~ chapter 20 ~

Max’s head snapped up in alarm. Horror raced through his eyes with the speed of lightning as his position on top of Liz changed instantly from predatory to protective. His strong arms tightened around her in a crushing grip as Max’s haunted eyes stared in steady, piercing concentration at the inky blackness beyond the window.

A shudder ran through Max’s body into Liz’s and it was then she knew with unwavering certainty that Max had felt what she felt. The presence. The evil. The hatred. And it terrified him.

The ‘how’, ‘what’, ‘who’ and ‘why’ of the moment were neglected for the overpowering need to wrap herself around Max and give him the support he needed. And Liz did just that as she held onto Max and gazed up at him, her hand curling around his chin, fear strumming through her heated whisper at the shimmer of dread swimming in his eyes. "Max? Are you ok? What is it?"

Max swallowed hard, his breath stilling in his chest at Liz’s questions. God, how was he going to explain this one? His gaze dropped from the window to meet hers and his amber eyes flickered with a multitude of emotions. Doubt. Hesitation. Indecision. But most of all…determination. And overwhelming fear.

Another shudder set Max’s lips into a grim line as an old reality crushed the new-found hope that had dared to rise in his heart.

Max knew that reality. He recognized the fear. He knew the feeling of evil that prompted it. That cold hand of hatred that moved though him and stilled his beating heart. Most of all…he knew what it all meant. And he was not going to let it affect Liz. Not now. Not ever…

His gaze followed the longing caress of his fingers as they traced the features of her face one last time resting briefly on her lips before Max reluctantly pulled away from Liz, his gaze once more locking on the window to her balcony with unwavering resolve. "Stay here…" Max whispered as he smoothly glided from the bed to the floor with the grace of a Giselle, his feet carrying him straight to his gun case where he whipped out his special issue and headed straight for the window.

"Max, wait…" Liz’s steady voice sounded behind Max and he swung around from the now open window to see her standing before him in a heartbeat.

"What are you….?" The question was quickly stopped and answered when Liz reached around him and pulled her FBI issued weapon from the top drawer of her desk. Max immediately shook his head, his eyes flashing with authority. "No. You’re not going."

"The hell I’m not."

"I don’t have time for this, Liz." Anxiety flamed his whisper. "You’re staying."

"But what if you need back…"

"I won’t."

"But…"

"You’re staying and that’s an order, Agent." The harsh edge of command in Max’s voice echoed the stubborn jut of his jaw and was softened only by the protective concern and instant desire that flared in his eyes when he saw Liz’s answering stubbornness flash in her dark eyes and raised eyebrow. Without warning, Max’s arm shot out like a hook to catch around Liz’s waist before pulling her forward and crushing her to him. His lips followed suit, descending on hers like a heat-seeking missile and exploded on impact.

A helpless sound escaped her as his lips pressed hard against hers in urgent desperation. Her mouth opened without prompting to allow the rough heat of his tongue to sweep through her mouth relentlessly setting Liz’s body instantly on fire and she clung to Max as if he were her last breath. Maybe because suddenly, instinctively, he was.

Liz returned equally heated fire as her tongue repeatedly plunged deep into Max's moist mouth, her hands pressing hard against the back of his head silently forbidding his escape. Finally, with a groan of reluctance, Max pulled back from Liz, her lower lip being his last prisoner released and Liz's moan of pleasure mixed with a whimper of protest at the absence of his mouth on hers was nearly Max's undoing.

He felt himself waver as his lips moved to return to the heaven of her kiss but he stopped himself, knowing the battle facing him on the other side of the window. His forehead came to rest against hers as his breathing raggedly raced with the adrenaline pumping through his body. Fingers gripped the sides of her flushed face with tenderness as his dark eyes bored into hers echoing the plea in his voice when he spoke. "Please. For me. Liz, I need you to stay…"

Dazed by his kiss, stunned by the vulnerability in his eyes, Liz surrendered without further fight and nodded slowly as her eyes remained locked on his. Max nodded once with relief flashing in his eyes then released her, pulled away and slipped a leg through the open window, his absence prompting a shiver of fear to spike down Liz's spine. Liz took an instinctive step forward and reached out to stop him. "Max. Wait."

Max's head snapped back up and his heart stopped beating in his chest at the look of worry that shadowed her expression. "Come back safe."

An uncharacteristically wide grin spread over Max's face and he nodded with a wink. "You got it, Dreamgirl."

With that, he disappeared through the window leaving Liz feeling suddenly cold and all alone…

~~~~~~~~~~

Cole Guerin had almost reached the last rung of the ladder from Liz Parker's balcony just as he heard the sliding of the window above. He instinctively froze to hear heated whispers that he couldn't quite make out. He nearly let out a groan and he was suddenly very painfully aware that he had begun to sweat profusely.

Uncle Michael's gonna kill me if I get caught. The thought hit Cole like a ton of bricks and his fingers hung onto the ladder just a little bit tighter for support when silence deafened him from above. He was too afraid to move. To scared to breathe. He should have let Michael do this like he wanted but no, Cole had to insist. After a heated battle by the car at home, Cole finally won Michael's consent to retrieve the video camera in Michael's stead. The selling point had been Max Evans' powers…and how they didn't know exactly what they were.

Cole had no idea if Max knew of his presence at the old soap factory earlier because he happened to just see him or if Max had some special kind of alien 'radar'. If, in fact, Max did have power to sense other aliens, the last thing they needed right now was for Max to know about Michael just in case he was actually there to hurt instead of help their survival. At least that's what Cole had told Michael. And Michael had concurred…with one condition. Michael was to accompany Cole just in case there were any problems.

And boy was there a problem. Cole had tarried too long. He'd climbed up the ladder and slipped over the side with amazing ease and no detection. Quickly finding the offensive camera, Cole hastened to remove it from its hiding place and was just about to turn from the window when the bathroom door suddenly opened. Cole's eyes widened in shock when Max Evans stumbled into the bedroom with what looked like a wild tigress wrapped around him, attacking him with a starving appetite equaling the whole animal population of Africa.

Cole's wicked curiosity grew.

Max looked like he was ready to die. And he was thoroughly enjoying the trip to paradise. It was obvious by his ecstatic expression that this roller coaster trip he was on was the sweetest torture he'd ever known. His chest was heaving from his heavy breathing and his face was flushed from exertion, his legs visibly wobbled as he made his way to the bed. But he didn't stop. He met Liz's hungry kisses and eager caresses with equal fervor and when he finally reached the bed to lay her down, the raw passion that poured out of his eyes into Liz's made Cole swallow hard and avert his eyes quickly.

Passion that intense wasn't meant to be seen by anyone but Liz Parker. Cole's mind immediately conjured of the beautiful face of Sierra Carson and questions sprang to his thoughts in rapid succession. Was what he just witnessed…the intensity of emotion…the raw desire…was it an alien trait? Magnified by powers of sense and touch? Or could humans feel the same intensity…travel the same road to ecstasy? Would Sierra ever cling to him the way Liz Parker was clinging to Max Evans? Could she ever want him with as much hunger? Or ever look as deeply into his eyes? Knowing what he was, how could she…

It wasn't as if he'd never seen humans and aliens interact sexually before. He knew it was possible. Michael and Maria were never too shy with their public displays of affection, but this…what was happening between Max and Liz was…

Beyond words.

It was with that realization that Cole became aware of the fact, he was still crouched by the window of Liz's room gripping a video camera to his chest while Max and Liz were otherwise occupied. He needed to get out of there. Fast. Before he saw anything else that might aid in the delinquency of this very curious but fairly innocent podster.

Cole carefully crossed the space of the balcony and began his descent almost reaching the end when he heard the terrifying sound of the window being opened. He remained motionless through the heated whispers and near-dead silence above him until he heard Max's voice distinct and clear. "You got it, Dreamgirl…"

Cole took that moment to release the ladder rungs and drop the rest of the short distance to plop on the soft grass beneath. Glancing up he caught the sight of Max's feet as they swung over the balcony edge and Cole hesitated only a moment before taking off in the direction of the car where Michael was waiting.

He could hear the pounding of feet behind him and took the liberty of glancing back to gauge Max's progress right before he rounded the corner of the building to reach the alley in the back of the Crashdown. Before he got two steps around the corner, Cole felt a strong hand clasp onto his shirt and spin him around till his back was against the wall and he was finally face to face with Max Evans.

~~~~~~~~~~

Liz jumped in mid-pace and bit off the nail she'd been chewing nervously at the loud knock on the door. "Lizzie? Lizzie, honey, can I come in?"

She spun toward the door and crossed the room absently casting one last glance back at the window Max had just disappeared through only a few heartbeats ago. She flung the door opened to see her dad standing in the hall with his hands full of towels and a big smile on his face.

The moment his eyes fell on Liz, Jeff Parker's eyes widened and he dropped the towels with a dull thud, his hands flying upward to cover his eyes. "Oh! Gosh! Lizzie, I'm so sorry. I…I…I didn't think. I mean, I didn’t…"

A look of confusion passed over Liz's face until she glanced down to see that her nightshirt was still unbuttoned from Max's unfinished dressing session. "Oh my God!" Liz quickly covered the thin strip of flesh her shirt had failed to hide and pushed her hair nervously back from her eyes. "Daddy, I'm so sorry. Max and I were…"

Eyes tightly shut, Jeff raised a hand to stop her explanation. "STOP! I don't want to know. I'll just…I didn't mean to interrupt…"

A deep blush colored Liz from head to toe and she glanced down in embarrassment hastening to button her shirt. "You know, dad, it's ok. You didn't interrupt anything. Max actually just stepped outside for a second…" A light chuckle escaped her unexpectedly when she looked back up at Jeff, one hand firmly still planted over his eyes. "It's ok, dad. Really. You can open your eyes now."

One eye slowly slid open to make sure the view was clear then Jeff's hand dropped with relief and his other eye joined its partner to take in the sight of his beautiful daughter standing in the doorway…glowing. With her hair mussed from errant fingers running through it and her lips puffy and red from violent kisses, Liz literally shimmered with almost perfect bliss. "He really makes you happy, doesn't he?"

Liz blinked at the softly spoken unexpected question, but couldn't help the brightness in her eyes from jumping several notches up or the brilliant smile from breaking out over her face. She glanced up at him through lowered eyelashes as her head nodded slowly. "I've…" She let out a deep sigh. "I've never felt anything like this before. He's…he's…"

"He's yours." Jeff finished for her as an understanding light passed through his eyes. "Your other half."

"Yeah. Maybe." The corner of Liz's lips turned up dreamily and her gaze drifted as her body still tingled with the heat of Max's touch, burning her though he was no longer in the room. "I hope…" The whisper was soft, but audible and Liz quickly blinked her way back to reality, her eyes snapping back to her father's face. "So, um…dad, was there something you…"

"Oh, yeah. The reason I came…" Jeff looked down sheepishly before letting out a sigh. "I was worried about you. You and Max…I don't know. Earlier, you didn't seem very…"

Liz leaned against the doorway immediately picking up on her father's concern and quickly soothing it with a lie that wasn't that far from the truth. "Oh, right. That. We just had a rough trip that's all. Max meeting you guys for the first time and well, us running into Kyle again and all…"

Jeff nodded. "Right. That's what your mom said. I just wanted to be sure you were ok. You know, let you know that mom and I are here for you. For both of you. You and Max." Liz smiled gratefully and Jeff lowered his head with a chuckle. "Remember when you were a little girl and you used to wake up crying from all those bad dreams because you thought monsters were under your bed?"

Liz smiled at the memory. "Yeah, and you would come in and scare them out of the room with your awful singing…"

Jeff feigned offense. "Hey, my singing wasn't that bad."

"Dad…" Liz began to protest as they exchanged a look before he chuckled with defeat.

"Ok, so maybe it was." His smile faded as memories crowded his mind once more. "You know, you'd always ask me to hold you till you fell asleep." Jeff's eyes raised to meet hers with a hint of sadness and realization masking his expression. "You don't need me to hold you till the fear is gone anymore, do you? Max does that now."

Liz's stance straightened and she immediately began to reassure him. "Dad, it's not…"

"No, honey. It's ok. You're not a little girl any longer…and I'm glad." Jeff let out a sigh as he reached for her hand. "I'm glad that if I can't be there to help you, you know…through your nightmares…that you've got someone like Max to hold onto instead."

Liz covered his hand with hers and smiled loving at a father that was taking the first step in letting go of his little girl. "Yeah, dad. Max holds me…" Her eyes softened as she searched for the words to explain what Max's gentle words of encouragement and occasional touches of support had meant to her throughout the day. "…just perfect."

Jeff nodded with a wistful smile as he watched his little girl morph into a beautiful woman right before his eyes. A teasing quirk turned his lips upward as his eyes danced with a silent chuckle when he once more took in his daughter's ravaged appearance. "Yeah…I kinda got that impression."

Liz had the grace to blush in embarrassment before Jeff pulled her into a gentle hug. "Make sure he doesn't let you fall."

"Don't worry, dad. If I fall, he falls." Liz whispered the truth from her heart as she swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and hugged her father before pulling back. Feeling they'd reached a new level of understanding, Liz flashed him a smile as her eyes lowered shyly to the floor, Liz's attention was captured by the towels on the floor. "Uh…dad. What's with the towels?"

Jeff chuckled as he bent to retrieve the towels he'd unceremoniously dumped on the floor. "I thought you might need extras. Just remember we don't have an over abundance of water for any long…*cold*…showers Max might need to take…" Jeff handed the towels to Liz and gave her a wink. "Since…you know…he's such an honorable man." He turned and walked away calling back over his shoulder. "I'm sure he won't take advantage of my little girl…"

"Dad!" A new blush flamed red on Liz's creamy cheeks and she shook her head with a chuckle as she closed the door behind her father's retreating figure. Leaning against the door her eyes rested on the open window Max had fled through a short while ago and her smile disappeared. I'm glad that if I can't be there to help you, you know…through your nightmares…that you've got someone like Max to hold onto instead.

Worry creased Liz's brow as the memory of that horrible, evil presence washed over her. The terror that had flashed in Max's eyes as he stared out the window sent another shiver of fear creeping down her spine as an unshakeable feeling of dread gripped her heart and soul. Liz couldn't help but whisper. "But what are Max's nightmares? And who exactly does he hold onto when they wake him from his dreams…?"

~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeff Parked slipped into his room closing the door behind him before turning toward his bed with a slight shake of his head. Ok. So he hadn’t been prepared to see his little girl in that state of undress. She was, after all, a grown woman now. And Max Evans seemed to know exactly how to touch that woman. Jeff ran his hand over his eyes. Ok. Bad choice of words…

"Honey?" Nancy’s muffled voice called to Jeff from the mountains of pillows surrounding her head. He heard a yawn as she flipped from her back to her side to squint up at him. "Is Liz ok?"

"Oh, yeah. I’d say she’s just about perfect right now." Jeff muttered dolefully as he slid into bed next to his wife.

Nancy’s head raised from the pillow slightly as she gazed over at Jeff concern for her husband furrowing her brow. "Oh, no. What did you walk in on?"

Jeff chuckled at Nancy’s perceptive question and gazed up into the darkness. Ignoring her query, but answering it just the same, Jeff reached over and felt for his Nancy’s hand. Raising it to his lips he let out a sigh of acceptance. "You’re right, Nan. He’s the one."

Jeff’s words completely captured Nancy’s attention. She propped herself up on her elbow and stared at Jeff, wonder dawning in her eyes. "Ok. Now I really need to know…"

Jeff mirrored Nancy’s position as he turned to her, a sparkle of amusement shining in his eyes. "I didn't really see anything…but I can pretty much guess what they were up to…"

"And you're ok with that?"

"I wouldn't go *that* far." Jeff stated with a sigh as his hand ran the length of Nancy’s arm, a small smirk turned the corner of his lips upward as his voice lowered with meaning. "But it did give me a few ideas…"

"Oh, really?" Nancy practically purred with anticipation. "Why don't you tell me what kind of ideas…"

Jeff leaned in for a kiss. "How about I show you instead?"

~~~~~~~~~~~

Cole Guerin's eyes widened in fright as Max held his gaze with steady scrutiny. "Pretty late for a stroll. What are you doing here?"

"I…I just…"

"Yeah? You just what?" Max asked as he took a step forward and got in Cole's face. "What are you up to, Cole? You are Cole, aren't you? The kid from the shooting."

Cole swallowed hard and nodded.

"That's what I thought." Max paused a moment and searched the boys eyes. "Now listen up carefully. We need to talk, and we need to talk soon. You're probably pretty scared right now from the shooting. Worried that people are watching you…and you have every right to be, but I’m not one of them. I'm here to help…" Max's speech was halted by a sound coming from the alley. Max's head snapped to the side and he listened carefully for a moment, his senses picking up on the presence of a gun nearby. He glanced back at Cole and jerked his head to the side in silent command for Cole to leave.

Just as Cole took a step away, Max grabbed his arm and pulled him close. "Tomorrow. Meet me at the old soap factory. Nine o'clock." Cole nodded once and swallowed again before Max patted him gently on the shoulder and whispered. "Go. Get out."

Max watched Cole slip around the next corner before once more facing the alley from which he'd just come. He took a deep breath and gripped the handle of his gun preparing himself for battle if need be. He ducked his head around the corner only to find it empty. Boy, I must be off my game. I could have sworn there was someone…

Looking once more and finding nothing but an old trash bin, Max shrugged his shoulders, tried to relax and willed away the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach as he turned the corner and headed back toward the ladder that led to Liz's balcony. But the feeling wouldn't leave. And no matter how hard he tried to deny it, Max knew why. He'd only felt this way two other times in his life and it had meant the same thing each time.

Trouble with a capital 'T'.

Then again, maybe he was being overly sensitive. Maybe with his senses on overload…the intensity level as high as it was between him and Liz…he was just picking up on things that weren't there. Maybe…

Liz. God, how was he going to explain this to her? He could tell that she'd sensed something. Hell, how could she not? He practically jumped off her in search of a phantom enemy. He knew she'd have questions and she wouldn't be afraid to ask them. This was going to be harder than he thought. Balancing his assignment and Liz all at the same time. His alienness with his human traits. His duty and desires. Especially with the added burden of this latest twist…

"Well, well, well. What do we have here? Max Evans on a public street of Roswell…dressed only in a towel." Kyle Valenti's mocking voice sounded behind Max. "Indecent exposure is a crime in Roswell, you know." Kyle slipped a pair of handcuffs from his belt and grinned wickedly at Max when Max stopped abruptly and turned to face him. "Mr. Evans, it looks like I get the distinct pleasure of reading you your rights…"