Title:Touch of Death {cryptic huh}
Author: Kathryn C.
Disclaimer: Me No Own.
Distribution: You want it, you take it, just give me
the URL.
Feedback: Send it, or I don't feel like writing.
Well, maybe for some of you, you might want
that.SEND IT, SEND IT, SEND IT. I won't
stop writing, so I can't threaten that, but please
send it. Let me know you're reading.
Rating: Uh, pg-13/14a?
Spoilers: Well, it's mostly speculation based on
spoilers mentioned. But, spoilers for Sexual Healing
and the whole "T" person storyline.
********
Max lay on the bed in his room, staring at the ceiling. Maria and Michael were outside, Isabel and Liz were in her room discussing something, and Alex, well he had left to go pick up lunch for everyone. They were all here, and he bet nobody felt like cooking.
The air in his room seemed stagnant. It hadn't had the homey feeling, or secure feeling it used to have before.
While it was still his escape from other people, it wasn't an escape from his problems, or himself.
There was a knock on the door. Max ignored it for a moment, half hoping whoever it was would just go away. They knocked again insistently, and a voice came through, "It's Michael."
Max sighed deeply. "Come in," he said acceptingly, sitting up.
Michael opened the door to the bedroom and walked in. He just stood there looking at Max.
Max stared at him expectantly, and Michael cleared his throat, "We, uh, need to talk."
"What's there to say?" Max said with a sad smile. "You think I intentionally risked our lives."
"It's not that...." Michael shook his head his voice trailing off.
"Well, what exactly is it Michael?" Max demanded, "Why are you mad then? If you don't believe that I risked it all on purpose, then why are you upset with me."
"It's not like that Max," Michael said exasperatedly. "I mean, I don't believe that you would risk it all if you were completely under your own power. But, I didn't think you would ever hold Hank against me, or compare me to that bastard."
Max shook his head, "Is that all? It's not like I meant it Michael, the perfume, I wasn't myself...."
Michael cut him off, "Don't dismiss it like that Max! Don't belittle it. That perfume, all it did was make you irritable and untrusting of us, it didn't supply you with the ammunition."
Max was shocked that Michael felt that bad, that Michael believed it, that Michael even cared. "Michael I never thought..."
"No Max, you didn't." Michael said with a humourless laugh. "You didn't think I would be hurt, I was probably going to be the one you were going to have to work on the least for forgiveness."
"I'm not some brick wall!" he said, forgetting a wall was exactly what he had compared himself too with Maria. "What you said to me, it doesn't just bounce off and let me feel nothing."
"I didn't mean it Michael," Max insisted, "I never would compare you to Hank, I would never insinuate..."
"But you did Max. You did. You stood there and associated me with abuse." Michael turned away, so Max couldn't see the deep emotion on his face. His voice quieted. "You don't think it's come up in my mind a million times. You don't think I worry that I have parts of Hank in me, just waiting to surface. You don't think I'm ashamed of what he did, of what he was? And here you were, bringing up my very worst fear, and adding credibility to it. Yeah, you were under influence. All it influenced you to do was to say things that you never would have had the courage to say in reality." his voice broke. A single tear slid down his cheek. A cheek previously unused to the wetness of tears.
Max heard the emotion in Michael's voice. "I didn't mean it Michael. I couldn't think that, ever. I know you better than that. I know you are not violent and abusive."
Michael didn't say anything and Max continued, "I don't know what to say Michael. I don't know how to make you see that what I'm saying is true. Please, believe me!"
Michael heard the desperation in Max's voice, and came to the conclusion that even if Max's belief in his character was false, Max truly thought that that was what he felt.
"Sorry for acting like such an ass earlier," Michael said gruffly.
Max recognized this as Michael's sign of forgiveness, "It doesn't matter."
Michael composed himself and turned around. He held out his hand for Max to shake. Max saw with surprise that there was a wetness on Michael's cheeks. "Friends?" he asked with a smile and took Michaels hand.
Michael seemed surprised at the use of the word. He just stared at Max for a moment, then said, "Friends." and they shook hands.
Max got a little over-emotional, and broke one of the etiquettes among teenage boys. He hugged Michael. Michael pulled away, embarrassed.
"Don't do that," he protested, stepping back. It was weird enough getting used to hugging Maria, let alone another guy.
Max just nodded. They stood there uncomfortably for awhile until they heard Alex's voice fro below, "Chow's here!" Michael couldn't get out of the door fast enough.
Maria was standing outside the door. She seemed surprised when they walked out. "Resolved?" she asked Michael pointedly, pretending she hadn't been standing outside the door trying to eavesdrop.
He nodded and followed her down the stairs.
Isabel and Liz came out of Is's room to go for lunch. Isabel walked past her brother, but Liz self-consciously squeezed by, trying to stay as far away from him as possible.
Max grabbed her arm before she could walk down the stairs. "We need to talk."
Liz looked startled. Isabel turned back to look at them. "Are you guys coming?" she asked, looking at Liz.
"We'll be right down Isabel," Max said firmly, guiding Liz into his room.
"So," Liz said after the door was shut. She stood there, rubbing her arms self-consciously, "What do you want to talk about?"
"Us." Max stated, coming to stand close to her.
Liz averted her eyes, but said nothing.
"I want there to be an us again Liz," Max said desperately. "I know I don't deserve you after what I put you through. Hell, I never even deserved you before. But, I'll do anything for you to gain back your faith in me."
Liz turned her head and took a few steps away, her back to Max. "Do you know what it's like to feel your heart breaking?" she asked, in a voice barely above a whisper, "That's what it felt like every time I saw you with her. Seeing you touching her, but not touching me. Listening to you say those things about me. Me heart broke every time I looked at you."
"I am so sorry for any pain I caused you," Max said imperatively, "I never would willingly hurt you. You mean the world to me, and I wouldn't want to jeapordize it."
"But you did Max," Liz said, turning around to face him. "I know you were under the influence of something else, but that doesn't change the fact that I got hurt. It didn't change the fact that you wanted another girl, that you kissed her."
Max shook his head. He took two steps over to her and put his hand on her shoulder. He turned her around only to see tears on her face. "Please Liz, don't be angry. Please. I love you with all my heart."
"I want to believe that Max," she said dejectedly, "There's nothing I want more. But, I don't know how to forget all that has happened."
I look at this mountain
So many heartaches wide
And I can't help but wonder
Where's the other side
I've got to be honest
I've got my doubts
These tears are asking me
What's this got to do with love?
Baby, I'll tell you something
To help us through this long, dark night
Max shook his head, "Don't doubt my love for you.
Ever. It wasn't our love that wasn't strong enough to
overcome the perfume used, it was me as a person that
was too weak."
The tears pooled in Liz's eyes. He was saying all the right things, but...it was still so muddled. "I love you too Max," she said with a sigh, "Even after everything, I still love you with all my heart. This won't change that. But, it hurts so damn much!"
When this trouble passes over
You and I will walk away
Knowing that our love survived
Another test of faith
You and I can walk on water
The river rises, we rise above
It may not look that way right now
But trust me, baby...this is love.
Love isn't easy
I'm torn, I confess
When a heart is uncertain
It's bound to second guess
This love won't forsake us
So dry your tears I promise you
"I know," Max said soothingly, taking her into his
arms as she cried. "I know you're hurting Liz, and if
I could change that I would. Just know that I love
you and we'll work this out. You can learn to have
faith in me again."
I'm here for you baby
There's nothing I want more
Our day is coming
And we'll reach that peaceful shore
When this trouble passes over
You and I will walk away
Knowing that our love survived
Another test of faith
Cause you and I can walk on water
The river rises, we rise above
It may not look that way right now
But trust me, baby....this is love
One more mountain
Hey...so what
Trust me baby...this is love.
Liz pulled back slightly, and nodded, drying her
tears. "I want to be as happy as we were before," she
said hoarsely. "I want to be that blissfully in love,
with you. I want us to do our best to make that
happen."
Max nodded, brushing back a strand of hair from her face. "That's all I'm asking for Liz, another chance with you."
Liz nodded too. After hesitating a moment, she took his hand in hers and led him from the room, and down the stairs.
The doorbell rang to the Evans house. They watched as Isabel, shoving a few french fries in her mouth ran to answer the door.
She pulled open the door to find one of the people she least expected to be there, Kyle Valenti.
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