Part 32 - Opening Gambit

Michael sat on his countertop, clutching the edge of the counter tightly as he watched over the sleeping Alex. It had taken Alex a long time to fall asleep, and Michael didn't want to make any noise that might wake him before he finished his task of banishing Kivar from his mind. It would have been better if he had simply gone out of the room, but he simply couldn't bring himself to do it. There was absolutely nothing he could do to help Alex in his fight, but at least he could be there, just in case.

In case of what? he asked himself bitterly. There isn't a damn thing you can do. He hated feeling this helpless. Alex was obviously having a hard time in his dreams. Every time he cried out or tossed on the couch in pain, Michael wanted to rush over and wake him up, to get him away from Kivar for a while. But he didn't. It would only be a momentary escape, after all. The human body needed sleep, and when Alex went back, there Kivar would be. And in the meantime, the longer the connection existed between Kivar and Alex, the more damage there would be to Alex's mind and his sanity. No, this mental battle was necessary.

That didn't make it any easier to watch. Michael's fingers were starting to lose feeling. Soon he'd probably be breaking off chunks of the counter. But if he let go, he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to resist waking up Alex. He couldn't stand watching a member of his family being hurt by Kivar.

Fighting Kivar is my job. Michael was the angriest he had ever been. Kivar had struck out at his family again, was threatening to take away the people he loved again. And it wasn't just Alex who was suffering - it was everyone. They were all so tightly connected that if one of them fell, they all did. And Alex was their foundation. Michael wondered if Kivar had realized that at all, if he'd known the effects screwing with Alex's head would have on them all. Probably. Mind games are Kivar's specialty, after all.

"You can't let yourself care too much about anyone else. That's a weakness - one you can't afford. Concentrate on the mission." The words popped into his mind, memories from his past life. He shook his head angrily, brushing them off. There was some truth in the lessons from Tymrath's training, but they were also lies. Because while caring about others did leave you open and vulnerable, it also gave you strength and purpose. Two sides to the same coin. It was important to have people you knew you could trust and count on. It had taken him long enough to learn that lesson, one that Maria had tried to pound into his stubborn head over and over again, but he finally had.

Michael's head turned swiftly in the direction of the door as he heard footsteps in the hall outside. Maria. He'd been expecting her to show up ever since he called her earlier to tell her about Alex. Quickly, he was at the door, opening it before she could knock. Maria and Isabel stood there looking at him. He stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind him.

"Quiet," he whispered. "Alex is sleeping."

"Is he okay?" Isabel whispered back, trying to get past him, but finding her way blocked. Michael looked at Maria, raising an eyebrow in question.

Maria shrugged. "She has a right to be here."

He nodded slowly, looking back at Isabel. "Maria told you what was going on?"

"Yeah. Is he fighting Kivar now?" Her worry was so strong that it was almost a physical force. Maria reached over and took her hand. Isabel didn't look away from the closed door in front of her, but she did accept her friend's silent support.

"I think so." He took a deep breath. "It looks like he's having a touch time with it, Iz. But we can't wake him up until he's done. That's important." He looked at both of the girls sternly. "Understood?"

When they both nodded, he opened up the door behind him and backed into the apartment. Maria and Isabel followed closely.

Isabel's eyes focused on the couch instantly. "Oh, Alex," she whispered as she looked at him. He was tossing and turning in his sleep, obviously in the midst of a nightmare. When he let out a small whimper of pain, she started to rush over to him. Michael's arms were instantly around her waist, picking her up and dragging her to the bedroom door that Maria was opening. As soon as the three of them were inside, Maria closed the door quietly and stood guard in front of it.

When her feet reached the floor again, Isabel shoved Michael away. "How dare you! He's in pain out there!" Ignoring Maria's "shhh" noises, Isabel's voice was reaching levels that were way too loud. "Alex is in pain and suffering, and we're just supposed to stand here and do nothing?"

"You think this is any easier for me?" he hissed back at her, keeping his voice down with a supreme effort. "You think I don't want to tear Kivar into tiny little pieces for what he's doing to Alex? For what he wants to do to all of us?"

"Michael!" Maria whispered urgently at him as he glared at Isabel. Following Maria's line of sight, he noticed the way the lamp in the corner of the room was shaking. Desperately, he tried to control his anger before he blew it up. Blowing things up, as much as it might help him release some of his tension, would be a bad idea right then. He didn't want to wake Alex up.

After a few deep calming breaths, he went on. "There is nothing we can do right now, Isabel. Nothing. Is that sinking in yet?" He went over and stood by Maria at the door. "This is something Alex has to do, and he has to do it alone. But he'll get it done." He forced himself to smile at her. "He'll do it because he would do anything for you. And because he's stubborn. After all, he kept waiting for you, didn't he? If he had the guts for that, then he can handle Kivar, no problem."

Isabel glared at the two blocking the door for a minute, then collapsed to the ground, leaning against the bed and wrapping her legs around her knees. "I know," she said quietly, a tone of despair in it that he hated hearing. "It's just........." Isabel closed her eyes, trying not to cry. "I remember what it was like to have Kivar in my mind. It was like drowning. I couldn't get out, and after a while I forgot to even want to. It was awful. I don't know how Alex can fight him. I couldn't. He was just so strong." Isabel started to rock back and forth. "I don't know how anyone can fight against that, against your own mind being out of your control. You can't imagine what it's like."

Maria had left her position at the door and sat down next to Isabel, putting an arm around her shoulder, so neither girl noticed the sick look that crossed Michael's face at her words. "Alex can do it, Isabel," Maria said comfortingly. "He's already proved it."

"It's not the same thing as what happened to you, Izzy." Michael was proud of how calm he was able to make himself sound. Determinedly pushing down the memories ( Why do they have to keep coming back more and more?), he tried to help comfort Isabel. "Kivar doesn't have his hooks into Alex yet. Not really."

Isabel opened her eyes and looked at him. "And how did Kivar even get any access into Alex? Through me. Through my mind. This is my fault."

"What is with you aliens?" Maria sighed in mild annoyance. "This isn't your fault. Or Michael's. Or Max's. It's Kivar's fault. He's the one trying to turn Alex into some puppet or scramble his mind. It's the bad guy's fault, not yours."

Isabel couldn't accept that. It seemed that everyone she knew ended up having to pay for her past and her alien status. "Kivar wants me. That's why he's doing this, because he wants me back."

"Kivar wants to hurt us all," Michael said sharply. "Even if you walked up to Nicholas and asked him to take you to his leader, Kivar would still come after the rest of us. So don't get any stupid ideas."

Isabel stared at Michael for a long minute, then nodded. "Okay." She gestured towards the door. "You really think he can do this? Make Kivar leave his mind?"

"Yes." Michael's response was immediate.

"You remember the connection?" Maria asked her gently. When Isabel nodded, she went on. "How bright Alex's spirit was? Well, I just can't imagine anything being strong enough to turn that light off. Kivar can't do it."

"I hope you're right." Gathering her courage, she admitted to something that had been bothering her. "I know it's selfish and not really the point, but I wish Alex had come to me with this problem. I guess I just wish that he's trusted me enough to come to me for help, not you, Michael. Which is stupid, I know. It's good he went to someone for help. I just wish it had been me."

Michael dropped to the ground on Isabel's other side. "Izzy, you've got it all wrong." He looked over Isabel's head to meet Maria's eyes, then looked back. He really wasn't good at this touchy-feely stuff. "Alex didn't come to me because he trusted me more than he did you. He came to me because he didn't trust me."

Isabel looked at him sceptically. "That doesn't make any sense, Michael."

He shrugged. "Sure it does. He was never afraid of you. Afraid of hurting you, yeah. Which I can understand." He ignored the little "hmph" noise Maria gave at that. He leaned back and put his arm around Isabel, too, so that his hand met Maria's. "But I was the one who Kivar was really trying to turn him against. Kivar showed him things about me back there on Antar that totally freaked him out. So, coming to me, trusting me, was this huge act of courage on his part. It was his way of showing that he was going to trust in his own instincts, and not what Kivar put in his mind."

"It's like when you're a little kid afraid of the dark," Maria added in a soothing voice. "You eventually have to fact that fear, to turn off the light and show that you're not afraid of the boogie man."

Michael nodded in agreement with the comparison. "Only this time, I was the boogie man."

Before Maria could even open her mouth, Isabel interrupted. "No, that would be Kivar." She looked at the two of them with a small smile. It wasn't much, but it was a start. "Thanks. I guess that makes some sense. And it makes me feel better."

"That's what we're here for," Maria teased gently. "He's going to be okay, Isabel. I know it. And I'm never wrong." When there was no answer for a second, she glared at Michael. "Right, spaceboy?"

"Huh? What was the question?" he answered blankly.

Growling, Maria reached over and mock-punched him in the arm with her free hand. "Just wait until later, mister. You're going to pay for that."

"Really?" he asked with a smirk.

Isabel rolled her eyes. "Oh, wonderful. More flirting." It did take at least part of her mind off the Alex situation for a few seconds, though, which she supposed was the whole point.

Suddenly, the door opened, revealed a tired-looking Alex staring down at the three of them sitting on the floor, arms around each other. He blinked a few times, then grinned. "Group hug? Can anyone join in?"

"Alex!" Isabel shot up from the ground, practically knocking him over with the force of her hug.

"Yeah, it's me." He hugged her back tightly. After what he'd just seen, holding Isabel was about as close to paradise as he could ever hope for.

She leaned back and looked at him closely. "Really?"

He leaned over and kissed her for proof. The instant their lips connected, Isabel was able to sense him and the way he was feeling right then. There was exhaustion and some fear still left, but mostly what she felt was his determination and his love for her. It was the way she always felt him, but stronger than ever. Almost overwhelmed by the sheer strength of his feelings for her, she was glad that he was holding her tightly so that she didn't fall down.

Pulling back, Alex ran one finger down her cheek. "Convinced?"

"Maybe another kiss?" She smiled at him.

But before he could comply, they were attacked by a squealing Maria, jumping and hugging Alex at the same time. "We were so worried about you!" she got out between hugs.

Alex laughed. It felt great to be one-hundred percent himself again. Looking back, he could tell that he'd been feeling strange even before he suspected that there was anything weird going on. For the first time in a week, he felt like himself again. "I'm okay now. No worries."

Michael got up more slowly than the girls. He could feel the big goofy grin forming on his face, but couldn't seem to stop it. He could feel the sense of total job coming from Maria at seeing Alex, and it just added to his own happiness. But first, he had to make sure. "You threw him out?"

Alex looked over at Michael. Their eyes met, and Michael could see that while Alex was back to himself, there had been changes that couldn't be undone. Alex looked exhausted, and there was something different in his eyes now, a determination and strength that hadn't been so obvious before, along with knowledge that he hadn't had prior to this ordeal. But there was no longer the suspicion or hate that had popped in when Kivar was influencing him. He was all Alex again. "No more Kivar. I guess we'll have to wait and see, but I don't think he'll be back again." He frowned at the memories. "You were right. It wasn't easy." He smiled down at Isabel, then looked back over at Michael. "But it's done now." The smile faded as he went on. "I saw him this time."

Michael felt cold all over at the thought. He forced himself to walk closer to the others. "He wasn't just showing you things this time?"

"Nope." Alex tried to think of how to explain it. "We...... talked would be the wrong word. It wasn't words so much as it was feelings. Emotions." He absently pulled Isabel even closer. "I understand more now about what we're fighting. Kivar's hungry."

"Hungry?" Maria asked in confusion, looking at the other three.

"He wants everything." Isabel explained quietly. "Nothing is ever enough for him. It never will be."

"Yeah. I think I'll recognize him if I see him again." Alex nodded at Michael's expression of surprise. "Not what he looks like physically. But his energy, his emotions."

Michael held out his hand. Maria took it and went to stand by him, wrapping her arms around him, holding him tightly. He answered Alex. "I think Kivar made a huge mistake going after you." A slow, cold smile spread across his face. "We might be able to use that later."

Isabel rolled her eyes as Alex nodded his head in agreement with Michael. "Whatever. Right now, we have other things to talk about." She pulled Alex back into the other room. Before Maria could follow them, Michael pushed the door closed and pulled her back to sit on the bed.

"Hey," she complained half-heartedly as he pulled her close.

"Let's give them some time alone," he murmured quietly as he kissed the top of her head. "I think they need it right now, don't you?" He leaned back on the bed, pulling her body down next to his. With a contented sigh, she snuggled in closer, enjoying the feel of his body stretched out next to hers.

"Okay." She closed her eyes and just lay there for a few minutes. In some ways, she liked the quiet times they spent together just as much as the passionate ones. It still amazed her that she could feel this secure and content to simply be with another person, that she could ever feel this loved and complete. It was a gift that she was determined to never take for granted.

But after a few minutes she started to think about the situation with Alex. There were things she didn't understand, things that she wanted to ask Michael about, but she didn't want to interrupt this rare moment of calm. So she tried to keep her curiosity in check.

It didn't work too well.

"Maria, why don't you stop fidgeting and just ask me whatever it is that you want to ask?" Michael's voice held amusement.

She shook her head. "Nope. It can wait."

"Until what? Until your head bursts with the stress of trying not to ask?" He was almost laughing out loud now. "Go ahead, teel-sharan. Ask away."

She looked down at their connected hands. "Okay. So, Kivar and his Skins can just take anybody over and control them?" Now that she was able to take the time to really think about it, she was pretty terrified by the idea.

Michael frowned and turned to her. "Relax. It's not like that. And he can't get to you," he moved to comfort her. He hated it when she got scared like that. "We're connected now. I'd know it if he even tried to get into your mind. You're safe."

"What is it like, then?" She could sense his reluctance to answer, but this wasn't something that could wait. "Michael, if we're going to be hunted by Kivar, then we need to know what we're up against."

Michael's frown deepened at her choice of words. But she was right - they were being hunted. Kivar would much rather take them out one by one then face them all together. Kivar didn't like losing and would do whatever he had to in order to decrease the odds of the opposition. But then, Michael didn't intend to lose this time around, either. "Fine. What do you want to know?"

"Dagmar said that the Skins were stronger telepathically. Is that right?"

"Generally." He forced himself to think about this objectively, as if he wasn't talking about his own history. "Some were stronger than others. But most Skins can do minor things."

When he didn't go on, she waved her hand impatiently. "Like what?"

"Like pick up on feelings. Some telepathy and empathy. Visions when emotions are strong. Stuff like that. Of course, Zandar and Vilandra could do some of that, too. The Skins are just generally more gifted in that area." His mouth twisted in a bitter grimace. "I'm not. I'm much better at blowing things up." Maria's hand rubbed his chest through his shirt, encouraging him silently to go on. "Some were trained to focus their abilities more. To be able to 'nudge' others telepathically."

Maria felt the increased tension coming from him, both through their connection and in the way the muscles under her hand tightened up. "What does that mean? Nudge?"

Michael sighed and stared up at the ceiling. "They could take someone and nudge their minds to do something. They could only do this with what the individual's natural tendencies were, though."

"Like removing their inhibitions?"

"I guess. If there was someone who was already angry, for instance, they could build up that anger. Encourage them to lash out at the source. It was a very subtle form of mind control." He looked down at Maria. "Kivar could take this even further, adding emotions that weren't necessarily there to begin with. But he needed something to work with. He's not all-powerful or anything." It was important to keep that in mind. If you started to think that you couldn't beat your enemy, then you couldn't. "Even with Vilandra, Kivar didn't completely control her. She wasn't possessed like Brody is by Larek. He took her interest in him, her flirtation, and increased it. He made her think that she loved him, but the rest of her actions were her decisions."

Maria nodded, thinking seriously about this. "Maybe that was why he couldn't get Alex. Their minds were too different. There was nothing there for Kivar to grab onto and use."

"Maybe." A thought occurred to him - how was Larek able to possess Brody like that? And how was Kivar able to try possession? Even as strong as Kivar was, he shouldn't be able to do that, especially over such a long distance.

Apparently, Maria's thoughts were going in the same direction. "I guess they must have found some way to make their powers stronger when they possess humans."

"Yeah. We'll have to do something about that."

"Maybe Brody remembers something from his abduction."

Michael rolled his eyes. "Oh, good. Can I ask him about it, please? It's so much fun to listen to his theories."

Maria laughed quietly. "Maybe we'll have Max ask him about it."

"Works for me."

"So, these Skins could take any character trait and make it stronger than it would have been ordinarily?" There it was - that tensing up from Michael at her question. She looked at him carefully. He didn't look any different, meeting her eyes steadily. But she could feel his discomfort through their bond. She went on slowly. "Like if someone already had a temper, for example, they could make it worse?"

He nodded. "That was the most common form of mental conditioning. The more control is necessary, the more power it takes."

"Like with Vilandra?" she asked.

"That was more extreme than usual. Kivar's stronger - he's the strongest on our planet, mentally. Vilandra never had a chance once he was in her mind."

She had to ask. "Michael..........."

But before she could, they were interrupted by a scream coming from the outer room.

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After the bedroom door shut behind them, Isabel sat down on the couch next to Alex, carefully looking him over. Other than the tired circles around his eyes, he looked better than he had in days. His eyes met hers with a clarity that she'd been missing.

"Finished with the check-up, my lady?" he teased her with a smile.

"Not quite." She pushed him back against the cushions, running her hands up and down his body. "Everything seems fine," she went on with a smile. "Although you do seem to be breathing a bit heavily. Are you having trouble breathing, sir?"

"You always do take my breath away, Isabel," he responded weakly. "Maybe you should stop doing that, Iz."

"Doing what?" she asked, as she ran her hands up under his shirt. "I'm just making sure that you've survived your ordeal okay. Since it's my fault and all."

At that, he took her hands and held them firmly, looking at her seriously. "I don't want to hear you say that again, Isabel. I don't even want to hear you think that. Do you understand?"

"But..."

"But nothing. This was not your fault. Kivar tried to use me to hurt you. To hurt all of you. The things he would have had me do to you...." He closed his eyes, fighting the nausea at the memories. There was no way he was ever going to tell Isabel what he had done to her in some of those dreams. Regaining control, he opened his eyes and met her concerned look. "Kivar is a monster. But that is in no way your fault. So stop thinking that it is."

She moved closer to him. "Michael said that you were afraid of hurting me. Is that true?"

He nodded silently. She pulled her hands away from his and held his head in them. "I trust you, Alex. More than I've ever trusted anyone, even Max and Michael. I trusted you long before I realized that I loved you. So I want you to promise me something."

"Anything," he answered instantly.

"Good boy." She laughed at the way his eyes rolled at her response. Then she became serious again. "I want you to promise me that you won't ever try to push me away again or not come to me with a problem because you're afraid of hurting me. I don't know how Maria put up with that particular nonsense from Michael for as long as she did, but I don't have that patience. It hurts more to be left in the dark and afraid."

"Okay, Iz." He reached his arms around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. "I promise. From now on, we face things together. As partners."

"Partners." Leaning down, she kissed him slowly. "And there are lots of fringe benefits to this partnership, you know."

"Oh?" Alex looked at her questioningly.

"Definitely." This time, when her hands went under his shirt, he didn't complain or stop her wandering. His hands were doing a little wandering of their own. And the kiss accompanying the wandering was enough to take away both of their breaths.

Isabel leaned back and looked into his eyes. She saw no trace of any residual Kivar-ness in them. They were warm and filled with love and passion. So when he pulled her back down, she was able to let go of any left-over concern. She could feel that this was Alex, and that he loved her.

Kissing him felt right.

Kissing him felt like home.

She felt his surprise when she pulled his shirt off over his head. "Isabel...."

"It's okay," she whispered. "I just need to feel you, to know that you're really here."

"I'll always be with you," he murmured back. She couldn't seem to stop her hands from roaming all over his chest. She wanted him so much at that moment that it was hard to think about anything else.

Considering the fact that they were in Michael's apartment (with Michael and Maria in the next room), it was probably a good thing that they were interrupted by an opening door and a scream right then.
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Michael was through the door and barrelling into the next room, hand raised, before the scream even died out. When he saw who had caused the commotion, he just stood there, staring blankly until Maria reached over and pulled his hand down.

"Down, boy," she said, laughing. "I think you have to learn to remember to lock that door."

"What are you doing here?" he exploded at the two standing in the doorway.

Kyle kept his hand over Tess's mouth, trying to hold the wriggling girl as he kicked shut the door behind him. "We wanted to make sure that Alex was okay. We weren't exactly expecting to interrupt what we did. Again." He let loose a long-suffering sigh, quickly followed by a loud "Ow!" as Tess finally pulled away.

She pointed over to the couch. Michael finally noticed the two sitting there, and the fact that Alex was shirtless. As Alex, blushing, put his shirt back on, Tess went into a tirade. "Every single time we're over at this apartment, someone is getting undressed and making out with their significant other. First you two," she pointed accusingly at Michael and Maria, "and now you." She turned back to Alex and Isabel. "What is with you people? Doesn't it bother any of you that there are other people around in the apartment?"

Isabel looked slightly embarrassed, then lifted her head and gave her best "Princess Isabel" look. "Well, some people could knock, don't you think?"

But Tess wasn't finished yet. "It's getting so that you can't even walk down a school hallway or go into an apartment without interrupting someone. I'm tired of being the chaperone! Everyone's getting some action in this apartment except us!" She turned angrily to Kyle. "That's it! We need to reserve some time here in the apartment."

"Hey, wait a minute. Our apartment isn't turning into make-out central for the I-Know-An-Alien-Club!" Maria burst out indignantly. She didn't notice the quick look and smile Michael gave at her referring to the apartment as theirs. Maybe he'd get her to move in sooner than he'd thought.

"Well, we can't do much back at our house," Tess went on impatiently. "Every single time we even start kissing, Dad appears out of nowhere. It's like he has some sort of radar. It's getting mildly freaky, actually."

"Dad?" Kyle asked quietly.

Tess turned quickly, staring at him as she seemed to realize for the first time what she's said. A look of total confusion passed across her face, then she regained some dignity. "I'm going to the bathroom." She gave pointed looks to the others in the room. "When I come back out, I expect everyone to still be clothed." Then she walked off.

"Well, that was different," Alex said wryly.

Kyle laughed as he sat down on the couch. "She's been a little stressed lately. She's been worried about you. We all have. How are you doing?"

"I'm okay." Alex frowned, remembering. "Did I try to hit you last night?"

"Don't worry about it." Kyle gave a sly grin. "I hate to have to tell you this, Alex, but you hit like a girl."

"Hey, you better be careful or you'll get some practical experience with how this girl hits." Maria waved her fist in his direction as she and Michael crowded into the remaining chair. Not that she minded the close quarters. Kyle held up his hands defensively.

"So, that Dad thing?" Isabel interrupted. "What was that all about?"

"She's never called him that before," Kyle answered. "I guess she must be feeling like more a part of the family."

"That's gotta make the whole dating thing a little strange," Maria pointed out.

"Yeah," Kyle said philosophically. "But are any of our relationships really what would be considered normal?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Isabel said haughtily. "Things are perfectly normal here."

"Right," Alex laughed as he tickled her until she started to giggle. Learning that Isabel Evans, queen of the calm composure, was incredibly ticklish, had been of the highlights of the last few weeks.

"Okay, maybe there are a few abnormal things going on," she admitted between giggles.

Alex stopped. "But I wouldn't give it up for anything." The two of them shared a look that made Kyle look away, feeling like an intruder. Some things were too private to be viewed by someone else.

"So, I accept that there are a few odd things in my relationship with Tess." He sighed theatrically. "The only thing that bothers me is the strong suspicion that Dad likes her better than he does me."

"Well, duh." Tess came back into the room and sat down next to him. "Obviously, I'm the favorite child."

"And of course, there's her modesty," he went on to the others in the group.

While he was looking at the others, Tess reached behind her and grabbed the pillow. Next thing Kyle knew, he was being pummelled by a pillow wielded by a very determined alien girl. He fell to the ground.

"Hey, a little help would be nice here," he called to the laughing spectators.

"Nah, I think you've got things well in hand." Michael had no intention of getting involved in this. He kept a firm grasp on Maria, too. He didn't like the idea of her getting hit with anything, including pillows.

The others didn't seem to share his reluctance. Alex grabbed a pillow and threw it at Tess, who sent it flying back in his direction.

Unfortunately, the pillow hit Isabel instead of Alex. And after that, it was a pillow fight free-for-all.

After a few minutes of laughing and flying pillows, Michael heard a noise outside the door. "Hold on," he said. Obediently, the others got quiet. Getting up, he grabbed a pillow and gestured for Maria to take another one and come with him, a mischievous smile spreading over his face. He stood on one side of the door and motioned for Maria to stand on the other side. The door slowly opened as Max and Liz entered.

"Alex, are you okay?" Liz started. That was as far as she got.

Michael and Maria attacked simultaneously, whacking the newcomers over their heads with the pillows. Max just raised his hands and blinked in surprise, but Liz was a veteran of sleep-over pillow fights. Soon, the battle was back on.

Michael stood to the side, keeping a close eye on Maria so he could pull her out of the fray the minute it looked like she was about to get ambushed. But, to his pride, she was holding her own.

Ten minutes later, they were all collapsed on the floor. "Who won?" Kyle asked Michael, sitting up.

"Oh, please," Isabel said indignantly. "We girls totally decimated you guys."

"Totally." Maria nodded emphatically in agreement.

"Whatever," Kyle said. "I asked Michael."

All eyes turned to Michael, who suddenly looked uncomfortable. "You don't actually expect me to answer that, do you?"

Glancing over at Maria, Kyle collapsed back down. "Guess not. Coward."

Max sat on the couch behind Liz, massaging her shoulders as she smiled up at him. He looked over at Michael, still standing as if on guard. He smiled at his best friend. " Redarg, s'olat," he said firmly.

Michael blinked at him in surprise, then started to laugh. "I didn't know you remembered that," he got out between laughs as he sat down on the floor next to Maria.

"How could I forget? I said it often enough before."

"What does it mean?" Liz was curious. She hadn't heard Max ever say anything in Antaran before. It was interesting to hear the strange words coming from him. "I'm guessing that's Antaran."

"It means 'Relax, soldier'," Michael answered. "Zandar used to say it to me every time that I'd come back from a mission."

"And then we'd go of and celebrate, doing something that would get us in trouble with Vilandra the next day." Max was still smiling. It was nice to remember something more pleasant from that other lifetime.

Isabel only smiled, relaxing against Alex. Max might be the mighty king to their people, but to her he had only been and would only be her brother. No more, no less.

The next hour was spent in idle conversation, normal talk about semi-normal things. Max and Michael told some stories from Antar, carefully avoiding anything referring to their last days there. Kyle told them some football stories, and Tess asked the humans questions about what it had been like to live in one town for their whole lives. At one point, it occurred to Max that they'd never really done this before - all of them just hanging out together like this. It was nice. Isabel had been right - they did need to learn how to play again and to just live. What was the point in defending their lives on Earth if they never took the time to actually live them?

Michael had some chocolate cake Maria'd brought home from the Crashdown, and they all snacked on that. Alex noticed Maria taking bites from Michael's tabasco-covered piece of cake, but refrained from commenting. Nobody else seemed to notice her change in dietary habits. Even Michael seemed to just take it as something natural, so Alex simply filed it away under "Things to Think about Later."

But their current situation couldn't be ignored forever, as much as they might like it. Finally, Tess brought it up again.

"So, what do you think we can expect from Kivar now that he's figured out he failed with Alex?"

Max shot a quick glance at his second, then looked back at her. "The only thing we can be sure about is that he'll come up with something new."

Michael nodded. "He's just testing our defenses now. Trying things out to see what works and what doesn't."

"It never ends, does it?" Kyle said it without anger, just with weariness. Tess turned and gave him a quick kiss. She understood better than anyone how he just wanted to keep his family safe. It was a feeling they all shared.

"It will end when Kivar's dead." Michael's voice had that cold tone to it that Maria had learned to associate with his Tymrath-memories.

"And in the meantime, we take care of each other," Liz said as she put her hand on Max's knee. "No matter what."

"We take care of our own," Michael agreed.

Maria put out her hand into the middle of the room with a bright smile. "Agreed?"

"Agreed." Alex put his hand over hers.

"Forever." Isabel shared a smile with Alex before placing her hand over his.

Kyle shrugged. "Sure. Why not?" He put his hand on the pile, quickly followed by Tess.

"Very poetic, Buddha Boy." She was smiling as she said it, though.

"We watch out for each other," Liz said firmly as she leaned over and placed her hand on top of Tess's.

"No question," Max said, following their example.

Michael looked at the seven of them. He had so much more than he'd ever thought he would have, more then he ever felt he deserved. But seeing the way they looked at each other and at him with such trust and love, he thought Maybe I can do this. Maybe I can deserve this. At least I'll do everything I can to keep them safe.

He put his hand under the pile, his palm touching Maria's. "None. We stand together."

And they all felt, for the first time in a week, that things would be okay. That whatever came, whatever storm broke over their lives, they could face it.

As long as they were together.

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Michael closed the door behind the last of the visitors with a sigh. Turning, he stood there and looked at Maria sitting on the edge of the kitchen counter, almost in exactly the same spot he'd been earlier. She swung her legs back and forth, watching him.

"I thought they'd never go," he commented to her.

She laughed. "Don't try to fool me, spaceboy. You liked having company over. You're becoming a big softie."

He smirked. "Yeah, right." His look became more intense, causing her to stop swinging her legs. "I remember mentioning something earlier about you keeping up your strength."

"Yeah, I seem to remember that." Maria beckoned to him with a crooked finger. "Come here, spaceboy."

He smiled at her and swung himself up next to her on the counter. She looked down at where their hands almost touched. She did love looking at his hands. But before they got distracted, she still had some questions to ask, things that she hadn't wanted to ask when the others were there.

"So," her voice trailed off as Michael's hand covered hers, his fingers starting to caress hers. She forced herself to concentrate and not allow herself to be distracted. "This whole killing Kivar thing?"

Michael's body grew very still, the way it did every time the subject of Kivar was brought up. "Yeah?"

She was starting to get nervous about bringing up this topic. But she had to know. "I remember you saying how it was really important to Rath. Important enough for him to kill Zan in order to do it."

He met her gaze without flinching. "Yeah."

She rolled her eyes impatiently. "Way to be non-committal," she muttered. Taking a deep breath, she went on, speaking very quickly. "What if the only way to stop Kivar is to go back to Antar?"

"Oh." He let out his breath like he'd just been sucker-punched. This obviously wasn't what he'd expected. She looked at him closely, watching him think seriously before answering. "We'll do whatever we can to make sure that's not necessary." He shrugged. "As strange as it is to admit, I don't want to go back there anymore."

Maria smiled brightly for a minute. "That's good to know." Then her smile faded. "But what if you have to? What if the only way to stop Kivar is for the four of you to go back to Antar? What then?"

Michael answered slowly. "Would you want me to stay here?" Before she could answer, Michael put a finger on her lips. "Wait." He slid off the counter and stood in front of her before lowering his hand. His eyes never left hers as he continued, watching carefully for her reaction. "Would you ask me to stay here when they leave?"

Maria narrowed her eyes in concentration, trying to get a sense of what he was feeling. She could feel pain at the question, but no hesitation. "Michael........"

"I'll stay if you ask me," he went on quietly. " Meilya edar eith." Again, she didn't pick up on any doubt or uncertainty. Being asked to choose between her and Max and Isabel hurt him, but there was no question of who he would pick.

He would pick her without a moment's thought. Maria felt like her heart was going to burst, it was so full. Eyes filling with tears, she reached over and gently caressed his cheek. She knew what he was offering her, and what it meant to him. And she knew that she could never ask him that.

"I know you would." She smiled at him as she tilted her head to study his face. "I would never ask you to do that. It would kill something in you to let Max and Isabel face him alone." She shook her head in mild amusement and understanding. "It's a part of who you are. You're a protector. You're their protector." She pulled him closer and kissed him lightly. "But you're more than that."

"I am?" Michael always wondered what she saw in him that made her love him the way she did.

"Yeah. You're also incredibly irritating at times, you know. Your social skills still need some work, and we have to do something about this overprotectiveness you're developing." Before he could say anything in his defense, she pointed her finger at him. "Don't think I didn't notice you glaring at the pillows. Pillows, Michael! Not exactly evil aliens, you know." She rested her hands on his shoulders. "You're also one of the best friends I've ever known. You're not a bad cook, at least by Crashdown standards. You're stubborn, but you're also strong and determined. You're a very talented artist, even if you deny it. And there's one more thing. The most important thing."

"And what's that?"

"You're mine. So I expect you to take care of yourself." She was completely serious, and he knew it.

"I'll do my best," he said honestly. "Are you sure about the whole not-staying thing?"

She nodded, a little sadly but surely. "Yeah, I'm sure. But let's do what we can to not make you have to leave, okay? And if you do leave, I need your promise that you'll always come back to me as soon as you can."

"Promise." And that was enough for her. She knew that Michael would never break a promise to her.

"Good."

Maria grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him even closer for a kiss. As their lips touched and parted, she wrapped her legs around his waist. Just like that, all worries about the future were gone. All she could feel was the way his hands were holding her back and legs as he swung her off the counter and carried her into the bedroom.

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A few hours later, Maria reluctantly separated herself from Michael's arms and looked around the room for her clothes. "What are you doing, teel-sharan?" he asked quietly.

"Getting dressed and going home," she said. "And before you say anything, there's no way my mother is going to believe that I'm sleeping over at anybody's house tonight, so sorry. I have to go home."

He sighed and closed his mouth as he watched her get dressed. Maria stood up to leave, but sat back down immediately, overcome with a sudden spell of dizziness. That was enough to have him up and over at her side.

"What's the matter?" he asked in sudden panic.

"Nothing." She closed her eyes, waiting for the dizzy spell to pass. "I must have just stood up too quickly." His hands grabbing her arms kept her from moving, and she had to admit to herself that she was glad for his strength to lean back upon. She still didn't feel too steady. She forced a shaky smile as she opened her eyes. "Liz interrupted my lunch earlier, and I haven't had anything except cake since then. Maybe I just need to eat."

His frown didn't let up. "You don't feel hungry. Just dizzy."

She sighed in irritation. "That could get real old real fast, you know." She went on with more insistence. "Michael, I'm fine. Honestly."

He didn't buy it. "Maybe you're working too hard. I could talk with Mr. Parker if you want less hours......"

"Don't you dare even think about it!" His concern was sweet, but she wasn't about to let him start making all the decisions in her life. "I need the money, and if I don't work, I don't get paid. It's a wild and crazy little Earth custom we have here."

"You could cut back on your hours if you're working too hard."

"I'm not working too hard!"

"Then why are you so tired and dizzy?" He glared at her. "You don't need the money so much that it's worth making yourself sick!"

"I'm not making myself sick, and I do too need the money."

"Why?"

Maria suddenly looked embarrassed, and glanced down at the ground. "Well, I was thinking about the whole moving-in thing you talked about. And while we're still nowhere near ready for that," she said with a pointed glare at him, "I was thinking that if we're going to eventually do it, then we should save up some money."

Michael suddenly felt his momentary anger and annoyance melt away. She was actually thinking about moving in with him. This was a good thing. "Okay, fine. But you still have to take care of yourself."

"Fine, spaceboy." She leaned over and gave him another kiss, further distracting him from his concerns. "Now, if you'll let go of me, I have to get home. I'll see you later." She smiled slyly at him, knowing full well that he was going to end up sleeping at her house with her that night.

She slipped out of his arms and was out the door. He hated having to watch her leave. Leaning back in his bed, Michael started to think about how he'd have to redecorate the apartment if he was going to convince her to move in sooner rather than later.

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At work the next day, Maria couldn't shake the feeling that Michael was watching her even more closely than usual. She kept shooting glances back at the kitchen, but she couldn't quite catch him doing it. That didn't make her any less suspicious, though. She even confronted him about it once, but he just gave her this innocent look. Well, it was as innocent a look as Michael could manage, at any rate. Finally, she just gave up and decided to yell at him about it later. In the meantime, she just concentrated on work. There hadn't been another incident of dizziness since the previous night, and she was certain that she'd just stood up too quickly. Michael obviously wasn't as convinced.

"So, is Brody's order ready yet?" She leaned over the counter between the dining area and the kitchen.

"This order was for Brody?" he asked suspiciously.

"Yes, Michael," she answered, speaking very slowly. "It is ready yet?"

He smirked. "Yes, Maria. It is ready. Why don't I just ask Liz to take it over to him?"

She smiled back at him pleasantly. "Why, thank you for the offer, spaceboy, but I think I'll take it over. Brody gives me better tips than he gives Liz."

Michael glared at her. "That makes me feel so much better about it."

Maria hopped over the counter and pulled him close for a very thorough kiss. After a moment's hesitation, he responded eagerly, hands clutching her waist to pull her even closer. When she broke away, she asked him a little breathlessly. "Do you honestly think you have anything to be jealous about?"

He shook his head, a little confused. "It's never really been about jealousy. I know that you're not interested in him and I trust you."

"Then what is it about?" she asked in her softest voice. She could see that he honestly didn't even fully understand it himself, but she knew the extent of Michael's hatred for Brody.

"I don't know." He shook himself and let her go. "It doesn't matter. Go deliver the food to the freak. We can talk more later." He turned back to take out his anger at Brody Davis on the hamburgers he was cooking.

Maria watched Michael pound the burgers for a minute, then slowly left the Crashdown, waving at Max and Isabel as she passed their table.

After looking to make sure that there were no cars coming in either direction, Maria started to cross the street to the UFO Center. Seeing Alex, Kyle, and Tess across the street, Maria waved hello and sped up her pace a little.

After that, everything happened really fast.

Tess noticed a man sitting in a parked car as they walked past it. It wasn't that bright a day, but the man was sitting there wearing a pair of sunglasses. Years of being raised with a paranoid alien made her cautious, so she slowed down to look closer, bringing Kyle to a stop with her, since they were holding hands. Alex kept on walking for a few steps, not realizing that they'd stopped. So, Kyle and Tess were the ones who saw the driver suddenly pull his car out into the road and speed up, aiming directly at Maria.

"Maria!" Tess screamed. The other girl turned at the noise and looked directly into a car headed straight at her, dropping the bag she was carrying.

Inside the Crashdown, Michael suddenly felt Maria's jolt of fear and jumped over the counter into the dining area. Customers inside quickly got out of his way as he went dashing out of the restaurant, just in time to see the car coming at Maria.

Just in time to see Alex run out into the street and grab Maria's arm, pulling her back with him out of the street.

Max, Liz, and Isabel were right behind Michael as he ran across the street. Ignoring Kyle, who was standing in the middle of the street watching the car speed off, Michael ran right over to where Maria and Alex were lying on the side of the street.

"Maria!" He fell to the ground near her. "Are you okay?" He was almost frantic with fear, which only subsided a little when she opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Yeah. Just a little shaken up." She tried to stand, but he wouldn't let her.

"Max, check her out before she stands up. Make sure she's okay." His voice didn't allow for arguments, so Max knelt down next to Maria. Isabel was already over near Alex, helping him to his feet and making sure he wasn't hurt.

By this time, some customers from the Crashdown were forming a crowd across the street. Liz and Tess went over to do some containment, distracting them so that they didn't wonder what Max was doing kneeling in front of Maria. While Liz explained that everything was fine, Tess made certain that nobody was noticing anything strange across the street. For once, Liz didn't even object to Tess's use of her powers. The last thing they needed was more attention right then, and it was obvious that worrying about keeping things low-key was the last thing on Michael's mind.

Max knelt in front of Maria and placed one hand on her head, running the other hand up and down in front of her body, not quite touching her. He hesitated over the area of her stomach, and Michael worried for a minute that there was some internal damage there, but then he went on. After a few minutes, he looked up at Michael with a smile that didn't quite match the wariness in his eyes. "She's fine. Nothing hurt from the fall."

"Told you so," Maria muttered. She closed her eyes then as the shaking started. She couldn't believe how close she'd come to dying. If that car had come a little closer. If Alex had been a little slower in pulling her back...........

So she missed the look of confusion Michael was giving Max, and Max whispering "We need to talk" to his friend. Michael frowned at Max for another instant, and then a thought occurred to him as some things fell into place in his mind. By then, Max was up and over where Alex and Isabel were standing. Was it possible?

Maria opened her eyes as she caught a wave of strong emotion coming from Michael. There was an amazing amount of almost overwhelming joy in there, stronger than she'd felt from him except during the tiasa, along with some underlying worry. The worry she could understand, seeing as how she'd nearly been run over, but the joy? That confused her. And the look on Michael's face didn't help clarify matters any. All the panic from a few minutes ago was gone. Instead, he had that look she'd seen him give her a few times, a look of almost-worship like she was the most amazing thing he'd ever seen. Which, while flattering, didn't really fit with the situation. "Michael, what......"

Before she could ask the question, Michael was looking up at Alex and getting to his feet. "Thank you." He couldn't even begin to put what he was feeling into words. If Alex hadn't pulled Maria out of the way of that car... Michael didn't even want to consider what his world would be like without her. It wasn't a possibility he could imagine. He took Alex's hand and shook it, hoping the other boy understood how much he owed him.

"Not a problem," Alex said, wincing as he took his hand back. "Quite a grip you've got there, Michael. Anyway," he glanced over at the girls across the street, "maybe we should get inside someplace private. Let Tess relax a bit, what do you say?"

"Good idea." Isabel kept on guard as they started to cross the street. If she saw any car even look like it was going to start while they were crossing, she was prepared to blast it.

Michael reached down and picked up Maria, ignoring her protests as he carried her across the street.

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Valenti was over a few minutes after Kyle called him. He came straight to the back room where the kids were gathered, ignoring the people in the outer area. Maria was huddled on the couch, between a very attentive Michael and a worried Liz.

"I got part of the license plate," Kyle said. "Here it is." He handed his father a piece of paper with a number written on it.

"Good. This might help find the guy." Looking over at the expression on Michael's face, Valenti made a mental note to find the driver before Michael did. "There's one thing I want to ask. I looked at the skid marks outside and there's something strange."

"What?" Max wasn't sure this was just an accident, and he knew that the others were thinking it, too. But nobody wanted to be the first to say it.

"Well, it's not conclusive, but it looks like the car sped out, aiming directly at Maria."

"It did," Tess said emphatically. "I saw it. He was trying to hit her."

Michael's eyes narrowed into little slits. "When we find him....."

Valenti broke in, his voice overriding Michael's. "That's just the thing. I don't think he was trying to hit her. It looks like he started to aim for her, then turned the car at the last minute so that it would swerve around and avoid her."

"Why would someone do that?" Liz asked in confusion.

The sheriff shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe they were drunk and didn't realize they were that close at first."

"But you don't think so." Max's statement wasn't a question.

"No. Call it instinct, but from what you've described and the skid marks, I think whoever was driving the car knew exactly what they were doing. They meant to scare Maria and come close, but not actually hit her."

Michael was torn. He wanted to go out and look at the scene in the road, but he didn't want to leave Maria. Noticing the way he was glancing back and forth between the door and the still-pale Maria, Alex went over to the couch. "Stop hogging the couch, would you, buddy?" he asked in a genial voice.

Michael gave a quick smile at his friend, kissed Maria of the forehead, and got up, letting Alex take his place next to Maria. Knowing she was in good hands, Michael dashed outside.

"This really doesn't make any sense," Liz protested. "Why just try to scare Maria?"

"Does this mean I don't get hero points for rescuing the damsel in distress?" Alex asked in a disappointed voice.

"Excuse me?" Maria's response was indignant. "I am not a damsel in distress. Well, not usually, at any rate." She shook her head. "Thanks for saving my life, Alex. I mean that. But let's not give Michael any more reason to be Mr. Overprotective, okay?"

Isabel sat down on the arm of the couch near Alex. "Don't worry. You definitely get hero points with me."

"All right, then." Alex would have done much more dangerous things to get that type of look from Isabel.

Tess was pacing the room anxiously. "I don't like this. Not at all."

Maria was distracted. She could sense the worry growing in Michael again. Whatever he was finding outside, he didn't like it. She was about to get up and go out there to him when he returned.

His eyes went first to hers to make sure she was okay, then he turned to Valenti. "You're right. The driver didn't plan to hit Maria." He scratched his eyebrow, deep in thought. "I can't pick up any intent to actually hurt her. And it would be fresh enough that I could."

"Okay, so why am I getting the feeling that you don't think this is a good thing? Because I'm thinking it's good that nobody wants to kill Maria." Kyle looked from Michael to Max, both of who had identical looks of concern on their faces.

"Because it's a distraction. Somebody wanted our attention focused here, on Maria." Max spoke calmly, but he went over to hold Liz's hand. Something else was going on here, something they didn't understand yet.

"Yeah," Michael nodded. His eyes roamed over the eight other people in the room. "Everyone I care about is right here in the room with me. What about the rest of you?"

It only took a second for his meaning to be clear. "Oh, no," Liz said as she ran up the stairs to her apartment to check on her mother. Max followed quickly.

Alex darted over to the phone to call his home, relieved to hear his father answer the phone and his mother's voice in the background. Isabel was on her cell phone, calling home when Maria turned to Michael. "Spaceboy, my mom......"

She stopped as she heard Valenti's voice talking to someone on his cell phone. "Amy? Is everything all right there? Oh, we've just had some problems with kids running around town today, causing disturbances. No problems at the shop? Good." Valenti nodded over at Maria, who leaned back with relief.

Liz and Max came back down. "My parents are fine," she told them.

"And I called my dad's office. He's okay. A little curious about why I suddenly decided to call him in the middle of the day, but I played it off like I wanted him to take more time off on the weekends." Max noticed the look on Isabel's face and his smile faded. "What is it, Iz?"

"Mom's not answering the phone at home." She could barely speak past the fear. "But that doesn't necessarily mean anything, right? She could just be out at the stores or something, couldn't she, Max?"

Max didn't answer and as their eyes met, she realized he was thinking the same thing she was. They were both remembering that day a lifetime ago when their other father had been killed by Skins.

Maria stood up shakily, looking at Michael and seeing the sick look on his face. Not exactly reassuring. She heard him whisper to himself, so quietly she could barely hear him, "History always repeats." He closed his eyes as he was flooded with memories, too terribly vivid, of that day so long ago, the day when Tymrath's old life ended and his new one began, the day when a king died.

"Well, let's find out," Valenti said, his matter-of-fact tone breaking through the three aliens' memory-induced paralysis. "Let's go."

They all ran out of the Crashdown, hoping that their fears were unfounded.

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