Chapter Text
In the end, it’s Maria sitting beside him as they all caravan out to the desert to get their people back. Michael’s truck bumps along, rattling in that way that always lulls Alex to sleep. The pendant on his chest is warm and glowing, and he can feel his boyfriend’s presence so strongly on the seat between them that he has to white-knuckle the steering wheel so he doesn’t give out at the knees.
Maria gives him an uneasy look from the corner of her eye. Michael has to bite back a scoff.
“When this is over,” he says instead, his voice low and controlled so he doesn’t scream, “None of you get a thing from me. I mean it. No one asks for me. No one comes to me for favors. Not until I can fucking breathe again. When we get him out of that pit, I’m taking him home and he gets whatever he wants from me. Unless he asks, I don’t want to see another face for a month, DeLuca, I’m serious.”
“I believe you.”
-----
Michael can’t pretend to know how it happens. All he knows is one moment he is wound tight and then Alex is in front of him and everything that was holding him together collapses at once. He’s weak, and tired, and Dallas and Bonnie are propping him up between them so he doesn’t have to put as much pressure on his bad leg. Alex isn’t much of a complainer, had the impulse beaten out of him as a kid, but the look on his face is enough to get Michael running towards him. The sight of Alex in pain sends him on autopilot, and he and Max are quick to relieve Dallas and Bonnie. With the help of Michael’s telekinesis, the brothers are able to take his weight effortlessly.
Alex leans into Michael automatically. He’s breathless, but the look of relief on his face is enough. There will be plenty of time for talking later.
“I’ve got you, baby. I’ve always got you.” Michael whispers to him fiercely. When he feels a weak kiss to the corner of his jaw, he has to suppress the urge to sob. Instead, he just holds his love tighter against his side. Eventually they make it back to the cars. Michael passes his keys to Max, who gets behind the wheel automatically. Alex is half-asleep almost immediately. His head is heavy and warm against Michael’s shoulder. The thought makes Michael stop short. Alex is heavy and warm and here. This time, when the tears come, he doesn’t stop them.
“Thank you,” he tells his brother, unable to take his eyes off his soul mate. There’s a firm grip on his shoulder that tells Michael all he needs to know.
They’re family. They have each other’s backs.
They decide to congregate at Michael and Alex’s house. Alex needs to be in his own bed, and they’re all too rattled to split up right now. So they pull out air mattresses and blankets and rearrange furniture in the living room to make a massive pile of warm bodies on the floor while Michael carries Alex to their bedroom. As much as he would like to just let the other man sleep, he has been wearing his prosthetic nonstop for days- if Michael doesn’t clean up his leg soon, they could be dealing with an infection. His plan is to get it done quick and easy while Alex is sleeping, so of course Alex begins to stir the moment Michael lays him on the mattress. He shoots up, clearly in pain but scanning his surroundings like he’s back in a war zone. When his gaze lands on Michael, he practically deflates, hesitantly reaching up to cup Michael’s face. Michael’s hand covers his automatically and he leans into the touch, leaning forward until their foreheads meet. For a minute, they just breathe each other in.
“We really got out,” Alex wonders aloud.
“You really did,” Michael affirms. Alex nods, swallows deeply, and draws Michael into a firm kiss. It tastes of stale breath and visceral relief. It makes Michael feel like he’s floating.
Alex breaks it off with a shaky inhale. “Hey Michael?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“My leg really fucking hurts.”
“Okay, I’ll go get the first aid kit--” but Alex is pulling him back before he can even move to stand.
“No, please. Kyle can do it. Please, just stay with me?” Alex asks, looking exhausted and pained and it just rips Michael’s heart straight through his chest. He pulls Alex impossibly closer and runs his hands up and down his sides in long, soothing gestures.
“I’m not going anywhere, baby. Everyone is probably too rattled to fall asleep right now, anyway. What do you say to a little bedside debrief?”
Alex huffs a laugh. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
Between the two of them, it doesn’t take long to get Alex stripped down to his t-shirt and boxers. When Alex goes to pull off his shirt, and then tugs on the hem of Michael’s, he’s met with an inquisitive look.
“Michael Guerin, I have been cold for weeks. You are a literal space heater and the love of my life. I want to feel you. I want to smell you. Take off your shirt.”
There really isn’t much that Michael can say to that, so he just strips down to pajama pants and walks to the doorway to call the rest of the troops in. He’s careful to stay where Alex can see him, and doesn’t make any move to leave the room. The last thing he wants is for Alex to stress himself out and tax his system even more.
Kyle enters first, wielding his trusty medical bag, eager for once to be helping a human patient and, Michael is sure, to be able to focus on literally anything that isn’t the way Isobel is resolutely ignoring him.
Whatever. The two of them can bang it out later-- either literally or metaphorically.
Michael is quick to tuck into bed behind Alex, gently pulling the other man to sit in the cradle of his thighs, Alex’s back against his chest. Their fingers tangle together on Alex’s stomach. Alex tucks his head underneath Michael’s chin.
“We can debrief in the morning,” Max says, taking one look at the weary couple. “We just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Alex chuckles, breaking off in a wince once Kyle starts applying alcohol wipes to the broken skin. “I don’t think I’ve felt less physically alright other than the day I actually lost my leg.”
“Are you sure you don’t want any morphine?” Kyle asks, practically pleading.
Alex just shakes his head. “No way, I have the worst nightmares on morphine. I don’t want that stuff anywhere near me.”
When Kyle hits a particularly sensitive part of Alex’s leg, he lets out an involuntary scream. He tries to dial it back, but Michael is already tightening his grip and the rest of the group anxiously try to step forward to help. Liz looks at her dear friend, strung out in pain in front of her, and shares a long look with her own alien love. Michael can see the moment she puts on her scientist mode.
“Alex. I respect that you don’t want narcotic painkillers. But you’re in rough shape. You need to sleep in order to heal and you can’t sleep if you’re in this much pain. Luckily, there is another option available that doesn’t have anything to do with drugs.”
“And that is?” he pants from the bed. Michael presses a kiss to his temple, one hand sliding from Alex’s stomach to rest over his heart. Then it clicks.
“You want me to give him a handprint?”
“Yes. Think about it, you all share similar powers. You’ve already demonstrated that. Max’s powers are tapped out, but the regenerative solution I gave you was some powerful stuff. It’s entirely possible that it kickstarted latent capabilities you’ve always possessed.”
Michael and Alex look at one another. This could be dangerous. This could be a terrible idea. But Michael’s done with holding back when Alex needs him, and Alex knows it too.
“Alright, Alex’s leg is as clean as it’s gonna get. And Liz is right- we all need rest. But if we’re gonna try this, I want everyone else out but Max. He’s the only one who's done this before, and I have no clue what I’m doing.”
While the rest of the room cleared out, Max came to kneel beside them.
“Alex, are you okay with me showing Michael what to do?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, then Michael, I need you to lie down next to him. Hopefully you’ll both be able to pass out as soon as this is over so you should be in a position that’s comfortable for you both to sleep in.” After they settle into their sheets, Michael lays on his side and holds Alex against his chest, one hand on his heart.
“Okay, now, when I did this with Liz, it was a freak moment of panic. I didn’t have time to think. It was all instinct. But you said you could feel his presence when you two were apart. That awareness, that’s what will allow you two to connect. That’s what will leave the door open for a bond. Follow that, and you’ll know what to do. But finding that, it’s something that should just be between the two of you. I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
When the door closes behind Max, Michael pulls Alex even closer to his chest. He kisses any skin he can reach. He breathes Alex in, and reaches out with his mind to find Alex in the atmosphere around him, just like he learned to feel for him sitting beside him in the truck. Unsurprisingly, he finds Alex all around him, but not as strong as it used to be. It doesn’t surprise him - Alex is exhausted, and he doesn’t have to try as hard anymore. But Alex is also in pain and restless, so now it’s Michael’s turn to try.
Michael tucks up close to his love, settling at the shell of his ear. He channels everything he is and tries to concentrate it on the palm of his hand, so that Alex will always know that their hearts belong to one another. Alex’s hand reaches back to grip at Michael’s curls. He can feel it too, then. The energy shifting between them, an otherworldly awareness of each other starting to peak out at the corners of their consciousness. It’s amazing. It’s soothing. It’s settling.
It looks like Max was right - Michael knew exactly what to do.
“I love you, Alex Manes,” he whispers as his love finally starts to drift off to sleep. There’s a new sensation in his chest, one that didn’t start with him, but it’s still true. It’s Alex’s tired voice in his head, whispering exactly what he already knows.
Forever.