~ chapter 21 ~

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…?"

Well, you certainly won’t find out just standing here, Parker… Fueled by the uneasy feeling that sent tingles of apprehension along her nerve endings and landed like a lead weight in the pit of her stomach, Liz tossed the towels on the bed and headed straight for the still opened window. She hesitated a moment remembering the desperate tone of Max’s kiss. The way his eyes and voice shimmered with protectiveness when he asked her to stay…for him. It was more than a request…it was a plea. A plea born out of his deep-seeded need…for her.

And it was that exact plea that catapulted her out her window and onto the balcony. Because suddenly she realized how desperately she needed him too. And she’d be damned if she was going to let him face this…whatever the hell it was…alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ice blue eyes locked with amber pools of fire as deadly silence fell over the alley. Kyle's mocking grin belied the challenge in his steely gaze and Max's unreadable mask dropped like a weight pulling all emotions from his expression. Their stances mirrored each other in a strength and immobility. Until…

A smirk suddenly skipped over Max's lips and his eyes flickered with just a hint of amusement. After one glance at the handcuffs being held in the air, Max turned his back to Kyle with casual nonchalance and flippant disregard. "Get real, Kyle."

He managed two steps before the cock of Kyle's gun echoed off the brick walls of the alley. Max froze in place. "Thought that would get your attention." Kyle's voice lowered with a sneering command. "Now, hands against the wall and spread 'em."

Max turned back to Kyle with slow deliberation as disbelief curled his lips upward, his eyes burning with irritation. His hand clenched around his weapon as if itching to swat Kyle away like the pest he was then relaxed, knowing the moment he raised his hand in defense his cover would be blown. A dark eyebrow raised as Max forced a calm to enter his voice that contradicted the churning of his stomach. "What are you going to do? Frisk me?" A mocking hint of laughter edged his voice before that edge turned to cold finality when Kyle’s answering smile confirmed his suspicions...Kyle wasn’t going to let this go easily. "Not in this life."

"Going for that additional charge of resisting arrest I see." Kyle commented as his grin spread. "Go ahead. I'd love nothing better than to haul your thinly covered butt down to the jail and frisk you in front of a room full of witnesses. See, then the embarrassment factor would double…maybe even triple. Just think how the Parkers will feel about you when they have to come down to the station to pick you up."

"And that’s what this is all about for you, isn’t it, Kyle? Making me look bad in the Parkers’ eyes. Maybe even Liz’s. Because I can tell you now, it sure as hell isn’t about breaking any laws." Max shot back through clenched teeth as his checked anger began to rise.

Kyle chuckled in response. "If making you look bad was my goal, Evans, you’d certainly be making it pretty damn easy for me right now."

"So if that’s not your goal, what is? To come between me and Liz?" Max countered, his shoulders squared and his eyes as unwavering as his purpose…to know exactly how far Kyle would go to get to Liz.

"Please. If that’s all I wanted, I’d open my mouth and let a few of Liz’s little secrets from our past out of the bag right here and now." Kyle’s eyes snapped with devious delight when Max’s eyes flickered with emotion while his jaw tightened perceptibly. "Oh, you don’t like that do you, Evans? Knowing that I know things about our little Lizzie that she’s never told you…"

Kyle’s question was greeted with silence as Max fought to keep his expression steady and unrevealing as fingernails of jealousy streaked through his heart leaving scratch marks on the surface before digging in with sharp stings of hatred. The ugly head of doubt reared suddenly and Max couldn’t stop the questions that he’d valiantly pushed away earlier. What exactly *did* happen between Kyle and Liz in the past? Rather than call Kyle’s bluff and possibly face the answer to that nagging question, his hand clenched the butt of his weapon once more and Max forced himself to push away the nagging desire to end this conversation with one speeding bullet. He would deserve it after all the pain that still lingered in her eyes because of him...

Unaware of the murderous thoughts tingeing the edges of Max’s mind, Kyle continued with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. "See, Evans, I don’t want to just come between the two of you…I want Liz back. For good. And as an added kick, I wouldn’t mind destroying you in the process."

"And with the way she was talking about you earlier tonight I figure the best way for me to do that is…let you do all the work. She has such a high opinion of you right now…so many fantasies of who you really are. How right you are for one another." Jealousy hardened Kyle’s words and his crystal eyes became glaciers of emotions. "Why to hear her talk, you’re damn near perfect. You always were. To Liz…you were the ultimate dream guy."

"But fantasies are pretty fragile. And since we all live here in the real world, her illusions of you are gonna disappear. And the best part about it, I won’t have to do a thing to make them go away." A shrug of confidence punctuated Kyle’s delusion as a sneering smile once more formed on his lips. "I figure that eventually you’re gonna screw up and destroy her dreams of you all by yourself. And I like that. Because that way when Liz and I are finally back together it will be because she knows the truth. I am the right man for Liz. The only man for her. And now that we’re all back together here, it’s only a matter of time before she realizes that."

Once Kyle’s dissertation was complete, Max took a deep calming breath allowing the silence of the moment to engulf them while he desperately tried to maintain his reserve. He felt like his emotions were pulling him in so many directions he could barely breathe. He was stunned by Liz’s obvious adoration of him. The way Kyle spoke of Liz’s rose-colored view left Max feeling awed…and humbled. Then almost immediately, the doubt and feelings of inadequacy set in. He couldn’t live up to her expectations. Not when they were so high. So…untainted by the truth. So unguarded from reality.

Then an uneasy sense of impending doom took over as Kyle’s delusional words pulled Max’s focus to the present. As eyes met eyes, Max instantly knew this battle with Kyle over Liz very well could be to the death. A shudder ran through him when the thought of what Kyle was capable of took hold of his mind. How cruel…how calculating…how unpredictable he could be. No wonder Liz hadn’t wanted to face him alone…

Determination settled over Max with perfect ease as he shook his head, a light un-amused smile shadowing his lips and protective fire dancing in his darkening eyes. "You’re crazy, Valenti. And if you think for one moment that I’m going to let you get close enough to hurt her again…well, you’re dead wrong. You’ll have to go through me first, and believe me, Kyle…I won’t go down easy."

"Save your threats, Evans. I don’t have to get close to Liz to destroy what you have. I mean after all, is it really love when you don’t even trust each other enough to share your deepest, darkest secrets?"

Kyle’s words hit their mark and, for the first time that night, Max’s gaze wavered only to snap back up as sweet voice flew to him on the night wind. "And you would certainly know about those. Wouldn’t you, Kyle?"

~~~~~~~~~

"What took you so long?" Michael asked as soon as Cole slipped into the passenger seat of the car.

"I…um, I…" Cole swallowed hard and kept his eyes averted. As much as he loved his guardian, there were some things he wanted to know. Needed to know. And Max Evans appeared to be the only person who might be able to answer his questions. "…I had a hard time finding the camera."

Michael rolled his eyes. "Great. You mean its still up there?"

"Oh, no. I…I found it. It just…it kinda took a while." Cole glanced at Michael. "Can we just go home now?"

Michael eyed Cole warily. "Are you sure nothing else happened that you’re not telling me?"

Cole nodded and tossed Michael a rare smile to cover a lie. "Positive. Just thinking about Maria. She’s probably pacing by now."

Letting out a sigh, Michael started the car. "You’re right. She probably is." He paused a moment with his hand on the gear shift. "Take some advice, Cole. Don’t ever believe anyone who tries to tell you that falling in love and keeping the peace with an Earthgirl is going to be easy…" He shifted the car into gear. "Because they’ve got to be living in a different solar system…"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liz stopped short of the ladder when she heard voices below. Glancing over the ledge, her eyes widened in surprise to see Kyle standing several feet away from Max holding him at gun point. She made a move toward the ladder when Max’s response to Kyle’s indistinct words became suddenly clear. "You’re crazy, Valenti. And if you think for one moment that I’m going to let you get close enough to hurt her again…well, you’re dead wrong. You’ll have to go through me first, and believe me, Kyle…I won’t go down easy."

"Save your threats, Evans. I don’t have to get close to Liz to destroy what you have. I mean after all, is it really love when you don’t even trust each other enough to share your deepest, darkest secrets?"

Panicked by what Kyle might say next, Liz didn’t hesitate as she called out to the ground below. "And you would certainly know about those. Wouldn’t you, Kyle?"

Max spun around as both Kyle and his gaze shot up to see Liz leaning over the ledge her eyes burning holes through Kyle. "Liz. I told you to stay…" Max’s soft voice pulled her gaze to his concerned expression and her eyes immediately softened.

"I know, but I was getting worried. And lonely." A slow smile touched her lips and sent a warmth flowing through Max where Kyle’s cutting words had chilled him. "The bed is missing you too…"

Liz was rewarded with a shy smile as Max gazed up at her, his breath catching in his chest at the beauty leaning over the balcony. A moonlit halo hovered over her long dark hair as it fell forward shadowing the features of her beautiful face, enhancing the brilliant light shining out of her midnight eyes. She was breathtaking. Exquisite. An angel. The way she was gazing down at him with so many newly discovered emotions, it was like she some modern day Juliette who had just found her Romeo.

As if reading his thoughts, Liz’s dark eyes moved to focus once more on Kyle. "So, I came looking for my Romeo and find that he’s being held hostage by Attila the Hun. Or the Huntchback of Notre Dame. Take your pick." Her eyes flashed with immediate accusation, like a mother scolding a petulant child. "So, Kyle. What have you done to Max now?"

"He’s trying to arrest me for indecent exposure." Max jumped in before Kyle could open his mouth.

Liz’s eyes raked over Max from head to toe then back up again as an amused, playful smile played on her lips. "If you ask me, you’re not exposed nearly enough…"

"A problem I was on my way back to remedy…" Max began to respond in a suggestive tone of voice as he quickly picked up on Liz’s train of thought.

"When our local Dudley Dooright wanna-be here decided to cuff you, huh?" Liz finished for him before she addressed Kyle though her eyes never stopped its casual roam over Max’s face and body. "Sorry, Kyle, but I’m the only one with permission to frisk Max." She shrugged her shoulders and let out an exaggerated sigh. "You’ll just have to let him go so I can do the honors. I’ll call you tomorrow with the results."

For the first time since Liz and Max’s suggestive banter began, Kyle spoke up. "The hell you will. He’s running around here with nothing more than a towel and a gun."

"Neither are against the law and we all know it." Liz stated abruptly as she pulled her gaze from Max’s face to Kyle’s. "Now unless you have something valid…"

"What were you doing out here like this any way?" Kyle asked finally addressing Max again.

Hearing the agitation in Kyle’s voice at being teamed up on, Max turned back to Kyle with a victorious gleam in his eyes. "I heard a noise and came to check it out."

Kyle’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Usually when someone hears a noise, they call the police. Yet you just decided to what? Grab a gun and take care of it yourself? On what authority?"

Liz swallowed hard as she quickly picked up on the direction this line of questioning was going. "On mine. I’m the one who heard the noise and got scared. Max was just trying to take care of me. Which he did and now that everything is fine, I’m beyond ready for him to come back. Like I said, the bed is getting cold and I really can’t sleep until he’s lying next to me. So as far as I can see, we’re done here. Unless, of course, you’d like to continue your conversation about trust and secrets. I’m sure we’d all find that a very interesting topic…"

Kyle’s face hardened as his icy stare moved from Max’s triumphant grin to note the determination in Liz’s eyes. The secret challenge. The twinkle of victory. A moment of decision hung in the air before Kyle uncocked his gun and slipped it back in its holster signaling defeat. Eyes locked on Liz, Kyle’s voice lowered with malice. "This isn’t over, Evans."

"God, I was hoping you’d say that." Max answered steadily, his eyes locked on Kyle’s face in challenge and leveled one last jab. "Now, if you’ll excuse me…I’ve a date with an anxious angel and a *very*…*large*…bed." With one last smirk, Max turned on his heels and headed up the ladder to be greeted by a warm hug on the other side.

~~~~~~~~~

Cole Guerin slipped through the shadows till he reached the house he was searching for. Rounding the corner, Cole stealthily made his way to the back side of the house, the second window from the end. He swallowed hard and took a deep breath before raising his hand to tap lightly on the window.

A few seconds of waiting and he tapped again. A tiny light flipped on and through the curtain Cole could see a slender form walking toward him and held his breath till the window slid open.

Sierra rubbed her eyes and shook her head first in confusion then in worry. "Cole? Is there…oh my God. What’s wrong? What’s happened…"

"Shhh." Cole cautioned as he glanced around him at the shadows that moved with the direction of the wind. "Nothing’s wrong. I…I just…" Cole looked away, the blush creeping up his cheeks was dark enough to be seen in the pale moonlight.

Sierra reached out and touched his face gently, an action that pulled his eyes to meet hers. "Cole, what is it?"

Cole bit his lower lip before whispering. "Sierra…I’ve…seen things tonight. Things that I…well, that made me wonder if…maybe…" His gaze lowered as his next words came out in a tumble. "…youcouldeverreallylikemeandmaybewannabemygirlfriend..."

A confused smile spread over Sierra’s lips as her eyes danced with admiration. The shy, fumbling teen standing on the other side of her window had absolutely no idea how adorable he was. Or how much she cared about him. Or how his voice alone could send her heart racing with the wind. Or how she loved to just gaze into his eyes…

Once her mind sorted out Cole’s jumble of words, Sierra was overcome with emotions and completely at a loss to resist temptation. She had no idea where this had suddenly come from but she wasn't going to argue with the results. Boldly bridging the distance between them by capturing his face in her hands, Sierra swiftly, softly brushed her lips against his.

A thousand electrically charge bolts shot through the two of them and Cole pulled back after a moment in shock as Sierra’s large eyes gazed at Cole with stunned amazement. A slow smile claimed both their lips as their eyes locked in mutual awareness. Cole’s chest rose and fell with a deep breath and he gave Sierra the benefit of a full-blown smile. "I guess that means…"

"Yes." Sierra breathed the one word as a brilliant smile lit her face one moment then clouded the next as reality descended heavily. "But, Cole…what about the danger? What about your Uncle Michael? And Sheriff Valenti?"

If Max and Liz can do it… "Don’t worry." Cole slowly, confidently return to her sweet lips with a new determination. "We’ll figure something out…"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max’s hands rested lightly on Liz’s waist as he steadied her entry back into her room. Dipping his head he slipped in behind her and dropped to the floor with a dull thud. The next instant his balance was challenged as Liz threw herself in his arms. "God, Max. Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

Max’s arms wrapped tightly around Liz as he held her against him, reveling in the feel of her soft curves pulled tight against his hard muscles. She felt so good. So warm and alive. And comforting. Like a snuggly blanket that would wrap around him and keep him safe from cold and harm. A hand came up to run through the soft folds of her hair and Max smiled contentedly when that calming vanilla scent filled his lungs. "Shh, it’s alright, Liz. I’m ok now."

"Are you sure?" The muffled question rumbled against his chest and Max nodded as he pulled back slightly to look in Liz’s eyes. "Yeah, I’m sure."

Liz took a ragged breath and nodded her head in relief. "Good."

Like a lightning bolt, Max’s warm, supportive blanket shocked him when her hands hit his chest with a fierce strength nearly knocking him off his feet as he stumbled and caught himself against the desk. Max’s eyes widened when he saw fire flash in her eyes as her hands landed with a thud on her hips. "Alright, Max Evans. It’s time for you to talk. And you can start by explaining what the hell just happened!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle slipped back into his car and slammed the door shut.

"Well, that didn’t go too well." A deep voice stated the obvious from his viewpoint in the passenger seat.

"Gee, Sherlock, what was your first clue?" Kyle shot back flippantly.

"See, this is precisely why I showed up. I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be as easy as you thought." He paused a moment before continuing. "She seems mighty taken with him."

Kyle’s voice hardened. "That’ll change."

"Oh, something will. You can count on it."

Kyle turned to face the man who sat by his side. "What makes you so sure? What is your stake in all of this any way?"

Because Max felt me. Because having felt me, he knows that trouble is on the way. That a battle is just around the corner… A small, devious smile touched his lips. "My stake is my life. Which is why Max Evans won’t beat me this time…"