I Know You See Me Watching You

By: Juliet

E-mail: ExAstraAmor@aol.com

Rating: PG/PG-13

Category: Alternate Universe M/L

Summary: An alternative Pilot - What if Max had saved Liz’s life without revealing he was an alien? Would she still realize she loved him, or was that revelation prompted by his admission of his not-of-this-earth origins? That question has been floating in my head for awhile, and eventually it got turned into a fic.

Spoilers: As long as you’ve seen the Pilot, I think you’re safe.

Disclaimer: I own a jeep, a dog, and approximately fifty bucks. I also have my debts. But hey, you can have those for free! You don’t have to sue me if you really want them. Roswell is owned by Jason Katims and Melinda Metz, and I wouldn’t dream of doing anything to them. Jason Behr, on the other hand...

Author’s Notes: I love feedback ( feed the beast ) but if you flame me, chances are I will simply ignore it. If you send me constructive criticism I will most likely sulk for awhile, then grudgingly admit that it will actually make my fic better, use it, like the result, and send you a happy email. Yea! I’m constantly changing and improving my stories from feedback I get, so they may differ slightly when posted on different sites.

***

Max Evans gazed over the top of his best friend’s spiky head. He absently stirred his Cherry Coke with a straw, not really noticing that Michael Guerin was trying to hold a conversation until a hand started waving in front of his eyes. He reluctantly tore his gaze from Liz Parker’s face and focused on Michael’s exasperated expression.

“What?”

Michael sighed. “You know, Maxwell, there are lunch leftovers in your fridge. Hell, there are lunch leftovers in my fridge. Leftovers. As in free food. So explain to me why we’re sitting in a tacky, crowded tourist trap, wasting our cash when we could be sitting on the couch, eating last night’s takeout and watching football.”

Max’s gaze drifted back over to Liz, almost mesmerized as she turned her head sharply at something Maria DeLuca said, causing her long, dark, shiny hair to brush lightly against her perfect face. She glanced over her shoulder, catching his eyes. He felt a flush rising in his cheeks and quickly averted his gaze. Now she probably thought he was some kind of stalker, always staring at her. He just couldn’t help it. Every move she made captivated his attention and left him entranced. He looked back at Michael, who looked even more irritated than before.

“We’re here because I wasn’t in the mood for leftovers. You didn’t even complain until we got here. Then you jumped all over me.”

Michael glared at him. “I didn’t complain because, for all of three minutes, it slipped my mind that Miss Scientist worked here. And I forgot that whenever Miss Scientist is around, you become an stuttering, blushing, drooling shame to males everywhere.”

“Okay, fine. Let’s go. But I’m warning you, I’m out of hot sauce. We just finished the last package.” Max nodded to the two empty bottles on the table. Michael smirked, producing a third, mostly full bottle from the pocket of his jacket.

“Let’s get outta here.” He was about to stand when an ear-splitting shriek pierced the air of the already noisy cafe. Maria DeLuca stood, white as a sheet, as the two men at a table she had been serving leapt to their feet, arguing at the top of their lungs and waving their arms. Before Max could blink, the shorter man had drawn a gun.

The effect was instantaneous. Every customer dove for cover. Max ducked under the table, dragging Michael down with him. He quickly scanned the diner, looking for a possible escape route. His heart stopped when he saw Liz, frozen in place, behind the counter, a deer-caught-in-headlights look on her face. The gun clicked from safety to armed.

Before he knew what he was doing, Max was out of his seat and sprinting across the diner, even as the impossibly loud crack of the gun firing tore through the air. He hit Liz in a flying tackle, knocking her to the floor as the bullet sliced past their heads. The cafe erupted in screams as a second bullet shattered the row of dishes on the shelf above them, raining them with shards of glass. Liz’s eyes were wide and stunned as she clung to his shoulders while he covered her head with his hands. He winced as the broken shards of china bit into his back. Luckily he was lying almost on top of her, so most of her body was shielded beneath his.

Sirens sounded in the distance, and the two arguing men beat it. Michael’s anxious face appeared over the top of the counter as he leaned over, helping Max to his knees. Maria had collapsed in Liz’s lap, sobbing out of fear. Liz watched him silently.

“Are you okay, Liz?” He studied her face closely. She didn’t seem to be hurt. Liz nodded. He slowly got to his feet, with help from Michael, blanching at the renewed pain in his back and shoulders. Suddenly he was bombarded by people and questions, cameras flashing in his eyes. He looked at Michael helplessly.

“Give me the keys. I’ll get the jeep.” Max nodded and yanked the key ring out of his pocket. Michael took off through the crowd, shoving and fighting to get to the door. At the sound of gunshots, the cafe had filled with people, and word was spreading about the boy who saved the waitress from being killed. Abruptly, a hand landed on Max’s shoulder. Jeff Parker smiled shakily down at him. The older man eased himself into a booth and pulled Max down beside him as the fiercely intimidating kitchen staff handled the retreating mob. Max studied the scratches on the Formica tabletop.

“That was a very brave thing you did, son.”

Max looked up, startled. “Sir?”

Jeff leaned forward and put a hand on Max’s shoulder. “Max, you saved my daughter’s life, at great risk to your own. Frankly, I have no idea how to thank you.” Max swallowed.

“You don’t need to thank me, sir. Anyone would-”

“No one else did, Max. That’s my point. If you hadn’t hit her, she...she might have been killed.” He swallowed hard. “That isn’t something you can just shake off, son.”

They were briefly interrupted by Jose, the cook. “Everyone’s out, boss. Are we closing early today?”

“Of course, Jose. You and Maria can close up and take the rest of the day off. Make sure you get all that glass off the floor. I don’t want another accident.”

Jose mock-saluted him and turned to leave, then looked back at Max. “Hey, you’re the guy who saved her, right? Nice job, dude.” He slapped Max on the back and strode away. Jeff caught Max’s flinch.

“You’d better come upstairs so we can fix up your back, son,” he said.

“That’s really okay, sir. I have a friend coming around with the car. My mom will take care of it when I get home.”

Jeff looked at him shrewdly. “It’s your parents’ Clovis day, remember? I’ll have Jose direct your friend upstairs when he gets here. The one with the hair, right? Mitchell?”

“Michael, sir.” Max corrected. “And thanks.”

***

Nancy Parker met them in the front hall, and a woman closer to hysteria Max had never seen. Jeff looked slightly alarmed, quickly hugging her and assuring her that Liz was fine, the cafe hadn’t exploded and only eight dishes were broken. Max shuffled his feet awkwardly and shoved his hands into his pockets, edging slowly into the background. Jeff caught him.

“Nancy, honey, why don’t you go make some nice hot tea. I think we all need some calming down. Maria-” He looked toward the sofa, where Liz was lying with her head in Maria’s lap. Both girls looked up. “I need you to go help Jose close up. Make sure you get all the glass off the floor. After that, you’re free to take the rest of the day off.”

“Sure, Mr. Parker.” She dropped a kiss on Liz’s cheek and stood up. “I’ll call you later, chica.” Liz nodded.

“One last thing. Liz, would you go find some antiseptic cream and help Max treat his back? That falling china cut him up pretty bad.” Liz disappeared into the bathroom for a first aide kit while a considerably calmer Nancy directed Max into Liz’s room to wait for her.

***

The room smelled of her. In every corner, on every surface, there was the faintest trace of strawberries and a scent that could only be pure Liz. He glanced around. No one but Liz could live in this room. She was mirrored on everything, from the neatly made bed to the desk that was free of any loose paper. Something caught his eyes, and he leaned closer. It was a photo, a snapshot taken of Liz and an older woman who could only be her grandmother. It was amazing how much the two looked alike. It was the eyes, he decided. The dark, chocolate eyes that were lit with a kind of inner fire.

“Max?” He spun around quickly, almost losing his balance. Liz was framed in the doorway, less the five feet away. He reddended slightly.

“I was just...” He waved his hand, indicating the photo. “Who is that?” Liz’s face lit up. Immediately, he was spellbound. It was as if a candle had been lit inside her head, the way her face was glowing.

“That’s my grandma Claudia. She comes to visit every once in a while. That was taken a few years ago. In 19...96.... Max! I didn’t know your back was that bad! Sit down.”

He mentally kicked himself. When he turned slightly, to get a better look at the photo, she must have seen the back of his shirt, which was soaked through with blood from a dozen shallow cuts. It didn’t even hurt anymore, but then, that might have been a result of being in the same room as her. He took a breath, letting it out slowly, and sat down next to her on the bed. She was facing away from him, shiny hair swinging around her face, as she looked through the first aide kit for some band aides. He looked away for a second, and when he looked back, her face was inches away. His eyes drifted momentarily to her lips, then he met her gaze.

“Maybe you should take your shirt off, Max.” Liz said softly. Her mouth was open slightly, lips tinted delicately pink.

“Oh, um, sure, I guess.” He reached up and pulled his shirt over his head. Was it his overly desperate imagination, or did Liz blush slightly?

He cleared his throat. “Liz, you know you don’t have to do this. I mean, I don’t want you to feel like it’s your responsibil-” He was taken aback when Liz placed a gentle finger against his mouth, silencing him.

“Max, don’t be silly. You saved my life. It’s the least I can do.” He nodded, and lowered his eyes to the finger still laid softly against his lips. Liz blushed and moved her hand.

“Turn around, so I can put some of this ointment on your back.” He obliged, shifting so that she had access to the cuts. From the first, feather-light touch of her hands on his skin, he was gone. She was so close, he could feel her breath on the back of his neck. Her fingers slid gently over the wounds, washing away the blood with a damp towel and smoothing on band-aides.

“I’m done.” Her cool breath against his ear made him shiver slightly. When he turned, their foreheads were almost touching.

Max drew in a breath. “How bad is the damage?” He quipped.

She smiled. “Not too bad. I think you’ll live.” The irony of the statement was not lost on either of them, and Max could see Liz pale slightly.

“It just sank in, huh?” She nodded shakily, and flopped back on the bed. He had to lean over her to hear what she said.

“Yeah. I guess I was too shocked before for it to really register.” Their eyes locked, and Liz reached up to touch his cheek. “But you saved me, Max,” she whispered wonderingly. He reached down and tucked a strand of dark, silken hair behind her ear. She caught his hand in hers, drawing it to her cheek. He was suddenly aware that her eyes were sparkling with something as alien as himself. “You saved me.”

Slowly, almost dreamily, her other arm slipped around his shoulders, drawing him closer. He shifted his weight, eyes never leaving hers, so that he had one arm resting on either side of her head. It was like a force was pulling them together, to the point where he couldn’t have drawn back if he’d wanted to. Her hand played over his bare chest, breath warm on his cheek, banishing coherent thought as his gaze dropped to her soft lips. Their mouths were an inch apart when the doorknob rattled. He pulled back instantly, yanking his shirt over his head as the door flew open to reveal Mrs. Parker.

“Max, dear, your friend Mitchell is here.” She smiled easily. A minute earlier, and she probably would have thrown him out by the ears. Max’s eyes drifted back to Liz, who was packing up the first aide kit, her hands fluttering nervously, face red. Did he really almost kiss her?

“Uh, it’s Michael.”

***

“So, Max.” Isabel leaned on the doorframe of his room. “I hear you had an eventful day.” Max shot a glance at Michael, who shrugged.

“I guess you could say that.”

“That’s ok, Iz. You don’t need to do that.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be stupid, Max. If your back is cut up, then obviously, you need to get it cleaned .” She caught Michael smirking out of the corner of her eye. “What are you guys not telling me?”

Max glared at Michael. “It was nothing, Iz. Mr. Parker saw that my back was a little scratched, so he brought me upstairs and had Liz put some cream and band-aides on it. It’s nothing.” Isabel sighed and flopped down on the bed.

“I don’t know, Max. For as long as I can remember, you’ve had this...this thing for Liz Parker. Wait a minute...” She sat up quickly, eyeing Max suspiciously. “You didn’t... do anything, did you?”

“Of course not, Isabel. Her dad asked her to fix it up, so she did. She’s just a nice person, that’s all. There’s nothing going on. I know the rules.”

Michael leaned forward, fixing Max with a penetrating stare. “What, exactly, would you have done if she was shot, Maxwell?”

Max’s eyes darkened. “If you’re implying something, Michael, then just say it.”

“Fine. Would you have used your powers to save Liz’s life?”

There was complete silence in the room before Isabel broke in. “God, Michael, what are you saying? That you think Max would put Liz’s life before ours? I can’t believe you’d even suggest that!”

“I know the rules, Michael.” Max said quietly.

“Do you, Max? ‘Cause the rules never seem to apply to Liz Parker.”

“Oh, you mean the way they apply to Maria DeLuca?” Max shot back.

Isabel stepped between them. “Guys, chill out. Michael’s right, Max. We can’t afford to get attached. God, I don’t know what I’d do if someone found out...” Her lower lip trembled slightly, and immediately Michael had his arm around her.

“No one’s going to find out, Iz, because no one’s going to do anything to call attention to us.” He looked at Max pointedly. “ Right, Max?” Max stared back at him, and saw the tiniest bit of emotion in Michael’s eyes before he averted them. Michael was asking him, begging him as much as Michael could beg, to reassure Isabel that they would always live the easy, normal life they had. Even if it wasn’t true. He took a deep breath.

“Right, Michael.”

TBC in And I See You Watching Me...