. She admitted to it. ''I am part of the reason Alex is dead. I did something, I thought it was for the best at the time. I was wrong, oh dear God, I was wrong. Alex paid the price for it. I will tell you what I did when I can. I promise you really won't like it though. I stepped aside and let Tess take my place, not realising she was a traitor, I even had a clue I couldn't get until it was too late. I let Alex's killer into the group with my own actions and now I can't take it back.'' Her voice was full of regret and remorse at her own actions. Her back was to him.
Michael was at a loss for words. She blamed herself. He struggled to find his voice. Quietly he asked her ''Are you telling me you consider yourself a traitor because of your own actions?'' She nodded. ''That's why were you scared to tell me. It's my job as protector.'' She nodded, unsure of herself now. ''It's my job too as a protector and I failed.'' He was on his feet at that, turning her around to face him.
He had one question on his mind. ''I don't believe that.'' He pointed at her. ''You are the most loyal out of the whole group. Whatever you did, it must have been for a good reason. You would never have done anything to hurt Alex ever. Not on purpose. Did you know that Tess was a traitor when you did whatever you did?'' She bit her lip. ''No.'' It was a firm answer. She hadn't known.
He scratched his eyebrow. He sighed, then looked at her. She was waiting for something. For him to walk out. He wasn't going anywhere. She hadn't known, so wasn't a traitor in his eyes. 'Look at me!' She meet his eyes, full of regret and fear. He needed to end that now. ''You are not a traitor at all.''
She spun away from him, her mind in complete confusion at he had just said. Her eyes wide at his declaration that she was in the clear. She wasn't. Still swamped in her guilt, she tried to make him see sense.
Her hands in the air, she turned to find him standing there, arms crossed and eyes blazing an amber fire, daring her to contradict him. She did, her own eyes blazing a coffee fire back at him. ''We're both protectors Michael- you're the alien one, I'm the human one. I failed. I should have known and didn't. Tess was the missing factor of Alex not longer being alive. One day after I have properly dealt with that mistake I will tell you. Until then, you'll just HAVE to trust me. Can you do that?!'' He nodded.
''Yes, I can do that. You weren't the only one who failed him though, I did too!'' ''But you didn't bring in his murderer, I DID! I even unwittingly helped her! That ALONE should change your mind. I'm bad news Michael.'' They were shouting at each other now. She stepped away from him. He grabbed her arm to bring her back to him. His gentleness stilled her anger at herself and him. ''No, you're NOT bad news at all. I'm not going anywhere and YOU'RE taking me up on my rain check right now.''. His eyes blazed into hers, his love clear to see. She wasn't worthy of it. He was determined to make her see she was. He leaned in and kissed her. She hesitantly kissed him back, partly in disbelief at the fact he was still there with her, even after everything she'd said.
She pulled back, looking at him in disbelief. ''Why aren't you running? I would be.'' It was whispered by her to him, he answered in a whisper. ''I'm not going anywhere. I love you.'' Looking down at her lips again, he brought her closer to him, their mutual anger at each other turning into another passion altogether. He kissed her, his passion slowly growing into a fire of want and need. He knew hers was too. They got willingly lost in each other bit by bit. He needed her now. She was his!
Liz couldn't believe her luck. 'He was still here. Thank goodness for that.' Her body relaxed completely at that. She felt herself melt under his inferno. Feeling his lips on her neck, she whispered ''I love you too.'' He grinned against her neck. ''I know, I want you to be mine tonight. Is that ok?'' Her ''Yes'' was a low whisper of consent. He relaxed. 'Phew.' Renewing his assault on her neck, she sighed. She wasn't going anywhere either, not when he did that to her neck. She was done fighting on her own.
Michael was glad. 'FINALLY!' was his only thought before he swept her up into his arms, intent on giving her the night of her life. It was then he remembered what she'd been through that night. He went for the dream plain option instead. He kissed her neck before brushing a tender kiss on her hair. With a determined stride, he walked her through to his room, kicking the door shut.
Laying her on the bed, he lay down next to her and brought her back into his embrace, kissing her sensuously, bringing her to their meta-physical dream plain. She opened her eyes. Blinking, she looked around. 'What?' Michael smirked at her confusion, his smirk turning into a grin at her pleased realisation. He'd chosen right. 'Do you approve of the setting?' he asked her, her grinning at the setting. It was a neutral setting for both of them- it was a gorgeous red room, full of colour.
She went around the room, adding a few light touches before waving her hand over the back wall, adding the finishing touches before standing back to check out her handiwork. Michael stepped up next to her, checking out what she'd added. Back in reality, both were resting next to each other.
'I approve, like my finishing touch?' She'd added 'M.G 4 L.P' on the wall, surrounded by his symbol. His symbol was everywhere he realised. He liked it. There was something missing- her symbol. He added it to the wall. Pointing it out, he told her that it was her symbol in Antarian. She melted at that, kissing him slow but surely. He took the hint. He kissed her back, taking just enough control of it to make her lose her control. This was their night of firsts together.
Liz used her control to make him lose his and was rewarded by him pinning her in place. He growled in her ear 'You're mine!', pressing himself against her, causing her to gasp against him, she nipped his ear in response. 'Then take me!' was her answer, her tone soft, sexy and husky. 'I will!' he huskily whispered, pulling her with him to the bed, taking her down into his heat with him. She willingly went under with him, her own heat joining his until both were simmering together, burning them up.
His hands were everywhere, his top had gone flying under her curious hands, he lifted her up to remove hers, hands exploring her body. 'You're perfect.' .Her bra went next, making her gasp in surprise. Arching into his touch, she was gone. To Michael, she was perfect, lost under him, his for the taking. She was his. He was hers. They were each others.
Without slowing down, his mouth latched onto her breast, her gasping surprise before moaning in need for more, much more. He gave it, undoing her jeans with one hand, the other holding her firmly in place to lift her hips and slide them off, neither of them wearing shoes in their minds. Her jeans gone, his hand explored her completely. She was ready for him.
Liz was melting with intense pleasure, his mouth and hands were driving her crazy. It was then she realised that he still had his jeans on. She had to turn the tables on him to remove his jeans. Gently tugging his head away with a rueful regret, she kissed him, getting both of his hands in hers and turning him onto his back, arms above his head. Grinning down at him, she finally had the upper hand. 'Now I've got you!' Her head dipped slowly, nipping his chest until she reached a tender nipple. With a quick nip, he gasped and she smirked. It was time to make them even.
Using her powers to hold him in place, she quickly unbuckled his belt and carefully undid his jeans, sliding them down easily and they hit the floor. Her hand glided over him slowly and he groaned, feeling himself jump at her touch. He wondered exactly how far she had gone, he didn't want to make her uncomfortable or unsure of herself. She had done enough of that to herself. It was another reason he had chosen their dream plain, it gave her control.
He stopped her action reluctantly, as he asked her carefully 'Just how far have you gone on this before?' She sat back, her hand brushing her hair forward, her shyness coming in. Blushing, she bit her lip, answering ''We've already gone further than I have with anyone else before.' She let go with of his hands with her power. He rolled his eyes at her shyness before smiling, using his power to bring her forward to lay her down next to him, his arms coming around her to hold her next to him. He whispered in her ear 'Then the next part we do together. This is a first for both of us.'
She looked at him in complete surprise, granted Maria hadn't told her everything but she had said he was inventive. She was right. Michael's eyebrow rose at her thoughts. Maria had told her that! He shook his head. Leaning forward, he wiped her thoughts clean with a searing kiss. It was time to get back to them and was glad when she willingly went with him back to their seductive heat.
He took over, knowing she needed a guide and rolled her onto her back, his hands sliding down her knickers and pulling them off her. Her hands went to his boxers, sliding them down and he kicked them off. Settling back on top of her, she moaned at the sensations going through her.
'Things felt this good now, when in physical reality, this would be mind blowing' was her single thought before being forced to abandon them completely by an eye rolling Michael, who had decided that if she could think THAT, he really needed to up the anti here and he had reached between them to some more exploring. It was enough to make her mindless AND thoughtless for once. He grinned in male satisfaction at her breathless cry of 'OH! Don't stop please.'.
He didn't intend to, only to suck in a deep breath at her touching him lightly. His power stopped her, pinning both her hands to the bed. He used his power to send a spark of heat through his other hand, her hips rising in response and a look of intense pleasure on her face. Taking advantage of the situation, he sent a few more sparks, smirking in pleasure at how far he had already taken her. Just knowing he was the first to do this felt damn good as it was. He sent her easily flying over the edge screaming his name, leaving her shaking in his arms. 'Damn, I can't even describe this' was the only thing she could breathlessly whisper, high on pure pleasure. He let go of her hands, content that she would just lie there, lost in the pleasure he had created in her mind. He was aware in reality he'd left her body physically shaking from the pleasure going through her mind and he'd got her off in both realms- mental and physical. Now, THAT made him smirk in complete male satisfaction. She was dazed but coming around from her position lying on the bed, looking at him in shock at what he had just done to her. He DID have a reputation of being inventive to live up to.
'WOW!' was all she could say. 'She was completely speechless. He had made her stop thinking entirely. She couldn't believe THAT! She was surprised she could even think right now after that, she was still floating in pure bliss and that was just the foreplay. She had been wrong before, love making here WILL blow her away, in reality, it will drive her crazy. How had she got so damn lucky?!'.
Michael just smirked at her thoughts. He'd driven her crazy and they weren't finished it. His amber whisky eyes burning with a bronze fire, he kissed her slowly, aware of his own need, arranging her lightly before moving forward, making them both groan at the contact. Knowing he wanted to know the truth, she had made sure the proof he would want to find was still there.
He groaned, eyes flying open at the proof he'd found, knowing it was her way of answering his unspoken question. He swallowed, knowing his next action would change everything between them, here at least if not in reality. He meet her eyes, hers reassuring with a coffee fire. She shrugged. 'You did want to know the truth' was all she could say. He nodded and asked her 'Are you sure?', relieved when she nodded 'Yes, I'm sure'. With an 'I love you' and a heated kiss, he moved and claimed her for himself completely, in her mind and heart and soul at least. He swept her hair out of her face with one hand, resting his balance on his other one. 'Are you ok?' he asked gently, aware she was new to this, having felt the evidence disappear after he'd moved forward. She was officially now his. She nodded, 'I'm ok, you can move now. I love you too.'.
He kissed her lightly, moving again and she caught his rhythm, losing herself all over again with him right there with her all the way until they both went sailing over the edge together, shouting each others names at the same time. Back on the bed, both were left shaking from the intensity of it. In the dream plain, both were shaking in each others arms, still coming down from an amazing high. He carefully moved off her and snuggled her into his arms. Liz couldn't even speak or think, she was too lost still. So was he.
After a while, both had floated back down to earth in their minds. Coming around properly, it was Michael who stirred first, he smiled down at his girl, knowing that here she was his girl. He had been her first and would be her last. He knew it would be exactly the same when he made love to her in reality. Either way, he would be her last, there was no one else now for her. Sean wouldn't get near her now. She stirred and yawned. 'Tired?' she nodded, adding 'That wore me out. It was amazing though, thank you', pressing a kiss to his cheek, content to lie there. 'Are you ready to get back to reality now?' she nodded.
With that, they opened their eyes back on the bed. Liz snuggled into him and closed her eyes, easily falling to sleep in her blanket of bliss. Michael kissed her hair, cleaned them both up and followed her into sleep, wrapped in his own blanket of bliss.
Michael woke up a bit later on and found his arms empty, there was a note. She was reading about Harvard. Sighing, he got up to find her. He found her sat with a copy of 'Harvard for Dummies' that Max had got out for her, reading all the questions and noting them down with all the answers. She was going to ace this interview. He coughed. She looked up, ''Hi, she smiled at his smirk, well I do need to do something for Harvard tonight.'' He just gave her a heated look of 'Really, is that the best you came come up with?' and she just blushed. Striding his way to his girl, he took the book out of her hands, put in her notes as a bookmark and put it closed on the table.
Pulling her to her feet, he kissed her senseless, remembering her response to him in the dream plain. It was official, Max was a complete idiot and he had his dream girl. He left her standing just. She rested against him, getting her breath back. He knew he was good. With her hand on his shoulder, she pushed herself away. She had something else on her mind and he was too damn good at distracting her. He just looked at her.
Something was wrong and it wasn't to do with him. He brushed her mind and found darkness, black and death. Mixed in were those suicidal thoughts he'd first sensed hidden away. 'How close had she come?' He needed to voice his thoughts somehow. She beat him to it. ''I'll show you what I've taken out from behind the wall.'' He nodded and both moved to the couch. Once seated, she brought them both to the darkness in her mind. 'This what I've been living with.'.
He was horrified, no wonder she'd struggled. What he sensed behind the wall felt like the end of the world. Her world. She'd been struggling with all this on her own and then lost Alex to Tess, unwittingly by her own actions from what she'd told him. Looking around he spotted the one thing he hoped he wouldn't see- Alex's grave. He read the inscription. Under the name and date was written A dear friend, a Musketeer, gone too soon.
This was killing her slowly. She'd written that. He needed to find her NOW. Looking around, he found her torturing herself in the midst of agony and deepest despair. She was on her knees in pain, sobbing. He hugged her, saying the one thing she needed to hear. 'I forgive you, you are forgiven. I love you, you are my girl and I love you. I will NEVER stop loving you ever, you've got me for life now, so let this go. It's time to forgive yourself.' She sobbed harder.
Then the black started to disappear bit by bit until there was a bit left by her head. 'Say the words Parker, please, just forgive yourself, for Alex.' She nodded, finally saying the words that had been eluding her, 'I forgive myself, oh Alex I'm so sorry.' She broke down completely, finally letting her own agony out. All he could do was hold her, wishing she could tell him why she was even like this. Something or someone had broken her badly and he had no clue how to fix it but he would help her to get past this. Damn Tess. How was she connected to all this and how was Maxwell?
The last bit of black vanished. All that was left was Alex's grave. He looked down at her, unsure of how she was. She'd passed out on him, worn out. He careful sent her back to reality, thinking up a white rose to put on Alex's grave. He knelt down carefully putting the rose on the grave, waving his hand over the stone. It read Good bye Alex.
He stood up and with a hand on his friends grave, he gripped it tightly in remorse himself. 'Good bye Alex, I'm sorry too and I forgive myself too.' Smiling in bittersweet sadness, he blinked as the grave vanished and smiled properly in relief. She had finally let go and forgiven herself. He left her mind, relieved she'd be ok. Now all that was left was that wall. It terrified her.
He came to reality, relieved she was asleep but OK. He found her next to him, tears on her face. She'd been through hell and hadn't told anyone. He suspected Maria knew something. Maria had never mentioned it though or about Rath. She knew about that too. That meant something had happened. Liz hadn't mentioned a word.
Liz woke up later, saw he was asleep and saw her mind was finally clear. Checking the wall was up, she looked around with relief. It was clear thanks to Michael. She wasn't sure how much more she could stand of it before it overwhelmed her. She went back to reality and snuggled up to her boyfriend, able to get a good nights sleep.
Morning came and woke them up, groaning at the light shining through the room. Liz sat up first, only to be tugged down again by a half asleep Michael, who wanted his pillow back. Liz looked around. The evidence! Shrugging off Michael's arm, waking him up with a grunt, she got up and hid the evidence. Reaching his arm out, he couldn't find her or a note. 'Where was she?' he wondered, sitting up in alarm, turning his head at hearing her walk back into the room, looking relieved. At his questioning look, she shrugged. ''I was hiding the evidence.''. He nodded, patting the sofa for her to sit down.
Once settled, he kissed her good morning. ''Why didn't you wait wake up with me?'' ''We left the evidence out last night. I was just hiding it and coming back. I didn't want to wake you up yet.'' ''You were my pillow'' he grumbled, pulling her into his lap. There was a knock at the door. Liz went to get up, only to be stopped by his arm. ''I'm getting the door Michael, not walking into danger.'' She ducked under his arm and opened the door. It was Kyle. He was still shaken. ''Liz, are you ok?'' She hugged him tightly, reassuring him. ''Come in Kyle, I'm fine.'' She lead him in, shutting the door and sitting him down next to Michael.
Michael had been watching Kyle's reaction to Liz's actions last night, he hoped she would think twice about doing a stunt like that again. This would surely get it through to her. She was calm though, as if there was nothing to worry about. It was then he checked her thoughts. She was nowhere near calm. She had yet to properly handle last night and was putting Kyle first before herself again. It was a good thing she had him now.
Kyle had only one thing to ask her. ''Liz, promise me you won't do that again please? I can't lose you.'' Liz couldn't promise that easily, knowing what she did. She promised what she could instead. ''I promise I won't be in a situation where you could lose me again.'' Kyle had accepted that. He couldn't. He knew what she wasn't saying. He didn't like it. Whatever this secret was, it was big and in some way, ruled her decisions. She wasn't free of it. He had to rein her in now before she got killed. She was still running.
Kyle was asking what evidence they had found. Liz showed him. Kyle was surprised by what they had. It was enough to expose them completely. Now he got why she'd risked her life and killed to protect them. If the FBI got this, it was over. Relieved she was ok, he got ready to leave for school. Liz got her stuff together before going to the bathroom to get changed. It was too normal. Kyle was fine but Liz wasn't. He knew that. Sighing at his girlfriends stubbornness, he got ready for school too.
They left and drove to the Crash Down, Liz bringing her bag up to her room, saying hi to her dad on the way. He followed, determined to confront her on this. He stood in her bedroom doorway, arms crossed. She had her back to him, finally counting the cost of her actions- 4 people dead by her hand, literally. This wasn't her. This is what Max had done to her. He'd forced her hand and made her kill, again. She'd lived this time, just. She sobbed. She hated this. A strong hand turned her around and into strong arms that just held her. ''I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to kill those guards. I had only knocked them out in self defence. I hoped they would wake up and get out after the fire I caused in the room got too far. They never did. The other two I don't regret. They were in it together. I'm not a killer Michael but I had no choice. Can you get that?'' He nodded. ''Yeah, I get it. Just don't let it destroy you.'' She laughed. ''It's a bit too late for that.'' He looked sharply at her, holding her chin to look at him.
''What do you mean by THAT?'' he whispered, the radio was on and that Bryan Adams song was on again. ''Listen to the song lyrics. I'm free by my own actions based on certain events, whether good or bad.'' He backed up and listened. Her secret held her, he was sure of it now. It had prompted her to kill. This was bad and she was trapped by it with no way out. Alex's death had been her price for her actions in this secret. He had to get her out, somehow. He hugged her again, this time in reassurance. All he could do was whisper in her ear ''It'll be ok. I promise you I will find a way to get you out of this. I love you.''.
She nodded. ''Let's get you to school.'' His voice was gentle, his caress light, full of understanding, a finger softly wiping her tears away. He moved past her and picked up her bag, leading her back downstairs to where Kyle was waiting with her dad. Her dad noticed him carrying her bag and smiled. He knew now there was something between them. He approved. Looking at his daughter, he smiled, asking ''How did the Harvard homework go?'' ''It went well dad, I'm going to ace this interview.'' She smiled, hugging him. ''We'd better get going to school. I'll see you later dad, bye.'' Kissing his cheek, she left leaving the other two to trail behind her. They waved goodbye to her dad and left, unsure of her behaviour.
In the car, Kyle spoke first in concern. ''Are you really ok?'' She nodded, ''I will be', smiling at Michael. It was later on after they had arrived at school when Kyle noticed Liz had been missing during the free period and now had been missing during AP Science, her favourite subject. He ran into Michael in the hallway. He was worried. Michael noticed his face. He stopped and crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. ''What is it Valenti?'', his voice stern with a silent command of 'TELL ME!'. Kyle glanced down, then looked at him, finally telling him ''Liz is missing, I haven't seen her during the free period and now she isn't in AP Science. I'm worried, she's really not herself. She was meant to meet up with me.''.
Michael scrubbed his hand over his face, frustrated. She'd gone missing. Again. Was she even safe? He reached out his thoughts to her, relieved that he had this option after Nasedo kidnapping her and scaring her out of her wits. He had never seen her that terrified before. Nasedo had got to her ever since until he had died. He had shaken her completely. She hadn't said completely what she'd seen but it had been enough. He sighed in relief when Liz replied. Then he frowned, she sounded teary. Her thoughts came through loud and clear with a slight sniff. ' I'm ok. I didn't mean to scare you, I'm sorry. I just need to deal with this by myself for now. I'm in the eraser room.'.
He mentally nodded in relief, saying out loud to Kyle ''She's in the eraser room. She'll be ok. She just needs some time out.'' Kyle nodded. ''I'll let her teacher know. I hope she'll be ok.'' He left, leaving a concerned Michael on his own. He turned on his heel to the eraser room, knocking on the door at the sight of the melted lock. ''Let me in Liz, preferably before I get into trouble please?'' Sighing unhappily as the lock unmelted and the door opened, he let himself into the room, closing it behind him relocking and remelting the door. Turning to face her, he was ready to yell at her for hiding like this and stopped. She was a mess, worse than in the vision at the academy. She was counting the cost on her own terms and it tore painfully at his heart to see.
She was curled up on the floor, lowering her hand back down to the ground, sobbing at what she had done and why. She hadn't moved, too overwhelmed by what she felt. Acting on instinct, he knelt next to her and carefully moved her into his arms. She had to know she wasn't alone in this. Liz sobbed in his arms, devastated at the destruction she had caused. He let her cry it out, knowing she needed to. When she was done, he just held her until she spoke.
''Thank you for not trying to fix this for me and letting me handle this my own way with your support. I realise I'm not alone with any of this now and I should have told you where I was. I'm sorry.'' He gripped her tighter, kissing her hair lightly with a whispered ''Thank you for finally letting me in. I'm not mad and it's ok. Can you get up now?'' At her nod, he helped her up. Dusting her and him down with his hand, he wiped her tears away gently with a tender smile and a loving look in his eyes. ''You are forgiven, now just forgive yourself. Can you do that for me please?'' She nodded. He smirked, there she was hiding just beneath the surface. She whispered ''I forgive myself for myself'', meeting his smirk with her own heated smile, drawing him down to her slowly, kissing him slowly.
Kissing on it's own was not quite enough anymore for either of them. Being together on the dream plain had been intense and now they both wanted more in reality to see just how well it matched up. Michael knew it was time to address it. He pulled away, relunctantly from her, panting to regain control. ''We need boundaries now. We'll talk later. Now you need to get to class for Harvard.'' He made sure she was ok, gave her her bag and unmelting the door, unlocked it and let her out. After a quick kiss good bye, she hurried off.
He was left standing in the room. He knew how she'd hurt and equally knew the darkness behind her shield was gradually disappearing. Sooner or later, he would see everything. He just hoped it was sooner. Nothing would make him run from her now. With a sigh of frustration, he got his bag and left.