Fleeing Roswell (AU, CC, TEEN)

[magikhands]

Max

"I think we should keep the new color," Michael says. There it is…the disagreement. I hide the smile threatening to emerge. That’s the Michael I know and love. "It'll take 'em a bit longer to identify it that way. Give us another day or so head start -- although I guess we should change the tags back." Of course he is right so how could I argue.

“You’re right Michael.” I tell him still feeling proud of how he’s handled all of this. I get the feeling that it will take the two of us to keep everyone safe and together.

“After we eat, we’ll change the tags to their original state.” I look around the table. “Everyone decided on what they want?”

[isabelle]

*Micheal*

"Yeah, sure," I say. What I eat hardly matters right now. Food is food. I couldn't care what it was. I just need to be sure that nobody finds us, that we can find a safe place to stay for a little while.

I signal the waitress to come over and she takes down everyone's order before disappearing again.

"So, South or West?" I ask. "Does anyone have any preferences?" If they do, we'll probably have to go in a different direction. If any of the humans have relatives in other parts of the country, those will be places to avoid, since they'll be looking for us...

[KatnotKath]

~Liz~

As the group sits down at the tables Kyle and Michael have pushed together, I sit down in the seat next to Max, sending a small smile in Maria's direction, but hardly saying anything else at the moment. I don't have much to say really, I think it's really sinking in just what we've done, and although I wouldn't change my decision, I am scared...

Max is here though, and that makes a huge difference... I look around the table at the group, Michael and Maria, Alex and Isabel...Tess...and Kyle.. The last two seem contemplative perhaps, but that's understandable I guess... The Sheriff was Kyle's dad, he's brough him up completely on his own for a long time now, and Nacedo...well, I guess he did the same for Tess... I wonder about saying something to either of them, but at the moment I don't know what... It's not like I can bring either of their 'parents' back, and Tess and I have hardly been the best of friends up until now...

There's a discussion about which car to leave, but I can't say I hear much of it, just noting with a sense of relief that Max is contributing more to the conversation and really sounds a lot more like himself than he did a few hours ago now... The emotional damage will take a lot longer to deal with of course, but while I do want to talk to him, to try and get him to let me help, I know this isn't exactly the place to do so and for now I concentrate on the fact he seems better phyically at least...

As Michael asks about food, I can't help smiling as Maria begins to examine the menu. It's so Maria, even with us in this situation she comes out with something like that... I shake my head mentally. Of course that's one of the reasons she's so great...

I glance at the menu myself, making a selection quickly without much thought and then turning my attention back to the conversation that's going on. It's decided to leave Maria's mom's car, but to leave the colour as it is, and we all fall quiet as a waitress approaches, only speaking to give our orders until she's gone when the subject of discussion turns to where to go.

I shrug. "We should avoid Florida, for obvious reasons, but other than that I don't care where we go..." I respond, knowing full well that 'visiting family' would not be the way to go. Sighing, I look up at Max. "What do you think...?" I ask, turning to him not as my boyfriend, but as the person we all know is the 'leader' of our group...

[magikhands]

Max

I shrug my shoulders. "We have family up in North Dakota but other than that I think we are good." I lean back in my chair in thought. "Maybe go and find a big city somewhere. It's easier to blend in...less people notice when new comers are around." I suggest looking around the table at the others.

[isabelle]

*Michael*

I look around, not really caring where we go as long as it's far away and we're safe from the FBI. "So those two are out. We could head west for Northern California or Seattle," I say. I would suggest LA for Maria, but her singing ambitions weren't exactly secret. I'm not sure if anyone would guess that destination.

"A big city is gonna be really hooked up, electronically. We'll be flagged by the FBI whenever one of us gets a job. We'll have to work under-the-table unless we can get some new identities," I say. Those sorts of jobs don't pay well, but that's what we're stuck with. A smaller town or at least a smaller business might still be operating by paper and snail-mail...

[magikhands]

Max

Michael brings up some good points. I see that he's really thought about this. I rub my head that starting to ache again. I'm starting to feel tired again. I know I still need more rest to finish my healing. A shower and some food will help also. Especially a shower. I divert my mind from thinking of the feel of my skin and who has touched it and done what to it.

"Honestly Michael..." I start softly. "I don't care where we go. I'll leave it up to you." I say meeting him in the eye. I don't want to waste the energy I've managed to build on arguing. We both have good parts and opinons, but I'll let it lie for now. As long as we get somewhere that is relatively safe for a time.

[isabelle]

*Michael*

I'm not sure what to do with Max falling back like that. He doesn't care where we go? When he was out, that was one thing, but he's back now, isn't he? Why is he so agreeable with my ideas? Maybe he's not well? What did they do to him in there?

"Hey man, you sure?" I ask, looking at him a bit sideways, trying to gage his state-of-mind. "I thought I was the one to come up with the dumb ideas for you to shoot down all the time."

[KatnotKath]

~Liz~

Max suggests a large city of some time, which is then shot down by Michael. I have to admit he does have some decent points to make as he suggests somewhere smaller, but that doesn't mean I'm not surprised to find Max effectively agreeing. Suddenly I can't help thinking that he looks tired again, and I reach out to touch his hand, looking over at him silently, asking if he's okay...

I look over at Michael as he responds in surprise, his words obviously designed to get a rise out of Max. Usually I might smile at the banter, but right now... "Maybe we could just leave this until we've eaten Michael..." I suggest hesitantly. "As long as we have a direction, we don't have to decide where we're going to stop right now anyway do we...?"

[magikhands]

Max

I can't help the chuckle that comes when Michael asks why I haven't shot him down. I don't know if I'm just too tired or what, but I definately don't want to argue. Liz reaches over and takes my hand while asking if I'm ok. She must sense that I'm not fully recovered.

"I'll be fine." I answer her and give her hand a squeeze. She's so caring and attentive. I know she's worried about me but really...she shouldn't. I'm sure we'll be fine.

"Maybe we could just leave this until we've eaten Michael..." Liz suggests almost hesitantly as she turns to Michael. "As long as we have a direction, we don't have to decide where we're going to stop right now anyway do we...?"

I don't want it to seem as if I'll agree with her just because she's Liz, but then I don't want to not agree.

I sigh. "As I said before. This will be up to Michael. We can get going in a direction, then decide where to stop."

I turn to Michael and clearly see the shock in his face. I love that look, and despite all that's going on within me, I gain amusement at baffling Michael for once.

[isabelle]

*Michael*

He said it again. It's up to me. I blink at him in surprise and then deliberately turn my face away. I'm so tempted to just stare at him, but that ain't my way.

Fortunately, I'm rescued by the waiter returning with our food. Everyone is momentarily distracted by sorting out the orders to the appropriate person. I notice that Kyle has ordered a huge meal.

"You trying to make us broke already, Valenti?" I ask him as the waiter moves away to deal with another table.

"Huh?" He asks, looking up. "I'm an athlete. I always eat this way," he protests.

I roll my eyes. Fine. Whatever. I got other things to think about. Which way to go. What sort of place to look for when we stop. Damn. What if I screw it up?