SITP-35

Secrets In The Past

Chapter 35

         Sunday was uneventful as far as bad things go. Michael and Max checked out Liz's apartment thoroughly. Especially the bathroom and bedroom, looking for surveillance equipment they said. Maria thought Max just wanted to look though Liz's underwear drawer. They pronounced it safe as soon as Liz used her powers to make her window turn into a wall. Michael went to his apartment and grabbed a few things while Max took her back to Gwyn's to get her stuff. Everyone hung out there until late in the evening not wanting to leave the two alone. Eventually it was decided that in addition to Michael staying in the guest room Maria would spend the night in Liz's room for the next two days until Amy got back. They didn't really want her staying alone either. Plus then she could drive them to school. Michael had suddenly decided Liz was not aloud on his bike, no matter who was driving it.
       The morning had gone well, the only problem arising when Michael ate the last of the cereal Maria wanted. Liz had taken care of it by sending her down to the cafe to get more. Other than that things were starting out peacefully. Maria didn't think that would last too long. They were all only children and she could have sworn that while Liz was getting together her books Michael was appraising her outfit. She hoped he wasn't stupid enough to say anything if Liz ever wore something he didn't approve of. Knowing Michael, he probably was.
       "Maria would you hurry up already?" Michael pulled her out of her musings to once again tell her to drive faster.
       "Michael we are already like half an hour early. I'm surprised you're not melting or something. Have you ever been to school this early before?" When her only answer was a glare and a muffled giggle from Liz in the back seat she let it drop. "Why do you want to be early anyway?"
       "We have to make sure everything is safe."
       An exasperated sigh was heard from the back seat this time.
       "Michael we went over all of this yesterday. Everything is going to be fine. You and Max have got to calm down about this." Liz tried to get him to loosen up about this. She knew it was serious but if they were all on alert everything would be fine. She didn't want to let this wako or wackos as the case may be completely run her life. They didn't need to smother her and she did not need a baby sitter.
       "I'm calm. Who says I'm not calm?" Maria rolled her eyes.
       "What time did you tell Max we were going to be at school?" Liz leaned forward to ask in an accusatory tone.
       "I umm, we might have talked about meeting early to make sure everything was ok."
       She turned to Maria. "We must be late. Max is waiting outside the school and he's very anxious."
       Stopping at a red light both turned dumbfounded to stare at her.
       "What?" she asked defensively.
       "How did you know that?"
       "I always know where you guys are, remember? The anxious thing, I don't know, I didn't think about it. I just knew he was anxious. Huh..." She leaned back in the seat trying to figure that one out. Usually she could only feel him if they had connected through physical contact or under very intense circumstances. "The connection must be getting stronger." she mumbled to herself.
       "What do you mean its getting stronger?" Michael turned in his seat to look at her.
       "umm, I'm not sure. I had not consciously noticed it before but its definitely there. Kind of like you and I. I can kind of sense him on the outskirts of my mind, like you. Except I have learned to block you out if I want to. This one is not strong enough for me to be constantly aware of it."
       Michael narrowed his eyes in thought. "I wonder if Max is sensing you too." He didn't like the idea of Max being able to tune into the Liz channel twenty four hours a day like he could. If it was happening there was nothing he could do to stop it but he liked having this special connection to Liz. He had never let anyone get that close to him before although he was trying with Maria. He would never admit it but he liked being the first one to know when she was upset so her could comfort her. He like being her over protective brother and he didn't want to share the responsibility with Max, at least not yet.
       "What is this thing you guys have anyway? You have never fully explained it." Maria tried to hide the bit of jealousy in her voice. She knew this was nothing to be jealous of but she could not help be a little hurt that Liz was closer to Michael than she was. However she suspected that they would not have been making the progress in their relationship of late if it had not been for the connection with Liz. Somehow it opened him up to how others around him were feeling and made him a little more patient and compassionate.
       "I'm not even sure connection is the right word to use. Max called what he does when he heals someone creating a connection. I have always associated it with flashes I get from him and those only come from physical contact."
       "Ok so if its not a connection then what is it?"
       "I can't think of a word for it. Its...its like an empathic receptiveness. We or at least I, don't see images or get thoughts, only feelings. But in this case, with Michael, its constant. I always know what he's feeling. Sometimes its just vague impressions but usually I can pick up on what exactly he's feeling."
       "Is that the way it is for you Michael?"
       "Pretty much. Its like the way she described her homing signal thing. Its like a hum at the back of my mind. I can reach for it if I want to check on her or I can leave it alone but if something is wrong it gets louder in my head if I want it to or not."
       "And this is different than what you have or had with Max?"
       "yeah," Liz nodded. "With Max... its even harder to describe. I'm not really sure. I need to talk to him about this. There is something new, kind of an awareness of him."
       "He is still connected to you. I think its gotten stronger since that night at the Granolith. He just didn't know it." Maria said absently.
       They were going to ask her what she meant when they pulled into a spot in front of the school. Max sprung up from where he was sitting on the curb and was opening Liz's door before Maria had even turned off the car.
       They walked into the school together, Max holding Liz's right hand and Michael flanking her left side, his left arm looped loosely around Maria's shoulders. The halls were starting to fill with students and Liz was beginning to feel the weight of their stairs and the mumbled whispers. With all the commotion over the weekend it had not occurred to her that the fact that she and Max were back together might cause quite the stir in the gossip circles at West Roswell.
       Liz could feel her cheeks start to flame and the guilt start to weigh her down again. They never did figure out who started that rumor but it had affected all of them. She didn't care what it had done to her reputation but what if Max did? She was not particularly thrilled about the whispers or how some people saw her in a different light now but there was nothing she could have done once they started to spread. If she had denied it people would have said she was protesting to much. If she had confirmed it could have hurt Max even worse. At the time it was better to not acknowledge the rumor at all, at least that way that's all it was, a rumor.
       If she started to see him again the rumors could be significantly worse. She didn't want people to think that the only reason Max was with her was because apparently she was easy. And what about Max? He should not have to have a girlfriend who people thought was a slut. He was too good for that.
       "Hey, you know I don't care about that stuff."
       "Don't pay any attention to them Liz. You're better than that and they know it." Max and Michael picked up on her emotions and tried to comfort her at the same time. All four stopped abruptly in the middle of the hall. Michael and Max stared each other down over Liz's head. After a brief second Maria came around and grabbed Liz's hand so they could continue on to their lockers.
       "Wonderful! Now they've got connection envy," Maria exclaimed. Liz couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up from within. She had no idea what she was going to do with her dueling boys.
       Maria had also heard the whispers as they walked down the hall. Leaning over she spoke softly in her ear. "Don't you pay any attention to the gossips Lizzy. They're just jealous that Max wasn't on the market longer. Tomorrow everyone will have forgotten and there will be something new making the rounds." Little did Maria know how true her reassurance would become. When they all reached Liz's locker, the designated meeting place for the group, Maria addressed the boys who were still glaring at each other.
       "You two, listen, you can have whatever little pissing war you want on your own time but not when the two of us are around. We have enough to worry about without your bruised egos making Liz feel bad. When we are around you will act civil and not put Liz in the middle of something she has no control over. Are we clear?"
       They huffed but gave in to Maria's demands. They didn't want to make Liz feel bad.
       Deciding to change the subject Michael started talking to Liz while Max was pulling her book out of her locker.
       "I wish you would let us change some of your classes."
       "Michael," She turned back to him while trying to get Max to relinquish her books.
       "Just the couple that you don't have with one of the four of us." Max was referring to the classes she didn't have with alien protection.
       "Its two classes, Alex is in one and both he and Maria are in the other. I will be fine. Besides that its too late in the semester to change. I will be too far behind."
       "But Liz, we just want you to be safe."
       She turned back to her brother, annoyance written on her beautiful features, placing her hand on her hip for effect, "Michael I said no. I am not changing my classes. You are lucky I am letting you follow me around everywhere. If I let you have your way on this next thing you know I will have to ask Gwyn or Tess to go to the bathroom with me."
       Michael and Max exchanged speculative glances. They hadn't thought about her going into the ladies room alone. Unfortunately Liz caught the look too.
       "Ohh no. Do not even think about it." She waved her finger at them. "And I can get my own books thank you very much." She yanked them away from Max not bothering to hide her irritation. She was not a helpless kitten, for pete sake.
       Just then Alex came up behind Liz and wrapped his long arms around her waist. Leaning down he planted a friendly kiss on her cheek before resting his chin on her shoulder.
       "How's my favorite alien queen this morning?"
       Liz turned her head so she could look at him. "Al-ex. Don't call me that ok? And I'm good thanks or at least I will be as long as I can continue to go to the restroom by myself."
       Alex bit his upper lip and knitted his brows. "I'm not even going to touch that one. Anyway, I'm glad your good. We can't have unhappy alien monarchs. Who knows what kind of inventive ways you could come up with to take off my head." He turned back to the group, "and speaking of unhappy monarchs... how's it going Max?"
       Max was trying very hard to follow Maria's orders but he was not at all pleased with the way Alex was groping his Liz. He ignored the fact that it didn't seam to be bothering her.
       "Hands off the sister Whitman." Michael glared at him.
       Maria swatted his arm. "God, what is with you two? Is there an epidemic of cave man syndrom? Do you think its contagious? Shall we alert the CDC?"
       Liz was shaking her head and glaring at the boys. It was a lot easier when they were just jealous of each other.
       "Sorry Alex. They are having some self control issues with our fair Liz."
       "Sorry to get you boys all worked for nothing up but I prefer blond aliens to brunet. I am just here to escort her highness to our first period per your instructions if I recall."
       "Could we please quit with the royalty references? My name is perfectly fine." Liz pleaded.
       Alex made a sweeping bow, holding his arm out for her. "As you wish my lady. Shall we be off to class now?" She laughed despite herself and took his arm.
       Max caught her other hand before she could walk off with Alex. Turning Liz was instantly caught in the churning emotions she saw in his glowing amber eyes. He was holding on to her hand tightly with both his.
       "You-you be careful, ok?" his voice was hushed and pleading.
       "Max..." she said on a breath. Letting go of Alex she moved closer to him until their fronts were touching. Her eyes never leaving his, she reached up and gently cupped his cheek with her free hand. "Max I'm going to be fine. You will see me in two hours. Remember? You pick me up outside my second period and we go to trig together, just like always."
       Max swallowed hard and nodded. "I'm going to be fine. And if there would be a problem you would be the first to know. You can come rushing in and save the day. ok?"
       "Max, buddy," Alex placed a light hand on his shoulder, "we need to get to class." Liz stepped back, disentangling her hand from his. "I won't let anything happen to her, I promise." Alex met his eyes, then Michael's with a seriousness seldom seen in the light hearted young man. Then he lead her away. The three remaining watched until they disappeared around a corner.
       "Ok kids, lets go. The sooner you get your classes over with the sooner you can check on her again." It didn't take another word from Maria for the guys to quickly disperse for their morning tutorials.

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       "Hey Gwyn."
       "Kyle, Hi." she smiled brightly at him.
       "How's your first day back going?"
       "Good thanks. I'm just waiting for Liz and Tess. I thought she was doing pretty well today. Don't you?"
       "She seemed pretty good during fourth. I think Michael and Max are driving her crazy though."
       Gwyn laughed. "I wondered how long it would take."
       Kyle shuffled his feet from side to side for a moment while they stood in the strained silence. "I need to ask you something."
       "Ok." Gwyn turned from where she was half way watching the hall to fully face him.
       "Were you serious when you said that Tess could come stay with you anytime she wanted?"
       "Of course, why is there something wrong?" She took in the seriousness of his face and wondered if something had happened.
       "No nothing's wrong, I was just thinking about what we talked about the other night. Maybe it would be better if Tess moved in with you."
       "Are you going to break up with her Kyle? Is that why you want her out of your house? So it won't be awkward when you break her heart?" she asked him coldly.
       "What? No! I'm not breaking up with her! We barely just got together."
       Gwyn smiled at his fervent denials, that was what she wanted to her. Tess was going through enough right now, she didn't need her heart broken too. "Then what is it?"
       "I was thinking about what you said about our circumstances not being normal. I was thinking that what Tess needs right now, what we all need right now, is as much normal as we can come by. Frankly living with your boyfriend when you have barely gotten together is not normal. It puts a lot of undue pressure on us that was not there before. Like running into each other coming and going from the shower and not having somewhere to retreat to if we get in a fight. It puts a lot of pressure on both of us to make things that should be no big deal work. I was just thinking that we could have a more conventional relationship and she might be more comfortable if she was living with you.
       "Also, she's never said anything, but she's never had the influence of a mother type figure. I know she misses that sometimes. I think she would really like living with you especially since you really are related."
       Before Kyle could finish his rehearsed speech Gwyn was squeezing him tightly around the middle. He was surprised at how tight she was hugging him given the fact that she was about the same size as Liz.
       "You are a really great guy, Kyle," she told him when she loosened her hold. He blushed a little and looked away. He was not used to receiving compliments for anything other than sports. "Have you told her about this yet?"
       "No. I'm not quite sure she will take it the way I mean it at first. I know eventually she will understand but I'm worried at first she will see it as me wanting her out of my house. I wanted to make sure it was ok with you before I got her upset."
       She nodded her understanding. "Its perfectly fine with me. We have two extra rooms both with bathrooms. She can take her pick. As for telling her, tell her exactly what you did me. If she freaks anyway, which I don't think she will, send her to me. I will straighten her out."
       "ok, but don't say anything until I talk to her."
       "I won't but you should not put this off. She'll be able to tell you are keeping something from her and her imagination is going to run rampant if you let it."
       "I won't, I just don't want to hurt her."
       She reached out and squeezed his arm. "I think she might be a little more perceptive about your motivations than you are giving her credit for. Oh, I see her and Liz coming. My lips are sealed." She mimed locking her lips and throwing away the key. Kyle chuckled, Gwyn was very wacky.
       "Hey you." Tess and Liz came up to the other two. Tess put her arm around Kyle's waist and leaned into him.
       "Hey, do you have a minute?" He looked down into her crystal blue eyes, "I need to talk to you about something."
       "Sure, we'll meet you guys at the Crashdown later?" she asked the other girls.
       "Sounds good." Liz nodded. It was the end of the day. Gwyn and Liz were supposed to go back to Gwyn's house for a little while. They had told the boys that Gwyn was going to talk to her about some stuff concerning her powers but that was just a beard. Really, Liz had begged Gwyn during P.E. to help her escape the dynamic duo for a few hours. They were going to eat ice cream and watch some chick flicks until they were all supposed to meet at the Crash for dinner.
       "So what now?" Gwyn asked Liz as Kyle lead Tess out to the parking lot.
       "Freedom." Liz grinned widely, her eyes sparkling with laughter.
       "Oh I could give you a freedom that you have never even dreamt of princess." came a menacing reply. Liz spun around to come almost nose to nose with Rob McClain. She immediately took a step back grabbing blindly for Gwyn's arm. Gwyn looked around in confusion. Where had he come from? She never even saw him come up behind Liz.
       "I didn't leave a mark last week, did I?" He appraised all the places he knew he had touched her the last time they met. "I guess I'll have to pay more attention this time." He licked his lips sloppily.
       Liz had had enough. She straightened her shoulders and glared back with blazing eyes. "That's it. I am not taking anymore from you. I don't know what your problem is but you are going to leave me alone." She was starring him down and jabbing her pointed finger into his chest. "I don't know where you got the idea that you could go around harassing me but let me tell you in no uncertain terms, you will leave me alone."
       Gwyn was so proud of Liz at that moment but the pride she had in her friend and queen was underscored when she saw the flash of rage in Rob's eyes. She reached out and took Liz's shoulders trying to pull her back.
       "Liz, I think that's enough. Lets go find Max and Michael." Liz stubbornly held her ground. She had months worth of fear and anger built up inside her waiting to be unleashed on him whether he was deserving of the full lot or not.
       "Princess, princess, princess," he sneered at her. "Guess that prince of yours never taught you to respect you betters. Guess I'm gonna have to do it myself."
       Before they could react Rob had grabbed Liz and pinned her up against a locker. The hand she was using to point into his chest was twisted painfully behind her back. Her arm was being bruised by one of the locks protruding into her delicate skin.
       Gwyn raised her hand readying to use her powers.
       "Gwyn No!" Liz cried when she saw what she was about to do. "They're coming... just a few more seconds." She gasped out from under Robs choke hold. "Too... many people." Gwyn looked around. She didn't see anybody but there was more than likely quite a few people still in the school. She was torn. She had to protect Liz but at what cost? Should she risk exposing the rest of them in order to save her? She didn't get the chance to decide. From out of no where, there sure were a lot of people popping up out of no where lately, someone's fist connected with Rob's jaw. The blow had been so quick and powerful a gush of blood splattered across Liz's face and blouse.
       Gwyn's outstretched arm somehow got caught in the may lay. Trying to get out of the staggering oaf's way he grabbed on to her and lightly flung her away. She was too light to stop the inertia he gave her small body as she was propelled backwards into the wall. Her vision blurred as she felt the sting of something sharp making contact with the base of her skull. She slumped down the wall leaving a trail of blood where her head slid down it. She struggled to stay conscious to make sure Liz had gotten out of the way but it was a losing battle as she felt the panic of the darkness closing in on her.
       Rob staggered for a moment with disorientation. He was caught off guard enough for him to relinquish his hold from Liz. She scrambled out from under him but didn't had enough time to get completely away, he was recovering quickly. Growling he lunged for her again. He caught the back of her shirt and pulled. The first three buttons on her blouse gave way and one of her sleeves started to tear as she struggled for freedom. Just as she felt the shirt about to rip free of her body Rob was yanked back off of her. The lack of resistance sent her crashing too quickly for her to properly break her fall. A loud cracking sound filled the hall as Liz's forehead came into contact with the faded linoleum floor.

Chapter 36

         Max and Michael tore through the halls looking for Liz. Maria and Isabel following close behind. They had been out in the parking lot getting ready to leave when they felt the burst of emotions from Liz. Fear followed by irritation and seething anger followed again with paralyzing fear. They had not said two words to the girls before taking off in a dead run. Maria and Isabel tried to keep up with them but when the guys felt all feelings from Liz stop abruptly there was no keeping up with their adrenaline inspired sprints.
       The girls struggling to catch their breath for a moment, stared in shock at the scene playing out in the hallway. Rob McClain was locked in battle with that Colin Cronin guy who had been hanging around Liz. Max and Michael were kneeling over Liz who was laying face down a few yards away, unmoving. To their right Gwyn was slumped against the wall unconscious. A wide trail of blood was leading from five feet up to where she was now propped.
       "I'm going to go get help." Maria ran off in the direction of the principals office.

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       Max and Michael had run to Liz before anything else going on in the hall registered. Dropping to their knees they gently turned her over.
       "Oh God!" was Max's mournful cry when he saw the blood all over her face and the state of her shirt. The small moan she gave made his heart stop them resume in triple time.
       Liz began to come around even as they were turning her over. She had the worst headache ever. It was even worse than that time she got drunk with Maria while her parents had been at their college reunion. Her senses returning, she was aware of the sounds around her. A scuffle accompanied with obscenities not too far away, someone muttering off to the side, and someone saying her name. Max. It was Max. Slowly, she opened her eyes, squinting at the florescent lighting over head.
       Someone was pulling her closer to their body and up off the hard floor. She turned her head to see her brother. Michael's somber face was looking her over while he pulled her into his lap. Looking the other way she saw a nearly hyperventilating Max leaning over her.
       "Max? Are you ok?" she asked him. She could hear Michael's soft chuckle but kept her attention on Max.
       Max had to close his eyes for a moment to regain his control. The scene was almost too much for him. Liz laying there, her blouse in tatters, blood all over her, and barely conscious. Then the first thing she asks is if he was ok. God, she was incredible.
       "Yeah, I'm ok," he assured her. Reaching up he brushed the hair off her face and encountered the large bump forming just above her hair line. Gently he inspected it for gashes but didn't find one. He returned his attention to the fact that she was bleeding, deciding to fix the knot later.
       "Where are you hurt Liz?" She was struggling with Michael for the rite to sit up.
       "I'm ok. A few bruises and this nasty headache but I'm ok."
       "Liz lay down you could have a concussion. Let Max look you over." Michael was trying to push her down while Max was trying to help her sit up. "and what do you mean you are ok? There is blood all over you. Your shirt..." Michael finally registered the barely there state of Liz's blouse. He gave up trying to make her lay down so he could take off his jacket to put around her.
       "Its not my blood. Somebody punched Rob. He had me pinned against a locker and it splattered all over me." She shrugged into Michael's jacket as she explained. She didn't really like being that exposed either. Ignoring the boys hovering around her she took in the hall. She thought she heard Isabel calling to Max but he didn't seem to hear her. There was a loud banging sound coming from the opposite end of the hall that was drowning out the rest of the noise. Looking in that direction she saw Colin and Rob brawling viciously. It was hard to tell who was winning. Colin was taller but Rob was bigger, both looked pretty battered. Currently they were alternately shoving each other into the row of lockers, hence the loud banging noises. It suddenly dawned on Liz that it must have been Colin that had come to her rescue and now he was paying the price.
       Her attention was once again diverted by Isabel's shrill shout for Max. Pivoting her body she was horrified at the scene she had been oblivious to.

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       While Max and Michael went to Liz, Isabel ran over to Gwyn. Crouching down beside her, she shook her shoulder.
       "Gwyn! Gwyn!" There was no response. Her head just rolled to the side. Isabel put her hand behind Gwyn's head to lay her down. When she pulled her hand back it was covered in dark, sticky blood. Isabel tried to think quickly, Gwyn was losing a lot of blood plus there was another problem. Her blood was all over the wall and now she could see it seeping out from under her head in a dark pool.
       "Max!" she called not bothering to look up. Trying to fix several problems at once Isabel took off the button down she was wearing over her tank top and wadded it up. She slipped it under Gwyn's head to start soaking up her blood.
       "Max, I need you over here now!" She called again while looking to see if anyone was watching who should not be. Rob and Colin were still locked in battle alternately banging each others heads into some lockers a few yards away. The principal or somebody would be here with Maria soon. Isabel need to get rid of Gwyn's blood before someone besides them saw it. Taking one last glance around she stood and removed the blood from the wall with a swipe of her hand. She noticed a small chunk of skin and a clump of curly, auburn hair stuck to one of the locker latches. That must have been what she hit her head on.
       Once that was taken care of she went back to Gwyn. Sitting indian style she pulled the girl's head into her lap trying to keep pressure on the wound and making sure the only place the blood went was into her clothes. Within seconds Isabel could feel the blood oozing through her fingers and on to her capri's. Gwyn was losing all her color, her lips were turning a putty color and her breathing was shallow. Izzy could not be sure if she had a real head injury or if it was just from the huge gash she could feel under her fingers.
       "Max, damn it! Get over here now!" She could see Liz sitting up. She looked a little dazed but was trying to get up so that had to be a good sign, right? She wasn't the one gushing blood at the moment anyway.
       Liz was on her feet and at Gwyn's side before Michael and Max could stop her.
       "Oh my gosh, there's so much blood," she exclaimed. "Max," she turned to where he was kneeling down next to her. "You have to help her," she implored.
       Isabel glanced from Michael to her brother, tears forming in her eyes. "Max you have to do something. The wound is really deep. I already cleaned up a lot of blood."
       "We have to do something. She looks really bad, we can't take her to the hospital." Max was fighting an internal battle. He didn't want to leave Liz, she could still be hurt. She did have a tendency to hide those things from him. But with Liz and Isabel practically in tears and another girl's life possibly in the balance there was really only one thing he could do.
       "I can't heal her here," he reasoned, "it will take too long. Someone will see."
       "Then go Max." Liz stood trying to bring him with her.
       "I don't want to leave you."
       "Max I'm fine. I have a headache, its nothing that can't wait. Michael is here. Please Max, we can't let her die."
       Knowing she was right he bent over and took the girl from Isabel. He shared one last heated glance with Liz, exchanged a meaningful nod with Michael, then strode out of the building.

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       Max ran outside with Gwyn in his arms. He tried to be careful and not jostle her. Isabel was running ahead of them balancing her bag and Gwyn's backpack while trying to get the Jeep keys out of her pocket. Since most high school students race for the nearest exits when aloud to leave the confines of their daily torture the parking lot was almost empty. No one saw the Evans' kids racing out of the school carrying the new girl and covered in blood. One less thing to worry about.
       Climbing into the back, Max positioned Gwyn's head on his lap so he could get the best angle to try to make a connection. Isabel was climbing into the drivers seat.
       "Go to the pod chamber." Max told her. "If the damage is too bad we may need to use the healing stones."
       Isabel gunned the engine and squealed out of the parking lot in lieu of a response.
       "Gwyn." He shook her again. He had been calling to her all the way to the car but Isabel said she had not moved since they found her. He needed something to start a connection on. She only needed to be conscious for ten seconds maybe, that was it. He knit his large hand through her thick hair trying to get a better feel of the gash. His fingers were as gentle as possible trying not to hurt her as they got caught in her curls. Probing the cut delicately he winced. It was so deep he was pretty sure he was encountering bone. The fact that she was knocked out almost on contact was a dead give away that there was some serious swelling in her brain. Combined with all the blood loss, if Max could not get in and quickly the chances of her surviving were slim to none.
       "Gwyn, come on. Please. Wake up for us." Max pleaded with her. Using his free hand he lifted one of her lids. Her eyes were rolled back in her head. He could not get in if she was not even a little responsive. Letting go of her lid he picked up her wrist to check her pulse. It was thready and erratic. He had to think of something, they were not going to make it to the pod chamber in time to use the healing stones.
       All he needed was an opening to her subconscious. She didn't have to be aware he just need an in. Glancing to the front of the car he had an idea.
       "Isabel pull over," he commanded.
       "What?" she glanced at him in the rear view mirror.
       "I can't get in and she's not going to make it to the pod chamber. I need your help."
       "Max I can't connect with people like that. If you can't get in what makes you think I can."
       "I don't. I'm going to connect to you and then you are going to dream walk her. I can get to her through her subconscious self."
       Isabel pulled the car to the side of the dirt rode. She had serious doubts this would work but she was willing to try. Shutting off the engine she climbed over the gear shaft and into the back seat. She lifted Gwyn's legs and sat on the seat next to Max.
       Before she was fully situated Max grabbed Iz's hand to form the connection. They had done it so many times growing up that it was second nature now. The connection sprang to life, the energy crackling and jumping around them. They pushed the rush of images and feelings to the back of their heads and focused on bringing their minds back to reality. When she could focus again Isabel took Gwyn's hand and concentrated on getting into the dream plane and bringing Max along.
       It only took a second for Isabel to get in. Not wasting time she concentrated on the connection with Max. Feeling his essence slip along the path into the dream plane, she guided him until he was able to give himself physical form.
       Taking in their surroundings they searched for Gwyn's manifestation. They were somewhere out in the desert at night. Perched high above a ravine on what looked liked the precipice of an ancient cliff dwelling. The only light visible at the moment was from the exaggerated V constellation in the midnight sky. Coming around a corner, there was a wide expanse ending in the face of the cliff. There was an old door in the middle of the face where a blinding white light was being emitted. Gwyn was standing in front of the doorway fighting the bitter wind that was trying to force her through. Max and Isabel ran to her pulling her away from the door only to find that they were have to fight the biting gusts as well.
       He gripped the sides of Gwyn's face forcing her to look into his eyes.
       "I can heal you but you have to let me in." He shouted at her over the now howling wind. She nodded her compliance, grabbing on to his broad shoulders to keep her balance in the persistent gale.
       Isabel felt an odd rush and a shove against her mind as Max somehow managed to break the connection and shove her out of Gwyn's head. Blinking back the spots in her vision she watched Max and Gwyn for any sign of a problem. She didn't know what was going on in there. She could get back in quickly if she needed to but Max obviously wanted her out for a reason. Watching Max she could see his eyes moving franticly under his lids. In the next second she could see the faint glow from Max's hand on the back of her head lighting Gwyn's curls into a halo. Her entire body sagged in relief at the sight. Max had gotten in.
       Her thankful prayers were interrupted by a phone ringing. It was the theme to 2001 A Space Odyssey. It must be Gwyn's, she had a very odd sense of humor. Leaning into the front seat she fished the phone out of her backpack. Isabel wasn't going to answer it but she saw the area code on the ID was for Arizona and something told her she should.
       Pressing send she tentatively answered, "Hello?"
       "Who is this?" came the agitated male voice.
       "I could ask you the same thing." she replied, not amused by the rudeness of the caller.
       "Who are you? Where is Gwyn?" Isabel took note of the desperation in the man's voice. She was still watching her brother and Gwyn while talking to the guy. It looked like they might be coming out of it. The glow had subsided and she was hearing a few faint whimpers from Gwyn. Apparently so did the caller.
       "Was that her? What happened? Is she hurt? Please, what's going on?" It sounded like the man was near tears. The tone in his voice reminded her of Max when he thought something was wrong with Liz. Something dawned on her then.
       "Justin?" she asked, a hint of awe in her voice.
       "Yes. Please, you can have what ever you want just tell me she's ok." Oh god, he thought Gwyn had been captured and she was holding her hostage.
       "No! I don't want anything. I mean, she's ok or she will be. I'm sorry I didn't know who you were." She jumped a little when Max placed a hand on her shoulder. She was so caught up in the misunderstanding she didn't realize Max had broken his connection with Gwyn. He looked concerned. She motioned to him that everything was all right.
       "Who are you? What do you mean she will be ok? What happened to her?"
       "This Isabel. I'm really sorry I didn't mean to frighten you. She'll be ok. She hit her head but Max healed her," she glanced over at Max again to make sure she was giving him the correct information. Max nodded.
       "Isabel?"
       "Yeah umm, Valondra."
       "Oh, right. Sorry I don't remember all your names. Where is Gwyn? Can I talk to her please?"
       Gwyn was beginning to wake up. "Mmmmm," she moaned a little shaking her head.
       "She's just coming to, hold on."
       Gwyn's eyes were fluttering open. "Zan?" she was looking up at Max.
       "Ummm, its Max actually." He felt the back of her head again. Did he miss something? Why had she called him Zan?
       "Right, right, sorry." She was gaining lucidity and her surroundings were coming into focus. "What happened?"
       "There was a fight, I'm not too sure. You hit your head. Do you remember."
       "Oh my gosh! Lillyah! Where is she? Is she ok?" She sat up on his lap grabbing his collar.
       "She's ok. She's with Michael. You were bleeding really bad. We had to get you out of there before someone saw." He rushed out, trying to calm her down.
       "Gwyn," Isabel grabbed her arm. "Here, Justin wants to talk to you." She dropped her grip on Max, her eyes lighting up. Isabel handed her the phone.
       "Kyron?"
       "Gwyney? Oh God, are you all right? I was scared to death."
       "I'm ok, I'm ok. This guy attacked Liz and I got in the way and hit my head. I guess it was pretty bad but Zan healed me."
       The was a long sigh through the phone. "Oh Gwyn, I'm sorry I never should have sent you out there alone. Are you sure your ok?"
       "Yeah, good as new."
       "Your voice sounds shaky, I don't believe you. Let me talk to Max."
       "Justin I'm fine. Really. Liz is fine, I'm fine, we are all fine."
       "Let me talk to Max, Eirya." Gwyn rolled her eyes at Justin's demanding tone and held the phone out to Max.
       "He wants to talk to you. He doesn't believe I'm ok."
       Max took the phone, "This is Max."
       "Hi Max. This is Justin, Gwyn's boyfriend. Is she really ok?"
       "Yeah, she's still a little pale and shaky from the blood loss but she'll be fine tomorrow." Justin heard the pause in his voice. "There is one thing though..."
       "What?"
       "She keeps calling me Zan. I thought I repaired all the swelling in her brain but there might be something else wrong."
       Justin laughed confusing Max even more. "No, there's nothing wrong. That's just Gwyn. When she is stressed she reverts back to Antarian names. She even forgets her own earth name on occasion. There is nothing wrong. Thanks Max. Can you give the phone back to her now?"
       "Sure." Max handed her the phone while Isabel climbed back into the front. He followed leaving Gwyn to her call. His adrenaline levels returning to normal, Max had a moment to pull his thoughts together. There wasn't really much he needed to pull together though. There was only one thing going through his mind.
       "Let's go back, I need to see Liz."
       "You got it." Iz turned the car around and headed back to town.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Later that evening...

       Colin walked down the street towards the Crashdown. He wasn't sure if Liz would be awake and he didn't think Michael would be thrilled with his presence but he would take the chance. Half his face was still numb, he could barely see out of the left eye, and all the skins on his knuckles were raw, all for her. He deserved to see her for a few minutes to assure himself that she was ok now. She had taken a nasty fall and he knew it knocked her out for a few seconds.
       He didn't even get to apologize to her for not being able to break her fall. When the principal and the school's rent-a-cop had broken up the fight Michael and Maria rushed Liz out of the building before he could ask her if she was ok. He opened the heavy door slowly causing the bells to ring a few times.
       "Colin! Oh my gosh." Liz came rushing around the counter when she saw him come in the door. It was about a quarter to eight. Being a Monday it was pretty dead. There were a few couples and of course Max and Isabel sitting in the back booth. They had taken Gwyn back to her house where Tess would be keeping an eye on her for the next few days. Justin had even called Tess to make sure Gwyn was resting. Kyle had not had a chance to propose the new living arrangements to her yet. Michael was back changing his clothes after his shift.
       "Come here," Liz grabbed Colin's hand and led him to one of the stools at the counter. "You should sit down."
       "I'm ok really." he told her while easing stiffly into the chair. For the first time he noticed that she was wearing that cute little uniform.
       "Liz why are you working? You should be laying down or something. You hit your head pretty hard."
       Liz smiled sweetly at him, "I'm ok, Michael took me to the uhh, doctor. She fixed me up. I'm fine just a little headache and a few bruises. The bump is not even that bad. See?" She pushed her hair back so he could see the little knot on her hair line.
       She didn't really go to the doctor, of course. Michael had driven them directly to the Valenti's where Tess checked her out thoroughly. Liz did have a small concussion but Tess healed it. They decided to leave the bump and a few of the less painful bruises since the principal and a few other people had seen her before she could get cleaned up.
       "Besides, look who's talking," she gestured to his obviously painful bruises and cuts. "Why aren't you at home?"
       "I wanted to see if you were ok. I didn't get a chance to talk to you before you left."
       "Colin, that's really sweet of you but you could have just called. You didn't need to come all the way down here. Not after all you have done for me. You could have just called, I would have brought you some soup or cookies or something."
       The corner of his mouth lifted into a half smile. "Come on Liz. Let me at least finish out my knight in shining armor fantasy here. I had to check on my damsel."
       Liz smiled shyly and looked away.
       Max walked up behind Liz just then, resting his hands on her shoulders in a sign of possession. He had been watching their little interlude since Colin had entered the cafe. More specifically he was watching Colin because he trusted Liz when she told him last Saturday that she was not interested in this looser. He did look pretty bad, Max would give him that. Watching him he recognized that light in Colin's eyes. The hesitant tone in his voice, the way he tentatively touched her arm and hand, they all spoke of one thing. Colin Cronin was falling in love with *his* Liz.
       "Hey Colin. Good to see you walking around."
       "Yeah thanks," he replied not looking directly at Max.
       "You didn't get in trouble did you?" Liz asked with concern.
       "No, no. I told principal Brown what I was interrupting. Rob did not exactly do his case a lot of good when every other word in his defense was an obscenity. I got a lecture about violence not being the answer but under the circumstances he was glad I came along."
       "We all are." Max told him. In gesture of truce he held his hand out to the other boy. Colin hesitantly took it. They shook briefly, eyeing each other carefully.
       "We are all really grateful for what you did for Liz. I should have been there but I'm glad there was someone looking out for her in my absence."
       "It was no problem. When I came around that corner, I saw him attacking her and I snapped. I could not stand there while he hurt her, while anyone hurt her." His tone was slightly accusatory.
       "And I would die to prevent it." Max told him with absolute seriousness. The tension between the two was palpable but Max kept his friendly facade. "We're just hanging out for a while, would you like to join us?" Max gestured to the booth where Michael and Isabel were sitting.
       Colin looked at him like he had grown a second head. "I umm," he was caught completely off guard by the offer. One minute Max was laying concealed threats if he got too near Liz, the next he wanted to be friends. Combined with the pain from his fresh wounds, Max's game, whatever it was, was making his head spin. "That's really nice of you Max but I should probably get home. It practically took an act of God for me to convince my mom to let me out of the house, but thanks for the offer."
       "Maybe some other time then. I'll see ya later." He smiled down at Liz who was completely oblivious to the game that had just taken place over her head. Max never gave away a thing as he left a lingering kiss on her cheek before going back to the booth.
       "What the hell was that?" Michael hissed at Max when he was seated. "It looked like you were trying to make friends with that guy."
       Max glanced over his shoulder to see Liz hugging Colin lightly and walking him to the cafe door. Turing back to the table his asked in a low voice, "Haven't you ever heard the saying keep your friends close and you enemies closer?"

Chapter 37

         Maria had definitely been right when she said people would move on to new gossip by the next day. It was just bad luck that Liz was still the center of said rumor. By lunch on Tuesday the halls were a buzz with versions of the fight and Rob McClain's subsequent expulsion. There were things that were close to the truth and then there were the exaggerated versions, the most outlandish so far was that Rob had been one article of clothing away from raping her. Whatever the version they all ended the same, with Colin Cronin saving the day. He was the newest reluctant heart throb of West Roswell.
       Rob McClain was expelled and had apparently dropped off the face of the earth. Kyle had over heard the guys in the locker room saying they had gone over to his house but there had been no answer at the door. It was Thursday, four days since he lost it, and no one had seen hide nor hair of him. Not that they were complaining. Things were quieting down now. Liz was still aloud in the rest room by herself and she managed to keep her class schedule intact. She did have to give on the increased 'security' though. Except when she was in the apartment she had two escorts at all times. Preferably both alien but that was not always possible. She had not really seen Colin since that afternoon in the cafe but she chocked it up to his new found popularity.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Thursday evening, The Crashdown Cafe...

       Liz plodded heavily down the backstairs leading from her apartment to the cafe while tying her silver apron around her waist. Michael was alertly preceding her into the cafe, looking into all the corners and anywhere else someone could hide and jump out at her. He paused for a moment at the swigging door looking through the small window. It was about a half hour before the dinner rush so there were few people in the cafe. Max, Maria, and Gwyn were sitting in the usual booth studying and waiting for them. Isabel and Alex were sitting behind the register. To the untrained eye it looked like they were there to mind the till when in actuality they were watching the sidewalk and the people who came in the front door. Since Monday they had a pretty secure system down for watching Liz while she was in a public place. To Liz's credit she had been fairly good about putting up with all the extra paranoia.
       Going into the dining room, Michael slid into the seat next to Maria and across from Max and Gwyn who were facing the door. Liz came to the end of the table with a sunny smile for Max.
       "Hey guys. Can I get you something for your oh so entertaining evening of Liz watching?" she asked cheerily.
       Maria laughed. Liz was becoming more and more prone to sarcasm the closer she got to Michael. Watching them now you would never have guessed they had not grown up together. "Thanks Liz. Can I have a sprite?"
       "Sure Maria. Gwyn?"
       "Cherry coke please."
       "K. Same for you Max?"
       Max Gave her that sexy half smile that made her insides turn to jelly. That was one of the best things about Liz, she remembered the little things. Like what his favorite soda was. "Yeah." he answered huskily, looking deep into her eyes.
       Liz had to take a deep breath to steady herself before addressing her friends again. How could he make a simple thing like ordering a soda seem like the sexiest thing on earth? "Ok a sprite and two cherry cokes. Do you guys want to split some fries or anything?"
       "No we're good for now. Michael what do you want?" Maria asked since he had not given Liz his order yet.
       "Umm, I guess..." Liz turned on her heal, stalking off to the soda fountain, not even sparing him a glance. It was obvious she had heard him but was not interested in what he had to say.
       "Ok, what did you do now?"
       "hey, why do you assume I'm the one in the wrong?"
       "because Liz stopped making goo goo eyes at Max just to stalk away from you. So what did you do?"
       Michael sighed. Why did women have to be so perceptive? "I went into her room to talk to her about how stubborn she was being with insisting on working. She was changing into her uniform at the time. I apologized and turned around. Anyway, she said that she was going to get a lock for her door, I said no. It was all down hill from there."
       "You're aware of the fact that you're an idiot, right?"
       "You just walked in on her naked?" Max asked in shock. Michael had seen Liz naked? Brother or not that was unacceptable.
       "She wasn't naked, she was putting on her uniform. Its not like I saw anything. I've seen more at the municipal pool. Besides she's my sister."
       "Oh my gosh," Gwyn exclaimed, trying to stop a burst of giggles. "I have to tell you this story about Rath and Lillyah."
       "Oh! Oh! Please!" Maria begged, "Liz told me about the bedroom thing you told her. I think I laughed for an hour."
       "Ok. Lillyah was sixteen I think, so Rath would have been eighteen. About a year before they had gotten adjoining rooms when Lillyah wanted her own room instead of sharing one with Rath. Eventually a compromise was negotiated where they were given a suite of rooms. They both had a bedroom, Lilly had a dressing room and they shared a parlor and a bath. About a year later Lilly and Rath had a similar argument to yours and Liz's. Lilly wanted a lock on her bedroom door because Rath kept walking in on her in various states of undress and when she was asleep. He insisted that it wasn't like he was trying to invade her privacy, it was just the first place he went to look for her. He could not get it through his think skull that she just wanted a little privacy because she was getting older.
       "Rath was adamant that if she was not naked it didn't matter. So Lilly's solution was to be naked all the time. Well, at least while they were in their suite. It didn't matter who else was in there or what time of day it was. The minute she stepped foot in the door she stripped."
       Agnes interrupted the story in an actual attempt to do her job. She delivered their sodas roughly, sloshing sprite over the side of the glass and on to Maria's math homework. Lucky for Agnes, she was so caught up in the story she let it go with just a glare.
       Maria waited until the inept waitress was out of earshot before prompting Gwyn to begin again. "She stripped?"
       "Yup. She pranced around the suite completely nude for two weeks until he gave in. I remember the first time I walked in with her. Rath was sitting on the couch studying, we were getting something from her room. Lilly walked into the suite, shut the door when Vonnie and I were inside and proceeded to strip off her dress and undergarments, flinging them on to a chair. Rath, of course started screaming at her about loosing her mind. She ignored him, went into her room, retrieved whatever it was we were there for, then came back. Without a word she put back on her clothes and ushered us back out to the gardens. The look on Rath's face when we left that room," she laughed "I don't think I will ever forget it. The only one that can compare I think, is when Zan and I walked in one afternoon to a very nude Lillyah reading in the parlor."
       "She didn't!" Maria gasped.
       "Oh she did. Naturally all hell broke loose. Rath came thundering out of his room yelling at Zan for not knocking first. I was laughing hysterically, the shade of red Zan turned, I didn't know one's face could become so inflamed. Actually, its not far off from the one gracing Max's features at the moment," she snickered.
       Max cleared his very dry throat. Even though that was in a past life he didn't remember he could not help but play that scene in his head with the current incarnation of his love. The picture was reeking havoc on his senses. "Yeah, I'm uhh, I'm just gonna go check on Liz." He fled the booth to the counter like the devil was on his heals, ignoring the soft laughter from the other occupants of the table.
       "Finish the story." Maria pressed Gwyn after a moment.
       "Oh, right." She tore her eyes away from the dreamy looking couple at the counter. "Anyway, Lillyah didn't have any romantic feelings towards Zan at the time. Zan, being male, eighteen, and completely in love with her, was speechless and completely immobile." She looked off in the distance, remembering, while she laughed softly. "I think she would have been embarrassed if she had not been so firm in her conviction to irritate Rath to death. She just sat there with her book until he threw a blanket over her and hauled her over his shoulder and into her room."
       She looked back at Maria with twinkle in her eye. "There was a lock installed by the next afternoon. It took Zan a week before he could even form a sentence in front of Lillyah and a month before he could look her in the eye."
       Marie raised an eyebrow at Michael, "I'd say there's a lesson for you there Space Boy."
       "I think I'll be going to the hardware store tomorrow." He nodded, more than a little scared at the prospect this idea could get back to Liz.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

       "Hey" Liz smiled softly at Max as he sat on the stool across the counter form her.
       "Hey" he smiled back but didn't quite meet her eyes.
       "You ok? You look a little flushed."
       "oh umm, yeah. Gwyn was just telling an interesting story that got the better of my imagination."
       "Really? What about?" She stopped cleaning the counter, leaning forward on her elbows in curiosity.
       "About some people she knew up north." Liz had an erie sense of deja vu when Max used the same gesture he did in the band room so long ago. When Max didn't elaborate she pressed him for details.
       "So, who were they about."
       "This girl and her brother."
       Liz waved her hand indicating he should continue.
       Max swallowed hard and shifted his gaze from her again, "Well, apparently this girl, she was upset with her brother so to get her way she went around naked for two weeks."
       Liz covered her gaping mouth with her hands. "No!" she gasped.
       Max nodded a mischievous light in his eyes.
       "I'm assuming..." Liz trailed off as she pointed to herself.
       "Oh yeah." Max smiled broadly, he was getting in to teasing her with this. "It gets better."
       She lowered her hand and began to worry her lip. "I'm afraid to ask."
       "She was sixteen at the time."
       "Oh my God." She gasped again, a light blush beginning to color her cheeks. It would have been one thing if she had been like five or something but sixteen? She looked back up to his eyes remembering that he had been pretty flushed himself when he came over here. "What else did she say?"
       "I kinda left when she got to the part about Zan walking into the room with her."
       Liz couldn't help the shy giggle that bubbled out when he began to blush again. They were quiet for a moment. The quick glances they stole at one another speaking volumes. Unconsciously she started to draw invisible patterns on the back of his hand. He pretended not to notice but was secretly pleased that she was unconsciously giving into the silent need to touch each other in some little way.
       "Are you going to be around for a while?" she asked, breaking out of what ever day dream had been occupying her a moment ago.
       "You know I am. What did you need?"
       "I was thinking, Michael and Maria are closing tonight so I have to stay down here to study. Gwyn is going home early because Tess in moving in to her house today. Anyway, I thought maybe you could keep me company while I study." She looked up shyly through her lashes.
       "Yeah. Of course I'll sit with you." As if there was really something else had planned on doing this evening.
       The bells on the door chimed indicating the beginning of the dinner rush.
       "Great. There is something I need to talk to you about too." She came around the counter grabbing her order pad and preparing for a hectic night. She saw the smile slide and he paled a little. It was hard not to laugh at his reaction. Dawning a bright smile she tried to reassure him "Its ok Max. Its nothing bad." The bells chimed again preventing her from further explanation. "Don't worry about it. We'll talk later, now I must deliver greasy food to the teaming masses."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

       "So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Max asked Liz when she had closed her book and leaned back in her seat. The hesitance was apparent in his voice. She had told him it was not a big deal and not to worry about it, but he could not help it. That phrase 'there is something I want to talk to you about' it spawned all sorts of scary scenarios in his head. The center usually being she had decided that they were not meant to be and she was leaving him or that she could not forgive him and she was leaving him or that his ears were too big and she was leaving him. He tried to tell himself he was being irrational but it was hard. His biggest fear used to be that what he was would get the people he loved hurt, now it was loosing her. They were barely even together right now but they had survived so much just to get to this point and if she was taken away again he would never recover.
       After her shift Liz had gone upstairs to shower and change while Max watched TV in the living room. He didn't even want to think about all the little sounds coming form her room that were driving him crazy. The sound of her stepping under the shower, drawers opening and closing as she took out her clothes, her hair dryer. They were all encouraging fantasies that he really should not be entertaining, especially not while in her house. He had been extreme grateful when she emerged with her book bag and practically sprinted down the stairs to escape the steam that was wafting from her room and into the rest of the house.
       They had been sitting there for about an hour studying. To be more precise Max had been watching Liz under the guise of studying. She was so beautiful. The way her hair shielded her face when she leaned forward. The way she chewed the end of her pen and scrunched up her nose when she was concentrating. The way she tucked her hair behind her ears when she was unsure of an answer. It was almost miraculous to be able to sit this close to her and study each little endearing nervous gesture she made.
       Liz noticed the hesitancy in his voice right away and tried to put his fears to rest. "It's nothing bad. I just wanted to wait until we had a little more privacy." She looked around, Maria was cashing out the last couple and preparing to lock up for the night. Stacking her books on the end of the table, she leaned forward placing her hands in the middle of the table.
       "Have you..." she bit her lip nervously before meeting his eyes, "have you felt our connection getting stronger?" Her voice was hushed implying her own insecurities about the conversation.
       "Getting stronger?"
       "Yeah, like um, a new awareness maybe. Maria thinks it might have started that day I went to the Granolith. I was just too distracted until a few day ago to notice."
       "I guess you could say that, yeah." He ran a hand through his hair while going over the thought in his head. "I um, I can feel you or what you are feeling all of the time, mostly when you're distressed though. It seemed so natural the first time I never really questioned or thought about it."
       Liz nodded her agreement. "Neither did I but Michael and Maria noticed it right away. What do you think it means?"
       "I don't really know." He studied her for a moment trying to gauge her thoughts on the subject. A paralyzing idea passed through his mind and it was out of his mouth before he could stop it. "Are you... are you afraid of this Liz?"
       "Max No! That's not what I meant." she grabbed on to his hands and held them tightly. She looked deep into his stormy eyes willing him to see the truth of what she felt in hers. "I could never be afraid of you or anything we have together. Never. Don't ever think that. I might be scared of some of the consequences but that's not what I meant. You know how my mind works, I was thinking on a more basic level, scientifically."
       Max released his breath in a whoosh. "oh." he paused pulling himself together again. "So, what were you thinking then, scientifically?"
       "I was kinda thinking that going to the Granolith, finding out about Lillyah, was like flipping some kind of biological switch. Do you see what I'm getting at?" Liz was absently playing with his fingers while he was trying to ignore it. Max could not decide if it was adorable or infuriating that she had absolutely no idea what a small gesture like this did to him. It didn't really matter, as long as she didn't stop.
       "That since we were together before, now that you know your true origins, it was like your subconscious gave into what your heart already knew. The connection started to grow on its own then."
       "Yeah, exactly. Like my body acknowledged what I wasn't able to. My... I guess, awakening of the connection must have somehow communicated it to your end."
       "Wow. This is... I'm not even sure how to describe it."
       "That's what I said to Michael and Maria."
       "You're ok with it though? You're sure its not bothering you?"
       "No Max. Not at all. Actually I think to lose it might- destroy me. Its really comforting and I have the added bonus of always knowing where you are. I think if I lost this link to you it would be like cutting out a piece of my heart, my soul. Its a different kind of closeness that I don't want to ever be without again."
       Max stared at her with a small smile, squeezing her hands tight, and what looked like tears in his eyes. "I love you Liz Parker." He declared with conviction. They sat like that for awhile. Gazing deep into the other's eyes. Given a few more minutes a connection probably would have formed unintentionally but as all perfect moments are, this one was brought to an end when Maria dropped down next to Liz with a groan.
       Liz gave him an apologetic half smile as she pulled her hands away and turned her attention to Maria. She had lay her head on Liz's shoulder and Liz tilted hers so her ear rested against Maria's hair.
       "Tired?"
       "Very. Remind me again why I do this."
       "Money honey."
       "Oh right." she sighed.
       "Maria!" Michael bellowed from the back, startling them. "Get your lazy butt up and finish sweeping in there."
       Sitting up she threw a glare in his direction. She was about to get up but was struck by an idea "You know what we need?" She turned to Liz, her eyes suddenly clear and sparkling.
       "What?" Liz asked, weary of what Maria's new plan might be.
       "A girls night."
       "Hmmm. A girls night huh? Has potential." Liz actually thought it was a great idea but she wanted to torture her friend for a minute after interuting her and Max.
       "Come on Liz. Don't tell me you don't want a night away from your obsessive security force. No offense Max."
       He chuckled, "none taken."
       "Plus, ice cream, cookies, popcorn, chick flicks, and maybe we could get Gwyn to tell us some more stories about our space boy's former self's."
       "I don't know Maria..."
       "Please, please, pretty please Lizzy. I'll be your best friend." She stuck out her lip and hung off Liz's arm.
       She could not take it anymore and finally laughed at Maria's attempts to persuade her. "Ok, you win. Sounds like a plan but on one condition."
       "Anything, babe."
       "You have to handle Michael."
       Maria groaned looking back at the kitchen.
       "I'll take care of Michael for you guys." Max offered out of the blue.
       "Really Max? I thought we were going to have to convince you too."
       "No, I'll get Michael out of here for the night for you. Its time he and I discussed a few things anyway. Gwyn, Tess, and Iz will be there so I think you should be safe as long as you promise to stay here."
       "Oh!" Maria flew out of her seat and attacked Max. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." she chanted as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
       "Hey." Liz interrupted her gleeful display, grinning at Max. "Why don't you go slobber on your own alien, Maria. That one belongs to me."

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