Part 46
Max lay awake long into the night, unconsciously turning his ring on his finger and frowning up at the ceiling. Beside him Liz slept lightly, her restless movements waking her on a frequent basis. Beyond letting him know that she wasn't ready to talk she hadn't spoken to him and even though she had woken up at least half a dozen times she hadn't uttered a word. He glanced at her when she shifted again, rolling to her side and pulling the knotted blankets with her. He had given up trying to keep them untangled when his efforts had startled her out of sleep. His gaze traveled over her distraught features, hurting at the pain so evident in the pinched lines on her face.
She had withdrawn once sleep had finally claimed her, physically pulling away from him. As much as it hurt he had respected her obvious need for space, forcing himself to be patient and wait for her to come to him. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and let her know he didn't fault her for anything that had happened and that everything would be alright, but she wasn't ready for that. He squeezed his eyes shut and sighed raggedly when she inched closer to the edge of the bed, making a sound that was somewhere between a whimper and a moan.
How many ways could he hurt her before she couldn't take anymore? He thought about a time not that long ago when she had started to change, developing abilities that she had never wanted. He held his hand up to stare at it, thinking about the way he had pushed when he had taken her out into the desert with the intention of healing her. Instead of helping her he had only managed to cause her more pain. If it hadn't been for Kyle yelling at him to stop he didn't know what he might have done out of his sheer desperation as he tried to help her.
"Max?"
He was sure his heart stuttered in his chest when he heard Liz call his name so quietly he was afraid his mind was conjuring her voice up. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly feeling so dry that it was difficult to convince it to work. "I'm here," he said, cringing internally at his response. I'm here. Of course you're here, you idiot.
"I'm sorry about…"
"No." He sat up quickly and shook his head. "Liz, no, you have nothing to be sorry for!" he said insistently. "What happened wasn't your fault, it was mine. You've never failed me, Liz." He ran a hand over his face. "I failed you. I knew you'd never betray me like that, but I let it push us apart. If I'd been the guy you believed I was I never would've allowed that to happen."
She shook her head negatively.
"I never saw this guy so I have no way of knowing the truth about him. I can speculate… and what I can speculate is that if that guy was me then I only lost more of my common sense as I got older." He snorted softly, hiding his relief when she moved closer and reached out to touch his arm. "Because there's no way I would've been jealous of Kyle."
"You said…" she trailed off. "He said the same thing."
"Well, then maybe I hadn't lost all my faculties. That's something I guess."
"You knew I hadn't slept with him, Max." She blushed lightly. "There are some things that a lie can't hide and our wedding night…" She cleared her throat and mentally rolled her eyes at the hint of a smile on his face. "So when you found him here with me earlier, why were you so upset?"
"Because finding him here alone with you, it just put me back in that moment, Liz." His back teeth started to grind. "Seeing you with him in your bed, that hurt. Even then my mind fought against the obvious conclusion. But, watching you with him," he swallowed hard, "seeing him make you laugh so openly at a time when I couldn't seem to do anything to make you happy…"
Liz shook her head as the smallest of smiles graced her lips. "We were talking about you, Max."
His eyebrows shot up at her confession. "Me?"
"Yeah, you. You were this amazing person in my life, even with everything going on. I asked Kyle if he felt different after you healed him because I wanted to know if he had similar feelings… that it had somehow changed me. And then when I asked him if he saw things when you healed him he said no, but then he turned right around and made me laugh when he said…"
Max shifted to look at her more fully when she paused. "What'd he say?"
"I was trying to remember what it was he said exactly." Her brow furrowed as she thought, trying to get the words right. "I've got it," she said after mulling it over for a few moments. "He had this completely serious look on his face when he said he hadn't seen any flashes or images and then he went on to say that since you healed him he kept getting flashes of you naked."
He frowned when she giggled at the memory. "That was funny?"
"Max, he has a great sense of humor, and at that moment I really needed to laugh. It wasn't just what he said; it was his expression and the way he said it." She sobered. "He made me laugh." She took a deep breath and fell silent, giving him time to absorb what she had told him. "You know, it's weird, but while I was in the bathroom trying to psyche myself up for that moment your future self was in there with me. You… he kept saying he didn't think it was a good plan."
"It wasn't," he agreed. He sighed heavily and returned to staring at the ceiling. "I knew that whole thing wasn't right. It felt wrong, and not just because you and Kyle were in bed together. Naked," he bit out. "Was that part really necessary?"
"And you say you'd never be jealous of Kyle." She snorted and folded her pillow in half, resting her head on it as she rolled onto her side to face him. "He and I never got that involved at any point in our shared history."
"He got to second base."
"I don't even want to know how you know that," she said with a roll of her eyes. "But since you make it to home plate on a fairly regular basis I think we should just leave my history with Kyle in the past. Where it belongs."
He nodded and shifted to mimic her pose as he met her gaze in the muted moonlight filtering in through the window. "I'm sorry, Liz. If I had been the person you needed me to be I wouldn't have allowed that to push us apart. I dragged my feet with Tess and I can see that so clearly now. It was there at the time, the knowledge that I wasn't fighting hard enough, but…" he shook his head. "I let it get away from me. You deserved so much more than I gave you. Time after time you gave me everything you had and all I did was screw it up for you."
"Max, you make it sound like I had no will of my own. I'm not a mindless drone."
He reached out to press his forefinger against her lips, silencing her. "Liz, I'm the reason your shot at Harvard got blown, I'm the guy you got arrested for because I put a gun in your hands and you helped me hold up a gas station – "
"You didn't make me do that. You can take responsibility for a lot of things, but my actions aren't one of them. You put the gun in my hands, yes, but I was more than willing to help you. Do you remember what I said to you that night? Before we went inside you told me I didn't have to do it, remember? What'd I say to you?"
"That we were in it together." He swallowed hard. "Together till the end."
"Holding up the station wasn't one of our brightest moves." She smiled and it was tinged with exhaustion. "But that vow still holds true, Max."
He wrapped his hand around hers and brought it up to hold it against his chest. "You said that you believed him… me… when he came to you because of what he said about Isabel and Michael, but I don't understand why he wanted you to go to such lengths to drive a wedge between us."
"I told you he wanted me to help him, you, fall out of love with me."
"That's ridiculous. He still didn't achieve that goal. I never fell out of love with you. Sounds to me like he wanted you to do all the work, come up with the plans."
"He insisted. He told me about Michael and Isabel after I gave you that whole Romeo and Juliet speech and told you… I said…"
He could see how difficult it was for her to bring that up. "That I couldn't stop what was happening to me and that my life would always be dangerous but yours didn't have to be. You were only in danger if you were with me." His eyes burned as he remembered every wound she had inflicted with those words. "You said you wanted to be in love with normal boys, see your 21st birthday, a wedding day, to have children, and for them to be safe." His throat burned as he forced the next words out. "That you loved me but you didn't want to die for me."
She could see the pain in his eyes as he said the words aloud, each one seeming to cut him deeper. "You don't know what it cost me to say those words to you, Max."
"Wasn't that enough? Why pour salt in the wound by having me see you with Kyle?"
"You… He said it wasn't enough, that it wasn't working."
"No," he mused quietly. "It hurt like hell, but it didn't make me fall out of love with you." He sighed raggedly. "Neither did that whole mess with Kyle, so why did that make him think his mission was successful?"
"I don't know." She frowned. That was a good point.
"How did that setup happen? What made you choose that scenario?"
"Maria," she said quietly. "She was telling me about finding Michael and Courtney together and how awful it made her feel when she saw the guilty look on his face."
"But how could you know when I'd be there? Oh," he said, answering his own question, "he told you I'd come to you with the tickets. It must've been a hell of a concert if he needed you to derail me that quickly."
"He said we never made it to the concert." She stared at her forefinger as she traced random patterns on his chest. "Apparently we never made it past my bedroom the night of the concert." She gave him a shove when he smirked at her revelation.
"So, if things hadn't been changed we would've had sex that night." His expression turned speculative. "I won't deny that I wanted us to make that move, but you hadn't indicated you were ready…"
"Because I wasn't! But according to your future self you were carrying protection around in your back pocket."
He smiled slightly at the annoyed tone in her voice. "Liz, every guy my age has a condom in his wallet."
"Then why didn't you use it?" she asked before she could stop the words.
His gaze dropped and he sighed. "I don't know. I should have, I know that, but if I had Zan wouldn't exist now. He's my son, Liz, and even though I can't be with him I can't just wish him away. I know that would make things so much easier and as much as I want to take that pain from you…" he shook his head.
"He's your son, Max." She forced herself to meet his gaze. "I know we weren't together when you and Tess… but it still hurt. Seeing me with Kyle like that, it was designed to push you at Tess, but I wasn't ready to face what that meant when the two of you really started spending time together."
"Seeing you and Kyle together didn't make me do anything, Liz. Okay, yeah, I started spending time with Tess, but choosing to have sex with her…" he shrugged one shoulder. "Yes, I was hurt, I felt betrayed, and I was angry, but I also let Tess play her mind games with me. She fed my ego and I let her, she used learning about our past as an excuse and I played along. Part of me did want it and I wish I could blame it all on her screwing with my head but I know I've gotta take responsibility for what happened. The choices were mine to make, and I'm the only one responsible for them."
"We've both made choices, Max. Choices that have turned out good and bad…" she trailed off and averted her gaze. "Some of them were just harder to make than others."
"I hurt so many people with mine, Liz," he murmured quietly. "You, Isabel, my parents, Michael…" he inhaled deeply. "Your parents, Langley… some of the things I've done there's no forgiveness for." His brow furrowed as his thoughts took him back over the things she had done for him. "I never should've involved you in the search for my son." He shook his head when she started to protest. "Liz, I know you were willing to do whatever was necessary to help me, and you proved that over and over, but I should've seen what it was costing you to be a part of that."
"Max, that's…" she fell silent when he looked at her, his eyes begging her to let him finish.
"I was blind to everything around me and that includes the pain you felt at the constant reminder that I'd slept with Tess and that I'd gotten her pregnant. It was selfish on my part to include you in that search. I needed someone who would support me and be there for me and I completely overlooked what you needed."
"You needed that closure."
"Yeah, but you didn't need to be involved in that mess."
"Maybe not, but I could've said no at any time."
"You put yourself through all of that for me, Liz."
"That was a big part of it but even I'm not all that altruistic, Max."
His eyebrow quirked at her admission. "What?"
"She got her claws into you once, Max, and as much as I wanted to blame her for all of it I couldn't. I knew when we found Zan we'd find her. You let her in once and I wasn't willing to risk it happening again."
He sat up slowly and rubbed his face with his hands. "You didn't trust me."
Liz looked at him, hearing the flat note in his voice. "Max, it was a lot to take in and we ended up back together without ever really dealing with what had happened." She shifted to sit up beside him. "What would've happened if Michael hadn't come out of the chamber that day? He stayed for Maria and you… God, I know you had your son to think about, but it still hurt, Max. You would've gone to Antar with her and at the time you made that decision you were willing to leave us with Alex's killer still on the loose. If Michael hadn't decided to stay we would've been safe, but you… the rest of you…"
"Would've been killed," he said softly.
"Why did you believe me? You refused to listen when I said it was an alien that had killed Alex, but when we got into the chamber I told you that Tess had killed him and Kyle backed me up… what made you believe it then? You didn't even question the validity of the claim at that point."
"Relief," he answered honestly. "Michael did something that I should've done. Something I should've been strong enough to do. You think I saved you, Liz, but the truth is you saved me. Over and over."
Her eyes that had been so dry that it hurt to blink suddenly welled up again and she swallowed with difficulty as she turned to face him, reaching out to cradle his face in her hands. "As much as I wanted to help you find Zan I was scared to death of what would happen to us when we did."
Max reached up to cover her hands, taking them in his and bringing them together against his chest. "I know that was…" he searched for the appropriate word, "an impossible situation for you and living with Zan in our lives might not be something we could survive." He took a deep breath and released it slowly. "There's a part of me that'll never be whole because he's not in my life and that part, it aches, Liz." He swallowed hard, pushing the sudden lump in his throat down. "Every kid I see just pushes it back to the surface and the closer they are to his age the more it makes me think about Zan and who he's becoming. He's changing every day, Liz, growing up, and I'm not there to see it." He cleared his throat. "I know he's completely human, that amazingly enough he wasn't cursed with anything alien that would set him apart and make him a target, but even without that he's a part of me."
She moved her hands just slightly so that she could wrap her fingers around his. "Max, I could see how badly it hurt you to let him go, how much it still hurts you every day, and I only wish there was a way I could take back the relief I felt when you decided to give him up for adoption."
"You're not the only one who was relieved," he admitted, the words coming out with difficulty. "As much as I wanted to keep him I knew things were different and my life wasn't in danger it could mean eventually having to choose between the two of you." He dropped his gaze to their joined hands. "I didn't want that responsibility and because I'll most likely always be in danger of exposure it made the decision…" he shook his head. "Not easy but, easier than if that threat didn't exist. If I'd been able to keep him I know he would've reminded you every day that I slept with Tess. I can only imagine how difficult that would've been for you and when we were searching for him I never let myself think about how that would affect you."
"I wish I could say that I would've been able to look at Zan without remembering how he…" she cleared her throat. "I want to say I'm a big enough person that I could see past that and just be in awe of how great he was because he was a part of you, but I don't know if I could've done that."
He nodded. "I know."
"I remember watching you with him and thinking that he had your features." She gave him a small smile when he looked up at her. "I looked into your son's eyes and I could see you. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't had to make the choice to give him up, if I could've seen past who his mother was. For his sake and yours, if we ever get the opportunity to have him in our lives, I hope I'm strong enough to see him for who he is."
Max looked up at her, the tears in his eyes making his irises darker. "I'm sorry, Liz."
"Max," she whispered, shaking her head as she studied his face and absentmindedly noted that the dim light coming in through the window announced the arrival of morning. "We can't make up for the past, neither of us." She stroked his jaw with her fingertips. "All we can do is to do our best going forward."
He nodded. "I am." He covered her hand with his, turning his head to press a kiss into her palm. "I promise you I'll do everything I can to be the man I should be. The man you deserve."
"We need to let the past stay in the past. It's time for us to move forward and for the first time I think we're really at a place where we can do that."
"I love you, Liz. No matter what mistakes I've made in the past, that's never changed. The depth of that love has grown, deepened, but loving you has never been in question."
"Do me a favor, Max?" She waited until he nodded in response. "Stop referring to the mistakes in the past as yours alone. We've both made mistakes and we'll make more, that's a given. I think our biggest problem is our lack of communication, so let's just promise right now that from this point on we'll talk about things no matter how small they are. Just get everything out in the open and stop our problems from getting so big that they seem impossible to deal with. Okay?"
"Deal," he said with a tired smile.
"I love you so much, Max. So much," she whispered.
"Maybe I should get up and make some breakfast," he said after a while. "Think you could eat a little somethin'?"
She smiled at his offer. She wasn't really hungry but she knew neither of them would sleep any more. "Sure, but just something small."
He leaned over to kiss her, watching her for a moment before climbing out of bed with a promise to keep it small. He wandered into the kitchen and started looking through the refrigerator and cabinets, searching for something nourishing that wouldn't be too heavy. He finally settled on oatmeal and put a pot of water on to boil. He tore open a packet of the instant oatmeal and dumped it into a bowl, pushing the dry mix around and making a face. He didn't much care for the sticky, lumpy mush, but for some reason he didn't understand Liz loved it.
He thought about everything they had talked about and he finally felt peace settle over some of the old wounds. She was right, they did have a habit of letting things get swept under the rug and then just ignoring them, and they needed to make an effort to really deal with problems when they crept up. They had the opportunity to start fresh and keep the lines of communication open between them. He knew it would take work because they had become accustomed to talking around their problems instead of facing them. Their situation hadn't helped things either. Being stuck in the van with four other people made it easy to let the problems remain buried because who wanted to have a confrontation with an audience?
He rolled his shoulders back and turned his head to the side when he heard the water come on in the shower. He listened to the subtle change in the sound the water made as it was prevented from directly hitting the shower floor. Without even giving it a second thought he reached out blindly and turned the stove off.
Liz felt herself really beginning to relax for the first time in longer than she could remember. Talking to Max about things had made a difference, she could feel it. The hot water from the showerhead pounded against her shoulders and her muscles began to loosen up. Her nerves were humming below the surface in trepidation of the meeting that waited for them once everyone was up and ready to talk. Hopefully it would go a lot smoother than it had the night before, she mused with a roll of her eyes. Her thoughts were interrupted by a quiet knock on the door and she tipped her head back in order to hear. "Yes?" She heard the creak of the hinges as the door was pushed open partially.
"Would you like to…" Max started, ducking his head inside and peering around the door. He froze, his gaze riveted to her form that was out of focus courtesy of the frosted glass. Not that he needed a clear view to see her; his wife's body was indelibly imprinted in his mind. "Um… postpone breakfast?"
She opened the door slightly, unable to hear him clearly between the running water and the enclosed space. "What's that?" She blinked away a few droplets of water and as her eyes landed on him she felt her body's automatic reaction to him.
Max felt his confidence notch up significantly when he recognized the look on her face. "Not hungry?" He shrugged one shoulder when she gave him a slight smile. The first one in what felt like days. "I mean, not for breakfast?"
"No, I'm, uh, I'm not really hungry this morning." Her eyes followed his every move as he pulled his shirt off and then reached for the button at the top of his jeans. "Not for breakfast," she said, her tone softly mocking.
He finished stripping his clothes off and shouldered his way into the shower. He ducked his head under the spray, soaking himself and then backing away to shake his head.
Liz laughed when his actions reminded her of a wet dog. She watched him as he shifted around her and reached for the bottle of shampoo sitting on the shelf. "What're you doing?" she asked when he popped the top open on the heather-scented Luscious Locks. He didn't answer for a moment as he paused to inhale the shampoo's scent and lifted his gaze to meet hers. She felt her breath catch in her throat when he gave her the look that never failed to make her stomach flutter like crazy. Even those his eyes showed his weariness she saw some of it lift from him as he relaxed and when he spoke she heard the change in his tone and demeanor.
"Thought I'd give you a hand bathing… wash your hair."
Her smile turned coy and she suddenly felt energized. "Just a shampoo?" She gave him a nod of consent and he backed her under the spray, wetting her hair down before tugging her forward again.
Max squeezed a small amount of shampoo into his palm and set the bottle aside, rubbing his hands together before beginning to slowly run his hands through her hair. He worked the shampoo into a lather, massaging her scalp and smiling when she started making a quiet purring sound.
Liz sighed in pleasure as her muscles began to unknot under his careful touch. "Oh, that feels good."
I'm gonna spend the rest of my life making you feel good, he thought. "Close your eyes," he murmured, waiting until she complied before he tipped her chin up so the water was running over her head and rinsing the shampoo away. His eyes followed the water as it ran over her closed mouth, separating at her chin, and hitting her shoulders to cascade over her soft breasts. His mouth felt dry as the desert as she came out from under the spray and wiped her hands over her eyes before looking up at him.
"That was wonderful," she said as she turned. She caught her hair in her right hand, moving it over her shoulder. "Wash my back?"
His gaze traveled over her and he reached out to graze her shoulder with the backs of his knuckles. He was holding himself in check as he quietly asked, "Just your back?" He saw her cheek curve in a quiet smile and he nodded as he looked around for a washcloth. When he didn't spot one he squeezed some of the body wash into his palm and put the bottle aside before using both hands to work it into a good lather. He started at her shoulders, massaging them with just enough pressure to make her groan and sigh. Every sound she made sent more of his blood rushing south.
Liz felt like she was going to combust when his hands changed direction and started to run over her back in long sweeping strokes. She tipped her head back and her eyes slid closed when his touches became feather-light along her lower back. His fingers spread out to grip her waist, applying just enough pressure to turn her around and rinse the soap from her body.
Max could see the flush of arousal staining her skin and it amazed him that his touch affected her so deeply. "I can continue…" he said and it came out sounding more like a question.
"You could…" she whispered as her hand trailed up over his chest. "Or…" Her eyes followed the teasing touch and she smiled when he took a step towards her. His body, taut and aroused, called out to her in the most elemental way, speaking to something deep inside of her. Her eyes lifted to his when he caught her hand, entwining their fingers before lifting their joined hands to his lips. The brush of his lips against her knuckles sent an electrical current straight through her and she knew from the way his eyes darkened that he could feel the effect he was having on her.
He felt the tenuous hold on his control snap when her lips turned up at the corners and she gave an almost unnoticeable shake of her head. They reached for each other at the same time, their mouths coming together in a kiss that ignited the passion lying below the surface just waiting to explode. Without breaking contact he grasped the backs of her thighs and lifted her up, holding her steady until he felt her legs lock around his waist. He turned, reaching behind her with his right hand long enough to place his palm flat against the tiled wall, heating it so she wouldn't get a rude surprise when her back came in contact with it.
Her fingers combed through his wet hair, leaving it standing up in spikes before tangling in the short hair at the back of his neck. Her back settled against the warmed tiles and she moved against him, letting him know without words what she wanted. She tightened her grip, giving his hair a sharp tug to get his attention.
Max slowly broke the kiss but put less than a breath of distance between them as he met her gaze. He could see the need in her eyes, could feel the heat searing him straight through, and he maintained eye contact as their bodies came together in a passionate, healing union.
Cradled in her husband's loving arms, Liz basked in the aftermath of their lovemaking. For the first time in too long she could see their future together and it felt so right. Her lips curved upwards as she reveled in the memory of the flashes she had experienced as they made love. It had been so long since she had experienced them and it was just further proof that things between them were coming together and stabilizing.
She didn't completely understand some of the scenes in the flashes, but she had also learned that not all of what she saw in the flashes could be rationalized. The stars were a predominant feature in the flashes and they were usually accompanied by other things, snapshots that blended together but not necessarily in any kind of order. She was roused from her euphoric thoughts at Max's touch and she complied easily when he walked them under the spray so they could wash off.
He was silent as he turned the water off and he stepped out, offering her a hand to steady her as she followed him. He pulled down a large fluffy towel, drying her off before wrapping her in it and lifting his hands to sift through her hair. He lips quirked in a hint of a smile as he used his powers to leave her hair dry and soft as silk. He toweled off quickly and scooped her up in his arms, carrying her to bed and placing her on the mattress.
His expression was pensive as he settled beside her, bracing his weight on his elbow and letting her hair slide through his fingers. It was a habit that soothed him, calmed his nerves for no reason he could think of. "Do you remember me tellin' you we had to take a step back when we were in high school? That you made me forget anything else existed and that it wasn't real?"
Liz had been watching him, wondering what was on his mind. Whatever she had been expecting, it hadn't been that. "Kinda hard to forget that," she said with a slight smile.
"I was wrong." His hand slipped down to cradle her jaw and he looked into her eyes for several long moments before he spoke again. "I told you it had thrown me off balance, and it did. But not for the reason I thought. What we had… what we have, it's real. It's the most real thing in my life. The reason I was off balance was because I shut everything else out and put all of my focus on you, on us, and I forgot about everything around me. Being with you, it's right. When I'm with you I have balance."
She stretched up to brush her lips against his. "We can do this, Max." She smiled and her misty eyes sparkled. "Together we can do anything." She pulled him down next to her and shifted around until she was cradled against his body.
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Maria shivered as she rolled over, blindly searching out Michael's warmth. If it weren't for the cold draft that she couldn't seem to escape from she'd be content to stay cocooned in the sheets and blankets after their long night. She mentally groaned when the cold insistently brought her awake to face the dark of a too early morning. She reached across the sheets, seeking out Michael and frowning when she came up empty-handed.
One green eye cracked open, blearily glancing at the little red blobs that linked together to form the 8:15am on the alarm clock. She shivered again and turned her head to the side, rubbing her eyes and sighing when she recognized the sound of the shower running. She vaguely registered the dim light emanating from the low fire burning in the fireplace as her brain began to kick in and helpfully reminded her of the deal she had made with Michael to keep him from going over to Kyle and Isabel's cabin in the middle of the night.
Her mind rebelled at that memory as she silently counted to three, sitting up and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed as she sought out Michael's thermal shirt from the night before. As the cold made itself known she began to shuffle the blankets around near the bottom of the bed, quickly advancing from shivering to all out shaking. She chattered out a triumphant "yes!" as she caught sight of the familiar cotton weave pinned beneath her hand and just barely holding on to the edge of the bed.
She gave the material a quick jerk, pulling it into her hands and hurrying to pull it on. As she pulled her hair free from the shirt's collar she caught Michael's scent and she snuggled into it, enjoying the combination of warmth and his smell. The oversized shirt began to chase the chill away and as her body unfolded in a pleasurable stretch she finished with a languorous yawn.
Okay, DeLuca, time to make good on that deal you made with Michael. She shot a glare at the floor that she already knew was going to feel like ice under her feet and shivered at the thought of leaving the bed. Time to get up. She made a face and leaned over the edge of the bed, dreading what was waiting for her. She shook her head at the mess. Boxers, jeans, an open box of condoms with several of the foil packets spilled out. Just the way her messy hybrid had left things the night before.
She hissed when the soles of her feet made contact with the floor, but it was all the incentive to move into the kitchen area and take refuge on the small rug in front of the sink. She debated between starting a pot of coffee and joining him in the shower. Just the thought was enough to stoke the heat deep inside of her and it brought a smile to her lips as her memory wandered to his lips and large hands gently mapping her body the night before. That was all it took to decide on the shower, but just as her brain made a decision the water was abruptly turned off.
The metal shower rings screeched in protest as the curtain was thrown open. She listened to him stomping around the bathroom as he dried himself off and she reached for the coffee pot. She turned when the door was jerked open, feeling her breath catch in her throat when she caught sight of him. His hair was shaggy and damp and he was doing his best to keep a hold on the towel slung low around his hips.
Michael's hurried movements slowed for a moment as he took Maria's appearance in but he quickly shook himself out of it. "You've got 10 minutes," he barked, forcing his mind to stay on business.
Maria crossed her arms over her chest as he moved to the bedroom, searching his clean clothes and the bed for another thermal shirt. She smirked slightly as she watched him, knowing that in his hurry he had forgotten that she was wearing the really warm one. She followed him over to the bed and gave him a sweet smile.
"Michael, we need coffee first." She lowered her voice and injected just a hint of pleading into her tone. "Please?"
He huffed out an impatient breath as he pulled his jeans up over his hips. "Maria, this isn't some kissy-kissy morning. We've gotta get goin'."
Her bottom lip jutted out in a pout. "Michael, it's cold in here. You didn't even start a fire in the fireplace. Can I at least get a kiss?"
Michael shifted his attention to the dirty clothes, searching for the elusive shirt and answering her without bothering to look at her. "I don't know… can you?"
Maria rolled her eyes. Did Michael Guerin just correct my grammar? Oh, no, buddy, so not happening. She narrowed her eyes at him and placed her hands on her hips. "Looking for your thermal shirt?"
His eyes locked on hers for a split second before dropping to her shoulders and then roaming over the tight points of her breasts. His mouth opened and closed several times before he was able to get the words out. "Gimme my shirt."
She shifted her weight and pushed one hip out as she put on a thoughtful expression.
He took a step towards her. "C'mon, Maria, we don't have time for this."
She shook her head negatively but her eyes sparkled with amusement. "You want this shirt, you have to ask nicely."
His lips pulled tight for a moment before he uttered a, "Fine. Maria, give me that shirt."
Her expressive eyes rolled again. "Try again." She smirked at him. "You can do it."
Michael growled in annoyance but finally gritted the words out from between clenched teeth. "Maria… may I have my shirt back?"
She snorted and then grinned at him. "This shirt's being worn right now 'cause it's cold in here. Maybe if you make some hot coffee and start a fire in the fireplace…" she began to back up towards the bathroom.
He took notice of the sudden gleam in her eyes as she turned to make a run for the bathroom. He rushed after her, tackling her and making sure he took the hit to the floor with his own body, landing with her in his arms.
"Michael!" she squealed in surprise.
He pulled her up against him, lowering his head and nuzzling his nose in the crook of her neck. "My shirt."
She relaxed in his arms and leaned her head against his. "Yes, Michael, it's your shirt." She hid a smile and gave him a nudge. "Let me up so you can have your shirt."
His voice softened but it still held an edge of seriousness when he spoke. "We really do have to go. We've gotta find out what's going on with Kyle."
She nodded in agreement, fully understanding the gravity of the situation. He released his grip on her and he got to his feet, holding his hand out to her and pulling her up when she took it. As she faced him her eyes shimmered mirthfully and in one smooth motion she pulled his shirt up and over her head. She held it out to him, enjoying his slack-jawed expression as he blindly reached for it. Before he could string two words together she turned to walk into the bathroom, leaving him standing there with a stunned look on his face.
It was the memory of the gooseflesh prickling her skin that had him moving and with a flick of his wrist the fire in the fireplace burst into life. He moved to the kitchen, pulling the shirt on over his head and tugging the neckline up to his nose and inhaling Maria's scent. He smiled slowly as he released it to start the coffee, reaching over to snag the Tigger and Winnie the Pooh mugs sitting side by side next to the sink.
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It was the burning sensation at the back of her neck that woke Isabel from a deep sleep. Her body was stiff and demanded that she stretch, but as she opened her eyes and looked around she realized that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Kyle was still sleeping, his head a heavy weight in her lap. There was no evidence of the insomnia that had been dogging him recently, his relaxed features appearing boyish and reflecting the caring person he had always been with her.
Her attention was pulled away from him when the light flickered, drawing her gaze to the television that was still tuned to the weather channel. Red letters scrolled across the bottom of the screen, displaying the forecast for Tawas Lake and its surrounding areas. Low temperatures this afternoon accompanied by winds from the north will bring a sharp drop in the mercury, bringing in subzero temperatures by early evening. Extreme cold health hazard. Extreme caution for those who must be outside tonight.
The warning alone was enough to make her shiver. She glanced around, searching for the remote and finally locating it lying on Kyle's stomach just above his jeans. Her eyes flicked over his silver belt buckle and her eyes widened slightly as she quickly averted her gaze. Oh my God, was she checking out Kyle Valenti?!
No, she reassured herself. He was a good friend and confidant. She was only concerned for her friend. That's all. Nothing else. She frowned as her mind scrambled around, searching for some semblance of sanity. Her friend, her confidant… when had that happened? She thought about it, selecting moments in the past when she had sought him out because she didn't know what to do with herself. Moments when she had been upset or unsettled and somehow, some way, Kyle had become an anchor for her.
Her lips turned down in a frown again as she tried to pinpoint the moment when she had started to rely on him for help and comfort. After Alex's death, that much she was sure of. It had really become evident when she was dating Jesse and she had broken up with him. She had gone to Kyle without even thinking about it. She had just needed someone to talk to. That's all it was, she reminded herself. He knew her, knew all of them, and he had kept their secret. She trusted him.
She loved Jesse. He was smart and kind, ambitious, but like her dad he was a family man. She'd had a future with him, an opportunity to live a normal life and have a relationship that was warm and caring like her parents had. But there had been times when she had relied on Kyle, needed a friend who understood… The frown furrowing her brow deepened as she realized she couldn't pinpoint a single moment when she had completely opened herself up to Jesse. The next thought swept through her mind like a breeze pushing the cobwebs away.
It's why you left him behind. You let him go because the moment he showed up with the van you knew this was permanent. His life was over and everything he'd worked for would be wasted if he left with you. There had been no way to pretend they would ever have a normal life. Who they were would always be there, the danger would always exist, and she couldn't let him give up anymore of his life. He had already killed for her.
In that moment she knew the truth. It had been staring her in the face all along but she hadn't been able to see it. She loved Jesse fiercely, but she wasn't in love with him the way she should've been. She squeezed her eyes shut as the next thought rolled through her mind. Why wasn't she?
A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed several times in an attempt to force it down. She could feel the skin of her face tightening as she tried to hold her emotions back. Her head slowly dropped back to rest against the loveseat as his name whispered across her lips.
"Alex."
Kyle stirred in his sleep as she reached up to wipe away the single tear that had escaped. She shifted with him, stretching her back as well as she could without disturbing him. She glanced at the window, wondering what time it was as she noticed that night was slowly giving way to the early morning gray of dawn. She sighed when Kyle settled against her and as his breathing began to even out once more her own eyes started to slip closed and without realizing it she dozed off.
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Maria walked beside Michael, using his larger frame as a windbreak against the biting breeze that blew every few minutes. She grabbed his arm as he approached the door to Kyle and Isabel's cabin, his hand fisted and ready to cut loose with what was sure to be a rude awakening. "Maybe we could be a little less obnoxious this morning. They might be sleeping." She reached up when he gestured to the door, knocking quietly.
A look of impatience settled across Michael's features when the knock didn't receive an immediate response. He placed his hands on her arms, moving her aside and resting his hand over the lock on the door. He used his powers, mentally turning the tumbler and unlocking it. He pushed the door open and walked inside, glancing around and doing a double take when he saw Isabel and Kyle on the loveseat.
Isabel awoke with a start and just barely caught herself before she upended Kyle and tossed him on the floor. "Don't you know how to knock?" she grumbled.
"Tried that," Michael bit out, still trying to make sense of what he was seeing.
Maria came in behind him, closing the door and speaking quietly. "Michael, did you just unlock the door and walk in? You can't do that."
"We tried your way and you didn't want me pounding on the door." He shrugged. "It was a compromise."
She noticed Isabel and she stepped around Michael to stand in front of him. "I'm so sorry, Isabel. I tried to stop him but he's…" She trailed off as she took in the scene. Kyle was just waking up, half-asleep and clumsily trying to sit up. She watched as he pulled the fleece blanket around so that Isabel had some of it while he stretched and rubbed his face.
Kyle froze mid-yawn when he turned his head and noticed their company. He worked his jaw to rid himself of a cramp before he looked at Isabel. "How long was I out?" He glanced back at Michael, taking in his expression. "Not long enough," he muttered. He rubbed his neck and turned to check the front door when it opened again and he rolled his eyes when Max and Liz walked in. He shoved himself to his feet, wincing at the rush of tingles that raced through his legs as he put his weight on them and heading for the bathroom. "Let me guess, it's meeting time again," he tossed over his shoulder.