Or perhaps the Skins were onto them.

Again unlikely, but…

Max decided he would have to be content with the nearly empty road for now.

The only thing he was sure of was that he was not the leader of this expedition. He was not the King here.

Max had given up that role when he'd told the others what he was doing. He would not make the decision for the group, only for himself.

The others had all come on their own. Max was not leading them.

Yet, he knew that he was ultimately responsible for them. That he could not shake. He had sealed everyone's fate three years ago in the Crashdown Cafe when he had healed Liz. And again later that day when he'd refused to run, though Michael had insisted they do just that.

He had sensed that Liz could help them, and she did. So had Alex and he died for it. After that, Agent Pierce of the Special Unit had found them. Agent Pierce who had put Max into the White Room.

Agent Pierce, whom Michael had to kill in self-defense. Michael paid a high price for it. Though his friend refused to talk about it, Max knew that Michael was still paying that price.

Then there was Tess, her betrayal, and Max's own son whom Max had lost, then found again. Max had given him up finally, but at least now the boy had a chance at a nor- mal life.

All of that had happened because of Max's decision three years ago. Yet, even now he knew that not healing Liz had not been an option. Even then, even before they had become… close. Before they were together.