Title: Starting A New Life Author: Lori R 7/03 Email: Gussywussy55@y... Category: Cliffie (Michael and Isabel) Rating: 'R' Disclaimer: Borrowed the characters for my own entertainment since they were tossed away by dunder heads. Feedback: Yes please, even if it's a rant. Summary: The podsters have been on the run for a year now and finally have a place to settle down. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I think I'm going to go crazy if we don't stop soon. I need to get out of this van!" said Maria as she pressed her face to the window. Liz sighed as she turned around and said, "Maria, we're all stir crazy, but this isn't helping. We'll will stop as soon we feel it's okay. Now could you please be more patient?" "We've passed through four towns! What was wrong with those?" Maria whined. "They were too small. Strangers tend to be looked at more closely and you know that," said Michael from his seat beside her. He had his eyes closed as if he had been trying to sleep. "We have to avoid certain size towns." "But I thought that was only at first. It's been over a year now! When can we get back to normal? I want a normal life again," she moaned as she lay her head against the glass. "Yeah, well a normal life is what you gave up when you decided to come with us," said Michael as he looked her way. "I told you to stay behind, but you insisted on coming." "I came along because I thought we cared for each other!" said Maria looking at him. "I mean after all we went through to avoid evil aliens and the Special Unit, no way was I being left behind!" Michael stared at her. "No one was after you, Maria. You could have stayed in Roswell and had a life. We tried to explain what it was going to be like, but you didn't listen," said Michael, as tension began to grow in the back of his neck. Maria rolleyed her eyes at him. "Kyle's here. He could have stayed behind and no one told him to." "We've talked about this, Maria. Kyle's been changed. His powers haven't shown up yet, but Max healed him. He's going to go through the same things I did and so it was right that he come too," said Liz. Maria nodded. "I know, but ...." "No buts! Look, that's just the way it is! We stop when it's safe and not before! Now would you just shut up? I've got a ache in my neck that's workin' it's way up to my head from all your yappin'!" growled Micheal rubbing his neck. "Don't tell me to shut up! I have as much right to be here as any of you! I...." "Would you two stop it! I'm so tired of hearing this same arguement day in and day out!" said Isabel sharply, her eyes never leaving the seemingly endless column of trees outside the window. Kyle looked at her. She had been acting really strange the past month. If she wasn't quiet and withdrawn she was sharp to everyone. He said, "I think she speaks for the rest of us here." Then he called out to Max, "There's a mall. Why don't we stop and take a breather." Sitting back he added under his breath, " I know I could sure use it." Max nodded. "Good idea." Anything to get away even for a few minutes from Michael and Maria's endless harping that seemed to grow worse each day. Inside the mall they agreed on a time and place to meet and then the girls took off to window shop. There wasn't any money to spend on things they had no room for, but they still enjoyed looking. Kyle and Michael headed over to the food court for some food while Max headed for the computers to check their email. They had set up an email account with a bogus address so that Valenti and Phillip Evans could keep in touch in case of emergency. So far they had not had any emails except for birthday greetings. Though not emergencies, they were welcome just the same. Max logged on. He didn't expect to find anything and was surprised to see a message in the In Box. He felt cold dread wash over him. It was no ones birthday so it could only be bad news. He clicked on the message and what he found was met with mixed feelings. He looked up to see Michael and Kyle approaching him. "Michael!" "What's up?" asked Michael. He knew it couldn't be good by the look on Max's face. "Look." Michael and Kyle read over Max's shoulder and both sighed. "You think she knows?" asked Michael. "I don't know," said Max. "I think she does. Look at the date. She's been acting funny for a while now and the date fits," said Kyle. "Really? I hadn't even noticed," admitted Max. "I should have noticed." He felt remorse at not having paid closer attention to Isabel. Michael frowned. "I guess we sort of forgot what she left behind. I mean I didn't like the guy, but Isabel ...loved him." He hated using that word when connected to Isabel and Jesse, even though he knew she had been happy with him. "Who is going to tell her?" asked Kyle. "I mean I think she already knows, but still." "I'll do it," said Max. He clearly wasn't looking forward to the job. A while later the girls came back and met up with the guys by the food court. Liz and Isabel both knew immediately that something was amiss. "What's wrong?" asked Liz. "I need to talk to Isabel," said Max looking at the tall blond. Isabel swallowed as her hand went nervously to the necklace at her throat. A gift from her Jesse on their wedding day. "What is it, Max?" asked Isabel. Max motioned to a table off from the others. "Let's go over there." He took her arm and led her away while the others stood watching. "What's going on, Michael?" asked Liz. "Closure," said Michael, his heart aching for Isabel. "We had a message." Isabel sucked in her breath and slowly blew it out. Her eyes began to water, but she wouldn't permit the tears to fall. "Jesse divorced me." Max looked mildly surprised that she knew before he had even told her. He took her hand. "Yes." Isabel bit her lip and nodded, but she couldn't see because of the unshed tears. "He can get on with his life now. Things will be right for him now. Normal." Max began to gently rub her arm. "Iz..." Isabel shook her head and stood up. "I'm fine, Max." Max took hold of her arm to keep her from walking off. "You're not fine, Isabel. He was your husband and you had to leave him behind. I know you are hurting and I'm sorry." Isabel looked him in the eye. "Yeah, well you and Michael and everyone else were right. I had no business involving Jesse like that and he and I paid the price." She headed back to the others, her hand quickly swiping at the tears. Max stood looking at her back and thinking once again how much more Isabel had given up than any of them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was dark in the van now and Liz and Maria were asleep in the back seat. Michael had just turned over the driving to Kyle, and Max sat in the passenger seat lost in thought. Michael now joined Isabel, who had been silent since they had left the mall. During his turn at the wheel Michael had covertly observed Isabel in the review mirror. She was struggling to keep it together, and glancing at her right now he could see that she was starting to lose the battle. Without a word he put his arm around her. Isabel instantly turned her face into his neck and silently cried. Michael patted her shoulder. He'd never believed that Isabel and Jesse were right for one another. He had finally given in and grudingly given his blessing to her marriage, but he'd never changed his opinion. Jesse wasn't the man for Isabel. But her heart was breaking all over again now that she was no longer married to him and Michael couldn't stand that, no matter how relieved he was that there were no longer any ties for Isabel to Jesse. Max turned in his seat as the sound of a soft sob broke through his thoughts. Isabel was crying. He looked at Michael who shook his head and continued to pat Isabel's shoulder. Max nodded and turned back around. He hated that Isabel was hurting so. She deserved to be happy. They all did, but it seemed to allude her more than the others. And now that they were on the run how would she ever find happiness again with a secret such as theirs. Isabel finally stopped crying and wiped at her eyes and nose. Instead of moving away from Michael, she stayed where she was and let the warmth and touch of his body comfort her. She knew he and Max were relieved that she was no longer tied to Jesse, but both had thankfully not voiced this to her. Instead Max had said he was sorry she was hurting and Michael was letting her know in his own way that he was too. She fingered her necklace as she took a deep breath and vowed then and there to put Jesse behind her. She would focus on the life ahead of her whatever that might be. Then closing her eyes, Isabel fell asleep against Michael's shoulder. Michael knew the moment Isabel fell asleep. Her breathing shallowed and he felt her relax against him. He pressed his lips to the top of her head. He didn't know why, but he sensed that she had just closed the door on Jesse in her own way and was ready to move on. With a little smile of satisfaction he closed his own eyes and slept too. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A few days later........ "Well, what do you guys think?" asked Max. A van full of heads turned to look at one another. One by one smiles and nods were seen. "Okay then. This is it," said Max. "Hallelujah!" cried Maria as she leaned over and hugged Max. "Thank you, thank you!" Max smiled, a bit embarrassed as he scratched his brow. "Okay, first thing we have to do is find some jobs," said Liz. "Why don't we head over to that Burger Palace across the street and make some sort of plan?" While the others headed for the Burger Palace, Kyle ran next door and purchased a few papers. He followed the others to the Burger Palace and tossed the papers on the table. "Start searching people." "I'm sure Maria and I can get some waitressing jobs until we find something better," said Liz as she searched the ads. "Speak for yourself, hon! I hope to never do that job again!" said Maria holding up her hands. "You're not qualified for anything else, Maria," reminded Liz. "I can sing," said Maria smiling. "Maybe I can sing at a club." "And get noticed like you did in Roswell?" said Michael. "We don't need the attention." He wasn't being unkind, just cautious. Maria frowned at him. "So what are you going to do?" she asked him sarcastically. "I'll find something, don't you worry," he told her before looking back down at the ads. "You better. I'm not supporting your sorry ass here too," Maria told him. A collective groan went up from the others. Michael looked back up at her. "What's that supposed to mean? I pull my share." "Guys, don't do this," pleaded Liz. Maria put up her hands. "I'm just saying...." "Yeah, I know what you're saying. You don't think I pull my weight!" said Michael crossing his arms and glaring at her. "Well!" said Kyle a bit too loudly, as he slapped his hands on the table breaking the tension. "I see there are a couple of places looking for mechanics. I'll go check 'um out." "I'll look for a place for us to stay the night," said Max standing up. He looked at Michael and Isabel. "What about you two?" Michael shrugged as he looked at the paper. "I'm still looking." Maria snorted and he glared at her. "Iz?" "I don't know." She looked at the ads and said quietly, "I always thought I'd have a college degree to help me out or....." she didn't need to finish. Everyone looked at her. They had all hoped for that and more. Each had dreamed of a life that wasn't to be. "Let's meet back here at 6 and see what we've come up with,"suggested Max, looking at the others. Everyone nodded and took off leaving Michael and Isabel alone. Michael folded the paper and tossed it aside. Maria was riding his ass and he had no idea why. She had stopped for a while after they left Roswell and things had been really good. But after the initial newness of their departure and all it entailed wore off she had began to harp on him again for everything. Even when he was doing the right thing it seemed to be wrong with her. He looked at Isabel. She had been stronger than any of them imagined by leaving Jesse behind. She had loved him and she had left him for his own safety. He hadn't been that strong. If only he had. He folded his hands together and eyed Isabel. "Want to check out the sights?" "Don't you think the others will be upset if we do?" asked Isabel. She knew he was hurt because of Maria's words, but he'd never admit it. She wondered why Maria treated Michael the way she did when he was obviously trying to please her. She also wondered why he let her do it. Mentally she shook her head at the way his romance with Maria worked. Michael made a little face and shrugged. "Probably." Typical Michael reaction, thought Isabel. Well she had no plans. She had no idea what type of job to apply for. So she gave him a quirky smile. "I'm in." Michael winked at her and together they headed out the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michael and Isabel walked around the streets quietly for a bit looking at the different things the city offered before Michael asked what was on his mind. "You know all those times we talked about leaving Roswell, did you ever think it would be like this?" "You mean all six of us together or just the whole being on the run?" asked Isabel. "All of it." Isabel thought about it a minute. "I really never thought we would have to leave Roswell." Michael gave her a look of surprise. Isabel shrugged. "I know we talked about it, but we always found a way to stay. It seems sort of surreal sometimes. Like it's happening to someone else or it's a dream," admitted Isabel. Michael contemplated her words and then said, "I always thought I'd be on my own. I never thought you and Max would leave. It's nice not to be alone." He said it almost embarrassed, but he knew Isabel would understand. And she did. She took his hand in hers and said, "I'll always be here for you." That was the promise she had made on the grounds of the Library. It seemed a long time ago now. Michael nodded as he squeezed her hand and then they let go. He wondered if she realized that when she married Jesse that promise had been tested. That she had chosen to come with him and Max just to keep Jesse safe was beside the point in his eyes. She had chosen to come with them instead of going away with Jesse. And it had cost her plenty. "We've been gone a while. We need to head back to see if the others have had any luck," said Michael. "We probably should have looked for jobs like the others," said Isabel guiltily. "We will, just not today," said Michael. At Isabel's look he said, "This was more important." Isabel silently agreed. It had opened her eyes as well to see what Michael had been thinking. As much as he had protested that he was a loner and that he couldn't get involved, Michael knew he needed others and realized it. She hooked her arm in his. "Let's find the others." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That night....... "I can't believe you spent the whole time doing nothing! You need a job, Michael!" said Maria as she threw her shoes into the corner. Michael's mouth went into a tight line as he tried to concentrate on the TV. "Kyle got a job as a mechanic, and Liz and I got waitressing jobs. And you got nothing!" "I thought you were going to get a job singing," Michael pointed out. Maria huffed. "I will. This is just temorary." Michael smirked then said, "Max didn't get a job either." Maria rubbed lotion on her arms and said, "Max was finding this place for us to stay for a few days on what little money we have left. You on the other hand did nothing." Michael upped the volume on the TV and tried to tune her out, but it was getting hard. "Michael! Turn that thing off! I'm talking to you!" said Maria, her voice now almost a shout. Michael snapped off the TV. "Shouting and lecturing is more like it." "What did you say?" asked Maria. "I do not shout!" she said defensively. "Then you talk really, really LOUD!" said Michael glaring at her, then he sighed. "Look, I don't know what you are so upset about. Isabel and I just took in the sites so we could get a better idea what we can look for job wise." "I don't see why. You know that all your going to really find is short order cook. That's what you should have been concentrating on. Now you've missed out on opportunities because you were 'sight seeing' with Isabel, who by the way needs to pull her share around here as well," said Maria climbing into the bed. "Hey, we do our share," said Michael indignently. He didn't like the way Maria attacked him, but he was used to it. That she attacked Isabel when she helped Maria out with silly all the time or helped to save their lives was not. Maria gave a little laugh and then as if reading his mind said, "Yeah, when we need some hocus pocus stuff done or have someone attacking us. I'm talking earning your way with money. You need a job and you blew a whole day." " HEY!" Michael lowered his voice and said, "Others can hear you so stop talking about hocus pocus and stuff!" "Fine!" came Maria's sharp reply as she pounded her pillow. "I can find a job and something better than a short order cook AND leave Isabel out of this," said Michael. "Fine. Keep telling yourself that, Spaceboy, but the truth of the matter is you won't," said Maria. "You don't think I can find something better? I was a security guard you know." He was hurt that she didn't think he could find something better. Maria adjusted the blanket around her. "Yeah, but you can't do that anymore. They'd want references and stuff and you can't give them. Now tomorrow you're going to get up early and find a job. Pull your share of the weight mister." Michael suddenly felt like the world was closing in on him. "I need some air." Maria sat up. "We not finished talking." Michael's response was to go out and slam the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Next door.......... Max lay his head on his arm listening to his friends next door. "She's really riding Michael's case tonight." Liz nodded her head that lay on his chest. "It's getting worse too." They had both been alarmed when Maria had mentioned hocus pocus and attacks, but apparently Michael had cautioned her because they hadn't heard any more of that. She would have to remind Maria that walls were thin and ears were everywhere. "Maybe we should have saved on the rooms and just gotten 2 again like we always do. I just thought 3 rooms would be a nice change since we're going to be putting down roots here for awhile," said Max. "You know, private celebrations." Liz smiled. "I like the idea, but I'm not sure about the others." She thought about Kyle and Isabel. They weren't a couple so things in their room might be awkward. "I should have known that Maria wouldn't be able to accept that things weren't ever going to be normal again. Not in the way she is used to anyway." "Michael isn't going to take much more you know. I'm surprised he's taken as much as he has so far," said Max rubbing Liz's arm. He became quiet and Liz asked, "There is more on your mind isn't there?" Max nodded. "Isabel?" "She's alone again and that's what she's always feared. That she would be alone the rest of her life. She has all of us and I've told her that, but I know it's the same." Liz hugged him. "She'll be fine, Max. Give her time." Max wasn't so sure if that was all that it would take. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And on the other side of Michael and Maria's room............. Isabel and Kyle listened as a door slammed and both winced. They wondered if Michael and Maria were even aware that they could be heard. Kyle looked at Isabel. She still wore the pained expression on her face that had come over it when Maria mentioned her name. "Hey, don't let what she said get to you. You and Michael both do your share. We all do. She's just tired. We're all tired." Isabel nodded, but it stung. And it angered her too. "We shouldn't have been listening." "Yeah, well we couldn't exactly 'not' hear them. It just proves motel rooms have thin walls," said Kyle knocking on the one behind his head. Isabel was a quiet a moment then asked, "Do you feel like we stole your life, Kyle? You know, by knowing us?" Kyle looked surprised. "No." At Isabel's look he admitted, "In the beginning, well yeah. I mean I was shot because of you guys and my Dad lost his job. But once I saw all you have been thru....and the way you cared about my Dad and me, then no. I don't think you stole my life." Isabel smiled. "Thanks, Kyle." He nodded. Isabel stood up. "I'm going for a walk." "Want me to come?" asked Kyle. Isabel shook her head. "I need to think. Enjoy your time alone. Who knows when you'll get any to yourself again." "Cool," said Kyle laying back with his head on one arm and reaching for the remote. But after Isabel closed the door Kyle's smile faded. She was worried and he hated to see her that way. He hoped that whatever was troubling her wasn't Jesse and that she would find an answer soon. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Isabel walked around the playground near the motel they were staying at. She ran her fingers along the chain on a child's swing then sat down and began to gently push herself into motion by pressing the toes of shoes to the ground, while she lost herself in thought. Was she really not pulling her weight? She didn't want to be a burden on anyone. True when they first left Roswell she had been withdrawn, but she thought she had at least been doing her share. She had minimal skills so she had taken on the tasks of cooking and caring of everyones clothes and such while Liz and Maria found jobs. Thank goodness Jesse had taught her a few things while they were married, and her powers. Her Mother had tried to teach her, but Isabel had been all about school and image back then. When their alien lives had been more the center of their universe then she hadn't bothered at all. But she guessed that wasn't enough. She wondered why Max and Kyle hadn't said anything to her before. She was going to have to find a job. That's all there was to it. Isabel sighed and looked up. Across the darkening playground sat Michael on a bench. His head was down and he was shoving his hands through his hair and over his face. He looked like he was worried too. Isabel got up and walked over to Michael and stood there a moment before clearing her throat softly. "Mind if I sit down?" Michael looked up and then quickly ran his hands over his face and back through his hair before he sat back. "Sure. Go ahead." He looked her way. "What are you doing out here?" Isabel shrugged. "I needed to think." Michael nodded. "Yeah. Me too." "I guess we should have gone to look for jobs today," said Isabel quietly. Michael quickly looked her way. "What?" "What I do isn't enough," she told him. Michael looked surprised then angry. "You heard us!" Isabel nodded. "It wasn't on purpose though. The walls are really thin." Michael seethed with hurt and anger. "She had no right to say those things. We pull our share of the weight around here, it's just not always with a paycheck." "She's frustrated living as we do. We're all frustrated never knowing when or if we'll be found." Isabel bit back the words of anger she wanted to say concerning Maria. Michael loved her even if Maria was making him angry and hurt right now so she wasn't going to bad mouth her to him. "It's more than that." He was quiet when he said it. Thoughtful. Isabel didn't reply at first. "Why are you out here, Michael?" Michael's face took on a look of frustration mixed with sadness. "I was thinking....that Maria just came along because she didn't want to stay in Roswell alone...without all of us. That she didn't come for me...for us. Now she hates me and is probabley thinking I'm ruining her life all over again." Isabel sat speechless. Michael had rarely unburdened himself to anyone except Max these past 4 years and now he'd done so twice to her in one day. She was glad he had chosen her to share his worries with, but what was she to say to him? Her heart ached for him as she reached over and took his hand. Michael looked down at them and then turned his hand to gently squeeze hers before he looked into her eyes. She understood. He nodded. "Let's get back," he suggested as he stood and put his arm around her shoulders. Isabel's arm went around Michael's waist and together they headed back to the motel. From her vantage point at the window, Maria watched Michael walk back with his arm around Isabel. Maria grew thoughtful as she thought about Isabel no longer being married and therefore free and single. Maria began to chew on the tip of her nail. That walk today Michael and Isabel took meant nothing. Sure Michael and Isabel had sex dreams about one another and their lives before on Antar, but that was a long time ago. Maria chided herself for her thoughts. Michael and Isabel were just friends. Nothing more. No, she had nothing to worry about. She sighed in relief and turned from the window and headed back to bed. Michael walked Isabel to her door. "Get some sleep." "You too," she replied as she turned to go inside. "Isabel." She turned back around with a questioning look. "Thanks," Michael said, with a small smile and a slight nod of his head. Isabel gave him a little smile of her own then went inside. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later that night......... Isabel crawled into her bed and sighed. She'd had her eyes opened today. Whatever her life had once been or she thought it had been had to be put behind her. She was going to start fresh tomorrow. She would find a job and she would make sure that no one could say that Isabel Evans Rameriz wasn't doing her share. "Isabel?" Isabel lifted her head. "Yes?" Kyle turned and propped himself up on his arm. "Is everything okay?" Isabel smiled to herself before she answered. "Yes. Everything is fine now, Kyle. Just fine." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next day................... True to their words, Isabel and Michael went out and found jobs. Everyone was settling down to eat at the Burger Palace that evening when Max asked, "Where's Michael and Isabel?" Maria's conversation with Liz stopped. She hadn't noticed Isabel was missing too. Just then Isabel walked in and sat down smiling. "What are you so happy about?" asked Max, though he was glad to see the smile on her face. "I have a job," Isabel said trying not to show how excited she was. Everyone reacted with surprise and words of congratulations. "That's great, Iz! What kind of job is it?" asked Max. "I'm a bartender." Her annoucement was met with blank stares. "You're a bartender?" asked Kyle. "You guys can't even drink and now you're going to be mixing the drinks?" He began to grin. "Isabel, you aren't even old enough to drink. How did you get a job as a bartender?" asked Max. Isabel shrugged as she sipped her cherry coke. "I lied." Liz's eyes bulged. "Can you even mix drinks?" "I guess so. The owner threw all sorts of names at me and I made each one." "Well that's great, Isabel," said Maria, a bit jealous. She was going to be waiting tables despite telling Michael she wouldn't be. "When do you start?" "Tomorrow. There is one thing though," said Isabel casually. "What's that?" asked Liz. "I work topless." The food fell right out of Kyle's mouth and Max choked on his drink. "WHAT!?!" Isabel grinned. "Just kidding." She looked around. "Where's Michael?" Everyone sighed in relief then looked at Isabel. She was so different today. Happier. What had brought on the change? Just then Michael came in and sat down. He was covered in dirt and totally exhausted. "Micahel! Eww gross! What have you been doing?" exclaimed Maria wrinkling her nose and waving her hand in the air as if to clear it. "I got a job. I help to clear land for development," said Michael, obviously very proud of himself. "Well you smell horrible! I can't eat with you smelling like that! Go take a bath! Go! Go, go, go!" said Maria. Michael's face fell. He stood up and turned to go when he felt a hand on his arm. He looked down. "Congratualations, Michael! I'm so proud of you! We all are!" said Isabel as she stood up to hug him. Michael pulled back as the others echoed her words. "I'm dirty and don't smell too good!" "I don't care," Isabel told him as she grabbed him and gave him a hug. Michael slowly put his arm around her waist. "Thanks," he said quietly. "Isabel has news too. She got a job today as well," said Liz. "Guess that just leaves you, Max," she said winking. Max smiled. "I'll work on it tomorrow." Michael looked at Isabel. "You got a job?" Isabel nodded smiling. "Yeah. I start tomorrow." "Cogratulations." "Thanks. Well are you going to eat or what?" she asked, smiling. With one look at Maria, Michael sat down. "I'm going to eat!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A few weeks later.......... Max walked into the kitchen of the house they were all 'sitting' and found Isabel getting ready to leave for work. Actually it was Max that was doing the sitting and the owner had agreed to let his friends live there as well with the provision that there were no parties or trouble. It was a large house with 3 bedrooms in the main part of the house and one off of the kitchen. It had taken some convincing to get the owner to let them live here, for the house was large and needed tending, but Max was up to the task despite his young age. So the little group was not out rent and they had a nice place to live with room enough to find time alone when they needed it. Something that all their time in the van and one room in a motel couldn't give them. "Getting ready for work?" "Yeah." "How is it going?" asked Max as he watched her fix herself a glass of water. After taking a drink she said, "Okay. I see interesting people and I'm contributing to the group." "You seem happier. I'm glad to see you happy again," said Max. Isabel put her glass in the sink and turned to face Max with a smile. "I am." No use trying to explain that she was still lonely despite being with all of them. Max didn't need that worry. "I thought we might all head to the club and see where you work," said Max. "NO!" said Isabel a bit too sharply. At Max's look she said, "I mean, it's just a club, Max. I work there and that's it. No big deal." "Well maybe we could dance..." said Max. "There's no dancing! Just ....talking. Look, I've got to go now, Max. I'll see all of you when I get home." Then Isabel grabbed her bag and headed out the door. Max watched her from the window as she ran down the walk and towards the bus stop. Something was going on. Later that evening.............. "This is it," said Kyle as they all piled out of the van. Michael looked around. "It looks like a honkey tonk." That didn't please him. "An upscale honkey tonk," said Maria. She wondered if they hired singers. "Let's go inside. I want to know why Isabel didn't want us here," said Max. Liz put her hand on his arm. "Max, she probabley just didn't want us watching her. Maybe we shouldn't be here." Max looked down at Liz in indecision. "You think that's all?" "I'm sure of it," she told him with a smile. Loud shouts and music from inside drew their attention. "Well I'm checking it out," said Kyle as he headed for the door. Michael agreed and followed him with Maria close behind. Max looked at Liz who shrugged and they followed too. The bouncer at the door stopped them. "It's full. Go to the end of the line." Kyle smiled. "But our friend works here. We just wanted to...." "I said, it's full!" The guy crossed his arms and then ignored them. "Max, look at this line. We may never get in," said Liz. Max waved his hand and made a light explode off to the side causing some screams from some of the patrons outside. The bouncer turned to see what had happened and the little group hurried inside. They stood speechless. "Holy cow!" whistled Kyle. Patrons milled around while girls in tight skimpy tops poured drinks. And there at the end was Isabel. She was flirting and slapping down drinks like a pro. Then a bell sounded and the music got louder. The crowd began to clap and chant and the girls climbed up on the bar. "Wasn't this a movie?" asked Kyle with a grin. Michael looked at Max who wasn't smiling either. Isabel began to dance along with the other girls, her tight low riding jeans and boots looked great, but it was the braless, low cut top the men ...and some women .....were eyeing. "I pictured Isabel with a little tie and vest...sort of a woman's tux. You know, for a quiet bar," said Liz. She looked at Max and knew he wasn't happy. "Those weren't the clothes she had on when she left," said Max. Maria frowned. This is the type place she should be working at, not Isabel. The song ended and the girls jumped off of the bar to serve drinks again. Isabel tucked tips into her pants and pushed away eager men who wanted to taste more than liquor. Max and Michael had to be held back by Maria and Liz. "I take it you didn't know this is what she was doing either," said Max to Michael. "Are you kidding me, I would have put a stop to it," said Michael. And he was disturbed. He was feeling something he didn't think he should. Jealousy? Where the hell was that coming from? "I'll go get her." Max put a hand on Michael's arm. "No. We'll talk to her tonight." "You two are going to tell her she can't work after she was so proud she had found a job? Man, I don't envy you two," said Kyle shaking his head. "I'll catch you all later." And he weaved his way through the crowd. "Max, let's go," pleaded Liz. Max looked at Isabel pouring drinks like a pro and nodded. "Okay." He looked at Michael and Maria. "We're leaving." Michael crossed his arms. "You're really leaving her here?" He couldn't believe it. Max looked at Micheal in the way he had that said he meant business. "We'll talk to her later. Kyle's here. He'll watch out for her." Michael didn't like it, but he didn't argue. He'd save that for later when Isabel came home. Later...................... Isabel walked into the darkened house and stretched as she rubbed her neck. She was so tired. When she took on the job she had no idea how tiring it would be. But on the plus side, the tips were fantastic and allowed her to help out here. She just wished she didn't have to dress like she did or dance on the bar. The lights snapped on and startled her. Max and Michael sat looking at her. "What are you two doing?" she asked. She got the feeling this wasn't going to be a conversation she wanted to have. "We went to the bar tonight," said Max. "Saw you dance your little dance?" added Michael. Isabel sucked in her lip as she put her hands on her hips. "You came down there after I asked you not to." "You lied to us, Isabel," said Max. "And those aren't the clothes you had on when you were working." Isabel's lips tightened. "Noo, they aren't. And I didn't lie." Michael laughed, but there was no humor in it. "You just didn't tell us all of it." "What is the big deal!? I'm working and what I'm doing isn't dirty or illegal!" "But men are oogling your goods and that's not okay," said Michael, crossing his arms. Isabel's mouth dropped. "Excuse me?" Max sighed. "Way to go, Michael." "Wait a minute. It's okay for me to use 'my goods' to distract men when we need secret information or to get inside secret facilities, but when I need to work to make money to survive it's not?" Michael and Max looked at one another then at Isabel. "Yeah," said Michael. Isabel tossed her hair as she grabbed up her purse. "I'm through with this conversation. I am not quitting and that's all there is to it." Then she stormed out to her room. "Nice," said Michael leaning back. Max shook his head and got up and went to bed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A few weeks later......... It was an uneasy truce between the three aliens. Isabel refused to quit her job and Michael and Max knew they really couldn't force her too. But what Max didn't know was that Michael was more effected by her decision than he let on. Each night he had been going to the bar to watch over Isabel from the back of the room. Any guy he thought was getting out of line he was prepared to put in his place, but so far the only one putting anyone in their place was Isabel. She could hold her own. He admired her for the way she handled the ones that tried to get too close. In fact he could have stopped coming here long ago, but something just kept drawing him back. And she didn't know he was there or she would have sacked his ass by now. His attention was drawn to the bar when the music started. Isabel jumped up on the bar with the others and began to dance seductively and the crowd went wild. Tonight someone decided to not play by the rules. A man near the bar began calling out to Isabel and grabbing at her. She danced out of his way, but the guy followed. When the music stopped and the girls got down to serve drinks again the guy suddenly leaned across the bar trying to kiss Isabel and maul her. "Hey! No touching!" The man pushed at Michael who was suddenly by his side and then grabbed Isabel's breast. Isabel didn't have a chance to react before the man accosting her was thrown down the bar. The crowd got quiet. "I think you didn't hear me. 'Don't touch' is the rule, man!" growled Michael as he walked down the bar. He had figured the guy's intentions before Isabel had even stepped back down off the bar and had decided to head him off. "MICHAEL, DON'T!" warned Isabel, after she got over the shock of seeing him here. All she needed was to get fired or worse for Michael to kill him. The guy got up and ran for the door as the bouncers came near. Michael held up his hands. "Sorry." He glanced at Isabel. The look he gave her said he clearly anything but sorry. "Let's go buddy," said the big guy from the first night. Michael again held up his hands and headed for the door. Well that was end of watching out for Isabel. Now they'd never let him back in. As Michael and the bouncer got to the door a man stopped them. "Hold on." Michael noticed the bouncer back off a bit. "I own this bar. Is that your girl?" Michael shook his head. "Just friends." "Well I like how you handled that. Do you want to work for me?" Michael's eyebrows shot up? "Seriously?" "Yeah." Michael nodded. "How much?" The amount quoted was more than adequate. "Then yeah." He stuck out his hand. The owner looked at it then said. "You can't date the girls. That includes Blonde. So whatever you got going on with her stops." Michael shrugged. "I don't have anything going on with her, we're just friends like I said. It's a deal." They shook hands as the man hammered out the details. Michael would start tomorrow. As he settled back against the wall he knew that Isabel was going to be one pissed off alien. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later that night............. Michael's assessment was right. The back door slammed and everyone sitting in the den watching a movie jumped. "Look, I didn't know he was going to do that, but I wasn't going to turn it down!" said Michael. "He wouldn't have done it if you hadn't been spying on me!" said Isabel, clearly very angry. "I wasn't spying on you! I was watching out for you!"said Michael. "Watching out for me! I can take care of myself, Michael! I have before and I will again!" Isabel told him angrily. "Well you couldn't tonight!" Both suddenly became aware of the others in the room. "You didn't give me time to react! I would have handeled it! And you aren't taking that job," Isabel said with restrained calm. "Yeah, well like you I choose where I work and no ones tells me I can't," said Michael looking her in the eye. Isabel huffed at him and headed off to her room. Max came over to Michael. "What's going on?" Michael rubbed his brow. "I was offered a job as a bouncer at the club Isabel works at." Max's eyes widened. "How'd that happen? What were you even doing at the club?" Michael looked briefly at Maria who had come up with Liz and Kyle behind Max, then he looked again at Max. "I've been there every night watching out for her. Tonight I took care of some guy that was bothering her and the owner liked what he saw and offered me a job." Maria's mouth fell open then tightened before she left the room. Liz looked at Max then followed her. "I can't believe you've been spying on her and didn't tell me," said Max. "But I'm glad you did. I've been worried about her working there myself," he admitted. Kyle cringed when another door slammed. "Why do chicks feel the need to slam doors?" Looking at Michael he asked, "So what happened?" "Some guy decided to get all touchy feely and I objected," said Michael as he headed for the kitchen to grab a Snapple. That got Max's full attention. "He touched her?" "Yeah." Michael still felt a tinge of anger that some guy dared to touch Isabel that way. Being hired as a bouncer was going to make his job a lot more easier. Kyle studied Michael and it suddenly occured to him that Michael had been spending alot more time with Isabel. When they weren't working they went walking or sat out back just talking. He wondered how Maria felt about it or if she had even noticed. But considering the way she had been treating the guy since before leaving Roswell, she might not even mind. "Are you going to keep working the construction job too?" asked Max. Michael nodded his head. "Yeah, for now anyway. I handled two in Roswell. No reason I can't here too." Max nodded. "Well just make sure Isabel stays safe." Then he headed on to bed. Michael tossed the Snapple container and started to head for bed too when Kyle stopped him. "Don't hurt her, man. She's been hurt enough." Then Kyle walked past him to his room off the kitchen. Michael turned to look at Kyle's now closed door and pondered his words. The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt Isabel. And he'd make sure no one else did either. Michael and Maria's room...... When Michael entered the room he found Maria pacing. "I thought you went to bed," he said as he closed the door. Maria turned to face him. "You say you don't have money or time to take me to a movie or to dinner, but you find money and time to spend every evening watching Isabel at a bar? What's wrong with this picture?" Michael sat on the bed and pulled off his shoes. "Don't start on me, Maria." "Don't start? I haven't even begun. Is this alien past life thing you had with her starting up again, Michael?" Michael looked at her. "No!" "Then what's going on?" "Nothing is going on. I just feel better knowing I've got her back, that's all. It's a rough place," Michael told her as he pulled off his shirt. Maria considered his words then said, "She can take care of herself. She has before. She's the uber princess of aliens for crying out loud." "This isn't open for discussion, Maria," said Michael as he started to lay back on the bed. Maria spread out her arms over the bed. "Hold it right there. You're not sleeping in this bed." "What?!" asked Michael, as he looked at her. "You're kiddin' me." "Do I look like I'm kidding? There is something going on here and while we're fighting over it you won't be sleeping in this bed." "Fine!" He stood up and grabbed a pillow. "I'll go sleep on the couch." He started for the door and stopped at her words. "Sleep on the floor. I don't want anyone to know we're fighting." "Like they can't hear threw the walls." Maria glared at him. "The floor!" Michael sighed and threw his pillow on the floor and grabbed a blanket. Why did he put up with this crap? The last thing in his mind before he fell asleep was Isabel and her smile. Max and Liz's room............ "What do we do if they really break up for good? It's going to be very awkward for everyone with all of us living together," said Max, as the fight next door quieted. He began to make down the bed. "I don't know. Maria is really upset. She said she thinks Michael is fooling around with Isabel," said Liz, as she brushed her hair. Max looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Well she's wrong. Michael and Isabel don't have those kinds of feelings for one another. They are just friends, and that's all. Maria's just looking for another reason to dump Michael." Liz put the brush down. "I don't know, Max. They have been spending a lot of time together." "Because they share a job. That's all." Both crawled into bed. "But what if there was something between them. Would that upset you?" Max couldn't even conceive of Michael and Isabel together. "It's not happening so there is no reason to consider it." He kissed Liz as he pulled her tighter to him. "It's all in Maria's head and now she's planted the thought in yours too." Liz doubted it. She didn't think Michael and Isabel were together, but she could see it happening very soon the way things were going. And as much as she loved Maria, she knew that if Michael and Isabel did become involved it was partially Maria's doing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Two months later........ Isabel walked outside the club and looked up at the sky. Rain. You could smell it coming. She turned back towards the club as Michael came out. "Hurry up! It's going to start raining any minute!" Michael looked up and wrinkled his nose when drop fell on it. He sped up his steps until he was even with Isabel at the van. Climbing inside they started out of the parking lot for the ride home. Things had been better between them since shortly after the night Michael was hired at the club. She had been so mad at him, but he hadn't let her anger get to him. He did his job and he did it well. And he made a point of not mixing with Isabel unless some guy got too touchy or out of hand. And it wasn't just Isabel he protected. He took care of the other girls too, so Isabel couldn't say he was working just to protect her. The girls. They all loved him and wondered why Isabel wasn't dating him. Or had she and he was pining after her. They thought she was crazy when she said they were just friends. They wouldn't understand alien destinies and lives on another planet. Isabel came to like having Michael work at the club. It was nice to ride home and talk about the night and some of the crazy stunts people pulled in the club. She felt she was closer to Michael now than she had ever been in her life. The only thing she regretted was that Maria treated her differently and she wasn't really sure why. She supposed she was jealous of Isabel's time with Michael, but Isabel didn't know why because Maria had been slowly pushing Michael away for a while now to the point that they only shared a bedroom. She wasn't even sure if they shared a bed. Isabel didn't like the thought that Michael might still be sleeping with Maria with the way she treated him. But knowing Michael it wouldn't surprise her. Her attention was drawn back to the present when the van jerked and sputtered. "What the hell?" said Michael as the van slowly came to a stop on the side of the road. "What did you do?" asked Isabel, looking at Michael. Michael frowned at her. "What did I do? Nothing. It stopped on it's own." He began to fiddle with the various things on the dash trying to get it to start. "You need to look under the hood," said Isabel. "It's pouring rain outside. You go look under the hood," Michael told her as he sat back. "Me?!" "Fine, we'll wait until it stops then go find a phone and call Kyle to come fix it," said Michael. "It's 2:00 A.M., Michael. And how is he supposed to get here?" "Okay, that settles it. I'm getting me a set of wheels when I get the money. This having one set sucks," Michael informed her. A clap of thunder followed by a large streak of lightning made them both look out the window. "I don't relish sleeping in the van. I want a bed. Maybe a motel," said Isabel. "You want to go out in that? Besides we can't leave the van" said Michael. Isabel lay her head on the window. He was right. She knew they needed to stay with the van lest someone tow it away and discover it was not registered. "We need to call them," said Michael. "The sooner they get here the better." "I know." How she longed for her cell phone. Sighing she said, "There's a payphone on the outside of that store over there." They both sat still then simultaneously said, "So go call." "I'm not calling." Michael groaned. "Fine. I'll go." The rain was pouring harder now and Michael glanced at Isabel. "You owe me." Isabel grinned. Michael got out and ran for the phone. Grabbing the receiver he patted his pockets for money. "What am I doing?" He placed his hand over the phone and soon he had a dial tone and then the house phone was ringing. "Come on, come on," he muttered. "Hello?" came Max's sleepy voice. "Max! The van broke down and it's raining cats and dogs out here man!"We need Kyle to ....." "Michael! We can't come tonight. It's storming and we don't have a way. Where are you and we'll come in the morning. Just stay in the van," said Max. "Yeah, okay. We're outside the store on Turner and ....." The phone went dead and the lights all around him went out as well. Power outage. "Damn!" He hung up the phone and headed back to the van. "Did you get someone?" asked Isabel. "Yes and no. I got Max, but the phone went dead before I could tell him exactly where we were." "Great," said Isabel leaning her head back on the head rest. "Well at least your dry. I'm soaking wet," said Michael as he pushed his hands through his wet hair. Isabel's face softened as she reached over and waved her hand. Michael instantly dried. He looked down then at Isabel. "Thanks." Isabel nodded then looked in the back. "Seems we'll be sleeping back there again," she said as she got up and moved to the back of the van. Michael watched her pull out one of the old blankets they had stored in the back and spread it over her. He climbed in the seat behind her and sat with his back against the window like she was. Within minutes the sound of hail could be heard on the roof and the windows started to fog. "Some storm," commented Michael. "Yes, but I love it," said Isabel as she closed her eyes. "You didn't used to, " said Michael. "I remember coming over to your house and you cowering in the corner with Max trying to calm you down." Isabel remembered that. "Yeah. That was right after the explosion at the factory. I was terrified it would happen again. I couldn't stand a storm for a long time after." "I remember," said Michael. "Then do you remember when I stopped being scared?" she asked. Michael thought a moment then a slight grin appeared on his face. "Yeah. The storm came up sudden like this one. Max had gone with your Dad to a Father/Son banquet and your Mom..... was playing cards with a friend. I had run away from Hank again and found you cowering in the corner of your room screaming your head off." He looked at Isabel. "I sat beside you on the floor and held you until you stopped screaming. Then we talked about any and everything to take your mind off of the storm. Your Mom came rushing in because she knew how frightned you would be and found us. You were clinging to me like crazy, but you were talking and not screaming." Isabel smiled at the memory. "We were 13. I felt like such a baby because I was so old and still afraid of storms. But you just talked to me and I was okay. Everyone else told me I was being silly. But not you. You held me tight and made jokes and stuff. I felt safe." She looked at Michael. "I haven't been afraid of one since. In fact, when it storms....I think of you." Their eyes met. Each thinking of the special relationship they held with one another. Michael reached up and touched the hair that fell by her face and pushed it back. His fingers rested against her cheek. Her skin was so soft. How did she get it so soft? Isabel's breath caught as Michael tucked her hair back behind her ear then rested his fingers against her cheek. What was happening to her? What was this feeling that was growing inside her? She had felt it before....but when? And this was much stronger. Then her eyes widened. She pulled away from Michael. "We should sleep." Michael frowned. What had just happened? "Did I do something wrong?" Isabel glanced his way then shook her head as she adjusted her blanket. "No. No, I just think we need to sleep." Michael frowned. Isabel was definitely acting weird. He leaned forward and said, "No, something made you pull away from me. What did I do?" He was always ticking Maria off for stuff. Maybe there was something to her complaints about him after all. The thought made ill thinking that even Isabel was reacting to him in the same way. Isabel heard the tone of in his voice and knew he was upset. But she just couldn't tell him why she had pulled away. She didn't know how to handle it herself. She looked at Michael and lay her hand on his. "It's not you, Michael. It's me. I'm just very tired. But it's not you." Michael finally nodded, but he didn't believe her. "Okay." He sat back and watched her close her eyes. Something was wrong. Later............ The scream woke him. It was blood curdling and scared the hell out of him. He hurriedly went over the seat and gathered Isabel in his arms. "Hey, hey...shhhhh....shhhhh," he soothed as he rocked her. Isabel began to gradually wake up and she clung to Michael for dear life. "I thought storms didn't scare you anymore," Michael gently teased. But he was concerned. Something, and not the storm, had scared her. Isabel let Michael rock her, the need to be held by him out weighing her fear. "Tell me what you dreamed," said Michael as he continued to hold her. Isabel shook her head. To voice it would make it real and then everything would change. "Come on....if you tell I might can help," said Michael, as he pressed his lips to her head. Isabel pulled away and pushed back her hair. "No. I'm okay now. Thanks." Michael looked at her. She had done it again. Pulled away. He was confused and hurt and she knew it. But she couldn't tell him why. They passed the last few hours in silence, and when Kyle showed up with a tow truck it was with a relief that they left. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The rest of the week everyone picked up on the fact that something was different between Michael and Isabel. Tension. She didn't avoid Michael, but she seemed uncomfortable when he was around. And Michael acted totally confused and hurt. Much like he did with Maria. Maria. She had not let Michael back into their bed, but she wouldn't let him move out of the room either. The rift between them was wide with no sign of closing. Max and Kyle sat at the breakfast bar one morning watching Michael prepare his lunch for work on the construction site. Max cleared his throat and asked what was going on between him and Isabel. Michael shrugged as he tossed a knife into the sink, but both Max and Kyle could see that the question bothered him. "Hell if I know. She started acting funny towards me that night the van broke down." "What happened in the van?" asked Max. "Nothing. That's just it. We talked and then all of a sudden she started acting weird towards me and she won't tell me why,"said Michael as he wrapped his sandwich and tossed it into the Igloo cooler. "Did you do something to her?" asked Kyle. Max's eyes swung between Kyle and Michael. Michael turned and glared at Kyle. "No! It's Isabel! And I wouldn't do anything even if it wasn't." He looked up at the clock. "I gotta get out of here. I'm thinking of quitting the bouncer job and can't be late for this one." "Quitting? Why?" asked Max. "Because I make Isabel uncomfortable and I don't want to do that. Even riding to work together is hard. Look, I've got to go." Michael grabbed his drink and headed out the door. "I wish I knew what had happened. I've tried talking to Isabel and she just says there's nothing wrong, but anyone can see there is," said Max. "Living together like we do, this can't happen." "Let me try," said Kyle. "What makes you think she'll open up to you?" asked Max. "I don't know. Just a feeling. She came to me about Jesse so maybe I can get her to talk about this," replied Kyle. Max nodded. "I hope your right." Kyle nodded as he lifted a cup of coffee to his lips. "Me too." Later that morning............ Isabel sat out on the patio staring out at but not seeing the flowers that bloomed just beyond, when Kyle walked up to her. "Hey, mind if I join you?" Isabel shook her head. "No, go ahead. I thought you were supposed to be working?" "I have a day off." They sat in silence a moment when Kyle asked, "What's up with you and Michael?" Isabel looked at him in surprise. "Nothing." Kyle shook his head. "Now see, I know that's not true. We all know it's not true. You've been treating him differently." Isabel tensed up. "No, I haven't." "Yeah, you have and we all wonder what's going on." Isabel sat quietly, not realizing that a look of despair had come over her. "Did he do something to you?" asked Kyle, quietly. "If he hurt you...." Isabel looked up with alarm. "No! Gawd no! Michael would never hurt me!" "Then what is it?" Tears formed in Isabel's eyes. She had to talk to someone and Kyle had been there for her before. She couldn't talk to Max. Not about this. And Liz and Maria....no way. Kyle saw the tears and knew that whatever this was that was eating at Isabel, she was about to share it with him. "I love him." Kyle sat stunned at the words she had whispered. "You what? You ....love him? Like 'in love' ?" "You can't tell anyone Kyle! Promise me, you won't!" said Isabel grabbing his hand. "I would die if he found out." "Yeah, yeah sure." Isabel smiled greatfully. "I've wanted to talk to someone so badly." Kyle nodded as he blew out a blew out a breath. "I bet." Then he asked, "So you had this revelation the night of the storm?" Isabel nodded. "It was like a bolt of lightning had hit me when Michael tucked my hair behind my ear. I haven't known what to do. We can't ever be together so...." "Wait a minute. Why not? Why can't you two be together?" Interrupted Kyle. Isabel looked back out at the flowers. "He's with Maria. They fight, but they always make up. And besides we desided a long time ago when we had the dreams that we weren't meant to be together. The book Tess gave us was...." "Whoa! What are you talking about? I think I'm missing something here," said Kyle. "What dreams and what has Tess and the book got to do with you loving Michael?" "I forgot you don't know. Ummm.... you see right after Tess came Michael and I began having dreams about one another." "Dreams?" "Yeah....ummm you know...dreams," said Isabel, uneasily. Kyle thought a minute then said, "Ohhhhhh. Okay, so you were having dreams. Go on." "The dreams showed us with a child and we happy. Then we thought I was pregnant from the dreams and ....." "Pregnant!" "But I wasn't. Tess told us that the dreams were just telling us how things were meant to be. Then after she showed us the podchamber she gave the book to Michael that Alex later translated. In the book are pictures of Max and Tess and Michael and me paired as couples. Well you know Max...he wouldn't let someone elses plan for his 'destiny' stand in his way. And then Michael was with Maria, so we all agreed that this destiny that our planet had planned wasn't for us." Kyle tried to take all of this in. "Wow. Is that all? Any other secrets I missed out on?" Isabel shook her head. "No, I think that's it." Kyle scratched his ear. "So everyone was for not following this destiny. And now you deside you love Michael and you won't tell him because of that decision. That sucks. I understand why you didn't tell him, but you know what? I think you should. How do you know he doesn't feel the same?" Isabel shook her head. "No. And it's not just the decisions we made about our destinies. That's only part of it." Kyle was confused. "Then what?" Isabel looked at Kyle and started to cry. "I might lose him. I lose all of the men I have feelings for. I don't want to lose Michael too." Kyle's mouth fell open at her words before he quietly said, "Isabel, you won't." "You don't know that! I lost Alex and Jesse....Grant died......" "You didn't love Grant. And Alex wasn't your fault." It pained him to mention Alex because of his own part in his friend's death. "I know you loved Jesse, but Isabel, I really don't think you were meant to be with him." Isabel looked at Kyle. "What? You never told me that before. I thought you liked Jesse." "I did...I do. But I never thought he was right for you. Hell, I even thought you and I were supposed to be ....anyway, I don't know. I just always thought Jesse wasn't quite right for you, but you wanted him. And Max and Michael had someone so I was just happy you had someone too." Isabel's shoulders sank. "Everyone tried to tell me he was wrong, but I wouldn't listen. It was just all so new and exciting, you know." "And you could pretend you had a normal life. That's what attracted you to him isn't it?" Isabel looked over at Kyle. Finally she nodded. "Maybe. How could I have been so stupid?" Kyle shook his head. "Not stupid. Lonely. You wanted what Max and Michael had." Isabel sucked in a cleansing breath. "You've got to tell him, Isabel. He's miserable wondering what he's done to upset you. He's even going to quit working the club so that you don't have to deal with seeing him." Isabel was shocked. "What? But....Kyle....I can't!" "Look, he and Maria aren't together anymore. I don't even know why they share a room because we all know they haven't been a together for a long time." He reached for her hand. "Tell him. Look, I know he left his lunch in the kitchen so he's going to be hungry. Take him some lunch and talk to him." "I don't know," Isabel said. "Tell him!" Isabel put her arms around Kyle's neck. "Thank you, Kyle." Kyle smiled as he hugged her back. "Anytime." Inside the house Max watched Isabel run through the door to the kitchen and out the back with Michael's lunch cooler. Kyle came strolling in smiling. "So?" asked Max. "Did you talk to her?" "Yeah, and I think it's going to be okay." "So what did she say?" asked Max. Kyle sat on the sofa and picked up the remote. "I promised not to say." Max frowned. "But everythings okay?" "Yep, all a-okay." "Where's she going with Michael's lunch?" asked Max. "I would imagine to deliver it to him," said Kyle. He just hoped all went as well as he kept saying it would. If not then he had the feeling the group was going to grow smaller very soon. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Isabel walked up to a man wearing a hard hat and asked where Michael was so she could deliver his lunch to him. She ignored the cat calls and whistles that followed her as she went to wait in the area she was shown to. From his position by some newly felled trees, Michael could hear the commotion and wondered what the babe looked like that was getting the attention. Looking around he almost choked when he spied Isabel. He hurried over to her, giving threatening looks to the workers he passed along the way. He grabbed her arm and demanded, "What the hell are you doing down here?" Isabel stared at his tanned, muscular body dressed in a ripped T-shirt and jeans and swallowed. She had never seen him more appealing than right now. She held up the cooler. "You forgot your lunch," she managed to get out. Michael hadn't even missed it, but he knew that he would have been starving at lunch if she hadn't brought it. "Thanks," he said quietly. He was glad to see her, but then he remembered where they were. His voice grew firm again. "Now get out of here!" Isabel blinked. "What?" "You shouldn't be here! It's not right," he told her glancing around and glaring. The men around the area laughed and whistled. "Hey Momma, bring that thing over here! I got something here to show you what a real man is all about!" Isabel bit her lip. "Because they are rude, obnoxious, pigs?" "Yeah, something like that," said Michael, angry at his co-workers shouts . He didn't like the men looking at Isabel like that. She wasn't cheap and he didn't like them oogling her. Isabel ignored them. "I was hoping to talk to you at your lunch time. To explain why I've been ....distant." Michael stared at her. "Here? I don't think that's a good idea." "Michael, if I don't do this I don't know that I ever will." Taking a deep breath she said, "Michael, I love yo...." But Michael's attention was drawn by the foreman and away from Isabel's words. "Hey Guerity! Get back to work! I ain't payin' you to have your honey come by here lookin' for a quickie!" Michael's face flamed with anger and embarrassment. "Get out of here, Isabel." He took the lunch and headed back to work leaving Isabel standing there in embarrassment. He hadn't wanted to hear that she loved him. He'd cut her off angrily and sent her away. Wiping at her tears she hurried away. Michael sat his lunch down and took off his hat. What the hell was Isabel thinking coming down here? The men were crude to any beautiful female that walked by, shouting suggestive things at them. Some of his co-workers sat beside him and one began on Michael. "Hey Guerity! That woman of yours is some piece of ass! The tits on her alone make my mouth water." He laughed, "Yeah, I bet that woman wants it all the time and you're the lucky bastard slipping it to her. Say, when you're finished with her send her my way. I got me a thing for blonds and I know she'll appreciate a real man by then." His co-workers laughed, but Michael fumed. "Don't talk about her like that, you sorry bastard! She's not like that!" The men began to choose sides when the one who had started it all frowned. "So you say. But she looks like she's spread her legs and I bet it's been for more than one guy too." Michael clinched his fist to keep from using his powers. Instead he grabbed the man by the throat and said, "She's my friend. A good one too. And she's got class, you shit head! If you talk about her or ever look at her again, then I'll take great pleasure in taking those balls you think you have and shoving them down your fucking throat!" He shoved the man away and grabbed his lunch to go off by the truck and eat alone. But he couldn't eat. He couldn't stop thinking of Isabel and how he felt when the men had began their crude calls. Besides being angry and protective he realized he was jealous of the men looking at her and he wanted to kill each one of them for the sick fantasies they must be creating about her right now. Fantasies he didn't dare to have himself. Face it Guerin, you feel something for her that is more than friendship and you have for a while now. Shit! When had that happened and what was he going to do about it? She had made it clear that she didn't want to be around him. So why had she come down here? The excuse that she was just bringing him his lunch was weak after the way she had avoided him since the storm. Then his thoughts went back to what she was saying right before his boss had called out to him. ....."Michael, if I don't do this I don't know that I ever will." Taking a deep breath she said, "Michael, I love yo...." His eyes widened. She loved him? Isabel loved him. She'd been trying to tell him she loved him! He kept saying it in him mind, but he couldn't belive it. "GUERITY!" Michael looked up. "I don't want no trouble on my crew! If I ever see you attack someone again you're out of here! You got that?" Michael nodded. "You know what? I'll save you that trouble. I quit." The foreman looked at him. "What?" "I said I quit." He began to gather his cooler and took off his hard hat. "I'll collect my pay and be on my way." He started to walk off. "GUERITY!" Michael turned. "Not so fast. You're a good worker and I don't want to lose you. If this is about the men and what they ...we...said about the young lady that was here then I'll put a stop to it. That's just the way construction crews act. I guess we think it's expected. But I need you on this job." Michael considered it. He liked the construction job and was good at it. "I'll stay as long as I can, but I won't tolerate them talking about her again. So if they do, then I'm going to react." The foreman nodded. "Done." Michael nodded. "And Guerity, tell your girl not to come around here. I need my men working. Now get back to work." Michael nodded, but he was focused on the the foreman's words....."tell your girl"..... His girl. If he had anything to say about it that's what she'd be. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Wait, he got angry and told you to leave?" asked Kyle, as he held a sobbing Isabel in his room off the kitchen. "I... told him... I loved... him.... and he said.... to.... get out of here," said Isabel between sobs. Kyle couldn't understand it. "I'm sorry. I really thought he'd be glad. I'm sorry." He wanted to kill Michael and if he got the chance he would. "What do I do... now? I can't.... take it.... back.... and I can't .....be around him.... now. I'd feel too.... humiliated," said Isabel, wiping at her eyes. "I don't know. But it is going to be okay. I promise." "Like telling Michael... I love him... was going to be... okay?" Isabel pulled back and took a deep breath. "I can't... go to work... tonight and see him. I need to... call... in." "You can stay in here until he goes to work if you want. Then you won't have to see him," said Kyle as he handed her the phone. And while Isabel called in sick, he planned how he wanted to make Michael pay for hurting Isabel. Later that evening......... Michael jumped out of the truck he always caught a ride in. "Thanks," he called out, waving as the guys drove away. He'd thought they'd be pissed at him after what happened, but they were cool. A few had even said they hoped that someone took up for their wives and daughters like he had for the blond. He hurried in to the house and to Isabel's room. She wasn't there. Just as well. It would give him time to clean up. He entered his bedroom and found Maria sitting there in her waitress uniform. "What are you doing home?" he asked as he pulled off his shirt and headed for the bathroom. "Do you love, Isabel?" Michael came back out of the bathroom. "What?" "You heard me. Do you?" She hadn't been mad. The question was asked quietly and she sat waiting for an answer. Michael wiped his face. "Yeah. I do." Maria nodded. "I thought so." She stood up. "How'd you know?" Maria smiled, but it was a sad smile. "You treat her like you never treated me. You listen. You spend time with her....and you say her name in your sleep." Michael blinked. "Wh...what?" "You say things to her in your sleep about how much you love her." Michael closed his eyes then looked at Maria. "Maria, I'm ....I'm sorry. I had no idea. I didn't even realize until today that I even loved her." Maria nodded. "I know." They stood looking at one another a minute before Maria said, "I guess you'll be moving into her room." Michael shrugged. "I don't know what's going to happen." "We did love one another once....didn't we?" asked Maria. "I mean we didn't fight all the time did we? We had good times too?" Michael nodded. "Yeah, we did." "And this won't make things...weird?" "I hope not," he replied. Maria nodded. "Go get your shower." Michael nodded and started to turn away, but then hugged Maria to him. Maria held on to him then pushed him away. "Go. Shower. You smell." Michael nodded and went to get ready then to find Isabel to tell her he loved her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michael came out of his bedroom and went back to Isabel's. But instead of finding her, he found Kyle. "Kyle? What are you doing in here? Where's Isabel?" "Close the door." Michael didn't understand what was going on and he wanted to find Isabel, but he figured he wasn't going to find out where she was unless he did as Kyle requested. "So I'm guessing you want to talk to me," said Michael. Kyle stood up. "You're a real bastard, did you know that?" Michael blinked. "What'd you just say to me?" "You heard me. I told you not to hurt her and you did." His anger was barely under control and Michael could see it was taking all Kyle had to restrain himself. He started to panic. When Isabel came down to the the site he thought everything was okay again though he still didn't know what the problem had been to begin with. Now she was upset with him again? Why? What had he done now? "Look man, I don't know what I've done to upset her, but I thought when she came down to the site today that everything was okay. If you know what's been upsetting her then tell me!" "You know what's upset her! I can't believe you're going to stand there and pretend you don't know! The way you treated her when she came down there today! Getting angry with her! Come on! I mean do you have any idea what it took for her to go down there and do that?!" Kyle was furious. Michael began to understand. "Wait, she thinks I'm mad at her for coming to the site?" Kyle just glared. "Well yeah I wasn't mad at her. Those guys are ass holes and I didn't want her treated that way by them." Kyle looked confused now. "Okay, what about what she told you? You weren't mad about that?" Michael looked surprised. "She told you?" Kyle nodded. "Well yeah. She had to talk to someone. She has this thing that destiny isn't meant to be or something like that. I told her to tell you, but I guess that was a bad idea." Michael rolled his head back and looked at the ceiling. That damned destiny thing again. He looked at Kyle. "I don't believe this. Does everyone else know?" Maria knew. Kyle knew. He wondered if Max and Liz knew too. "No, not that I know of." "I've got to find her, Kyle before she goes to work." "So do you love her?" asked Kyle. "I think that's between me and Isabel. Where is she Kyle?" Kyle shook his head. "She's hurting man. If you're just going to hurt her more then leave her alone." "KYLE!" Michael took a breath. "Tell me where she is....please. I'm not going to hurt her again." Kyle seemed satisfied. "She's in my room. She called in sick so she won't be going to work." Michael nodded as he headed for the door. "Michael!" Michael turned back. "What about Maria?" "She knows. Seems she knew about Isabel before I did." He left a surprised Kyle in Isabel's room debating whether to go and console Maria. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michael knocked on Kyle's bedroom door before he entered. Isabel was looking out the window at the rain that was beginning to pour down. "Did he leave yet, Kyle?" Her voice sounded so broken and it hurt Michael to know he was the cause. "No. I'm still here." Isabel whirrled around and looked at Michael. "Wh-what are you...why aren't you at work?" she asked, as she quickly rubbed at her face. "Why aren't you?" Isabel moved towards the chair. "I wasn't feeling well." "I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?" Isabel shook her head. "I just need to be alone." When he kept standing there Isabel finally asked, "Did you want something?" "Yeah." "Well?" She couldn't endure the humilation much longer of having him look at her with pity. He walked over to where she stood and pushed her hair behind her ear. "I wanted to tell you that I love you." Isabel blinked and looked into Michael's eyes. "What?" she whispered. "I heard you today, but my boss was yelling at me at the same time. It just didn't sink in what you said until later." "What?" Her heart began to pound. "I love you, Isabel. I don't know when it happened, but I do. I'm sorry you thought I didn't care when you told me you loved me too." Isabel felt her knees began to give and she sank into the chair. "Isabel?" Michael sank down on his knee beside her. "Say something." She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face there. Michael stood up pulling Isabel with him and hugging her tight to his body. "I love you, Michael." Michael looked into her eyes as she pulled back and then he did what he had only done in dreams. He kissed her gently as his hands wandered her back pulling her closer. When they broke for breath Isabel asked, "This is for real? Us? We're really ...." "Together? Yeah. No dreams this time. Who'd a thought," he said kissing her again. Isabel lay her head on his shoulder and asked, "What are we going to tell everyone?" Michael pulled her over to Kyle's bed and sat down, pulling her on to his lap. "Well the only ones that don't know are Max and Liz. Maria and I already talked. She figured it out already." "Was it bad?" Michael shook his head. "No. Actually it was fine. But I don't want to talk about them right now. I just want it to be you and me," he told her. He kissed her again and Isabel turned so that they fell back on the bed. "What about work? You're going to be late," said Isabel breathlessly. "It's my day off," Michael told her as he kissed her hungrily. Hands began to wander and caresses became bolder as Michael and Isabel sought skin under clothing. Then Michael abruptly pulled back. Isabel looked at him confused. "What?" "I don't want this to seem....like....I don't know. Like this is all I want," Michael told her. Isabel looked into his eyes and smiled softly. "I know, but I feel like we've waited forever as it is. Two life times, you know." Then she blushed. "Why are you blushing?" he asked as he rubbed his finger along her cheek. Isabel closed her eyes and tilted into his touch. "I...I just realized how that sounded is all. Like I was throwing myself at you." She opened her eyes and looked deep into his. "You're my best friend and I ...." She didn't know how to explain it. Michael smiled. He understood perfectly. " You're right. We have waited two lifetimes. And I don't want to wait anymore either." He bent to kiss her again. So while the storm raged outside, inside friends turned lovers found what they had dreamed of all their lives in one anothers arms. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next morning........ Max and Liz opened the door to their bedroom and stepped outside to head to the kitchen breakfast. At that same moment another door opened next door and Kyle stepped out holding his shirt and shoes. "Kyle?!" gasped Max and Liz. Kyle stood there a moment then grinned as he headed for the kitchen as well. "Don't mind me. I'm going to grab some food and head on out to work." The door opened again and Maria stuck her head out. "Kyle!" she whispered, not seeing Max and Liz standing nearby. "You forgot your....." and she held out a pair of boxers. Kyle blushed and hurried back for the boxers. "Thanks." "Maria?!" Maria jumped at the sound of Liz's voice. "LIZ! How long have you and Maaaxxxx....it's not what you think! He just spent the night and left those in the bathroom!." She blushed. "We have to have a long talk, Maria," said Liz grabbing her arm and heading back into Maria's room. Max continued down the hall wondering where Michael had slept last night and how he felt about Maria apparently sharing her room if not her bed with Kyle. And where was Michael? As he entered the kitchen Kyle was on his way out, a piece of a poptart hanging out his mouth. From behind him, Max heard voices coming from Kyle's room and he slowly approached the door. "Mmmmmmichael......yeeessss....mmmmmyeessss....dooooonnnnnn't stoooooooop.......oh gawd......" Was that Isabel moaning..... Michael's name?! He slowly turned the knob and cracked open the door then quickly shut it again at the sight that greeted him. He walked dazed back into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Liz walked in and saw him and said, "Max, what's wrong?" He looked up at her and gestered towards Kyle's room. Isabel's cries grew louder as Michael's joined her's then both abruptly quieted. Max paled and covered his ears. Liz wrapped her arms around him. "Poor Max. You heard something you shouldn't have didn't you? Isabel and Michael?" Max shook his head as he looked at her. "Saw them. I saw them." Seeing Isabel and Michael together making love would be forever burned into his brain. He shuddered. Then he became aware of what Liz said. "You knew?" Liz stood up. "I just found out from Maria. How do you feel about it?" Then quietly she said, "I guess destiny was right for them after all." That disturbed her. Then that must mean Max was supposed to be with Tess after all. Max pulled her back down to his lap. "I don't know how I feel. Happy for them, I guess. Confused because I didn't know it was going on. I guess it will take some getting used to. But I still feel like my decision was right for me." Liz kissed him. "Right answer." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michael panted as he pulled Isabel to him. "I'm going to die a very happy man," he gasped. Isabel struggled to catch her breath while she playfully tapped his chest. She'd never experienced anything like this with Jesse. She and Michael had been making love for hours now and each time was more intense the last with no sign of Michael letting up. Not that she was complaining. She was happy. Happier than she ever thought possible in her life. Michael tilted Isabel's head up and kissed her mouth, his tongue seeking her own. He rolled over on top of her and nuzzled her chest as his knee sought to seperate hers. "Again?!" "Do you mind?" he asked, pausing. Isabel opened up to him as she drew him to her. "No. I'll never mind." Michael kissed her softly as he entered her. "I love you, Isabel. I love you so much." Isabel smiled, tears falling from the corners of her eyes. "I love you too, Michael. I love you too." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A few months later......... "We have to go!" said Max one afternoon after he hung up the phone. "Go?" asked Liz, from the sofa where she sat putting on her shoes so she could go to work . Then her eyes widened as she took in the look on Max's face. She slowly sat up. "You mean....go," she said softly. "Max, what's going on?" asked Isabel, from where she sat reading a magazine. Michael came to stand behind her. "Max, what's going on?" he asked. "That was Kyle on the phone. He spotted the Special Unit at the Burger Palace." Isabel blanched and dropped the magazine as she stood up. "They're here?" Michael's arms went around her and she held them tight with her own. Michael could feel her heart pounding beneath his hand. It matched his own. Their safe bubble had just burst. "How? How did they find us?" asked Maria. She and Liz were getting ready to leave for their shift and now they just stood staring at one another. Max shook his head. "I don't know, but we have to get out of here. Grab only what you need and as much food as we can get in the van that won't perish. We're going to pick up Kyle at the store on Freemont." He looked at Liz then at Michael and lastly his eyes fell on Isabel. He took a steadying breath as he fell back into his role as Leader. "Let's get moving!" Isabel turned in Michael's arms when the others left and clung to him. "Michael!" Michael hugged Isabel tightly to him, kissing her brow then her lips. "It's going to be okay. I promise." He lowered his hand to the barely detectable swell of her belly. "I won't let anything happen to either of you." Isabel's hand covered Michael's and she nodded as she forced a tremulous smile. Michael was scared. In all the times they had run from the Special Unit he'd never been this scared. But then he'd never had a family to protect before either. Fighting the Special Unit with Max and Isabel was something they had done for so long now it was second nature. Isabel could hold her own and had proven it time and again. But now he found himself fighting to protect her and their child, and that made everything different. They were his responsiblity. To lose them meant losing his heart and soul. "We need to go. We'll be leaving soon," he told her, as he gave her another kiss. They ran to get what little belongings they had and met the others at the van. Eveyone looked at the house where they had been so happy and sadly closed the doors of their new van. They quickly made their way to pick up Kyle and Max then drove them out of town. In the back Isabel lay her head on Michael's shoulder. They were on the run again. She lay her hand on the slight pooch of her belly and sighed. This wasn't any way to raise a child, but they had no choice. Just last night she had felt the first flutterings and she and Michael had shared their dreams for their child. She sat up straighter. Her mothering instinct kicking in. She would protect her child whatever the cost and give it a normal life if she could. No one was going to hurt her child or Michael while there was breath in her body. Suddenly a peace washed over her and she knew in her heart that everything was going to be okay. All of them were going to be okay. Michael kissed the side of her brow as he caressed her arm. She looked at him and he smiled at her reassuringly. She knew he was worried. Not just for himself, but for her and for their child. Isabel smiled back. "We're going to be okay, Michael. I can feel it." Michael studied her a moment then nodded as he kissed her again. Her smile grew. She looked at Max and Liz and at Kyle and Maria. She was going to grow old with Michael and have lots more children and they were going to grow up with lots of friends and family. Another new life was just down the road and nothing would stop them from having it. ~End~