Again (CC, Mature) - Chapter 60 - 10/30/2025

[Parker1947]

Meanwhile,
Earlier,
Balcony above the Crashdown,

The child should have been sleeping. Since she came back upstairs, creeping upstairs, and past her grandmother’s bedroom because her grandfather was still downstairs dealing with the Sheriff. She still wanted to be downstairs, because she knew something was up. She sensed it more than about her friends going missing.

While she worried about Ella and Noah. She also knew that her friends could take care of themselves because she had seen them display impressive power, even if she was still oblivious to all they could do. She was like the general public who really did not know what was going on in the inner sanctum of a very special group.

She knew her mother, but she did not know all her mother could do because Liz had kept most of her abilities that she had gained on that very first day when everything changed for her, dormant. She had kept everything close to the vest because she was afar from Roswell, and she could not let it out.

And she had not really come to terms with it. She also figured if she was not in Roswell, no need to use it. Although some of what she could do was handy in getting through some sticky situations but mostly she let it go dormant, and therefore her daughter would not know what made her mother special.

Instead, she was restless. She could not sleep. She had tried when she had come back into her bedroom. But she found it was hard. Her mind was too full. Worried about her friends, and her mother.

So, she crept through the window to the balcony and was getting some fresh air, and watching the dead of the night activity, and climbing up onto to edge, and looking down. With no one present to tell her to get down. She was taking advantage of it.

She knew her grandfather was still down there, and she saw a car stop in front it. And two men getting out, and she knew one of them more than the other. “Whoa” she whispered, because she saw that it was Ella’s father.

The one who is supposed to be dead she thought with a smirk. She knew she was supposed to be keeping the fact that he was actually alive to herself, and she had, and therefore she had mostly convince herself that he truly was dead, because she and Ella or Noah had not really talked about it. But then it had only been mere hours since it had come out and shocked everyone.

And now she was seeing Ella’s father with her own eyes and knew everything was different. “If he’s here,” she whispered. “Where is Mommy?” she asked of her mother’s whereabouts, which was confusing her.

“Where is Mommy?” she muttered once more.

*

Moments before,

Max did not know this. As he and Michael had gotten in the car when Jim did not show up at the department where they had gone to meet up with him. Time was ticking down, and he was truly worried about where his children were. And because he knew Yvonne had them. He did not care whether his mother did not think that his maybe wife was capable of this, but given what she had tried to do him, well, Max could not rule it out. She is capable of anything he knew. So, the plan had to meet Jim at the office and figure out where to go from there.

Because it was not like they could take it to the airwaves given his currently dead status, which was supposed to be keeping him on the downlow. And not something he could advertise until this was all over.

“Anything from Maria?” Max said as they had been in the car, and heading up the street the mere minutes it would take. Since, despite the time of night. It was not he could be seen walking around.

So, the car was the answer.

“Nope,” Michael said softly as he had growing concern of the situation. “We know there is parts of the town and their outer limits that still have spotty cell service.”

“Unfortunately,” Max said as it might well into a new millennium, but their small town was still small and in the older days for parts of it. As it would take time to truly upgrade.

“Maybe Jim knows?” Max muttered, as they got out of the car, and they did not notice a blonde looking down as she sat on the ledge, and looked down and with surprise recognized Max. They had other things in their mind.

“Let us hope,” Max said softly. “We know Yvonne is capable of anything and my children are certain small and mighty, but they are only nine” he said of their recent birthday, which was something he had missed.

And prayed that he would be able to see many more birthdays to come. I have already missed so much more, don’t make me miss anything more as the walked to the door, and found it locked, but like any good alien from another planet, they used their abilities to unlock the door, and walk in.

*

Inside,
The Crashdown,

“It’s blurry” Jim was saying as he was looking at the footage. And sighing because the footage did not tell them much that they already did not know. “We see a car, but not enough to be able to see whether it was Yvonne’s car, so, we can’t see anything more” he muttered and ruing the fact they did not have more resources, or technology to really get a sense. Not that he knew that he probably would get any answers.

Everything was eluding them which is very frustrating he thought as he checked his messages and found a message from Amy updating him on Sean’s condition. Which was holding on. Amy’s sister was flying down to bring her son back when he was stable.

Amy was back at the house.

Jim knew he should be heading home, to be able to support her, but he also knew he was Sheriff and that meant that he had to be here, for this, because he had no idea what was going to happen. Everything was colliding into something.

Something he did not know the meaning of.

As they heard the door open, and in walk Max and Michael. “Max?” Jim said quickly. “What are you doing?” he asked as Jeff was quick up, and the look of surprise, and yet not one also meant that Jeff was expecting this to happen. No word was uttered at how the men were able to get inside a locked restaurant.

“You didn’t show up at the Department, we were waiting?” Max said softly.

“Got stuck here,” Jeff said quickly.

“Jeff,” Max said deferential to Liz’s father.

“Where is my daughter?” Jeff saw with a glare.

“I don’t know,” Max said softly. “She was fine when I last saw her.”

“And that is the problem, isn’t it” Jeff muttered. “She got mixed up with you, now she headed off to deal with your wife.”

“I didn’t ask her to do that,” Max said. “I want to be dealing with Yvonne myself. Because she took my kids, and I don’t know where they are. Jeff, they could be anywhere, and I am worried for them, and for Liz” he muttered. “I wanted to be the one to deal with it.”

“Yeah…” Jeff muttered.

“Yes,” Max said. “I didn’t want her to be doing this. I wanted to protect her,” he said softly. “I know what Yvonne is capable, and I don’t want her hurt your daughter,” he murmured. “I don’t want to be doing anything to hurt Liz.”

“You should have thought that before now,” Jeff said with a lot of resentment over the tricky situation his daughter was in. She might be too old for me to do anything, but I can certainly say my piece. “You were married. You should have stayed away from my daughter,” he said. “Until you dealt with your wife.”

“I love her,” Max said simply. It was always hard to stay away from her he knew.

But he also knew Jeff was right. He had brought this on himself. If only he thought.

“Guys, lets leave the past or to another time” Jim murmured as he came into the conversation. “Talking about the past does not solve what is going on now. As far as we know, Liz is perfectly safe” he said even though he knew that he probably should not put that particular qualifier on his words as Michael simply sighed and nodded agreement, just as his phone rang and he took it, and left the room. Unsure of who would be on the other end.

“Fine,” Jeff said with a glare.

“All I want to do is find my children,” Max said softly. “And bring them home. Jeff, they are only nine years old. Yvonne, Liz and I are adults, and we will deal with this ourselves,” he muttered, even though he knew part of the problem was that we were not dealing it ourselves, as we allowed it to get this point. “But I won’t have it affect my children more than they already have been.”

“I guess our children matter more,” Jeff said. “No matter the age,” he said as placed that emphasis on it, as he looked at Max who only nodded. Jeff chose not to say anything more. “We haven’t found anything,” Jim murmured. “Jeff has surveillance, but its blurry and we are unable to identify if Yvonne car was seen, or where they were going. Several cars were going by, despite the hour.”

Max nodded, knowing that the Sheriff department of Roswell was not the most up to date. Which is why he liked it. Because he liked the simplicity of it. He did not want a flashy town. He wanted Roswell.

So, he knew the downside of it and was facing it right now.

As Michael came into the room. “I know where they are…”

“Where?” Max said.

“That was Maria,” Michael said. “She, Kyle and Liz are fine” she said. “They are out by the caves,” he said simply to Jim who nodded. “Yvonne is there with the kids. When she called, Yvonne was trying to grab Ella. Noah is hiding. Apparently, the car somehow stopped nearby, and the kids got out of the car, and started running.”

“Shit,” Max said. “I have to get out there.”

“Let’s us go,” Michael said. “Jim?”

“Go, I will call Amy and head out there myself” Jim said softly. “It’s still my jurisdiction.”

“Sean?” Max asked as he was reminded of the calamity that had occurred to Amy’s nephew.

“Stable,” Jim said simply. “Go, find your children.”

“Thank you,” Max said softly. “I will call Isabel on the way. She was staying at the house in case somehow the children ended up at home.”

Both men nodded, as they all knew the collision that was long was coming, was now enviable. There is no going back now.

They just prayed that there were no further casualties.

*

Max and Michael ran out of the Crashdown and got into the car. And started the car and quickly started to drive. “Yvonne better not have done anything,” he would say as Michael “Those kids are my everything” he whispered. I know it appears I have only been about Liz he thought, but I love Ella and Noah, and they need to be okay.

“They are strong kids,” Michael said. “They will be fine.”

“They better be,” Max said as they continued to drive. “After all this, I cannot lose them when this is all my fault.”

“All of us have played a role in this story,” Michael muttered. “Yvonne has gotten this far because we have allowed her too,” he said softly. “We should have dealt with her way before this.”

“As I was saying,” Max muttered.

“But this is the end of this,” Michael said. Just what we will find at the end, I don’t know, but this has to be the end of this he thought. “We will end this,” he said again.

“I hope to god,” Max sighed. “I know I don't believe in god.”

“But on a day like this,” Michael said as they continued to drive, and were getting in a rhythm of their driving.

“Why don’t you believe in god?” came a small voice. A voice that should not be in the car, or in the vicinity. And it screwed with the men, as they whipped or stared with astonishment.

“Jesus Christ Callie” Max said as he immediately recognized Callie Jean Parker.

Liz’s daughter.

“What the hell are you doing in here?” he would ask. “You should be back at the apartment.”

“I say I am listening to you taking God’s name in vain,” Callie smiled. “Or taking about that other place too,” she said as she popped up into the conversation. After hiding in the car. Because once she saw Ella and Noah’s father head into speak with her grandfather, she was worried about her mother. So, she wondered if her mother staying in the car.

Why she would, she did not know. But it needed checking.

Even if she was only eight.

“I was looking for my Mommy,” Callie said. “And last I heard was that she was with you, and I saw you going to talk to my grandfather” she said. “Where is my Mom?” she asked. “I miss my Mommy.”

That rendered Max and Michael speechless. Because they were dealing with a child.

As they quickly had to try to figure out how to deal with the stowaway as they continued to drive, and it was more than a half hour later that they were able to get out there, because you get places when you are speeding in the middle of the night, with no traffic.

Only to arrive at the scene, to a brawl.

“You bitch” one woman said to the other. As they were on the ground fighting…

“What the hell” Max thought as he looked at his best friend while Callie was sound asleep in the backseat and missing the whole show.

And then there was a gap, and then a gunshot…

Bang.

[Parker1947]

Slightly earlier,
Near the caves,
Out in the desert,

There was a showdown. Long in coming. The participants did not like each other and that was obvious, beyond obvious and they were staring at each other after Yvonne got up off her butt. Thankfully for them all, Ella had quickly become conscious and was able to get up with no worst for wear. Although she was exhibiting the beginning of a shiner on her face.

Which meant anger was in the air.

Lots of it.

“How could you do that?” came the storm of the women outraged. “She’s just a child” Liz was saying to the woman she could not stand. “We don’t hit children,” she would utter.

Of course, the feeling was more than mutual. Because none of the participants in this little discussion liked each other. But it was more than mutual for Yvonne and Liz who were staring at each other as Maria welcomed the small child to her side, as she quickly checked the girl for any signs of injury. Which Ella was trying to wiggle out of. “Aunt Maria I am fine” she thought of her godmother. Sure, it stings, but I can handle it she thought. “I am fine.”

“I’ll be a judge of that” Maria said as she glared at Yvonne. “Liz is right, how could you do that to a child.”

“She has a mouth,” Yvonne muttered as if they explained such an unwarranted abusive action towards a child, it did not. “She not a simple child. She more than deserved it.”

“Thank god, she is she who she is” both Liz and Maria would say, we like her free spirit, which only infuriated Yvonne more. “But no, she did not deserve it. So, you are mad at her father fine, Max deserves your unhappiness,” Maria said, as she looked at her best friend. “Or some of it, but you don’t take it out on a child.”

“I can do whatever I want to do,” Yvonne said. “Max hurt me.”

Maria looked as if she was going to burst out laughing but also vomit at the notion that there was any love between Max and Yvonne even in the beginning Maria thought. Of course, Liz had not been here in the beginning, but she had the gut feeling that there was no love involved. As Maria snickered. “I don’t think there was very much hurt was there?” Maria asked.

“That is none of your business,” Yvonne said. “You are trash.”

“No, you are…” Maria said.

Of course, this was not the time to get into a battle of, ‘But you are’ as Liz could only shake her head. “It is our business when you try to kill Max,” Liz said, giving up the charade that Max was supposed to be dead. Because everyone knew the truth, and it was obvious because Yvonne would not struck out against the children if she thinks Max is still dead, she will think. “And kidnap the children to get a payday?”

“I didn’t kidnap the children. They were at a bus stop,” Yvonne muttered. “Obviously wanting to runaway,” she said to the glare of Kyle. “That certainly says something about the parenting that you and Isabel are doing for them. Maybe I should be going to the authorities, and reporting to them if I had not caught up to them, that they might be a different state by now?”

“Hell no,” Ella demanded. “Aunt Isabel and Kyle are the best” she said as Kyle could only smile, but glare also at Yvonne at the hogwash being uttered. Which was something that no one was believing. “They are taking great care of me and Noah until Daddy comes back to us.”

“Don’t worry Ella,” Maria smiled. “There is no authority that will give Yvonne here any level of custody” Maria muttered. “Assuming it is even in dispute, so, don’t even think that you could have done it.,” she said with a look at Yvonne. “Of course, it all a moot point, isn’t it?” she asked as she stared at Kyle who was standing there glaring at the woman. “You are not even married to Max, are you?” she asked, and that got a perk up from Ella who took a lot of interest in it, even if she did not really understand the grittiness of it. “So, you have even less rights than you would have had.”

“Yes, we were” Yvonne said softly in a weak protest. “We have a marriage certificate to show for it.”

“I don’t think so” Maria smiled. “A marriage certificate filled out with incomplete information,” she said with smirk. “Because we have word that you are married to someone else,” she asked. “What do you think a judge will say to that?”

“I was with Max for six years” Yvonne demanded, ignoring the implications of what Maria was saying, Of course, I cannot have it taken to a court room.

Maria laughed openly. “Maybe, but New Mexico does not recognize common law, and if you committed a crime by knowingly try to marry Max for his money, when you knew you were already married. Which I think we all know you did, that means that it will be easy to prove” she said to the anger of Yvonne. “Give it up,” she smiled. “We are so onto you.”

“I will not” Yvonne with anger rising. “I was with that fool for six years. He deserves to pay me what I deserve.”

“She’s obsessed with money,” Ella observed.

Maria, Liz and Kyle laughed. You are right, she is they would think.

“Then pass your inheritance to me if you don’t want your money” Yvonne muttered to the child who only shook her head.

“That’s not going to happen” Liz said softly, thank god she’s only nine years and officially, she does not have the money yet. “Money does not solve everything you know.”

“In this society, it buys everything” Yvonne muttered. “I deserve the money Max owes me”

“What you deserve, that is rich” Liz said softly. “Max does not owe you anything. You made him miserable,” she said. “You tried to kill him.”

“The fuck, it did not work because yes, the fool should be dead?” Yvonne muttered. “Who survives those bullets?” she muttered. I saw his eyes close, and the last breath she thought. He should be dead.

“Daddy does,” Ella said proudly.

And Liz and Maria could only smile. And it was not just this time they both knew. Given Max had history of defying the odds when he should be dead.

Even when you go into ash, you somehow survive.

They beauty of being Max Evans they would think.

Yvonne did not think it was such a beauty as she sent daggers at the woman responsible. In her mind at least. “It’s all because of you,” Yvonne said with venom as she shot more and more daggers at Liz. “I had him tethered to me, because of those brats” she said as she focused on Ella who did not respond to her stepmother bad mouthing her. “If you had not come back,” she muttered. “He would not have changed his will…”

“He would have saw through you, eventually” Liz smiled. “He didn’t need me,” she smiled. “He was waking up,” she said. “It something he always does. Sometimes too late for there not to be consequences, but he does wake up.” she thought of the one other time he had woken up after a spell. Way too late she thought, and we were faced with consequences galore she thought. “He did not need me to help him,” she said. “He only needed me to love him. To believe in him.”

“That is shit,” Yvonne muttered. “We had something, and you got him to cheat on me” she said. “When I take it to a judge.”

“But you will not, will you?” Kyle asked, coming into the conversation as Ella stood by. “You are not legally married. And you have committed a crime or two in this story” he said with a smile. “Max does not owe you a thing. Any judge will thank Liz for intervening before it was too late,” he said with an intention to enflame Yvonne.

“This is all your fault.,” Yvonne muttered as she glared at Liz.

“No, it is your fault” Liz muttered.

“You bitch,” Yvonne said as she came running at Liz, and Liz had enough time to steel herself, but still she went flying to the ground, but put her hands up in defense and an electric pulse came out of her hands, and it was as if was a static or charge against Yvonne, and it was something noticed by Maria and Kyle.

And Ella.

Shit the adults would think.

But Ella just looked at it with awe, because she had never seen someone else be able to do something like that because she and Noah had not been open with their family about all they could do because once the abilities had come in, we knew to be quiet she thought because they had been taught that our differences might not be acceptable to those in the general public.

And the adults had not wanted to broach the subject. So, it was one of the things Ella and Noah were not going to be bring up until they had too.

As the woman were rolling around the ground.

“Should we stop them?” Kyle asked to Maria.

“Liz is actually winning it” Maria muttered “Let us give her a minute,” as there was a glare of lights coming there way, as they looked out to see who it was. Who the hell would be coming here at this time of night she thought.

As she was past looking at her watch because she knew she was past tired. But she did not know who it would be.

But the car came closer.

And she recognized the car.

God, she thought. This is what we need now.

Of course, she did not know what they needed. And she and Kyle were about to head towards the light.

“What the hell is going on” was the words spoken as the door opened almost at the same time as there was shriek of “Daddy” as Ella rushed to see her father, and words were being spoken, as a gun shot was then sounded.

Rendering everyone speechless.

Fuck they thought, “What is that?”

As they turned and Yvonne and Liz were in a crumpled heap.

So, the question was.

Was someone shot, and who was it?

[Parker1947]

Moments before the shot,

Max wanted to know what was exactly going on. Because any of the scenarios he had been playing in his head was not about any of this happening. “Daddy?” Ella screamed as she recognized her father coming out of the car.

But Max could not enjoy the hug of his daughter for the first time in over three months because he did not know what he had walked into. “Honey,” he said quickly. Grateful to see that his daughter was safe. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Perfect,” Ella smiled. “Now that you are here.”

“What has happened to your face,” Max said as he was trying to concentrate for a moment on his daughter and saw the developing shiner on it. “Who did that to you?” he asked. “Where is your brother?” as he looked for his son.

“Yvonne,” Ella smirked. “Daddy, Noah is fine. He’s hiding” Ella smirked. But the smile turned into a frown when she saw the anger come to his face.

Damn it Yvonne Max wanted to roar. You don’t hit children he told himself. And now wondered if he had missed the signs in his own home. Whether this was a repeat incident. “Daddy, I am fine” Ella said quickly.

“I’ll be a judge of that” Max said quietly. “Why is your brother hiding?” he asked softly.

“I wanted him out of the line of fire,” Ella said.

“But you put yourself in it?” Michael asked as he walked and looked at the child. As a former abuse victim at the hands of his foster family. Michael took abuse against children personally. Even if you are the most willful of children, he thought as he knew he had been one when he had been a child, and a teen. But you don’t deserve to be hit.

“I was fine,” Ella said softly.

“You don’t look so fine?” Michael said.

“She was only rendered unconscious for a moment,” came Maria as she walked to the circle. “Max?”

“Maria?” Max nodded. “She was unconscious?”

“Only for a moment,” Ella said in a state of protest. “I am a kid; I get into scraps all the time. It’s my job. So, I am perfectly fine. It was one slap,” she said with every bit of confidence in her, but the adults knew that it would go so far. But they, the adults should be dealing with this.

Not a child.

“Yvonne should not have do that to you” Max said softly as he saw the shiner coming through on his daughter’s face, shit, there was power in the slap he thought.

“She said I deserve it for bad mouthing her” Ella said with an element of pride. Which only made Max angrier. “Daddy, I am fine” Ella insisted. “You don’t have to worry about it,” she said softly. “It’s the last thing we have to worry about. I am perfectly fine.”

“Let’s hope so,” Max said. “But you are my daughter Ella. Your welfare is what I have to worry about,” he said softly. “I am sorry I was away, but you matter to me,” as Ella just wanted a snuggle in her father arms, despite the seriousness of the situation. “You and your brother mean the world to me,” he sighed, as if he was only a long business trip and away from his children, when in the reality, everyone was told that he was dead.

Dead is not a business trip Max he wanted to tell himself. But it was his reality, for the second time in his life. “No one should be hurting you.”

Including me he would sigh as that was hanging in the air.

As it was something they could all agree on that. But it would not help the situation at hand, which was something that Michael noted and brought back to the forefront.

“Are you going to let them fight?” Michael asked of the women as Max wanted to run to them and stop them. But he knew it would only inflame the situation more, because of who he would choose in the fight.

“Daddy, Liz is awesome” Ella said with am awe struck look on her face as they were looking over at the fight.

Something that was not being broken up.

Yes, she is Max said with a smile, as he looked at the glance between Michael, Maria and Kyle. The shipper group might have gotten another devotee they would think.

“I know she is,” Max said when he found his voice.

“She did things” Ella said softly.

“What did she do?” Max asked, as he looked at the other adults, who would openly glancing at each other. “Maria, what did my daughter witness?”

“You don’t really want to know,” Maria said simply. “We can discuss it another time,” she said with aura of it being a much bigger discussion because it was becoming apparent that the children were no longer babies, and they were quite capable, and were only coming into their abilities. And it was something they as adults had been oblivious about.

There will be a lot of fallout from this she would think. A very serious of many fronts will be had.

“Look movement,” Ella said to get out of having her father having to discover what she had witness. Because everything in her told her, for Daddy to know, that might not be so good for me she thought.

Not right now.

Not when everything is still so tentative. “Daddy, you are here, and that matters most” she said. “But seriously guys, shouldn’t we be dealing with the fight between Yvonne and Liz?”

Right.

“You are right Ella,” Michael grunted. “Let us deal with it,” Michael muttered as he angled for Kyle who nodded, and they were about to break up the fight when another car came this way.

“Who is it now?” Maria asked.

“Likely Isabel,” Max sighed. “She was coming this way” he said, “And Jim?” he said of the Sheriff because he saw the Jim’s truck roll in, right after Isabel.

“This is going to be interesting” Kyle sighed as he saw both his girlfriend and father arrive on the scene.

Knowing that they had to break up the fight, before it became too serious, Michel was not going to be detoured. “Kyle, you deal with Isabel” Michael muttered. “Fill in your father.”

“You are acting like we women can’t handle it,” Maria asked with a resentment as she glared at her husband wish to leave them out of any of this.

“I know you are very efficient,” Michael. “Self efficient as hell but do you want to deal with that” he was saying as the fight between Yvonne as Liz as illogical as it was starting to end. Because none of them knew what was happening among it, neither did the woman involved.

But it seemed like it was ending. As Liz started to get up, Yvonne was slapping away Liz’s attempt to help her up.

But then there was a display of energy.

Something that Max saw.

Shit, everyone thought again. But again, Elle was in awe. And yet this was not something they needed.

Because none of them needed this, and yet it happened as Max figured this was what his daughter had already seen and no one wanted to tell him, god, I hate the conversation that is going to have to be had he thought.

On many levels.

“Shit,” Maria muttered.

“What?” Max said as he took his glance away from the situation at hand. “The gun,” she noted. “We should have dealt with that,” she said softly.

But they had not.

And it was now in view of both women, as they grabbed for it. Liz out of need to get out of Max’s psycho maybe wife and before either of them knew it, the gun had gone off, and the gunshot rung out in the desert climate.

No one around for miles, except for a selection of women and men who had miscalculated for many months, and the brewing collision had grown so great that there was a lot riding, “Liz” Max rang out, as he ran to the collapsed women’s aide as they were a heap.

“Mommy?” rang out a new participant in their midst who had been simply left in the car, out of sight and therefore no one knew she had been there. But she was watching the show. Once I had woken up of course she thought as she had heard the car stop, and opened up, and saw Ella safe, and running into her father’s arms.

She had also seen her mother fighting with Ella’s stepmother. Not that she knew of the woman much. Because it had ended so quickly once she and her mother had come for the wedding. Go Mom she was telling herself.

She saw the flashes of energy from her mother, and she was confused of course. But living with her mother all her life, or most of it, she had faint memories of previous moments. But there were far between, but that got erased when she heard the gun shot.

She had watched enough television to know the sound, but she had never witnessed in her sheltered life that she and her mother lived back in Bethesda or in other locations. Although time was spent in New York, but even then, she had been too young. But now she was older, but not by much.

Still, she heard the gun shot, and she knew it was bad, especially when she saw her mother in a collapsed heap.

As everyone was left in shocked silence.

Except for Max who had gone running, but Callie was lifted out of her frozen slumber, and she called out for her mother, and it made everyone realize she was there.

Of course, Max and Michael had known that she had stowaway in the car. They had made her promise to stay in the car, because they did not know what they would find. And especially when they saw the violence at hand.

But now everyone was distracted. “Mommy?” Callie called out and she raced from the car and almost beat Max to the women as Michael and Kyle came too and quickly checked on Yvonne. “Barely breathing”

“911 has been called” Maria said simply as she came racing. As she quickly carolled Callie. “Callie honey, you should not be here. What are you even doing here?”

“I came with Max and Michael” Callie said in shock.

“Michael?” Maria asked as of her husband. “What on earth,” she asked as she could see that Max was in shock too. And was speechless and was not speaking as he quickly turned over the woman he loved, and checked, and saw the blood. “Why would you even think to bring her here,” as if Max and Michael had chosen to do so.

We did not they would both curse.

But that question hung in the air and unanswered for the moment. Because of more pressing concerns. “Were they both shot?” came the question. Superseding Maria’s concern for Callie. As bigger things were in play than a stowaway child.

“Nope,” Jim said he arrived on the scene. “Cardiac situation with Yvonne. No bullet wounds found,” as Michael and Kyle quickly got the fallen villainess blonde out of the way and moved her far away from the mayhem that she had incited as everyone’s attention fell on someone totally different.

“Then?” Maria asked.

“Yes,” Max said wordlessly as they worked to stop the bleeding.

Unsure of what to do. Max stood in shock. As he was taken back in time to when this all began. And yet it was not 1999 he would think. Why God he muttered as Maria was in shock as they could see the blood stain and the hole in her best friend. “Liz,” she cried.

“Mommy?” Callie cried.

Shit Maria murmured through her shock. “Callie don’t go near her. Let Max handle it,” she said as she pulled the shocked child away.

“Mommy,” she cried as Maria came to her aide. As she did not want to the lose the only parent she had left. When she had lost so much already in her life.

“Your mother is going to be alright, come on” Maria said. Because while she wanted to stay. She knew the children did not need this. “Ella, you too” she said of the shocked child who had not been prepared for this. She had seen a lot in her life, and in her dreams, but she was not prepared for any of this. Am I to blame she was telling herself.

“This is my fault,’ Ella asked.

“Hell no,” Maria said as Isabel instantly came to help Maria with the children. “This is not your fault.”

“I enflamed Yvonne,” Ella asked. “Noah told me to be quiet.”

“She was already upset Ella. Nothing you would have done would have many any difference,” Maria said softly. Not having been the car, she had no way knowing the situation, but Yvonne is the adult, so she should know better Maria would think. But then she’s a psycho, and they are unable to feel compassion or common sense. “Come you two, lets find your brother” she said softly. Because she knew that even though Callie was a muggle like her and should know more than she did. She also knew Callie was not your average child. She had been exposed to a lot without knowing it. “Yes, lets find Noah.”

“He’s fine,” Ella muttered. Not wanting to bring her brother into this situation.

“I am sure, he is” Maria smiled to encouraged, the shocked children. “But let us collect him anyways, and let the guys deal with it,” she said softly. Unsure of what Max was planning to do. Because it was not like her best friend could automatically awaken with no known injury because if Yvonne were to come through this, because Maria knew that the villainess blonde was a little too conscious, and therefore, she would have know that Liz had been shot. Assuming she remembers Maria thought, but given our luck?

I cannot count on that she would think as she tried to focus on the two shell shocked children. “Let us go.”

None of them knew how the actual shooting happened, or what had befallen Yvonne. Who had quickly fallen back to a state of unconsciousness. Which the way Maria wanted her.

But I know it is not going to stay that way she sighed. “Let your father deal with it,” she said to Ella, who was pale as a ghost.

“What is he going to do?” Ella asked as hated thinking she was the cost of any of this, as the situation was taking a toll on her.

“I don’t know,” Maria muttered, even though she had to a good idea of what Max might do.

“Save my mother,” Callie asked in stunned silence. “Mommy can’t die,” she said softly as she turned. “Save my Mommy, please Max.”

The cry in the night air was carried far and wide, and it was something that Max would hear.

“Don’t worry,” Maria said softly. “Max is not going to let her die.”

“I hope not,” Ella whispered as she was fearing that it was all her fault. This never-ending nightmare, but unfortunately it was only going to get worse as they walked towards the rocks and the chamber where Ella had put her brother…

But they were only steps away, when they found another body. Shit Maria cried.

“Michael, Max” she called behind her. “Come…”

Max was still too shocked, so he was slow in responding, as Maria was unable to get through his shock, as he tried in vain to bring the woman he loved back to life. Michael was more present, so he had heard his wife scream. And he knew something was wrong. Very wrong. So, he was quicker to take the scream seriously, and the former royal soldier from another planet came to his wife’s aide.

And gasped at what he saw.

“It’s Noah,” Maria cried.

As the nine-year-old boy was unconscious and bleeding, from an obvious gun shot wound.

WTF?