Chapter Twenty Six I don't know when Michael came to bed last night, or if he did at all. When I got up he was lounging on the couch in those boxers with his laptop on his lap. I was wearing that pretty nightgown and I sat next to him. His eyes were red and the dark circles underneath were not that attractive. I touched his forehead and he looked at me. Too much was going on behind those eyes. "Are you …Okay?" I leaned over and kissed the corner of his mouth. He shook his head. "I don't know." Was he sweating? "I can't find the last piece. It doesn't make sense." Piece? "Can I help?" He shook his head again. "I'll find it, but I need to work." His fingers flew over the keyboard. He turned his full attention to the screen in front of him and I watched as he bit his lower lip. I got up and walked around the apartment not knowing what to do. I wanted to go next door and see if Kyle could come out and play, but that didn't seem like a good idea. I sat at the kitchen table and thought about Tess. Michael had said she was one of them. He had been right all along. They did look human. I mean, really freaking human. There was nothing to give her away physically. A fear of being set up crossed my mind, but why would Michael set me up? And for what? I rolled my eyes at myself. I had to hold true to Michael. He was all I had. He said Tess was an alien, then so help me God, Tess was one. I couldn't worry about her now; there were other things I had to consider. I got a soda and sat back down. Time to think, you're not stupid DeLuca. Get it together. Michael's been in New Mexico before and apparently has a friend here. His father was going to tell him something that might make him want to leave Section, except there is no way to 'just' leave. His father was an alien-enthusiast who was targeted by Section so the cartoon characters could take over. Hmm…Seemed irrelevant to this situation. Michael was raised at Section, his real parents were no where to be found. He was a virgin. Okay I don't know if that really had anything to do with it or not either. He burned my past to protect me. He'd die to protect me. He chose me from a sea of people to help him. He saw something in me no one else did. I fell into the right crowd almost too easily. He could have never predicted that Kyle and I would get along, though. I mean I didn't like Isabel, Max or that Liz at all when I first met them. Still didn't like that Liz and Max, well, he was just a perv. But I think Isabel and I have become real friends. Michael couldn't have known any of this would happen. And Tess, the true alien, I've not bonded with her at all. Damn! I looked at the wall clock, almost ten. Better than noon. I sauntered back into the living room. "What are we doing today? We don't have much time left." "I know!" He snapped then relaxed a bit. "I'm working on it." He tapped the computer screen. "I'm sorry. Let's just hang out here today, okay? There's nothing left to do out there." Nothing left to do? "So it's Tess and Kyle and our covers are blown and we're going to leave town with the aliens and go back to Section?" He met my eyes but didn't answer. Damn! I knew that plan sounded entirely too easy. He went back to work and I went back to bed. I dozed off and on the rest of the afternoon and settled on watching TV in bed. Michael came in the bedroom sometime after dusk and told me he had ordered a pizza. Had he heard my stomach growling all the way in the other room? I wrapped a sheet around me over my pretty nightgown and went into the living room. "Make any progress?" I asked trying to sound nonchalantly; but I doubt it worked. He nodded and grinned. Holy shit! A really big happy grin! I guess everything was good again. The light dancing in his eyes warmed me. Everything really was going to be okay. I could feel it deep inside and it was warm. All the doubts I had in Michael were fading like yesterday's news. I felt a new sense of hope looking at him. "I need you to pack, okay?" He drew me into him and hugged me. "I promise you that everything's going exactly how it should. I'll tell you everything as soon as I can, you still trust me?" "Always," I lifted my head towards his and met those full lips for a kiss. A kiss of new beginnings and happy endings. The pizza arrived and we ate in front of the TV, just like a normal couple. He had slipped on jeans and that Braves hat to answer the door and I found him looking even sexier. I know, I didn't think it was possible either. I on the other hand looked like I was going to a toga party. My ears perked up when I heard noise in the hall. I heard Kyle swear and a thud and I smiled. Michael watched me but I didn't like the undercurrent of his gaze. Damn! Kyle. Michael didn't say anything and I didn't ask. I don't think I wanted to know. After dinner I put on clothes and began to pack. Michael had stashed some suitcases in the closet at some point and I filled them, leaving out just enough clothes for tomorrow. I wanted to take everything in the apartment with me but I knew I couldn't. I thought about it and hoped I wasn't going to have to live my life on the run. Maybe staying at Section wouldn't be too bad…Riiiight. It was after midnight when Michael and I went to bed. He held me tight against his nakedness, but there was nothing sexual about tonight. I mean, there was always something sexual going on when we were together, but it wasn't overt tonight. Tonight we snuggled with the promises of ending this thing. Did I feel like an alien hunter? No, I felt like a woman in love with a man. Aliens? I still didn't know that much about them and I don't know if I wanted to. If they lived happy normal lives like Tess and Kyle, then why hunt them? Neither of them seemed to be a big threat to the world. Hell, what was Kyle going to do? Have a drink and laugh people to death? Or Tess, over-color everyone's hair? Maybe alien hunter wasn't the correct term for me. Maybe I was more like an alien finder and letter-goer. Kind of like catch and release? I slept soundly and when I woke up in the morning Michael was already awake and packing. I watched him pack and wanted to yell 'I love you' at him. I had told him once and he had not said it back. The more I thought about it, the more it hurt, but I could see it in his eyes. He'd never been in love before either; this was a new for both of us. He caught me watching and ambled back to the bed. He slid under the covers next to me and kissed me. "Sweet Maria," he mumbled behind my ear. Deep down I knew we were never going to stay in this bed together again. Another bed? I didn't know, but I hoped. Hoped? Hell I was praying. I couldn't see myself without Michael anymore. "What now?" "Today we clean up around here, pack and then tonight we go see the band." You have got to be kidding me? All this cloak and dagger bullshit and his big plans were to see a fucking band? Oh God. Maybe Michael was a freaking alien, because he wasn't making a bit of human sense. "Are you crazy?" "No," he said slowly. "Our cover's been all but blown in our faces. Max and that Liz know we're not siblings, I think Kyle does too." I sat up and pulled the sheet tight across my chest. "I don't know what Isabel and Tess know, but you're sure Tess is a fucking alien and now you want to hang out with these people?" I thought about telling Michael what Kyle had said to me. Stay away from Max. Have Michael take care of me. It had to be that Liz and Max was protecting her. Somehow Isabel and Alex must be caught in the crossfire. It was Tess, Kyle and that Liz. I knew who the aliens were. It made sense now. Kyle telling me stay away from Max. Of course, he's going to marry one of them; he'd protect her. And Tess, well, that's what Michael said. And Kyle, from the beginning I always thought everything pointed at Kyle. Damn. I was an alien tracker. Yeah, I liked that better. I think I could spot an alien a hundred yards away now. "We need to go tonight, Maria." I heard the urgency in his voice and knew this was about a lot more than seeing a band play. We were back to life or death and I was scared. We cuddled and played, but nothing serious, for the rest of the morning. By late afternoon Michael was showered, shaved and looked hotter than hell in black pants and a white T-shirt. I slipped into the bathroom to take a shower for the big night watching the band. Woo-hoo. I wondered if I'd ever understand what the hell was going on around here. * * * "Are you one?" Michael was holding the barrel of the gun to Kyle Valenti's temple. Kyle was sweating and on his knees in his apartment. "Tell me." "I don't know what you're talking about." He managed to get out the words painstakingly. "Asshole." "Answer me Kyle," Michael cocked the gun and dug the barrel deeper into Kyle's skin. "I have to know. Are you one of them?" Kyle shook his head. "Fuck you." Michael took a deep breath. "Maria really likes you and I don't want to hurt you. I can't tell Kyle, is it you?" Kyle squeezed his eyes shut. "Fuck you." "Damn it!" Michael pulled the gun back and slammed it into the base of Kyle's skull. He stood and let out the breath he didn't know he had been holding. He looked to Kyle's motionless figure on the floor and felt a surge of guilt. * * * Michael looked different when I got out of the shower. Something dark was looming over him and I didn't like it. He didn't want to meet my eyes and that bothered the hell out of me. I dressed in jeans and pink baby tee. I thought about wearing a bra but then decided against it. If this was our last night hanging out with the freaky alien gang, then I might as well be myself. I didn't like playing someone else. "Ready?" I asked and straddled Michael as he sat in a chair. His hands flew to my breasts and within seconds were underneath the fabric. My nipples said hello to him as they always did and I wanted to grind into him. He raised my shirt and his mouth went to my flesh. I could feel the heat from him and now I was hot. I arched my back and he followed, supporting me up with his hands while his mouth wreaked havoc on my sex drive. I wanted to strip down and ride him right there on the chair until we were both screaming. He pulled me closer to him and met my mouth; one hand went back to my breast and kneaded and then pinched my nipple. He ran his finger over and over that hard nub until I thought you could hang something from it. He pinched and pulled some more then went to work on the other one while his mouth stayed with mine. I felt him unbutton my jeans and his hand slid inside. I felt those agile fingers working their way inside of me and I knew I couldn't take it. I wanted out of those jeans and now! I pushed myself down on his hand and I felt like I was on top of the world. I couldn't take his magic and I had to move away. I knew if I didn't move away now, my clothes and his were coming off and we'd never leave. I smiled as I felt the blush creep up my neck. Damn! "We better go or I'm going to attack you." I pulled my shirt back down. He stood and looked at my face, then my breasts. "You are the most incredible and the sexiest woman in the entire world. Remember what I said about wearing bras? Please, disregard. Something's were not meant to be harnessed." He tweaked a nipple through the shirt and I laughed. I can not believe he actually tweaked me! I grabbed his hand and we walked out of the apartment. I started across the hall to Kyle's but Michael pulled me back. "He's already gone. I heard him leave earlier." I frowned and he walked me to the car and I noticed Kyle's car was still there. Michael opened my door for me and let me in, who said chivalry was dead? We drove to the bar and parked in back. It was dark with only a small light above the receiving door. I got the creeps back there and held on tightly to his hand. I dropped his hand before we walked inside. We spotted the table right away and made our way over there. Michael sat next to Tess and I sat next to Isabel. Max leered at my chest, but what was new? That Liz rolled her eyes at me and I wanted to slap her. I looked at Max and he was now looking at my face. I didn't like the look and wish his attention was back on my tits. I turned to Isabel and she looked strange. She was acting guarded and I didn't like that either. Oh shit. This was it. This was the final showdown, wasn't it? Human versus alien? Whoever's left standing wins? Isabel offered me a weak smile and I took it. She glanced at Michael then back to me; our eyes locked. What I saw in her eyes was frightening. Every inch of my skin erupted in gooseflesh. I looked around for Kyle. "Where's Kyle?" "Not here yet." That Liz answered and looped her arm through Max's. "He said he was coming with you guys." I looked at Michael and felt sick. Kyle's car had been in the parking lot at the flat and he wasn't here with anyone so where the fuck was he? Was Kyle already gone? Shit! Chapter Twenty Seven Michael didn't meet my eyes and I guess that was a good thing otherwise he might have seen the worry and contempt. I didn't like what was going down around here. Not at all. With Michael determined to be here and now this…Awkwardness. This party was going to have an explosive end and I really hoped no one got hurt. Well, except maybe that Liz… "So, you two left the party pretty early last night." Max smiled and suddenly I didn't like that smile all that much. "I didn't even get a chance to say good-bye," Tess pouted. But I caught, and I know Michael caught, that split second glance to Max. Approval. Shit! They were playing games and I think they were winning. Hopefully we'd be able to pull out the trump card. "I got sick." I blurted out and got the approval glance from Michael. Good Maria. "Felling better, I take it?" That was Max. Man, he was really pissing me off. "Much." I think my voice wavered on that part. I mean we were outnumbered four to two; but we had experience and training on our side. We could take them; unless Tess and that Liz whipped out some alien mojo on us. "I wonder where Kyle is…?" Isabel looked longingly towards the door. Her sweet sad voice changed the tone at the table. "He promised…" Shit! I knew something was seriously wrong with Kyle now. Damn it! Where the hell is he? God, I hope Michael--No, I can't think that way. Michael would have told me if he was sent to Section, right? Even though he knows how much I like him, even if he is an alien, I don't care about that anymore. Damn, I needed to talk to Michael alone and I saw no opportunity of that coming up anytime soon without being totally obvious. I offered Isabel a shrug and her smile back to me was weak. Man, if having friends means having to hurt them, maybe I was better off alone. Alex's band took the stage and thankfully all attention was turned to them. I checked everyone's face as they watched and smiled at the stage. That Liz, doesn't she ever smile? Max had a dazed look, like he was watching the band but his mind was a million miles away from here. He started to turn his head and I shifted my eyes to my lap. Score one for DeLuca. When I thought it was safe to look up, my eyes went to Tess. She was clapping along with the music and now I found it hard to believe that she was an alien at all. She acted more like a pre-school teacher. But Michael was so sure, damn! I met Michael's eyes and couldn't see what he wasn't trying to say. I know there was something in that look, but I didn't get it. I was hoping it was either a 'everything's okay' look or 'I love you so much and I'd die without you' look. Wishful thinking on my part. I looked at Isabel next to me, her adoring eyes on her beloved. I could see how much she loved him and it made me all warm and fuzzy inside. I really liked Isabel; I hoped she wouldn't hold it against me when we turned her friends in. Right, like we'll still be buds after this is over. I rolled my eyes at my stupidity. I sipped my club soda and did an inventory around the table. No one was drinking anything stronger. Preparing to fight? Man, not having a good feeling about this at all. I tried to catch Michael's attention, but he was in the process of lowering his head to Tess. I watched as she cupped her hand over his ear and talked in to it. I would have given my left lung to know what she was saying. I wasn't even paying attention to the band anymore. I didn't even hear the music. My mind was replaying too much history and trying to capture every suspicious nuance of the people sitting with me. I clapped when I noticed everyone else was. A sweat had broken out on my forehead and between my breasts. I hoped no one noticed. Okay, I hoped Max didn't notice because he's the only one who had his eyes permanently fixed on my tits. Alex joined our table minutes after the applause had stopped and it was nice. His good-natured attitude seemed to put me, and the others, back into a neutral state. I don't know exactly what it was about him, but having him around was kind of like carrying around a little bit of sunshine in a cup. I knew why Isabel adored him. He kissed Isabel and then greeted each of us at the table. His lightheartedness seemed to blanket us all; well, except for Michael. He sat there with his arm around the back of Tess's chair with a severe look in his eyes. I guess no one else caught that subtlety, but the others hadn't been studying Michael as much as I have been. Or had they? Argh! I managed to ignore Max and that Liz as much as possible. I looked everywhere except at them. Which was actually hard when those were the two people who were constantly staring at me. I finally met Liz's eyes. I didn't see the contempt anymore, or the fear. I saw a woman who was getting married to the man she loved. Oh God, what was I turning into? I think I now hit all all-time 'Lifetime Movie' low. I willed my eyes shut before I could go on. When I opened them back up that Liz was still looking at me, but the contempt was back now. Okay, I still didn't like her. I think I'm going to disregard everything else I thought about her in the last minute as well. Momentary slip. Alex left the table and went backstage and I looked at Isabel. The smile she had on her face a few minutes ago was gone. The melancholia was back and I wanted to cry. She looked so sad and worried. This was not going to end well. If I thought I had a chance in hell, I'd jump up and run like the wind out of the bar and out of Roswell. Well, I might take a second out to grab Michael by the hand first and maybe on the way out of town make him tell me he loved me. I shuddered and my attention went to Max. He wasn't leering at my tits; he was actually watching Tess with my Michael. Jealousy? Nope, not a chance. He was making sure she was doing everything right, I think. That hardly made any sense though; I mean she was hanging on Michael now, and I swear if those pink pouty lips of hers came anywhere near Michael, I was going to have to bitch slap her back to whatever planet she came from. Whoa, those pink pouty lips were nearing their way to Michael's now, damn! I watched as Michael deflected smoothly and I wanted to jump up and do the wave. I guess Michael knew better. Either that or he didn't feel like listening to me bitch for the next two weeks. I had put my claim on Michael and come hell or high aliens, I wasn't letting him go without a fight. Even with a fight, he was mine. The band began to play again and I was sucked back into oblivion. I couldn't keep my eyes on any one person. They flicked from Michael to that Liz and then Max and then back to Michael. I looked at the stage and smiled as Alex seemed to play only to Isabel. That was true love. Isabel didn't take her eyes off of him and I wanted to reach over and hug her and tell her I was sorry. Was I sorry I met her? God, no. Her and Kyle were great and they were good friends and I was going to take Kyle away. Damn! Being an alien tracker was entirely no fun at all. I tried to concentrate on the band and found that I could actually do it. They covered a few songs from the eighties and I noticed I was bopping my head. I had to pry myself away from a fantastic rendition of 'Send Me an Angel' back to the problem at hand. I slyly cast my attention to Michael; he was staring back directly at me. He gave me a small nod. Okay, I must have missed what the fuck that nod was supposed to mean in training because all I could do was raise my eyebrows in confusion back at him. He licked his bottom lip and gave me a slight smile. I went back to watching Alex and thought about how lucky Isabel was. They'd been sweethearts since high school and one could almost feel the love between them. I tried to think Michael and I might be like that one day. When the band stopped playing I might have been the one who was clapping the loudest. Alex rejoined us and slammed down a beer he had brought with him. He got absorbed in Isabel and they left the rest of us to fend for ourselves. Alex's band was done for the night; I realized that when I caught the time across the table from Max's Indiglo watch. It was after one and the bar was closing soon. I couldn't believe that we'd been there for so long and still no Kyle. I noticed Isabel had gotten up a couple of times and I wondered if she had tried to call him. I guess she would have said something if she had gotten a hold of him. Shit! Max stretched and stood up followed by his lap dog, I mean, followed by that Liz. They said their goodnights and left. Tess was right behind them, which seemed incredibly odd to me. Why hang on Michael all night when you're just going to get up and leave with that Liz and Max? Isabel and Alex said their goodnights to us and Isabel hugged me. Her body was tense and the look on her face when she backed away from me told me I should run. Not because I was scared of Isabel, I was scared in general. I slid over into Tess's vacated chair and looked at Michael. "What the fuck is going on here tonight?" "I don't know," he shrugged and ran his tongue over his lips. Damn! Why does he do those kinds of things in public? That is so not fair. "You about ready to go?" "What?" I stared at him and I know my eyes were as wide as flying saucers. "That's it? We pack, we're ready to bolt outta town and you have this hard-on to come see this band tonight and now we're just going to go home?" "Maria." If he thought just by saying my name I was going to give in, he had another thing coming. "No. This is crap!" I kept my voice low, but the whisper was harsh. "You have to tell me what the fuck is going on now. Seriously. I can't take it. Plain and simple, all this mystery around you and your reasoning is driving me up a fucking wall. We know it's Tess and Kyle and I think it's that Liz, too. Kyle. Where is Kyle tonight? Do you know?" I got pissed at myself for not asking that first. He really was important to me. "I'm sure Kyle is fine." Was that a flicker of something strange going on in those pools of mystery? "Where the fuck is he?" I demanded, my whisper becoming harsher. I didn't care that people were beginning to stare at us. I had to know if Kyle was really okay. He wrapped his hand around my forearm and I got 'the look'. "I will make the biggest fucking scene in the history of making scenes in public if you-" "He's okay." He said it quietly and quickly shaking his head. He let go of my arm and I got the feeling that I won this round. "Maria, he's okay." "Really?" He nodded. "Kyle is fine." He looked over his shoulder. "Now seriously, are you ready to go?" "This is still not an explainable night," I shook my head. I had butterflies in my stomach, and not the good kind. "Do you promise me Kyle's okay?" He nodded. "It's almost over Maria. Tonight didn't quite work out the way I planned, I'm sorry I dragged you here." He sighed and took a long drink of club soda. "I thought…Never mind what I thought. They were all playing games tonight. I didn't think…Damn!" He slammed his palm down on the tabletop and about scared the crap out of me. "Out time's almost up and we're going to have to go. I don't want to go without knowing--Without finding out. I can't, Maria." I saw the urgency in his eyes and heard it in his voice. This was so much deeper than a stupid mission for Section; this was also a quest to tribute a beloved and missed father. I could understand that, hell, I even admired that. But now time was up, the fat lady was getting ready to sing and I didn't think I was going to like her song. Disappointment flooded those urgent eyes; God, please don't let that be defeat. I hated defeat! "It's not over yet Michael." I shook my head vehemently. "I'm not done here. I told you I'd be the best damn alien hunter ever, and I will. Tell me what to do and I'll do it. I'll bring them in for you bare-fucking-handed if I have to. Tell me Michael. Tell me what to do." He reached to me and took my hand. He brought it to his lips and apparently we didn't care if anyone was watching. "I knew when I first laid eyes on you that you'd be the one." I wanted to cringe thinking that he was going to go into that I was 'the one' spiel again. "You'd accept me for who I was and you'd do everything you could to make this mission a success. You didn't fail Maria, if anyone did, it was me." Uh-oh. "What do you mean? It's not over yet." He nodded. "Almost." He ran his hands through his hair in that sexy way he does. "Looking back, maybe I should have told you everything up front." Double uh-oh. "Michael…" "You know what they say about hindsight." He laughed and it fell somewhere between bitter and pathetic. "I did what I thought I had to and now…?" "Now what? What happens now, Michael?" I snapped. "You give up? That's not the Michael I know and love." Damn, I did it again. "You know it's Tess and Kyle and I think it's that Liz. Why else would Max act so strange if it wasn't to protect her?" He only looked at me. "They all just left, and Kyle isn't around, right? Let's go get them and take them in to Section. Then we can call it a wrap and be done with this. We can move on to something else." He met my eyes and I didn't like this look. We weren't moving onto something else. This was it, the end. "Oh shit." He took my hand again and stood up. He draped his arm over my shoulders and kissed my cheek. "Let's go Maria." He kissed my ear and sighed. "My Sweet Maria." The dizziness I normally got when he called me that was no where to be found. He hadn't said it the way he normally did, or maybe I just hadn't heard it that way. I heard a big fat defeat imbedded in there. "It's not over Michael. We can still win." He nodded halfheartedly as we walked from the bar. The parking lot was almost empty as we rounded the side of the building. I looked towards where our car was parked all by itself now with that stupid pale light from the back of the building casting a sickly glow over the shadows. I got the goosebumps before I felt my blood run cold. I stopped walking as did Michael, our attention in front of us. There were five figures around our car and I could identify them even in the dark. Isabel, Alex, Tess, Max and that Liz. Shit! There were waiting for us. I hoped Michael was armed. I slid my arm around his waist and knew there was no way he could be concealing anything anywhere. We paused and broke free from each other. Michael stepped about five feet away from me. I'm sure that was some kind of tactical movement, but I wanted him closer. "Incest is best?" Max laughed and looked at Michael. "Put your sister to the test?" Oh shit. I looked at Michael and was surprised to see him smile. Man, what the hell was going on? I looked to that Liz and Tess and both of them looked kind of nervous. My eyes flew to Isabel and Alex and I saw fear in her eyes. Alex stood close in back of her with his arms wrapped around her waist. I stared at her until she met my eyes and I tried to convey we were friends. She nodded, although I wasn't convinced. "What are you doing here?" Max called switching his attention back and forth between Michael and me. "Where's Kyle?" I stared blankly at him. I didn't want to tell him we were here for the aliens and I really didn't know where Kyle was. "Maria, is he okay?" That was Isabel and my heart broke. I wanted to tell her everything was okay and to make plans to go shopping the next day; but I couldn't do any of that. Not anymore. I had an obligation and I to fulfill it. "Isabel…" God, I couldn't even get further than that. "Please," she wiped her eyes. "Is Kyle okay?" I nodded and prayed that Michael hadn't been lying to me about that. If he was, he was going to get to know my fist extremely intimately. I watched as Isabel's body sagged against Alex in relief. I took a deep breath and caught movement from Tess who was standing on the other side of the car, closer to Michael. Max had moved to in front of the pony resting his ass on the hood. "I thought we might have had something," Tess said and I felt sorry for her. I actually heard the hurt in her voice. She looked to Michael and, oh shit, please don't tell me that was a tear? "Shut up Tess." Max spoke without looking at her. I stood with my hands on my hips and my legs spread looking at Max. "Don't tell her to shut up." I said it before I thought, what's new DeLuca? I looked at Michael with his raised eyebrows and questioning smile. "Well, let's see what else she says and how many more lies these two can come up with." Max stood straight and faced me. Man, I hoped this wasn't going to turn into a Roswell version of Smackdown. "Tell me, what are you doing here and what you want." I looked at Michael but he was looking at Max. Shit. I didn't have a reasonable answer to give him. If I had a gun, I think my trigger finger would be itchy. I had thought the tension inside had been thick, it was nothing compared to what was going on out here. This was going down like an old western; all that we needed now was a horse and a hooker… "Maria!" That was Kyle's voice and it was coming from the side of the building. "Look out!" Oh God. We all turned in the direction of his voice and then saw what very well could have been my very own personal nightmare. Standing in the shadows of the sickly light against the building was that red-haired bitch Rena. It was bad enough that she was there, but she was holding a gun and it was pointed only at me. I froze. I don't know what anyone else did, I don't think I cared. She was gunning for me and me alone. "Operative DeLuca." She called to me. "You're time's up and I offered to personally come down here and remove you from our payroll." I really thought I was going to wet myself. I was shaking because I knew this really was the end of the line. No more aliens and no more Maria. "What are you doing Rena?" Michael asked and stepped towards her. "Don't move a fucking muscle Guerin," she trained the gun on him for a second, probably for effect. She wanted to make sure we all knew who was in charge. "I have orders, you come with me or you're history." "What's going on?" I heard Max ask from in back of me. I didn't dare turn around to offer an answer. No one else answered him either. I saw Kyle walking towards us and my heart leapt. He really was okay and he might have saved my life! No. No way in hell was he getting turned over to anyone. They'd have to go over my dead body. Wait, let me rephrase that… "So," Rena waved the gun to the crowd in back of us. "This is what you came up with? A bunch of yuppies. Glad to see Section's money hard at work. I'm surprised at you Michael. Section was your life and you blew this ludicrous mission and your future with Section all for a slut like her?" A slut? Now I was pissed. I looked to Michael, but his eyes were cemented on Rena. I glanced in back of me and saw Isabel, Alex and Kyle. Isabel was holding his hand. I met each of their eyes and knew they were scared. Probably not as much as I was, but scared either way. I looked over to the other side and saw Max, Tess and that Liz had stepped closer together. I wonder whose side they were going to be on. "Stand down Rena," it was Michael's authoritative voice. "I'm still your superior." "A few things have changed since you've been down here playing house," she laughed. "I'm now your superior and you stand down!" She pointed the gun back at me and I looked down to my chest. Oh God, there was a red laser light on my shirt right over my heart. My body began to tremble and I looked at Michael and whispered, "I love you." "I told you what I'd do to you if you ever came near her again," Michael's fists were balled up. I don't know exactly what happened. I saw Rena tense as she fired the gun. Michael was in front of me and there was bright flash of light that came from where he was, I think. He lunged with his arms outstretched towards Rena and hit the ground at my feet. I looked to Rena and she was slumped against the building, the gun a few feet away. What the fuck was going on? I saw Max run towards her and pick up the gun. Then I looked down to Michael and I screamed. His tailored white T-shirt was blossoming with bright red blood over his chest. He had been shot. Oh god, no! I fell to my knees and cradled his head in my lap, tears rolled down my face. His eyes were partly open, but they closed as he spoke. "I love you Sweet…" I screamed as I held his motionless body. Chapter Twenty Eight I knelt over Michael, my cheek on his bloodstained chest. I was hysterical. I couldn't control the sobbing, I didn't want to. If Michael was dead, then I hoped someone one would shoot me in the head and end it all right now. I didn't want to live without him. I wouldn't live without him. Everything was moving in slow motion. I rubbed my hands on his face and touched his lips. The lips that said…No! I couldn't handle this. It wasn't fair! I became slightly aware of the others still around, but they didn't matter to me. The only thing that mattered was bleeding. I ran my hand over his chest and felt the small hole in the T-shirt. It couldn't end like this. It wasn't meant to end like this! I felt people moving closer to me and I wanted to scream at them to leave us alone. Maybe I did, I didn't know what the fuck I was doing. I felt hands on my arms pulling me off of him. I looked through tears to my left and it was that Liz. I turned to my right and it was Isabel. They were both talking at me or to me but I couldn't hear them over my own sobs. I felt hands on my shoulders and I knew that was Kyle. He knelt in back of me and pulled me into him away from Michael. Isabel was yelling at me and I couldn't hear her. All I could hear were those words I had longed to hear. 'I love you,' he really did love me and now it was too late. I felt the sting across my face and didn't know or care what it was. Isabel's face came into focus and I felt the stinging again. She had slapped me. Isabel had slapped me. Twice. "Maria!" She yelled. She took my face between her hands and forced me to look at her. I couldn't turn away from Michael; but with enough force I did. "Are you here to hurt us?" I only stared at her. What was she talking about? I didn't want…Us? I couldn't even form a complete sentence and people were asking me inane questions. Michael was bleeding, he was dying, maybe he was already dead; I couldn't tell and she was asking me questions. "Maria," Kyle's voice was in my ear. "Help us help Michael. Talk to her." He squeezed my shoulders and kissed the top of my head. "Please Maria, tell her." I looked to Isabel and shook my head. "Michael…" "Are you here to hurt us?" Isabel screamed at me and I saw that she was crying too. Those big fat tears were streaming down her face. "Damn it! Answer me!" "Maria!" Kyle rubbed my shoulders and I must have heard the urgency in his voice. "No," I sobbed. "I'll never hurt anyone." Isabel took a deep breath and looked in my eyes. She saw the truth in them and physically pushed me away. They pulled me away from him a few feet. I fought as Kyle and that Liz held me away from my fallen lover. I kicked and screamed and bit at them; but they didn't let go. I watched as Tess came over to me and kneeled at my side and held my hand. Through the tears I saw Max standing close to where Rena was, that gun was still in his hand. That horrible gun that had shot my Michael. Maybe he was with Rena and was going to turn the gun on me next; frankly, I welcomed it. The rationality of this whole thing was eluding me. I couldn't get past blood-soaked Michael on the ground. His perfectly fit T-shirt was ruined; his hair was out of place. His expression wasn't normal. Nothing was normal! I tried to fight my way up again and felt the force of Kyle holding me back. I was strong and I was crazy and I knew it was going to take a hell of a lot more than a couple people to hold me back from getting to Michael. I turned and bit at the hand holding my arm, I tasted the coppery flavor of blood and met that Liz's eyes while my teeth sank deeper in her skin. I let go of her and thought for sure she'd hit me or something, anything! But she kept her grip on me and didn't let go, her blood trickling down on to my T-shirt. I tried to pry my hand out of Tess's but her tiny grip was astronomically strong. I started to swing with my other hand then felt it being held away from me, it was Alex. Hell, this was beginning to look like a group hug. A group hug in the eye of my nightmare. I turned my attention back to Isabel and watched her as she knelt next to Michael. Her knees against his side. I didn't know what the fuck was going on. Unless she had a handy set of forceps in her pocket, I had no fucking clue what she was going to do. I didn't think she had ever mentioned she'd had medical training before, but I couldn't put whole thoughts together either right now. All I knew was I had to get to Michael. I had to hold him and stroke his pretty face. I had to tell him he's the only one who knew all my secrets and I couldn't lose him. I had to tell him these things. I had to tell him I loved him. I heard words reverberate in my head; 'I'll die to protect you'. Michael had told me that and now he was proving it. That bullet was meant for me. Damn it! "Let me go," I said it as calmly as I could through clenched teeth. Maybe if I kept my cool they'd let me go to him. Damn! Why wouldn't they let me be with him? He needed me! "No." It was Kyle in my ear. "Stay here Maria, you can't help." "Like fuck I can't," I strained my neck up to see him. "Did you call an ambulance? Did anyone fucking call for help?" I heard my voice raise as some slight coherency sank in. Michael was lying there either dead or dying with a fucking bullet in him and no one was doing anything. I hated each and every one of them. To let him die here in the back of a bar parking lot; no one calling for help, no one caring. "Call someone! Please!" "Wait Maria." It was Tess this time. "Trust us." Trust? I couldn't trust anyone but Michael and Michael…Damn! I looked at her blue eyes and saw her tears. I begged to her, "call. Please." I was sobbing again. My body sagged as I watched Isabel. I suddenly sat up straighter as I felt an electrical current inhabit my body, my soul. I gasped and then sat up as far as they'd let me. I felt my now stringy hair being pushed out of my face. It was that Liz doing it with her non-bleeding hand. Oh God… I turned my attention on Isabel, from where I was I could see her profile and the soles of Michael's black loafers. I sat up straighter until I felt the crush of Kyle holding me down; but I could see more. It was actually more than I needed to see. I saw Michael's face. His beautiful face. So still, so lifeless. Isabel raised his shirt and the blood, oh God, the blood on his perfect chest. The way I used to look at it, I'd never be able to again. All I'd remember about his chest was the blood. Isabel was running her hands over his skin; her fingers were coated with his blood. Her eyes were shut and I wanted to scream at her. She had no right to touch him like that. That was for me and me only. What the fuck was she doing touching him like that? "Iz," Max was standing next to her, I didn't even know how long he'd been there. She looked up at him but kept her hands on Michael's chest, slow circles. "I don't know…" "I do," She turned away from her brother and I was confused. She closed her eyes again and lowered her head. She kissed Michael's forehead and slammed her hands down on him. She looked towards the sky with her eyes wide, her hands perfectly still over his heart. "Stop!" I screamed and fought to get away. The four people holding me down were now too strong for me. My adrenaline rush was almost over and the shock was taking over. "You're hurting him!" She was hurting Michael even more and I couldn't understand it. Not Isabel! No! Nothing was working out right. Nothing. All I could hear over and over in my head was 'I love you Sweet…" He never even got to say my name again. I'd never hear him say my name again. I begged God to take me there with him. Let me be happy in the next life because without Michael in this one, I had nothing worth living for. "Stop!" Either Isabel didn't hear me, ignored me or just didn't care. Isabel didn't look at me and she didn't stop what ever the fuck she was doing. What I saw now was the movement underneath her hands. I saw the rise and fall of Michael's chest. Isabel lifted her hands from him and sat back on her butt. She tucked her knees under her chin and clamped her arms around them. Alex let go of my hand and went to her. I watched in amazement as Michael struggled to sit up with his bloody chest exposed. I felt Tess drop my hand and that Liz let go of my arm. Kyle released his grip on me. I took a deep breath and then scrambled over to Michael on my hands and knees. "Michael…?" I cautioned as I neared him. He looked dazed and then saw the blood on his chest. He looked to me and I fell into his arms. "I thought you were dead!" I sobbed against his face. "I love you, God, I love you so much!" "Maria," he wrapped his arms around me and I felt his breath on my cheek. "I love you." I didn't know what the others were doing; probably watching. I didn't know what the fuck had happened but now I knew we had to get him to a hospital. I ran my hand over his bloody chest looking for the wound, but there wasn't one. Whatever had made Michael bleed was gone. There was no bullet hole there. There was nothing but the smooth expanse of his perfect chest. But I saw the way he fell when the bullet hit him; I saw the blood… I pulled his shirt down and sure as shit, there was a hole in it. I met his eyes and I think I might have actually been starting to put two and two together and not get seven. I looked over my shoulder at Isabel. She met my eyes and smiled through her tears. She held her hand out to me and I clasped it feeling Michael's blood in-between our palms. Isabel had saved him. It was Isabel; she was an alien and she had saved Michael's life. I looked up to Max and knew it was him, too. I didn't care anymore; human or alien, these people were my friends, guardian angels and heroes. I let go of Isabel's hand and went back to Michael. "Are you okay?" I asked through new tears. He nodded and looked past me to Isabel. "Thank you." She nodded at him and reached for his hand the same way she had mine. I could feel the energy coursing through Michael when they touched. Wait. The light that had knocked Rena on her ass. It had come from where Michael and Michael alone was. What kind of light was it? And what about Rena? There was more strangeness floating around now, but none of that mattered anymore because I had Michael back. "Rena," Michael looked over his shoulder towards the dropped Rena. "Is she alive?" Max nodded with cautious eyes. "She's still breathing if that's what you're asking. But I don't think she's going to wake up. Ever." "What happened to her?" I asked and looked back and forth between Max and Michael. I felt a familiar hand on my shoulder and knew it was Kyle. "Are you okay?" I asked him looking up totally forgetting about Rena. He nodded and motioned towards Michael. "Nothing a few aspirin can't fix." Michael smiled in return and I was as lost as ever. "What do you want me to do with her?" Max asked motioning to Rena. Was he asking Michael? Isabel answered instead. Okay, maybe he had been talking to her. "Wait, Max." Wait? Wait for what? They didn't know what was going on with Rena, they didn't know about Section. We just couldn't call and have her body picked up. I felt Michael wrap his arms around me and I sunk into his embrace. He kissed my lips and wiped what I presumed was his blood from my face. His blood…Oh God. I was slowly becoming aware of what may be happening. I don't think my brain was able to make the connection. Turning around I looked at Tess, Max and Isabel. The true aliens. Then I looked at Michael and saw the same. Oh shit, I think my boyfriend is an alien. That's when I passed out. Chapter Twenty Nine When I opened my eyes I saw entirely too many faces around me, staring at me. I centered my attention on the one that mattered. Michael. I took a deep breath and thought about what a fantastically horrible dream I'd had. Holy shit! I sat up fast and got an instant head rush. That wasn't a dream I had. That was fucking real! Isabel, Max and Tess were the aliens. I looked at Michael, and so was…I felt faint again and laid back down on an unfamiliar couch. I put my arm over my eyes and tried to collect my thoughts before I met the crowd again. Fuck it. I sat up and looked directly at Michael. "What the fuck is going on?" Michael sat next to me on the edge of the couch. "Maria." "Yeah," I felt like I was on stage. I looked around the room and recognized Isabel and Alex's place. Okay. Now I knew where I was but I still didn't know what was going on. "Why are we here?" I looked at Michael and noticed he was wearing a different shirt. One of those black tailored cut ones, no bullet holes and no blood. He looked like he'd showered too. Damn! How long was I out? "We brought you here when you passed out," Isabel smiled at me and took my hand as she knelt next to the couch. "We were worried about you." Passed out? I did pass out. I passed out right after I came to the conclusion that Michael was an…Shit! My mind reeled and I wanted to throw up. I stood and on shaky legs made my way down the hall to the bathroom. I got on the floor and did throw up in the bowl. But it wasn't like a drunk hurl, I did not feel better afterwards. I stood and stumbled the few feet to the sink and leaned on it. I looked in the mirror and realized I looked like shit. My hair was a mess, my eyes were bloodshot and my skin looked unnaturally pale. I was wearing a different shirt too, it was mine, but I didn't know where it came from. My face was clean when I knew there should have been blood on it. Someone had cleaned me up. I turned on the tap and splashed my face with lukewarm water. I found the toothpaste and brushed my teeth with my finger. Not glamorous but necessary. After taking a few deep breaths I opened the bathroom door and walked back into the living room. I tried to put on an air of confidence, but I'm sure that came up short. Considering everything, I'm positive it came up way short. I sat back on the couch in-between Michael and Isabel. Alex and Tess were in chairs in front of the couch and Kyle, Max and that Liz were on the floor. Instinctively I glanced at that Liz's hand where I had bit her. Nothing. I felt woozy again. "I'm sorry I bit you." I didn't meet her eyes. I was sorry I bit her, but I had other things on my mind when I did it. "It's okay," that Liz said and if I would have been looking at her I think I would have seen her smile. I nodded and took deep breaths. There was going to be a lot to digest and I didn't know if I was up for it or not. I didn't look at Michael now and when he tried to take my hand, I pulled away. I didn't meet his eyes. I couldn't. Not now. "Rena?" I asked absently directed at Max. Why I picked him? I don't know, but I didn't want to look at Michael. Why'd I ask about her first? Because that was something I could deal with. "She's gone," Max met my eyes and there was no perversion. Bonus. "Gone where?" "Let's just say she's gone for good." Max smiled at me I think I might have liked that smile a little again. Just a little, though. "She won't be back." I nodded and accepted it. I figured I was going to have to do a lot of accepting here pretty soon so I might as well start with the easy stuff. The big stuff I wasn't sure about yet. "Okay," I nodded. "So." I didn't even know where to start. I raised my head and looked at Kyle. I saw Michael looking at me out of the corner of my eye but I just couldn't. "Kyle, Are you okay?" I know I asked him that before at the parking lot, but I had to hear it again. He was my friend and I cared. "I'm fine," he smiled and I wanted to cry. "I'm really fine." I nodded and waited for someone to say something. Anyone. It was becoming obvious that this was going to have to be a Maria generated conversation. I pulled at the hem of my shirt. "This is my shirt. Where did it come from?" "Our suitcases," Michael said softly. Oh. I could hear the hurt in his voice, but I couldn't deal with that yet. I didn't know quite how I felt. Given the circumstances I think it was pretty damn good that I wasn't running out of the room screaming. I didn't understand everything and part of me really did want to bolt. I began to reevaluate my situation as I slid back into this new reality. I looked to the corner of the room and sure as hell, our suitcases were there. "Why are they here?" "I brought them." Kyle said slowly his eyes flickering between Michael and me. He paused long enough to probably get the approval nod from Michael. "Michael asked me to…in…the…note..." Oh. Yeah, this was making less and less sense. I'm sure the others all had a fine time catching up and filling in facts while I was blissfully passed out. Nice. "Maria," Isabel took my hand in hers and it was warm. "I know you have a lot of questions, trust me, so do we." Say what? "Really?" She nodded. "We haven't been here all that long." She must have caught on to my annoyance. At least someone did. "We haven't had a lot of time to talk. We were all pretty worried about you. Michael took a shower to…" Oh yeah, she didn't have to finish that sentence. "I cleaned you up and we were all just waiting around for you so we could figure everything out." "What's to figure out? I thought everybody here already knew what the fuck was going on except for me." I didn't mean to snap at her, but I had to at someone. Right now Isabel was one of the last ones I wanted to snap at. "I don't know if I can even believe any of you." I wanted to look at Michael for the last bit, but that would be giving in and Maria DeLuca did not give in. "Maria," Michael said my name softly and my brain fought with my heart not to face him. My brain won. "I'm sorry." Sorry? I wanted to laugh but knew that would totally not help anything whatsoever. Instead I ignored him and actually scooted closer to Isabel. I needed some space right now. "Thank you for cleaning me up." She nodded and I think she felt sorry for me. I know I did. "So Max, when you say Rena is gone for good. Do you mean she's dead?" Max nodded. "She's been taken care of. That's really all you need to know." He shrugged. "For now, I guess." "Okay," I nodded. "How are you going to convey this to…You know?" I directed that question to Michael but I still didn't face him. "I'm working on it. I should be able to hold them off for a few days," he sounded so sad. Damn! "We have her laptop here and I can hold them off for a few days using her passwords." He knew her passwords? Nothing like being kicked when you're already down, huh? I nodded and felt like throwing up again. This was not the way I pictured this ending. I wanted answers; at least I think I did. But those answers might not be the ones I want to hear. Michael…I didn't know what to feel about Michael. A couple of hours ago I would have died for him, hell, I was willing to die because I thought he did. Now, I didn't even want him to hold my hand. Was I scared of him? No, I don't think fear was exactly it. I was more like really fucking pissed off. I felt lied to and used and I couldn't even get into the whole 'I had sex with an alien' concept. I shuddered involuntarily. "Maria," Isabel's voice had an almost calming effect on me. It was nice. "I guess you know what we meaning me, Max and Tess are. Right?" "Yeah. Don't forget him," I pointed to my lover beside me and I think that came out very bitter. I had a right to be bitter. "I know, I saw what you can do and Max is your brother, so.... Tess? That's what he told me." I motioned to Michael again and shrugged. "I could feel it in Tess and Isabel," he sighed and I know the expression on his face was pained. My heart broke but I didn't cave. "I knew it was Isabel when I first met her. Tess when I got to know her. I couldn't tell about Max, I thought you had been right about Kyle. You told me they were adopted, that didn't mean they really were brother and sister." "You thought I was an alien?" Kyle laughed but was ignored by everyone. Well, everyone except me; I had to smile. "True siblings," Isabel smiled past me at Michael. I didn't want anyone smiling at Michael right now. I know I sure as hell wasn't going to. "Why are you here? What's Section? I heard the dead woman say something about it in the parking lot. Is that who you work for?" Uh-oh. I didn't answer her, but I don't think it was my place. This was Michael's game, let him play. "We did," Michael said and the bile in my stomach was on its way back up. "I can't tell you much more about it, it's classified." "Who'd you lead here to us?" Max asked sitting up straighter. "Just Maria and myself. And Rena, but she's not a problem anymore." Michael answered. "This was my show, I ran it the way I wanted to. That's why there's only the two of us." "I don't think I understand." It was that Liz and for once I agreed with her. "Why did you come here for some organization if you are…One of them." She nodded towards her fiancé. Oh God. I jumped up from the couch and high-tailed it back into the bathroom. Once again, still not feeling better after throwing up. I ambled from the bathroom to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. "Looking for something?" Isabel leaned over the open door. I looked up and tried to smile. "Something to settle your stomach?" I nodded and let her pour me a glass of lemon-lime soda. I sipped it and leaned against the counter. "Thank you. For everything." I buried so much into that thank you the real reason was almost obliterated. "He's just like you are, pretty much." She smiled. "We all are." I had to look at her again. I mean really look at her. She was an alien. I was standing in her kitchen talking to her and she was from outer space. "I didn't believe him when he told me I was going to be an alien hunter…" Bad choice of words; I cringed as she paled. "That's not true, though. I'm not Isabel. I promise." "That's why you came here?" She smiled bitterly. "To hunt us?" I nodded slowly. "That's why I was told to come here. But that's all wrong now. Michael is…He's one of you. I guess this was the only way he could find you…Fuck! I don't know Isabel. I don't know anything." I felt those stupid tears sliding down my cheeks. I turned away from and set my glass down. I felt her behind me and I turned back to face her. Her sweet smile and open arms I stepped into and hugged her. "I'm sorry…" She stroked my hair. My nasty hair. "You have nothing to be sorry for. If you're not here to hurt us, which I know you're not, then there's nothing to be sorry for." "I lied to you, I lied to all of you!" I cried. I hated having friends that I cared about. "Maria," she forced me to look at her. "I've been lying to everyone my entire life. You do what you have to do to survive." She was right. Oh God, was she ever right. "Thank you." I let out a deep breath and tried to get myself back together. "Did you know about Michael?" She shook her head and smiled slyly. "No. I mean there was something about him that made me crazy, I mean, I was just drawn to him. Kyle already told me you know about that." She laughed. "I just thought it was good pheromones or something. I never imagined in a million years he was the other one!" The other one? I raised my eyebrows at her in question. "Other one?" She bit her lip. "I should wait and tell Michael first. Maria, I know you're mad and confused. I think we all are. Can you come back in the living room and we'll get this straightened out?" I thought it over for a minute and then asked for a favor before we went back. I followed Isabel and watched as she whispered in Alex's ear. He nodded and took Isabel's place on the couch while Isabel took mine next to Michael. I sat where Alex had been. I didn't want to be so close to Michael. Isabel was right. I was mad and confused; but most of all I was hurt. Chapter Thirty "Maria," Michael said my name softly when he saw the new seating arrangements; I still held my ground. He couldn't suck me in with those eyes. Not yet. "Kyle, what note?" I asked ignoring Mr. Guerin. "He left a note in my apartment when he knocked me out," Kyle smirked but I didn't see the humor in it. "He knocked you out?" I asked feeling my blood pressure rise. "Are you serious?" "Well, that was after he held the gun to my head." Kyle laughed and I know he was trying to make light of an extremely non-light situation. "It's okay Maria. He explained it in the note." I finally looked at Michael but I don't think it was the kind of look he was expecting. Maybe glare was a better description. "Do you have this enlightening note by chance?" I turned my attention back to Kyle. He handed me a folded piece of paper form his pocket. A-ha! The infamous note. I read it with shaking hands. 'Kyle, I'm sorry I knocked you out. I had to know the truth and I saw in your eyes that it wasn't you. My time is up and I can't have interference. Your loyalties run deep, you were willing to take a bullet for them, so I need you to stay away without warning them and this is my only option. We're not here to hurt anyone. When you wake up, go in Maria's apartment and get our suitcases. You know where to find us. I'm putting as much trust in you as Maria has. Don't let her down. Michael.' I read it again and handed it back to Kyle. Okay. Still not a good reason to knock him out. My fury with Michael was getting heated. If we were alone I would be screaming at him. Maybe. If this had happened yesterday I would have. Today? New rules, the old ones didn't apply anymore. "You didn't know it was me?" Max shook his head. Michael shook his head. "I had a strong connection with Isabel right away. I had to break through something in Tess to know for sure with her. You? Not a clue." "Max," Isabel reached down and touched her brother's shoulder. He looked up at her and nodded. "Michael, we never thought we'd find our fourth. We always knew there was a forth, but…Anyway, why the undercover stories? Why'd you lie to…Everyone?" She looked at me and I wanted to kiss her. Finally, someone was asking the questions I wanted answers to. "I had to," he exhaled deeply and then ran his hands through his hair. "The only reason I'm even here is because of my job, the one I can't talk about, I had to get here under false pretenses to find you. All of you." "How did you know we were here?" Max asked and I found myself intrigued. "My father. Well, the man who raised me." Michael tried to meet my eyes but I deftly avoided them. "Let's just say he was an alien-enthusiast. He was obsessed. I always knew I was a little different, but I didn't tell anyone. I didn't have anyone to tell, actually. One day he caught me opening a locked door with my hand and it was like a party." Michael smiled and I could tell the memories of his father were happy. "He made me promise never to tell anyone and that he'd explain everything someday. He died before he had the chance. I had to go by his notes and literary collections." "So you never knew for sure?" Tess asked. She had been so quiet I almost forgot she was there. Michael shook his head. "No, I had an idea, but never confirmation. Right before he died he wanted to tell me things. He said they were important and life altering and would make me want to leave my job…" "Quit your job?" Alex asked confused. "That's not actually a big deal. People do it everyday." "Not this one. Once you're in, you're in for life." Deep breath. "I think he was going to tell me I was an alien." Hearing those words come out of Michael's mouth was throwing me into an internal tantrum. "He knew," Isabel said her eyes wide. "How did he find you? How did you end up with him in…Where?" "Washington D.C. He said he was on a trip, an 'alien adventure' he liked to call it, down here. I was about four when he found me in a juvenile facility. I had nothing. No name, no family, nothing tying me to anyone. I think what happened was he bought me. He bought me and gave me a name and a home." "That's incredibly sad," Isabel shook her head. "Max and I lucked out and were picked up on the side of the road by our parents. Tess's story is similar to ours. None of us had to go through any of that." "I don't remember much actually," he smiled at her. "I had a good childhood. I'm glad you three did too." Max shook his head. "We've been to where we came from." He must have seen my mouth drop. "Not the planet, but where we crashed on Earth." He smiled and I even caught a giggle from that Liz. Okay. Better. "It's in the desert. We can take you there…"Tess offered and got the approval nod from Max. "If you want to see it." Michael nodded enthusiastically. "I don't understand why you just didn't tell us you were one of us." Max shook his head. "I didn't know about you until last night; only the women." Michael smiled at Isabel then Tess and I'll be damned if Tess didn't blush. "I had to be sure, you know what I mean. What if I would have walked up to one of you last week and asked if you were an alien. What would you have done? I would have been vaporized where I stood." He smiled and I think he tried to make light of it. "True," Max agreed. "So you and Maria infiltrated us. You became our friends to get to the truth; not because you're alien hunters." Isabel smiled. Michael shot me 'the look' and I ignored him. If he was all Mr. Secret man, then I could be Ms. Tell-All Secrets woman. All's fair in love and …Damn! Love. I thought I knew what it was when I fell hard for Michael. Now I wasn't so sure. I mean I still cared for him and didn't want to see him get hurt; but something had changed. "Alien hunters?" Kyle asked and looked at me before laughing. "Oh God! That's one of the funniest things I've ever heard!" I kicked his back and frowned. "What's so funny? I was good at my job. I found them right away." "You thought it was me!" He started laughing so hard tears rolled down his cheeks. I had to laugh with him. When Kyle laughed, you had to go along with it. Soon everyone was laughing. I guess if you really looked at, they were laughing at me, but that was okay. I didn't mind. I accidentally looked at Michael and saw his laugh was bittersweet. Yeah, well, a lot of things were bittersweet for me too. Tough shit Mr. Guerin. You made your bed, now lie in it! "So now what?" Isabel asked as the laughter died down. "I mean, can you stay? Can you and Maria both stay?" She looked at me and I knew I had true friend. It didn't matter how we had found each other, but we had and we were friends. "No." Michael shook his head and didn't look at me. No surprises there. "We'll have to move on." "Why?" Kyle looked like someone just ran over his dog. "We'll be hunted. Not for this…" He waved his hand in the air. "It's because of what we do." "Where are you going to go?" Tess asked anxiously. "You can't just leave. We just met! There's so much you don't know!" "She's right." Max said and looked at Michael. "There's more to this that just being able to do things." "I bet there is…" I mumbled and regretted it instantly. All eyes turned on me and I wish I had kept my big mouth shut. I didn't need the attention now. I needed it when Michael and I were alone. Later. "Sorry." "Aren't you even curious about anything?" Max asked looking back to Michael. "I mean…We've had years together to figure things out and you've only had a few hours." "Of course I'm curious, but I also want to stay alive." He ran his hands through his hair and I was starting to think that was sexy again. "Now that I know the three of you are here I don't feel so alone." Okay. Major blow to the Maria-ego. I thought I was the reason he didn't feel alone anymore. I argued with my emotions and the strong side won. Do. Not. Cry. I looked at him and he gave me a weak smile. Not good enough. My feelings were beyond hurt and I wasn't sure if they could be repaired. "How long can you stay?" Isabel asked softly and glanced in my direction. "We should be gone by tomorrow night. It's safer that way, for us all." Michael didn't look at me but if he thought I was going anywhere with him tomorrow night he was high. "Tomorrow we'll show them the pod chamber," Max conferred with Isabel. "He should see that." Pod chamber? Okay, that's one place I really didn't want to see. If I thought about my boyfriend being hatched out of a pod I don't think I could ever even look at him the same way. I was having a hard enough time doing that now. "Are there more…Like us?" Michael asked I could tell it was hard for him. "No, we don't think so. We had pretty much given up on our forth. You'll know what I mean when you see the chamber." Max explained. "It's just the three of us, well, four of us now." He reached to Michael and clasped his hand. "There's a lot of history that we found out about. Some through memories and some through visions." "From the…Home?" Michael's interest was piqued and I felt ill again. Max nodded. "Most of it isn't relevant now. We're not leaving this planet, ever. There is no way to get home even if we wanted to. We have lives here and we're staying. We're just normal citizens with a little extra." He laughed and drew that Liz into him. "This is our home." Michael nodded and I watched him. I could almost swear I saw the relief in his actions. He had wanted to find them but he didn't want to go away. Well, that was a good. Right? I glanced at the watch on Max's wrist. Holy shit it was almost four in the freaking morning! I yawned; but if I hadn't known what time it was I doubt I would have. "Maria's go the right idea," Kyle yawned to and I think I set off a chain reaction. "Let's wrap this up for tonight and we can reconvene on the 'otherworldly pow-wow' tomorrow. You know, when I don't have a killer headache and Maria has had time to digest what's going on. Plus, Michael should rest from being Lazarus." "He was never dead," Isabel corrected. "But you're right. I'm beat too and my dear Alex looks like the walking dead." Max and that Liz stood up and I was surprised when that Liz stopped in front of my chair. She held out her hand for me to shake and I did so cautiously. I had a feeling she might sink her teeth into it. "You made me nervous." She said. "I didn't mean to seem like such a bitch, but well, I can be one. I guess I usually am one." She smiled. "But, no hard feelings. Okay?" I nodded. I still didn't care for Liz all that much, but she had taken the first step and that gave her some character. At least it did in my book. Max and Michael were huddled together and eventually they embraced. Wow. Did not see that coming. "You and Michael stay here tonight," Isabel stood next to me. I nodded and watched as Max, Tess and Liz left. Kyle gave me big hug when he got up and I hugged him back even tighter. "I don't want you to go. I feel like I found a part of my family too." I looked in his eyes and smiled. "Me too, Kyle. Me too." I kissed his cheek and watched him leave. "We have a guestroom down the hall," Isabel pointed and looked at me. "I'll be fine on the couch, thanks." I stood up and stretched. "Maria," Michael stood next to me. "I have to talk to you, don't push me away." "I don't have anything to say to you right now, okay?" My voice was shaky, but I didn't care. I hope he knew how he made me feel. I wanted him to know how much he hurt me. He nodded in defeat and followed Isabel down the hall while Alex brought out pillows and blankets for me. I rummaged around in my suitcase and laid my hands on that stupid yellow nightgown. Without thinking about it twice, I stripped and put it on. Suddenly I wasn't the Maria DeLuca I thought I had been yesterday. Yesterday I was the one who was on top of the world. Today I was the one who it just crumbled on. |
| PARTS 26-30 |