Title: August Heat Part Two – Interlude #7
Author: Dontia
Email: dontia22@yahoo.com

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

Spoilers: I’m so beyond the “reality” of the show.
Some of you think that’s a good thing.

Rating: R

Summary: Temperatures rise during the hottest summer month.

Notes: Sequel to “Paternity – Interlude #6”.  Season Two doesn’t exist except for brief glimpses here and there.

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 everyone who has waited so patiently for this.  Heck, dedicated to those who enjoy this series so much you’ve waited impatiently and let me know it.

***************************************
At Michael’s apartment, the gang except Tess and
Isabel are gathered.

Kyle hangs up the phone.  “Same story.  Isabel and
Tess left the party with Alan and Connor a few hours ago.”

“They’re in trouble,” says Maria.

“We don’t know that,” says Liz.  “They could’ve just-”

“Went off with some strange guys,” finishes Michael curtly.  “Tess wouldn’t do that.”

“She might’ve, because of Isabel,” says Alex.  “Isabel was a little…weird yesterday.  Back to her Ice Queen days.”

“Tess still would’ve called Michael,” says Max.
“We’ll give Valenti another half-hour, then we’ll go look.”

“I’m gonna look now,” says Michael.

Just then, the front door opens.  Tess enters
supporting Isabel, who looks sick.

“Where the hell have you been?” yells Michael.

Isabel winces and buries her head in Tess’s neck.

“Just a minute,” says Tess wearily.  “I’m gonna help Isabel to the bathroom first.”

Everyone watches silently as the blonde aliens make their way to the bathroom.  A few moments later, Tess emerges alone.

“Is she all right?” asks Max.

“No,” says Tess.  “Go talk to her Kyle.”

“Why does Kyle need to talk to her?” asks Liz.

“Because I had the night from hell and it’s his
fault.”

“How’s it my fault?” asks Kyle.

“Yeah, how’s it his fault?” asks Liz.

“He’s the one who messed with Isabel’s head,” says
Tess.  “He made her the way she was last night.”

“How was she?” asks Alex.

“Completely out of control.”

“Isabel?” asks Max, looking shocked.

“Yes, and its all Kyle’s fault.  Now he needs to go in there and fix it.”

“How am I supposed to do that?” asks Kyle.

“I don’t know and I don’t care.  But best friend or not, if you don’t fix what’s wrong I will hurt you.”

Kyle sees the fire in Tess’s eyes and knows she’s
serious.  With a heavy sigh, he goes to the bathroom.

“What happened last night?” asks Max.

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

Isabel’s sitting on the bathroom floor, hoping she can throw up again so her stomach will settle.  She groans when she hears the bathroom door open.  She keeps her eyes closed and her head leaned against the bathtub. “Yell at me later Max.”

“It’s not Max,” says Kyle, closing the door.  “Tess asked me to check on you.”

“Tell her I’m fine.”

“Are you?”

“Do you really care?”

“Yes.”

“You have a funny way of showing it,” says Isabel,
opening her eyes to meet Kyle’s gaze.  “I thought we had something happening between us, something good. Next thing I know, you’re avoiding me and kissing Liz.”

“Liz is…complicated.”

“I bet she is.  Tell me, what is it about Liz Parker that makes men become stupid?  Is it the dark hair? Or the fact that she’s not an alien?”

“What do you want from me?”

“I wanna know what I did wrong.  I…cared about you.  I let you get closer to me than anyone, even Max.  You threw it back in my face like it didn’t matter, like I didn’t matter.  What’s wrong with me?”

Kyle kneels next to Isabel and takes her face in his hands.  “There’s nothing wrong with you.  This is about me.  I can’t…let myself get close to you.”

“Why not?”

“Because.”

“Because why?”

Kyle doesn’t have an answer, not one that’s the whole truth or won’t make her feel worse.  He looks into her brown eyes and feels himself get lost in their depths. Without thinking, he leans forward and kisses her.

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

“It was obvious Isabel was looking for trouble,” says Tess.  “While I was dancing, she disappeared.”

“Why were you dancing?” asks Michael.

“Because they were playing music.  When I realized she was gone, I went looking.  I found her with Connor and Alan getting drunk.”

“They spiked her drink?” asks Max.  “I’ll kill ‘em.”

“They didn’t spike it, she knew what she was doing.”

“But she knows what alcohol does to you guys,” says Liz.

“Probably the point,” says Maria.  “Then what
happened?”

“I suggested we get outta there but she invited Connor and Alan,” says Tess.  “We needed a ride so I couldn’t say no.”

“Why didn’t you call us?” asks Alex.

“Every time I mentioned it, she threatened to go
without me.  When I finally tried calling, Isabel used her powers to destroy my phone.  She’s buying me a new one, by the way.”

“Then what?” asks Max.

“We went to the desert with a couple bottles of booze. The three of ‘em got really wasted.”

“Did they try anything?” asks Michael.

“I mindwarped them when Isabel started her
striptease.”

“Her what?” exclaim Max, Maria, and Alex at the same time.

Tess sighs.  “Like I said, it was a long night.  When they were all far enough gone, I drove us back to town and dropped the guys at Alan’s.  Then I brought us here.”

“What’s that have to do with Kyle talking to Isabel?” asks Liz.

“He and Isabel were having a thing,” says Max.  “She’s
upset because you and Kyle are messing around.”

“That’s not what we’re doing.”

“Then what are you doing with him?”

“None of your business!”

“When it hurts my sister, it’s definitely my
business.”

“I’ve had a long night,” says Tess.  “Go somewhere
else and fight.”

“Yeah, we should go,” says Maria.  “My mom’ll be
worried if I don’t check in soon.”

“And we should call the sheriff too,” says Max.

“You need a ride Liz?” asks Alex.

“I’ll wait for Kyle,” says Liz.

“He’s gonna be a while,” says Tess.  “After he and
Isabel are done, he and I are gonna have a long talk.”

“It’s just a ride Liz,” says Alex.

Liz nods reluctantly.  “Sure.  Have Kyle call me.”

Maria, Alex, and Liz walk out.

Max turns to Michael.  “Have Isabel call me when she’s ready to come home.”

“We’ll give her a ride,” says Michael.  Max nods and leaves.

When they’re alone, Michael turns to Tess.  “I was up all night waiting to hear from you.”

“I’m sorry,” says Tess.

“I was worried.”

“Michael, I had a really lousy night and I’m tired. While I’m sorry you were worried but I don’t feel like talking about it.”

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

In the bathroom, Isabel and Kyle are kissing.  When Kyle sees a flash, he realizes how intense things are getting and pulls back.

“What’s wrong?” asks Isabel.

“This, us.”

“It feels right to me.”

Isabel pulls his lips back to hers.  When Kyle gets another flash, he breaks the kiss and puts some space between them.

“I can’t do this Isabel,” says Kyle, turning toward
the door.  “I’m sorry.”

“Coward.”

Kyle pauses for a moment before opening the door and walking out.  He shuts it and leaves without looking back.

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

Michael glares at Tess.  “Tell me about last night.”

“I did already,” says Tess, sighing in exasperation.

“You didn’t tell me who were you dancing with.”

Just then, Kyle walks out of the bathroom.  He leaves the apartment without saying anything.  A moment later, Isabel staggers into the living room.

“Are you okay?” asks Tess.

“Kyle cares about me,” says Isabel.

Michael looks confused.  “That’s a good thing, right?”

“He cares but he doesn’t want to be with me.”

“Want me to hit him?”

“Maybe.”

“It’s his loss,” says Tess.

“Somehow, that doesn’t make me feel better.  I’m going home.”

“Let me change and I’ll drive you.”

“I’ll drive her,” says Michael.

Isabel shakes her head.  “I’d rather walk.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t.  You don’t look so good.”

“Gee, thanks Michael.”

“You know what I mean.”

“The walk’ll clear my head and get me ready to deal with Max.”

“If you’re sure,” says Tess.  “Call me later.”

“I will.  Thanks for everything last night.”

Isabel leaves.

“What was she thanking you for?”

Tess rolls her eyes as she locks the front door.
“Last night.”

“What specifically?” asks Michael as he follows her to the bedroom.

“You’re not gonna let this go, are you?”

“No.”

“Fine.  We got to the party, mostly danced, then
left.”

“Who’d you say you danced with again?”

“I didn’t say.”

“Maybe you should.”

“I don’t know Michael, a bunch of different guys.”

“How many’s in a bunch?”

“I wasn’t keeping count.  Are you jealous?”

“Of course not…should I be jealous?”

Tess laughs.  “No.”

“It’s not funny.  No one tried to hit on you?”

“The Max speech applies to other guys too.”

“Just wanna know who they are.”

“Why?”

“So I can tell ‘em to back off.”

“Only one who needs to know I’m with you is me.  And I know I’m with you.  I’m gonna take a shower.”

“Need help washing your back?”

“Are you tryin’ to tell me somethin’?”

“I love you Tess, more than I realized possible.  The thought of losing you…I wanna be with you.”

A bright smile lights Tess’s face with an inner joy. She holds out her hand to Michael.  When he takes it without hesitation, she leads him to the bathroom.

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

After some extended foreplay in the bathroom, Michael and Tess make their way to the bathroom.  Just as they’re about to become one, the phone rings.

“Let it ring,” says Tess when Michael pauses.

“If we don’t answer they’ll think somethin’s wrong and come over,” says Michael, groaning.  “I swear if that’s Max, I’m gonna kill him.”

Tess answers, her voice annoyed.  “Hello?”

“Tess, it’s me,” says Maria.  “I think I’m in labor.”

“Already?  Are you sure?”

“If I’m not, this kid is kickin’ harder than she
usually does.”

Hearing the conversation, Michael groans again.  He pulls away from Tess and stands.  He starts getting dressed.

“We’re on our way,” says Tess, sitting up.  “Have you
called Max and Alex yet?”

“No,” says Maria.  “They’re gonna be more useless than I am.”

“Call them.  I’ll be there soon.”

“Thanks Tess,” says Maria before hanging up.

“Baby coming?” asks Michael, tying his boots.

“Yeah.”

“Figures Max’s kid would have bad timing.”

Tess giggles as she quickly gets dressed.  “Don’t
worry, we’re gonna finish this.”

Michael grins at her before pulling her in for a
brief, hard kiss.  He picks up the bag of supplies
they’ve been preparing for the baby’s birth.  Hand in hand, they run out the front door.

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

THE END

I know, this is late.  So’s “Labor Day”, which isn’t done yet.  It should be ready a week from Sunday.  And I’ve decided to continue the series past Halloween, at least until it feels finished to me or I get tired of writing it.