Roswell Fanatics

Chapter 95


- Well, go on! - Maria encouraged her.

- Maria, I don’t think this is right…- Liz beckoned to Maria to get closer. When she did, she whispered in her ear:

- What if he’s not asleep and faking? -

- Why would he do that? - Maria whispered back. Liz shrugged.

- Ok, you go on and grab him…- Maria whispered and gestured with her hand what she expected Liz to do. - If he starts and then relaxes, it’s because he’s awake and faking it. -

- And if he isn’t? - Liz went on whispering.

- Then he’ll do something else. Go on! - Maria whispered too.

- Why don’t you do it? - Liz whispered her question.

- Because you’re the one bugging to touch him, and he knows my touch. -

- I think he knows mine too! -

- And he knows Isabel’s…and Max’s, and Stuart’s…C’mon Liz! Who hasn’t touched him? -

- He doesn’t know Laurie’s or Kyle’s…-

- Shit, Liz, Laurie’s his sister! And Kyle…well, he’s been making all those stupid jokes that sounded kind of gay to me…-

- Maria, Kyle’s not gay! I should know! He’s just clowning around! -

- I don’t know, didn’t sound like that to me…-

- This is getting silly, ok I’ll do it. -

Liz reached out and her hand hovered over Michael’s thigh. Maria grabbed her wrist and redirected it over his butt. Liz stared at her and Maria nodded.
Liz gave him a generous squeeze, and Michael purred and pushed up against her hand. Liz turned back to Maria for an answer to his reaction.

- He’s asleep, let’s talk. - She went back to speaking normally.

- You’re nuts, you know? That’s what it was all about? You used me to find out if he’s asleep? - Liz glared at Maria.

- And I wanted to see your face when you touched him. You kind of went like this…- She made a face. - Like you were about to come! -

- Maria! What is it with you? - Liz giggled and Maria giggled back.

- Down, girl. - Maria lay across from Michael on the huge bed, with her head on his butt, from the left, and Liz did the same from the right, their legs draped over the edge at the sides - Hands, girl. -

Maria reached over her head with both her hands and clasped Liz’s resting one set over the small of Michael’s back and the other over his thighs.

- Tell me the truth, Liz, you’re the empathic one here. What are you getting from Michael? Does he really think they’re coming tonight and who they are? -

- No, nothing of the sort. He’s just sleeping. His mind’s blank, not even dreaming, he’s completely relaxed. - Liz confirmed.

- Well then, what do you think? - Maria asked.

- I don’t think anyone’s coming. Why should they? They’re obviously far more advanced than we are, so they must know Grandpa Dupree died years ago after his last abduction. And there’s no way of knowing who was abducting him those last three times almost 8 years apart. -

- Yeah, I think you’re right, it makes sense. But I’m still worried, you know?-

- Maria, I think we’re just making a big thing out of nothing. Let’s hope I’m right. Just take a deep breath and let’s relax, ok? We really need it. -

- Right as usual, chica. You too, ok? Here we go, on three: one, two, three…-

They both took a deep breath and closed their eyes. A few minutes later, when they were almost drifting into sleep, Kyle’s voice interrupted them.

- Here they are! - Liz and Maria let go off their hands as they opened their eyes and sat up, to find the rest of their friends standing at the door.

- Don’t go away…stay with me…- Michael moaned.

- Michael! You’re awake! - Maria and Liz accused him, as he started opening his eyes lazily.

- Shame on you, Michael! You were listening to us! - Scolded Maria.

- Mmm? Maria? - He sighed, and she realized he was really waking up.

She went to him and kissed him on the mouth until Isabel cleared her throat exaggeratedly and they turned to her with a pleading look.

- We’re meeting at the pool to make our plans for tonight. - She informed them, and she turned away, the others following her.

- I’m going riding and you’re coming with me. I’ve got a surprise for you. -

- Great, I love surprises, but Isabel will kick your ass when we come back, she sounded very determined just now. -

- I’ll deal with her. - He got up and went to the bathroom where he showered with Maria’s help and got dressed. They went out the front door so they wouldn’t be seen, and Michael got the black ready and asked Rubén to get the shire like he had been doing these last days, and take him over in about half an hour. It was quite hot, and Michael took off his t-shirt and tossed it to Maria. She watched him ride, relishing in the way his muscles gleamed with sweat on his tanned exposed upper body, and the ones in his thighs and butt clearly visible through the skin tight elastic riding pants. Uncle Bobby looked like shit in riding gear, but Michael, Wow! He sure filled his pants. When Rubén brought the shire, Michael got down and handed him the reins to walk him until he cooled down. Then he got on the big chestnut and rode it along the fence, for Maria to climb aboard. She glued herself against his warm naked back with her cheek against his shoulder and they took off at a gentle pace. Michael had spotted a secluded little pond surrounded by tall bushes and a few trees, and that’s where he headed to. Maria just loved the place, and after dismounting and letting the horse grazing, they went skinny dipping and made love on the warm sand by the pond. About an hour later, they made their way back and changed to join the others by the pool. Isabel looked especially pissed when they came in.

- Michael, we’ve been waiting for you for over two hours! The sun is about to set! - She said angrily.

- Cool it Iz, we just missed a great sunset to join you here, ok? - He smirked.

- Well I hope you had a great time! - Quite bitter this time.

- We did. - Michael was watching her with his head tilted to one side, not understanding what was eating her.

- They want to know about our plans for tonight. - Max told Michael, waiting for his approval to either let them know what he was going to do, or not.

- I’ve decided to stay and face them. If they are our people, I need answers. If they’re not, I’ll deal with it. - Straight to the point.

- Oh my god, Michael, you can’t be serious! - Maria clung to him.

- No, Michael, please! Don’t do it! - Laurie’s eyes filled with tears.

Kyle and Stuart looked at him with gaping mouths and eyes ready to pop out of their heads.

- What is your defense strategy, in case their not the friendly ones…- Stuart asked him.

- I’ll let them know I’m alien too. - Michael answered.

- Michael…- Isabel said, her eyes full of worry.

- I’ve made my decision. This contact may be very important to us.

- It may kill you…- said Isabel, in a small voice.

- It may not, and it may not even happen. I’ve been thinking it over and I think this is the best strategy: I’ll be with Max and Isabel at the shelter at the appointed time to see what happens. Max can use his shield to protect Isabel and I can fight back if it turns out that way. You guys, will hide in Stuart’s van as far from the house as possible, for your protection. Max? -

- I think it’s quite reasonable. - He agreed.

- What if we decide to stay? - Maria stated defiantly, her eyes already brimming with tears.

- No way! The van’s the nearest. It’s that or a hotel in the middle of the city.-

- I don’t want to leave either. - Liz side with Maria.

- Look, we won’t be able to react in a positive way if we’re going to be worried about your safety, and our lives may depend on it. I want you out of danger until we return. - Michael explained.

- What if you don’t return? Max, I don’t know…- Liz began in a shaky voice.

- I don’t think I’m in much danger and neither is Isabel. It’s Michael we have to worry about, because of his DNA, if anyone shows up. - Max observed.

- Max, what if they do? Michael might get hurt of killed and if you lose him, you lose your warrior, and he’s the strongest one. I’ve changed my mind, I don’t think you should go. - Liz’s voice was getting worse.

- Liz, you’re jumping to conclusions, so don’t, cause I won’t go back. I’m hoping to make contact with whoever comes hoping for the best, ok?-

- It’s the van then. - Liz admitted defeat, looking down to hide her tears.

- I’m impressed! That’s really a wise decision, Michael. - Stuart said.

- Well, everyone’s safety, our included, is our priority. - Max added.

- In my opinion, your safety comes first, then ours, cause as half aliens we have a better chance of defense. - Michael told them.

- It’s your call dude, you have the worst part of the deal, so I accept anything you decide, if it will help you come back safe. - Kyle said.

- Thanks, man, you and Stuart are in charge of the girls until we return. - Michael told him.

- If you return. - Whispered Kyle, barely audible.

- Ok, here’s the plan, at 11 o’clock sharp, you leave the house and we go to the shelter. You wait for us to get in touch with you when we consider it’s safe for you to join us. If you don’t hear from us, you stay in the van till daybreak. It should be safe then, no matter what happens. If by some chance we are taken, you will return to Roswell immediately, and Liz, you’ll have to think of something reasonable to explain our disappearance. You go immediately to Jim Valenti’s. - Michael told them.

They all nodded, not completely convinced, but agreeing because there was nothing else they could do.

- We’ll meet here at 10:45. - Michael ordered, and left the room with Maria’s hand in his. They went to their respective rooms, Max with Liz, Isabel with Stuart, and Laurie with Kyle. Nobody spoke, in the false security of silence.

Chapter 96


Once in their room, Maria pushed Michael on the bed and gave him a thorough massage, she didn’t stop until he was completely relaxed. Then she lay on her side, beside him and buried her fingers in his hair. He pulled her to him and kissed her with such feeling, that he was able to flash her everything he knew she loved. When they stopped to catch their breath, the look in Maria’s eyes told him everything he needed to know. He moved over her and watched her close her eyes and sob, as her tears overflowed. He kissed them away and then moved down to her breasts.

- Michael…-

- I want this to be special, one we’ll never forget…-

“Just in case it’s our last one?” Maria thought and more tears fell from her eyes.

- Maria, love, what is it? - Michael was so worried about her.

- Michael, will we do this again? - She managed between sobs.

- Maria, please, just love me, ok? I’m trying to get my mind out of it, can you help me? -

- Come here, you’ll never be able to forget this one in your life, I promise you! - She said as she pulled him down over her, and kept her promise.


They regrouped at the chimney room at exactly 10:45. They weren’t in the least surprised that Michael and Maria didn’t arrive until half an hour later, he could hardly walk as she clung to him from behind. The next 30 minutes were spent checking out Grandpa Dupree’s diaries, trying to get to know all they could of his descriptions of the different kinds of aliens depicted there, and reading their profiles to be ready for anyone who should come if they did. The descriptions were very detailed, and though none were under an “unpleasant” label, they weren’t too keen on meeting some of them. Before they knew it, it was 11:45, and the 3 aliens gave their partners a quick hug and kiss and gently moved away, also reluctant to leave them. They turned towards the meeting place. Liz pulled Michael to her and also hugged him and kissed his cheek, and then Laurie did it too. Kyle and Stuart gave him a tight hug each before he took off after Max and Isabel. Then the guys immediately herded the group out to the van, and cruised outside the property to a park a couple of blocks away.

When the 3 aliens arrived at the shelter, they closed the door securely with their powers. Then Max and Isabel sat down on two of the cots, opposite each other. Michael lay on his side on the cot beside Isabel’s, who reached out to hold his hand. The fourth cot, beside Michael, was left empty, because that was where Grant Sorenson was killed by the Gandarium queen. Max rested his elbows on his knees and covered his face with his hands. Michael and Isabel closed their eyes and wait, listening to the only sound in the room: the ticking of the clock on the wall. Max’s voice brought them out of their trance.

- 30 seconds to midnight. - He announced.

Then he got up and helped Michael stand up, with Isabel beside him. The siblings covered the taller one in a double hug, Isabel kissed Michael softly on the lips and then the beam of light fell into the middle of the room, right by them. Michael stepped in, letting go of Isabel’s hand as he did so, and then the light was gone, taking Michael with it. Max gasped and Isabel let out a sob, and then cried out his name. Max led her gently back to the cots where their waiting game started. Isabel looked up and wordlessly pointed upwards, getting Max’s attention, following her eyes. They couldn’t see the ceiling, all they could see was the dark sky, with the darker shape of the UFO hovering above them with the beam of light rising towards it. When it arrived, the whole ship lit up.

Michael felt himself rising like in a very fast moving lift, and before he knew it, he was flat on his face on what seemed like a bed. From the way the front of his body felt against it, his clothes had definitely vanished. He blinked in the bright lights, and as his eyes got used to them, he noticed a group of smallish white glowing beings, like fluorescent lights, their black eyes staring at him. He turned his face the other way and another group was there too. He struggled to get up, but although he wasn’t tied down, or paralyzed, he simply couldn’t get up. He felt something like a warm hand on his back over his heart, and then a strange voice, like several voices speaking together invaded his mind.

- Always and still impatient, my young lord Rath-Michael. -

The language was not English, he knew it was Antares, and yet he had been able to understand it perfectly.

- You are Antares! - He cried. And again, although he knew for certain that he had spoken it, it didn’t come out in English, but in his original language.
His eyes opened wide, as he realized what had happened. He stared back at them, realizing they were in their travel forms. He watched them nod their affirmative answer.

- Why did you come? Charles Dupree died almost 8 years ago, after your last…visit. - He decided on that word over “abduction”. - Didn’t you know? -

- Of course we knew. It was his choice. He was way past his prime, and his surviving children didn’t understand him. He felt he was in their way, so he thought that leaving everything he owned to his granddaughter, would bring them closer to her, but he was wrong.
We started getting signals from here, very much like the ones that identified our dear late friend, and we knew they had to come from you, because of your DNA. We were very relieved! A while ago, we managed to contact one of Khivar’s closest men, and picked up information that Nicholas had attacked you, but we were detected and blocked out before we could access the outcome. We were very worried about you, and the signals confirmed you had managed to survive it. That’s why we came to make sure you were alright. Tell us what happened. - They sounded quite eager.

- Yes, Nicholas did hurt me rather bad, but I’m healed now. - Michael informed them. -

- Of course, your healer. -

- No, he was away when it happened, he didn’t heal me. -

- That is not right! It is his duty to be there for you! -

- It was a misunderstanding. We have already got over it. -

- It’s unacceptable! Who healed you then? -

- A human doctor, a friend. - Michael felt again the warm hand over his heart.

- Yes a very good friend. A true one. We need to know. -

Michael felt several pairs of warm hands scanning his body from top to bottom. When they reached the area of his hips, they stopped for a few seconds, then they continued.

- You have been damaged. We must see. -

Michael was surprised by a buzzing sound and he turned to look over his shoulder to see a weird instrument descending over him.

- What is that? - He asked alarmed.

- Lie still, my lord. -

Michael heard a whirring sound and felt the probe poking at his body. He started struggling, but most of his movements were still restricted. He stiffened when he felt it entering him and a sharp piercing pain made him shudder.

- Please keep still, you’re just making it hurt unnecessarily, don’t fight it. -

Michael obeyed, and the pain lessened to a dull throb. It peaked again 4 times during the examination, and Michael knew it was when it detected the scars where the original internal wounds had been. Then he felt it slowly moving out of him and it left the way it had come.

- Yes, you are completely healed. -

- You should have trusted me when I told you so. - Michael said, upset.

- I am sorry, it was necessary. -

The warm hands again moved over his body, soothing and relaxing him.

- You have questions. -

- Yes, are we safe? -

- No, not until you recover what is yours. -

- Will we be able to do it? -

- Yes, when you return to your people, this time willingly, all together. -

- What do you mean? -

- With your chosen human mates. They must complete the transformation to be able to travel safely with you. Zan-Max’s mate’s powers are already beginning to show. Her empathy with you is the beginning. -

- Why with me? -

- It began with you because of the stronger pull of your Royal blood, soon it will extend to anyone she comes in contact with, adding a touch of clairvoyance. -

- Like a crystal ball? -

- Yes…- The beings made a kind of scoffing sound that Michael identified like an alien chuckle. - That will be your words for it. Their powers will resemble those of their mates or healers, with their acceptance. Sexual contacts do it too, making it even stronger. -

- So Max can give them his shield and his healing powers? -

- He got his shield from you. You didn’t know you had given it to him. Neither did he, of course. The electricity that worried Liz so much was her shield which was still beyond control. When that stopped, it was because her shield was ready to be used at will. Hers is stronger than Zan-Max’s. It’s double strong, that’s why she had the electricity problems. She must practice and learn to use it. You’ve also given it to those you’ve had sexual contact with. -

- Isabel has it? -

- Yes, but she doesn’t know, she must start accessing and practicing it. -

- But she hasn’t gone through the electricity thing…-

- She doesn’t need to: she’s alien. -

- What about Maria? She hasn’t been healed…-

She doesn’t need to. She has mated with Royal blood, that’s enough. She has the shield too, but having got it straight from you, even if she’s human, she hasn’t needed to go through the adaptation stage, as Liz. She will learn to access and use it on the journey to Antar. Not before. -

- And Kyle? -

- The same, he will get the shield ready on the journey, he will get the electricity though, but knowing what it is, will make him control it right away. His personal power, like Liz’s empathy will gradually start to appear. The older one, his father, will stay behind, backing up and helping you effectively from here, we don’t know what his personal powers will be. -

- And Stuart? Is he now part of the group? -

- He will soon be. He is the perfect partner for Lady Vilandra-Isabel. You must be wary of the other one, though, she will have to handle that situation with no interference. She’s the only one that can keep him on your side, and to your advantage. Let her deal with it, she’ll know exactly what to do. -

- So we’ll give him powers too? -

- He healed you, he got them automatically from his contact with your body. He will work on his shield on the journey too, like Maria, no electricity. His personal powers will be what you want to give him. You’ll find the right one, don’t worry.

- Laurie? -

- She will stay decide to stay behind. She has no alien mate, and that would make her vulnerable, even if you can give her powers. Another will step up, instead, someone you already know, and who will be the missing piece of your puzzle. Your circle will be closed and your powers consolidated. -

- Who will that be? -

- You will find in due time. We are not allowed to disclose it. -

Michael nodded, and stayed silent for a few seconds, digesting all the information he had received.

- You mean I can give the shield to anyone I choose to, through my Royal blood, yet I can’t have it myself? -

- Yes my lord. -

- Doesn’t make sense. Not very fair, huh? -

- No, my lord. -

- Why? -

- We don’t know my lord…- Suddenly Michael felt as if the voices of all the beings in the room were humming together. He knew it was some kind of communication. The answer to some question.

- It lays in the fact that only one of your parents was of Royal blood, my lord. -

- Well, as long as I can give it to those I want to be protected, it’s ok. Though it would have come handy when Nicholas almost killed me.

- You had to go through that to face the demon of your alien part’s death. You still have to go through your human part’s death too. You also have to face that demon. -

- Charles Dupree’s death? -

- We are not allowed to disclose that either. We cannot interfere. If we do, you will escape the situation, and it will be passed on to someone else in your group. Knowing your protective nature, we know you would not want that to happen. -

- No, of course not. It’s mine to deal with. - He shook his head with resignation. - Can you give us some guidance, some advice? -

- Yes my lord. There are two things that you need to do, to get you through what you will have to face in the future. To help you be successful as a group. To become an efficient team. First of all, you must get together and bring everything out in the open, nothing must be kept from anyone, because secrets, no matter how small and insignificant they may seem, tend to weaken a friendship, and that mustn’t happen here. It will bring you closer together, trust us -

- I’m not so sure about Max…and Liz…-

- He’ll have to cope with it like she has with him, if he doesn’t want to lose her, and believe us, he doesn’t. -

Michael nodded and sighed. The beings continued.

- Then you must reach a much needed closure with some deceased, an alien and two humans. -

- I can think of Tess and Alex, but what other human? We know of up to three FBI agents, and maybe the Hubble guy? -

- No, none of those. They weren’t close to you. You’ll find in due time, we can’t tell you. -

- Are you sure it’s a human? Could it be half human? Zan? -

- Zan is with his sister, waiting for us to return you. He’s quite alive. -

- No, I don’t mean Max, I mean Zan, his dupe…duplicate, who lived in New York. He was killed by the Rath and Vilandra dupes. -

- No, he was not. He used his shield and left the husk of his human body behind to make them think they had succeeded. He’s in hiding, using the homeless vagrants to regenerate his body back. You have nothing to worry about them. He will soon ambush them and they will all be killed in the confrontation. -

- Ava too? She had nothing to do with it. -

- No, Ava is safe, and away from them. She never belonged with them. -

- Yes I know, we have found out what happened. - He smiled. - Of course, I get it. -

- You must go back, your friends are getting worried, and your cousins are getting impatient. - The beings gestured towards the floor with their heads.

Michael didn’t understand what they meant, and then he noticed the bed on which he was lying was transparent and he could see through it. Isabel and Max sat on the cots looking up at him, and they seemed right within reach. He turned to the beings about to ask them what that was about.

- It’s an illusion, you also seem within reach to them, so they can see you are safe, for their sake. Follow our advice, first the disclosure of all secrets, and then the closure with the dead. Do it as soon as possible, all together, it’s important because it will consolidate your friendship and your powers. -

- What about the one that still has to join us? -

- The briefing will only take minutes, once you’re all together. No problems there. Thank you for coming to us. It was very brave, we couldn’t expect anything less from you. Till we meet again, my lord. -

- Till we meet again. - Michael repeated the alien farewell automatically and felt himself descending at the speed of light. He closed his eyes and only opened them again when he stopped. He was hovering about 3 feet above the ground, and Isabel and Max jumped up to receive him and get him on the floor. They were both hugging him at the same time, and he was relieved to find he was once again clothed. Isabel’s lips were glued to his cheek as she pulled his face down to her, and Max’s cheek was glued to his on the other side.

- Hey guys, thanks, really, I’m fine, shouldn’t we be calling the girls, as we promised? -

Max pulled away from him, his face slightly flushed, but Isabel couldn’t move away, wiping the tears away from her eyes.

- Everything’s ok, come back to the house. - Max said into the cell phone and Maria’s scream could be heard for a fraction of a second before Max shut the phone off. He pushed a finger into his ear and shook it in there as he frowned.

- Are you really ok? Are you sure? - Isabel kept clinging to Michael, afraid to let him go, as if the beam would get him back the second she let go.

- I’m fine, Iz. Did you really see everything? -

- Yes we did, man, and we heard it too. What was that about Liz? - Max asked impatiently.

- You heard them, right? Everything will come out as soon as we get together, not before and not individually. That’s what I understood and that’s exactly what we’ll do. Ok, let’s go. - Michael disentangled himself gently from Isabel but kept her hand in his.

He took off hurriedly back to the door watching it open as they were arriving, and Maria burst in like a hurricane, making it worth her nickname, with the others right behind her. They pounced on Michael who had to struggle to stay on his feet, and moved in one body, to the chimney room, to hear his story. He sprawled on the couch and they all surrounded him, making themselves comfortable. Michael told them his whole experience and they were shocked when he said Max and Isabel had witnessed the whole thing through the illusion the Antares had created for them.

- So you’re following their advice right away? - Stuart seemed to be the only one eager to hear all about them. He sensed a reluctance all around him. “This is going to be good!” He couldn’t help thinking, not just out of
curiosity, but because he was thrilled to know he would be part of this group.

- Hey man, I could do with some sleep…I may not show it, but I’ve been really tense these last couple of days. - Michael was asking for their understanding.

- Sure, kid, I’m sorry, you’re absolutely right! That was so thoughtless of me. Go, you need to rest, that’s number 1 priority now. The rest can wait. -

Michael stretched like a cat, and pushed up from the couch. Maria was immediately at his side, wrapping an arm around his waist.

- C’mon, Spaceboy, you’ve earned it, let me take you to bed. -

They watched them walk away from the room and decided they better call it a night, cause tomorrow would be a big day. They had to be ready for all that would be disclosed, whether they wanted or not. They had to do it for their own good, no matter what. They hoped the aliens were right and it would really bring them closer together, cause right now, no one was sure it could.

Chapter 97


They walked to their rooms, and had to pass by Michael’s and Maria’s, as it was the first to the left. Isabel’s was just across, but she couldn’t help wandering into it, the others following her. The door was open, and they could see Michael undressed and sprawled on the bed, facing away from them, and Maria kneeling by him with her back to them. They gathered at the bottom of the bed, and saw she was pressing the tips of her fingers in a circular motion all over his back. She turned and gave them a weak smile.

- This kind of relaxes him. - She said.

- Sure it does…- Stuart said, and walked around the bed to sit by Michael on the opposite side from Maria.

He placed his palm on the boy’s forehead and then reversing his hand, laid the back of his fingers on his cheek, checking him for fever. Michael took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He turned his face and met Stuart’s, giving him his smirk.

- Hey man, thanks for checking on me. -

- No sweat, kid, are you alright? - He smiled at him.

- Yeah, sure. Just like my people said, you’re a true friend, and a great doctor. - Michael nodded.

- I’m really proud of the fact they consider me a good doctor and also a friend you can trust. - Stuart really sounded like it.

- You saved my life, that means you’re the best. - Michael’s typical “modesty” got them all laughing.

- I’m specially grateful to them for trusting me with Isabel. - He said, looking at her in a very significant way. She looked down, smiling.

- She means a lot to me, I wouldn’t trust anyone else…Sorry Kyle, you’re too short for her. - That brought another burst of laughter and Kyle blushed to his ears.

- You seem ok, we’ll let you rest. - He squeezed Michael’s shoulder and gave it a couple of pats before he got up.

- What, you won’t torture me? I’m disappointed. - Michael smirked at him.

- Maybe tomorrow, first time in the morning…- He checked his watch. - Not before 10am, of course. You need your 8 hours’ beauty sleep. - He joked.

- I’ll be ready for you. - Michael sighed and snuggled into the bed.

- Ok, let’s go. - The girls kissed Michael’s cheek and gave Maria a hug, then Max and Kyle gave him their manly pats, and they left.


Maria lay by him and he turned towards her, hugging her to him, in his protective way. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight.

- Maria, would you mind if I sleep, you know, like just…only…- He breathed into her breasts.

- You need to sleep, Michael, that’s what I want you to do, right away, don’t you dare try anything else! - She tried to sound bossy but it ended in a sob.

- Please, don’t cry, it will be alright! - He said, soothingly.

- Not from what your people said. You’re nowhere near safe yet. And you still have more torture in store, from your human side. I hate to see you hurt, Michael, was it very painful, what they did to you? - She was so concerned.

- I’m used to pain, Maria, it’s always been part of my life. It was nothing I couldn’t manage. They had to make sure I was truly healed, and they did, so it was worth it. - He assured her.

- Do you really enjoy it, Michael? Are you really a masochist? How can you? - It was totally beyond her understanding.

- I can’t explain it, the worse it hurts, the higher the adrenaline in dealing with it, and the better the pleasure I reach at the end. I guess I’m sick. - He admitted.

- No Michael, that’s you, and I love everything about you, even that. -

- You love to hurt me, now, who’s sick? - He smirked.

- You like it, I only please you! Now shut up and go to sleep. - She buried her fingers in his hair and pushed his face into her breasts, making him chuckle.

- It’s not funny, Michael, I’m worried about tomorrow, you know something about Liz that she hasn’t dared tell me, and she’s my best friend. Of course I’m worried about what everyone will have to disclose. - Her voice shook.

- What have you been hiding from me? - He whispered.

- I’ll tell you if you tell me about Liz. - She dared him.

- No, not individually, they said we must all be together. Just answer yes or no. Are you hiding something from me? - Michael insisted.

- Nothing Michael, I swear. - She assured him.

- I love you. Please, just love me too, ok? -

- Sure, baby, go to sleep. - She felt his lips on her and then he relaxed.

Soon, he was breathing evenly and she knew he was asleep.

Maria woke up with a start to find Michael wasn’t over her any longer. She sat up and looked beside her. The dim light from one of the lampposts over the pool enabled her to see he had just turned his face the other way and he was lying right there, by her. She lay back and spooned into his side and he felt him jerk, his body rock hard with tension. She sat back up and stared at him. She noticed he was breathing heavily and was tossing, twisting his body and moaning. Maria rushed to Isabel, not caring about waking anyone up, she knocked loudly on her door. 5 doors opened almost as one, and everyone was asking what was wrong.

- Michael…I think he’s having a nightmare! - Maria managed.

They raced into his room and saw what had worried Maria.

- We mustn’t wake him up! Remember what our people said. If he has to go through that experience, he will not accept interference and passing it onto someone else. It’s his choice. We must respect it. - Isabel said. - Still I see no reason not to find out about it. - She nodded and they sat around the bed, facing it, holding hands with Isabel and Max making direct contact with Michael.

They were in a dark room, which they recognized as Michael’s apartment in Roswell. He was lying on his bed, and his arms were raised in an abnormal and uncomfortable position, as if he were tied to unexisting bedposts. His legs matched his arms, wide apart. His hips were also raised as if he were jackknifed over thin air. It was the voice that made the hair at the back of their necks stand out and their bodies freeze in terror, before they actually saw the speaker.

- Where’s Maxie? C’mon, don’t try to be a hero again…remember where it got you before. Tell me, I know you will this time. -

Nicholas! They all knew, Isabel and Kyle, better than anyone else, because they had been there when it really happened, even if it had started long before they got there.

Maria, in her dream state, went berserk. She turned to Isabel, screaming.

- Wake him up! Get him out, get us all out! -

- I can’t! The only thing I can do is break our connection, but the nightmare will go on just the same. Only we won’t see it! -

- No! If we don’t find out what happened now, Michael will have to tell us tomorrow and he’ll have to relive it again! Is that what you want, Maria? To have him suffer it twice? - Liz shouted back.

- Then just get me out! I can’t watch this! -

- It doesn’t work that way. It’s a pack deal, we all stay or we all go! -

- Deal with it Maria! Or close your eyes if you can’t cope. Sorry, but we need to know what happened. - Max exclaimed.

Maria tried to close her eyes, and to her relief, she could, but she couldn’t keep them shut, somehow she knew she needed to see, or be at a disadvantage with the rest. She forced herself to watch, wishing she could leap into the scene and rip Nicholas’ throat and balls with her own hands.

- Oh, c’mon Mikey, indulge me! Let me hear your voice, anything will do! Don’t make me force you…-

Michael struggled and the muscles in his arms and legs rippled with the useless effort.

- Don’t you like bondage? Please! Maria ties you up, if she can play with you, then me too!

Nicholas walked right up to Michael ignoring the bed and placed his finger in the dip over his buttocks, trailing it down and disappearing between them. Michael jerked and they knew he had jammed it into him.

- Oops, forgot the lube! Where does Maria keep it? -

- Go to hell! - Michael yelled.

- No, you will! Too late for lube anyway, now I don’t want it. - He shoved another one in. Michael jerked again.

- Where’s your Maxie king? Don’t resist me. - He whined. - You know you can’t. - He twisted his hand viciously. Michael struggled again. He twisted it the other way. Michael froze and shuddered.

- You know I can lure Maria here and get her to play with me…-

- You know you can’t! She’s not alone and they won’t let her out of their sight. We’re a step ahead of you, shorty! - Michael knew he detested his size, always had.

- All right! I’ll indulge you! And you better believe me, I’m not a shorty where it counts, as you’re about to find out. - He pulled his hand away making him shudder again and raped him in front of their eyes. Michael gasped at the violent and enormous penetration, but made no vocal sound. Nicholas rammed him hard, repeating with each thrust:

- Where’s Maxie? Where’s Maxie? Where’s Maxie? - In a nonstop sing-song, with Michael breathing so hard until they thought they would go out of their minds. And then it was Nicholas’ turn to tremble like a leaf, and when he finally stopped, he yanked his still half erect cock out of him roughly getting another gasp.

- Damn you! You did that on purpose! To squeeze the come out of me! I hope it hurt more than I think it did! No problem, I’ll have to break you down again. You’ll never learn. - He stretched out his arm and a metal rod pointed at the end appeared out of nowhere in his hand. Without losing a second and to their horror, he stuck it into Michael, whose breath hissed through his teeth and couldn’t help grunting in pain.

- And about your gullible king…- He shoved in hard, downwards. Michael twisted his body, trying to pull away. First wound. He had managed to deflect the point from piercing his prostate, but still it sustained a glancing cut. He continued. - He’s in Santa Fe. - Another shove, straight up, second wound, the point piercing into the first fold of the sigmoid colon. This time Michael froze, his instincts telling him movement would cause more severe damage. Nicholas went on. - Translation from Spanish: Holy Faith. Probably that’s what made Maxie believe the call came from Langley instead of me. - Shove straight up again. Third wound, out of the first fold and into the second one of the sigmoid colon. Michael kept still, dealing with it, shuddering, but bearing it. - That’s how I know where he is, I don’t need you to tell me, I just want to play with you! - This shove made the fourth wound exiting the second fold and into the third one. Michael struggled not to move. The next shove would have cleared the sigmoid colon and caused massive damage to the intestines, ending in the stomach and eventually, in the heart, which contrary to common knowledge, is in the middle of the chest, tilted to the left. That’s how impalement actually killed.
But Nicholas wasn’t ready to end his game so soon, not when he was enjoying it so much. In Antar, it had lasted two amazing weeks, with no possibilities of interruptions, which wasn’t the case here, and truly searching for the king’s location. Still, with much shorter time, Nicholas would stall all he could, gloating in his victim’s suffering. He twisted the rod to the right, like he had his hand before, and giggled as he watched the young muscles tighten in response. He craved to hear him scream, at least a growl or even a groan. Damn kid! Just at stubborn in his second life as in the other one! He was sure he would actually come if he got him to beg. - He scoffed. - Right! Now he was hoping for miracles! He twisted it the other way feeling a gush of warmth in his hand and saw to his dismay it was drenched in blood. No good! He pressed the index of his other hand on the protruding rod close to the boy’s body and it turned red hot all the way in, cauterizing the wounds so he wouldn’t bleed out. The excruciating pain of his insides burning, made Michael writhe, having to bite down his lower lip mercilessly, not to give Nicholas the pleasure of hearing him scream. Then Michael felt his heart ripping out of his chest, when he heard Isabel’s voice, knowing he couldn’t protect her. The scene seemed to explode in millions of shimmering fragments, as the nightmare ended with Isabel’s arrival. Their eyes opened simultaneously, and they heard Michael moaning:

- No, Isabel, no, please, go away, let him kill me. Nooo! Don’t touch her! -

Isabel crouched over Michael, reaching up, and pulling down his arms, she held one of his hands as she pressed her other hand on his cheek.

- It’s ok, Michael, I’m here with you, I’m fine, Nicholas is dead, Jim has killed him, please wake up! - Isabel sobbed, making sure he could hear her.

Then they were all on the bed, touching him with both hands, making him feel them all there with him. He woke up with a start, his eyes opened wide.

- Isabel! Maria! - He cried out.

- We’re here, Spaceboy! It was just a nightmare, we’re all right here! - Maria and Isabel kissed his hands, as they each held one up to their lips.

Michael shuddered wincing, and then started relaxing. He was drenched in sweat.

- Yeah, he’d dead. Shit! Why did I have that nightmare? - Michael exclaimed.

- I think it was the closure to that issue. I’m sure you won’t have it again. -
Stuart observed.

- I sure hope so! Dammit! It hurt all over again! I need a shower! - Michael started to push up, but a hand on the small of his back stopped him.

- No, you need to sleep, and we’ll stay here with you. No nightmares this time. - Max waved his hand over Michael and dried and refreshed him.

The expression on Michael’s face showed how good that had felt. Then they all went by turns, to bring all the cushions of the couches and sofas they would need to camp down around Michael’s bed, and spent the night there, in absolute peace. Max stayed awake until Isabel got her necessary hours of sleep, and then she stood guard, making sure Michael was sleeping soundly, and apparently dreamless. When the humans started waking up, they found the alien siblings sitting by the door of the bedroom, speaking in whispers, not to disturb their friends. Laurie called from the room and had breakfast brought over to them. Then they used the shower and whirlpool of the master bedroom, until Michael woke up around midday. One of them stayed by him all the time, while he slept, and finally he joined them in the whirlpool, until they were all ready to take the next important step in their human-alien experience.

Chapter 98


As they walked out of the room, Laurie informed them:

- I guess we need a private place where we won’t be interrupted, right? I have two possibilities, the shelter, or the cabin.

- What’s the cabin? - Michael asked.

- Just that, a cabin. It’s at the far side of the south lake, well, actually a large pond, and Rubén cleans it out every week, that was two days ago, so I presume it’s presentable. It has a bathroom with a shower, that’s in good working conditions, and a phone that answers only to the house. You choose. -

- I think the cabin’s fine. Everyone ok with it? - Isabel decided.

The cabin was about 15 minutes away, walking distance, and Laurie produced two baskets with sandwiched and sodas so they could eat on the way without losing time. By the time they arrived, the baskets were empty and the place was perfect. They all understood why Isabel preferred it over the infamous shelter. Michael was still not ready to sit it out, so he stretched out in a sleeping bag and the others completed the circle using cushions and another sleeping bag to make up for the hard wooden floor. Once settled, they all looked at Michael, not sure of how to begin.

- What? - He asked, all eyes on him. - Oh, ok, I should begin, then. Well, my best kept secrets, my alien status and my kinky sex life with Hank, are already in the open, the other two are shared so we should give them to you together, right? - He turned to Liz, who blinked nervously, as the stares were now focused on her. She cleared her throat before speaking.

- I think it would be fair if I told one, and you told the other. - She said to Michael, who nodded his agreement. - Ladies first, I guess? -

- Sure. - Michael answered, smirking, obviously not to happy with the outcome, but accepting it as fair.

- Ok, here it goes: - And Liz gave them an exact account of her missing diary until the moment when it was returned, and how surprised she had been by who the perpetrator had been and the reasons he had, plus the way he felt after having read it. Now the stares were back to Michael, and it was Liz who surprised him with her next delivery:

- Michael, the hard one has fallen on you, because you were gentleman enough to let me choose and begin. It’s not fair, because we are both involved and the guilt is shared too. Also the fact that after it happened, I decided I would be the one to disclose it if we ever did, so maybe we should do it together, if Isabel would help get us in a connection and show it better than tell it. It would be much faster too. - Liz’s eyes pleaded with Isabel’s and the alien girl had to accept that she was right. They were all intrigued, and wanted to find out what those two had been about. Max was giving Liz these glares, Isabel started the connection before she lost her courage, Michael wasn’t looking too enthusiastic either. Before they could protest, the hands were joined and after a short period of haze, they were at the Crashdown, and by the state it was in, it was obviously the aftermath to the New Year’s party when Max and Maria had gone to find the enigma party, and Michael was sleeping off his painful drinking experience. Liz was finishing up and her thought were clear as if they were their own in their shared experience.

Finally she was alone. About half an hour before, Jim Valenti had come back, unprofessionally now, to hoist her lonely father away to wrap up the New Year thing with his group. Her father had been in a band when he was young and he loved the idea. They both gave her this look, as if they needed to ask for her permission, and she just had to smile and comply. He deserved it, they both did, her father had somehow given Max a second chance, and somehow she knew Jim had had something to do with it.

- Go on, go for it! - She grinned at them, waving them away.

- You’ll be alright, Lizzie? - Her father sounded concerned.

- Of course, dad, anyway, Michael is sleeping upstairs, and in an emergency, I’m sure even I could wake him up. Look, I’m dialing your number, Jim, so it’s just a click away, and my cell phone will be in my pocket all the time. Promise! Now get out! - She giggled and watched them go, punching their arms and chuckling and acting like kids.

Liz cleaned up what was left, which really wasn’t much, in 10 minutes tops, and went to snuggle on the couch. She somehow wasn’t sleepy, in spite of all, but she definitely was cold. She wanted her checkered quilt which was just washed and resting in her closet. She got up and anyway, she knew it would take much more than her padding feet to wake the alien boy in her bed. She had just turned the lights off a few minutes ago, and she climbed the dark stairs slowly, with her eyes adjusting to the darkness at that same speed. She reached her room and pushed the half open door as she tiptoed unnecessarily inside. She easily skirted her bed and went to the closet, fighting her unexplainable urge to look at Michael. She opened the closet door and it creaked rather loudly. She waited, but heard nothing coming from the bed, so she went for her quilt. She found it easily as it was on top, and as she turned to leave, she accidentally pulled the handle of a purse with the trailing fringe of the quilt. It fell quite loudly to the floor making her stop dead in her tracks, and this time she had to look at him because he was right in front of her eyes. She turned slowly towards the right in the direction of his face, as she stood almost at the feet of the bed, and her eyes swept his body beginning with his thighs which were directly below her. There was a full moon, the sheen coming through her window and bathing the bed, and in the silver light, she couldn’t help gasping at the sight of a stark naked Michael, lying on his stomach, his sleeping face turned towards her.
His clothes must have hurt his alcohol sensitive body, and he probably just needed a swipe of his hands to get rid of them. He reminded her of those Greek statues she had seen in museums, she could spend hours watching those beautiful bodies as she was doing now, the difference was the statues were cold marble, and Michael was warm and living. Her eyes reached his face, and she was shocked at the beauty of his features, completely at peace. She thought she had been the only one who understood his gruffness, especially after that time she went to his “home” to warn him about Topolsky and saw how uncomfortable he was, thinking his drunk foster father had been rude to her. She had felt so bad when they had found out he had been abused and beaten by the creep for 10 long years, yet he had never complained. How he had looked at her when he returned her diary and told her he had another reason to envy Max Evans. As she looked at him, she knew he had no reason to envy Max Evans, quite the contrary, she would say. She watched his closed eyes, his lashes brushing his lower eyelid, his lips were parted and they were much fuller than Max’s. She was wondering how it would be to kiss those soft looking lips, when, as if he had heard her thoughts, his tongue licked his lips and disappeared again in his mouth. She felt a weird tickling between her legs and continued her inspection. Michael was taller and stronger built than Max. A quick glance showed his insteps hooked over the edge of the bed, he barely fit in it. His legs were beautiful, long and firm, rounded like a girl’s, but perfectly muscled, and his ass! Oh my god, Maria was right, he had a great ass, those round globes, just like the statues! Her hand itched to reach out and touch them, it was all she could do not to indulge herself. Her eyes now spanned his back, his wide shoulders, Max may have these perfectly defined abs, through his working out, but that’s all he had to Michael, who didn’t seem like a guy who would waste his time at a gym, this was him, nothing artificially made or forced upon his natural body. She gave a start as he sighed and she turned back to his face. He moaned softly and winced, then he pushed his hips up and shifted them from side to side a couple of times, probably easing his genitals, Liz thought with a wicked grin, and then turned his face away from her. He didn’t lie still, and she saw him flex his right leg, bending his knee sharply and hooking his foot behind his other knee.
He sighed again and lay still. But not for long. As she watched his muscles work when he moved, Liz had the impression of coiled steel under a velvet wrapping. That’s how he would feel if she touched him.
She knew. She wasn’t guessing. The tickling in her core was getting worse and the itching in her hands, unbearable. She was about to reach out, knowing he wouldn’t wake up if she touched him, when he was in motion again. He straightened his leg, pushed up his hips as he had before, “was he getting a hard on?” Liz couldn’t help thinking, “if so, it must be very painful, in his sensitive state.” She shook her head, as if that would clear her thoughts, and watched him turning his face to her again. His arms had been parallel to his body all the time, and she could see his hands going into fists and relaxing a couple of times. Liz felt that if he moved again, she would come, no doubts about it. She gathered the quilt in her left arm, and took a step forwards, ready to go around the bed and leave the room. Her foot snagged on the forgotten purse she had dropped and she felt herself falling. Her knees landed on the edge of the bed, stopping her fall softly, but bouncing her back unexpectedly. She had somehow held on to the quilt instead of letting it go, and her free right hand reached out to steady herself and break her now backwards fall. He clung for all she was worth, digging her nails in viciously where her hand had anchored, and as she breathed her relief, she also heard Michael’s breath hiss, and a loud growl escape his lips. She looked at her hand and was horrified to see her nails buried smack in the middle if his buttock! Of all places! Shit! Her backwards momentum and her weight, had raked three gashes at least 2 inches long, open and bleeding, and a fourth one, courtesy of her pinkie, was just an angry red welt, but the skin hadn’t broken. Her shocked ears now registered his voice:

- Maria…- In a husky low voice, but the last syllable didn’t hold a question.

“Maria!” Liz thought, “what was she doing to the boy that he related her with pain? She had hinted something about kink a few times but Liz had taken it as a joke, due to her giggling delivery, but had she been serious? He was one hell of a target, come to think about it!” Oh god! What was she thinking about? She noticed with a start that he had opened his eyes and was staring at her, confused.

- Liz? - This time the question was undoubtedly there.

- Michael, I’m sorry, I came for my quilt and I tripped, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you…- She pulled her nails out of him and saw his teeth bite his lower lip hard. She suddenly remembered his state and knew he was hurting much more than he normally would, and she simple started crying. As she was pulling her hand away, he reached back and grabbed her wrist, squeezing it hard, then his mouth relaxed and so did his hand, but didn’t let go. His warm hand was sending sparks up her arm and straight down where it counted.

- Are you alright? - He asked in his still sleepy voice. She couldn’t believe he sounded worried about her, hurting as he surely was.

- Michael, I have to clean you up, you’re bleeding…- She sobbed.

- Oh, yes, sorry, I don’t want to mess up your bed. - He whispered.

- No, no, it’s not that, I’ll be right back…- She felt his fingers let go and she raced to her bathroom and came back with cotton wool and two small bottles. She turned on the small lamp on the nightstand, thankful that it was enough. The warm yellow light gave his skin a darker golden hue, and now he seemed to be bathed in sunlight.

She knelt by his thigh and stood the bottles against his hip.

- Let me fix you, it might sting a little…- “It will sting you a lot” she thought and shuddered.

He seemed to know what she was about to do, because he braced himself and she felt his thigh muscles tighten against her knees.

She picked a swab of cotton wool but changed her mind and uncapped the peroxide bottle. She framed the damaged area between her index and thumb, tipping the bottle over, so it dripped over the cuts and the welt. It immediately started foaming and he went rock hard under her hand, his hissed and bit his lip, shutting his eyes tight, and his hands grabbed the sheets hard. When the bubbling subsided, she wiped it away with the cotton wool, and let go of him to open the iodine bottle. The cap had an applicator attached, and she brushed it on, as she rested her fisted hand holding the bottle, against him once more. This time the pain made him bury his face in her pillow, and he couldn’t help a muffled sob escape his lips.

- Iodine, of course. - He whispered, obviously familiar with it.

Liz bent over him and blew on the wounds, and she felt and saw him shudder under her. She stood up and went to put everything away, finding him resting relaxed when she returned. She thought he had fallen asleep in spite of the pain.

- Don’t go, Liz. - He begged, and winced slightly.

- I’m right here. - Liz assured him, stifling a sob, and sat on the bed.

- Please don’t cry, it’s not worth it. - He whispered, reaching back and holding her hand in his.

- I’m sorry…- She started to say.

- I’m not. - He interrupted.

He took a deep breath and as she turned to look at his body, he writhed on the bed and she almost came, a second time. She reached out with her free hand, and massaged the small of his back, making him purr and stretch like a cat. She had been absolutely right, steel and velvet, no doubt. She went all the way up to his shoulder, across to the other one, and back down on the opposite side.

- Keep going…- Michael whispered.

She was sure he was reading his mind. She cupped his buttock and squeezed, and he groaned with pleasure, she kneaded his thigh going down as far as she could reach, almost to his ankle, and across to the other leg, up to his hurt buttock where she squeezed carefully, away from the wounds.

- Go on, do it…-

- It will hurt you…-

- I know, go on…- He insisted.

She did, and relished in the way his muscles clenched and he writhed in the torture she was willingly giving him, with his consent. “Masochist?” the word flashed through her mind. She hoped he couldn’t read minds.

- I love massages…- He purred.

- And I’m good at giving them. - Liz confirmed, and wondered why she had never felt like giving Max one, like she was feeling now. Max was thin and wiry, and maybe her hands wanted to feel something cuddlier, not what would feel like a cupboard. Michael was hard, but he felt different. She couldn’t explain it, but her hands felt the difference, and liked it. She got up, and gently pulled away from his hand. She put one knee between his thighs and was about to straddle one, when Michael spread them wider, so she could nestle between them. She placed her hands on his thighs and worked up to his shoulders, hearing and feeling his purring and breathing through her palms. When she returned to his ass, she had this recollection of the fact that he had been a warrior, in his home planet, and she related it again to Greek statues of young warriors, Spartans, the best. She remembered how shocked she had been when she had read, as she worked on an assignment at the library, that a young warrior was teamed with an older one, his mentor, who taught him all about war, and became also his lover. She was suddenly transported to an army camp at night, a fire burning fiercely in the middle, and an older soldier, thin wiry, and bearded, walking towards the sleeping figure of his younger mate, lying naked under the moonlight, face down, his right buttock bloody, where he had been wounded in battle. As the man knelt between the boy’s spread thighs, she merged with him, and she became the mentor, watching her young lover lying in front of her, in a healing rest. Liz saw her now large, calloused hands on the young boy’s smooth muscled ass, her thick thumbs spreading him as she felt her erection grow to a massive size

- What is it with you girls and my ass? - Michael’s husky voice brought her back to the present, as she realized what she was doing to him.

- W-what do you mean? - She stammered as she slid her hands down to his equally tempting thighs.

- Courtney kept spanking me every chance she got, so does Isabel, but she goes for squeezing, even now that she’s married. I think Jesse has seen her at least once, I wonder what she told him. Maria … well, that’s a whole different chapter, and now you…- He chuckled, amused, far from angry.

Reaching back, he placed his hands over hers and eased them back up to his butt. She sat back on her heels and knew that if she pushed one knee ahead, she would get to nudge his balls. A shiver ran through her body and he responded immediately.

- Are you cold? Come here. I’ll keep you warm. - He let go of one hand and pulled her over to him, rolling a little on his side to make space for her. Then he pushed his thigh between her legs, and laid half his upper body over her, gently, not to crush her. He wrapped his arm around her so the upper inside of it brushed her breasts and his hand buried in her hair. He bent over and kissed her hair, her forehead, her closed eyes, her nose, her cheeks, her chin and then her lips. No tongue, just a soft kiss, caressing her lips.

- Look at me. - He asked.

She opened her eyes and her chocolate browns locked in his honey pools. She gloated in his smirk, as they stared fondly at each other. They had been through so much. He kissed her lips again, but this time, she parted them and her tongue pried his open, seeking for his tongue. The kiss deepened and Liz was on the verge of coming for a third time. Her arms held him tight against her, one snaking to his long soft locks, the other raking his back. “What was Maria doing to his hair? None of her conditioners of super shampoos did this for hers.” They came up for air, and he buried his face in the crook of her neck, his hot breath making her shiver again.

- Are you still cold? - - What do you wash your hair with? -

Michael and Liz asked simultaneously.

- Just a little. - - Only baby shampoo. -

Both answers came at the same time too. Liz giggled and Michael chuckled. Liz’s hand left his hair and placed the back of her fingers on his cheek.

- Michael, you’re very hot! I think you’re feverish. - She exclaimed.

- You’re giving me a fever. I love it. - Michael went back to whispering.

- Michael, let me…- She began, as she tried to get up.

- What do you want to do to me, Liz? - He asked, with a smirk.

She slid from under him and went to the bathroom to get a thermometer.

- Open your mouth, Michael. -

He opened his eyes, smirked, and shook his head no.

- C’mon, Michael, don’t be childish. You’ve been really sick once. I don’t want that to happen again. You scared me half to death. -

- That’s why you wouldn’t take part in the healing? - He asked.

- I was afraid it wouldn’t work and you would die…- She sniffed.

- This is different. - He smirked again.

- Alright! Open your mouth or … -

- Or what Liz? - He went on smirking and driving her out of her mind.

- Or I will do it somewhere else! - She threatened, dead serious.

Her mouth dropped open when he pushed his hips up on his knees.

- Do it. - He whispered.

- Michael, stop it. -

- Liz, if I let you put that thing in my mouth, the chemical taste it has, will make me throw up, now worse than ever, and it will really make me sick. Ask the school nurse, she knows. - He sounded dead serious, too.

- You mean she… - Liz started, and he just nodded.

- Is it an alien thing? - She was curious.

- No, it’s just me. Don’t know why. You might be able to do it if I were unconscious, but I’m not. -

- Michael… -

- Ok, leave it then, you’ll never know. -

He was playing with her, she could feel it. He had piqued her curiosity and he knew he had her. She also knew he had her. Damn him!

- This is an oral thermometer. - She observed.

- It’s the same thing. The nurse said so, and Hank used anyone. -

The mention of his foster father made her shudder.

- Are you sure? - He nodded his answer again.

- Keep still, then. -

She spread him with one hand and started pushing it in. He seemed to be resisting.

- It’s d-dry…- He rasped.

- Oh shit! Sorry, I’ll get something. -

- No, use your spit. It will feel good. - He whispered.

The thought of her spit inside him made her breath short. She spat in her hand and rolled the thermometer in it. She wiped her hand on the bedspread and this time it went in smoothly. He sighed and she felt him shudder. He knew it was her spit easing the way into him, and relished having something hers inside him.

- Come here. - He breathed.

She let go and lay beside him surprised at the way he now attacked her mouth as he covered her with his hot body. They made out until they were almost passing out, and when she checked her watch, they had been at it for over 7 minutes. She pushed him off of her and went to retrieve the thermometer. She pulled it out in the slowest motion ever, and saw him writhe as she did it. She could swear he was enjoying it.
He moaned a protest when it was finally out, and jumped at her scream, though he was expecting it.

- Oh my god! Michael! It’s 106º! I’m calling Max! - She felt him reaching back to her.

- Hey, hey, take it easy, that’s nothing for me, it’s just spiking, believe me. I would have passed out, right? - He tried to calm her down. She stopped and stared at him, giving him time to grab her wrist again and pull her to him.

- See? I’m coherent, not delirious. Believe me Liz, 106º is like 99º in a human. I told you, you’re making me hot. That’s all. - He smirked.

- Are you sure? You’re alright? - She pressed her hands to his face, one on his cheek, one over his lips. - Don’t be sick, please? - She begged, her eyes filling with tears.

- I won’t, I promise. I’ll do anything you want Liz, just stay here with me, ok? I hate being alone. - His eyes were shiny too.

- I could take that seriously…Anything? - She insisted, forcing a smile.

- Anything! Whatever you want that’s in my hands. - He said, squeezing her hand.

- I want you to be my first. - She held his eyes in hers.

- What? What do you mean? - His eyes were locked on hers, as if there was nothing else around them.

- My father’s gone with Jim, we’re alone. - She assured him.

- I know, I heard them. Liz, Max…- He began.

- Lost his with Tess, so he doesn’t deserve my virginity. I don’t want to give it to him. I want to give it to you, and if you don’t want it, I’ll find someone else who does. But it won’t be Max’s, of that you can be sure. - She started to get up and he held on to her.

- Why do you want me? - Her words had confused him.

- Because I am afraid. - That made his confusion even worse.

- I don’t get it Liz, what do you mean? -

- I had a crush on you since I first saw you, Michael, it hasn’t completely gone away, - she looked down, embarrassed, - When Maria told me about her first time with you, I envied her. It could never be like that with Max. - He tried to interrupt her but she didn’t let him. - It’s not because he’s no longer a virgin, it has nothing to do with it. - It surprised her to see him visibly relax. She thought she knew why so she continued. - Of course you’re not either, but the way she described it, I couldn’t do it that way with Max, no way, I want it like that, but not with Max. I wouldn’t want to, I don’t feel like it with him. - She insisted.

He got it now. Of course Liz would know every excruciating detail, she and Maria were best friends, who was he to deny her what she wanted? Max had betrayed her with Tess! Of all people! He was an idiot, he really didn’t deserve her virginity. Even if he could do the same thing he could, for her sake, he didn’t deserve her. He made up his mind. He pulled her down again, under him and looked her straight in her eyes.

- I’m here for you, Liz, thank you for the honour. I’ll ask you again: What do you want to do to me, Liz? - He smiled, he really smiled.

- Everything Maria did to you. - She gave him a wicked grin, and he gulped in anticipation.

Liz lay on her back low down on the bed, her legs were bent and spread, and her feet gripped the edge of the mattress. Everything they would need was within reach of her hands. A plush pillow was under her head, holding it up at an angle, just where she could reach him.

- Michael…- She called, and he was right there.

Michael knelt behind her shoulders, and bent over her, his forearms held his upper body up, as they rested on either side of her hips. He wouldn’t need his hands yet, as she laid spread out for him, eventually, but not now, like she would. He buried his face between her legs and started licking her right there, where she wanted him too, feeling her juices dripping out of her. Simultaneously, her hands went to cup his buttocks, his thighs were wide apart, but she still needed to spread him with her hands. Her tongue provided the juices he needed and eased her entry. They ate each other out until their tongues were going numb, then Michael moved to her clit and she moved to his cock. Michael started sliding his index into her juices, and she pushed hers into his ass, aided by her saliva. Soon, she felt it wasn’t enough, and she knew she was hurting him. She opened the tube of love lub, and coated her finger, as he waited for her, to do it again together. She cheated, she had coated her two indexes and started pushing them into him together. She was supposed to follow what he did. He gasped and tightened, and she stopped.

- I went ahead, sorry, relax, so it won’t hurt. - She whispered.

- Make it hurt, force them in. - He growled and pushed his hips back hard, making it happen.

Still, when he pushed both his indexes into her, propping himself up on his elbows, he did it slowly and gently. She felt him still tight, dealing with the pain.

- Michael, let me go slowly, what are you doing? -

- I like it hard, just please me. -

- What if I hurt you? -

- I’m used to it, don’t worry. -

- Then please me, ok? It’s my first time. Let me do it how I want to do it to you. -

- You’re right, it’s your first, I must last longer, this way I won’t. -

He relaxed and she enjoyed the way her fingers buried smoothly into him with the lubrication. His fingers were driving her nuts, and the way he writhed his hips, varying the direction of her entrance, sent electricity up her arms, straight to her brain. Her position made it difficult for her to move like he did, but he provided it with his own slant of entrance into her pussy. Once, as she entered him in a downward and forwards direction, her fingers made contact with a slight bulge inside him that made him clench and keep her inside him. He managed to take control, and let her go, but she suspected she had almost made him come. So that was the prostate gland! The male G-spot. Good to know. Then they started the alternate entrance, one in one out, then both in together again, overlapping while deep inside. Suddenly, Liz started coming and Michael made it even better by nipping at her clit, very gently with his teeth, of course she let his cock out of her mouth, afraid she could bite him, but her fingers went on digging hard into him, as he did his. When she finished, she said it wasn’t fair, but he just chuckled and went on, encouraging her to keep it up too.

- We’ll come together on your third one, ok? - He promised.
Liz didn’t have to wait long for her second one, soon Michael amazing tongue and his slick fingers had her ready to come, and she had him panting too, her fingers kept triggering him inside, first pressing towards his front and then sliding deep in the opposite direction, while her tongue lapped at him like a hungry kitten. By the time she started coming, she cunningly pushed her fingers in both directions at the same time and Michael ended lying shuddering over her, holding back painfully, as he pulled one of his fingers out and sent it to her clit to finish her off as she expected.

- Shit! Liz! You almost made me come! - He said gruffly.

- Why did you hold back? I wanted you to come! - She sounded disappointed.

- I said on your third, ok? Then whatever you want. - He pushed his ass teasingly in her face, and she bit him hard enough to make him grunt. Then he pushed up, pulling her fingers out of him and straightened up. He knelt between her legs and bent down to kiss her breasts, playing with her nipples, rolling them gently between his teeth, then simply sucking at them, like a baby. He placed his hand over her navel and closed his eyes. She felt this tingling inside her that had her ready to come, and then, he pushed the head of his cock into her. Liz gasped with pleasure, she raked her nails down his back and dug them in his ass, pulling him into her. He let her get him in, at her own speed and pace, and simply felt himself sliding deeper and deeper, her hymen already out of the way through his powers. Once their bodies met, Liz buried her hands in his hair and pulled him down for a bruising kiss.

- Oh Michael, this is so good! You are amazing! I knew I had nothing to fear with you, Thank you! - She was absolutely breathless, from the pleasure she was feeling. Now that he felt her used to having him inside, he reached back and slid his hands under her knees, draping them over his shoulders. He started moving in and out of her in a slow lazy way until she gave a start and that was his cue to go faster. She matched his movements meeting them in perfect sync and soon she was coming and her pulsing insides had him gasping and shooting his load into her as they both kept calling out each other’s name over and over like a mantra. Michael slumped over her and tried to push himself to a side to spare her from his weight, but she would have none of it. She clasped her hands as if in prayer and pressed them into the small of his back, holding him tight against her. They were, for an incredible amount of time, feeling like they were floating and having these tingling sensations in all the sensitive parts of their bodies that had been used to create each other’s pleasure, tickling them in a very nice way and sending these soft energy jolts that kept them with this coming feeling for what must have been almost an hour. Liz had no way of comparing, but she was sure nothing could beat sex with an alien.

They lay there resting, until she felt him slide out of her. She then whispered “bathroom” and he started rolling on his side to let her up and fell back on his face once she was gone. When she returned, he was fast asleep, she spooned into his side and rubbed his back until she got restless. He had said that after they came together, she could do what she wanted, hadn’t he? No problems, then. Now was her turn. She went to her closet, and reached in her secret place for her toy. Maria had given it to her, she had bought two, one for her too, but she wouldn’t say how or where. Maria told her how she had used it on Michael, driving him out of his mind. Liz had used it several times to stimulate her clit, but only that, she would never put the thing inside her, only the real thing, and she had finally done it today. It had been fantastic. She and Maria were so lucky! She knew she would have to tell Maria, it had to be her. Michael was no problem. She knew he could keep a secret, and she also knew he could control his flashes, so Maria wouldn’t find by accident either. She knelt between his thighs and pushed them apart with her knees. She slid her hands up the sensitive insides of his thighs, making him squirm in his sleep, then made sure he was still lubed enough as her finger slid into him easily. He moaned and pushed up on his knees to give her better access. She grabbed the cushions from her easy chair and pushed them under his belly, keeping him bent over them. Perfect. She lubed the vibrator, just in case, and pushed it slowly into him. It was about the size of Michael’s own cock, so he would probably feel very much what she had. At first she thought it was too big for such a small opening, but as she started pushing, it went smoothly in. Michael purred, and writhed, and pushed back against it, but didn’t wake up. She couldn’t believe it was almost all inside him, there was only perhaps half an inch outside with the thick chord attached to the loop at the back and the sliding switches to turn it on, and for the two speeds. She placed the chord around her wrist, for a better grip, and turned it on, in low speed. As it started humming, Michael gasped and bucked and Liz started sliding the toy in and out of him.

- Ungh! Hurts … Yes! - He bucked back every time she pushed it in,
then she kept it deep in and screwed it left and right. He writhed and growled, his breathing heavy, she bent down and nibbled at his butt, biting him a little hard every few times, and he shuddered and purred.
She pulled it all out and left just the tip pressed against him, and every time he bucked, she pulled it away. He was tossing and begging “please!” but she kept on teasing him. He pushed down against the cushions and humped them, sobbing. Liz reached over and pushed her finger into his mouth, so he lapped and sucked it.

- Michael, open your eyes. - She whispered. - Wake up! -

He kept whimpering and pushing back, trying to get the vibrator into him, still asleep, but she insisted.

- Michael, what do you want? - She whispered, pushing it in a little and pulling it back out.

- Please! - He was shuddering now.

She turned it to high speed and shoved it in hard, all the way. He went so hard under her hands, it felt as if he had turned into one of those marble statues. She left it there, and reached under him, to find he was fully erect, so she pulled the cushions away and slid under him, guiding him into her. She buried her hand in his hair and pulled him down, crashing his mouth against hers, her tongue burying deep and lapping at his, her other hand managed to retrieve the chord and gave it constant tugs that pulled it out a little and let it bury back in. Michael was going wild in her arms. The way he was moving into her was driving her out of her mind with pleasure, she lost count how many times she came until she opened her eyes and found his were open too and they seemed to look straight into their souls, insane with pleasure.

- Come with me, Michael, please. - Her tugs on the chord sending electric shocks up his ass.

- Yes, Liz, yes, yes Liiiizzz! - He screamed, as her voice echoed him with his name.

This time he kept coming and coming, taking her along with him. He thought he would pass out, and she thought she would go crazy. Then gradually, the intensity started dying out until they were left tingling all over, feeling as if they were lying on jello, quivering every time they tried to move, Michael was whimpering against her neck as the vibrator kept humming inside him. Liz realized it would never end as long as it was driving him on, and might end up hurting him, so she gathered her strength, gave the chord a hard tug, and felt it coming out of him. He was sobbing against her breasts, and she rubbed his back until he started relaxing. This time she let him sleep.

Liz went downstairs with her quilt to the couch. As much as she wanted to stay with Michael she couldn’t risk falling asleep and not being downstairs when her father returned. She heard him coming back laughing loudly with Jim and shushing each other right after. He kissed her forehead and went upstairs to his room. She checked her watch and it was 4:35 am. She knew he would sleep until his alarm went off at 5:30, so she had almost an hour. She waited 5 more minutes just in case, and tiptoed to his room. She could hear her father’s snores through the closed door, and she knew she was safe. When she entered her room, Michael was just as she had left him. She straddled his thighs, and started massaging his back, paying double attention to his luscious ass and giving his healing wounds an extra nudge, which made her feel wicked. It seemed to work, and he gasped, then writhed and moaned. She crouched by the bed and kissed his lips, pushing into his mouth with her tongue and giving him all she could. He responded with equal enthusiasm and she thought he had woken up. As soon as she broke the kiss, she realized he hadn’t. She knelt between his thighs and started eating his ass out, almost giggling when he pushed up on his knees to help her. She grabbed his cock started jacking him and when she had him really started, she stopped and sat back. He went back to writhing and moaning, so she knelt on the bed and making an extreme effort, rolled him on his side and lay beside him before he could roll back. She held him there with arms and legs, and after growling in protest, he finally opened his eyes.

- Liz? Liz! What’s wrong? You ok? - He asked sleepily.

She explained about her father, and the fact that they didn’t have enough time to do anything, so she just wanted to talk, to see what they would do about what had happened between them.

- Ok, what do you suggest? - He rolled over her, burying his face in her breasts.

- Since Maria is my best friend, I should be the one to tell her. - She said, as she played with his hair.

- Right. - Michael sighed with relief.

- So since Max is your best friend, you should tell him. - She decided.

- I think I’ll enjoy this. - Michael grinned wickedly. - When? -

- We must wait for an appropriate occasion, and I don’t think it will be anytime soon. Maria is almost ready to return to you, and I don’t think I want to spoil that for either of you, right? Wait! I may be a bitch, but I want Max to find out the hard way. I’m going to get him to marry me no matter what, and then he’ll find out. Sorry, but that’s my decision. You’re not telling Max, if anyone is, that will be me, ok? -

- Ok with me. How about a goodbye quickie? - He said taking first one breast in his mouth and then the other, making her breath catch.
She felt he was ready, and pushing against her already wide open nightie.

- Do you want an extra nudge? - She asked, wrapping her legs around his thighs and spreading him with her feet. He growled for an answer and she slid from under him, lubed the vibrator and watched his muscles work under his skin as she penetrated him very slowly, making him feel every inch.

- Should I turn it on? I think dad’s snores will drown the humming. - She considered.

- Yes, please! - He whispered, urgently, as he slithered like an eel, humping the bed as she pushed the switch to HIGH.

- Hey wait for me! - She slid back under him and adjusted her body so he could enter her in his next hump. He did it gently and as slowly as she had entered him, and she felt what she had made him feel.

- Mmm…- They groaned together, and they were in perfect sync right from the start. She reached for the chord and had to use her foot to get it around her fingers. They couldn’t take too long, but she had an idea.

- Yes, Michael, yes! - She breathed as she pulled the chord upwards, knowing each tug tilted the tip of the thing down against his prostate, making him shudder and bringing him closer to coming. She knew she was in control and she also knew they only had time for her to come once. Michael had been giving her long deep strokes and now she decided that they didn’t have much more time so she started tugging hard and Michael went wild. He went faster but staying deep, as he rubbed on her clit each time. She loved him for holding back until she came because she knew what she was doing to him. She began to push up as he entered her, rubbing her clit harder against him until she simply exploded, digging her nails into his back, raking them all the way down to his butt and scratching him like a wildcat. The pain of her nails and the inner stimulation, together with her walls pulsing against him sent him over the edge a second after she did. The chord in her hand was pulled taut, without slacking and the tip of the vibrator was pushed against his prostate and stayed there giving him a non-stop orgasm, that had Liz coming as unendingly as he was. Michael was actually beginning to hurt.

- Let go of it, Liz! - He begged, wincing, and she realized what was happening.

She pulled the chord until the vibrator was completely out of him, and only then they could relax. She turned the thing off and rolled it under her bed. Michael was still breathing hard, as he lay sprawled over her. She rubbed his back with both hands and squeezed him against her.

- Wow! That was great! Are you ok? - She asked him, very concerned.

- Yeah, sure. You know Maria didn’t use that thing on me on the first time. - He told her.

- Of course I know, but I might not get another chance. You’re ok with it, huh? - She wondered if maybe she had gone too far.

- No, it was awesome, really. - He kissed her digging his hands in her hair, and enjoyed the warmth of her hands roaming all over his back.

- Oh, shit! Dad’s alarm will go off in about 5 minutes. I’ll go take a quick shower. Don’t go back to sleep, ok? - She said rolling him over on his side to get up.

- Then don’t let me roll back on my belly, or that’s it. - He told her.

She grabbed her huge teddy bear from the rocking chair by the bed and jammed it where she had just been.

- There, that will do. - She pulled the blanket up to his waist.

- Dad will surely come to see how you’re doing. No sense in mooning him. - She rushed to her bathroom, her shoulders shaking with her muffled giggles.

She was about to go back to her room, when she heard the door open and her father’s voice whispering after a soft knock.

- Lizzie, you in there? -

- Yes, dad, I just took a shower, I’ll be right there. - She opened the door a sliver and saw his father grinning down at Michael who had rolled over on the bear, and was hugging it to him like he had been doing to her. He shook his head, and left the room. When Liz came out, he was nowhere in sight, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t within hearing distance. She pulled the bear from under Michael rolling him back on his side and he opened his eyes. Before he could speak, she placed her hand over his mouth until he nodded, and then tossed the bear on the floor as if it had fallen from the bed. She playfully covered Michael completely with the blanket and returned to the bathroom for a towel for her hair. Michael rolled over on his back to stay awake, and rubbed his face with his hands. She saw Liz coming out of the bathroom, towel drying her hair, and he knew she was being cautious because of her father.

- Hey. - He said, as if he had just seen her, just as she was doing.

- Good morning, how you feeling? - She said, in case her father could hear as she sat on the bed by him.

- Better. - He answered, still rubbing his face.

- Quite a night you had. -

- Yeah, both of us. What about Maria? -

- Who knows, I think that she and Max spent the night together. -

Right then Mr. Parker chose to drop something noisily in the kitchen followed by a loud: “Shit!” Knowing he was far enough, they broke into chuckles and she leaned over and kissed his lips. When she straightened up, she tousled his hair.

- The bathroom’s yours. - She said and went to her closet to get her clothes. Suddenly she realized her father had seen Michael shirtless when he came into the room. He must be still hung-over, and didn’t even notice. She heard rustling behind her and turned to see Michael padding into the bathroom. She checked his ass, grinning, and went to pick up his clothes. She opened the door to the bathroom and handed them over to him.

- You might need these. - She told him, smiling.

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside, kissing her again. When he let her go, she bolted out of the bathroom, giggling and closed the door behind her. Once dressed, she peeped out of the door and heard his father clanking pots in the kitchen. She ran to the bathroom and opened the door, taking a peek at Michael, dripping wet inside the shower.

- Yummy! - She teased, shutting the door and hurrying to the kitchen.

Michael went into the diner and Liz went over to him.

- What did you do with the…you know. - Michael whispered his question.

- It’s under my bed, don’t worry, mother won’t be back in a week and she’s the only one that helps me clean up my room. I think I’ll start using it the right way now, especially since I know where it’s been before…- She whispered back grinning suggestively at him.

He smirked, knowingly, and waited until they heard her father walking into the back room.

- So, let me get this clear, you will tell Maria, when you find the right time…-

-No, I’ve been thinking, and maybe we just better keep it to ourselves. I know I can trust you, and what if Max and I break up and never marry? That would be a great breaking up last word. So he’ll only know if we break up or marry. -

- Nah, I know you, you start getting mushy again with Max and you will spill the whole thing, and he’ll probably tie me up while I’m sleeping and cut my whole equipment off while he fucks the daylights out of me in revenge. -

- No, Michael, I won’t, neither of them. - She giggled picturing Max taking it out on Michael.

- So, you’re not going to tell Maria? - He wanted to be sure what to expect.

- What? That you slept in my bed? No, for once I promise not to tell Max. -

- Deal -

Then they all started arriving, Isabel with Kyle and Jesse, and then Max and Maria, happy to share their finding of the party to everyone’s surprise.


Chapter 99


The haze started clearing as Isabel stopped the connection. The two culprits were looking at the floor, and they could swear the others couldn’t pull their hands away from them fast enough. The silence was devastating.
Of course it was Maria who broke it.

- God, Liz! Why…How…How could you do this? To me? To Max? What were you thinking? - She glared at her with obvious disgust.

- That was it, Maria, I wasn’t thinking straight, perhaps. It’s a lousy excuse, but while I was cleaning, I admit I had quite a few swigs of whatever liquor bottle I could find, frustrated that I was finally free of my dad’s restrictions and Max wasn’t here, and it somehow connected with the fact that he wasn’t there for me either when he preferred Tess to father her baby, and he wasn’t there for me either when Alex died, and I felt so terribly lonely, and he was ready to leave with her, and then he was so selfish and unthinking of my safety when he took me looking for the spaceship. I can understand if you never forgive me, but please, Maria, never drink! You lose control, you simply let go and you just don’t care. You don’t measure the consequences, you just indulge yourself, live the moment, and then it’s too late. There’s no going back. I’m sorry. - Her eyes had never left the ground.

- You know what? Now that we’re opening up? I think the alcohol just brought out the real you! We both had crushes on Michael since we saw him! We both laughed at Max’s staring at you, I was mean and teased you silly! You hated it! You had a chance to get what I beat you to, and you just jumped into it! Ok, I agree, Max didn’t deserve you thinking about him during your wild spree, and he didn’t deserve your virginity either, the rat! - She turned to Max’s livid face, still numb with shock, apologized and continued. - How would you feel if it were the other way round, huh? - Her eyes were shooting fire.

- I…I just can’t possibly imagine you with Max and me jealous…- Liz shook her head.

- I didn’t mean that! I meant if you were with Michael and I did this to you! -

- Maria, maybe you should tell Michael you kissed Billy. - She shot back.

- Maria! You lied, to me, you said you had nothing on me! - Michael exclaimed, shocked, as he turned to face her, knowing he had no right, but it hurt just the same.

- I didn’t kiss Billy, he kissed me. - Maria defended herself. She jumped to her feet and met Liz where she had also risen, poking at her chest with her finger.

- You didn’t push him away! And you said there were tons of passion! - Liz persisted, trying to get the attention to Maria’s infidelity, and pushing her hand away from her.

- On his side, I never said mine, I gave you that idea because I was so confused at that time, and needed to feel someone else wanted me, to make Michael jealous. God! How it backfired on me! I felt so bad every time I saw how hurt he was. But just like you said, there was no going back. Even if I apologized, I had already broken with him, I had preferred my singing to him, and he felt kicked aside, like you did with Tess. And I also lost control and I kept going back to him, and hurting him again, knowing he couldn’t resist me, and I pushed him aside again. I was the ultimate bitch with him, and I didn’t have the excuse of alcohol. - Her eyes grew misty as she reminisced and Liz’s sin started making sense. She got herself together again and let her spite return. - I swear, I could never sleep with Billy! - She spat his name as if it were poison. - But you slept with Michael, and you want to make me feel guilty for his lousy kiss? Very smart, Liz, but you still haven’t answered how you’d feel if it was the other way round. - She shouted.

- Maria, you’re my best friend, if being with my boyfriend to spite the guy who betrayed you, and preferred to give him your virginity than the rat…- She also turned to the paralyzed Max and apologized before continuing. -You know I wouldn’t deny it. Especially knowing it would also spare you from an unpleasant first experience, granted, the…Max could have done that too, but we both drooled over this boy, and if I was the lucky one, you know I would have shared him with you. And I’m not saying it to get off the hook. You know me, I let you have Max to go find the party…- Liz looked at her with tears in her eyes. Maria’s thoughts of a few seconds ago returned full force, filling her mind, and she just said the first thing that came out of her mouth, unchecked, trying to break the spell of her sensible side.

- Oh yeah, big deal…- Max’s indignant intake of air as this next blow to his ego brought him back to life, made both girls involved turn to him. They found the look in his face so hilarious, that they fell into each other’s arms, laughing like possessed. The others stared at them, convinced they had totally lost it this time. When their laughter finally died down, they wiped their tears away and were lost in a hug with a fresh bout of tears, this time nothing to do with laughter. Then they let go and turned back to Max where he was clearing his throat, now in absolute fury, sounding as if he was choking to death. They both ran to him and hugged him from both sides. Max went numb again. He thought he had Liz in the palm of his hand, and she had just confessed she had slept with Michael, that she had wanted it since Maria told her of her first night with him, that what she wanted with Michael, she wouldn’t want with him? He felt like he had just had a concert piano dropped on his head. In full honesty, he wouldn’t take that from her of from anybody at all! He definitely wasn’t Michael. He already knew they had both had a crush on him in school, but he had always thought Maria envied Liz for having him, not the other way round. He was beginning to doubt his people were right about this. He didn’t like it. Liz had lost her virginity with his best friend, his cousin, really, his second in command, his warrior! Ok, so he had lost his with Tess, his queen, who was ready to sell him out to his enemies. He had been a fool. How could he be angry with Liz? She had followed his example. He admitted to himself he hadn’t though the hymen trick. Probably Liz’s first experience, had it been with him, wouldn’t have been so pleasant, unless she would have asked him to do what Maria had told her Michael had done for her, but would she? Knowing Liz, she probably would have trusted him to do it, and been so disappointed, telling him later, when it was too late, and making him feel like a…rat? When had his life become so complicated? His sister’s voice broke through his disturbing thoughts.

- Guilty feelings, perhaps? - She smirked when her brother blushed proving her right.

Max turned to look at the other guys, and saw that both Kyle and Stuart looked as confused as he did, even Michael, the common denominator being that they would never understand women. They were the real meaning of “Enigma”, definitely.

- Max would you? Please, don’t lie to me. It’s not allowed now. - Liz’s words confirmed what he had just been thinking. “What is she talking about?” -

- What? What do you mean? I’m kind of lost, here. - He had to admit. He felt lousy when he heard her scoff in exasperation.

- Would you have spared me a bad first experience? - She went for the kill.

- Liz, c’mon…you know me, how could I…- Max beat around the bush, nervously.

- Yeah, you’re too much in your human side to have thought about it. - She sighed. She felt Maria’s arm around her shoulders, and let her pull her down to sit back in the circle.

- It’s ok, chica, we’re best friends, no sexy boyfriend…- She winked at Michael, who sighed with relief…- nor lousy one…- She glared at Max…- will keep us apart, I promise you. I’m glad my Spaceboy gave you a great first time too, you shouldn’t have had it any other way. Now, it hasn’t happened again, has it? - She locked eyes with her, her hands on Liz’s shoulders.

- No, only that time, Maria, I swear. - Liz said with emphasis.

- I’m open for threesomes, anytime…- Michael’s eyes went from Maria’s to Liz’s and back.

- Michael! - Liz shouted at him.

- Hey, just kidding…- He said, faking a frown. What could he lose? It could’ve worked.

- Spaceboy, you have the worst timing ever! - Maria spat at him.

- I know, I’m sorry. - He buried his face in his arm.

- Jerk! - Isabel said jokingly, as she reached over and tousled his hair. He pulled away from her, knowing she had guessed his thoughts correctly. At least Maria and Liz we’re still best friends and weren’t about to kick his ass, but this was just beginning, and he shuddered to think what was to follow.


Isabel gave the first three involved, a break they were hoping for, as she went to confess, her secret meetings with Jesse, and dragging Kyle along when he saw them kissing in the store, and she asked him to keep his mouth shut. Then she turned back to Kyle, and they noticed her lips were trembling, and then they both turned to Michael. “Uh uh.” He thought, “It had to come out, no way I’m getting out of this one. Well, they partly know, so what the hell? I guess the best way to get closure to a recurrent nightmare is making it public, right? And that isn’t the only one, but you’re my friends, so bring it on.” He felt both Isabel’s and Kyle’s hands on his shoulders, asking his permission, and he nodded. They went back to the circle, clutched hands, and the haze covered them.

These friends have a lot of issues like most groups of friends do, plus the big alien thing to top it all! No one's a saint there, no doubts about it, but they are doing what they think is best, according to the Antares, and opening up as an apology for all their individual and shared sins. Liz and Maria can't help being friends, Liz and Max are undoubtedly a couple, but they have a lot to deal with, Michael and Maria are definitely in the craziest love ever, Isabel and Michael can't help the fact that they were a couple in their other life, but they have come to terms that their destinies won't be together on earth. Michael has definitely been terribly abused all the years he lived with Hank, and like it or not, they need to know what he went through no matter how terrible it was and is for him to remember because it's the only way he'll find a closure for his own "white room", and it's also positive in a way to the others, to see how lucky they are to have the parents they have, even to Maria, whose father left her, maybe for the best. What it he had become a drunk abuser, if he had stayed out of duty and be unhappy with Amy? Maybe it will also help Maria accept Jim Valenti as a partner for her mother. Once everything is out, they will be able to cope with who they are and become much more stronger together. They will need it, especially with their uncertain future.

Chapter 100 Part 1


When it cleared, Max and Isabel were at their kitchen, Diane Evans was stirring something in the stove, and Philip was making himself busy handing her anything she asked him to. Max turned to Isabel, beckoning to her, and went to the living room with her on his heels. There was a colourful card on the mantelpiece, large enough to read: HAPPY THANKSGIVING in huge letters, quite visible from where they stood.

- I have to stay cause I’m downloading this stuff for the science project and I have to keep checking it out, ok? You go get Michael, it’s about 6 now, he’ll be waiting. Better hurry, or he’ll get in some kind of trouble, you know him. - He tossed her the keys to the jeep, and she nodded and left.

Isabel drove to the horrid Chisholm Trailer Park where Michael lived and a couple of blocks away she had to step on the brakes to let Kyle Valenti and some of his stupid jock friends pass by as they jogged right in front of her. Kyle gave her what she knew he thought was his sexy grin, but he was so far from it. To her he looked like a snarling Rottweiler! Jocks! Synonym for “first class jerks”, she laughed. As if she was going to smile back at him! He wished! No, they wished! She arrived at 6pm sharp, and obeying Michael’s explicit demands, she waited just outside the entrance to the horrid place, for him to come and join her. She took out her CD, and got lost in the music. When it stopped, she started changing disks, and remembered what she was there for. She checked her watch it was 20 past. “Sorry, Michael, but I’m coming in.” She turned on the jeep and drove inside, parking and walking right up to the doorstep of the tacky trailer. She knocked a couple of times, no answer. She grabbed the door handle ready to use her powers, but it opened on its own. She popped her head in and called his name softly. He had told her his father was leaving early that day for a two week long gig in Las Cruces, so he would be alone. Still, he didn’t want her going into the Park, because the neighbours were not trustworthy, and she knew they were always beating him up. He must have suspected they wouldn’t respect a girl, especially not her. So far, the whole place had looked deserted, as she had driven in. It was only 6 pm but the inside of the trailer was dark. Then she noticed all the shutters and sun bleached curtains were closed, it gave it an eerie realistic horror movie atmosphere and she shivered to think Michael had to live there. She walked all around the place but he wasn’t there. She had tried every light switch she found but none worked. The rat Hank had probably shut the juice down not to pay for what he wasn’t using, and not giving a damn about Michael. Well, his loss, she wasn’t staying there to wait for him to show up. He would have to go on his own if he wanted to spend Thanksgiving with them. As she passed the living area and she was a couple of steps from the door, she heard what was clearly a moan, and she turned but saw no one. It came again, ending in a kind of muffled sob. She walked into the area and looked around, her eyes used to the darkness now. Then she noticed some movement by the couch, and she approached it. Something was behind it, she could now see what looked like legs coming from behind it, on the floor. She knelt on the battered thing and looked behind. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Michael lying there covered in blood. She had barely stifled a scream when a hand on her shoulder almost let it out. Thinking it was Hank, she turned, eyes wide open, to face Kyle Valenti, his hands raised in front of him, ready to block an expected slap to his face.

- Dammit, Valenti, what is it with you! You scared me! -

- No, what is it with you? What are you doing here? -

- What are YOU doing here? -

- I was leaving Tod’s house and I saw you driving in here. I thought you were nuts, so I came to help you get out alive. Now what are you doing here? -

- I came to pick Michael Guerin up for Thanksgiving at my place. -

- Oh my god! He lives here? - Kyle said, a look of disgust in his face.

- Get out of here! I’m ok, I’m waiting for him…- She started pushing him towards the door when Michael chose to moan again and they both jumped.

- What was that? - Asked Kyle, his eyes popping out of his head.

- Nothing, nothing, just get out! - Isabel insisted.

- NO! Damn you…stop! - Michael moaned, and Kyle pushed Isabel out of the way and peered at the hurt boy over the couch.

- Oh shit! What’s happened to him? Turn on the lights! - Kyle exclaimed.

- There’s no power, I already tried. - Isabel informed him.

- Let me find a flashlight, there must be one somewhere around this trash. - Kyle turned on a lighter and went looking around. She guessed he was in the kitchen area when he heard him go: “Aha!” He came back, the light preceding him and she knew he had found one. She hated to think what they would see now that it was possible. She couldn’t help crying out when Kyle flashed the light on the prone body. Michael was naked except for a pair of shorts tangled in one of his legs, and socks and sneakers, that was all. His thighs were spread and smeared with blood, and she could see a dark pool of it high up between them. Kyle raced behind her taking the light with him as he searched for something.

- What are you doing? - Isabel shouted, exasperated.

- I’m looking for a phone to call 911. Oh, shit! It’s not working either! -

- Just help me get him in the jeep, ok? I’ll take care of him. -

- Wait! - Kyle rushed back to the kitchen and Isabel heard running water.

He came back with a bowl and a towel, and started wiping the blood from his back to show the slashes from a beating with something sharp. A belt buckle, Isabel guessed. There were some bloody smears on his ass too, and the pattern coincided with 5 fingernails on each side. Isabel was beginning to feel sick. She went around and checked his face, but there was no blood there. He moaned again and she knew he was barely conscious.

- Michael, I’m going to help you, please, just stay still, ok? -

- Iz, it hurts…- He moaned.

- Easy, man…- Kyle stood astride him and reached under his chest to pull him up. He only managed to get him on his knees, the taller boy being much heavier that he had expected.

- Max? - Michael whispered, breathing hard.

- No, Michael, it’s Kyle Valenti, he was passing by and offered to help me get you to the jeep. - She said hurriedly, before he gave them up.

- Give me a hand here. - Kyle said, hating to admit defeat and having to ask a girl for help. Isabel crouched and held Michael in her arms, as Kyle also crouched, grabbing Michael from behind around his hips and pulling him to his feet. Michael stood swaying, as Kyle let go, leaving him in Isabel’s arms, as he thought of the best way to get him to the jeep without making a fool of himself again. He pointed the flashlight at Michael’s thighs.

- Where is he bleeding from? - He asked himself, aloud.

Then Michael’s weight started being too much for Isabel and she backed up against the wall, with Michael bent over her. Kyle heard Michael grunt as he saw a new gush of blood running down the boy’s thighs, so he pointed the light a little higher, finding the source.

- Oh shit - He cried out, and turning away from them, he hurled whatever he had in his stomach. When the gurgling sounds ended, he ran back to the kitchen and Isabel heard him rinsing his mouth. When he came back, he could hardly look at her, his eyes focusing everywhere but on either of them.

- I’m so sorry, Isabel! - He leant towards her ear from the side. - I think he has been raped! We must take him to a hospital, he’s bleeding out! -

- Oh my god, oh my god! Kyle, please, get him to the jeep! - She held onto Michael tight, somehow keeping him rather upright. -

- Dammit, Izzy, it hurts too much! - Michael whispered huskily.

- I’ll take him, move around him, but don’t let him go until I tell you, ok? - Kyle instructed her.

- Wait! Wait! Hold him up a sec to get his shorts up, at least. - She said and as Kyle hugged him, she managed to get the other leg of the shorts over Michael’s foot, before she pulled them up all the way.

Isabel nodded and held Michael from behind, as Kyle ducked and heaved him over his shoulder. He carried him towards the door, and Isabel could see his legs bent over, barely managing Michael’s weight. She raced in front of him and pushed the shotgun seat all the way back with her powers, shielding her hand with her body.

- Ok, put him here. - She told him.

- It will hurt him to sit down…- Kyle observed.

- Just stretch him out, the seat is down. - She said.

Kyle eased him on his side, and Michael flopped over on his belly with a groan. Kyle watched the jeep with a weird look.

- I didn’t know these seats could go all the way back. - He said, scratching his ear. Isabel looked at him worriedly. These jocks knew all about cars.

- Max had it fixed that way at the shop. - She told him, nervously, as she climbed on the driver’s seat and started the engine. - Well, thank you, Kyle, really. - She turned away from him and pushed the gear shift stick, wondering how to secure Kyle’s silence.

- Hey! You’re not dumping me here! I’m going with you! - He said, indignantly, as he jumped into the jeep behind her. Michael was moaning in pain, and Kyle felt sick again, thinking what they had done to him. Isabel drove off, thinking of a quick and sure way to get rid of Kyle.

- Who do you think did this to him? - Kyle’s voice was barely audible.

- I have no idea, he needs help, please Kyle where do I drop you? -

Before Kyle could answer, Isabel’s phone started ringing, and she got an outraged look from Kyle. It was Max.

- Isabel, what’s taking you so long? What did Michael do now? - He sounded pissed.

- Max, Michael is hurt…bad. He needs help, where should I take him? - Her voice was stressed, and Max guessed she had company.

- Someone’s there with you. Ok, I’ll get rid of Mom and Dad somehow and come straight here. Tell whoever is with you I’m meeting you at the hospital, ok? Hurry up! -

- Ok. - She hanged up and turned to Kyle.

- You had a phone all the time! Why didn’t you call 911? -

- Max is meeting me at the hospital. I’ll drop you here, thanks, Kyle. May I ask you for a big favour? - She asked, ignoring his question.

- Sure, Isabel, anything. - He said and meant it.

- Michael is a nice guy, he feels bad at having to live with a jerk, it’s not his fault and he already has a hell of a time with it. The kind of people who live here just hate sirens of any kind, because it draws attention to them. That’s why I didn’t call 911. His foster father is about to be kicked out of the trailer park and this would really do it. They have nowhere else to go. Please, promise me this will stay between us. Can I trust you? - She pleaded, no, begged him with her eyes, and he couldn’t help it: he promised her.

- It goes both ways, ok? If my father or my friends know I was at the trailer park, my dad will skin me alive and my friends won’t have anything to do with me, so promise me too. -

After promising too, Isabel thanked him and kissed his forehead, leaving Kyle with his mouth open and his hand covering the spot where she had kissed him.

Isabel hurried home, and was relieved to find the garage empty of her parent’s car. Max was already at the door, looking pale, and he turned even paler when he saw Michael’s bloody condition.

- What happened? - He asked, as he tried to get Michael down, somehow.

- I found him like this at the trailer, behind the couch. - She sobbed.

- How did you get him to the jeep? - Max was intrigued.

- A friend of his helped me. He heaved him over his shoulder and carried him to the jeep. He was shorter than you so maybe you can do it too. -

They managed to get Michael over Max’s shoulder, as he squatted by the jeep’s open door, but she had to push her shoulder under Michael too, cause Max was bending under him.

- Where’s Mom and Dad? - She asked worriedly.

- I told them you called to say you were upset cause you couldn’t find the ice cream you like and that I had told you they would get it for you in Mom’s market cause I knew they had it there, and that it would be good for them to go get it for you, cause they’d been in the house all day, and that they should hurry before it sold out like in the other stores. So they left right away. - Max told her between huffs and puffs on the way to the bedrooms.

It took them ages to get him to Max’s room and as soon as they dumped Michael on the bed, he started healing him. He had barely managed to control the bleeding and was about to repair what was causing it, when their parents’ scared voices and frantic knocking on the door, forced him to stop.

- Max, Isabel! What has happened? Please open up! - Isabel hurried to the door, shrugging as she looked at Max, not knowing how they knew.

- Maybe some neighbour saw us getting him off the jeep, and told them when they arrived. - Max whispered, as the banging continued.

- Why are they back so soon? The queues at the market must be huge! -

Max shrugged his ignorance too, and they had to open the door. Their parents stood there, looking as scared as they sounded. They pounced on Isabel, her mother sobbing uncontrollably, and her father asking her worriedly:

- Are you alright? The jeep is drenched in blood! What happened? -

“Oh shit! We forgot to clean the jeep!” They both thought. Then Diane saw Michael on Max’s bed and she screamed and rushed to him.

- Oh my god! Michael! What happened to you? - She brushed the hair off his face, her other hand on his cheek.

Michael just moaned, and writhed on the bed, which was now as bloody as the jeep must be.

- I found him like that when I went to get him! - Isabel’s brain was going full speed, thinking of something reasonable to tell her parents.

- Izzy, what’s wrong with you? You should have taken him straight to the hospital! - Philip exclaimed.

Out of the blue, Isabel remembered an excuse Michael had given in school, when he had faced the same problem quite few times, and it always worked.

- His real mother had a weird blood condition, that’s hard to detect, and she was given the wrong blood type and it killed her. That could easily happen to Michael, cause it’s hereditary, and he’s got it, and once they almost killed him that way too, although they knew. That’s why he doesn’t want to be taken to the hospital. I took him to emergency, anyway. They controlled the bleeding, but when they went to get blood for a transfusion, Michael knew what would happen, and begged me to get him out. So I brought him here. - She could hardly believe what was coming out of her mouth, but she made it sound very convincing.

- Izzy, dear, we must take him to a hospital, and inform his condition. Make sure they do the right thing. He needs professional help! - Philip said softly.

- No, dad, they’ll kill him! - She yelled and stood in front of the bed, keeping them away from Michael. Max was deathly pale, and when his parents turned to him to see if he could make some sense, Max just nodded.

- It’s true, you’d be risking his life if you take him to a hospital. How would you feel if…something went wrong? - He asked them looking very serious.

- Ok then…- Philip shook his head.

Diane brought a bowl of water and towels from the bathroom and started cleaning the blood from Michael’s thighs. When Isabel knelt by the bed opposite her, to clean him too, Diane stopped her daughter.

- Isabel, you better leave, honey, I will have to pull off his shorts to clean him completely, he’ll be naked…- She whispered the last phrase.

- Mom, he was naked when I found him, I got the shorts on him. - Isabel answered her mother, her eyes locked on hers. - I’m not a child, mom. -

Diane nodded in defeat, and let Isabel help her undress the boy, and clean him up. As Isabel pushed the wet towel cleaning the inside of Michael’s thigh, high up, it became obvious to Diane where the boy was hurt and still bleeding from, and Isabel saw her pale, just like Kyle had before puking. But Diane didn’t. Her hands trembled and her tears fell down her cheeks, as she raised her eyes to her daughter’s. Diane was shocked to see in them that she already knew what she had just found out. Isabel watched her mother’s eyes lock with her father’s and he nodded, he knew too.

- Who did this to him? - Diane asked in a thin thread of voice.

- I don’t know, mom, his foster father left early today for a job in Las Cruces, and Michael’s friend, who helped me take him to the jeep, said maybe his “dad” was owing some poker money and they took it out on Michael when they couldn’t find him. - “God! Isabel thought, I’m getting so good at lying!”

- Philip, we can’t just leave him here! Look at him! He’s still bleeding some and he’s suffering! - Diane’s eyes were full of tears.

- I know someone I can call. I’ll be right back. - Philip left the room with Max at his heels.

- I’m defending Dr. Roy Hawkins, who has been mistakenly charged with malpractice. He’s a great emergency surgeon, he was delivering a baby, and he was replaced by another doctor, and charged for the other one’s mistake in a brain surgery. He’ll come if I call him. - Philip explained.

Philip took out a card out of his wallet. He sat on the couch and called Dr. Hawkins’ pager telling him it was an emergency. He had barely hung up a few seconds when the phone rang.

- Is this Philip Evans? -

- Roy, yes, sorry to bother you, but I have a situation here at home…-

- I’m finishing, but come right over, I’ll wait for you…I’ll send the ambulance immediately -

- No, don’t. I’m afraid it’s a rather unusual…you know, I hate to ask you, but could you make a house call? It’s urgent…-

- Sure, Philip, who’s hurt? -

- Actually a friend of one of my kids…-

- Give me a hint, to know what I’ll need to take…-

- I suspect rape…-

- Is your wife with you? -

- Yes…-

- Ask her to check if the vagina is bleeding…-

- Mmm…it’s not bleeding much now, but…mmm…it’s not there…it’s…

- Oh, ok, sodomy…I’ll be right there, I’ve got your card here, your home address is the one on Murray, right? -

- Yes, that’s the one, sorry, cause it’s Thanksgiving and…-

- No sweat, man, no one programmes these things, you know? Hey, Tim, you’ll have the honour of stitching the scalp next door, I have a family emergency…-

The connection was cut off, and they returned to Max’s bedroom.

Philip and Max came back to tell them Dr. Hawkins would be here soon to take care of Michael.

- I’m sorry, honey, but your ice cream was already sold out when we arrived at the market. - Philip said with regret.

“No wonder they came back so soon,” Isabel and Max thought.

- Michael, how are you feeling, honey? - Diane asked him, leaning by his face, one hand caressing his hair, the other one on his shoulder.

- Hurts…- He said, wincing, and shutting his eyes tight.

Diane frowned and got up, taking Isabel’s hand and pulling her towards the door.

- Come and help me make some tea. - Diane needed to get out of the room, as she was beginning to feel faint. She was holding up against Isabel.

- Mom, I don’t think Michael…- Isabel started, but her mother interrupted.

- It’s for me. - Isabel then noticed how pale she was.

Once in the kitchen, Isabel helped Diane on a chair and she made the tea.

- It’s so strange, Isabel, I always thought of us mothers worrying sick about the possibility of our daughters getting raped, but to see this boy, going through just that, and alone, with no mother to look after him, and his father leaving him behind on Thanksgiving! - She put it as if it was the worst sin in her book, her tears falling again.

- Hank is just his foster father, mom. - Isabel regretted it the moment it came out, as she heard her mother stifle a sob with her hand.

Meanwhile, Max sat on the bed and held Michael’s hand in his, as Philip sat back in the computer armchair, and watched them, thinking how could anyone be so sick to do that to a boy. The kid was all male if you saw the whole of him, but if you focused only on his hips and legs as he lay there, the effect was completely androgynous. He could pass for a girl, with his round butt and long well shaped legs, he could even pass for Isabel, who was much fuller than Max, as this boy was. Then watching the two boys on the bed, he tried to find resemblances of any kind between them. He had always felt this guilt after his children had brought Michael home from school, and Diane had been told by the school secretary that he had been found naked in the desert, a week after their kids. Now that he was studying them closely, Michael couldn’t be Max’s brother, they looked so different, but Max and Isabel looked different also, although they insisted they knew they were siblings. This boy could pass as Isabel’s brother easier than Max did. He wondered if the boy could feel comfortable lying there face down with his thighs apart, all exposed, but then, of course, closing them would be too painful in his condition. As if in answer to his thoughts, Michael shifted his hips, and gasped with the spasm of pain his moving brought him. Philip saw Max’s eyes close and tears run down his cheeks. He started getting an empty feeling at the pit of his stomach, when the doorbell rang.

Philip raced out of the room and Diane also jumped up from the table and rushed to the door. They almost collided as they arrived together, coming from different directions. Isabel ran back to Max’s room and fell on her knees by the bed, clutching Michael’s other hand in hers.

- The doctor’s here .

Part 2

- I guess dad’s explaining him what we told them, how are you doing, Michael? - She squeezed his hand as he watched him wince and shut his eyes tight again.

- The pain’s…killing…me…Max? - Michael shuddered, suffering a new spasm.

- I can’t do anything now, Michael, they’ve seen what you have, they’re not stupid…- They heard footsteps approaching the room and their parents and the Dr. came in. Philip introduced his children, and then Michael. Roy Hawkins had already gone through the shock of having to face what he had always considered the most heinous of crimes against a male, but it was the first time he had actually seen it. It had always been his nightmare, and now he would have to face his demon. He knew he had paled when he saw the boy, and the bloody water and towels in the bowl on the nightstand.

- Could you please leave the room? - He said in an unsteady voice.

Max and Isabel rose reluctantly, and went towards Isabel’s room, and closing the door, they entered the dark adjoining bathroom, opening the door just a sliver, enough to see what they wanted without being detected.

- Can I please stay with him? - Diane pleaded, and Hawkins couldn’t reject her.

- Yes, you guys can stay if you can take it, there’s the door if you can’t. - He gave them a crooked smile, his experience telling him they would be out sooner than they could possibly expect. He was surprised to see that Diane simply close her eyes, her tears running down her cheeks as she pressed the boy’s hand in both of hers against her breast, her breath hiccoughing in her throat each time Michael sobbed, or moaned or gasped. Philip sat bent forwards in the armchair, his elbows on his knees and his hands on his cheeks, pressing them harder with each sound the hurt boy made. When he couldn’t take it anymore, he covered his face with his hands, his thumbs plugging down his ears. Max and Isabel watched with their hands efficiently covering their mouths, and closing their eyes when it was too much.

Hawkins was the picture of efficiency, he had to, working at the emergency area. He took a deep breath and stepped into it. As was his typical trait, that everyone at the hospital teased him for it, he talked to himself as he worked, he couldn’t help it, it was his way to blow off steam. Max and Isabel were able to hear him with the clarity they would have had standing close to him, thanks to their keen alien hearing, just as their parents were hearing him, due to their proximity. He went to his bag and got several syringes and small bottles, naming them as he brought them out, and renaming them as he filled the syringes amazingly fast and placing them on a stool which he positioned by the bed, the empty original containers between the filled syringes for easy identification. Then he placed the bag on the floor by the stool. He donned a rubber glove identifying it, and unceremoniously lubricated a finger with something out of a tube, saying “K-Y”, and stuck it into Michael.

- Ok, let’s see…- As he searched around for only he knew what. Michael groaned and squirmed. - Yeah, I know, sorry…-

He pulled out and there were bloody smears left on his gloved finger. - Yeah, definitely cauterized, probably missed a spot, not so bad…- He took out a gadget from his bag and placed it over Michael’s forehead, as the boy shook his head to get it away from him. Hawkins looked at it and his eyebrows shot up.

- Useless piece of crap!...- He muttered as he tossed it back into the bag and brought out a pencil like silver case and took out a thermometer. He squeezed a glob from the tube on the tip - don’t need it but just in case…- and pushed it into Michael. He leaned over and looked at the bloody scabbing gashes in Michael’s back, and the finger nail ones on his butt. - Mean and rough, to hurt and torture…bastard!...this one will need stitching…this ones too…- After his back, he turned to his butt. - These are already getting infected, what did this, claws? Probably filthy too…- He moved down to the thighs.
- A couple of nasty ones here too…ok, stitching too…- He checked his watch and looked back at Michael, - good looking kid, well built, nice ass, nice long legs, bad combination, though, perfect victim, magnet for weirdos…- He shook his head.

Isabel and Max were just going out of their minds wondering what to do about the temperature reading Michael was going to have, cause they knew it would be not humanly possible. Isabel raced out of the bathroom into the hallway and Max suspected she knew what she was doing. Her keen hearing detected Hawkins voice when he said to himself: - ok, let’s see what’s cooking…- And she burst into the room with perfect timing as the Dr. retrieved the thermometer from Michael. She rushed over towards Hawkins sniffing dramatically.

- Please, how is he? - Then she pretended to notice the thermometer in the startled doctor’s hand and snatched it away from him.
- Oh my god! Is it too high? - She wondered aloud as she saw the mercury was all the way up to the top and used her powers to lower it to 102º.

- I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have…I needed to see he was alright! - She effectively burst into tears, handing the thermometer back to Hawkins, and fled the room, apparently embarrassed, leaving them all wide eyed and open mouthed.

When she returned to the bathroom, Max gave her a thumb up, and a weak smile. She nodded back, whispering:

- Now they’ll definitely think I’m nuts. - She sighed.

Philip and Diane shared worried looks and then gave Hawkins apologetic ones. He just nodded and continued. - Yeah, it’s high but I was expecting it…we’ll take care of it right away…But this first…- He brought out a big tube with a nozzle like cap and slid it gently into Michael. He moaned and his muscles tightened visibly. - Hey, I’m going gently,…just easy now,… shouldn’t hurt much,…some of course,…but not much…- He muttered as he squeezed about half the tube into him. Then he brought out of the bag what looked like the plastic case of one of those long, thick cigars, and started working it into Michael. - Let’s see, now, can’t use more lube…the cream inside will do…no, no, just relax…it’s mostly uncomfortable at first, you’ll get used in a minute…yes, you need it, we don’t want this to close up completely, right?...No we don’t, there it is… all the way in…Ok, now I need a vein, let’s see, this kid will be on his belly for a while, so arm iv’s not functional, uh uh. Not in this position…thigh then, safer. Ok, need at least an 18…those little hand ones are no good…- He rummaged into his bag and came out with a handful of hypodermic needles in their soft plastic blisters.
- Aha! Pink…that’s it…- He selected and detached two, dropping them on the bed, - ok then, the rubber thing…what’s the damn thing called? I never remember, I always call it “thing”…- He tied the rubber “thing” tight around Michael’s thigh and shoved the thick needle in. Michael jerked and gasped, - yeah, that must have hurt…keep still, please, so I can find one fast…- He kept fishing around as Michael shuddered, but kept still as he had asked, moaning into the pillow. - Right!...gotcha! - He picked a syringe. - Ok, painkiller, into the vein to have it act fast…- He attached it to the back of the needle which had drops of blood leaking out of it, and shot half of it into him. Michael took a deep breath ending in a sigh. - Good…much better, huh? But it won’t last long. Now the other half in the muscle for at least a few hours relief…- He unscrewed the syringe and took another needle, - Ok, a 21 will do now…- attaching it to replace the other one. With his other hand he opened a bottle of alcohol, the smell giving it away, and scooped some cotton wool, tipped the bottle against it and wiped at Michael’s butt. - Alrightie, hang on now…- He stabbed the needle in, as Michael jerked and gasped again. - Uh uh…this will hurt, oily and thick, must go deep and slow…- Michael growled and grabbed the side of the bed, as Diane squeezed his other hand in hers. - Easy, easy…almost there…almost over…Ok, ok…- He pulled out and Michael lay there shuddering. - Alright… let’s rig this up…- He got a bunch of silver metal sticks and started stretching out the pieces until it stood up about five feet on a cross like base. It had a piece crossing over the top, and Hawkins took out a plastic bag of plasma from his bag and hung it on one of the hooked ends. Then he attached the plastic tube coming from the bag to the bloody base of the needle in Michael’s thigh and fastened it tight against him with a roll of tape from the bag. He moved the plastic gadget high up in the tube and started the drip. - Ok, now, clean up the mess…- He used the cotton wool swab to wipe away the blood, carefully minding the needle.
- Ok then, might as well…- He swabbed again Michael’s ass and started stabbing and emptying all the syringes, one after the other, chanting: Antiallergenic, just in case…antibiotic…antipyretic…anti-inflammatory…oh, yes, anti-tetanus,…just in case too…- Michael jerked, gasped, moaned and clutched the bed throughout the torture-like ordeal. - Ok, kid, we’ll give your ass a rest…- He patted the side of Michael’s hip, making him wince. - Yeah, you must be sore all over…sorry, I’m a jerk…Now the stitches…- Michael moaned and ended in a sob. It still wasn’t over.
Hawkins filled a big syringe and jabbed it by the largest gash in Michael’s back. The boy’s muscles rippled and tightened with the effort to deal with the pain as the doctor injected him all around the damaged area. - Yeah, yeah local anesthetic’s a bitch, like all painkillers, hurts like hell, doesn’t make sense, huh? Yeah…Ok, just hang on,…yeah,…we got a brave one here, huh?...That’s it…tough kid,…just love you,…really do…Ok, just 2 more,…
there you are…- He went to the next and then the other one, just rambling on. - Ok, this should be ready now…- He poked the first gash and Michael jerked. - Ok, we’ll wait a little then, let’s see these ones…- He turned his attention to the gashes in Michael’s thighs. One started about halfway and wrapped also halfway into the inside of the thigh, high up. The other one lay across the back of the other thigh, also high up. - Uh uh, these are too deep too…- He proceeded to anesthetize them too, with the same painful response from the patient. He poked at the others under those. - No need to stitch here…already scabbing nicely…ok, surely ready now…- He pulled what looked like a stapler from his bag and took it out of its case. He pressed it against the largest gash and Michael’s breath hissed through his teeth.

- You didn’t feel that now; right? - Hawkins asked Michael, surprised.

- No…no, it’s ok…- Michael muttered.

Max and Isabel could tell Max was lying. They knew why. The anesthetic hadn’t worked, but Michael wanted it to be over as soon as possible, so he was just taking it.

- He’s not going to tell him, is he? - Isabel whispered.

- No, he isn’t…Dammit! Just 5 more minutes! - Max spat, disgusted with himself.

- What’s that? - Isabel asked.

- That’s all I needed to finish healing him! And this wouldn’t be happening! -

- At least you controlled the bleeding. - Isabel consoled him, and patted his arm.

- Yeah, big deal! -

They realized Hawkins had stopped and was looking at the instrument. They thought he had realized what was happening. But it wasn’t that.

- Stupid thing! Two staples! That’s all it had! - He started rummaging again into his black bag and shook his head. - No staples! Can you believe that? Oh, ok, old fashioned stitching is much better anyway. - He brought out a curved needle and threaded it. He gave the gash three more stitches, then three on each of the other gashes, continuing his mutterings. He stepped back and checked his work. - Beautiful! I’m an artist! - He smiled and went to the gashes in the thighs. As he pushed the needle through for the first stitch, Michael gasped.

- Hey, you ok? - He asked him.

- Yeah, sure…just go ahead…- He whispered back.

Hawkins went back to the gashes and stitched them quick and efficiently too, as Michael buried his face in the pillow and his body was visibly tight and tense. - As the doctor was finishing the last stitch, he said: - Relax, kid, it’s over, c’mon, you’re still numb…- As he was cutting the thread, he tentatively gave it a sudden tug, and Michael grunted and jerked, not expecting it. Hawkins got a funny look in his face. He reached out and poked at the stitched gash on the other thigh and Michael jerked again.

- You’re not numb? Don’t lie to me! -

- No…sorry. It never works…I didn’t want you…to feel bad…about it…you had to…do it…- Michael barely managed to tell him.

- Hey, kid, I’m the one sorry here! You should’ve told me…- Hawkins looked worried.

-There’s nothing you…could do. I’m…used to it…don’t…feel bad. -

- Ok. - Hawkins frowned and shook his head.

He turned to the nail marks on Michael’s butt, still frowning and shaking his head.

- I’d say these are the worst…already scabbed but angry red around the edges. Bad infection from filthy nails…yech! We have to do something about it…- He scoffed, frustrated. - I’m afraid I’ll have to stitch them, only one each though…- He sighed.

- Just do it…- Michael told him. - Just get it over with… -

Hawkins fished out a pair of tweezers and a little brown bottle.

- Ok,…let’s see…these scabs are no good…- He picked them out and tipped the bottle letting fall a couple of drops in the open wound. Michael hissed and bit his lip, writhing on the bed.

- Oh, man, the antibiotic will help with the infection here from inside, but old fashioned iodine will give it the local boost, cleaning it out as nothing will, trust me, It burns, I know, ok, now, just one stitch in the middle will do the trick. -

He proceeded to pick, douse each crescent shaped wound and stitch it right in the middle. He had to spread him to do the two larger ones, made by the thumbnails, which were on the inside, where the thumbs had also been spreading him. Those were the worst. By the time he finished, he noticed Michael was breathing hard, and he didn’t like it. Still, the kid had just gone through at least 20 excruciatingly painful local anesthetic injections, plus 31 agonizing stitches, 6 injections in his butt, most of them exceedingly painful too, maybe he was about to pass out, he totally understood it, what he didn’t understand is how come he hadn’t pass out sooner.

- You ok, kid? - Hawkins asked, wondering what else could be wrong.

- Yeah…I’m just kind of dizzy…- Michael whispered hoarsely.

It suddenly dawned on Hawkins the kid had lost a lot of blood. He really needed a transfusion. That would be a hard one. He turned to Philip, who really looked ready to pass out.

- How much blood has he lost? - He asked seriously.

In the bathroom, Isabel clutched Max’s hand, both squeezing the other simultaneously, in despair.

Philip looked up, pale as a sheet, and frowned. His forehead creased in thought. He stood up and walked to the door beckoning to him. He took him to the jeep and Hawkins paled too. On the way back to the room, Philip told him Isabel was the only one to know, because she was the one who found him and was with him all the time until she brought him here. At the door of Max’s room, Philip called Isabel, and she came out of her room, just as pale as the two men, knowing what they wanted of her. Max came out too, right after her. They walked into the room, and their eyes went immediately to Michael, who lay there, heaving, with his eyes closed, wincing with every intake of air.

- Isabel, this is very important, please, tell the doctor all you know. He need to know how much blood he has lost. - Philip locked eyes with his daughter, pleading with her. Isabel closed her eyes for a few seconds and then opened them and faced Hawkins.

- When I found him, he was bleeding, but it was dark, I could see a dark spot on the floor under him. When we got him out, the blood started gushing down his thighs, I then got in front of him, holding him up and…his friend was behind him, so he probably pushed a towel there to stanch the blood, cause when we changed places and I got his shorts up, there was something wedged in there. Still his shorts were soon soaking…- She paused, trying to remember what she had said, not to screw up.

- What did the emergency doctor say? - Hawkins asked, according to what Philip had told him.

- They just got him on a stretcher and took him to a room. I had to stay outside, and when the doctor came out, he told me the hemorrhage was controlled and that Michael wasn’t making any sense about his blood type so he would send a nurse to get a sample to start a transfusion right away.
He went into room next door where there were three persons with head wounds, talking about a car crash, and Michael came lurching, begging me to get him away, because of his blood problem. He practically dragged me out to the jeep, and collapsed in the jeep. I took off with the nurse running after us. When I got him here, we started cleaning him, and he was still bleeding, but almost nothing. It soon stopped. Then you came. -

- He has bleed a lot, that’s why he is dizzy. He needs a transfusion, but I’m worried about the chances of getting it right. -

- No! No transfusion, please…- Michael whispered, weakly.

- That’s the problem. Even if we get the right blood, he’s going to be uneasy and not convinced, and his mind might make his body react in a negative way. The psychological part is very important, believe me. That has me very worried. There is another option, but I don’t know if he’ll accept it…- Hawkins observed.

- Anything, ok? Just don’t give me any blood. - Michael knew as well as Isabel and Max that either of them could give them their blood, but they couldn’t do anything about it, cause the doctor would insist in getting samples from them to make sure they matched. Of course they would, but they wouldn’t be human.

- You’ll need absolute rest, which you’ll get anyway, and massive doses of B12 vitamin and iron, to built back your red cells. - Hawkins informed.

- I’ll take it. - Michael accepted.

- Michael, I must warn you that the B12 vitamin and iron injections are very painful, and you’ll have to get two daily for at least 5 days. I would insist on a week to be sure. -

- Ok. - Michael gulped, anticipating the torture he was submitting to.

- I’ll start right away then. The sooner the better. You’ll start feeling stronger in a matter of hours. That will confirm it’s working. - He turned to his bag and filled the syringe with a dark liquid.

Isabel and Max’s mouths dropped open when they saw how much it was. Hawkins wiped Michael’s butt and shot half the load in one side, Michael moaned and shuddered, but kept still. Then the doctor shot the other half in the other side and as he was finishing, Michael was writhing and sobbing, his back beaded with sweat. Diane took the bloody bowl to the bathroom and returned with fresh water and a clean towel and very careful of the stitched gashes, she washed the sweat away and dried him. Hawkins went to the bathroom, and washed his hands and face. He returned to the bedroom to give them his last instructions.

- The drip is slow, that’s what he needs. It should last…- He checked his watch. - Until a little over 6:00 am tomorrow. Just check his temperature every two hours or so, here, see? - He showed them what looked like a wire coming from the thing he had left sticking into him. At the end was like a small plastic square where the temperature showed. He checked it and shook his head.

- Oh no! - He said frowning.

Max suspected immediately what was wrong and took it from his hand, checking it himself. He changed the 110º reading to 101º.

- 101º is kind of high, huh? - He asked, innocently.

Hawkins checked again and sighed.

- I’m hallucinating now! Well, I’ve been at it since 7am, and I have to be there tomorrow at 7am again! And I wanted to be a doctor! - He chuckled.
- Ok, I’ll be here at 6:00 in time to change it. If you see it’s finishing before I come, just push this little gadget here like this to shut it off, ok? - He showed them how to do it. - If his fever reaches 103º, call my pager, no matter what time, ok? I’m used to it. Oh, no food, all the water he wants. You’ll need a bottle or something he can pee into…there are these wine bottles with a thick neck…-

- Yes there are some in the garage that will do. - Max said. - I’ll get one. -

- Jeez! I was forgetting this! Ok, what have you eaten today, from breakfast on…- Hawkins asked.

- Mmm…breakfast was oj and milk,…Hank for…forgot to do shopping yesterday…and he left early…guess he forgot leave money…- He sounded very embarrassed, and Max and Isabel saw through the lie as they suspected Hawkins did too.

- I had a couple of bucks so I got one of those pep bars and a Snapple for lunch…I needed the space for dinner, you know, no good now, huh? - He smirk with the irony.

- That’s all? - Hawkins asked, unbelieving.

- Yeah, I spent the day sprawled at the park, reading. I wasn’t hungry…- Big fat lie, the hungry part, of course, but he didn’t want to bother the Evans’, all included, because they were probably very busy with the preparations for tonight.

- Stomach worked ok? - Hawkins insisted.

- Yeah, that always does…somehow…- Michael answered with closed eyes, and sighed.

Hawkins nodded as he approached the bed and tousled Michael’s hair. Michael smirked.

- Thanks. - He said in a husky voice.

- You need to sleep, ok? I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’ll be here early tomorrow to see how you’re doing and boost you up. Bye now. - He squeezed his shoulder and followed Philip and Max out of the room.

- I’m sorry about your Thanksgiving dinner…- Philip apologized.

- Don’t! The mother and sister in law are visiting with the insufferable niece and nephew, the later I arrive the better, believe me! This has been paradise in comparison. Now I have the excuse of locking myself straight in my room. Ally will bring me my dinner there. - He rolled his eyes and Philip and Max smiled, understanding him completely. They saw him to the door and returned to their son’s bedroom. Michael’s eyes were still closed and they beckoned to them. Max got up and went over.

- Max, dear, I know Michael can’t eat, unfortunately, but maybe we could have something now, and you kids can take turns being with him? - Diane suggested.

- Ok. - He returned and whispered the suggestion in Isabel’s ear, and she nodded. Of course, Michael knew what was going on, and he didn’t want to ruin it for them.

- Hey, just go, ok? I’ll take a snooze, I think I really need it. I’ll be fine…- Isabel squeezed his shoulder and got up. The Evans’ went to have their now not so happy thanksgiving celebration, and left him to his thoughts.

Part 3

Michael really wanted to sleep, though he knew the nightmare would be the same, as it was when he was awake. He tried, but the constant throb in his lower back, butt and upper thighs, the dripping needle included, especially his butt inside and outside, made sleep elude him. He couldn’t help going over the last day, in a masochistic trip. Yesterday evening, he had again had a disturbing make out session with Maria, sprawled in the booth and apparently out of sight, though he felt the eyes upon them and he knew for sure it was Liz. Let her tell Max, he didn’t give a damn, he had a right to a life too, unbelieving as it may seem to his friend, was that so hard to understand? He felt like some kind of useful commodity, he was there for everyone when they needed or wanted him. They just had to ask, or take, in Hank’s case. Shit, Hank! He had rushed back to the trailer, knowing Hank would be pissed, because he had had to let go of the usual $10 to buy the crummy turkey sandwiches and the cheap booze, but booze still, that his poker pals collected for their thanksgiving celebration, which would thankfully be somewhere else. His check wasn’t due until about a week later, and Hank got in a foul mood when he was short of money. He hoped he wasn’t home, but he was out of luck: he was sitting in front of the tube, with his can of beer, getting warm in his hand. “Well, finally!” Hank had drawled. “Are you playing hard to get now?” He chuckled and ended coughing and clearing his throat in his disgusting way. Michael saw him getting up and lurching his way. He wanted to hurry towards his room to his false security cause Hank had made sure there was no way to lock the door short of using the cupboard. That worked and didn’t work at the same time, cause it would make the next inevitable time much more violent. “Hey, hey, hey! Hold it there…wait for me.” Hank slurred and was behind him faster than he had expected. He was faster and quite capable of what most people in a drunken state were. He pressed his body against him and Michael could feel his erection against his butt. Michael couldn’t help shuddering in anticipation of the ordeal that would follow, and Hank misinterpreted it. “You see? You can’t wait for me to fill your tank, huh?” He chuckled and coughed again, as he pushed him into his room until he was standing facing his bed. Michael felt his fingers in his hair, then his hot hands were on his shoulders, sliding down to his waist and pulling up his t- shirt to toss it on the floor. Then they were at the waist of his jeans, gliding around to unfasten them, and back again to push him down so he was bent over, with his hands on the bed. Then he peeled his jeans to his ankles, squatting as he did so until his face was level with Michael’s ass, his scorching hands giving him a double squeeze, before spreading him and eating him out. “Mmm…love it…” - He rumbled against him, the vibration tickling him and making him writhe. Another chuckle making it worse, “Impatient huh? Ok.” He stood up as Michael stepped out of his docks and jeans and obediently went down on the bed on all fours, as he heard Hank fiddling around using some lube. After about three bouts of severe bleeding, Hank’s doctor friend had managed to get it through his thick head that he either used lube, or he would get in serious trouble, maybe even losing the kid and his fun. That was a big no-no to him, so after that, even drunk, he automatically did it. As usual, he rammed his finger into him, not to waste what was sticking to it and pumped it in and around a few times, pulling out and wiping the fingertip against the sensitive opening, smearing it with whatever was left. Michael bit down the pain and knew, and felt, Hank’s eyes watching what he was doing with his hand, drooling in real anticipation. He grabbed the boy’s ass and squeezed him again, hard enough to bruise, and relished in the tightening of the muscles, responding to his rough treatment. He then slid his hands down the back of the smooth strong thighs sliding then back up the velvety insides, his callused fingers grazing the soft testicles, making the boy shudder again. Then back to his ass. Another chuckle, but no cough. Michael lay his chest down on the bed as he felt the head of Hank’s cock pressing at him, and he squirmed back against it. “Yeah, that’s it, get it ready for you…” he guided the boy’s movements with his hands, rubbing it against the initially resisting but not so reluctantly yielding target. “Great! He’s in a decent mood…just play along, it might not hurt so much…” - Michael told himself, but he was wrong there, he always was. Hank started pushing it slowly but unstopping, even when the pain made Michael tighten, he went on until he was completely sheathed inside him, the strong grip making him grin like an idiot, his head thrown back in pleasure. He was in a lazy mood, and he set a smooth pace, the pain turning into a dull throb, and eventually into a sore kind of pleasure which lead Michael to a pulsing orgasm, matching the spurts of semen shooting into him and Hank’s cries of “Yes, yes, that’s it, like that! I love your tight ass, I love you, kid.” as he shook like a leaf throughout the last act. Then inevitably, Hank would pull out his still erect member, making Michael feel like his guts were ripping out with it. His ass still pushed up on his knees for Hank’s finishing touch: it had to be Tampax, cause Hank loved to inject it into him, pushing it in with the smaller inner tube and then retrieving both together. No evidence left in the sheets, just in case. Next day, if Hank was able to, he would pull it out himself, or his guts would spasm on their own, rejecting it. If none of that worked, then Max would have to do him the favour, thinking it had been done by his sick neighbours who loved to torture him. At least he bought it and never asked questions. Hank had been able next day, making it hurt as he always did, and left him shuddering on his bed. Michael waited until he heard the van leave, and he took a long shower, getting the smell of Hank’s filthy hands from his hair and body, although the mild scent that replaced it wasn’t what he would have liked, it was the baby kind: the cheapest Hank could find. He took what passed as breakfast, and took his hidden battered copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses, which was his sole consolation in his unfair young life. He went to the park and sprawled under a tree in a secluded rarely transited area, feeling the weak sunshine warming his back, and taking away some of the chill of his healing insides. His life sucked big, he regretted the biggest mistake of his life: following his stupid protective instincts and hiding from the lights. He was glad Max and Isabel had been frozen in fright and couldn’t follow him, though at the time he was dying for them. No luck for him. No nice warm home, no nice loving parents, no yummy food on his table. If you could call that a table. Well, at least they had everything, that’s all he cared about. He would take anything for them. His stomach started rumbling, and he got up. He got what he could afford with what he had in his pocket, and went back to the park. At around 4:30, he woke up with a start, his face glued to the open pages of his book, remembering he had to go to the Evans’ for one of the few pleasant family nights he was so lucky to get. He had to shower again and change into something presentable. He hoped Hank had already left for an early start, but he was wrong again. He had already made his start at home, in a foul mood cause the van had ended at one of his friend’s shop, stalling on his way home. Michael was relieved not to see the vehicle by the trailer, but was stopped on the way to his room by Hank’s unexpected scream. “Where do you think you’re going, punk?” Uh uh, trouble ahead, shit! Michael thought. Before he could open his mouth, in spite of knowing it would be a bad idea whether he did or didn’t, Hank continued: “Oh, he’s going to his nice friends, in their nice house with their nice dinner…and to hell with Hank, huh?” “You’re going to your friends, why shouldn’t I go to mine?” “Hell of a difference, don’t you think?” He screamed. Hank had struggled to get up and was now standing right in front of him. “Fuck you, Hank!” “Oh no, fuck you, kid!” Michael was about to turn away from him when Hank kneed him in the balls, and he doubled over. Hank grabbed the waist of his jeans and the neck of his t-shirt and shoved him writhing over the couch, ripping and pulling off what he couldn’t rip. The adrenaline he had worked up had him quite ready. He forced himself into the helpless boy and simply proceeded to pound his guts out until he came. He kept thrusting in until he wasn’t able to anymore, when he heard his pal Tommy’s unmistakable car stopping in front of the trailer. He grabbed the barely conscious boy around the stomach and half dragged half pushed him dropping him behind the couch, a fraction of a second before Tommy came in. “Hey, who’ve you been fucking in here, man?” He cackled with laughter, as Hank shoved him out of the trailer and told him he’d be right out. He closed all the windows and shutters and then went outside, and using his key, turned the electricity off. He did have a two week long gig, but it was starting the day after tomorrow. He expected they would all be sober enough to set off sometime in the early afternoon, and they would be driving to Las Cruces in Don’s van, to make it before nightfall and be ready to start early next day. The kid would have to fend for himself. Anyway, he was really going to stuff himself tonight at his friends’ and what he ate for the rest of his gig, was his problem. If Isabel hadn’t come and found him barely 10 minutes after Hank left, Michael would have bled to death. While she was following his orders and waiting for him outside, he was being raped to an inch of his life, walking distance from where she was. Michael had been so lost in his lousy life that he was startled when he felt the sobbing right beside him: Isabel! When had she come into the room? He knew she could easily get inside his mind by just touching him, one of the few remaining traits from their previous life that cloning hadn’t destroyed. He could block her out from dream walking him, but he could do nothing when the contact was direct. She had been touching his hair, that’s why he hadn’t felt her. Her words confirmed she had been there all the time.

- I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have listened to you and gone right in, I could have spared you all that pain. - Her voice shook with emotion.

- No, Iz, I woudn’t have let him touch you and I’d probably be dead now, sparing you from Hank. At least you didn’t have to see it then, though you did now. I’m the one who’s sorry to put you through this, I should have felt you, but I was too focused on my stupid life. - He apologized.

They felt footsteps approaching the room and Michael grabbed Isabel’s hand.

- Don’t tell Max! I don’t want him to know! Promise me! - He hissed.

- Ok, ok, don’t stress yourself, I promise. - Isabel whispered back.

- Promise what? - Max asked with a smile as he entered the room.

- That I’ll do my best not to provoke my neighbours again. - Michael lied convincingly, that Max didn’t even suspect.

- Yes, please, I know it’s hard, but keep away from them. - Max backed up his sister.

- You know that’s like promising to shower without getting wet. There’s no way I can stay out of their way. But I promise I’ll try my best, ok? -

- Thank you. - Isabel said, kissing his cheek. Then she left the room to dine with her parents, leaving Michael with Max.

- Later, when we’re sure my parents are sleeping, and with Isabel on the lookout, I’ll boost up whatever I can, ok? - Max assured him, clutching his shoulder as he sat beside him. Michael braced himself and kind of stretched out on the bed, bumping against Max, and moaning dramatically. It worked, and Max got up to roll out the sleeping bag and stretched on his back on it, clasping his hands together over his chest and closing his eyes. At least now he was sure Michael knew he would be left alone for a while, and he managed to fall asleep. The cocktail of drugs that had been pumped into him, belatedly kicked in, and he didn’t wake up until next day. He had a blurred memory of some burning discomfort, which he associated with Max doing his healing trick on him, and then a sharp present pain made him open his eyes, moaning in protest.

- Hey! We’re awake! A little too soon though, I was hoping you would sleep through most of this, fat chance! How you doing, kid? Slept well? - Hawkins’ voice reminded Michael where he was. He had been changing the plasma bag and as he was checking if the needle was still in place, Michael shifted his leg and the sharp pain woke him up completely.

- Yeah, thanks, I’m dealing…- Michael slurred.

- Ok, then, let me check you up. - Hawkins checked the body temperature before withdrawing the dilator, concluded that the few bloody smears were not alarming, the temperature was a little over normal, but reasonable due to the circumstances. He went to the bathroom, washed the instrument, then he returned and asked Michael if he needed “to go”, he didn’t but it would be better if he did, he brought out a bottle from his infamous bag and before he knew what was happening, he gave Michael an enema. Then he helped him up and with one arm over his shoulders and the other over Max’s, they walked him to the bathroom, and about 20 minutes later, they came back out with Michael showered and refreshed. They helped him back on the bed, and Hawkins donned a glove, pried around inside him with his slicked finger, squeezed the rest of the tube of ointment into him and slid the dilator thing back in. He pressed his finger on the stitched gashes, satisfied that the butt ones weren’t getting infected anymore, and after peeling off the glove, shot him with the B12 and iron, leaving him moaning and writhing in Isabel’s arms.

- Ok, bye now kid, sleep all you can, you need it. - He tousled his hair and rushed out to his car.

During that week, Diane, Max and Isabel made sure Michael slept all he could, the doctor came and checked him and shot him at 6:00 am and 7:20 pm. The last time, he said he was ready to go back to school the next day, and he removed the stitches and dilator for good. No one knew what Michael had been through that holiday, until now. He had felt what it was to have what passed for a mother and even a father when Philip came in the evening after work, and went straight to him to see how he was doing, plus Isabel and Max, who still thought of him as a brother. He stayed there for another week, being fed and pampered by Diane and Isabel, which made it especially hard to return to the trailer park, and Hank’s abuses, when the two weeks were due, and Michael went there to find him back. Hank’s doctor friend was also back from her thanksgiving trip to her family’s, and Michael had to tell her what had happened. She was as usual, on his side, and made sure Hank knew what he had done and what he had risked, not only Michael’s life but his in jail for life, if Philip Evans had found out whodunit, or ever would. At least Hank let him be for another week, when his friend did her own check up and said he was totally healed, celebrating with a three hour long orgy, under her supervision, so no further harm came from it. And he had his life back again.

The haze cleared and the horror they had witnessed was clearly seen in their faces. Isabel knew most of the story, except for the threesome aftermath in the trailer. They were afraid to touch Michael, initially, as if he was still hurting. He didn’t push it, mistaking it for disgust, until Maria and Liz placed their hands on him and rubbed his back.

- Don’t do it if you don’t feel like it, ok? It’s alright, I understand. - Michael whispered, his face in his arm with his eyes closed. He simply couldn’t take the look of pity he thought was in the two girls’ eyes. Then he felt the hot tears falling from their eyes and wetting his flesh through his t-shirt, and it felt so good to know what they felt for him was concern.

- Michael…- Liz’s soft voice echoed Maria’s sobs.

- Sorry, crossed signals, the story of my life, thank you. - He knew he sounded shaken and hated himself for it. Warrior! Hah! He sounded like a wimp.

- Isabel! How could you keep this from me? I understand Michael’s reasons, but you? And I wasn’t allowed to know Kyle had been there with you? I saved your life, Kyle, how could you keep this from me? - Max had come out of his stupor and was appalled.

- Max, I saw no reason to bring it up, and why should I betray Isabel’s trust? - Kyle faced Max, his words making perfect sense.

- I can’t believe you knew it was Hank after that. No wonder you reacted the way you did when I told you about the black eye. I should’ve guessed. It was so obvious! I’m such an idiot! - He rolled his eyes.

- No, Max, there was no way you could suspect it. Not with the parents you had. Impossible. Don’t blame yourself, you had nothing to do with it. - Michael making excuses for Max, was something they had never thought they would hear.

Max fell on his knees by Michael, and he pushed himself up on his knees too, losing themselves in an embrace that needed no words. Everyone was touched by this show of love between the two alien boys, and Liz saw Max again as she did before Tess arrived to bring havoc into their lives. When they finally came apart, Liz sat by Max and wrapped her arms around him, her head in the crook of his neck. Laurie took Liz’s place, giving her brother her soothing physical contact. Isabel, like Liz, found herself beside Stuart, who assured her the security that he would always be there for Michael, should he need him again. Kyle sat between Liz and Isabel, feeling left out, but it didn’t last, cause both girls reached out for him at the same time, getting him in the middle and linking both couples into a fivesome.

- Michael, how many times did Hank hurt you so badly? - Isabel asked, tearing herself away from the tight group of five and moving towards the other set of three. She placed her hand on Michael’s thigh and rubbed it.

- Isabel…- He pleaded with her, knowing she was relentless when her mind was set on something.

- Tell us Michael, that’s what we’re doing here, getting everything into the open to get a well deserved closure, and no one needs it more than you who has suffered more than all of us put together.

- Michael, please…- Laurie begged Michael, she wanted his suffering to stop once and for all, as he and Maria had done for her with her family problems. She wanted him to be at peace too. There was no other way.

- There were two others, which were definitely life threatening, and you guys saved my life. One of them wasn’t Hank, directly, but he brought it on to me, anyway. Liz…- He reached out to her and she also broke away from Max and went to sit opposite Isabel, rubbing his other thigh.

- Can you take it Michael? I can’t begin to imagine how it must tear you apart to relive that nightmare. - Liz said, her voice trembling.

- You guys made it all worth it, cause it made me see that you were there for me and you really cared what happened to me. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you the truth, but one thing is knowing you worry about me and another is feeling your pity, and I didn’t want that. Don’t ask me why, but it just repelled me. When I was a kid and Hank told me he loved me while he hurt me, I truly believed him, and thought that maybe that was how it was meant to be. I couldn’t understand why he would then behave as if he hated me and wanted to kill me, because that’s how bad it hurt. I knew the booze had a lot to do with it, but still it was beyond me. That’s been my world during all those years, what one minute was giving me hopes, the next minute was just about killing me. And you want me to act normal! - Michael scoffed and smirked.

- Jesus, man, we should be in your shoes to know how it feels! - Kyle exclaimed.

Michael winced and shook his head. The look in his eyes was heart breaking.

- No! I could never wish that you’d go through what I did, even if it would make you understand me better. I couldn’t, man, I love you guys too much. I would go through it as many times as needed if it would assure me it would keep you safe from anything. Believe me, I would gladly take it for you. I’d die for you. - He told them and they knew he meant every single word. Isabel’s eyes flooded with tears remembering he had really died for them before, and taken a horrible death trying to keep them safe.

- What really happened that time, Michael? I’m sure you knew who did it, though you said you didn’t, it’s about time we knew. I hate to torture you like this, but it will be the last time it haunts you and we’ll be right here with you. - Isabel’s voice lured him back to the loathsome display of cowardice his foster father gave, earning him the hate of the group of his friends that were involved.

- Hank didn’t do it, the one who did was tricked by Hank, it wasn’t his fault. - Michael assured them, closing his eyes and wincing. - I’m ready, just go ahead. -

Part 4

Isabel guided the new connection and they arrived exactly where they had left.

That last day at the Evans’, after napping three regenerating hours during the afternoon and with Dr. Hawkins permission and instructions on what he could eat and what not and how much, Michael had a great meal. Hawkins arrived just in time to join them. Just after, he had Michael stretch out on the couch and pushed up his t-shirt and his jeans down. He shot him the last dose of B12 and iron, no problem it was a little later, and took out the stitches.

- It’s amazing what youth can do! Look! The scars are so faint, that you really have to look close to find them! Amazing! - Hawkins was completely pleased by the outcome, totally unsuspecting, and Max and Isabel sighed with relief,

As Hawkins was about to leave, Diane innocently suggested him to give Michael a lift back home, as his father had probably arrived sometime during the day. Michael winced at the thought of returning to his own private hell, as Diane showered him with kisses and caresses insisting he was always welcome there in their home as part of their family. He had Hawkins drop him at the store a couple of blocks away because his father would meet him there to do some shopping. Hawkins playfully tousled his hair and squeezed and patted his shoulder, as he had been doing every day during his treatment. Michael smirked and thanked him, and disappeared into the store. When he saw Hawkins turn the corner, he jogged all the way to the trailer park. He arrived “home” in the middle of a noisy poker game with flowing beer, hurrying apparently unseen to his bedroom and falling quickly asleep in spite of the racket. They would pass out drunk, one after the other, so that at least ensured him a reasonably peaceful night. Meanwhile in the living room area, things started getting weird with the new arrival.

- So you finally came! Well, did you get it? -

- Sure thing! - Frankie produced a filthy duffel bag which he was hiding behind him. He opened the zipper slowly adding to the suspense and brought out a battered looking VCR and a cassette.

- Real hot! The hottest I could find! -

- Well, get it going, we’re coming in our pants! -

Frankie started connecting the VCR to Hank’s equally battered TV and once he was sure it was ready, he pushed in the cassette. They were rewarded with at least five naked women parading around the screen. They looked kind of fuzzy and whistles broke out.

- Hey man, can’t you get it better? Like crystal clear? -

Frankie scanned it fast and then hit the rewind but all he got was a complete lack of image. He ejected the cassette and it was all snagged and wasted.

- Shit! Dammit! Now I’m gonna have to pay for the crappy thing! -

- You idiot! You just fucked it all up! And all that TV has tonight are fucking repetitions! Damn you to hell, jerk! -

- Then you get something, prick! -

Through the blast of insults, Hank looking disappointed got up from his chair. He rubbed his stubby jaw and chuckled. He turned and headed to Michael’s room. Just as he expected, he found the boy face down, stark naked and fast asleep. He grinned at his twisted plan and approached the bed. He reached under the kid’s belly and grabbed his genitals. Michael, used to Hank’s shit, even fast asleep, found this totally unusual. Still, he shifted his hips just enough to give him access. Hank pulled them up against his stomach and wrapped them with a corner of the sheet. Then he took the rest of the sheet and covered Michael’s back from his waist up, barely leaving the tip of his nose, mouth and chin uncovered so he could breathe. Michael tried to pull the sheet away from him but Hank slapped his exposed ass hard and hissed:

- You stay put or I’ll cut your balls off! -

Michael still asleep, somehow got the message and lay still. Hank returned to his friends to find they had somewhat calmed down and were settling back to the card game looking very pissed. He cleared his throat loudly to get their attention and once he did he dropped the bomb.

- I knew something like that would happen so I had a plan B. I have a
surprise for you guys if you care to follow me…- he grinned invitingly at them and started towards the bedroom. They followed him quite intrigued and stood at the door looking at the round naked ass and thighs displayed invitingly on the bed.

- Hey, Hank, where’d you get her? She’s hot, man! -

- As you can see, I was thinking of you guys. Real life kicks the shit out of videos, right? -

- What happened to her ass? - One of them asked.

Hank chuckled, wishing he could remember where that came from.

- I warmed her ass some to get her in the mood, before you came. -

- No, I mean she’s got these tiny faint scars…and look at those in her thighs! Where did you pick her up from?-

- They told me she was into s/m, you know? They pay damn well for that. What the hell, you want her ass or are you chickening out? - Hank snarled as he improvised.

- Can I see her face? - Leroy, the tall thin only black guy in the group, asked .

- Well, one of the conditions was no face and no boobs, sorry, but the id and what counts are sure ok. -

Leroy frowned, scratching his neck doubtfully. Hank winked at him.

- The slut said she wanted to try two new things: black meat and up the ass. So what do you say, Leroy? That good enough for you? -
Leroy got cheers all over the room. The truth was that he had the reputation of being hung like a horse, but no one had really seen it. He was rather touchy about it and never peed in front of anyone so their curiosity had reached soaring heights. It was now or never.

- C’mon, man, make our night. Or we’ll have to hang Frankie here by the balls from the tree out there! - Laughter rang out from all of them.

- Alright…- he shook his head, - I hope she can take me. - He smirked.

They heard him unzip and present it in all its glory. Eyes and mouths opened wide at the sight of Leroy’s cock exceeding all expectations. He was huge! The head looked like a mushroom! And it wasn’t even up yet!

- I’ll need some lube. -

- Sure thing! - Hank couldn’t get the Vaseline jar he kept in the kid’s closet cause it would be too obvious so he went to the kitchen and brought a bottle of cooking oil,

- Afraid this will have to do. - He said apologetically.

Leroy took it and poured some in his cupped hand. He proceeded to apply it on his monster. By the time he had it all slick and shiny, it was halfway up and had gained at least another inch. He spread the boy easily with the long fingers of his left hand and wiped his greasy right upward between the lush buttocks, leaving his middle finger at the opening and sliding it in to the knuckle. Michael groaned and squeezed and Leroy grinned.

- Wow! Tight! - He chuckled.

Michael was now half awake, knowing what would follow. After what he would always remember as the “Thanksgiving torture”, and with his body still in a healing stage, he was in no shape to take any more punishment willing or unwilling. Unfortunately, when it came to Hank there was nothing he could do short of exposure, endangering his friends. He wasn’t sure how much Hank or his friends, by the number of voices he could hear in the room, could remember next day, so he just had to take it for Max and Isabel’s sake. Leroy pulled out his finger and replaced it with his cock, pointing it upwards and sliding it between the buttocks a few times. Fred checked it and whistled.

- Once it’s all in it’ll not only give her a sore ass but also a stomachache! -

They found it very funny according to the laughing. Leroy announced:

- I need something to lift her higher and keep her there. - Hank went to his bedroom closet and brought his rolled up army surplus sleeping bag.

- I’ll raise her and you put this under, ok? - He handed it to Ernie.

He grabbed Michael around the hips keeping the sheet in place with one arm and keeping his genitals high up and out of sight inside the pocket he had made with the sheet corner, with the other. He gave the boy’s balls a warning squeeze, and lowered him onto the thick roll. Leroy nodded, the position was perfect for the angle of penetration he would require. He then placed the head of his cock against the much too small entrance and Michael woke up completely as he felt like they were trying to stick a fireman’s hose into him. Leroy pushed and thanks to the oil, they saw the head disappear into the boy. Michael grunted. That wasn’t Hank, what had he brought to fuck him, an elephant? Jesus! It was huge. Almost a double Max! He hadn’t counted on this. The voices were demanding action. Leroy thought he could go on hoping the girl’s insides were ready to take him. He started forcing it in slowly, giving her time to stretch, but that didn’t make it any easier. The pain was incredible as it went deep into him. Leroy touched bottom and there were easily about three inches still outside. He waited, giving her time to adjust, surprised by the girl’s resistance. They usually were screaming their heads off by the time he was only halfway in and this was the first time he put it up an ass which had turned to be much smaller than he had imagined. He began to pump it in and out slowly, as deep as it would go and almost out again. Michael moaned and tossed but Leroy’s hands held him fast.

- I know, I know, I’m going easy, - he crooned soothingly, admiring her courage, but it hurt just the same.

It was beginning to hurt kind of nice as Michael’s insides somewhat adjusted to the thickness inside him. Leroy made his next move and pushed his body forwards and under between Michael’s thighs and got an inch plus deeper inside. Michael jerked and crushed Leroy’s cock so hard he almost came.

- Whoa, wow, easy there, not yet. You come all you want, love, I can handle it for you. - Leroy giggled and started teasing with sideways movements and in circles and Michael whined and came.

The pain was delicious and was driving him crazy with erotic feelings. He started moving too, bucking and writhing and gripping him hard with the pleasure of his long lasting alien orgasm misleading Leroy into thinking he had come at least three of four times in a row. Leroy thought he had finally found his match, someone who could take him and enjoy the suffering he was causing, he started letting go enthusiastically shoving and thrusting deep, eliciting moans and sobs of unmistakable delight. He thought it was safe to come, completely sure she had to be so satisfied with his performance, his audience was also encouraging him to go for it demanding he should stick it all in. Leroy knew that was impossible, he couldn’t go any deeper without serious internal damage and Michael felt he was being stretched beyond the limits, there was no way he could go any deeper. Suddenly Sam, a barrel like big guy who must have easily weighed over 300 lbs and was built like a square brick wall, moved behind Leroy and before anyone could even suspect what he was up to, he literally jumped and dropped against Leroy, ramming him all the way in. Michael felt his insides give and rip, a burning fire starting inside him, he buried his face in the pillow and they heard his breath hissing into him. Leroy cried out as he was caught completely by surprise and the extra inches burying inside and tearing into the boy had him coming without control. The audience were cheering and urging them on as they both shuddered with their reluctant climaxes and as soon as Leroy could, he shoved both his elbows into Sam’s padded ribs getting him to rise to his feet, frowning and rubbing his paunch.

- You idiot! Are you out of your fucking mind?! - Screamed Leroy totally outraged.

He straightened enough without pulling out and glared and Sam. Michael was breathing hard trying to control his body. He felt he was flooded inside by a gallon of come which stung like no other ever had. Leroy was shaking his head with his eyes closed, moaning:

- No, no, no! Oh shit, no please! -

- Hey man, what’s up, you ok? -

- I’m ok? You moron, I’ve torn her guts inside! I’m afraid to pull out! I’m sure she’s bleeding bad! -

- Yo there, we don’t need any sick jokes, alright? Now, that’s enough! Quit it, man, you’re freaking me out! -

- Well freak out, idiots, because I’m not joking! You wanna see? Come here, take a close look! -

They leaned down as close as they thought safe and Leroy started carefully pulling out. Bright red blood seeped all around his cock and now the whole group sobered up completely. Except Hank, he simply looked on and scoffed,

- You’re in trouble, boy, broke the bitch’s ass, bad news! -

- Alright, Ben, you took that paramedic thing, what can we do? - Leroy’s voice was breaking, as he listened to Michael’s loud and heavy breathing, reassuring him some.

The boy was shivering and the sheet covering his back was wet with sweat.

- We need something astringent to stop the bleeding I think. -

- What do you mean you think? -

- Well, I missed a few days so I’m not quite sure, but that I can remember, peroxide would be good. And alcohol to disinfect. Don’t pull out yet until I get the stuff. And we will need to stop the bleeding with some clean cloth applying direct pressure. -

- Do you know how deep it is, you idiot? His prick is about a foot and a half long! How are you going to get that deep? -

- Oh! Hell, I don’t know, maybe we should call a doctor? -

- What we need an ambulance, to take her to a hospital. -

Michael was about to protest when Ernie cut in:

- Are you stupid? If you pull out she’ll bleed to death before she arrives. They will ask a lot of questions and the police will be having the time of their lives before you know it. -

- Keep it down or some nosy neighbour will sik the cops on us.-
Hank scoffed and they were shocked to see him calmly lugging a beer out of the can as he wiped the foam from his mouth.

- Nahh, the last thing these pricks around us want are the cops asking their stupid questions. No way they’d call them except perhaps an alien invasion? - He laughed out loud at his clumsy attempt at a joke. Michael thought how close to the truth his accurate choice of words was, but the agony he was in prevented him from even smirking.

- Get us the peroxide and alcohol, Hank, now! - Leroy was close to losing it. Hank turned to make himself useful,

- Ok, ok, take it easy! Dammit! - He left the room with Ernie and returned soon after. Ernie was frowning holding a small bottle.

- There’s almost half the bottle of peroxide but it might not be enough.. I’ll have to combine it with alcohol but there is none of that. - Ben ran out of the room and returned with a bottle of whisky.

- This will do. Right Ernie? -

- Yeah sure. -

- Hey! You’re not using that! Are you nuts? That’s good stuff! -

- Well, you’ll be locked for life for murder if she bleeds to death. -

- I didn’t do it! - Said Hank defensively. They all glared at him.

- We’re all in this. You brought her here, so shut up! -

Hank left again and came back with an empty old glass bottle of ketchup somewhat smeared with the stuff on the inside. He snatched the peroxide from Ernie and poured it into the other bottle. Then he poured it half full of whisky.

- That should be enough. What now? -

- Hurry up, damn it! I’m sliding out fast! I can’t help it! -

- Hang on, I’ve got it. Ernie approached the bed with the ex ketchup bottle stoppering it with his thumb.

- On three, you pull out and I stick the bottle in so the mix can do its thing. The bottle will take the place of your dick stanching the bleeding. If that doesn’t work…- he shrugged helplessly.

- Ok, do it! - Leroy was cracking with guilt. Ernie counted:

- One, two, three… - Leroy pulled out and Ernie shoved in the bottle into the rush of blood that followed it. Although he pulled his thumb away at the last second, his whole hand was drenched in blood. Michael reacted to the sting of the peroxide-alcohol mix growling with pain and pushing his upper body up from the bed. The sheet fell off him to the ground.
Their eyes popped out of their heads and their jaws hit the floor when they recognized the boy. After the initial shock, their outraged shouts hit Hank’s ears, who threw his hands up defensively as Leroy jumped at his throat screaming:

- You sick bastard, that’s your son, you prick, how could you do that to him, I’m gonna kill you! - It took all the rest of them to pull him away although they all felt just as Leroy did.

- He’s not really my son, you jerks! He gave you a great time, huh? This is how you appreciate it? Assholes! -

Leroy could hardly speak, he was shaking so bad.

- You’re sick, you know? You should be locked in a nut house for life! You’re fucked in the head! - he pointed his finger at him.

- Jesus Hank, what came over you? -

- How could you do that, man? You’re a sick nut case! -

All the others agreed and glared at Hank, who shoved his hands towards them angrily.

-Ahh! You’re just sissies, all of you, You fucked your first boy, Leroy, and you sure enjoyed it, don’t deny it, we all saw it … -

He flinched as he saw Leroy jumping back at him but being held back by the rest.

- Leave it man, he’s not worth it, don’t soil your hands with that scum. -
Michael whimpered and they turned towards him. They saw he was bleeding in spite of the bottle. Leroy knelt by his face and placed his hand on the boy’s fevered cheek. Michael opened his eyes.

- I’m so sorry, kid, I didn’t know it was you, I swear, we all thought …well, your… Hank told us…we thought you were a hooker… I never meant to hurt you … - another hand tousled his hair.

- It’s my fault. I did this to you, not him. I pushed him into you. I never… - he sobbed, -I never thought this would happen … -

- Oh look at you, you should be in a soap opera or a talk show, you’re losing money here, you faggots. - Hank glared at Leroy and Sam, then he grabbed Ernie’s shirt collar and heaved him away from Michael.

He raised his heavy booted foot and kicked the back of the bottle in Michael’s ass hard with his heel ramming it almost all inside. He kicked it again twice before they came out of their shock and grabbed him by the arms and pulled him away. Michael was sobbing against the pillow, shuddering and beaded with cold sweat. They saw to their dismay that the bottle had shattered and the tips of two jagged shards were sticking out of him barely visible through the blood. Michael was amazed at the amount of torture he could take. Right now he was totally focused in not passing out because he could end up in a hospital with a one way ticket to the FBI torture chamber and that would be his certain death, cause no matter what they did to him, they wouldn’t get Max’s or Isabel’s names out of him. Not even Tess’. It was taking all his strength and courage to stay conscious in spite of the excruciating pain. His insides were on fire and his body was burning with fever. He needed to be left alone and see how he could get to Max. He desperately needed to be healed. He just couldn’t stand it any longer. He was relieved by what he heard.

- Ok, that’s it, let’s get out of here. - Frankie started herding them all to the door with Ben’s help.

They had to forcefully drag Leroy away from the boy, reassuring him that they knew what they were doing. Leroy was in complete shock, as pale as he could possibly get. Once at the door, Frankie who had worked with lawyers for a few years and had picked up some useful tips, turned to Hank who was following them to the door shouting abuse and quieted him down.

- Shut up! Now listen to what you’re going to do! - He pulled out his wallet and took out a $50 bill. He crumpled it and tossed it at Hank’s chest. He immediately grabbed it and held it tight in his hand.

- Well, that will make up for the whisky you wasted on the punk! - He cackled disgustingly.

- No! I brought the whisky, it wasn’t yours, but you can keep it! Hope you choke to death on it. - He muttered the last part, not sure if Hank heard it but knowing the rest did. - You’re taking the boy to a hospital right away. You will say a half truth, that always works, you will say we all came together here after work and watched TV and ended playing cards. Then you went to your room to get some more cigarettes and heard a weird noise in the kid’s room. The door was closed and you didn’t know he was there. You went in and found him like this. You have no idea what happened or who did it to him. We’ll back you up, ok? Did you get it? -

- Of course I got it, what am I, retarded? Now get the fuck out of here. -

- Call an ambulance now! It has to be from here, ok? -

- Ok, ok just get out! -

- Say it’s an emergency so they’ll hurry, do it now! -

- Yeah, I sure will. - He slammed the door in their faces.

They could hear him screaming “Assholes!” back at them and then they heard him shout: “911?” And they took off real fast towards Sam’s truck.
Hank heard their tyres screaming out of the trailer park and hanged up the phone, laughing at their stupidity. He was smarter than any of those jerks, he could fool them anytime. His disturbed brain, used to receiving large amounts of alcohol on a regular basis as part of his everyday diet, functioned almost normally during his drinking sprees assessing correctly what was going on around him, once sober, though, he hardly remembered what had happened, and what he could and didn’t like, he blamed it on booze induced delusions. He went to his easy chair in front of the TV and turned on the sports channel. The football news was on and he fell asleep after two minutes, snoring loudly.
Once they left the room, Michael tried to get up but all he got was a sickening stabbing pain shooting up his insides and a gush of blood rushing out of him. He was weak from the new blood loss. He knew he wouldn’t even make it out of the bed except to fall flat on his face on the floor. It was late so probably Max and Isabel were asleep. He should be able to dream-walk Isabel, although it wasn’t exactly his skill, he should manage to do it not so perfectly but reasonably enough to get her attention. He closed his eyes trying unsuccessfully to block out at least some of the pain, and concentrated on his two alien friends. He was almost fainting with pain but he stubbornly fought to stay conscious because he knew his life depended on it.
Max and Isabel jumped simultaneously out of bed scared with the horrific images that had come to their heads and ran to the other’s room almost crashing on the hallway. Max put a finger on his lips to silence his sister who looked ready to shriek and dragged her into his room. Once there, they let go.

- Max, Michael is very badly hurt! You need to heal him! We must go to him! -

- I know, I saw it too! Did you see where he is? -

- No, but he said he was going “home” so he must be at the trailer park, where else could he get so hurt? -

- Right, let’s go! -

They pushed the jeep out of the garage for about three houses and turned on the engine. They drove at breakneck speed hoping Valenti or one of his deputies wouldn’t get in their way. They arrived without interruptions at the trailer park and killed the engine before they entered so they glided silently to the side of Hank’s trailer. They rushed to the small window of Michael’s room and saw the lights were on. They looked in and they froze with fright. Michael lay in a pool of blood on his bed! The window was too small to get him out in his condition. They went to the front door and decided they didn’t give a damn if they had to zap Hank out of their way. They entered slowly unlocking the door and were met by Hank’s loud snores. They padded quietly to Michael and Isabel cradled his face in her arms as her tears rained down on him. He opened his eyes and she could tell he was barely conscious.

- Max, hurry, he’s hurting too much! -

- Michael, try to relax, ok, we’re here, it’s alright now. I’m going to heal you. Keep still. -

Max touched the protruding shards with his fingertips trying to melt them down but it didn’t work. He took one between his index and his thumb and the white light from his fingers shone on it. Max pulled it out unresisting but not without pain. Michael gasped and hanged on to Isabel’s hand as he clutched the sheets with the other one.

- Max, please don’t hurt him! -

- I’m trying not to, Iz, sorry, it’s the best I can do. I don’t know why he’s different to heal. He’s not like humans or like us. It does hurt him, I can’t help it! -

- Ok, just hurry, please! -

He pulled out the other one. Michael shuddered and bit down the pain. Then Max inserted his finger into him and touching the broken glass inside him, put them together in one single shard. It was bigger than the two he had retrieved because it was all the rest of the broken bottle but he managed to coax it to follow his finger and soon eased it out. Michael couldn’t help moaning as it came out of him. Next Max sent the white light as deep as his finger would go and repaired the broken blood vessels and tissue stopping the bleeding, this time without interruptions. He knew the full healing process would take a few days to return Michael to completely normal and the alien in Michael would take just that long to replenish the lost blood, leaving him sore until everything went back to normal, but that’s how it worked with Michael. Max just hoped Tess could tell them why. Isabel did the cleaning up so no evidence of what had happened was left. They didn’t know exactly who had been involved. According to Max, anyone could have broken in while Hank snore his lungs out. Isabel, of course knew for sure Hank was involved, but he had promised Michael not to tell Max about it. She used the sleeping bag that had held Michael’s hips up for the criminal act performed on him and huddled on the floor beside the bed, holding his hand throughout the night. Max pulled a chair to the opposite side of the bed and slept, sitting down, the best he could, holding his other hand. They woke up at around 6 am after barely three and a half hours of sleep when a neighbour started a car noisily. Michael, used to the noise, didn’t ever register it. They checked him up and although he was a little too warm for normal, it wasn’t much. He had healed nicely, though of course not completely during his sleep and they decided he would be alright. They would have to take him home, they couldn’t leave him here. They’d think of something on the way. Now they had to get him to the jeep and that was their main concern. Isabel managed to wake him up after a passionate kiss, but he was too weak to stay on his feet. They had managed to put on some shorts, a wife beater and socks and sneakers on him and Max heaved him over his shoulder, puffing with the effort. Isabel stood beside him and managed to share some of his weight with Max, they were quite good at it, being the second time in a couple of weeks.They could hear Hank still snoring so they were safe there. They dragged themselves to the jeep, barely getting there. Some people were already up, but they just looked at them and turned away, either not interested, or minding their own business to stay out of trouble. Max threw the front shotgun seat all the way back with his powers and lay Michael kind of jackknifed part there and on the back seat, remembering how Isabel had told him she had done it when she brought him home in Thanksgiving. Isabel sat behind Max with Michael’s face on her lap.

- I have an idea. I’m sure it will work! .- She took a small bottle of alcohol, sample size that she had snatched from Hank’s on the way out and doused it on Michael’s face, careful to stay away from his mouth and on his shoulders, making the liquid slide down towards his chest. Max watched her through the mirror, intrigued.

- We will say one of his mean neighbours forced him to drink with him till he dropped. He will stay home to sleep it off in the guest room. No way he can go to school like that! How do you like it? -

- Brilliant, Izzy! They will buy it. -

- I hate lying to them, though, but what else can we do? -

- Right, ok, we’re here. - He drove into the garage as his father was coming out to go to work.

- Where have you been? You’re mother’s worried sick! She couldn’t even call you because your cell phones are in your rooms! -

- Michael called us because he had an emergency…-

They spilled their tale as their mother joined them by the family car with tears of worry falling from her eyes. Both Diane and Philip agreed Michael could stay at the guest room and Philip took Isabel’s place at carrying Michael over both his and Max’s shoulders. They laid him gently on his side on the bed and Michael moaned in obvious pain and rolled over onto his stomach. Philip turned to Max for an explanation but Max just shrugged. Philip shook his head and putting his arm around his son’s shoulder, herded him out of the room. Isabel was convincing her mother in the kitchen not to try and make Michael drink either milk or OJ because he would be sick all over the bed. That did it and she agreed that it would be best to wait until he himself asked for food. Right now he just needed to sleep. Philip left for work and Max and Isabel, for school, begging their mother just to let Michael be, afraid he would say something compromising in his sleep. Diane promised she wouldn’t even go near the room until they returned from school. Anyway she had a lot of shopping to do and would be away most of the day. With that, they could relax.

Hank woke up as the neighbour hosed down the side of the trailer near to where Hank was snoozing as she watered down her potted plants. That was his usual alarm clock when he passed out in front of the TV. He jerked awake, and cursed her loudly.

- You stupid bitch! -

- Fuck you, asshole -

- Cheap slut! -

- Useless prick!-

He was about to return another obscenity when his eyes fell on the abandoned VCR.

- Welllll, where did that come from? I’ll sell it to that jerk across the street. -
He chuckled. He reached out for the can of beer on the table by the chair and realized there was a piece of paper in his hand. He brought it to his eyes and they opened wide at the sight of the $50 bill.

- Ain’t it my lucky day! Wonder what I did to deserve this! - He cackled and got up stretching and listening to his joints popping.

- Mikey! Get up, damn it, you’ll be late for school. Don’t want any of those bitches coming here to lecture me on responsibility! Out now or I’m kicking your punk ass all the way there! -

Nothing. Not even the smallest muffled curse. He went to the room and found the rumpled bed but no signs of the boy. He checked the bathroom and the kitchen. Nothing. He scratched his head and neck.

- What the hell… - He sat back in front of the TV and watched some baseball, lugging more beer from the warm half full can.

Michael was blessed with another week of constant peaceful rest, with the excuse his father hadn’t arrived yet, probably the gig was taking longer. Max drove to the trailer park at lunch time to leave a note taped to the door, imitating Michael’s handwriting and saying he would stay over at the Evans’ for the week to do some team work with Max on a very important school project because it was the only way he wouldn’t fail science. As he was about to leave, the next door neighbour told him he was wasting his time, because Hank had been picked up again by his work team less than an hour ago. He had left with back pack and sleeping bag and that meant at least a week away. Excellent! He ripped up the noteand thanked the woman.

- Are you a friend of Michael? - She asked.

- Yes, we are classmates too. - Max answered, forcing a smile.

- Yeah, poor kid, he shouldn’t be here with that scum. - She spat on the ground and went back to her trailer.

Max left to inform Isabel. At least that timing was working on their side. Now they had to think up another excuse for the following days. Max gave Michael a quick check up before going back to school, finding him fast asleep, and no one else at home. When they returned after classes, Michael was still sleeping, so Max brought in his TV set and they just camped around the room. When they heard Diane arriving, Max turned to Isabel, angst written all over his face.

- Any ideas? - He asked, frowning with worry.

- I think I’ve got something. Just back me up, ok? Mom! We’re here! - She nodded and gave him a reassuring smile.

- Well, how is he doing? Is he still sleeping? - Diane asked, worriedly.

- There’s a problem…- Isabel sighed dramatically. - Michael said he had a similar experience years ago, when he was just a kid, and he had a very bad reaction to alcohol, that’s why he never touches the stuff. He’s having it again. He’s got a dull ache low in his stomach, and it will last the few days it takes him to get rid of the whole stuff altogether. He just needs to sleep it off, and he’ll be fine. I’m sorry, mom, do you think he can stay until he feels better? I don’t think he should be alone, with his dad’s still gone…- Isabel knew Diane couldn’t resist her pleading eyes.

- Of course, dear, he’s able to eat, isn’t he? - Diane asked, suspiciously.

- Yes, sure, I think it even helps! - She knew her mother would be thrilled to stuff Michael up all she could, but of course, she had to take it easy mostly because of his recent ordeal.

Isabel paged Hawkins and she told him what had now happened and that her mother wanted to know what was safe for Michael to eat.

Max gave her a thumb up behind his mother’s back, as she left with the chordless towards the kitchen. That would keep her very busy and out of their hair.

When Philip arrived that evening, Diane gave him a detailed account of the day’s news, then he went to check on the kids. Michael had thankfully woken up a few minutes before and they had filled him in with everything he needed to know not to screw up. Diane came with a tray of food, Michael’s diet was a banquet, compared to what he was used, and she was delighted to watch him eat. They sat with them until they finished eating and then left with the dirty dishes to eat themselves. Max and Isabel got up to help with the dishes, but Diane winked at Philip, and told them their father had offered to help with those…but only today! - She emphasized. They were not surprised, later on, when they went back to check on them, before turning in, to find both their children telling them they would stay in the guestroom with Michael. Diane sighed, and kissed the three teenagers, noticing Michael’s eyes fill with tears, as they had every night she had done so since his forced sleepover. She felt her heart break for the boy…life was so unfair!

As soon as they left the room, Max waved Isabel to the door, and he prepared to connect with Michael. He had barely made it yesterday and he needed to be able to boost up Michael’s blood cells.

- Michael, I have to…I’m sorry…- Max apologized.

- I know, just do it man, go easy, ok? I’m freaking sore…-

Max did it very slowly and carefully, with lots of lube, still he felt Michael shudder and moan, his body so tight. No matter how much Michael tried to relax, knowing he needed it to make it easier, the penetration was too painful. Once Max was deep in, he waited. It took a long while, at least about three minutes, and he felt Michael relaxing a bit.

- Better? - He asked.

Michael just nodded and slithered under him. Max kept still until he felt Michael pushing back against him. Only then did he begin to move. Soon they were in perfect sync and Max’s healing injection got Michael’s release right after. Nearly an hour later, Max broke the connection, and Michael felt definitely stronger. Isabel had been sitting at the door, on the lookout, while she watched the silent TV in closed caption. She got up and joined her boys in bed, Michael immediately pulling her to him.

Diane simply couldn’t sleep, her mind was in a spiral, trying to think of a way to make Michael’s life easier. Philip was snoring softly beside her when she finally decided to go check on them, just in case.

When Diane entered the room, her eyes opened wide at what she saw. The light was off, but the one in the hallway just in front of the room made the tableau on the bed quite visible: Michael lay mostly on his stomach in the middle of the bed, which was somewhere between a twin and a double, large enough for the three teenagers, especially in the closeness of their tangled positions, Max and Isabel were kind of spooned into Michael’s sides. He had turned his hips a little towards Max to get him as close as possible. Max had pushed his leg between Michael’s thighs from behind and wrapped his arm around his waist resting his head on Michael’s shoulder. Isabel lay on the other side, close to the door, as he snuggled back against her brother enabling her to slide closer and practically under him. Michael wrapped an arm protectively across her chest just under her breasts and rested his face on her shoulder. Isabel held him close to her in her arms, one hand on his ass. Diane couldn’t make out where the other one was, because Max was pressed to most of Michael’s back. Her daughter’s chin was resting on his hair. Michael’s thigh was pushed between Isabel’s legs and as Diane watched them, open mouthed, he sighed, a soft smile curving his lips. It shocked her to see her son’s crotch glued to Michael’s butt, and Michael’s arm grazing Isabel’s breasts. She
managed to get it together, telling herself she was totally overreacting, so just to make sure Michael was alright, she reached down over Isabel, and touched his cheek. He felt warm with sleep but she didn’t detect any fever. Suddenly her head was flooded with these shocking images in a strobe-like succession. Try as she might, she couldn’t let go of him, she did the next best, she cried out and woke up her children. They both sat up and Isabel knocked her hand away from Michael as she did so. By some lucky coincidence, the flashes were interrupted just before Max and Isabel made their appearance. Diane backed away, shaking like a leaf. She wasn’t sure what had happened. Her children were looking at her in complete confusion.

- Mom, what is it? - She backed away with her eyes locked on Michael, until she was framed by the door.

- Nothing, I’m sorry, I have this orphanage thing tomorrow, and I couldn’t help remembering how many kids like you are there waiting to have a home and … it’s so sad that some don’t get what they deserve … and I feel so bad I can’t help them all… - she blabbered adding to their confusion instead of reassuring them.

- I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to upset you, just wanted to say good night. - She smiled weakly and unconvincingly and hurried away. Max and Isabel looked at each other absolutely baffled.

- What was all that about? -

- I haven’t the slightest idea. She really gets all worked up every year when she does that visit to the orphanage and the retirement home, and this year she has them one right after the other. No wonder she’s so stressed out. It must have been that., -

- When’s the retirement thing? -

- Day after tomorrow. - Max scoffed hearing the pressing schedule.

- Oh, well, I can’t blame her, with the Michael issues to top it all. -

- Yeah, what she knows of it, which is just the tip of the iceberg. -

- You don’t think she saw you? - Isabel felt herself flushing with worry.

- No way! - He checked his watch. - I did it about an hour ago. -

- What if she did, and it took her all this time to calm down and come to face you? - Isabel insisted.

- Iz, you’re getting paranoid! Cool it! You’re getting us all worked up over nothing. Just go back to sleep, will you? You heard what she’s upset about, and it has nothing to do with us. - He rolled his eyes and watched Michael, who slept on, dead to the world.

Isabel nodded and returned her hand to Michael’s ass. He turned his face towards Max and snuggled sighing. They lay back leaning on his shoulders and went back to sleep without any further thoughts on the recent incident.

Diane trudged back to her room, after her scary experience, and sat by her husband. She was trembling so badly that the whole bed was shaking. Philip scrambled towards her holding her tight and asking her what had happened.

- Michael wasn’t drunk, Philip. He had been raped by a black man in front of a roomful of other men. I think one of them was his foster father. They watched it happen and didn’t move a finger to stop it. They were actually enjoying it! He was in such pain and bleeding so badly! - He squeezed her close to him.

- Diane, you definitely had a nightmare, come on, just lie back, I’ll go check on Michael. -

- No! Please don’t go, stay with me. - She didn’t know how he’d react if he saw the way their kids were holding Michael. - He’s alright now, I don’t know how. But it’s true, I haven’t imagined it or dreamt it, please believe me. I don’t know if I’m going psychic or what, but I know it’s true! -

Philip tried talking some sense into her.

- Diane, you obviously still haven’t got over of the shock of what happened to Michael last week. You’re just transferring it to now. You saw how bad he was hurt and what Hawkins had to do to him to replace the blood he had lost. If it had happened again so soon, he wouldn’t have made it, or he would be lying in a hospital, even if he swore they were going to kill him, if he happened to be conscious, which I’d doubt. It was a nightmare! Proof of it is you’ve sleepwalked as a result of the psychological stress you’ve been under these last week! That’s all, C’mon. -

She started crying and Philip eased her back on the bed. He sat beside her feeling helpless, holding her hand until she calmed down and then he convinced her to go to the kitchen for some herbal tea. That did the trick and they went back to bed and fell into a peaceful dreamless slumber. When she woke up in the morning it all came back to her and she couldn’t understand why she hadn’t spent the night fighting off nightmares. But she felt rested and fairly relaxed, thanks to the tea.


She heard Isabel beat Max to the bathroom, and heard the water falling as she showered. She heard Max go to his room and rummage around, getting his school stuff together, and some clothes to wear, Diane went back to the guest room, not sure of what to expect. She checked on Michael and found him sleeping peacefully. She was terrified to touch him, and it took her a full minute to do so. He felt sleep warm, and smiled and turned his face to kiss her hand. Her eyes filled with tears, and she had to admit Philip had to be right. It must have been a nightmare. She returned to the kitchen to feed her crowd and just before they finished having breakfast, her friend picked her up for the dreaded charity work. Max and Isabel volunteered for a quick dish wash before they went to school. During all that week, Diane found something to keep her away from home most of the day. Max and Isabel were relieved to be able to go to school without stressing of what might happen at home with Michael and their mother. They always arrived before her. Diane always checked on them late at night and unfailingly found them tangled as she had the night of that frightening vision. She just watched from the door and left. She didn’t go near enough to make any kind of contact, scared of what she would see. She thought it was best to just let them be, telling herself she was open minded and could cope with it. Michael spent the week sleeping most of the time, enjoying Diane’s constant attentions, and not understanding her nervousness around him and her constantly teary eyes. The next week, Michael went to the trailer every day after school, but there were no signs of Hank’s return. He spent some hours cleaning and tidying and returning to the Evans’. Diane sent them off to school every day with a good breakfast and then on Friday Michael found Hank at the tube.

- Mikey! What happened here? - He roared.

- Is it ok? - Michael said, totally unsure and ready to try to get away.

- It looks kinda nice. Wanna beer? - He chuckled.

- No, thanks, got a lot of homework. - Michael breathed in relief, his team must be winning cause he was in a decent mood. He wondered how long it would last.

The connection broke and the silence was complete.

- How could that beast do that to you just a week after he nearly killed you? He’s really fucked in the head! - Liz exploded.

- That’s what living with Hank was. There was nothing I could do. He usually arrived already drunk and if he wasn’t, the first thing he did when he arrived was drink. That’s why he didn’t give a damn how many times he did it in one night, or if he was doing it every night, or if I was sore, or bleeding or burning with fever. All he wanted was to get his rocks off. That’s what I was there for, apart from the monthly check, and doing the dishes and the laundry, and fixing him something to eat. I was his slut, nothing else. That’s why I never looked at girls. I felt it was written all over my face. That they despised me for what was being done to me at home. Who would want me after that? At least sometimes he wasn’t so rough and then it even felt kind of good and I managed to come. Sometimes he was nice enough to tell me he loved me, even if I was hoping to pass out from the pain, though I was never so lucky. To me home was hell, it was a place to get hurt, and there was no way out of it. I guess he just liked to hurt me, and that was his way of showing his love. That’s why I’m a masochist, and pain gives me a high.

- Michael…this was 1999, right? Just…what? About a month before THAT New Year’s Eve? - Maria said in a shaky voice.

Michael just nodded.

- Oh my god, Michael! - Maria sobbed.

- I’m sorry, Maria, I should never have gone there. It’s just that…I thought I was dying. I wanted to see you for the last time. I was so lonely, there was nowhere else I could go…I thought you weren’t home, I just wanted to hide and wait for you, to see you, and leave to die where I wouldn’t bother anyone. I never do anything right, huh? - Michael rambled on, without looking up.

- Michael, what the hell are you talking about? - Isabel shouted, angry at not being involved.

- That’s our secret…- Liz reached out and took Maria’s hand. - And Alex’s. -

Isabel paled at the mention of Alex’s name. He had kept something from her? She couldn’t believe it!

- What did Alex have to do with it? What did he do? - Isabel’s arms were wrapped around her body, keeping herself steady, as her lips trembled.

- Nothing, Isabel, he was just there for us, as he always was. And for Michael too. - Liz reassured her. - And he didn’t know Michael was an alien then. -

- Tell me…tell us. - She ordered, reaching her hands out for the connection.

- First of all, I want to know, if anyone here has another secret that we all need to share, concerning your alien status, that needs to come out in the open for our bonding to be complete. - Maria said in a voice that was much steadier than she felt.

Isabel turned to Max. Their eyes locked and they nodded.

- We have one more… Max announced.

- Does it by any chance concern more abuse and torture to Michael’s person? - Maria spat, her tears overflowing her eyes.

- There is no rape involved, if that’s what worries you. It’s about an accident Michael had that helped clarify an important aspect of our lives. It wasn’t that serious, but very helpful to all of us. -

- You go first, Maria, to bring a closure to this nightmare. - Isabel insisted, her curiosity about Alex’s involvement much too evident.

The circle was ready and the connection started.

Part 5a

As the haze enveloped them, they heard Michael’s sigh and whisper, probably just to himself, not meaning it for them to hear: I hope I can take this, it’s getting too damn much…just hurts like hell…as if it’s happening all over again…

Amy and Maria arrived at the airport to get Liz, whose eyes were red with crying. She was heartbroken over first: barely making it in time to the airport after a horrid traffic jam, just for being a responsible nerd and wanting to finish the damn holiday homework before she left, instead of leaving it for after the trip, as she should have done, and gone to the airport with her parents. And second: getting trapped with a group of people in the lift of the Phoenix airport and totally missing the plane. Her parents were already airborne to her aunt’s in Florida, and must have realized she wasn’t in the plane when it was too late, since her seat was very far from theirs, at the back of the plane. It was the only one they could get after they decided when it was almost too late, too, that they did want to receive the blasted Millennium in Florida. There was nothing she could do now, and the only lucky part of the deal was that she was able to take a local flight back to Roswell, to at least receive the New Year…no…the Millennium! Of all things, with her best friend instead of her parents. Her new boyfriend Max Evans and his family had also gone to receive the Millennium with some uncles in Ohio, they had left after Xmas, on the 27th. Amy and Maria consoled Liz all the way to their home. When she had finally calmed down some, Amy started talking excitedly about the great conference on aromatherapy she had been selected to attend on the 2nd of January in Las Cruces, so she would leave with another lady from Roswell who had also been selected and they would drive together in Amy’s Jetta. Hannah was supplying the gasoline which was fair enough, and they were taking a picnic basket with whatever was left of their New Year’s dinner. Maria was going to stay with Alex, and now Liz was also included. The only other plane ticket available for Florida was on the 5º of January, and it wasn’t worth it cause her parents were returning on the 7º. She would have already missed the real thing, so what was the use? Liz had sniffled all next day, since she woke up, realizing it was the last day of the century and she was stuck in Roswell. Maria and Amy kept her busy all day, preparing the meal for the evening. When the glorious time came, they lost themselves in a huge three way hug and cried until they were wiped out. Liz’s cell phone rang and it was her parents, who had already celebrated the coming of the Millennium because of the time diffence. Then they stuffed themselves silly. They went to the kitchen to wash the dishes though they were tempted to leave them for next day. They were surprised to hear someone laughing loudly in the living room and rushed there to find Alex sitting on the couch watching TV.

- We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow! - Maria told him.

- Yeah, but I was bored to death at home and when you called me to tell me about Liz, I decided to be part of the consolation prize. - He said with a big smile.

Liz rushed into his arms and Maria and Amy smiled at them.

- Ok, kids, how about some egg nog? It’s delicious! - She said, as she herded them to the kitchen and filled the mugs. Alex ran back and turned off the TV set, to a chorus of: “Nooo!” which came too late.

- What? - Alex said, frowning.

- It will take us ages to get it to start again! Something’s busted and we haven’t had it repaired yet! - Maria whined.

- Don’t worry! Alex is here, you’ll see! - He nodded, sure of himself.

They got refills and went back to the living room couch to watch a sci-fi movie Liz and Maria wanted to see for some obscure reason known only to them. Amy tried to turn the old TV set on but it stubbornly refused, just as she knew it would.

- Ok, it’s my call! - Alex said and started trying his hand at it.

Liz’s cell phone rang and it was Max, no doubt, because Liz was walking as far away from them as possible to get some privacy.

- Dammit, the brontosaurus is agonizing! - Amy scoffed.

- Well, I guess it’s my bedroom. - Maria said, and she tiptoed behind Liz, snatching the cell phone away from her in spite of her protests, and said, “Happy New Year, and Millennium, Max, for Isabel and your parents too, and now let me have my best friend back.” She hung up and stuffed it into her pocket. Liz shook her head and said jokingly: “I’ll live. “ Then they lurched arm in arm all together in that direction, murdering “Auld Lang Syne” all the way there. They ended huddled on Maria’s bed, with the lights off, to make the film even scarier. The volume was very low, and no matter what Alex did, it didn’t get any better, so they had to be totally quiet to manage to understand what was said. Alex had brought the pop corn in a big plastic bag and kept whacking them over the head with it to keep them awake, as the evil aliens made havoc of the planet, and of every single unfortunate earthling that crossed their path.

Suddenly, they heard a bump that seemed to come from the window across the room. They thought at first it was the film, or Alex playing them a stupid prank, but when it came again, they knew it definitely wasn’t either of them. They were shaking as leaves when they saw a dark body pull the window pane up and fall heavily into the room through the bead curtain, lying completely still. The girls were wide eyed and open mouthed with shock, dumb from fright, and Alex rushed into the closet and peered out from behind the clothes. Amy reached under the bed by the nightstand where she knew Maria kept a baseball bat.

- Turn on the light! - Amy ordered in a shaky voice, as she cautiously approached the inert body.

The light went on with an explosion of clarity, bathing the still form in a yellowish sheen.

- Michael! - Liz and Maria cried out together, making Amy jump with surprise at their outburst.

- What? - She asked, remembering Maria mention that name a little too often since elementary school.

- He’s a boy from our school! He’s our classmate! - Liz and Maria exclaimed.

- Uh uh, bad boy Michael Guerin, in all his fallen splendour! - Said Alex, parting the clothes and stepping out.

- Shut up, Alex! - Both girls shouted at him together, as Alex shook his head, frowning.

- What’s he doing here? - Amy asked.

The girls shrugged and Amy couldn’t miss their flushed cheeks.

“So this is the infamous Michael they whisper and doodle about all over the place!” Amy thought.

They surrounded the prone body, one foot still hooked over the window sill where he had obviously tripped on his grand entry.

Amy observed him, as she assessed their own scantly clothed invader from outer space. The kid was tall, still somewhat tanned from the already gone hot New Mexico summer sun, which had been unusually lasting this year, until barely a few weeks ago. Nice shade of brown hair, all spiky, in a sexy way. Hard compact body at an age when most boys still tended to be lanky, strong athlete’s legs, well muscled but not overly so, great legs, a girl’s envy. His flushed cheek lay on the floor, and his profile showed one closed eye with a fringe of lashes, classic straight nose, and a full mouth, with perfectly kissable lips. Not bad, at least her daughter had good taste. She nudged his thigh with her socked foot and a low moan escaped the parted luscious lips. Then she playfully placed her foot on his round butt and gave it a nudge too. This time she got a definite gasp and they watched his eye shut tight as he winced. Amy crouched by his face and touched his cheek, finding it unusually hot.

- Hey! You ok? - She asked, not expecting the answer that was whispered back.

- Hurts too much…- His voice husky with pain.

- Maria, wet a hand towel, quick! - She told her daughter who stood there gawking at them with Liz and Alex.

She brushed his damp hair from his face and was surprised at how soft it was.

Maria was back with record speed, not to miss much of the action, and placed the cool damp towel in Amy’s hand. She placed it on his forehead and wiped gently the beads of sweat that had started to trickle towards his eye. As she raised her hand, she met a honey coloured iris trying to focus as he became aware of his surroundings.

- You ok? - Amy repeated.

The boy shook his head no, as he pushed his chest off the floor.

- Shit! Sorry…- He winced as he noticed an adult in the room, in Amy’s form. He looked down, more confused than embarrassed, trying to work up a sensible excuse for his intrusion.

- I…I was at the door…but no one…answered…- He managed.

The girls’ knowing smiles told him his lie was obvious to them, but held ground with the lady.

- It’s about the homework, right? - Liz caught on fast. Maria nodded approvingly but Alex looked lost.

- Yeah. - Michael half smirked, half winced, and Amy noticed his eyes were a little out of focus.

- Well, come all the way in, then. - Amy said, as she took his arm and helped him up.

He turned, following her glare, and saw the girls staring at him.

- What happened to you? - Maria asked, frowning.

He looked down at himself, and frowned too.

- My neighbours have a weird sense of humour. They chucked me in the back of a van and dumped me a couple of blocks away. I should clean up. -

They had noticed the front of his tight fitting black sleeveless t-shirt and grey sweat shorts was quite soiled, but the back, was clean. He pulled his t-shirt over his head and used the sweat moist underside to wipe his thighs and knees. His high top sneakers were a dusty brown colour and the ankle socks that protruded from them, were a little frayed, but clean, too. He almost toppled over with the effort to make himself decent, and both girls rushed and grabbed him from behind, gluing their bellies to his ass. A few seconds later, Amy cleared her throat, meaning it was reasonably safe to let go off him, and they reluctantly did so. They turned to look at Amy, who was shaking her head and rolling her eyes at them. Amy noticed the boy was barely managing to keep himself steady on his own.

- I think you better lie down…- Amy said, thinking he was drunk, it was the Millennium after all.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

- I don’t want to soil the bed. - He whispered.

- Ok, Maria, help him with his boots. -

She crouched down in front of him and unfastened the velcros from the left one. Amy couldn’t help checking the seat of his shorts as he leant forwards bracing himself on Maria’s shoulders, when she noticed that the stripes across them, that she had taken for badly washed grease marks, were getting more pronounced. Michael pulled his foot up as Maria held the boot like sneaker down against the floor, and stepped back pushing his butt into Amy’s stomach. Now she knew what the girls had felt from that round mass of muscle, and she had to admit she couldn’t blame them from wanting to stay there longer. It took her by surprise, and she had to hold on to him not to fall back.

- Sorry…- He apologized over his shoulder.

Liz giggled from where she was sitting on the floor by Alex, who sat just outside the closet, in case he needed to dive back in. Michael wobbled again and Amy wondered if he was on something else, cause he didn’t sound drunk at all. Maria rid him of his other sneaker as he steadied himself against her as before, and this time he stepped aside to be safe.

- I’m kind of dizzy…- He said, tilting to his right.

- Whoa! - Amy said, and held him around his hips, guiding him towards the bed. - C’mon, lie down. -

- My shorts are dirty…- He told her.

Amy stepped back and started peeling his shorts down by the elastic waist. They seemed to snag about halfway down, so she gave them a hard tug and got them sliding easy again. She heard the boy gasp and give a start and she was dismayed to think that maybe something in his front had been responsible for the snag, anyway it was too late, and she had probably hurt him. She was surprised to see the small briefs he wore underneath his shorts, had the same dark brown horizontal marks only darker. It didn’t make sense, it should be the other way round. She couldn’t help noticing the fact that one side of his briefs had ridden all the way up, and the other side was almost getting there too. And worst still, the two girls were peeking over and around her at him. Amy frowned at them, but then she flashed them an understanding smile when they turned to her looking guilty. Amy herself, was trying hard not to stare, so she secretly thanked them for the distraction. Amy pressed her hand on the small of his back and gently pushed him forwards. The kid took another unsteady step and barely made it to the bed on all fours, before landing stretched out on his belly, his socked feet hooked over the edge of the bed. Amy had grabbed at the waist of the briefs trying to soften his fall and had yanked one side of them off, accidentally. The boy gave a muffled grunt, and Amy noticed two things. First, what she held in her hand weren’t briefs, but an inside part of the shorts that had ripped off the already torn seam when she tugged the outer shorts down. Second and worst of all, the dim glow of the small lamp on the nightstand made things much clearer, and she was shocked to realize that the stains were on his flesh too, and even much more defined. They weren’t brown grease stains either, they were dark red dry blood, and were getting brighter: she had torn them open where the cloth had been stuck to them. They also continued almost halfway down his thighs, as far as the shorts had covered them. What had they done to this boy? She concentrated on his face and paled with the sudden recognition.

She flashed back about 10 years ago, taking some charity free pies to the orphanage. The lady in charge asked her if she wouldn’t want to adopt a boy of about 6 years of age who had been found abandoned near the Pohlman Ranch area.

- Didn’t the Evans’ already adopt the boy and a girl? - Amy inquired.

- Yes, but this one was found about a week later. - She informed.
- Please? - She pleaded.

- No, really, you know I have a girl that age, and…-

They were interrupted by the door opening and a boy was pushed reluctantly into the room. Amy looked at him and his eyes reminded her of honey.

- I don’t think it’s a good idea to bring a boy home…- Amy continued and noticed the boy looked well fed and chunky. - He’s six? - Not that she doubted it, but she felt she had to say something, and wasn’t sure what.

Likewise, the woman felt some kind of explanation was required.

- He could be a little older or younger. I wouldn’t say older, though, because kids small for their ages tend to be scrawny, like the boy with the Evans’. That’s a typical case: skinny, shy, nervous, fits that profile perfectly, though it may not be the case, who knows? They also sometimes tend to be sickly from deficient feeding, explaining the lack of normal growth, not mentioning psychological problems…This one’s more likely the other way round, big for his age, a year or two younger than he looks, perhaps, well fed, strong and healthy, as you can see. - She tilted her head towards the boy.

- Yeah, sure, but no. I can barely make it with one, you know. - Amy confessed.

Everyone knew she wasn’t married. She could’ve sworn the kid had looked hopeful at one point, and now his disappointment at her words showed in his liquid eyes. She hadn’t meant to sound unkind and hurt the boy.

- Sorry. - She said, as she chucked the kid under the chin, and smiled.

She turned away quickly not to see his reaction, and left.

Every time she went to take them pies, she was given the latest news on the boy’s bad luck with some opportunities which always turned to be the wrong people, in unfortunate circumstances, obviously not losing hope of changing her mind. She always felt bad at refusing, and some years later she definitely felt worse when she was informed, with a sad smile, that the boy had been taken into a foster situation by that disgusting boozer at the trailer park, who was desperate for some easy income to buy his stuff. What was his name? Hank…Couldn’t remember his last name. He had had the nerve to make a pass at her once, and Jim Valenti had come to her rescue. Her lips curved into a smile, just thinking of him. Jim of course, not that scum Hank! Maria’s worried voice brought her back to the present.

- Mom, what is it? - She asked.

- What’s his name? - Amy asked, hoping her voice didn’t sound as shaky as she knew it was.

- Michael Guerin…- Liz provided the information. - Why? -

“Right,” Amy thought, “that’s where I had heard the name before.”

- I think I’ve seen him somewhere before, at school I guess. -

- Sure, you can’t miss his punk looks. - Alex said in a nasty tone.

- Alex! - Both girls reacted to his harsh words.

- That wasn’t nice Alex. - Amy looked sternly at him.

- Sorry, Mrs. DeLuca. - Said Alex regretfully, looking at his shoes.

“Yes, it was definitely the same boy,” Amy thought, “he had really turned out great. What would it have been like to raise him as her son? Both for her and Maria? She would have been afraid to leave them home alone!”

- Oh my god! Michael! You’re bleeding! - Maria screamed.

That’s when it kicked in: the boy was hurt! Amy was looking at the bleeding gashes in his butt, as if hypnotized. Luckily, this discovery was held responsible for her strange behaviour, which had had the girls so worried and focused on her, that they hadn’t noticed what she had, until they followed her gaze. Amy then decided she had to do something about it.

- I’m getting Jenny…- She rushed out of the room and they heard her curtains rustle as she leant over her bedroom window and called loudly her neighbour’s name.

Soon they heard a vague conversation and then Amy hurried to the door. She left the house at a run, and a few minutes later, two voices approached the room. Amy came in with the neighbour, who was a modern day midwife but with real medical studies. Her husband was a doctor, what kind, they weren’t sure, but pretty successful as he was constantly travelling and giving conferences on his specialty. He was often away, as he surely was today, or he would have come with her.

Jenny said a quick hello to the kids and then went:

- Oh boy! - And bent by the bed to take a closer look at Michael’s injuries.

- This kid should be in the hospital. - She recommended.

- No, please, I can’t…no!...- Michael moaned in protest.

- They’ll help you there. - Jenny said as she squeezed his thigh.

- No, no, my blood isn’t right…they’ll kill me there like my…- the rest was thankfully unintelligible, as Maria and Liz clutched their hands tight with fear of what he might inadvertently let out.

Jenny noticed with alarm, that the boy was getting very agitated and that wasn’t good.

- Ok, ok, I’ll do what I can, just relax, ok? - Jenny tried to calm him down.

- I better go…- Michael started trying to get up.

- NO! - Yelled Jenny, and they all followed her example and pounced on him to stop him, but he was way too strong for all of them in spite of his condition. They were about to lose him, so Jenny chose to do the only thing she suspected would make him stay so she could heal him.

- Hey! I promise you we won’t take you to the hospital, ok? - Jenny spat.

Michael stopped struggling and lay still. His laboured breathing told them he was now hurting worse from his efforts to get away.

- Push your butt up a little on your knees love, to see you better. What’s your name? -

- Michael…- He whispered.

- Lovely, now Michael, up you go. -

Michael obeyed and Jenny started tugging off the other part of the inner shorts that was still stuck to his left side. It was slow and painful, but eventually they were off. Amy had been trying unsuccessfully to catch her eye, and now Jenny saw she was gesturing nervously towards the girls. But Jenny just scoffed and chuckled.

- We all look the same from behind. - She winked at Liz and Maria. - Ok, I’ll clean up this mess. Will you get me some warm water and a soft wash cloth? Cotton preferably? - Jenny asked.

- I’ll get the water, you get the sleeves from my cut off t-shirts from my closet. - Maria told Liz and rushed to the kitchen. She was right back and Liz was handing Jenny several cut off sleeves from t-shirts. She chose a couple of white ones. She waved Maria closer as she appeared at the door with a bowl of water, and she knelt by the bed at Michael’s hips with the bowl in her hands. Liz knelt beside her helping her hold up the bowl. Jenny wet the cotton cloth and very carefully started wiping the bloody cuts clean.

- Hang on kid, this is going to sting. - She warned him. - Keep still, huh? -

- Sure, I’m used to it…- Michael slurred and Jenny’s eyebrows shot up.

- What did they do these with? - She thought aloud, as she worked on him.

- Brass…eagle…belt…buckle…- Michael muttered, through gritted teeth.

- Jesus! - Alex exclaimed. - That must have hurt like a bitch!...Sorry! - He blushed furiously after the pause, when he realized what had come out of his mouth.

- It sure did…- Said Jenny, agreeing completely with him.

- It sure is…now…too…- Michael rasped.

- I know, love, it’s the peroxide. - Jenny told him.

- Figures…- Michael hissed, obviously familiar with the procedure.

- There are a few too deep, I can’t use peroxide on them cause they need stitches, you ok with that? - She asked for his approval.

- Do it. - He whispered harshly, without the slightest hesitation.

- The kid has guts…- Jenny sent them through the corner of her mouth,
- Ok, then. -

- Black Bag! - Jenny gestured to Alex, and he brought it to her.

She rummaged inside and turned to Alex again.

- Stool! No cushion! - Alex rushed to push off the offending thing off the stool in front of Maria’s mirror, and placed it by Jenny.

She started placing on it all the stuff she brought out of the bag. She started with a lot of small bottles, ampoules and vials, which she started using to fill syringes, a larger bottle of alcohol and some cotton wool. She donned a rubber glove, wet a swab of cotton wool with alcohol and wiped the area around one of the large gashes.

- Uh uh, I can’t watch this…- Alex felt all eyes on him so he said quickly - Shut up Alex! I know! - Before they could say it themselves, so they only needed to glare at him to confirm his own words.

Michael sure knew what was coming, without the need of Alex’s warning. The smell of alcohol was enough, and they watched him bite his lower lip, and clutch the sheets hard with both hands in anticipation.

Jenny took the largest of the syringes she had filled and jabbed the needle 6 times around the gash. Michael moaned and all the muscle in his visible body rippled and tensed with the effort of dealing with the pain.

- I know, I know, I’m sorry, but you need this. - She tried to distract him with her words, though she knew it was useless. Local hurt like hell! She stitched all the bad cuts in his butt. Then she turned to the ones in his thighs and wiped and injected them too.

- Ok, this will take a minute. I’ll give you some stuff while we wait. - Without wasting a second, she found and wiped some undamaged areas in his ass and shot in two injections on each side. Michael was shuddering and writhing, but they had to give it to him, he had hardly made a sound.

- Plastic bag! - Jenny barked, and Alex got some video cassettes out of the needed item and handed it to her.

Jenny tossed the used syringes, careful to encase the needles, and the wrappings and empty bottles, ampoules and vials into the bag, dropping it by the bed, for further use. She turned back to Michael.

- Feel this? - She asked and pressed her finger to the cut.

- uh uh. - Michael denied, but Maria could’ve sworn his eyes had shut tighter as she did it. She turned nervously towards Liz, and she could tell by the way she looked back at her, she had noticed too. Liz shook her head no, and Maria shrugged. If Michael didn’t want Jenny to know, that was his problem. It was going to hurt him, and no one else.

Jenny threaded the curved needle, and holding the gash together, she proceeded to stitch it. Michael’s face was buried in the pillow, and his body was definitely tense, but he didn’t move and kept quiet. Only once, as she was stitching the last one in his butt, he gave a small gasp and jerk.

- You ok? - Jenny asked, suspiciously.

- Sure…- It sounded muffled as Michael’s face was still buried into the pillow.

Jenny shrugged and continued to the ones in his thighs.

Liz was the only one not looking away, and watching entranced, as Jenny worked on the wounds. 30 stitches! Wow! It was over now, so what the heck! Liz waved Jenny towards her, putting a finger to her lips for silence. She just wanted to be sure. She whispered in Jenny’s ear and they watched her frown. Then she glared at Liz and shook her head. She reached out and gave Michael’s ass a spank, and he gave a start and growled.

- What the hell? Michael?- Jenny said, her frown deepening.

- It’s ok,…it’s happened before…I can take it. - Michael said in a husky voice.

Jenny shook her head. “Dammit, he had to have resistance! After I’ve insisted a thousand times it’s impossible!” She thought. “Me and my big mouth!”

The kid seemed alright, coherent, fine. No harm done, well, not much, at least, she thought.

- All right, all done here. - She reached out and tousled his hair. - Tough guy! - She chuckled.

Michael smirked, guessing probably all doctors did that, or was it his hair?

- Be right back. - Jenny said, and then to Amy, - How about a cup of tea? -

Amy nodded and pulled up the sheet to cover Michael at least halfway up his back. The boy gasped and reached back to push the sheet away. Jenny was there first and pulled it down to his knees.

- Better not, he’s still very sore and it may stick to the cuts. I wouldn’t recommend it yet. - Jenny hooked her arm on Amy’s and took her out of the room, snatching the garbage bag, to toss it in the kitchen bin.

Amy and Jenny were sitting in the kitchen waiting for the tea to brew, when Alex came running into the room.

- Something’s wrong! - He shouted, and ran back the way he had come.

The two women raced after him, and Jenny almost ran over Alex as they arrived at the door. The girls were all over Michael, who was shuddering, his back beaded with sweat and muttering under his breath. Maria was trying to make out what he was saying and Liz was wiping his face with a washcloth.

- What happened? - Jenny and Amy asked at the same time.

They all spoke together.

- Only Liz! - Amy shouted, exasperated.

- He seemed to be sleeping, and then he started shuddering and moaning. I touched his cheek and he’s burning! - Liz sobbed.

Jenny fished in her bag and brought out a thermometer. He shook it a couple of times and crouched by his face.

- Michael, Michael? Open your mouth, love…- But Michael just kept on muttering.

Jenny tried to push the thermometer into his mouth, but Michael turned away and buried his face in his arm.

- Oh well…- Jenny said, rolling her eyes, - anyway, if he’s not fully conscious there’s the risk that he might bite it. -

Jenny took a tube from her bag and squeezed it over the tip of the thermometer.

- Uh uh…- Alex started but that’s as far as he went, their glares silencing him immediately.

He mimicked zipping up his mouth and raised his hands palms out in defeat.

Jenny knelt by Michael’s hips and waved Amy over opposite her.

- Here, give me a hand. - She nodded towards the boy’s ass.

She spread from the left and Amy from the right. Jenny was trying to push the thermometer in, but it wasn’t easy there either, as the kid wasn’t still, squirming from one side to the other, and the damn thing wasn’t going in no matter how hard she pushed.

- No, it’s hurting too much…please don’t…- Michael moaned, delirious.

- Hey, I need some more light here! - Jenny demanded.

Alex brought the small lamp as close as the cord permitted, and Amy grabbed it from him with her free hand and held it over Michael’s hips.

- Dammit! What’s he got in there? - Jenny exclaimed.

- What? What? Amy asked, not understanding what Jenny meant, but it certainly wasn’t good.

She noticed something dark on the bed under the kid, and she peered between Michael’s thighs. She realized with shock that it was a pool of blood.

- Oh my god, Jenny! - Amy’s voice was trembling.

- This is sick! I need a plastic bag! - Jenny pointed to the dresser. She dropped the thermometer on the stool and got more gloves from her bag, this time for both hands.

Alex emptied the bag of Maria’s plastic hair clasps and handed it to Jenny.

- No, just keep it open, right here! - She indicated, nodding towards Michael’s thigh.

She reached down and took what looked like a bloody string with her fingers. She tugged hard, and Amy’s eyes popped wide open as she watched Jenny pull out a red soaked, dripping tampon out of Michael’s ass.
As she dropped it into the bag that Alex was holding, she noticed his hands started shaking bad, and she turned to his face, thinking he was about to pass out. The terrified look in his eyes made her look back, and she saw the rush of blood that had followed the removal. Jenny’s jaw dropped. Amy watched Jenny unceremoniously shove her finger up the boy’s ass to the knuckle, her other hand on the small of his back, holding him down, as he grunted and tried to twist away.

- Hold him still! Boy, some help here! -

Alex knelt by the bed and pressed his upper body on Michael’s as Liz and Maria did the same from the other side. Jenny’s hand was completely covered in blood.

- Get me a towel, quick! - Her tone was so urgent that both Liz and Maria took off for the bathroom and they brought a towel each.

Jenny bent one several times and jammed it between Michael’s buttocks trying to stanch the source of the bleeding. The terry cloth was soaking through fast, and Jenny gave Amy the other towel, trusting she knew what to do, when the other one became useless, and jumped to her feet.

- Just press it hard. I need to get something. - She raced out of the room, grabbing Alex’s arm. - You’re coming with me. -

She dragged the frightened boy in her wake, and they were gone. Liz, Maria and Amy were pale as sheets, listening to Michael’s heavy breathing fill the room, with his constant moans of “Hurts” and “No”. It was driving them out of their minds. After what seemed like hours, 3 more towels and Amy’s arms drenched in blood. Jenny and Alex returned, carrying some stuff. Jenny opened a metal case and brought out a mean looking long instrument.

- Plug it! - She ordered Alex, handing him a coiled cord, watching him do it.

- Amy, get me a big towel, the oldest you have, and bend it over as many times as you can. - Amy was back in seconds, bending the towel.

- Ok, give it to me. - Jenny gave Amy the instrument to hold it for her while she shoved the compacted towel under Michael’s thighs and hips to receive the blood. She reached back for it and Amy gladly handed it over.

- It’s for another body opening and for another sex, but it will have to do. - She gave then a weak grin, apologizing for what they didn’t understand. - I need some help. You, boy, I need that cushion now, to raise his ass off the bed. - She pointed to the discarded one from the stool. - You girls, hold him down, here and here. - She pointed her bloody finger at his rib cage and shoulders. - Look at his face, now, he’s a good looking one, right? You don’t have to worry about what’s going on down here. You, boy, here. - She indicated the small of Michael’s back. - But first, give me that. -

She took the thick rectangular cushion and bent it in two. She stuck her arms under Michael’s stomach and tried to heave him up. She couldn’t.

- Help me! - She grunted in time with Michael’s groans.

Alex came to give her a hand and finally, between the two, they managed to get Michael’s hips up again.

- Amy the cushion! Shove it under him, fast! No, no! The bent side here! - She indicated where she wanted it, nodding her head towards herself. - Ok, let go, gently. - They eased him down again, he winced and sighed.

- You, hold him down where I showed you, don’t let him raise his pretty tail any higher, ok? - She ordered Alex.

He pushed down hard with both hands on the small of Michael’s back, as he growled in protest.

- Hey! He’s hurt enough! Hold him, don’t crush him! - Jenny scolded.

Alex nodded contritely, and eased his grip.

- Amy, you hang on to his thigh, I’ll be on the other one. - Jenny straddled one thigh as Amy leaned her upper body on the other one. Michael growled another protest as Jenny reached into her bag and filled a second large syringe.

- Ok, here we go, Amy, I need both your hands, you’re going to spread him for me, ok? - When Amy nodded, Jenny turned to the three kids. - Hold him tight now! Amy, now! -

Jenny swabbed and quickly plunged the needle four times around the source of the hemorrhage, swabbing and jabbing before the blood covered her target from view. Michael was sobbing into the pillow, obeying by some miracle Jenny’s cries of “Keep still, please don’t move, good kid, hang on!” It took everyone all their strength to keep the strong young muscles in check, and the victim exposed, during the ordeal. They could hear him whimper helplessly at the suffering he was undergoing and admiring his courage at the way he was dealing with the torture he was being put through.


When Jenny withdrew the needle for the last time, she sighed and tossed the used syringe into the garbage bag.

- That should do. - She said and closed her eyes. Her finger massaged in a circle the sites of the injections as she prayed the anesthetic worked this time. The kid was suffering too much.

- Real tough kid! - Jenny said, and the look in Amy’s eyes reflected her opinion. The awe in the other three kids’ faces matched their own. She felt Michael starting to relax and she thought it was fine. Then Jenny squeezed what looked like clear gel around the upper part of the instrument towards the tip.

- Ok, here we go again, you kids, hold him down, just in case. Amy, on three, you spread him for me just like before. - She braced herself and started the count down.

- One…- She aimed the instrument towards Michael. - Two…- She pressed the cleaner of the towels to wipe the flow of blood enough to see what she was going to do. - Three! - She pulled the towel away and expertly pushed the instrument into the bleeding spot smoothly. Amy watched open mouthed as it disappeared into the boy. They all felt the powerful muscles bunch up under them as a muffled growl filled their ears followed by Maria’s and Liz’s sobs. Amy couldn’t take her eyes off from the protruding tube which now looked too thick for the small opening it was probing. Blood still managed to seep around it in spite of the tight encasing. Jenny fitted her eyes on the upper part of the instrument which allowed her to look inside Michael’s body. Then Amy watched her slide her hand upwards on the underside of the thing and did something, now the blood that was still coming out, looked clearer, like washed out.

- Why is the blood like…watered? - Amy asked.

- This thing shoots distilled water into him to rinse away and enable me to locate the exact source of the bleeding. - Jenny explained.

- Have you located it? - Amy asked.

- Not yet…wait…yes!...Hold him tight! - Jenny barked and triggered something.

Michael jerked and hissed into the pillow. It took 6 times of whatever Jenny was doing to control the bleeding completely. She withdrew the bloody instrument and placed it on the stool over the equally bloody towels. Michael shuddered and took a deep breath, ending in a sob. Jenny wiped her sweating forehead with the back of her hand leaving a big red smudge.

- I’ll need more warm water and wash cloths to clean him up. - She sounded exhausted. - It’s the first time I use a vaginal cauterizer in a boy’s ass and I hope it will be the last and only one. It’s too thick, it’s cruel. It actually burns the wounds close with electricity, and the anesthetic did nothing for him again, no doubts about it. - She gave a hoarse chuckle. - Well, there’s always a first time. -

She suddenly noticed they were all staring at her in shock, so she broke the tense moment.

- Ok, chop chop, I need to clean him up. Give me that, Liz. - She pointed at the discarded thermometer.

Liz handed it gingerly and Jenny slid it into Michael. It went in easy, with the lubrication left from the cauterizer and slicked by the distilled water still sliding out of him and rinsing him out. She held it in place.

- Well, you know what I need, where is it? - Jenny confronted Liz and Alex and they raced out of the room.

Maria was clinging to Michael’s upper arm, her forehead pressed on the hurt boy’s shoulder.

- Maria, honey, are you alright? - Amy asked.

Maria raised her pale tear stained face, her lips trembling as she looked up. She nodded and gave her a weak smile. Jenny spoke her words clearly, and just loud enough for Amy to hear, but try as she might, when they came out, they sounded louder than she had intended.

- He has been beaten and raped repeatedly. - Amy felt her face growing paler than she already was. A sharp intake of breath made them turn to the door, where Liz and Alex stood frozen. The bowl the girl was carrying almost falling to the ground to be secured at the last second. The three kids stared at Jenny wide eyed.

- Sorry. - Jenny couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Amy shook her head, either trying to deny what she had heard or just clearing it from the unbelievable information it had registered.

- Are you sure? - Was all that came out, of the thousand questions she had.

- Look…- Jenny pointed. - There’s scarring from the small of his back to halfway down his thighs. They’re faint because he’s young and his skin regenerates very fast, but they’re there just the same. It was done on purpose, because that area is usually covered at least by shorts, easily hiding the evidence. Also here…- She pointed around the place where the thermometer was sticking out of him. - He’s been torn by a…large thick…
mmm…you know, this is usually the result of a rough penetration in which the victim is either unprepared or unwilling…mmm…to take it, and shifting his body, trying to elude it, just makes it enter at an angle, and cause more damage. That’s how he’s been ripped inside more than once before too. - She frowned in disgust.

To put it behind, mostly for the kids, Jenny reached for the bowl of water. Liz walked unsteadily towards the bed and handed it to Jenny who placed it as high as possible between Michael’s blood stained thighs. She reached out again, and Alex handed Liz the fresh wash cloth, as if afraid to see the damaged area. Liz gave it to Jenny, and then, very maturely, she placed her arms around Amy’s shoulders and helped her up.

- Maria needs you. - She whispered softly in her ear, and then louder. - I high scored in first aid, I can help. - She nodded convincingly.

Amy obeyed willingly, mostly out of stress, and knelt by the bed opposite Maria, where Liz had been. She reached across Michael’s shoulder and so did Maria. Their hands met in the middle of his back, rising and falling with his pain wracked breathing. Liz had taken Amy’s place, holding Michael’s warm smeared thigh. She watched Jenny pull out the thermometer and blink her eyes.

- No way! - She passed it to Liz who saw the mercury was all the way up. She shrugged.

Jenny looking concerned, and shook the boy’s thigh.

- Michael, you’re ok? - She asked.

The boy slowly raised his face from the pillow, just enough to make himself audible.

- You’re killing me here…- He groaned.

- If the fever doesn’t first. - She muttered. - I haven’t finished yet. -

Michael’s cheek met the pillow, wincing with anticipation. He didn’t have long to wait.

She started wiping all the bloodied area with the soaked soft wash cloth. The stinging made Michael’s breath hiss through his teeth as he shut his eyes tight.

- Get me another wash cloth and more water, hurry! - Liz told Alex.

By the time Jenny was rinsing her soiled wash cloth, Liz had a fresh, just soaked one, ready to hand it to her. She received a well earned appreciative smile. She felt useful and it felt great. When Jenny finished up the cleaning, she took a big tube from her bag and changed the cap for a long one full of holes. She squeezed the tube until the white ointment started oozing through the holes. Then she pushed it into Michael and Liz felt his muscles react again under her hands. Jenny squeezed half the tube into him leaving some ointment just outside, then she took a long fingerlike cylinder, rounded at one end and with two tabs pointing in different directions on the other end. She pressed it against Michael and moved it around, coating the rounded tip with the lubrication, then she carefully worked it in. Michael shifted his hips sideways, trying to stop the forced invasion, but Liz’s hands against his hip and thigh, made him take it. Michael’s sob broke Liz’s heart, especially as she felt his body protest to the ravage he so reluctantly had to accept. Liz watched it go deep into him all the way, one tab forwards the other one backwards. Now she knew what they were for: to limit the penetration.

- What is that for? - It was obviously everyone’s question, voiced by Liz.

- It’s a dilator, to make sure he doesn’t heal upon himself. He had a nasty gash, deep inside, that’s where he was hemorrhaging from, and the whole area is badly chafed. The ointment helps but it won’t prevent the tissue coming together as it heals. - Liz nodded in understanding. - I better boost up the antibiotic I gave him before I knew about the rest of the damage. No wonder he’s burning up with fever. -

She filled a syringe and unscrewed the needle.

- This is quite oily, I need a thicker needle to prevent clogging. - She screwed on the correct one, then she found a spot in Michael’s butt that could take it and wiped and stuck it in. Michael jerked and gasped. His body went rock hard as the drug entered his muscle, and he started moaning.

- Easy there, I have to go very slowly, try to relax, you’re making it hurt worse. - Jenny crooned.


She pushed down the plunger steady and slow. She couldn’t help watching how Liz was frowning.

- Something wrong? - She asked with curiosity.

- Isn’t it dangerous to inject there? - She asked.

- You tell me why. - Jenny tested her.

- The sciatic nerve? - Liz said.

Jenny spread out her free hand over Michael’s other buttock and hovered there as if about to squeeze it. She winked at Liz.

- Do you think I could reach it in here with the length of this needle? - Jenny asked.

- Yeah, no way. - Liz didn’t even need to think about it.

- Have you actually given one? - Jenny wondered.

- Just to oranges and the rubber doll. - Liz frowned, disappointed.

- Describe the procedure. - Jenny said.

- Well, you disinfect with alcohol, you jab in quickly, pull the plunger to make sure you’re not in a blood vessel, it’s an i.m. of course…-

- Of course. - Jenny echoed, confirming with a satisfied smile.

- Then you push the plunger steadily, remove the needle, wipe again and massage to encourage the absorption with the heat of your hand and ease the pain. -

- Perfect, maybe you’ll convince him to let you practice. - Jenny smiled.

Michael started writhing and sobbing.

- Ok, ok, just a little more, it’s almost over. - Jenny soothed him.

As finally the last centimetre went in, the boy was shuddering and whimpering. Jenny pulled out the needle and did the massage Liz had described. She prepared another one.

- This is the last one, I promise. It’s for the pain and will also help with your fever. - She knew painkillers, ironically were very painful as the local anesthetics, and this one was no exception. Michael writhed and moaned through her kind words of encouragement and Liz’s hand rubbing his back.

- You’re very brave, you know, anyone else would’ve passed out already, you’re doing fine. - Jenny was telling him the truth, and she kept her promise.

- He needs to rest now. - Jenny got up slowly and reached her hand out to Amy. - Let’s have our tea. -