PART EIGHTEEN

"Liz!" a voice whispered.

Liz was jarred into consciousness by a shaking on her shoulder. Her eyes cracked open to see Maria standing over her with an anxious look on her face.

"I need to talk," Maria said quietly, and Liz became aware of exactly where she was, namely, draped over Max.

For an instant, she just marveled in the feeling of her arm draped over the warm skin of his stomach, her leg tangled with his.

She smiled inwardly as she her gaze traveled to his face, peaceful in sleep.

"Liz!" Maria whispered insistently, snapping Liz back into the moment. As her head turned to face Maria, her body moved slightly, and Max's arm tightened around her protectively.

The way she felt this very instant had to be the best feeling in the world, being in the arms of the person she had come to trust maybe even more than she trusted herself.

"Ok, ok, Maria," she said resiedly. Taking a last long look at Max, she gently leaned over and kissed his forehead, and in sleep a little smile appeared on his face.

Gently, she moved his arm and slid out from under the sleeping bag. His brow furrowed as on some level he felt her absence.

She quietly tucked the sleeping bag around him, and stood, feeling her bare feet protest against the cold stone floor of the chamber. Last night she'd barely been aware of them, but this morning the bottom of her feet felt raw from walking outdoors without shoes.

She winced as she followed Maria to the other side of the chamber, away from the others.

Maria dropped to the ground and crossed her legs, and Liz slowly lowered herself to sit in front of her.

"What's up Maria?" Liz asked.

"First things first," Maria said, throwing her arms around Liz, pulling her into an embrace.

"I'm so glad you're all right!" she said. "We were so worried about you, I....I was thinking the worst you know, after what happened with Wilkes out at the hotel, and knowing Pierce had you," she said.

She pulled away and looked Liz over, noting the bandage on her arm.

"What's that?" she asked, concerned.

Liz sighed. "I don't even want to tell you Maria. I know you're going to freak out," Liz said.

"What? Me? I'm not going to freak out," she said exasperated, her hand on her chest.

"I bet you will," Liz said quietly.

"Thanks for having so much faith in me," Maria said.

"All right, all right," Liz said. "I was shot."

"WHA-" and Liz clamped her hand over Maria's mouth.

"Shhh!" she said, looking across the chamber.

"I know you too well Maria," she laughed softly. "I'm fine, it's healing fine. Can I take my hand away now?"

Maria paused, and then nodded.

Liz decided against telling her about the incision on her chest. She knew that would through Maria over the edge.

"How did you get shot?" Maria whispered.

Liz looked at the ground. "Pierce did it, to keep Max in line. In my room."

"The blood," Maria said musingly.

"It wasn't Max's fault, Maria," Liz said defensively.

"No, I know," Maria said.

"Liz, I'll be honest with you, I am just freaked out by this whole situation. I mean, we're in a cave, with aliens! The FBI is after us. They're supposed to protect us!" she said.

"Maria, Pierce is a monster," Liz said quietly. "Whatever you think I went through in there, what they did to Max was a hundred times worse."

"I don't doubt it, looking at all of them," Maria said.

Maria was quiet for a moment.

"Liz, will our lives ever go back to normal?" Maria asked.

Liz could have lied to her, could have told her that she was certain that once Pierce was gone, that everything would revert back to the way it was. But she'd never outright lied to her friend before, and she wasn't about to start now.

"I don't know Maria," she admitted. "I hope so, but I really don't know."

Maria nodded.

"Well, there's not much we can do about it now," she said.

"No," Liz answered quietly.

Liz glanced over at Max, huddled under the sleeping bag, a look of concern on her face.

She turned back to Maria and saw the knowing look she had on her face.

"What?" Liz asked.

"You're falling in love with him, aren't you?" Maria asked.

Liz chewed her lip for a moment, before answering.

"Yeah Maria, I think I am," she said.

A little smile appeared on Maria's face.

"You can totally see it you know," she said.

Liz blushed, looking down.

"We went through a lot together in that compound Maria. He almost killed himself last night, because he didn't want to hurt me. He told me what he is, in the compound, and you know what Maria? I don't care. I really don't care. It doesn't matter to me," she said.

"Well, they're part human right?" Maria asked.

"Yeah. Max said that this guy that used to come around to see him told him that they were genetically engineered. Their own DNA was mixed with human DNA," she said.

"That must be so weird," Maria said in a low voice. "You know, to know that you're not human, but not completely something else either."

Liz nodded.

Just then, Maria caught sight of Liz's feet.

"Chica! My God!" she said. "Look at your feet!"

Liz glanced down to see that the bottoms of her feet were cross-hatched with deep cuts.

Maria shook her head and got up, walking over to the packs. She rummaged through them, pulling out a first aid kit.

She came back and sat down in front of her again.

"Liz, I know you're worried about Max, but you have to take care of yourself too," she scolded.

Maria cleaned out the cuts, Liz wincing at the stinging sensations. She then wrapped her feet in gauze carefully.

As she worked, she asked Liz the question she'd wanted to ask her since she'd seen the girl with them.

"Who is she?" she said in a low voice.

"I don't know what she is to Max, but they seem to have some sort of bond," Liz said, glancing at Max.

"You don't think...." Maria faltered.

"I don't know," Liz admitted.

"But if that's what was intended by whoever engineered them, I don't know if I can stand in the way of that Maria," she said sadly.

"I mean, they are the same. Max and I are different. I don't care, I really don't. But what if they were created with some purpose? What if my feelings are going to screw up some greater plan for them?" she said.

Maria sighed.

"Does he seem to, you know....be attracted to her or anything?" Maria asked.

"I don't know Maria. I don't think so, but there's definitely something there," she said. "I just don't know what it is."

"In other words, it's complicated," Maria said.

"Yeah," Liz finished.

"Well, not that I'm some love guru Liz, but this is what I think. I think Max will have to make the decision that's right for him, when the time comes, just like you will. Lizzie, have you noticed the way he looks at you? It's like you've become his world or something. And maybe you have. I mean, I've never seen anything like it," Maria said.

"Maria, I'm the first person who's ever been kind to him. I'm just afraid that what he's feeling is just that, some kind of misplaced gratefulness. And I couldn't stand that, because I really care about him. I care about him so much that it hurts," she said, playing with the hem of her hospital gown.

Maria looked at her friend appraisingly.

"My personal opinion? I don't think that's it at all. There was something between you two, right from the beginning. It's like you instinctively trusted each other. After all he's been through in his life Liz, how easy do you think it is for him to trust people? But he trusted you, right from the beginning, and he trusted us, because we were your friends. That's more than just being grateful," she finished.

"Maybe," Liz said hesitantly. "I don't know. I don't know anything anymore Maria."
"Chica, for once just stop analyzing everything, and just let it be what it is. Whatever is going to happen *will* happen, and there's nothing you can do to stop it," Maria said.

"I know Maria, it's just hard," she said.

"I'm sure the fact that even with those scars she looks like she's in the running for the Miss America pageant doesn't help," Maria said, scowling in the direction of the girl.

Liz giggled.

"Well, at least Alex is getting along with her. She wouldn't win any pageant with her graciousness, that's for sure," Liz said.

"Oh, that was mean of me to say," she quickly amended.

"No, it was the truth. The girl was being a flat-out bitch," Maria said, matter of fact.

"Maria, you have to understand....," Liz said.

"Liz, stop defending it. I know that they've been through a lot, but we're all stuck in this together, whether we like it or not. We're all going to have to find some way to get along," she said.

"So this isn't about Isabel at all, is it?" Liz asked, grinning at her friend.

"What are you talking about?" Maria said, her brow furrowing.

"I'm talking about Michael," Liz said.

"What about Michael?" Maria asked.

"You think he's cute," Liz said, trying to suppress a smile.

"Where the hell did you get that from?" Maria asked.

"You always argue with guys you think are cute," Liz reminded her.

"Bull!" Maria said, shoving Liz's good arm lightly.

"Um....do I have to bring up Rob Gordon?" Liz said.

"Liz, that was an exception. That was just....passion," Maria said.

"Uh huh," Liz said, her voice fairly shaking with laughter.

"Fine, yeah he's cute. They're all beautiful. You'd have to be blind not to see it. But "A" Liz, he's a jerk, "B" he's an alien, and "C"...." she trailed off looking confused.

"Oh yeah, he's an *alien*!" she said, with a "Eureka!" look on her face.

"You're too much Maria," Liz said, laughing softly.

"What? Just because you decided to commune with an alien doesn't mean I'm going to follow in your footsteps," Maria chided.

"Ok, ok, I'll drop it," Liz said.

"Good," Maria said, with a look of satisfaction.

"I heard Uncle John go out this morning. I think he went into town to get supplies," Maria said.

Liz nodded.

"That Cal guy still gives me the creeps," Maria shuddered.

"I don't care how creepy he is. He got Max and I out of there. That's all I care about. Where is he now?" Liz asked.

"Outside, keeping an eye out I guess," Maria said.

Maria studied her friend with concern. She looked so tired. She felt badly now for waking her.

"Liz, why don't you go lie down for awhile. I just wanted to make sure that you were all right," Maria said.

"I am still a little tired," Liz admitted.

"Go on," Maria prompted.

Liz nodded, giving her friend a quick hug before carefully getting up and walking back over to the lump of sleeping bag that covered Max.

Gingerly, she stretched out next to him, pulling the sleeping bag over herself again.

She turned her head toward him, toward the gentle face that filled her every waking thought, and she bit her lip.

"I wish I knew what I am supposed to do Max," she whispered softly, taking his hand and bringing it to her heart, holding it there with her own.

"I want to do the right thing for you. I just don't know what that is," she said, sighing.

Her eyelids began to feel heavy, and she struggled to keep them opened. This past week had been so exhausting for them both, mentally and physically.

She snuggled closer to him, and his hand reached for her hip in sleep, pulling her closer to him, as his body turned to face hers.

She remained completely still, his hand still on her heart as his other hand rested on her hip. His lips were pressed unconsciously against her forehead.




Liz wanted this moment to last forever. Though it was the calm between their escape and the battle that was to come, she couldn't help but yearn to have these moments all of the time, with Max.

She couldn't fight sleep anymore. She didn't want to. She knew that she was safe in Max's arms, and that alone was enough to lull her into sleep.

*%*%*%*%*%

It was hours later before Max stirred, hearing a persistent dull bang outside the chamber.

He instinctively pulled Liz closer protectively, and tried to get his bearings.

He was in the chamber, he remembered now.

Her face was only inches from his. Her breath puffed lightly against his face, and he smiled.

Her eyelids twitched and then fluttered open. He watched as her eyes focused on his, and she rewarded him with a soft smile.

"Hey," she said quietly.

"Hey," he answered.

So caught up in her gaze, he didn't realize the position they were in right away, until he saw a strange look pass over her face, and she looked down.

At the same instant, he became aware of the softness under his hand, and he looked down, and to his horror, he saw his hand on her breast.

"Oh," he said, turning beet red, and they pulled apart at the same time.

He struggled to sit up, dizziness only amplifying his mortification.

"Liz, I'm so sorry," he said, embarrassed, as he grabbed his head, trying to bring everything into focus. He'd sat up too quickly, and was still having adverse effects from the chip.

"Max no, it was my fault," she said.

"I'm sorry," he said again, wishing the ground would eat him up.

"Max, stop," she said gently.

His eyes focused on a piece of paper lying next to the sleeping bag.

"They left a note," he said, reading it, trying any way to get his mind of the embarrassing situation he was finding himself in.

The note read that they let them sleep, and were outside with Cal, honing their alien abilities, for the eventual confrontation they would inevitably have with the FBI.

"Max," Liz said, turning his still red face toward her.

"It's ok," she said gently.

"Really. It was my fault. I'd taken your hand before I fell asleep, and it probably just moved," she said.

He nodded, unable to meet her gaze, looking at the stone floor.

A moment of uncomfortable silence passed between them.

"How....how are you feeling?" she asked, tentatively.

He shrugged a little.

"A little bit weak," he said quietly.

Liz felt a twinge in her own feet, and remembered Max had also been barefoot the night before.

She pulled the sleeping bag away, and winced.

His feet were cut up worse than hers were, due to the fact that he'd been partially dragged.

Both the bottoms and the tops of his feet were streaked with dried blood.

"Max," she said softly, "Cal had said something last night about healing yourself. Do you think you can do that?"

He shook his head.

"I don't think so, not yet," he said. "After what happened yesterday with Pierce, I lost a lot of my strength."

"I'm so sorry about that Max," she said softly, still horrified at what he'd put himself through.

He shook his head.

"I would never hurt you Liz. Never," he said fiercely, meeting her eyes.

"I know that," she said meaningfully, taking his hand.

He saw the compassion that burned in her eyes as she looked at his wounds.

"That bandage needs to be changed," she said, looking at his chest.

Slowly, she reached out her hand, gently pulling at the tape and he shut his eyes.

He felt the gentle tug of her fingers against it, and then the cool air hit the wound.

And then he felt her gentle fingers trace the area where the tape had been, and he opened his eyes.

Her eyes lifted to his, and a connection opened between them, and she gasped.

Unaware, she put a hand gently over his wound, and he felt the warmth of her hand seeping into his skin as his eyes searched hers, and he felt her heart beating in his ears as if it were his own.

Their breathing synchronized, each breath drawing at the same time.

"Max?" she breathed as she felt a curious warmth spread through her arm.

This was just as confusing for him as it was for her. They'd never had a connection like this before, almost as if their bodies had become an extension of one another's. He felt her pulse race through his body, her heart beating in time with his.

She looked down and her eyes widened in amazement.

"Max look!" she said, and he looked down and saw that her fingers were glowing softly covering the wound and burns on his chest.

His head shot up again thinking she was afraid, but she was still looking at her hand, a smile of wonder on her face.

The glow in her hand dimmed, and with shaking fingers, she pulled her hand away.

A beautiful smile broke out on her face as she looked at his chest.

"It's gone Max!" she said, looking up into his eyes, joy written across her features.

His breathing was shallow, as he looked down, unable to believe what had just happened.

He was sure he was too weak to heal himself.

"Max, how...." she said.

"I don't know," he said hoarsely, he said, looking down at his chest.

"I think we did it...." he said looking up to meet her eyes, "together."

Her eyes filled with tears as she smiled at him.

She could help him. She could ease the pain he was in.

She placed her hand on his temples gently, over the burns from the electrodes. She looked into his eyes.

"Let me help you Max," she whispered.

He smiled, and reached up with both hands to clasp her wrists, and again the connection opened.

Max felt a comforting warmth on either side of his head, and could detect the slight glow coming from her hands as their heartbeats again became one.

The connection flared up stronger this time, as they were lost in each other's eyes again.

Liz felt the gentle squeeze of his fingers on her wrists as she felt a wondrous energy flow through her body.

And in that moment, she knew that energy was Max. It was Max inside her, his gentle presence flowing through her veins, warming her heart, embracing her mind.

Golden sparkles flecked his eyes, the color of dark honey. She felt her thumbs brush his cheek, heard his breathing in her mind.

His energy pulsed through her body, through her fingers, healing his skin.

It was humbling and empowering at the same time, that together they could make the magic that he could not alone.

Without looking, she knew the burns were gone. Her hands slid slowly down his cheeks to his neck, never leaving his skin, his hands still on her wrists. She cupped the incision on his neck they'd made at the compound, and smiled, knowing it would be gone within seconds.

Max felt his heart leap at the look of wonder on Liz's face. She was not repulsed by what was happening. She was....enthralled with it, with him.

He couldn't help but feel the rush of happiness at her complete acceptance of what was happening, of who he was.

He was actually breathless with it.

And Liz could barely contain her joy at his unguarded smile. Momentarily, the incision disappeared, and her hands moved to his shoulders, and he let go of her wrists as her hands slid down his arms, a soft golden glow trailing behind her fingers, a remnant of their connection.

"Max....," she whispered, as her fingers trailed down to his, and entwined with them.

She squeezed them lightly, and let go of them, putting her hands lower on his ribcage, where more burns lay.

His hands rubbed her forearms as she looked down at her hands in awe.

Lightly, her fingers caressed the scorched skin, watching as they erased the burns, slowly leaving new skin behind.

She could feel the healing starting to take its toll on both of them, her body growing weary along with his.

Abruptly, he broke contact with her arms, pushing her hands down to her sides.

He slowly leaned over, close to her neck, so close she could feel his breath sending warm shivers up her spine.

He reached for her hands again, crossing her arms in front of her.

He moved closer, crossing his so that their knees were touching, and he reached behind her neck, gently pulling on the tie of her gown.

Liz felt as if her heart were going to pound right out of her chest as he gently lowered the gown off her shoulders slightly, exposing her chest, and the roundness of the tops of her breasts. Her crossed arms kept the gown from falling lower.

She smiled inwardly at his attempt at preserving her modesty.

He looked into her eyes for her reassurance, and then they moved lower to her chest, which was now rising and falling erratically.

She heard the muffled sound of her own breath as he gently took the hand that was crossed over her arm and pressed it to the back of his hand, her fingers lining up with his.

The muffled sounds of continuing small explosions outside went unnoticed by them as he carefully pressed his hand to the incision they'd made the week before on her chest. It had started to heal on its own, but he wanted it gone. He felt her fingers pressed on the back of his hand, and her thundering heart beneath her silken skin as their hands began to glow.

Liz's head fell back as a building heat passed from his fingers into her chest.

"Liz," he said quietly, needing her to look at him, needing to know that this was ok.

Her head fell forward, her liquid brown eyes meeting his, and together they were lost.

*flash*

Both experienced the innocent heat of their first kiss in Liz's bed that night before Pierce had captured them. But each felt the other's thoughts, feelings.

Liz felt his desire to kiss her, and his insecurity about what he was. She saw the flash he'd received from her of Kyle.

Max felt the pure happiness that filled her as he took that leap and touched his lips to hers. She had wanted him to kiss her. She had hoped that he would. He felt her curiosity of what his lips would feel like against hers right before he'd touched them.

The images, the feelings were gone just as suddenly as they had come, and they were both left sitting face to face, their breath unsteady. Max was almost exhausted with the effort of healing. When she'd taken the initiative and put her hands on him, it had taken less of his energy. This had been much more draining.

Max broke the gaze first, looking to her chest to see the incision gone.

He smiled softly, and looked at her again from beneath his long dark lashes.

His hand still hovered over her chest, and he moved to take it away, but Liz wouldn't let him.

Never taking her eyes from his, she put his hand on the top swell of her breast.

Liz felt his sharp intake of breath as his hand rested on the softness of it.

She dropped her hand to her side.

He blushed lightly, his eyes dropping before looking at her again.

His hands slightly shaking, his fingers traced the swell of one breast visible above the gown, pausing in the middle of her chest before running lightly over the other.

He could feel the steady pound of her heart, and an aching swell in his lower region, a shot of some indescribable feeling tightening his stomach.

He swallowed nervously, leaning closer to her, and his lips parted as his mouth moved over hers lightly, his hand caught between them, his fingers pulsing with her heart.

His tongue trailed over her lips lightly before gently tangling with hers.

Her hand rose to his neck, pulling him closer.

She concentrated on every precious touch, every sensation that Max awoke in her body.

His tongue tenderly slid against hers, before swirling gently around it.

A small whimper escaped from her mouth, as she slowly unfolded her legs, lying back to the floor, gently pulling him with her.

She felt the weight of his body rest against hers, the hard lines of his chest pressing gently on her own. Her pulse quickened at the hardness she felt pressed against her hip.

Max reached out and pulled the sleeping bag over them, before dragging his lips away from hers his elbow holding his weight, one hand still pressed against her chest, the other stroking her cheek gently.

He felt the hunger in his body for her, her softness beneath him inviting and lovely.

He could see that she was feeling the same, her lips wet and swollen, her eyes darkened in desire.

But they both knew it was too soon, and too much was going on.

He laid his head gently on her chest, and her fingers entwined in his hair.

"When this is over Liz...." he trailed off.

She didn't say anything, she just gently put her arms around him.

If what she suspected was true about the girl, her heart would be broken in the end, but she couldn't help herself.

She would take whatever Max was willing to give her, for as long as he was willing to give it.

Max heard the voices outside first.

He lifted himself up onto his elbows and carefully pulled Liz's gown back over her shoulders, reaching behind her to tie it loosely in the back.

He moved to lie beside her, his fingers caressing her cheek, as they heard Maria speaking in a loud voice.

"Yeah, well the next time you want to blow up a rock make sure I'm out of the vicinity!" she fairly yelled at Michael.

"I wish I'd been aiming," they heard Michael mutter.

"*What* did you say?" Maria said irritated.

The two laughed quietly under the cover of the sleeping bag.

All was well on the home-front, for now....