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Michael gripped the wheel, his hands twisting around the fabric. He reached up, running his hand through his hair, pushing it off his forehead.
Michael glanced over like he had done every few seconds to look at Alex. The man was practically curled up in the passenger side, his head leaning against the window, Michael’s jumper acting as a pillow. After they had removed the piece of project Shepard from the radio, Michael made an executive decision to lock the machine away for the evening. Despite the radio no longer affecting Alex and the doctor stating there was no lasting damage, the device had done enough.
Alex had been running on fumes those two days he was with the machine and the IV the doctor had given Alex after they had found him could only do so much; he needed rest.
Alex hadn’t protested, and while Michael was thankful for that, it also illustrated how exhausted Alex must be.
Michael pulled into the driveway, pulling the car to a stop.
He just sat there for a moment, hands still tight around the wheel. “Alex,” He said, reaching out to lightly shake Alex’s shoulder, “We’re here,” he said as Alex began to stir. He pulled his head from the window, looking around frantically, his chest starting to rise and fall quickly. “Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Michael assured, his hand still on Alex’s shoulder, “We’re at your house, you’re okay,” Michael said as Alex blinked at him, his brain seemingly starting to catch up.
Michael pushed his door open, walking around to Alex’s side, the door swinging open as he reached it.
Alex turned in his seat, swinging his legs over as he pushed himself up. He faulted, reaching out to try and catch himself on the door. Michael steadied him, his hands gripping his shoulders, “Thanks,” Alex breathed, reaching down to rub his leg.
Michael moved to Alex’s side, wrapping his arm around Alex’s waist, Alex’s arm coming to drape over Michael’s shoulder.
After a few moments and careful steps, they made it into the house. Michael made a beeline for Alex’s bedroom, closing the door behind them as he led Alex to the bed. The man slumped down onto the edge of the bed. Michael hovered close by as Alex reached down, taking off his prosthetic, wincing as did.
Alex stretched up, rubbing his eyes with the balls of his palms. Michael crouched in front of Alex, his hand resting on the man's knee, “Get some rest,” Michael quietly said, a soft smile on his lips.
Alex just nodded, pulling his legs up and lying on his side, his eyes fluttering shut. Michael stood, pulling the blanket gathered at the bottom of the bed and covering Alex with it, coming again to crouch by his head.
Michael reached out, his hand brushing Alex’s cheek. He tried to concentrate on this image, the image of Alex right in front of him safe in bed, instead of the current image filling Michael’s mind; Alex teetering on the edge of that ledge. Michael swallowed hard, his hand still cupping Alex’s cheek, “I’m okay,” Alex muttered, blinking open to look at Michael.
“You almost weren’t,” Michael said, the dread he felt when he first worked out Alex had been exposed for the radio for two days was still alight in his body, “If we had gotten there a few seconds lat-”
“-But you did,” Alex interrupted, moving his hand to lay it on top of Michael, “Like you said, you’re here, I’m here, we’re okay,” Alex turned his head, kissing the inside of Michael’s hand. Michael smiled, leaning forward and placing a kiss on Alex’s forehead, resting his forehead against Alex’s for a moment, basking in the moment of peace before them. He pulled back, giving Alex’s forehead one final kiss before going to stand.
Alex’s hand wrap around Michael’s wrist, his fingers brushing Michael’s skin. Michael stopped in his tracks, turning back round to face Alex. He was looking up at Michael, a question on his face that he didn’t need to voice; stay? Michael gave a small nod, Alex’s hand slipping from Michael’s wrist.
Michael kicked his shoes off, walking around to the other side of the bed and slipping underneath the covers. Alex immediately shifted, placing his head on Michael’s chest, his hands cupped close to his chest. Instinctively Michael wrapped his arms around Alex’s shoulder, his thumb brushing the fabric of Alex’s shirt, feeling his warm skin beneath it.
You’re here, I’m here, we’re okay .
Michael repeated the words over in his mind hoping he might believe them, his eyes still cast down watching Alex, part of him worried if he closed his eyes, the man would be gone when he opened them.
Michael stirred, feeling the warmth of the sun soaking his face. He turned away, blinking as he adjusted to the light. Michael quickly glanced down, Alex still curled up by Michael’s side; he let out a relieved breath, running his hand through the man's hair.
Michael pulled himself from the bed, making his way to Alex’s kitchen; after a while, he heard movement from Alex’s room; a moment later, Alex appeared in the kitchen, rubbing his eyes, “Morning,” Michael smiled, leaning on the counter. Alex looked up, smiling at Michael as he walked closer to the island. Michael slid a colourful mug across the table towards Alex, “Coffee?” Michael said.
“Sounds good,” Alex sighed, slipping onto the stool.
Michael walked around the table, coming to stand in front of Alex, “How you feeling?” He asked.
Alex raised his brows, “No longer hallucinating, so there’s that,” Alex tried to joke.
Michael cocked his head to the side, giving Alex a disapproving eyebrow raise, “I’m okay, I promise,” Alex said, reaching out to take Michael’s hand.
Before Michael could reply, his phone sprang to life in his pocket; Michael fished it out, Isobel's name flashing on the screen. Michael sighed, answering and holding it to his ear.
“Where the hell have you been?” Isobel yelled, an exasperated sigh leaving her lips.
“Good morning to you too, Isobel,” Michael said, a sarcastic smile on his lips even though she couldn’t see him.
“I need you,” She said.
Michael frowned, “What happened,”
“There’s a fourth alien, we’ll I guess with Jones I mean firth,”
The phone almost slipped from Michael’s hand, “What?!”
“We found a pod in the water; we think Jones is after him-look I’ll explain when you’re here,” Michael cursed under his breath. Alex stared back at him, his own face contorted into worry.
Michael reached out, his hand taking Alex’s as he mouthed the words ' it's okay to Alex. It hadn’t even been 24 hours since the last close call; he just wanted one day where they weren’t in danger, one day when Alex was safe.
“Uh, Michael?” Isobel said.
“Yeah, yeah, I'm here?” Michael said, shaking his head.
“Sorry the lack of reaction to the fact that there's another alien suggested otherwise,” Isobel said, “Look, I need your help to talk to him, get him on our side before Jones finds him,” She said.
Michael closed his eyes, sighing, “Fine, send me the details, and I’ll be there,” He pulled the phone from his ear, slipping it into his pockets.
“Everything alright?” Alex asked.
Michael downed his coffee, “Yeah, alien stuff,” He said.
Alex knitted his brows together, “What kind of alien stuff,”
“Isobel found another one,” He said, looking around the kitchen for his truck keys, "An alien,"
“What? How” Alex asked, climbing off the stool.
“She wants me to meet her,” Michael sighed, grabbing his keys off the side.
“Yeah, yeah, of course,” Alex said, starting to stand from the stool he was seated on, “I’ll head back to Deep Sky, see if the radio-”
“Oh no, no no,” Michael started, reaching out to gently cup Alex’s wrist, “You need to rest,” He said. Alex tilted his head to the side, going to open his mouth when Michael continued, “I don’t wanna hear any arguing, the machine is still possibly dangerous, and you still need to rest”, He assured. Alex sighed, biting his lip as he seemed to think it over, “Look, we’ll look at the radio together tomorrow, okay? Just take another day to relax, for me,” Michael pleaded.
After a deep breath, Alex nodded, “Okay,”. Alex stepped closer to Michael, “Be safe,” He said.
Michael nodded, leaning forward to quickly catch Alex’s lips against his, “I will,” He whispered. Michael gave Alex’s hand one final squeeze before turning and heading down the hallway to the exit.
Michael reached his truck, jumping in and heading down the road. He fished his phone out of his pocket, dialling a number.
“Hey,” He said as the phone clicked to life.
“You’ve got an appointment in 20 mins,” Sanders said.
“Yeah, I'm not going to make that; something came up,” He said.
“Don’t it always,” Sanders said sarcastically.
“Listen, can you do me a favour,”
“You’re missing the appointment, and you need a favour; you're really pushing it,” The man said. He sighed, “What is it?” The man asked.
“Alex got hurt the other day, he’s at his resting, but knowing him, that won't last long,” Part of Michael was sure the moment he left Alex was doing anything but resting, “Can you just, make sure he’s okay,” He said. He knew he was probably overreacting, but the image of Alex on that ledge was still seared in his mind.
“He got hurt; how?” Sanders said, a hint of concern in his voice breaking through.
“It’s complicated,” Michael said, “He spent two days with the alien radio and ended up exhausted and on a ledge, literally,” He said, “Could you just drop by, make sure he’s there,”
There was a pause, “You’re lucky you’re a good mechanic,” Sanders said, the phone clicking off.
Alex stared at the screen, the code blinking back at him. Alex squinted, reaching up to rub the back of his neck, the aches still coursing through his body.
Alex sipped his coffee, pinching the bridge of his nose. Alex should be sleeping; he knew that, but there was a fourth Alien, and Jones was still out there.
Alex had logged into the system at Deep Sky from his laptop at home, scanning through the results from the Lockhart Machine, hoping to work out how the thing worked and why Jones wanted it.
There was a knock on the door; Alex looked down the hall and slipped off his stool in the kitchen. Alex reached the front of the door, pulling it open slightly, “Sanders,” Alex said, the surprise clear in his voice.
The man was standing in the doorway, his hands shoved into his pocket, “Hi, is Michael here?” He said, “He missed an appointment,”
Alex leaned on the doorway, “Uh no, something came up,” He said.
Sanders nodded, “Lemme guess, he’s gonna be gone for a while?”
“Yeah,” Alex breathed.
Sanders nodded, looking past Alex down the hall, “Ain’t you meant to be resting?” The man said, nodding towards the laptop and computer screen set up on the table.
“Being on a computer isn’t exactly-” Alex turned back round to Sanders, “How’d you know I was meant to be resting?” The answer came quickly to Alex, “Michael,” He sighs.
Sanders shrugged, “The kid's worries,” He said.
“He tells you to drop by?” Alex asked, pretty sure he knew the answer to the question.
“He told me you got into some trouble, and we’re meant to be taking it easy, which it doesn’t look like you are; I’m guessing it ain’t a movie on that screen,” Alex sighed, "I'll take that as a yes," The older man said. “You wanna coffee?” Alex said, stepping aside to welcome the man in.
The man thought for a moment before giving a nod and stepping into the house. They reached the living room, Alex going over to the coffee machine and pouring Sanders a cup, “So what did Michael tell you,” Alex asked, closing his laptop as he slumped down onto the sofa.
Sanders leaned against the counter in the kitchen, facing Alex, “Said you spent two days locked up with that crazy radio, and it almost cost ya your life,”
Alex knew that's what happened; he was there, but hearing that he’d almost lost his life, how close he’d really come from tumbling off that ledge made Alex clench his hands. “And he didn’t want to leave me on my own?” Alex asked.
Sanders walked over to where Alex was, sitting on the arm of the chair opposite Alex. “You really scared him, kid,”
Alex ducked his head; he knew that, if it had been the other way round, Alex was sure his heart would have jumped out of his chest at the sight. “I was just trying to help, to do something,” Alex said.
Sanders nodded, taking his hat, “I get it,” Alex looked up, “Sometimes it’s hard being a human in their world,” Sanders sighed, “But if you want to help, keep yourself safe because that’s the most important thing to him,” He said.
Alex smiled, shaking his head a little, “Pretty sure defeating Jones is up there too,” Alex said.
Walk nodded, his hands bracing on his knees, “Yeah, it is, but it ain't higher than you, nothin’ is,”
Alex looked off to the side, “You know that right,” Sanders asked.
Alex did.
Michael had used his powers to save Alex without even thinking about Eduardo seeing them. What Alex didn’t know, is if he deserved Michael's protection.
“You know, those two days when I was hallucinating, I saw Nora,” Alex admitted.
He hadn’t told Michael that part, “She said me and Michael were still caught in my father's shadow, there was a piece of his tech in the radio,” Alex said, “and that there would always be some machine, or file keeping us apart,”
“You believe that,” The man asked.
Alex pursed his lips, shaking his head, “I spent a year trying to remove any trace of my dad and yet,” Alex threw his hand to the side.
“Michael don't blame you for what your dad did, Alex,” Sanders assured.
“I know,” And Alex meant that but what if there was a limit, what is Michael could only take so much, “But what happens when we find something worse, something else my dad infected and,”
“Then, just like the other day, you’ll figure it out together,” Alex looked up at Sanders; part of Alex couldn’t believe he was having this conversation with Sanders.
But then again, Sanders had known Michael for years, and from what Michael had said the other day, he’d even talked to the man about them.
It was then Alex remembered what Sanders and Michael had in common.
A Manes man had destroyed a part of their life, had taken Nora away from them.
Alex closed his eyes, a weight settling on his chest, “Nora said my father's hatred is stronger than my capacity to love,”
“That weren’t Miss Nora,” Sanders said, staring off to the side, “She never would have said that,” The man gave a soft smile like he remembered something, “She would have liked you,” He said.
Alex wanted to believe that, he really did, but it just didn’t seem possible, “Not if she knew who my father was,” Alex said.
“Miss Nora knew that just because two people share a last name, don’t mean they are the same, Michael knows that too,” Alex swallowed hard, reaching up to wipe his eyes, “You don’t have to risk your life or spend the rest of it trying to fix something that wasn’t your fault,”
“I didn’t know you were so wise,” Alex smiled.
Sanders laughed, “Eh, don’t tell Michael; he’ll never stop pestering me,” He joked. The man finished his coffee, standing up from the arm of the chair, “And keep yourself safe; I don’t need him freaking out every other day,” He said.
“Okay,” Alex smiled, nodding.
Sanders placed the cup on the side, “And for the record, I knew Jesse,” He said, crossing his arms over his chest, “You ain’t a damn thing like him, that man destroyed everything he touched, and from what I’ve seen, all you've done is try to be better, tried to make things better,”
The man cleared his throat, motioning his hand towards the computer screen. “Now turn that off and nap or something,” The man ordered.
“Thanks, Sanders,” Alex said, the man slipping his hat back on.
“I ain’t a babysitter, so don’t expect this every time you two get involved in something crazy,” Alex laughed, nodding as the man started to leave, turning around to say a final goodbye.
Alex looked around his empty house. He stood walking over to where his laptop was and the computer screen. Alex turned the computer screen off, going back to the sofa and lying down, letting his eyes slide shut and welcome the rest he so desperately needed.
Michael walked up the path, giving a light knock on the front door before he let himself into the house, “It’s just me breaking and entering,” Michael gently called, locking the door behind him. Michael reached the living room; Alex was laid out on the sofa, the tv lightly playing in the background. He smiled, thankful he had found Alex actually resting.
Alex stirred on the sofa, pulling his head up to look at Michael, “Hey,” He said, shifting till he was sat upright, “how's the mysterious alien,” Alex asked.
Michael raised his brows, “Mysterious,” He sighed. He sat next to Alex, “How are you doing,” He asked.
Alex nodded, stretching, “Hm, I’m good,” He said.
“You been resting? Eating your Wheaties?” He teased, reaching out to take Alex’s hand in his.
“Yes, Doctor Guerin,” Alex said, playfully rolling his eyes.
Michael gave a small hum, “Hm, I like the sound of that,” He smirked.
“Sanders actually stopped by,” Alex said.
Michael kept a neutral expression, “He did,” He asked.
Alex smiled, tilting his head to the side, “I know you asked him to check on me,” Alex said. Michael closed his eyes for a moment, “It’s okay,” Alex said, squeezing Michael’s hand. “I’m sorry I worried you, I just…” Alex stared down at their joined hands, “After we hung up on the phone, I moved the turquoise towards the radio and…” Alex trailed off, looking off to the side. They hadn’t talked about what Alex had seen, how he had ended up on that ledge. Michael didn’t want to push, letting Alex tell him when he was ready. “I saw your mom,” Alex confessed, his voice small.
“My mom?” Michael asked. Of all the scenarios Michale had envisioned pushing Alex onto a ledge, his mother had not been one.
“I thought it was some built-in hologram seeing as she made it, but then she said something I had said to Mimi and, I knew it was a hallucination,”
“And you kept working on it?” Michael asked, frowning.
Alex nodded, “She showed me the project shepherd piece, and I just wanted to get it out before involving you,” He admitted, “I shouldn’t have, and I’m sorry,” Alex said.
Michael took in a deep breath, giving a slight nod, “I get it,” He said, earning a confused look from Alex. “Sometimes I wish I could keep you out of the alien stuff, keep you safe till I’ve fixed everything,” Michael let go of Alex’s hand, coming up to cup his cheek, “But the only way we keep each other safe, is talking to each other, and working together, even on the hard stuff,” He said.
“I know you hate that your dad somehow got his tech in there but, please don’t put yourself in danger like that again,” Alex smiled, nodding both of them, seemingly on the same page for once, “Our lives are dangerous enough without us making it more complicated,”
“So we agree no more endangering our lives because of the past?” Alex said, that signature sweet smile on his face.
Michael leaned forward, kissing Alex, whose hands came up to brush Michael's cheek.
Michael pulled back, his lips hovering close to Alex's; he placed a final quick kiss on Alex's lips, his hand still wrapped around Alex's. “So, what we watching?” Michael asked, nodding his head towards the still playing TV.
Alex softly smiled, shaking his head, "I have no idea," He said.
Michael nodded, "Perfect," He smiled, settling back into the corner of the sofa, his arms stretch across the back of the couch and on the side. Alex laughed, settling against Michael's chest.
Michael wrapped his arms around Alex, his chin tenderly resting Alex's head.
Michael had no idea what laid ahead, and a part of him was sure that Jesse wasn't done meddling in their lives despite being dead. Michael pulled Alex a little closer to him, Alex coming up to lay his hands on Michael's arms, "We're going to be okay," Alex quietly said, tilting his head up to look at Michael.
Michael smiled, "I know," and for the first time in a long time, he believed it. He placed a kiss on Alex's forehead, the man beaming up at him.
They settled down into the sofa, watching whatever was on the TV, neither thinking about the past or even the future, both just happy in their now.