Human Touch

By Danielle

Disclaimers: The characters aren't mine- they belong to Jason Katims and the WB. The song isn't mine- it belongs to Bruce

Springsteen. However, the story is mine, mine, all mine!

Notes: This is a companion piece to my own "Alien Lover" which is a Maria POV fic. Bec suggested a Michael POV on the

same subject (thanks for the idea!), and I try to make people who like my work happy. I have to say that I found the song

unexpectedly when I was looking for songs with Human in the title. And it just fits so perfectly with the theme, I went with it.

You have to like divine intervention. This takes place after 'The Convention". Enjoy!

Roswell, New Mexico. Home of the tumbleweed. God, I have to get out of here, he thought to himself as he walked toward his "home" in the Trailer Park. Kicking a rock, which had gotten on his bad side by being in the middle of the road, he reached the door and noted happily that Hank's truck wasn't there, which meant he was still at work. Thank God, Michael thought as he yanked open the screen door and threw his jacket over the back of a chair, only pausing to grab a coke out of the fridge before heading to his room.

He had really wanted to go to the Crashdown after school with Max and Izzy, but that would mean seeing his favorite waitress

and he was not up for that. The looks Maria gave him when she thought he wasn't looking melted the ice he tried to form

around his heart, and that he did not need.

He switched on the radio next to his bed, searching for a station. He spun the dial for a minute before coming to rest at the only

one that would come in clearly- some random Classic Rock station, which at the moment was playing Aerosmith. Good

enough, he figured and laid his head back on the pillow, his mind remaining focused on the one girl he knew he shouldn't even

be thinking about.

Maria DeLuca. What was it about her? She was too chipper. Kind of ditzy. She talked too much. She expected too much of

him. She kissed like... like no one on this earth. He sighed. There was something so right about her, even though she was so

wrong for him.

The song came to an end and a new one took its place, one, which spurred even more Maria thoughts. He couldn't get away

from her. His brain wouldn't let him.

"I just want to feel you in my arms

Share a little of that Human Touch.

Feel a little of that Human Touch. "

Human Touch. That was what he wanted. A human's touch. But not any Human- only Maria. His Maria. That first night he

kissed her, waiting for Max and Liz to get back from the reservation, it was sort of a challenge to himself. To prove that he

didn't really want her. He'd been thinking of her non-stop since their night at the "nookie Motel". He'd needed to get it out of his system, believing that after it was over, he wouldn't think about her anymore. What an idiot he was.

Because one Maria kiss was never enough. He learned that really quickly. When he went to the Crashdown that night during

the Heat Wave, he wasn't sure what to expect. He didn't even know if she would be there. He had just been so drawn by the

possibility that they could be alone together. And when she unlocked the door, he'd seen it in her eyes. She wanted him too.

His heart leapt as she had put her arms around his neck. The feel of her hands roaming over his chest and shoulders made him

ache with pleasure. She made the most amazing little noises when she was kissing him. A little growl deep in her throat, or a

moan, a sigh. He loved them all. He's wanted to touch her everywhere, just to see what new sounds would come out of her.

That night he went completely on instinct, pushing her up against the counter, hearing her sharp intake of breathy excitement

when his hands traveled to her backside to lift her up. She'd wrapped her legs around his waist like they belonged there. The

sensation was amazing, knowing he had the power to make her feel so good.

And the taste of her lips, her mouth. She had a special sweet tang that made him crazy. He had the urge to kiss her eyelids and

nose to see if they tasted the same. She made him feel so wanted, so desired. Normal. Human. Maybe that was what he'd

needed all along. And Maria certainly gave that to him. She made him feel like he was the most important person in the world.

Until he'd pushed her away. Then she made him feel like dirt. Which he knew he deserved. He had to stop kidding himself

about how deep his feelings for her went. It was so much more than lust.

She had accepted him. Knew what he was and didn't shy away. Kissed him anyway. Wanted him anyway. And he threw it

away because he was afraid. Afraid to get too attached, but more afraid to let himself feel anything at all. And he felt a lot when

he was with her. Too much to deal with. So he walked away.

And he knew it had hurt her, because it hurt him just as much to do it. But he had to, didn't he?

The song, which had been mocking him, ended. He was glad, because the last thing he needed was to keep thinking of Maria

and how Human she made him want to be.

~~~~~~~~~~

Human Touch- Bruce Springsteen

You and me we were the pretenders

We let it all slip away

In the end what you don't surrender

Well the world just strips away

Girl, ain't no kindness in the face of strangers

Ain't gonna find no miracles here

Well you can wait on your blesses my darling

I got a deal for you right here

I ain't looking for praise or pity

I ain't coming round searching for a crutch

I just want someone to talk to

And a little of that human touch

Just a little of that Human Touch

Ain't no mercy on the streets of this town

Ain't no bread from heavenly skies

Ain't nobody drawing wine from this blood

It's just you and me tonight

Tell me, in a world without pity

Do you think what I'm askin's too much

I just want something to hold on to

And a little of that Human Touch

Just a little of that Human Touch

Oh girl that feeling of safety that you praise

Well it comes at a hard hard price

You can't shut off the risk and the pain

Without losing the love that remains

We're all riders on this train

So you've been broken and you've been hurt

Show me somebody who ain't

Yeah, I know I ain't nobody's bargain

But, hell, a little touch up and a little paint…

You might need someone to hold on to

When all the answers, they don't amount to much

Somebody that you could just talk to

And a little of that Human Touch

Baby, in a world without pity

Do you think what I'm askin's too much

I just want to feel you in my arms

Share a little of that Human Touch

Feel a little of that Human Touch

Give me a little of that Human Touch