Title: After the Kiss

Author: Dontia

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything but the plot.

Spoilers: Viva Las Vegas. This is set after it so anything past this is nonexistent in this storyline.

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Michael and Tess shared a harmless kiss. Will it still be harmless when everyone finds out?

Notes: Sequel to "The Kiss". I made noises about turning this into a series and finally have some time to make good. It’ll probably be a short series though.

Feedback: It’s the circle of life. I love to write, you love to read. Tell me you love reading, I’ll continue to love writing.

Dedication: To all Mental Vibrators. Isn’t it fun to be us?

***************************************

The next night at the Crashdown, Isabel watches Michael and Tess. Michael’s talking to Maria behind the counter, and Tess is laughing in a booth with Kyle. But every so often, Isabel sees Tess and Michael exchange a look. It’s an intimate look, as though they have a special secret no one else knows.

Isabel wonders if last night was the extent of the secret or if there’s more. She wonders if Michael and Tess are seeing each other despite their quasi-relationships with Maria and Kyle.

"You in there?" asks Alex.

Isabel smiles at him, bringing her attention back to the table where she’s sitting with Alex, Liz, and Max. "Yeah, sorry."

"I called you last night. Your mother said you went out."

"I went to bed early and had a nightmare. I decided to take a walk."

"You wanna talk about it?" asks Max.

"I saw something on my walk to distract me."

"What’d you see?" asks Liz.

"I’m sure it wasn’t what it seemed."

"Liz, can we close yet?" asks Maria from the counter.

"Ten more minutes," says Liz. "My dad nearly grounded me last time we closed early."

"But we’re the only ones here."

"Sorry."

"Tess and I are gonna take off," says Kyle. "See you later."

"Wait," says Michael. "I need to talk to Tess about somethin’."

"What’s up?" asks Tess.

"In private."

"Okay."

Michael and Tess step out the front door.

"What’s that about?" asks Maria, watching through the window.

"I don’t know," says Liz.

"Why couldn’t they talk in front of us?" asks Alex.

Isabel says nothing. She just watches Michael and Tess with a frown on her face.

***************************************

"What’s up?" asks Tess outside.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Is this about last night?"

"In a way. I dreamed about you."

"Somethin’ tells me I’m about to have way too much information."

"Not that kind of dream. You were lying on the cliffs near the pod chamber. You had on this gauzy bluish green thing."

"As dirty dreams go, that wasn’t very pornographic."

Michael frowns at her. "When I woke up, I realized I wanted to paint you. Like I saw you in my dream."

"You wanna paint me?"

"Yeah. I haven’t painted or drawn in a while, haven’t wanted to. Then I had that dream and it’s all I can think of. I need you to pose for me."

"So I’m your muse?"

"I guess."

"Boy, you’re really tryin’ to get me killed."

"Huh?"

"When Maria finds out I’m the reason you wanna paint again, she’ll be out for blood."

"Why would she care?

"You know nothing about women, do you?"

"No."

Tess laughs. "At least you’re honest about it. Okay, I’ll pose for you. But you have to tell the others it was all your idea."

"Can we not tell them at all?"

"Why not?"

"It’s not everyone’s business."

"But why keep it a secret?"

"When Max saved Liz, everything about my life became public domain. Not public, but you know what I mean."

"You want something of your own, something no one else shares."

"Yeah."

"Okay, I won’t tell anyone. As long as we’re clear. When this comes out, it was all your idea and I’m an innocent bystander."

"Deal. We’ll go shopping tomorrow."

"For what?"

"Your bluish-green gauzy thing."

"Wanna hear something freaky? I already own a bluish-green gauzy thing."

***************************************

Michael comes back in. "Tess is waiting for you Kyle."

Kyle gives Michael a curious look as he leaves.

"What’d you want with Tess?" asks Maria.

"I needed to talk to her," says Michael.

"About what?" asks Max.

"Just this…dream I had."

"You mean like the dreams last year?" asks Liz.

"No."

"Then what kind of dreams were they?" asks Maria.

"I can’t really describe them."

"But you could describe them to Tess."

"I’m gonna shut down the kitchen."

"Michael…" Maria watches him walk away. "What’s going on now?"

Isabel continues to stare after Michael.

***************************************

"What did Michael want?" asks Kyle as he and Tess walk home.

"He, uh, needed a favor," says Tess.

"What kind of favor?"

"Help with something for Maria."

"And he came to you?"

"Who was he supposed to ask? Things are strained between him and Isabel, and he needed a girl’s opinion."

"Why couldn’t he ask Liz? She’s Maria’s best friend."

"He wants it to be a surprise and he was afraid Liz would tell her. What’s with all the questions?"

"I guess maybe I thought he was…"

"He was what?"

"Hitting on you."

"You mean like asking me out?"

"Yeah."

"Michael and I don’t have that kind of relationship."

"I know that. I was just…jealous."

"Why?"

"Come on Tess, you have to know how I feel. And I wanted to know if I had any competition other than Max."

"Max has made himself perfectly clear about what he does and doesn’t want from me. As for Michael…we’re just friends."

"Good."

"If it makes you feel better, Alex and I aren’t even friends."

"Very funny. Come on."

Kyle grabs Tess’s hand and they continue to walk home. Tess has a brief moment where she thinks she should tell Kyle about her kiss with Michael. She decides against it.

***************************************

A week later, Maria comes into the UFO Center. She walks to where Max and Liz are standing. "What’s the big emergency?"

"We’ll wait until the others get here," says Max.

Five minutes pass. Isabel comes in with Alex. Kyle is a few seconds behind them.

"What’s goin’ on?" asks Kyle.

"Where’s Tess?" asks Max.

"I thought she’d be coming with Michael."

"Why would she be with Michael?" asks Maria.

"Ah, she was helping him with something. I have things to do, so tell me if the world’s about to end."

"Nothing that big," says Liz. "The congressman appointed after Congresswoman Whittaker died is coming to town. He asked to see me so he could find out what she was working on when she died."

"Why the big alert?" asks Alex.

"He said she had some files in storage."

"We have to get to those files and see what’s in them," says Max. "Before anyone else does."

"Breaking and entering," says Maria. "Again."

"We have to," says Liz. "She might’ve stored copies the Special Unit files. We can’t let anyone get their hands on them."

"So what do we do?" asks Kyle.

"We find Michael and Tess, then come up with a plan," says Max. "Kyle, did Tess tell you where they were gonna be?"

"No."

"All right, we’ll try their cell phones."

***************************************

On the cliffs near the pod chamber, Tess is draped artfully on the ground while Michael paints her.

"That’s my cell phone again," says Tess. "We should answer it."

"I’m almost done."

"It’s probably important. They’ve been calling nonstop for the last ten minutes."

"They can wait, I’m almost done."

"It’s probably the others. They’re the only ones who have our numbers."

"Don’t move! You can answer it in a minute."

"Fine. You know, you give a whole new meaning to the words ‘temperamental artist’."

***************************************

"They’re still not answering," says Max. "Isabel, go check the Valenti’s for Tess. Alex and Kyle, go with her. Maria, Liz, and I will check Michael’s apartment."

Kyle, Isabel and Alex leave the UFO Center and walk toward the Valenti house.

"Kyle, what’s Tess really doing with Michael?" asks Isabel.

"What do you mean?" asks Kyle.

"When Maria asked earlier, you evaded her question."

"You remember the night Michael asked to talk to Tess privately? He asked Tess to help him with a surprise for Maria. They’ve been working on it every day for the past week."

"Michael told us he asked her about some dreams he’s having," says Alex. "And he told Maria he was spending this week looking for a second job."

"Maybe he said that so he wouldn’t ruin the surprise."

"Maybe," says Isabel as they reach Kyle’s house. "Why don’t you go check for Tess? Alex and I will wait here."

When Kyle leaves, Alex turns to Isabel. "What are you thinkin’?"

"What do you mean?"

"I’ve seen you watching Michael and Tess all week. You think something’s going on, more than what they told the rest of us."

"This stays between us, right? Promise me Alex."

"I promise."

"Last week, I had a nightmare about killing Congresswoman Whittaker. I woke up and really needed to talk to someone."

"Why didn’t you call me?"

"Because as much as you care about me, you can’t understand how I feel. She was my enemy and would’ve killed Tess and me without a second thought, but she was still a person. Maybe not a human person, but a person."

"I may not be able to know exactly what you’re going through but I’m always willing to listen."

"Thanks Alex. Anyway, Michael understands EXACTLY what I’m going through because of Pierce. I knew he was working late and Maria wouldn’t be there, so I went to the Crashdown."

"What happened?"

"I was about to knock when I looked through the window. Tess was sitting at the counter and Michael…they were kissing."

"He and Maria just got back together. Kyle and Tess are on the verge of…something."

"That’s why I didn’t say anything. I thought maybe it was a fluke but Kyle said they’ve been disappearing all week."

"They have been," says Kyle, looking grim as he joins them. "You should’ve said something Isabel."

"I didn’t see you come out."

"You were too busy telling Alex that Tess and Michael have a thing going on."

"We don’t know if it’s a thing," says Alex. "It might be nothing."

"Riiight. There’s no trace of where they went in Tess’s room."

"Maybe the others found something," says Isabel. "Let’s go to Michael’s."

***************************************

Near the pod chamber, Michael smiles at Tess. "I’m done."

"Finally. Can I see it?"

"Yeah."

Tess walks over Michael and looks at the painting. Tears well in her eyes as she looks at it. A few slide down her cheeks.

"What’s wrong?" asks Michael anxiously. "I can fix the painting Tess."

"It’s perfect," says Tess, hugging Michael. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Making me look so beautiful."

"I just painted what’s there."

Tess blushes and turns away. She checks her cell phone. "I have like ten messages from everyone."

"Me too," says Michael, checking his own phone. "I’ll call Max."

After a couple rings, Max answers. "Michael?"

"Yeah, what’s up?"

"Are you and Tess all right? Where are you?"

"Tess and I are…running a few errands. What happened?"

"I’ll tell you when I see you. We’re at your place."

"We’ll be there in a little while." Michael hangs up.

"What’s going on?" asks Tess.

"He didn’t say. Come on, they’re meeting us at my place."

"Everyone?"

"Yeah. I won’t be able to hide the painting from them."

"Damn. Just remember, it was all your idea."

"You’re overreacting. Even when they find out, it won’t be a big deal. It’s not like we’ve been…"

"Sneaking off and having wild monkey sex?"

"Sometimes I worry about you."

***************************************

At Michael’s, Maria’s poking through Michael’s belongings in the living room and kitchen. Only she and Liz are in the apartment.

"Maria, stop it," says Liz.

"What? We’re dating, I’m allowed."

"He has the right to some privacy."

"Spaceboy has no secrets from me. And if he does, it’s time I found out about ‘em."

"You’re nuts."

"Like you wouldn’t be doing the same if this were Max’s place."

"I wouldn’t."

Maria stops and looks at her.

"Okay, maybe I would but that doesn’t make it right."

"I have a perfectly legitimate excuse," says Maria. "We’re searching for clues to where Michael and Tess went."

"I just talked to Michael," says Max, entering the apartment. "He and Tess are on their way."

"Where are they?" asks Maria.

"He didn’t say."

Isabel, Alex, and Kyle show up. Kyle’s grim look is immediately noted.

"What happened?" asks Liz.

"Why don’t you do the honors Isabel?" says Kyle.

"Maybe we should talk to Michael and Tess first," says Alex.

"That’s not gonna change what Isabel saw."

"What did you see Isabel?" asks Max.

Isabel glares at Kyle before looking at the rest of the room. "Last week, when Michael closed the Crashdown alone, I stopped by. He wasn’t alone."

"Who was there?"

"Tess."

"What’s the big deal about Tess being…" Maria’s voice trails off. "What are you saying?"

"She caught them kissing," says Kyle. "They didn’t see her. Guess they were too wrapped up in the moment."

"No way! Michael and I are back together."

"Why didn’t you say anything Isabel?" asks Max.

Isabel shrugs. "I don’t know what’s going on. I mean, it could’ve been a one time thing."

"Except they’ve been sneaking off together all week," says Kyle.

"There might be an innocent explanation," says Alex.

"There’s an explanation all right," snarls Maria. "Tess is tryin’ to get her hooks into Michael. Well, she should’ve thought twice before messing with me."

"Maria, calm down," says Liz.

"I wanna know what they’ve been doing."

Maria starts to go through the drawers in Michael’s bedroom.

"Shouldn’t we stop her?" says Alex.

"Be my guest," says Kyle. "I’m not gettin’ in her way."

Maria finds nothing in the dresser drawers. As she shoves the bottom one closed, it jams. She tries to adjust it and feels something attached to the bottom. She pulls out the drawer and turns it over, dumping the contents. She finds a sketchbook taped to the underside of the drawer. "Bingo."

"What’d you find?" asks Max.

Maria walks to the living room and sits on the sofa. She begins crying as she flips through the sketchbook. She drops it and wraps her arms around her waist.

Liz sits next to her and gently touches her arm. "Maria?"

Max picks up the sketchbook and flips it open. The others look over his shoulder as he goes through it.

They’re confronted with the sight of Tess in various poses around town. Some reveal her at the Crashdown laughing, others at school against the lockers looking sad.

As they get farther into the sketchbook, they find pictures that truly shock them. They show Tess in revealing poses and suggestive positions in Michael’s apartment. She looks seductive, teasing, wanting in the sketches.

"I’m gonna kill him," says Kyle. "I’m gonna rip his head off."

Alex clears his throat. "Just because Michael sketched Tess, even like this, doesn’t mean anything’s going on."

"Look at those Alex," screams Maria. "Those are the drawings of a lover."

"Alex is right," says Isabel. "Tess could’ve just…agreed to pose for Michael."

"Then why keep it a secret?" asks Liz.

***************************************

Michael and Tess park outside Michael’s apartment complex.

"You sure about showing them the painting?" asks Tess. "I know you wanted to keep this to yourself."

"It’s fine. Maria says secrets are bad for a relationship."

"In the last week, you’ve told me all about the opinions Maria has on how a relationship should go. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Exactly how many relationships before you is she basing all this on?"

Michael opens his mouth to answer, then shuts it slowly. "She never said."

"So in theory, she could be making all this up and testing it on you."

Michael groans as Tess laughs.

They enter the open apartment door. Michael sets his painting just inside the doorway. "We’re here."

In a flash, Maria is off the sofa and barreling toward them. Michael barely catches Maria as she launches herself at Tess. Tess quickly steps back, her eyes wide.

"What to hell is going on?" asks Tess as Maria struggles against Michael in her efforts to get to Tess.

"You know exactly what this is about," says Liz, standing and glaring at Tess.

"No, I don’t. I haven’t spoken to Maria in days."

"We know what you and Michael have been doing," says Kyle.

"Is that what this is about?" asks Michael. "Maria, stop it, I can explain."

"You actually think there’s an explanation for this?" says Maria. "Has she taught you to lie that well?"

"I knew you’d be mad but this is a little much," says Tess.

"You think you and Michael sneaking around all week is no big deal?" asks Max in a low, dangerous voice.

"Michael didn’t want anyone to know."

"That was okay with you?" asks Isabel.

"It was his painting."

"What are you talking about?" asks Alex.

"Michael asked if he could paint me. He wanted me to pose on the cliffs near the pod chamber."

"And that’s it?" asks Kyle.

"Do I normally go out dressed like this?" asks Tess, pointing to her gown. "That’s what we’ve been doing all week. What did you think we were doing?"

"You thought I cheated on you," says Michael. "Didn’t you Maria?"

"All the signs were there," says Maria, breaking free of him and stepping back.

"Aren’t you the one that said without trust we have nothing?"

"Aren’t you the one who’s been lying to me all week?"

"See, perfectly innocent explanation," says Alex. "That clears everything up."

"What about the kiss Isabel saw?" asks Kyle.

"What kiss are you talking about?" asks Michael.

"I saw you and Tess kissing at the Crashdown last week," says Isabel.

"Oh, that," says Tess slowly. "That was my fault."

"I knew it!" says Maria, again advancing on Tess. "You slut."

Michael steps in front of her. "It wasn’t Tess’s fault. She didn’t ask me to kiss her. I read something she wrote without her permission. That’s why I kissed her."

"What did she write?" asks Liz.

"That’s not important."

"The hell it isn’t," says Maria.

"The kiss was harmless," says Tess. "It didn’t mean anything, or change how Michael feels about you Maria."

"What about the sketches?" asks Max.

"You mean the ones Michael did for the painting? I don’t know what he did with those, but he did finish the painting. So we won’t be spending a whole lot of time together anymore."

Tess shows them the painting of her on the cliffs.

"It’s beautiful," says Isabel.

"Michael’s a wonderful artist."

"I wasn’t talking about the sketches for that," says Max. "I was talking about these."

Michael pales as Tess takes the sketchbook from Max. "You searched my room?"

"I did," says Maria.

"Have you ever heard the words ‘invasion of privacy’?"

Tess looks up from the sketchbook in shock. Her face is flushed red in embarrassment. "Michael?"

"I can explain," says Michael, his hands up placatingly.

"Explain how you knew I had a mole there!"

"I had this dream-"

Tess hits him upside the head with the sketchbook. "No wonder Maria’s freaking out. Why didn’t you tell me?"

"It never came up?"

Tess hits him again. "Are these all the sketches?"

"Yes."

Tess clutches the book to her chest and storms out.

"Guess I won’t kill you after all Guerin," says Kyle, laughing. "Maybe. Tess, wait up!"

"So you and Tess aren’t…?" asks Max.

"No," says Michael. "I had a dream and needed to paint her."

"How many dreams are we talkin’?" asks Maria. "One, five?"

"They were just dreams."

"How many?"

"Every night for the last week."

Maria slaps him. "Jerk."

Maria runs out. Liz follows her.

"You couldn’t have come to me about the kiss Is?" asks Michael.

"You’re not blamin’ this on me," says Isabel. "We’ll do the plan tomorrow Max. Would you walk me home Alex?"

"Sure."

They leave Max and Michael alone. Out of nowhere, Max swings at Michael. His fist connects and Michael hits the floor.

"What the hell was that for?" asks Michael, getting to his feet. He glares at Max.

"Stay away from her," says Max.

"Are you kidding me? You’re all over Liz, tryin’ to get her back. What do you care if I go for Tess or not?"

"She’s my friend. I won’t let you hurt her."

"I’m supposed to be your friend too."

"You can take care of yourself. She’s vulnerable. I won’t have you taking advantage of her."

"You don’t want her but you’re keeping her in reserve."

"I’m not keeping her in reserve, I’m looking out for her."

"Did Kyle get the same warning, fist included?"

"Remember what I said," says Max before walking out.

"As you wish fearless leader," says Michael, closing the door and locking it. He takes the painting of Tess into his bedroom.

He puts away his clothes, then props the painting up against the dresser. He goes to his closet and pulls out another painting of Tess. In this one, she’s completely nude and laying on his bed. He puts this painting next to the first one.

Michael smiles wryly. "At least Maria stopped looking when she found the sketchbook."

***************************************

THE END