The Intruder

"I'm okay," he told Adam. "Any ideas on what we should try first? We're looking for anything that will give us more firepower when we break Michael out."

He didn't say "if." There was no "if" in this situation. In two days the group was going in, and Michael was coming out with them.

"Dr. Doyle, the guy who did most of the tests on me, had me try to explode things once," Adam said. "The biggest thing I ever managed was a grape. But together…"

"Let's try it. So when you blew up the grape, did you just push the molecules apart or what?" Max asked.

"I… I don't know," Adam answered. "I never really think about how I'm doing something-I just do it. Somehow it just comes out."

"Whoa. I've never experienced it like that," Max said, feeling a stab of envy. "Maybe it's because I've spent most of my life trying not to use any power if I didn't have to, and you grew up pushed to find out all the ways you could use yours."

"You didn't use your powers because you were afraid of scaring people, right?" Adam asked.

He's already figured out that's not the only reason, Max realized. Adam had been out of the compound for less than a week, and he'd already seen enough to teach him that humans, at least some humans, would want him dead if they knew the truth about him. Max could hear that knowledge in Adam's voice.

Adam was waiting for an answer.

"We don't use our powers in front of people partly because it would scare them. But also because when they do get scared, they can lash out. There are definitely people out there who would hurt you, Adam, just because you're different."

Adam nodded, his face somber. In that moment he looked like such a little boy. It was hard for Max to believe he'd actually been obsessing about whether Liz could possibly go for him.

"So what should we try and blow up?" Max asked. He and Adam would have to have a much longer discussion about humans later, but now they needed to get some training time in.

"Cactus?" Adam asked, nodding toward one about fifty feet away.

"Okay." Max reached out and touched Adam's arm. Instant co

Max tried to block the images, the way he'd been doing with the stuff from the collective consciousness. The images from Adam slowed, then faded. Max stared at the cactus.

"Ready?" he heard Adam ask.

"One second," he answered. He still wasn't sure how to do this. Adam said he just did it, but Max needed a method.

Maybe you don't, he told himself. Just stop thinking so much.

"On three," he told Adam. He could feel something growing between him and Adam, a force being generated. "One. Two. Three."

Max let the force loose, trying to aim it at the cactus. A second later he felt something wet against his cheek. He reached up and pulled away a hunk of mushy cactus. It had exploded so fast, he hadn't even seen it happen. Lucky he didn't get hit by a spiny chunk.

"That was cool!" Adam cried.

"Yeah, that could come in very handy at the compound," Max answered.

Adam's happy smile faded. "Let's try something else," Max said quickly.

"One time Dr. Doyle wanted me to set something on fire with my power. We could work on that. I couldn't do it, but there were things I couldn't do by myself that I could do with Michael," Adam answered.

"I'll go put a ball of paper on the ground." Max started to get out of the Jeep.

"Why don't we try that rock over there?" Adam asked.

"A rock? Rocks aren't exactly flammable," Max said. "But sure, let's go for it." They could always try something easier later. Adam grabbed Max's wrist, starting the co

Max let the feeling of power build up until he could feel it practically screaming to get out. "Okay, on three. One, two, three." He set the power free, and an instant later the rock began to smoke.

Come on, come on, Max thought. He let more power build, preparing for a second blast.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a little brown rabbit hop over to a piece of the cactus remains and take a nibble. Then it hopped toward the rock.

"Adam, be careful. We don't want to hit the-"

Max felt the power zing free. Then he heard the rabbit give a scream.

Max ripped his hand away from Adam. "Stop!" he shouted. "You're going to kill it!"

The rabbit's back legs jerked frantically, as if it were trying to run but couldn't. "No! Adam, look what you're doing! You've got to pull the power back!"

Max grabbed Adam by the shoulders and knocked him out of the Jeep, tackling him to the ground like an angry football player. Max glanced up and saw the rabbit bound away.

"Why the hell did you do that? Did you think it was fun? Did you think-"

"What?" Adam asked. He shoved himself to his feet and brushed some of the dirt off his jeans.

"What?" Max cried. "You're asking me what? You almost killed that helpless rabbit-"

"I did?" Adam cried. "I didn't mean-I didn't even know. I felt kind of… out of control."

Adam looked at the spot where the rabbit had been. Max had to admit, Adam looked genuinely devastated. But Max had seen his face when the rabbit had squealed.

Adam had been smiling.

Liz twisted her hair into a knot on the top of her head. She noticed Adam following her every movement with his eyes. She could almost feel his fingers on the places his eyes touched. Sliding up her neck. Twining in her hair. She wasn't sure how to react. One part of her was flattered at being so admired, but another part of her ached for privacy.

She scooted down the sofa and cuddled up closer to Max.

"Oh no. You guys aren't going to turn into one of that kind of couple, are you?" Maria whined.

"What kind of couple?" Liz asked.

"Let me just ask you a few questions," Maria answered. "Have you ever shared a piece of gum with Max-a piece of gum that you've already chewed for a while? Have you ever engaged in any kind of baby talk? Do you often hear shouts of 'get a room' when you're out in public? If you've answered yes to any of the above, it may already be too late. You may already be that kind of couple."

"Don't worry. We're not going there," Liz promised. "Are we, Maxie-waxie, my little googie face?"

"Where are Alex and Isabel?" Max asked. "I want to get this done."

"This" being coming up with the plan to rescue Michael. Which more than explained how distracted Max was.

"They're only a couple of minutes late. I'm sure they'll be here soon," Maria answered.

"How can you be sure of that?" Max snapped.

"I guess we can't. Hey, doesn't Isabel have a cell phone? I could call and see where they are," Liz volunteered.

"I'll do it," Max answered.

Before he could stand up, Liz heard the front door open. A moment later Alex and Isabel appeared. Isabel headed for the couch, and Alex perched on the edge of Maria's chair, putting them pretty much as far away from each other as they could get and still be sitting in the living room.

Spending time alone on the stakeout obviously hadn't led to any kiss-and-make-up action. Liz didn't know if that was good or bad. Isabel's personality always seemed completely opposite to Alex's, but sometimes that could actually work for people.

"We found nada," Alex a

Max checked his watch. "Our parents could get home soon, and this isn't a conversation I want them walking in on. Maybe we should take turns keeping watch for them. Adam, do you mind doing the first one? You can see the driveway from the kitchen window."

"Okay" Adam stood up and headed out of the room. As he passed behind the couch, Liz felt a whisper-soft touch on her shoulder. Guess Adam needs a stronger hint, she thought.