Morning Side of Mountain(M/LCCMATURE) R.I.P. CHERIE

cherie · Post by **cherie** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:31 pm

Title: Morning Side of the Mountain, Twilight Side of the Hill

Author: Cherie

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine..they belong to Melinda Metz, WB, Jason Katims, etc..etc..etc...But I like to take them away in my fantasies and give them new toys to play with.

Pairing/Couples/Category: M/L, M/M, all CC, and a smattering of other characters from the show.

Rating: Mature

Summary: Set after Wipeout. What if the time displacement field that Nicholas created was not set right by Maria? Will Max and Liz be seperated forever and will they have memories of one another? Will the plan that Nicholas has set in motion come to pass?

AN:Just wanted to thank Liz (LONGTIMEFAN) for the beautiful banner she made for this story, and I want to share it with everyone. Thank you, Liz..it's gorgeous.

Morning Side of the Mountain, Twilight Side of the Hill

Prologue

There was a girl, there was a boy
If they had met they might have found a world of joy
But she lived on the morning side of the mountain
And he lived on the twilight side of the hill

They never met, they never kissed
And they will never know what happiness they missed
For she lived on the morning side of the mountain
And he lived on the twilight side of the hill

For love's a rose that never grows
Without the kiss of the morning dew
And every Jack must have a Jill
To know the thrill of a dream come true

And you I are just like they
For all we know our love is just a kiss away
But you are on the morning side of the mountain
And I am on the twilight side of the hill

*Tommy Edwards*

(from a song my Grandmother used to sing to me when I was little.)

The shimmering light of the rod that lay embedded in the billboard mocked him. The battery cables that had been thrown across it swayed haphazardly as the wind whipped them to and fro. He braced himself as he prepared to cross the barrier, shivering as the rip in time opened just enough for him to slip through. He had already made his prayers to the great spirits for guidance, now he prayed for the help of the only person he knew with the wisdom and understanding to help restore the balance. His step quickened as he made his way toward the small house at the edge of town. His heart was troubled as he glanced upwards at the sky.

Clouds. Dark and deep. Hungry clouds that rolled and rumbled, stripping the blue from a denim colored sky leaving only shades of grey that hung helplessly on the tapestry of twilight. In his mind he repeated the words a wise old Shaman had once told him as a boy.

Time goes, the people say
Not true, say the Gods
Time stays, the people go

She watched nervously as the candles flickered, pacing restlessly, only stopping to peek through the curtain every few seconds. He was coming--she could feel his footsteps through the ripple of displaced energy that surrounded her. The energy that had begun a few weeks earlier when the three kids from town had paid her a visit. The dark haired girl had somewhat of an aura about her that had been unsettling. But the cards had fallen well for her and the girl had been all smiles and full of happiness when the reading was over.

She remembered that it was a few days later that the pulsing had begun. She had been ripped from sleep,her body covered in sweat and a feeling of dread in her heart that had shaken her to the core. She had rushed outside, her eyes immediately drawn to the heavens. A single shooting star had sliced the abyss of the midnight sky. The world had shifted slightly each day after that..small, subtle changes that no one else seemed to notice.

As she stood by the window waiting for his arrival her eyes skimmed to the table where the cards lay, unruly and unorganized, no longer a pattern to them as there should have been. She had not gone near them in days. She studied the Lovers card..now torn in two...one half resting on the Death card, the other half face down on the floor. She swung the door open even before the old man had a chance to knock.

"Hello, old friend. I've been expecting you." she said as she motioned him inside.

River Dog nodded slightly, a small smile curving his lips. In the layered air that hung between them he reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You have felt it then, Vivian? The change in the balance?" he asked.

" Yes," she replied. "A few nights after the girl came." She led him to the table where the deck of Tarot lay in disarray. "I know that time has shifted." she spoke in a whisper. "That the reality that I live in now is different."

"It has changed for us as well." the old man told her. "The evil ones the boy was warned about by Nasedo now walk among us. I doubt they will penetrate the time rift, since the boy and his sister and the other two are under their control. The leader is called Nicholas. He has stolen their lives and given them false memories."

"And you have come for my help, old friend?" Vivian asked as she released her hand from River Dog's firm grip and ran it slowly up his arm in a gesture of comfort.

"I have." River Dog replied, his eyes searching her face. "It seems that only a few of us have felt the change. The girl..Liz..perhaps she will remember. If not, you must help her. You must use your abilities to awaken her memories. Your world will go on....but the boy..Max.. and the others will never have been a part of it. It will be as if they never existed."

"And in your world," Vivian asked, "will the boy remember?"

"I do not know," River Dog sighed. "but his mind is strong, and their bond was like no other I have witnessed. I will do what I can to help him remember. I will place my faith in my spirit guides to help me."

"I will do the same." Vivian said. " My spirits will guide me as well. Somehow we will find a way to set things right again."

"I must go now." River Dog told her as he moved toward the door. "I cannot stay in this place too long or I will not be able to find my way back."

"Goodnight, then, my friend." Vivian smiled as the old man exited through the door into the night.

Madame Vivian slumped against the door as it closed, her thoughts focusing only on the dark haired girl named Liz Parker.

River Dog stepped back into his world, determined to save the life and the soul of Max Evans.

TBC

cherie · Post by **cherie** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:39 am

AN: Wow! Thank you, everyone for welcoming me back. I'm humbled by your feedback and comments, and I truly hope you enjoy this new story.

TANYA: Hey, sweetie. I'm glad you are liking this.
LOLITA: I've always loved River Dog and Madame Vivian. I hope I do them justice in this tale.
ELLIE: Thanks for being so patient with me.
KATH: Thank you so much. The concept of this story has been floating around in my head for a year and half.
ITSABITS: Hey, you! So glad you're here.
J: I'm excited to be writing this. And, yes, it is a little ominous..hang in there.
ALIEN614: Thank you. I always look forward to your feedback.
SELENA: I'm happy to be back, and happy as well that you are enjoying this.
RAYCH: LOL..Yes, they do hold the fate of our dreamers in their hands. Thanks for reading.
BEHRINTHECITY: Isn't that a wonderful song? And so perfect for this story.
BREATHLESS: Guess what? I used word pad Thank you for the advice and the help.
SYLVIA: I'm so happy to see you here.
MARELI: Yes, sweetie..you are truly a trooper in the angsty department.
BOB: Are you kidding me? I would love to have the song. I've rifled through countless piles of old records at second hand stores and flea markets for years trying to find it. Bless your heart!
ALIENMOM: C'mon-I'm not that twisted. Well, maybe. OK! you know me too well.
DOUBLESTUF: I'm just tickled pink to see you here. I'll try to be a good poster so you won't have to hit your computer.
ISIS: Oh, girl, I'm so glad you're reading.
ANNIE: Hi. You are such a sweetheart. Thank you.
FRENCHKISS: Thank you so much.
SUSAN: hey, teammate...glad you are here as well.
TEQUATHISY: Thank you very much.
FSUMSW94: I'm glad you liked the prologue.
STACIE: Good to see you. I hope all is well with you and yours.
SCOTTIE: You are not weird. I've always noticed that both you and ALIENMOM seem to pick up the same passages in my stories. LOL. I'm so pleased to see you here. Hope you enjoy.
JASSIFRAS: Thank you

Morning Side of the Mountain, Twilight Side of the Hill

Chapter 1

This property is condemned

Max ran his fingertips across the faded black letters that still clung stubbornly to the wooden sign. Though weather-beaten and ravaged by time, the sign and the words remained. The small bolts that held the sign on the chain that blocked the entrance to the building were rusty and warped and he doubted they would hold up through another windstorm. Impulsively, he placed his hands on the bolts. A soft glow covered them and when he pulled his hands away, the bolts were shiny and new. He tugged at the sign, satisfied that it would hold.

He waited. Some days the wind came slowly, and he hoped that today would be such a day. He wanted the wind to touch him gently..to wash over him at that perfect moment in time when the sky and the earth blended together in their richest colors. He felt the velvet whisper when it brushed against his skin and he smiled. The simple enchantment that a sunset on earth brought was a rarity for him now and he treasured them. And he desperately wanted to remember them. Training was almost over and the Granilith had been prepared for the journey back to Antar. Nicholas had informed him only this morning that the emissary would be coming soon to activate the seal. Only then would he be proclaimed the true King. The small band of Skins that had rescued him and Michael, Isabel and Tess would be returning home. He would reclaim the throne and free his enslaved people from Kivar, the tyrant who had killed him and the others in their past life.

He still wasn't entirely sure what compelled him to seek out this particular building. Or why he had forbidden it to be a target in the war games. Maybe it was the silly spaceship that loomed above the doorway proclaiming the name *Crashdown Cafe*, or the iron ladder in the back that led to a small balcony decorated with strings of Christmas lights, a telescope and a couple of old deck chairs. Someone had drawn a heart on the brick wall with what looked like red paint, but the initials that should have been there had long since faded. Once, in the early days when they had first found this old abandoned town and set up camp, he had written his initials in the heart. The next day he had erased them, feeling foolish for having done it..yet incredibly sad at the same time. Sometimes he would climb the ladder and sit by the window peeking into the empty room where the nameless person whose initials the heart once held must have lived. He never went inside, though. Whoever had lived here, whoever had cherished this small space where puppy love had left it's mark would remain as special and sacred as sunsets inside his own heart.

His eyes darted to the road, scanning to see if anyone had followed him here. He knew, of course, that the old Indian named River Dog from the reservation was there. Watching him from the shadows as he always did. It had bothered him at first but as time passed, a part of him found it somewhat comforting that the old man seemed to be watching out for him. Sensing no one else, he stepped over the chain and walked silently to the window of the old cafe pressing his forehead against the cool glass. This was his sanctuary. His body felt light, the sounds around him muted and far away, almost like a dream..or a summer day from the past when this place had been teeming with life and full of customers. He could almost smell the hamburgers sizzling on the grill, the cha-ching of the register opening. He closed his eyes, picturing the people waiting for their orders to be delivered by the waitresses. He could almost hear their voices and laughter floating in the air around him....

*I'll just have an alien blast*
*me, too.*
*Excuse me?*

His head snapped up so hard when the flash hit him that the nerve in the back of his neck burned and tingled. Where the hell had those voices come from? He cursed himself for being so weak. Nicholas had warned him that it was possible his mind would play tricks on him if he didn't take the daily medicine that helped them all to survive in earth's atmosphere. And he hadn't taken it today because he'd been pissed at Nicholas for hounding him about his relationship with Tess. Or rather, his non-relationship with Tess. He wasn't about to screw her on demand just because Nicholas kept pounding it into his head that an heir would ensure his triumphant return to the throne. He had been so angry that he had stormed from the compound and found his way here to the only place where he could find peace.

He leaned forward, bending his head low and placing his palms on the window, taking deep breaths trying to calm the rapid beating of his heart. His hands began to feel warm, almost as if other hands were pressing against his. He stayed there, motionless, with his eyes closed for a long time. When he finally opened his eyes and turned to go back to the compound, he knew without a doubt he should have taken the medication.

She seemed so out of place in this desolate setting. Like a living picture from an old photo album he had once seen. The little white cupcakes on her dress swayed with movement as her small hands swung the sign on the chain back and forth. She barely reached his hip, she was so small. His breath caught in his throat when her large dark eyes peeked out from underneath the long lashes that touched the curve of her cheek. Her long dark hair cascaded down her back, catching the gold of the dying sunlight. He had the most irresistible urge to tuck the errant strands behind her ears as the soft wind blew them across her face. And then she smiled.

"I'm sorry you're sad." she said as she held out her hand to him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liz closed the register, glancing around at the few customers who remained inside. She still had to clean the milkshake machine and fill the sugars, salt and peppers and napkin holders. Maria was bustling around the restaurant, filling coffee cups and gathering dishes from empty tables. She walked out from behind the counter and headed for the window. She stopped for just a moment and ran her fingers across the leather of the second booth. She didn't know why she did that, but it was almost a nightly ritual. In her mind she referred to that spot in the cafe as 'the angel booth'. It was silly, she knew, and no one believed her anyway. On the day she had been shot by accident in September last year by an angry customer, she had tried to tell her parents and anyone else who would listen about the boy that had kept her alive until the paramedics came.

Endorphins. That's what the doctor had explained to her after the surgery to remove the bullet from her abdomen. When the body is in shock and begins to shut down, endorphins are released inside the brain to ease the pain. That was why many people who should have died, but didn't, often came back from death's door with stories of bright lights and angels and mystical journeys. But it hadn't been endorphins with a soft voice that had pleaded with her to look at him. No endorphin had pressed its hand against the bullet hole and stopped the flow of blood. Even the doctors had been amazed at the small amount of blood she had lost with such a violent wound. She'd finally stopped talking about him except to Maria and Alex. And, of course, the lady that did the Tarot readings. Madame Vivian. She had listened intently as Liz told her of her near death experience, while Maria sniffed cedar oil and rolled her eyes.

But the boy had been real. She knew it in her heart.. because he had touched her soul that day. And he had left her with two memories that would never fade from her mind. Memories wrapped in silver and gold. The silver handprint that had appeared on her skin over the wound that only she could see and had faded after a few days when she had been released from the hospital. And the gold flecks that had danced across his beautiful eyes as he wrapped his love around her and saved her life. She had never told anyone about the handprint. She ran her fingers across her abdomen as she walked, feeling the ridge of the long scar that ran from hip to hip.

She leaned her forehead on the window and placed her palms flat against the glass. She could feel the warmth of the setting sun as it spread across her fingers. She closed her eyes and practiced the breathing techniques that Madame Vivian had taught her. She wished with all her heart she could send a small part of herself to follow the sunset before it faded away. The window suddenly rippled beneath her hands and her eyes flew open the instant she felt it. She could barely hear the voices inside the cafe, or the smell of food that wafted from the grill. The only thing she could see were the two silver handprints on the outside of the glass in the same spot where her own hands rested on the inside. The world around her flickered out.

TBC

cherie · Post by **cherie** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 8:46 pm

AN: Hey, everyone. Thank you again for the wonderful feedback.

J: Thanks, sweetie. Your comments always, always make me smile.
MARELI: I know how much you love angst, but I'm sorry I made you cry.
BREATHLESS: Yes, it was the the first time Liz had seen the handprints since the day she was shot. Tearjerker, me? This coming from the author of CAPTIVE HEARTS?
SYLVIA37: I am just so glad you are enjoying this.
APPLEBYLICIOUS: Awww! Thank you, snookums.
ITSABITS: ah,--and you'll still stay even if I make you cry?
ELLIE: Max doesn't really remember Liz--yet!
SELENA: You're right..it's his soul that remembers.
ROSWELLSCRIPTER: HI, hon. I'm so glad you're here.
RAYCH: I promise I'll fix it...baby steps.
DOUBLESTUF: Thank you. I'm glad I made you remember how emotional those first scenes were.
LOLITA: Oh, what a compliment. Thank you.
SCOTTIE: Nicholas truly is a snake. You always make me feel so good when I write a part and you like it.
FSUMSW94: Thank you so much. Hope you like the next part.
FRENCHKISS70: I believe in River Dog..he should have been in the show more.
ISIS: Yes! The connection lives. LOL
VENUS_STAR2.COM Thank you very much for your comments.
AURORASKY: No baby. I wouldn't let Nicholas near one.
ALIEN6114: River Dog is watching out for Max. The aliens are'nt fighting a war, just training for one.
MICA: Hello. I'm glad you are enjoying this. I do have a few other completed stories on the board. I don't know how to do links, but if you go to the Works by Author board, you'll find my stories there (with links)
KATH: I'd like to believe in my heart of hearts that no matter where Max and Liz are, there will always be a part of them that remembers. Thank you for the kind words.
LAZZA:Thank you. I'm so pleased to see you here.
SUSAN: Thanks, sweetie. Yeah, it's a tearjerker. You know me so well.
LOVINGUERIN2MUCH. I'm glad you are enjoying this story. Thank you for reading.

Morning Side of the Mountain, Twilight Side of the Hill

Chapter 2

Rock. Paper. Scissors. The soft tinkle of her laughter as she played the game with the other children. A small boy stepping off a yellow school bus. The images whipped across his mind as she slipped her small hand into his larger one. Where had she come from? Surely not the reservation. Nicholas had given strict orders to the tribal elders that the perimeter to the compound was not to be crossed. There was only one road in and out of this area and it was guarded day and night. Only Walt and Ida Crawford were allowed to leave to go Copper Summit and pick up the supplies that were needed weekly. Food, clothing, water and the special misters for the moisture chamber that were needed to keep the Skins alive and protected from the dry desert climate. He still hadn't figured out how River Dog was able to breach the boundaries and remain unseen by everyone but him.

To say he was stunned by her sudden appearance was an understatement. She had came from out of nowhere, without a sound. There were no cars, no sign of anyone who might have brought her here. Where were her parents? And how could he get her back safely to wherever she had come from before someone from the compound detected her? He raked his fingers through his dark hair before he knelt down on one knee so he could question her.

She didn't seem to be afraid. Not of the sky that was rapidly turning dark around them, or even of him. In fact, she didn't even seem to be surprised that he was there at all. Almost like she expected him to be. "How did you get here?" he asked softly.

She locked her eyes to his and gave him another smile. "I'm not sure." she said. "I thought I heard someone call my name."

"You shouldn't be here." he told her, trying to sound stern. "It's getting dark and you're too little to be out here all alone by yourself."

"But I'm not alone," she answered, chewing her bottom lip and still holding onto his eyes. "You're here."

He suppressed the urge to laugh. She was absolutely enchanting..with her big brown eyes and that beautiful smile. He stood up, stepping over the chain and led her to one of the benches that still remained on the sidewalk in front of the old cafe. "Let's sit down for a minute and then you need to run on home. It's not safe for you to be here."

*It's not safe*
*I don't care*

Either he was dreaming again, or not taking the medication was seriously messing with his mind. She was like a breath of fresh air in this dark and dreary place..like a summer song on a soft velvet night. He couldn't remember his childhood. Nicholas had explained that the humans who had captured the four of them and kept them imprisoned in the white room had tortured them with instruments that had altered their brain patterns before the small band of Skins had finally found them and rescued them from the military base where they had been held. He dreamed sometimes, though. About a little toy house and a lady with the kindest blue eyes. Of beaches and sand and parks with green grass and swings. Of a small bird with a broken wing he had healed and sent soaring back into the sky. But if this was a dream, why did she feel so real?

He tucked her beside him on the bench and she snuggled into his side. Her small body was warm and he could smell the fragrance from her hair, as if it had just been washed. Together they watched as the wind undressed the trees and sent the tattered leaves toppling over each other on the sidewalk, falling over the curb and finally racing down the street to mark the end of the golden sunset.

"Autumn's almost over." she whispered. "I wish...I wish..."

"What do you wish?" he asked, her voice drawing him out of the trance the leaves and the feel of her sitting next to him had put him in.

She pulled herself up onto his lap, her tiny hands raising up to touch the sides of his face. "I wish that you didn't have to leave."

He could see the tears sparkling on her lashes. "Why do you wish that?" he asked with a lump in his throat. How did she know he was leaving?

She leaned forward, her hands tilting his head to the side, her lips brushing against his ear. "Because if you leave, you'll be too far away to find me." she whispered.

"What do you..." Before he had a chance to finish the question, he felt the child being pulled from his lap.

"I'll see that she gets back where she belongs." The voice was unfamiliar to Max. He found himself looking up into the eyes of the old Indian called River Dog.

"Who is she?" he whispered to the old man who now held the little girl in his arms.

"Just a child that has lost her way." River Dog replied. "Or perhaps found it. I do not know. But she cannot stay in this place."

"I know that." Max said. "I tried to tell her that she had to go. But.." he hesitated, eyeing the old man suspiciously. "How do you manage to get inside this restricted area without anyone seeing you but me?"

" We will speak of these things at another time. When you are ready." he said quietly. His eyes glanced down at the child that now lay sleeping in his arms. "I must return her to the place she came from." He turned and began to walk away. Max watched in silence as the old man left him standing there alone. He suddenly remembered that he hadn't even asked her name. He ran down the street searching for them. At the far end of the block he could see River Dog walking away from the town.

"Wait." he cried after the old man, quickening his pace to catch up. River Dog turned to face him. The first thing Max noticed was his empty arms. The little girl was gone.

River Dog nodded at him. "When you are ready." he said again, and vanished into the night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Liz, are you alright?" She felt hands on her shoulders and her body being turned around as she was pulled away from the window. Maria came into focus then, and Liz couldn't help but notice how worried she looked. "You've been standing in that same position, for like ten minutes now." Maria said shaking her head. "Like you were..I don't know.. in a trance or something."

How could she explain to Maria? She had gone somewhere. Somewhere between the past and the future. And the boy had been there with her. He'd been warm and real and his eyes were just as beautiful as she had remembered them. They had watched the leaves dancing down the street. And there had been someone else. Someone who had torn her away from him and sent her back to where she was now. Well, she had to tell someone...and maybe, just maybe, Maria would believe her. "Come upstairs with me, Maria." she said, tugging at the small blonde's arm. "I need to tell you the most amazing thing."

Vivian watched from a table outside as the two girls made their way through the swinging doors that led to the kitchen. The energy that had crackled around her began to dissipate and she smiled inwardly. The first step had been taken and she was so proud of Liz.

But she was also very tired. Allowing her body to be used as a conduit always made her weak. It hadn't surprised her that Liz had done most of the work herself, though. The girl was strong. Even stronger than she knew, because Max had touched her soul. "It has begun, old friend." she whispered into the night as she rose from the chair to begin the long walk home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Once. I'll only tell you this once, Willie." Nicholas walked back and forth in front of the frightened Skin sitting on the chair, wagging his index finger. "And if you don't understand, then I'll turn that blob of matter inside your head to mush. With this." he emphasized, placing his hand on top of the dark haired man's head sending just enough energy to topple the man from the chair onto his knees screaming in agony.

"You stupid little shit." he muttered as he watched Willie writhing in pain. "You let the boy King just walk out of the compound without taking the inhibitor? Do you know how hard I worked to perfect it? That it's the only thing that keeps the four of them under our control? Christ, I should just kill you now."

" I have a better idea, sir." Ida spoke up. "We need everyone we have left to carry out your plan to return home. Why not just take away the moisturizing privileges for a day or so? Let him remember what it feels like to for the sun and the heat to damage the husk. Then maybe he'll get the point."

"Like you did?" Nicholas whirled on her with a sneer. "For defying me that day in the bus?" He studied Willie for a moment before returning his attention to Ida. "Excellent idea, Mom. Get this insufferable piece of garbage out of my sight. He's to have no water, no food, and definitely no trips to the chamber for two days."

The two men standing on either side of Ida stepped forward and began dragging Willie out of the room. The sound of Nicholas' voice stopped them just as they reached the door. "Greer, Walt, when you're done with him, I want you to find His Highness. I don't give a rat's ass if you have to drag him back here kicking and screaming. I want him returned. You have one hour." he barked, moving forward to kick Willie in the side for good measure and to make sure the two men got his message. "Do you understand?" The men nodded.

"I certainly hope you do." Nicholas hissed at them. "If not, you'll suffer just as much if not more than good old Willie boy here."

TBC

cherie · Post by **cherie** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 11:00 pm

AN: SELENA: Thanks, sweetie. Trust in Maria. LOL
FSUMSW94: I love River Dog and Vivian, too. Such mystical characters.
ELLIE:Jobs are funny like that. They actually require you to be there. LOL
KATH: I am so happy you are liking this. Thank you.
J: This chapter shouldn't make you sniffle
BREATHLESS: I loved writing the last chapter, because I always remember the first flashes Max saw of Liz were being a small child.
SYLVIA:It just makes me so happy to see you here.
BEHRINTHECITY:You know, I always wanted to use that line. I'm glad you liked the way I did it.
FRENCHKISS70:I love your feedback. Thank you.
ALIENMOM:Ah, Squeak. I love you.
SCOTTIE: Max is beginning to realize that all is not as it seems.
MARELI:Well, Little Liz came to Max because when he first healed her and saw into her soul, she was wearing the cupcake dress.
BEHRLYLIZ: HI. So glad to see you here.
LOVINGUEIRIN2MUCH: Nicholas wants to hurt them, but he can't..YET!
83ALIENANGEL: Thank you for reading
LAZZA:VIvian channeled Liz as a small girl to send to Max to jog his memory.
ALIEN614: Glad you like. I'm always happy to see you here.
561270: I'm glad to be back and writing again. Thank you.
RAYCH: Ah, you are such a sweetheart. Thank you so much.
DOUBLESTUF:It just warms my heart that you are enjoying this.

Morning Side of the Mountain, Twilight Side of the Hill

Chapter 3

Max knew that Nicholas would be looking for him. He had been gone from the compound almost six hours now and it was dark. He hadn't gone back to the compound after River Dog and the little girl had disappeared. He'd walked the perimeter, trying to make sense of what he had seen, of the memory flashes he'd gotten from the little girl and the cryptic words of the old Indian. "When you are ready." What was that supposed to mean? What had everything that happened today mean? And why wasn't he sick? Nicholas had told him that going without the daily medication for more than three hours would cause their lungs to begin shut down because they couldn't survive in earth's atmosphere without it.

Well, he knew that was a crock now. He was breathing just fine. Which gave him cause to think about other inconsistencies about Nicholas's explanation of how he had saved the four of them from the FBI. He sat down on the hard desert ground, leaning his back against the cement block that had once been the base for the old radio tower that currently lay in shambles on the ground. From the corner of his eye he could see the rock formation that housed the pod chamber and the Granilith. The outcropping of rocks jutted against the sky like two fingers pointing to the stars. The way home. He shifted slightly to get more comfortable and his hand landed on something hard beneath the sand. He tugged at it, pulling the object up. It was a small shovel, the handle silver, the shaft red. The flashes began instantly.

Red. A sweater with tiny white buttons, strawberries that fell to the floor from a silver bowl. Everything was tinged with red.... red roses that turned white in mid-air, red lips that he longed to kiss, A silver scalpel that sliced him open from his chest to his navel leaving a red trail of pain and blood in it's wake. He stared at his hands. There was blood dripping onto the desert floor from his hands... a pool of blood that grew larger and larger until it became surrounded by glass and became a bottle of catsup. He jumped up, flinging the shovel against the cement. It bounced once as it hit the ground and landed at his feet. From a distance he heard a coyote howling and he could have sworn his heart stopped beating. Jesus, what was happening to him? He had the sudden urge to run, but where could he go? He couldn't leave Michael, Isabel and Tess alone. One thing he knew for sure. The four of them had to talk. Something was terribly wrong. Either he was losing his mind, or there was more on Nicholas' agenda than getting them back to Antar. Something in him broke and he fell to the ground, his body trembling as tried desperately to stop the tears that welled up in his eyes.

"Max." He sighed in relief when he saw Michael coming toward him. Normally, Max wouldn't allow anyone to see the weakness he was exhibiting, but when Michael knelt in front of him and engulfed him in his strong arms, he was grateful for the comfort. Under normal circumstances, he never would have allowed his second in command to do that. But this was not a normal moment, and Max desperately need a friend. He held on to Michael until he had no more tears to cry.

Michael felt the change in Max. He felt it when his shoulders stiffened and he pushed him away, rising from the desert floor. Michael pulled himself into an upright position as well studying his friend's demeanor as Max's body began to regain control. He held out the small pill to his friend.

"You need to take this, Max...it'll help." Michael said quietly.

Max eyed the tiny pill Michael was offering him, then took it from his outstretched hand. He rolled it back and forth between his thumb and forefinger, then crushed it shooting a look of defiance at Michael. "No, no more of these." he said.

"What are you doing, Max? You know we need these to survive. It's dangerous what you're doing." Michael tried to reason with him. "What if I hadn't found you out here? What if you'd died? You know Nicholas is only trying to help."

Max took a deep breath before he acknowledged Michael's admonition and questions. "Michael, I appreciate your concern. But unlike you, after all that's happened to me today, I'm beginning to believe everything we've been told is a lie. According to Nicholas, I should be dead. I should have suffocated hours ago from the density of earth's atmosphere. Do I look dead to you?" he asked with a snort.

"Of course not." Michael replied, scratching his eyebrow as he watched Max warily. "But when Greer and Walt couldn't find you, Nicholas sent me. He told me since our bodies are half human, he could have miscalculated the dosage and our bodies have a sufficient amount of the chemical stored in our cells to protect us longer than he anticipated."

"And you believed him?" Max asked, agitation showing in his voice. "Just like that?"

"He's our protector, Maxwell. What possible reason would he have to lie to us?" Michael asked, his voice tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

"Can I ask you something, Michael?" Max questioned. When Michael nodded his head, Max motioned for him to follow and they began to walk back toward the compound.

"Do you ever wonder where our lives went? Why our memories were taken away?" Max asked, his voice taking on a haunted sound. "You know, it's almost like someone or something blazed across the calendar of our lives and burned the pages so we'd never know what we were before we came to this place. Not just this lifetime, Michael..but the one on Antar as well. Doesn't that seem a little odd to you?"

"Sometimes I wonder," Michael answered. "Isabel and Tess do, too. I even have these crazy dreams sometimes, but I usually don't remember much of them."

"What kind of dreams, Michael?" Max asked, relieved to know he wasn't the only one. "Tell me."

"Just stupid shit." Michael told him, looking down at the ground. "Nothing worth talking about."

Max grabbed him by the elbow spinning him around so they were face to face. "I need to know, Michael. It's important."

"Sneakers, alright?" Michael huffed. "Little red sneakers with a Kermit patch and blue shoelaces. And there's a little blonde girl with a Dalmatian dog." He smiled at Max sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders. "See, I told you, just stupid shit."

"Not stupid, Michael, Not stupid at all." Max replied, shaking his head. "After you hear what happened to me today, you might just place more faith in those dreams than you know. But first I need to tell you about the old Indian guy that's been following me around. His name is River Dog. He's from the reservation, and...."

Michael cut him off before he could finish. "You have an Indian, too?" Michael groaned. "Listen, I’ve had one watching me for days now. I actually talked to him tonight when he stopped me on the road while I was looking for you. Said his name was Eddie."

For some reason, Max wasn't at all surprised with this new revelation. "What did he say to you, Michael?" he asked carefully.

"Dumbest thing I ever heard." Michael said. "He said the four of us were puppets, we just couldn't see the strings."

~~~~~~~

"So," Maria said, dipping her spoon back into the bowl of ice cream they were sharing, "You're telling me that the ten minutes you were at the window you weren't even really here? That you were in another place with the *angel*, and you were a little girl, no less? Do I have it right?"

"I know how silly it sounds," Liz replied, surprised that Maria hadn't interrupted her once when she had told her about what happened. "I was practicing those breathing techniques that Madame Vivian taught me, and all of a sudden I was just transported there."

"Sounds like channeling to me." Maria replied. "Madame Vivian probably did it, which doesn't surprise me. She's a medium, after all." She took another bite of the ice cream, then pointed the spoon at Liz. "You know, she really was intrigued by your near death experience story the day you were shot. Maybe she's using you to practice her technique. Just a thought."

"Then you believe me?" Liz asked, more than thankful that Maria was such a good friend. "You don't think I'm losing my mind?"

"I believe there are things in this world that are beyond our understanding." Maria replied. "I may have acted to the contrary in the beginning, but I've had a few things happen lately that were very strange."

"Like what?" Liz asked, pushing Maria's spoon downward so she could look into her eyes. "Spill."

"Well, for starters, I went to the library the other day..and I checked out a book." she said, waiting for the look of disbelief that flew across Liz's face.

"No way," Liz replied with a shriek. "You? At the Library? So what was the name of the book?"

"See, that's the strange thing." Maria said with a little chuckle. "It was Ulysses. By James Joyce. Very heavy-duty reading. But the weirdest thing is I just kept reading one page over and over and over again. Page 655. Freaky, huh?"

"A little, I guess." Liz said as she watched Maria's face change from puzzled to sad. "What else is going on?"

"It's just...you know...when it rains." Maria sighed with a faraway look in her eyes. "I sit by the window and wait for someone I know is never going to come. Someone that was there once, but isn't anymore. I don't know how to explain it any better than that." she shrugged.

"I really think we need to go see Madame Vivian tomorrow." Liz said taking hold of Maria's hand and giving it a little squeeze.. "What do you think?"

"I think you're right." Maria replied, returning the squeeze. "Things have just seemed so..so different since that day we went to Dexter."

"Speaking of Dexter, did I leave my journal in the Jetta by any chance?" Liz asked. "I can't seem to find it anywhere."

"Journal?" Maria replied with a puzzled look on her face. "Liz, when did you ever write anything in a journal?"

~~~~~~~~~~

"Did he take the pill?" Nicholas asked as soon as Michael appeared in the doorway.

"Of course he did." Michael lied. "He was scared he was going to die, so it was the first thing he asked for when I found him."

"And where is he now, Michael? Why didn't you bring him with you?" Nicholas questioned.

"I put his sorry ass to bed. He was exhausted after being lost and disoriented for hours." Michael answered. "Which is where I need to be as well. I've got a training session to oversee in the morning. So am I excused, Nicholas?"

Nicholas stared at him hard for a moment, and it made Michael's skin crawl. Maybe he was their protector, but Michael had moments when he couldn't stand the little prick. And the way he followed Isabel around had always pissed him off. Maybe Max was right. There was something sinister beneath that puny teen-age body he wore.

"Yes, Michael, you're excused." Nicholas said, dismissing him with a wave of his hand. "And thank you for finding Max. You know how important he is to getting all of us back to Antar."

When Michael left, closing the door behind him, Nicholas turned to Walt and Greer. He was fuming. "I want them watched 24/7. Don't let them out of your sight." Not for a minute had he bought Michael's story that Max was lost. The little shit knew the area like the back of his hand. He wanted nothing more than to kill Michael outright, but the emissary had yet to arrive and it was too early in the game to tip his hand.

~~~~~~~~~

At Chaparral Turnout, the protruding rod in the billboard flickered, one tiny light going out. River Dog smiled. The boy would be ready soon. He took the healing stones from the rawhide pouch and cradled them in his hand. Five stones. One each for the visitors, and one for the girl who had been changed.

TBC

cherie · Post by **cherie** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:50 am

AN: First off, I'd like to thank Liz (LTF) for agreeing to be my Beta and for the wonderful banner she made for this story.

Isn't it gorgeous? Thank you, Liz. Your work is awesome.

LAZZA: I"m so glad you are enjoying this. Thank you.
SYLVIA: Yes, Max is starting to *wake up*....
J: It always makes me smile when you catch the little things that I try to slip into my stories. LOL
DEBBI: Yes, they are all remembering bits and pieces, they just need a small nudge to make the memories really start to surface.
SELENA: I love Michael and Maria. I believe their bond is very strong--different than Max and Liz, yet very solid in it's own way.
FRENCHKISS: All the humans will begin to notice subtle differences in how they remember the days since Maria and Liz went to Dexter.
ELLIE: Max will find a way. Trust me!
MOM: I always cringed when Michael got huffy with Max, so I just thought it would be nice if the worked together to solve this mystery.
MARELI: LMAO! Yes, Nicholas needs to be eliminated, that's for sure.
FSUMSW94: Liz and Maria will get help from Vivian. Thank you for sticking with me.
SCOTTIE: I'm hoping Max and Michael are smarter than Nicholas. The healing stones? Well, maybe they have other purposes .
DOUBLESTUF: Ah, the mystery of the hournal-where is it? Stay tuned, it'll turn up somwhere.
BEHRLYLIZ: Riverdog is indeed very busy.
LIZPARKEREVANS: HI, I'm so happy to see you here. Welcome.
MICA: Thank you so much.
JEN: LOL..River Dog can be sneaky...and very wise.
ALIEN614:Even I had to laugh at Maria reading Ulysses. LOL
SAM-ME: Nice to see you. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
BITC: I love tapping into the background characters that just seemed to vanish. There's so much of them that was left unexplored.
And to all you lurkers..thanks for reading.

Morning Side of the Mountain, Twilight Side of the Hill

Chapter 4

It was a dream of dust and ashes swirling all around him as he walked inside the fire. Tiny flames at first that reached up to skitter across his fingers, growing larger as they danced across his arms, then upwards to his chest. He screamed in agony as the flames licked across his mind..gently in the beginning, then surging violently as the fire grew larger. And the pain. God, the pain was intense. He fell forward as the pressure increased, his body bent at the waist, held in place by the invisible bonds that were holding his wrists behind his back. Someone was pulling his head up....laughing in his face. From the corner of his eye he could vaguely see the bodies of Isabel, Michael and Tess being placed on the floor beneath a row of yellow lockers.

Voices filtered through the haze as he struggled to free himself from the vise that was clutching at his head. He tried desperately to bring the face that peered up at him with disgust written all over it, into focus, but the pain was too much.

"Is he dead?" he heard a woman's voice ask.

"Of course not." a disembodied voice answered back. "As much as I'd like to dispose of His Highness myself, he's our ticket home".

"What about the rest of the brats?" the woman asked again. "Do we need them?"

"No, only the shapeshifter's pawn. She's necessary for the heir Kivar requires." the voice replied.

"So can we kill the Second and the Princess?" another voice asked from far away.

"Not just yet," the voice that was holding his head answered. "I have plans for the lovely Vilandra. And the Second...I'm going to find the utmost pleasure in making him feel important to the mission up to the very last minute." The voice laughed again and even through the pain, he could feel the pent up anger in it. "Then I'll rip his heart out."

He closed his eyes to block out the voices and the pain and the dream began to change. The fire burned out, the flames flickering until they became tiny pinpoints tacked against the black curtain of the night. Shadows lengthened across the desert floor and then he saw her. Wrapped in the innocence of pink taffeta and lace, her hair in pigtails that whirled behind her as she danced. With every spin of her tiny body, she blew him a kiss. He stumbled forward, determined to reach her..to solve the mystery of where she had come from and who she was. He blinked once and she was no longer a little girl, but a young woman.

He stood motionless as she took off her shoes and walked toward him through the sand, kicking at the small mounds with her toes.
The moon that framed her long dark hair became brighter as she moved closer, the night became warmer. She was lovely, with a hidden depth that swirled in her luminous eyes and he knew it was not the moon or the night that warmed him. It was his feeling for her. And then her lips parted...she stood less than a kiss away. He reached for her, stretching out his hand to cup her cheek. He could smell the fragrance of her skin, could see the tiny islands of moles that dotted her collarbone. He lowered his head... so close..so close... and then she turned away, glancing back once over her shoulder as she laughed and danced away from him, then vanished. But her laughter remained... carried on the wind as it slipped around the rocks, rippling softly against the leaves of a few small plants, the tiny petals of their flowers shimmering in the wake of where she had stood only a moment before.

~~~~~~~~

"You're kidding, right?" Isabel asked as she studied Max with narrowed eyes. "How long have we been here? That's easy. Ever since Nicholas rescued us from the FBI and the torture chamber they kept us in." she answered crisply. She could sense something about Max that was off. She had been scared to death when he had stormed out of the compound yesterday and hadn't returned for hours. Even though Michael had finally brought him back late last night and he seemed to be no worse for wear physically, she suspected that his current condition was from not taking the medication as he seemed to be suffering from some sort of delusions. He'd seemed fine for a while this morning until after breakfast and the training session began. Now the four of them were eating lunch and Max had started talking about Indians and little girls and the strange dream he had had last night.

"No, Isabel, I'm not kidding at all." Max said with a hard edge to his voice. "And how long is 'ever since'? Two weeks, a month, a year?" He shifted sideways to look at Tess who was eyeing him curiously as she sat her sandwich down on the napkin in front of her. "Tess, how long do you think we've been here?" he asked.

"I'm not sure, Max." Tess replied, her bright blue eyes darting back and forth between him and his sister. "A long time, I think." She shrugged her shoulders. "Years, maybe."

"Michael?" Max asked.

Michael rolled the bottle of Snapple he'd been nursing back and forth between his palms, staring at the label with interest. "I'd say maybe three, four months at the most. How about you, Max? How long for you?"

"That's what's so weird." Max said his voice catching as he spoke. "Sometimes I feel like I've always been here, then other times, it's like days... or weeks. I don't know. Time doesn't seem to flow normally in this place. And then there's the dreams." He placed his elbows on the table, dropping his head down to rest in his hands. He rubbed his temples trying to bring the remnants of the dream back. The one thing he did remember clearly was the menace in the voices and the feeling of helplessness. His human side might have ignored all the signs that something was not right about the reason they had been brought here, but the alien core inside of him was beginning to recognize that there was more going on beneath the surface than they had been told. He knew Nicholas would side-step any questions he might ask, like he always did, by reminding him of his duty to his people... his destiny with Tess and how grateful he should be that Nicholas and his small band of Skins had arrived to save the day when Max and the others had been captured.

He had to find a way to get to River Dog. There was something about the old man that Max knew instinctively was honest and trustworthy. There were so many thoughts swirling inside his head... the little girl, the dreams... he needed answers. And he had a feeling that the old Indian was the only one who could answer his questions. The sound of Michael's voice drew him back to the conversation at the table.

"I'd be willing to bet it's all that alien technology Nicholas has hooked up to the Granilith that's messing with the time flow." Michael snorted. "When he's not playing with that dumb remote control car of his, Boy Wonder fancies himself to be some sort of computer whiz."

"Just like Alex." Isabel said as her shoulders shook with laughter. Her laughter died when she looked up to find three pairs of eyes staring at her in bewilderment.

"Who's Alex?" Max asked gently, placing his hand on her arm and staring into her eyes.

She stared back at him blankly. "I have no idea." she said in a very quiet voice. She could sense that Max wanted more than that for an answer, but the name had come from nowhere, along with a flash of blue eyes and a crooked smile that belonged to a face from her dreams. She pleaded silently at her brother, with a look that begged him not to ask anymore.

Max cleared his throat to get everyone's attention again and to take the focus away from Isabel. "Next question," he said in a whisper as he became aware of Greer and Walt moving nearer the table where they sat. "Where was the last place you remember being before we came here? For me it was a school. I remember there were lockers."

"I was in a bus." Isabel said. "With Nicholas and Ida."

"A bathroom." Tess replied. "I think I was hiding from something."

"In someone's arms." Michael answered. "And I was telling them goodbye."

"Well, something's not adding up." Max told them in a hushed voice. "If we were all rescued from the FBI at the same time, why do we all have different memories of where we were?"

Greer motioned to the group that it was time to return to the blasting area. The four of them rose from the table to follow him. They practiced for the rest of the afternoon, each of them realizing they were getting stronger and more in touch with the powers they possessed. Michael could pulverize huge boulders now, and his aim was seldom off. Even Tess and Isabel were formidable in their ability to down moving targets. Max had learned to control his shield with a skill that surprised even him. He could bend it around himself, project it outward like a snare to trap unsuspecting victims, and once he had even used it to cushion himself from a fall off a steep ravine.

It was on the way back to the compound that Max finally came to terms with what had to be done. Quickening his stride, he caught up with Tess, placing his arm across her shoulder and pulling her close to his side. When she gave him an incredulous look, he only shook his head and pulled her close enough to whisper in her ear. "Do you trust me?" he asked, noticing how she stiffened at his touch. She nodded slightly, looking down at the ground as Max continued to hold her tight. "I'm not going to take the pill tonight." He watched as her jaw fell open and fear filled her eyes. "Max, you have to." she replied, the fear evident in her voice. "You'll die if you don't. Nicholas said.."

"I don't believe that anymore, Tess." Max said, taking a deep breath. "And I don't think you do either. I didn't take it yesterday and I didn't die." He turned her body around so she faced him, and he couldn't help but notice how closely Walt and Greer were watching the two of them. "I need you to mindwarp Willie tonight when he brings us the medication," he whispered in her ear again. "just long enough to make him think I've taken mine. Will you do that for me?" He could feel her reluctance and he began to rub the small of her back with the palm of his hand, soothing her and sending a wave of reassurance to her. "Please, Tess," he pleaded. "I need you to do this. What kind of a leader would I be if I don't find out what's really going on with Nicholas? And I need to find out why Michael and I have Indians from the reservation following us around...but most of all, Tess, I need to find out what the hell the dreams mean."

He felt the change in her as her body relaxed and she snuggled in closer to him. "Of course I'll help you, Max. But first I want you to kiss me." she said with a smile as she noted the stunned look that flew across his face. "And make it look convincing. I want those two goons standing over there to report back to Nicholas that you and I are growing closer." He glanced to the spot where Greer and Walt stood. When Tess threw her arms around his neck, he tilted her face up and kissed her full on the mouth, not the least bit surprised at the look of satisfaction that crossed the faces of the two Skins. "A fool grasps at straws. A wise man seizes the moment." he heard Tess whisper as she pulled back from the kiss.

She almost laughed at the confused look he shot her. "Just something Buddha said." she told him with a small chuckle.

"Buddha? When did you start quoting Buddha, Tess?" Max asked, still clearly confused.

"I think I knew someone once who had a deep respect for the man and his teachings." she replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "You're not the only one having dreams and fragmented memories, Max." she added.

~~~~~~~~~

The steam rose from the sizzling rocks in the center of the sweat lodge surrounding the two men as they neared the end of the ritual. The cleansing of the mind, body and spirit was essential to prepare themselves for the meeting that was to come. River Dog filled the bowl with water as Eddie's clear voice chanted the mantra that would protect them from the influence of the outside world once the boy arrived. He had passed the test once before. Would he be strong enough to do it again? The old man then drank sparingly from the wooden bowl, passing it to the younger man when he was done. He closed his eyes and prayed for guidance from the Great Spirit for his people, for all the creatures of the earth and for his dear friend Vivian.

TBC

cherie · Post by **cherie** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:35 pm

AN: Once again, I'd like to thank everyone for their feedback. It's such a pleasure to know you are enjoying this.

IMAGINEATNESS: They really don't remember much..yet. They are just starting to question why.
ELLIE: As always, thank you for reading. I always look forward to your feedback.
BITC: And more memories will begin to surface soon.
J: The *boy* is Max.
FSUMSW94: All of them are remembering fraagments of their past now.
FRENCHKISS70: Ah, thank you. I'm so glad you are enjoying this.
ROSWELLSCRIPTER: I like to surprise people. LOL
SELENA: I swear--the kiss was necessary!
MOM: LOL- you always make me blush.
LAZZA: I promise, all your question will be answered..in time.
BEHRLYLIZ: Thank you so much for the compliments.
KITTENS: Nicholas just wants to keep them occupied so they don't ask alot of questions.
DEBBI: Paart of the reason they can't remember is because of the meds, but it's more than that.There's a real big clue in this chapter. I'm sure you'll pick up on it! LOL
ALIEN613: Thank you so much.
THANETTE: I'm so happy to see you here. Thanks for reading.
MARELI: I have a feeling both the aliens and humans will be putting the pieces together soon. What? You don't trust Tess? LOL
56120: Thank you for reading.
DOUBLESTUF: I hope you like this chapter as well.
SCOTTIE: I'm glad you liked Max's dream. Yes, Eddie was the other man.
LTF: Thank you for the bump--and for being such a wonderful Beta. You're a doll.

Morning Side of the Mountain, Twilight Side of the Hill

Chapter Five

Liz was on her way out the door when she heard her father call her name. "Lizzie, I need you to do me a favor." he said as he came out from behind the counter carrying two large envelopes in his hand. "I need you take this one over to Murray Lane for me and drop it off to Diane Evans." he said, indicating the brown envelope. "She needs to confirm the food choices I've made for the dinner party that we're catering for her and her husband next Saturday night."

"Sure, Dad, no problem." Liz replied taking the envelope from him. "What's in that one?" she questioned, pointing to the white envelope he still held in his hand. She could hear the short beeps of the tinny horn and the loud music coming from the Jetta outside the cafe and she laughed when her dad rolled his eyes. "Sorry about that, you know how impatient she gets," she said, as he handed her the envelope.

"I forgot to give this to you yesterday." he replied with a chagrined look on his face. "It's from your Aunt Laura."

"That's okay, Dad." Liz told him as she moved toward the door. " I think it's the pictures she took from last summer when we were at the beach in Pensacola." She gave him a quick wave and ran outside, opening the car door and sliding into the passenger seat. Maria finished singing along with the last verse of the song that was blaring from the radio, then turned to Liz and shrugged her shoulders when the song ended. "You know I love you, Maria, but you couldn't carry a tune in a bucket." Liz chuckled as Maria shot her a look of disbelief.

"I'll have you know that I intend to pursue a music career, Liz." Maria replied with a huff. "Despite the fact that Alex won't even let me within a hundred feet of "The Whits" when they're practicing. And they love me down at the karaoke bar at the Pizza Pan." she emphasized with a flip of her long blonde hair.

"Sure, Maria." Liz laughed. "Listen, I need you to swing by..." she studied the address on the brown envelope, .."6025 Murray Lane. I have to drop something off for my dad. Then we can go to see Madame Vivian."

Liz fiddled with the clasp and the tape on the envelope from her aunt, pulling out several pictures and the letter from inside. She had just begun to go through the pictures when Maria's voice interrupted her. "We're here," Maria said as she pulled the car up to park next to the curb. "6025 Murray Lane."

"I'll just be a minute." Liz replied, opening the car door as she handed Maria the pictures. "Here, look at these while you're waiting. They're from my trip to Florida last summer."

The minute she stepped from the car and looked at the two-story house, a sense of deja vu washed over her. The arbor, covered with ivy that led to the walkway and up to the front door, was so familiar. She touched the leaves lightly with her fingers and felt a chill run down her spine. But it wasn't the front door she headed for. She stepped from the cement onto the lawn and made her way down the narrow passage between the wooden fence and the side of the house to the back yard. Her heart began to pound against her rib cage as she stood in front of the open window.

The slight breeze had pulled the curtains outside and the southwestern pattern of blues and ochre moved with a soft hiss against the panes of glass. Almost as if an invisible force was pulling her forward, she reached out her hand to push them back inside, just barely brushing the windowsill. And then she peeked inside. Her hand flew to her mouth as if to stifle the gasp that came from deep within her. The room was not empty... because she was inside the room with the boy who had saved her life. He was placing a necklace of some sort around her neck as she lowered her head down. She watched herself look up at him and then he rested his forehead on hers.

*Hey… the first moment anything weird happens… anything at all, you come back.*
*I promise*

She backed away from the window with a quick jerk and turned to run. But her path was blocked by an older woman who was eyeing her suspiciously. "Mrs.. Evans?" she managed to squeak out. The woman nodded her head.

"Might I ask what you're doing in my back yard?" Mrs.. Evans questioned as Liz struggled to keep her legs from giving out on her.

"Umm… I -I knocked on the front door and no one answered." she lied. "So I came back here to see if maybe someone was watering the lawn or something." She thrust the envelope into the woman's hand. "I'm Liz Parker… Jeff Parker's daughter from the Crashdown Cafe. I'm supposed to give you this." She bit her lower lip as Mrs.. Evans stared at her with an amused smile on her face.

God, the woman knew she was lying. "Sorry." she whispered as she darted between the woman and the fence, making a beeline for the Jetta.

"Go. Maria, go." Liz commanded as she slid into the car, glancing over her shoulder to see if Mrs. Evans was chasing her. She had to tell Maria about the strange vision she had just had. When the car didn't move, she turned to look at her friend. Maria's eyes were huge and filled with confusion as she continued to flip through the pictures that Liz had left in the car. "What's wrong, Maria?" she asked with concern, reaching out to touch her arm. She felt Maria stiffen in response to the contact.

Maria turned to her then and shoved the pictures at her. "These were taken last summer, right?" Maria asked with a shaky voice. Liz nodded as she took the photos. "You need to look at these real close, Liz." Maria said, shaking her head. "Something really strange is going on here." Liz began to look at the pictures one by one. It wasn't until she saw the one of herself, posing for her Aunt Laura in the tiny string bikini that she'd bought that morning to go the beach, that she realized what Maria was talking about. It was a full frontal pose and her tanned skin glistened from the sunscreen that had been applied to it. She was smiling, her hands on her hips… and there was no scar. Nothing. Her abdomen was as flawless as it had been before she had been shot.

~~~~~~~~

"And just how do you plan on getting out of here to find this guy?" Isabel asked as she moved closer to Max while they walked back to the compound. "After that crap you pulled yesterday, you know that Nicholas isn't going to let you just wander off to talk to some old Indian. You're too important, Max. Everyone's depending on you to get us home once the emissary comes and activates the seal. "When he didn't respond, Isabel tugged at his elbow until he turned to face her. The look he wore was one of defiance, almost anger. It struck her, suddenly, that aside from the few times the four of them had laughed over their mistakes while honing their powers or discussing the events that had brought them to this place after Nicholas had rescued them, they hardly ever talked at all.

She studied her brother carefully. She couldn't remember ever seeing him so emotional or passionate about anything as when he talked about the old Indian or the girl in his dreams. In fact, up until this morning when she had blurted out the name of someone she had obviously known in the past, she couldn't think of a time since they'd been here that any of them had shown emotion or shared their feelings with one another. Sure, it creeped her out that Nicholas looked at her like he wanted to jump her bones. But that was just a feeling, not an emotion. Granted, Nicholas was smart and had kept them safe once they were in his care… but there was this nagging inside her head that screamed that something about him just wasn’t right. The way he kept pushing Max at Tess, for one. And he was mean. She'd seen that more than once when he had punished his own kind if they stepped out of line. And if Nicholas had been on Earth for over fifty years, why hadn't he come for them before the FBI had captured them and taken away their memories? God, there were so many questions whirling around in her mind.

"I've asked Tess to help me." Max answered, jarring her from her thoughts. "There's only Willie to worry about anyway, and Tess can warp him long enough for me to find River Dog. This is important, Isabel. I have to find out what's going on." When he saw the worried look that crossed her face, he reached out and touched her shoulder. "It's not just for me," he said in a soft voice. "It's for all of us. We've been lied to, we're being kept isolated... we've been told nothing about the life we had when we were living among the humans, yet we know everything that Nicholas wants us to know about our life on Antar. And I need to know why. I think"...he hestitated a moment before he continued. "I think we're in danger, Isabel, and River Dog and Eddie are trying to help us."

She shrugged her shoulders helplessly. If she knew one thing about Max, it was that he was single minded when it came to protecting them. And deep in her heart, she knew he was right. Something was out of kilter. Even Michael and Tess were acting strangely. And the kiss between Max and Tess that she had observed at lunch had been a real shocker. Her brother had done everything in his power to avoid being around Tess and now they were kissing? And plotting mindwarps together so that Max could avoid taking the medication and sneak off the compound? She studied the bright pink polish on her fingernails and wondered vaguely why it was so important to her that she kept repairing it when there was no one who cared how she looked or dressed. Why was the need to be fashionable and color coordinated so vital to her when all she ever did was eat, sleep, and play the stupid war games that Nicholas insisted were paramount to their survival on returning to Antar?

"Whatever, Max." she replied with resignation as she folded her arms and watched him sigh in relief. "Just be careful"

~~~~~~~~~~~

Nicholas had gone from being extremely pleased with the report from Greer that Max and Tess had moved forward in their relationship by actually kissing to being livid with anger over the latest news that two of the rings in the time displacement device had blinked out. Ida and Walt watched him with trepidation as he paced restlessly in front of the billboard where the rod protruded outward. They both took a step backward when he turned to them, his face red with rage and his voice filled with venom. " This needs to be repaired. I want you two to go to Copper Summit and bring me the materials to fix it. Now." he hissed when neither one of them moved.

"There's nothing left in Copper Summit to fix it with, son." Walt replied shakily. "Everything was destroyed when the Harvest was lost."

"Bullshit." Nicholas screamed. "There's got to be something left. I want you to go through the rubble and bring me back anything you can find. Search the house as well; go through Vanessa's belongings. I'm sure that sneaky bitch had a backup plan of her own." He couldn't help but notice the flicker of remembrance that filled Ida's eyes at the mention of his *sister*. He snorted in disgust as his hatred for Vanessa rose to the surface. His hatred for all of those who had survived. For the husks that they wore. Everyone… everyone but he had been given grown up bodies and he'd been stuck in this pitiful body of an adolescent boy. Well, that would change as soon as they returned to Antar. He'd be whole again. And strong and respected, just like he had been before.

"One more thing." he told Walt as they walked toward the car. "I want you to go to Roswell. Find out where Courtney lived and go through her things as well. Maybe she left behind something I can use to repair the device."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Jesus, Willie, you look like shit." Michael said as the tall Skin wheeled in the cart that held their dinner trays. "You look like you need a couple of hours in the moisturizing chamber." Michael didn't particularly like the guy, but for some reason he couldn't quite figure out, the Skin seemed to like him. More like hero worship, Max had told him, after observing how Willie followed him around and always made sure he had everything he asked for; extra bottles of Tabasco, an unlimited supply of Snapple, always a larger slice of cake than anyone else. And he was a little slow. Tess had suggested that perhaps Willie had been given a human husk that might have been slightly retarded. He certainly wasn't the brightest crayon in the box.

"I can't go there yet." Willie told him with a small smile. "I have to wait until tomorrow." He shuffled around the table, setting the covered trays in front of each of them. "Eat." he told them as he turned and walked away to stand by the door.

Michael took the small bottle of water off his tray and offered it to the Skin. "Here, drink this," he said gruffly. "You look like you could use it more than I can." Willie just shook his head no and Michael couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy. His face was red and blotchy from where the skin had peeled away and he had scratched himself unmercifully. He wore a long-sleeved shirt, but Michael could tell by the way he was rubbing his arms that he was itching underneath. He sensed that Willie was being punished for letting Max slip through the perimeter yesterday afternoon. God, Nicholas was such a Bastard. There were only sixteen Skins left of the hundred that had originally come to Earth and Nicholas treated them like they were shit to be scraped from the bottom of his shoes.

Tess couldn't help but think it was a blessing in disguise. With Willie being in his current weakened condition, he'd be easier to warp and make it look like Max had taken his pill. And later… when Max was ready to leave, she'd warp him just enough to make it look like Max was sleeping in his bed.

None of them expected the words that the Skin spoke next. "I know what you're planning," he declared, pointing to Tess. "But you don't have to mindwarp me." His eyes focused next on Michael. "You helped someone I cared about once...and now I'm going to help you."

TBC

cherie · Post by **cherie** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 11:32 pm

Hi, all...I cannot even begin to say how much I appreciate your patience and understanding. Things are looking up right now, the flood is over, my internet is back up and running..and I'm getting better day by day. Thank you all for reading. If you guys get a chance, check out the first page of my author's thread. Jen, (BORDERINSANITY) made me some beautiful banners for some of the very first stories I ever wrote.(before I even knew about banners LOL) You rock, girl! And thank you, Liz,(LONGTIMEFAN) for being the awesome beta that you are.

SCOTTIE
CME
DOUBLESTUF
ITSABITS
SMOKIE
FSUMSW94
BEHRSGIRL77
ROSWELLIANPRINCESS16
BELLEVNDREAMSTOO
BORDERINSANITY
ALIENMOM
IAMALONGTIMEFAN
MARELI
FRENCHKISS70
ICEQUEEN
ITZSTACIE
ELLIE
BEHRINTHECITY
MICHELLEINYONKERS
and THOSE WONDERFUL LURKERS

I'll catch you all induvidually next chapter. Thanks for sticking with me.

Morning Side of the Mountain, Twilight Side of the Hill

Chapter Six

Michael wasn't sure how to respond to Willie's statement. He couldn't remember ever having helped anyone that Willie might have known. Aside from Walt and Greer and occasionally Ida, Michael did his best to steer clear of the Skins. And only Willie seemed to pay any attention to him at all... other than Nicholas, of course. There were daily progress reports that had to be presented and analyzed, and preparations to be made for the coming of the emissary. It was Michael's job to make the Foursquare a formidable force if they were to reclaim their home planet from Kivar. He was Second in Command, the King's right hand man, and he took his job seriously.

"What are you talking about, Willie?" Michael asked in a tone of disbelief as he took a step towards the Skin. " And what makes you think we're planning anything?"

"I'm not as stupid as you think I am." Willie replied, his voice low and steady. "I know about the Indians from the Reservation that watch out for you, and I know Max is planning on leaving the compound tonight to see the old one. I hear things. In here." he said, tapping the side of his head with his finger. "And if Max is going to go, now is the time. Ida and Walt have been sent on a mission. Greer, Nicholas and the others will be in the Moisturizing chamber for a few hours. You need to leave now," he said, turning to Max.

"Courtney. Her name was Courtney. And you loved her, didn't you?" Isabel said quietly, raising her eyes to look at Willie. The shadow that passed across his tired eyes made her want to comfort him. She realized with a jolt then that the Skins had feelings. Up until now, she had only thought of them as mindless servants to Nicholas and his mission to get them all back to Antar. She had looked down on them as lesser beings than herself because she was Royalty. God, what was the matter with her? In the back of her mind she remembered laughter and a birthday cake surrounded by presents, and someone was dancing in a policeman's uniform. Then it was dark, and she and Tess were running, hiding, scared out of their minds. Max's voice brought her back, but she could still feel the terror of that memory and her heart was beating at a rapid rate. She looked at Tess and could see the same fear in her eyes. Was she remembering, too?

"How can I be sure you're not setting us up?" Max asked as he rose from the table, touching Isabel's shoulder in comfort as he passed her and walked toward Willie. "Maybe this is some sort of trick that will get you back into Nicholas's good graces after the mistake you made by letting me get away from the compound the other night."

Willie backed up as far as he could against the door, raising his arms upward, then dropping them to his sides in frustration. "I swear this is not a trick. I want to help. And trust me, Your Majesty, you’re going to need all the help you can get." He looked Max straight in the eye as he reached into his pocket, retrieving the four pills that were inside a plastic packet. He closed his fist around them, a slight glow shimmered for a moment, then he held the packet out to Max. The pills were gone. "You never needed the medication." he said. "You can breathe earth's air just fine. Their only purpose was to suppress your memories. Nicholas doesn't want you to remember anything about your lives before you came here." His voice took on a sudden sense of urgency. "You need to go...now! I'll tell the others what little I can while you're gone."

"Go, Max." Michael said, pushing Willie aside and peeking out the door to see if anyone was outside. "Find River Dog. I'll take care of things here. And be careful."

Max nodded, pausing for a moment as he reached out to touch Willie's shoulder. "Thank you," he said sincerely before he stepped outside into the darkness.

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

Max made his way cautiously along the edge of the compound until he reached the deserted town. He took one longing glance at the old cafe before sprinting down the road where he had last seen River Dog with the little girl in his arms. He was thankful he was in good shape physically since it was at least five miles to the reservation. The sprint turned into a full-fledged run as he headed toward his destination. He slowed his pace a little as he passed the sign that declared he was now entering the Mesaliko Indian Reservation, then slowed to a walk as he came closer to a hut where three men were talking. If they seemed surprised to see him, they didn't show it. The two older of the men turned and left, leaving Max alone with a younger man of about thirty who motioned for him to come closer. Max took a hesitant step forward, almost sure he had seen this person before. He shook his head a bit when his own voice rang in his ears.

*friggin Eddie*

"You're Eddie, aren't you?" he asked. "You're the one that's been watching Michael?"

"Yes." Eddie replied. "Come. We must go. River Dog is waiting for you." He turned sharply and began to walk away, leaving Max no choice but to follow. Max waited for Eddie to say something, anything... but the man didn't seem inclined to talk at all. Max still wasn't sure this was a good idea, but something deep inside him told him he could trust this man. As they made their way through the brush, Max had the strangest feeling that he had made this trek before. But he hadn't been alone. There had been someone else with him. Someone he had cared about and felt the need to protect. He was trying so hard to remember that he almost ran into Eddie's back as they approached the entrance of what appeared to be a cave. He had definitely been here before.

*let her go*
*you have passed the test*

Eddie stepped aside, and Max bent down to enter the cave. It was dark and Max wondered if Eddie had brought some kind of light with him so they could see where they were going. He waited a few minutes for the other man to come inside then realized that he had been left there alone. He made his way back to the cave entrance, peering out, but there was no one in sight. Eddie was gone.

He cupped his hands together, pulling just enough energy from his palms to create sufficient light to guide his way through the darkness and toward the back of the cave. He knew the old man was there. He could sense his presence and knew that he was waiting. As he walked, the walls of the cave began to expand and he found himself inside a large room. His attention was drawn to the east wall and the strange writing and symbols that had been etched into the cool gray stone. Moving closer, he shifted his hands so the light would allow him to see better. Just as he was leaning forward to study the writings, the cave flared to life with a dull yellow glow and Max could smell the smoke from the torches as he turned to face River Dog.

The old man placed the torches he was holding into the crevices of rock that seemed to have been carved just for that purpose. He then nodded at Max by way of greeting and proceeded to sit on the dirt floor of the cave, cross-legged before a small fire that glowed brightly in a circle of stones. With a wave of his arm, he motioned for Max to join him. As Max sank to the floor, River Dog reached to his side and lifted a wooden bowl that held what looked like water and offered it to Max. "Drink." he said, as his eyes searched the young man's face.

Max lifted the bowl to his lips, drinking deep. After his long run to reach the reservation, he hadn't realized how thirsty he was. When he was finished, he handed the bowl back to River Dog, and the old man took a drink as well, then set the bowl back down. Max could feel the sweat on his palms and rubbed his hands nervously against his jeans as the old man scrutinized him. It was almost as if River Dog was reaching inside his mind… touching his innermost thoughts. He cleared his throat and tried to sound authoritative.

"I'm here, let's talk." he said gruffly, immediately feeling ashamed of himself for it. He was tired… and worried for Michael, Isabel and Tess. And even Willie. If Nicholas discovered he was gone, everyone would pay. But even more, he needed answers to the questions that were weighing heavily on his mind.

River Dog seemed unaffected by his tone. "It is good to see you again." he said quietly, the deep timbre of his voice sending a wash of calm over Max. "And to share the water of life with you again, as well."

"Again?" Max questioned. "What do you mean again? Did I know you before..." he hesitated, not sure how to broach the question."..before Nicholas brought us here? “Do you know what I am? Who I am?" The old man said nothing, only nodded as he proceeded to cast what appeared to be some sort of powder on the small fire. Within moments, wispy delicate swirls of blue smoke began to weave their way around the two figures sitting in the cave.

Max looked again toward the east wall and saw himself standing there, with Isabel and River Dog and three other people; a blonde girl who looked very distraught, a tall boy with a crooked smile, who was clearly nervous, and the dark haired girl from his dream. Inside a painted circle lay Michael, his body covered in some sort of webbing. River Dog passed the bowl of water around to each of them, pausing when he came to the dark haired girl. She was frightened and took a step back. Max could feel the fear pounding in her heart, but it was not for Michael. It was for him. He smiled at her in understanding as he accepted the stone that River Dog handed him. He cupped it in his hands as the others did, and they began to chant.

He fixed his eyes on Michael, the monotone of the chant thrumming inside his head… and without warning, the cave, the wall, the fire and the old man all faded away and he was outside in the bright sunlight reaching for Michael's hand. For a moment, they were children… he, Michael and Isabel. Then they were grown, walking hand-in-hand across the desert floor. It was almost as if some strange force was painting a picture for him to see. There was a shift in the air as the scene faded and he was suddenly standing at the entrance to the pod chamber, the rock towering above him, the stars dancing across the expanse of the night sky. He looked around cautiously and then he saw her. She stood with her arms reaching out to him, her brown eyes glistening with tears.

"You told me you would come, Max." she whispered. A cold gust of wind blew across the space that separated them, and without warning a sudden bolt of lightning split the air and an opening appeared. It shimmered like ripples on water and she rushed through it quickly and flung herself into his arms. He felt a rush of love as he held her trembling body close. He could feel her heart beating as he bent to kiss her lips. They were sweet and warm and real against his own. He smelled the soft perfume of her hair as it slipped through his fingers, and he cradled her face in his hands, losing himself in the sensation that he had kissed her before... in another lifetime, another reality. "Liz...your name is Liz." he murmured as he drew back to look into her eyes. And then she was gone, his arms were empty, and he was back in the cave with River Dog as the blue smoke from the fire swirled around him.

"What the hell was that?" Max asked, his voice shaking as he stared at River Dog in confusion. "What's happening to me?" His mind was reeling from all the scenes that had played out in his head, and he could still feel the softness of her body in his arms.

"Memories." River Dog said with a hint of sadness in his voice. "Memories that were stolen along with your life by the one you call Nicholas. He has tricked you."

"What..." Max opened his mouth to speak, but the old man raised his hand to silence him. "You do not belong here. You need to find your way back to the place where you came from." he said calmly, as he looked into Max's eyes with the smallest hint of a smile.

"I know that I don't belong here." Max said in frustration. "If you know who I am and what I am, then you must also know that we are only trying to return to our home." He rose from the floor of the cave and began to pace restlessly in front of the small fire. "We'll be leaving in a few days, the perimeters will be gone and your lives can return to normal."

"You misunderstand." River Dog replied as he stood up and placed his hand on Max's arm. "This is your home. But it is not your time. You do not belong here."

Max raked his hand through his hair, clearly unnerved by the old man's statement. " I don't have a clue what you're talking about," he said forcefully. He had to make the old Indian understand. "This is not my home. I'm not even from this planet." He waited for the old man to back away from him in terror and run from the cave after his revelation that he really was an alien. Instead River Dog just shrugged his shoulders and sat back down by the fire staring into its flames.

His voice was hushed when he spoke again. "Part of that is true. You were not created here. But part of who you are came from this world. And you rested inside the heart of Mother Earth for over forty years while she nourished you and kept you safe from harm until you emerged and became a part of our society. I know you do not remember and that is why I must help you." He shifted slightly, looking up at Max. He sighed as he continued. "Many years ago, my people walked a trail of tears and suffered greatly for their differences. To this very day, we still must answer for what our ancestors believed in; that the earth belonged to all the people, to be shared and to be treated with respect. This Nicholas will not treat the earth with respect. He will bring destruction from the sky and along with it, another trail of tears that all humanity will have to walk if he is not stopped. He is using you to further his own agenda. Do you understand?" He lowered his head until his chin rested on his chest and waited for Max to answer.

Max was stunned. He realized with a start that he had absolutely no idea what his life, their lives, had been like before Nicholas had brought them here. And he had just accepted everything that Nicholas had told him and never questioned it. He studied the old man quietly then sat down again across from him. He warmed his hands over the fire for a moment then reached over to touch River Dog on the shoulder. "I'm sorry," he said. "I'm just confused about what's happening. I need to understand what the dreams I've been having, mean. You need to tell me everything. But most of all… I need to know who Liz is. Will you tell me who she is?" he asked, his voice full of longing as he remembered the kiss from the vision he had been part of earlier.

"I will tell you what I know," River Dog replied. "And to put your heart at ease, I can tell you there is another who is helping Liz to remember as well."

*******

Maria drove the road to Madame Vivian's house almost in a daze, occasionally sneaking glances at Liz to watch her as she rested her head back against the seat with her eyes closed. Her breathing was shallow but even and she seemed to be sleeping. It wasn't until she pulled the car to a stop that she realized Liz was not sleeping. Her eyes were wide open, blank and devoid of any life at all. Maria shook uncontrollably as she fought against the seat belt. As she extended her arm to shake Liz, the door to the driver's side was yanked open and a hand clamped solidly around her wrist. "Don't touch her, Maria." Madame Vivian's voice said softly. "Her body is here, but her soul is traveling in another place. If you break the connection, she may not be able to return."

TBC

cherie · Post by **cherie** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:22 am

Hello, everyone...I just wanted to give you fantastic people a heads up as to why I've been so far behind in this story. I know my updates have been sporadic, to say the least..but when I started this one, I had no idea that it was going to be this way.

Anyway..to make a long story short, as some of you know, I've been taking chemo since October for non-hodgkins lymphoma, which I've been dealing with for 12 years. Things were going quite well, until they discovered a large mass about the size of lemon hidden behind some scar tissue in my lower lobe of the left lung. Unfortunately, surgery is the only answer for this newest problem.

I had my trip to Houston and Austin planned months ago, and the doctors have given me the go ahead. I plan to spend some downtime with my family, as well as to meet up with my dear Roswell friends and make some good memories.

When I return on the 21st, surgery will not be long after..So I am going to make lemonade out of my lemon. During my recovery, I plan to write, write, write..and get Morningside finished..work on Flames From a Bridge Left Burning and my TAT story.

Added bonus...I'm going to have to wear this wonderful brace, because they are taking some ribs as well as the lower portion of my lung. It sort of looks like an aqua bra,(aka Maria) so I'm going to have major cleavage. Don't know what the hell I'll use it for, though.

Don't give up on me..I have never left a story unfinished, and I plan to post a chapter from my sister's in Houston. I write because I love Roswell, because I have made so many wonderful friends because of it, and it has given me the opportunity to travel and to meet so many of you, but mostly I write for you. In my darkest hours, your kind words, wonderful feedback and genuine interest in my work has been humbling, and I wanted to thank each and everyone of you.

It is an honor to know I have touched people with my words. Along with my family, you are the light in my life.

Love you all,

Cherie

Post by **Kath7** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:20 am

HI everyone,

Because of the seriousness of cherie's condition, and because we know people want to stay updated, we have opened a news thread on the Announcements forum. Please head there for any updates.

Kath