Roswell Fanatics

Part 61

Kyle took in a deep shaky breath as he sat alone on the picnic table on the far side of the park. He hoped no one he knew would cross this area of the park because he wanted to spend some time alone at the moment. This was the first time he had gotten out of the house since last night and he had spent that entire time baby sitting Tess. He had been glad to get out for a while and when Ava had come over he had jumped at the chance. Though he felt a bit guilty at being so eager to get away he needed to sort his thoughts.

The entire morning today he had felt Tess’s eyes on him and whenever he met hers he would be captivated by the sadness and apology in her eyes. She wouldn’t look away or even pretend that she was not staring and in a way Kyle was glad she didn’t. It would have hurt too much if she couldn’t even meet his eyes. Tess had said that she needed him, that she needed him to be the strong one for her; she had wanted them to be okay and he had foolishly told her that they would be soon. In truth he couldn’t say with full honesty that he could ever be okay with this. He might learn to ignore it or maybe even accept it but deep down he would never be okay with it.

Right now it all seemed…well surreal. Like it was all a really bad nightmare and when he would wake up everything would be back to normal. Alex and Liz would be alive; he and Max would be on last name basis and Tess…he would still have a chance with her.

But things were changing fast, had changed to quite an extent in fact. Would Tess still live with them after the baby will be born or will she move in with Max? Will Max want her to move in? Would he be okay with it?

It might be easy for me to accept everything that has happened so far but will it be just as easy to come to terms with all of this once there is a baby in the house? He wondered.

Kyle angrily slammed his fists on the bench as he felt a surge of anger and helplessness ripple through him. Damn alien! He thought fiercely. Why did they have to mess our lives this way? Why mine?

“Rough day?” a weary voice asked him. Kyle looked up from the table and his fists to see Isabel standing there. He hadn’t even heard her walk up to him. When he didn’t say anything, Isabel took an uncertain step back, “If you want to be alone, I can leave…”

Kyle looked at her and noticed that her hands were tucked deep into the pockets of her coat and she had a tired look on her face. His want of privacy evaporated when he saw her. He knew instantly that she was not doing so great herself and needed to talk to someone. Sighing just a little Kyle wordlessly scooted over and patted the cold seat next to him.

Isabel didn’t need any further encouragement. She gratefully sat down next to him. They both didn’t say anything for a minute. Kyle just stared straight ahead, not turning to look at her while Isabel played with the rings on her fingers. Finally Isabel asked hesitantly.

“How are you holding up?”

Kyle hesitated in answering, not sure what to tell her. Should he tell her about how he wished this were all over, or how he was so angry at Max? Or should he tell her that he’s trying to get past this?

“I-I’m…well…I-I’m doing…okay, not great but…” he gave her a little shrug. “I’ll be fine.”

Isabel regarded him for a second before she gave him a small, knowing smile. “You’re not even a little bit okay with this, are you?” she asked but before he could answer she shook her head ruefully. “Stupid question, of course you’re not. None of us are.”

“What can I say? There’s not much we can do about this.” He replied with his patent half smile.

“It’s a bit weird how this one thing has affected us all. I mean not just the people directly related to this like Max or Tess herself, but all of us. You, me, Maria and even Michael…”Isabel observed. “The way we reacted…are reacting…it’s like it’s about us personally and not between…them.”

“That’s because we are all directly involved Isabel.” Kyle replied. “This isn’t just about them, nothing that ever happens to us is just about that one person; it all concerns us, together as a group. It always has.”

“I guess…”Isabel answered.

Once again they let the silence fall between them; they really didn’t want to talk about it. They had basically come here to be alone, to not talk to anyone and be reminded of it. They didn’t need words to tell the others how upset they were; it was obvious. What they needed was to be there for each other, to help them go through this because this was promising to be one bumpy ride.

They were both sitting there silently, letting the tranquility of the park wash over them when Isabel finally spoke again.

“Kyle…do you…”Isabel began before she stopped. Kyle turned to look at her curiously.

“Do I what?” he asked.

Isabel bit her lip, debating with herself before asking again, “Do you feel like they are here?”

“Who?” Kyle asked, puzzled by her question.

“Liz…Alex…”Isabel whispered, looking away to her feet.

“Sure, sometimes I fee like Liz is just going to come bounding through the door or sometimes I feel like Alex is going to come up to me and ask me what crap I pulled with Liz…”Kyle replied.

“No,” Isabel shook her head, “I mean as if they are really here.”

Kyle knitted his brows together as he looked at her, and she was still avoiding looking at him. “What’s going on Isabel?” he asked her.

“I had a dream about Alex last night…”she told him quietly.

“Isabel, it was just a dream. You’re missing him, so it’s perfectly natural for you to think about him.” Kyle supplied, a sympathetic tone in his voice.

Isabel now looked at him, meeting her eyes and he saw the confusion there, mixed with conviction. “No Kyle, it felt more than that. It was as if he was really there. It was odd, it wasn’t like any dream I had before. It felt real.”

“Isabel…”Kyle began again but she cut him off.

“There’s more.” She told him. “Yesterday when I was at the Crash Down after we left Michael’s…well I was sitting there and suddenly I feel this prickle…it’s like I felt Alex walk through the doors. I know it sounds strange and ridiculous but I’m not imagining it! It was so real. What I felt…it was so real that I had to look up. I felt compelled to look up. There-there was no one there of course…for a second I thought I saw him sitting by a corner table with two girls but then on closer inspection it wasn’t him…”

Isabel didn’t say anything. She knew it sounded strange but it had felt so real….

“I can tell you with certainty that it definitely could not have been Alex.” Kyle told her with confidence and a small smirk on his face. Isabel looked at him, her head tilted as she noticed the light tone in his voice.

“How so?” she asked.

“Come on! Two girls?” Kyle cried in amusement. “Alex couldn’t score with even one!”

“Kyle!” Isabel admonished but she laughed lightly. Kyle grinned at her, happy to make her laugh.

“It’s true.” Kyle told her with a vigorous nod.

Chuckling Isabel swatted him lightly. “You’re forgetting Alex had three girls in his life.” She reminded him. “Liz, Maria and me!”

“Okay, Liz and Maria don’t count but you…yeah…”Kyle drawled reluctantly.

Suddenly the smile disappeared from Isabel’s face at Kyle’s word. Sadness replaced her smile. “I’m not so sure you can count me either.” She replied. She looked away from Kyle, her eyes far off as she remembered Alex. “I wasn’t exactly his girlfriend…”

“He took you to the prom didn’t he?” Kyle pointed out, not understanding the sudden change in her mood.

“That doesn’t really say anything.” Isabel replied. “Max took Liz to the prom, that didn’t mean they were dating again. And you…you took Tess to the prom, that doesn’t mean you love her…”

“I do love her…”Kyle began but he caught himself just in time. Isabel mistook the meaning of those words as she shrugged.

“As a sister. She is your family. And yet you took her to the prom.”

“What’s your point Iz?” Kyle asked, clearing his throat to stop himself from blurting out the truth.

“My point is that all Alex ever wanted was for me to trust him. He had always loved me and I used him or pushed him away…so many times! I used him Kyle, I took his willingness to help me for granted, asked him to put his life on the line for me, for us.” She replied. Her eyes met Kyle’s and he saw the guilt and blame in them. “And what did I give him in return? Nothing! All he had wanted was me but I was too scared and proud to admit I had feelings for him. I had so many chances to tell him that I loved him. I didn’t—” she faltered as her voice cracked. Taking a breath to compose herself she began again, “I didn’t even tell him I loved him…not at the prom when I should have, not even after that…”

Kyle suddenly understood what she was trying to tell him, what she was feeling. “Is that what this is?” he asked incredulously. “That you think he died without having known how much you loved him? Or that he regretted his part in this secret?”

Isabel looked away.

“Isabel, you can’t seriously think that?” Kyle asked. When Isabel didn’t answer him again he grabbed her hand. “Look at me Isabel and listen to me.” He waited until Isabel was looking at him. “First off, Alex never regretted being a part of this. Never! You know how I know? Because he told me himself.” Seeing the puzzled look on her face, he went on to explain. “Remember when Alex and I were trapped in the alien crystal cave? Well we thought we were going to die there when there seemed no way out. You know what Alex said to me? He said that he had this amazing knowledge that aliens existed, that he knew what 6 billion people didn’t and he wouldn’t trade his place with anyone, not even if it meant being able to get out of the cave. He didn’t want to be just some other guy.”

Tears were streaking down Isabel’s face but she made no move to wipe them away. It sounded so much like what Alex would say. She choked back a sob, in some way glad that Alex never regretted them being a part of his life.

“And secondly,” Kyle continued. “You didn’t have to tell him how much you loved him. He always knew. That was the only reason he never gave up on you. Because he knew how much you loved him and he respected you enough to give you your space till you figured it out for yourself.”

Isabel finally let the sob slip past her lips and she cried softly for a while and Kyle let her, making soothing circle on her back. He couldn’t believe she had been thinking that all this time. If he had known he would have cleared this up with her sooner or asked someone else to at least. Finally, Isabel wiped her eyes and gave him a watery smile.

“Who knew you were such a good listener.” Isabel told him

“Yeah, but don’t let it get out.” Kyle stage whispered. “It might ruin my tough guy image.”

Isabel managed a chuckle. “Thank you Kyle.” She replied softly.

Kyle gave her hand a small squeeze. “No problem.”

Kyle then glanced at his watch and got up quickly. “Damn! I’m late!” he turned to give Isabel an apologetic smile. “Look, I better be heading back to the house.” He told her. “Ava is watching Tess, but I’d prefer to be there.”

Isabel got up nodding. “Can I come?” she asked all of a sudden.

Kyle was a bit taken aback; he didn’t think she wanted to go meet Tess. But then after a moment’s hesitation he gave her a smile.

“Sure.” He replied.

“Kyle…does you dad know…about Tess…”Isabel asked as they began to head out of the park.

“No.” Kyle interjected quickly. “No…and that’s not really my call. But I’ll be there for her when she will tell him…that is if she wants me to be there.”

Isabel smiled gently at him. “I’m glad that she has you too to take care of her. After all she needs her family too.” Isabel said. She didn’t notice Kyle wince slightly at the words.


TBC......

Author's note: thanks guys! Here's a new part. Don't like how Tess is portrayed in it...but that's how this came out...anyway as always tell me what you think. The good bad and the not-too-ugly

Part 62

Tess glanced nervously at the dupe sitting in the living room. Although Ava was barely paying any attention to Tess, too intent on the show she was watching, Tess couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being scrutinized by her. She felt herself bare and defenseless in front of her. She silently urged Kyle to come back quickly or even for Max to drop by. She didn’t feel comfortable with Ava around and she didn’t know why.

When Ava had come by to see how she was doing earlier that morning, she had offered Kyle to go out for a while. Ava had assured him that she would watch over Tess. Although indignant at being watched by someone constantly, Tess didn’t want to argue. Truth was she wasn’t feeling so good. Her head was throbbing and she felt as if she might throw up. She could also feel herself beginning to heat up. She hadn’t wanted Kyle to leave her with Ava. For some odd reason she felt like grabbing him and yelling at him, asking him not to leave, but she had clenched her hands to her side and given him an assuring smile when he asked if she would be okay with Ava for a while. She didn’t want Kyle to be cooped up here. He had been with her all night and all morning. She knew he wanted to get out for a while. So she had let him. But now, she just wished he would hurry back.

Tess shifted in her seat, her head now throbbing with a dull ache continuously. She had never fallen sick before so the slightest pain was almost unbearable for her. She wondered how the humans could stand it. She got up and headed to the kitchen to find some aspirin. As she moved past Ava she thought she saw Ava glance sharply at her. Tess shot her a glance from the corner of her eye but Ava was still glued to the television. Frowning slightly to herself, Tess entered the kitchen and began to hunt for the medicine.

It still kind of unnerved her to see her look alike sitting on the couch or around Roswell. It didn’t exactly help matters when not only your look alike was almost your exact opposite but also scared you for some reason. When Ava had come here in the morning Tess was almost certain she had been given a discreet once over by her. Although Kyle hadn’t noticed, she had felt Ava’s ice blue eyes on her, carefully examining her. When Tess had tried to meet Ava’s eyes, the girl had looked away quickly.

Tess shrugged off the shiver she felt run through her body at the memory as her hand closed around the aspirin bottle. Pulling it out of the cabinet, she quickly shook two out. She wasn’t sure how many she was supposed to take but she doubted it was more than two. She was filling herself a glass of water when Ava’s voice startled her.

“Headache?”

Tess yelped in surprise and dropped the glass on the floor, spilling the water. Ava smirked.

“Um…yeah.” Tess replied, bending down and waving her hand over the mess. Instantly it was dry once again. Grabbing the glass she stood back up. “I, uh, I didn’t hear you come in.”

Ava didn’t answer her, just gazing at her intently. Tess shifted on her feet uncomfortably, Ava’s eyes felt like they were boring into her soul. She didn’t let anyone stare her down but with Ava she couldn’t seem to hold her gaze. She quickly dropped her eyes and mumbled. “Do you want anything?”

Ava shook her head, her eyes still on her. “No.” she answered shortly.

Tess waited for her to say something else but Ava didn’t say anything else to her. After a couple of heart beats Tess got irritated by the staring. “Look, is there something you want?” she snapped.

Ava tilted her head to the side and Tess saw the amusement flicker in her eyes before becoming unreadable again. “How are you feeling Tess?” she asked in a low voice.

“How am I feeling?” she asked, raising her eyebrows. She briefly noticed that the New York accent was missing but she pushed it aside as she eyed Ava warily. “Do you care?”

“Are you feeling well Tess?” she asked again. Ava’s eyes now had an unreadable expression in them, her face was stoic. Her voice was almost soothing but Tess felt her hair bristle.

“What are you really doing here Ava?” Tess asked, swallowing the urge she felt to flee. She knew something was wrong with the way Ava had just turned up in town and the way she always felt around her. She wondered why the others didn’t notice.

“I am here to help you.” Ava replied with such sincerity that Tess almost believed her. Almost.

Tess felt her headache increase and she resisted the urge to grab her head. “No, you’re not.” Tess shot back. Oh god the pain! She silently thought.

Ava now walked slowly up to her, her eyes glinting coldly. A smile found its way to her face, a smile so cold and calculating that Tess backed up a few paces, until the counter jabbed into her back. She felt deathly afraid of Ava right now.

“You’re not of much use to me…”Ava replied softly, her smile still in place. Tess felt alarm ripple through her and she opened her mouth to scream. But Ava quickly shook her head, her smile dropping and a glare taking its place. “Don’t even think about screaming…”

Tess quickly closed her mouth; she licked her lips which had gone dry. She darted her gaze around the kitchen for something heavy. She had a feeling her powers would be useless against her. Suddenly she was bombarded with an onslaught of memories from last night.

** Flash **

Ava let out a short laugh, a cold glint in her eyes. “You have no idea what you’re playin’ up against girl!”

** Flash **

She saw herself standing by the window, her hands splayed out protectively on her stomach as she felt fear run through her, fear of Ava.

** Flash **

She saw herself grab to the door frame shakily as the room spun in front of her. She felt a dull throb in her head, like someone had managed to let themselves in her head. She fought against whoever was inside her head, desperate to throw back up the walls in her head, but failing.

** Flash **

“…And you shall be the key to victory…” A voice whispered in her head. A cold, cruel voice.

“No!” she whispered before she fell unconscious on her bed.

** End Flash **

Tess gasped, trying to catch her breath when the flashes stopped. Her head snapped up to look at Ava in horror. Ava’s smile widened when she realized what Tess had just seen.

“So, you’re remembering…” she said, her tone casual.

“What have you done to me?” Tess whispered fearfully.

“Don’t worry,” Ava told her with a wave of her hand. “You won’t remember for too long…”

“No!” Tess yelled at her, making a move to run. “You will not mess with my mind! I have to warn Max and Kyle!”

She tried to get past Ava but Ava grabbed her tightly. “Tess, try to understand…” Ava said soothingly, all the while pushing her back into the kitchen. She held Tess’s gaze with her own and Tess felt her entering her mind again.

“No!” she shrieked. She tried to push Ava out, but the ache in her head just increased. She felt so weak that she could barely find the strength to fight Ava off. She felt herself slipping into unconsciousness. Just before everything around her went dark she heard Ava say softly in her ear, “…And you shall be the key to victory…”

“No…” Tess managed to get out before she lost consciousness.


* * * * * * * * * * *


Kyle pushed open the door and let Isabel walk in first before he entered after her. He saw Ava sitting with her feet up on the table, watching football. She glanced up at them as they came in.

“Yo!” she greeted them.

“Hey Ava.” Isabel replied warmly.

Kyle shrugged out of his jacket. “Where is Tess?” he asked her.

Ava pointed toward her room. “Sleeping. Said she had a headache.”

Kyle frowned with concern. “Is she okay?” he asked.

Isabel laid a hand on him. “Kyle it’s only a headache.” She told him. “She’s fine.”

“But she’s a hybrid. She should not get headaches.” He pointed out.

“She’s pregnant Kyle.” Isabel reminded him. “She’s been sick because of it. It may just a reaction.”

Kyle nodded hesitantly. “You’re right.” He sighed. “I’ll still go to check on her.”

“I’ll come too.” Isabel replied.

Ava got up from the couch. “Well, I’d better be going.” She told them. She paused, as if considering something. “Oh by the way, did anyone of you see Michael or Maria?” she asked. “I needed somethin’ from Maria but she wasn’t there in the mornin’. And neither was Michael at the Crash.”

Isabel frowned. “They must have gone off somewhere for some privacy.” She rationalized but she felt alarm bells go off. The last time they had gone missing, they had gone to the Duprees.

Ava shrugged. “Never mind. It ain’t important.”

Grabbing her jacket she left the Valenti house with a small smile on her lips. Kyle had now also moved into Tess’s room. Isabel stood there for a second, looking out at Ava but then shook herself out of her thoughts and went after Kyle. When she entered Tess’s room, Tess was just waking up. Kyle was sitting next to her, gently stroking her head. Isabel looked curiously at the show of affection but didn’t say anything.

“Heard you weren’t well.” Kyle said when she opened her eyes.

Tess got up slowly, gingerly touching her head. A flicker of confusion passed across her face before she turned her attention back to Kyle. “Yeah…I think it’s the baby. He’s not doing so well…” she replied. She noticed Isabel standing there and gave her a small smile. “Hi Isabel.”

“Hey Tess. Isabel replied gently. “You okay?”

Tess nodded, and then winced as her head throbbed. “Almost.” She chuckled. “It’s just that I get tired very easily.”

“Is that normal?” Isabel asked with concern.

“Apparently.” Tess replied.

“Why don’t you come to the Crash Down with us?” Kyle asked. “Maybe going out will help you.”

“Thank god!” Tess replied dramatically. “I thought you were going to keep me cooped up here!”

Kyle chuckled. “It did cross my mind.”

Tess and Isabel both rolled their eyes. “Over protective males.” Isabel muttered.

Tess shot Isabel an amused smile. “Can we go now?” She asked.

Kyle got up. “Sure.”

Tess got up a bit shakily but found her footing. “I’ll change quickly.” She told them. As she moved out to the bathroom after grabbing a change of clothes, she paused. She felt something tug at her memory…something important.

** Flash **

“…the key to…”

** End Flash **

The key to what? she wondered. She felt urgency and desperation run through her.

“Tess, need my help?” Isabel asked.

“No I got it.” Tess replied. She shut the door to the bathroom.

Now what was I just wondering? She thought. She tried to remember but it didn’t come to her. Waving it aside, she changed quickly. Whatever it was couldn’t have been important. She thought as she went to join Kyle and Isabel outside.

TBC.......

Author's note: All those people looksing for those pesky answers about Alex, Ray and what the Candy couple were up to and if they found anything should like this part! As always, tell me what you think.


Part 63

Maria kept glancing at her watch and looked down the pathway expectantly. It was nearly two and she was getting impatient waiting for Professor Bergin. She glanced at her watch again and let out a frustrated groan. Two minutes from the last time she checked. She shook her wrist violently. Maybe her watch was slow.

“Your watch is working just fine and looking at it every two seconds will not make the time pass any faster.” Michael commented dryly from his place on the steps of the Litvack building. Maria turned to glare at him.

“And this coming from someone who has never learnt of patience.” Maria shot back.

Michael sighed and looked wearily up at her. She had stopped her pacing in front of the building’s steps and was now standing in front of him, her arms crossed over her chest.

“He’ll be here Maria.” Michael said in a more normal tone.

“I just wish he’d get here faster!” she grumbled. But she sat down next to him. “It’s just this thing has got me hyped up. I mean this could be what we’re looking for.”

“I know.” Michael replied, covering her hand with his. “But Maria promise me if things start to go crazy, for any reason, alien or not, you’ll drop this and return to Roswell.”

Maria looked down at their entwined hands, biting her lip. “You know I can’t…”

Michael used his free hand to gently push her chin up so she was looking at him. “Promise me.” He said softly but insistently. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Maria hesitated, taking in the concern and worry apparent in his eyes. Then she nodded though still doubtfully. “I promise.” She sighed.

Michael gave her a swift kiss. “Good. I know this is important to you but you’re more important to me.” He told her.

Maria stared at him in surprise. He hardly showed any affection, hiding behind his stone walls. But then she smiled softly. She squeezed his hand, which was still in hers. “Good to know.”

Michael abruptly cleared his throat, uncomfortable with so much of outward affection. “So, do you think Maxwell will have realised we’re gone and freaked out?” he asked, a bit gruffly.

Maria bit down a smile, noticing the abrupt change of subject. She knew he was trying to bring back his tough guy image. She shrugged inwardly. She’d humour him.

“I doubt Max would have realised anything, especially since he’s now going to be attached to Tess at the hip.” Maria said a bit darkly, letting her anger seep though.

“Come on Maria.” Michael objected. “You know Max isn’t going to fawn all over Tess. He’s just looking out for her.”

“Didn’t seem so yesterday.” Maria scoffed. “Did you see the way she was groping his arm!”

“Anyone would have, the way you were bearing down on them.” Michael blurted out before he realised what he had just said out loud. He snapped his head to look at her and saw her looking at him, her eyes narrowed. Oh shit! Michael thought. For a second he thought he was a goner but then Maria’s eyes softened.

“Maybe I was a bit harsh…”she relented. But then she glared at him. “But that doesn’t mean they didn’t deserve it!”

Michael nodded quickly, not wanting to cross her. “Oh they definitely did!” he agreed quickly. He paused before he ventured. “So…how are you dealing with this?” he asked her.

Maria sagged against him as she considered her answer. “I don’t know yet.” She finally replied. “I mean yesterday I was really mad…then later when Kyle and I were talking we both came to realise we can’t really hate them…I mean in a…a really weird and sick way Liz did what she was supposed to. Granted alien pregnancy was not on the list but at least it got them together…” she shrugged. “But still…I can’t help but be…angry for some reason. So, I don’t know…”

“You’ll have to face them sometime and you need to be eventually okay with this.” Michael told her.

“I know.” She replied softly. “And eventually…well maybe. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”

Their conversation was broken by the arrival of Professor Bergin. “Sorry, I’m late but my class was running late.” He apologised.

Maria and Michael jumped up and he ushered them into the building. “No problem.” Maria replied.

The Professor led them to a huge room towards the back. “This is where the computers are and students are the only one with any access to them. You see, they are still being tested thoroughly. One of my senior students is always present when I am not.” He explained.

“Who is usually here at night?” Maria asked.

“Well, that depends on who has a date that night.” The Professor laughed.

Michael and Maria smiled politely, not in a mood for jokes. They just wanted this over and done with. Professor Bergin stopped at a desk where a young female student was sitting, typing away.

“Kate.” Professor Bergin called, getting her attention.

“Good morning Professor.” Kate said with a sweet smile.

“‘Morning. I was wondering if you did night duty any time in the past few months.”

Kate nodded. “Sure, me, Doug and Peter all did.”

“Did you see a Ray Whitman come here at night, possibly to work on the super computer?”

Michael and Maria held their breath as the girl thought back. Finally she shook her head. “No sir. Sorry, I don’t think I met him.”

“Are you sure?” Maria asked. She pulled out Alex’s picture and gave it to her. “Did you see anyone who looked like him come here at night or any other time for that matter?”

Kate looked at the picture before handing it back to Maria with an apologetic shake of her head. “No, I’m sorry. Can’t say I have.” Kate replied.

“Thank you Kate.” The Professor replied with a smile. He turned back to Maria’s fallen face and said, “Let’s see if I can track down what he was doing.”

Maria nodded as he sat down and began to hack at the keys. Maria stood behind him, looking closely at whatever was passing on the screen. She couldn’t understand half of it. It was only jumbled codes to her. Sighing, she leaned back slightly but instead of the chair that had been there moments ago, she was pleasantly surprised to find Michael there. Michael slid his arms around her waist and pulled her tighter to him. He felt the tenseness in her muscles and he rubbed her back inconspicuously. Maria turned her head slightly and gave him a small, tired smile. Her eyes twinkled mischievously though and Michael swallowed hard when he saw the love and thanks in her eyes. Before he could react, Maria had turned around in his arms and linked her arms around his neck. Shooting a quick glance around and seeing no one was there, except the Professor who was engrossed in the computer, Maria pulled a startled Michael closer and gave him a loving and lingering kiss. She felt so good in his arms that Michael forgot where he was and deepened the kiss. He slid his hands up from her waist to her hair and face. Maria tightened her hold on him before ending the kiss. She couldn’t get carried away and if Michael kept kissing her like that she’d forget that they had an audience.

Michael had to take a moment to collect himself when he felt Maria end the kiss. When he finally got his bearing back he found Maria had already moved to sit down next to Professor Bergin, acting like she hadn’t just kissed him senseless. He was a bit confused by her aloofness that is until he saw her shoot him a mischievous smile. She quirked her eyebrow at him and mouthed ‘later’ before turning back to the Professor. Grinning, Michael came and stood behind her, his hand placed lightly on her shoulder.

“Now we’re getting somewhere.” Professor Bergin suddenly exclaimed. “He was definitely trying to decode something. Something major”

“Is there anyway of finding out what he was working on?” Maria asked, her attention now back on the work at hand.

“Maybe.” The Professor replied. “I’m not sure it’ll be easy to penetrate through the security codes.”

“Wanna try?” Michael asked, a bit impatiently.

“Right.” The Professor said after looking at Michael’s impatient face. “I’ll give it a go.”


* * * * * * * * * * *


More than half an hour had passed since Professor Bergin had begun trying to find what Alex had been working on. And by now Michael was getting impatient. He didn’t see the point in this. Whatever Alex was working on couldn’t have been important otherwise he would have told them…right? But then that didn’t explain why he had lied to them about Sweden. Something about all of this unsettled him. It was all too perfect. The lies, the cover ups, the stories…Alex couldn’t have done it alone.

Hell, I don’t think it was him at all. Michael thought, running a hand through his hair.

That was what was upsetting him actually. He knew Alex couldn’t have been responsible for all of this. Alex wasn’t one to lie and plot. If anything, he would have told his best friends. He frowned as he recalled Alex’s behavior once he had come back. He seemed changed…different. Though, when he talked about his trip, it seemed like he had truly enjoyed himself there.

He seemed to believe that he had been to Sweden. Could we possibly have made a huge error? Michael wondered.

He would have like to think so, that Maria and Liz were wrong in thinking that Alex never even went to Sweden and that he was working on some code here. But the truth was that deep down Michael knew they were right. He knew someone was at work here. Who it was he had no idea but he knew they weren’t on his side.

He felt worry run through him. If they were right, if there was someone else at work here then Maria was heading head first into danger. He didn’t want Maria to get hurt in this. He’d already lost two people he cared about and if he lost Maria too then he would loose it.

Michael stood up straighter, his mind made up. He didn’t care what Maria said or did, he was taking her back to Roswell. If Maria still insisted on doing this then he would get Max but he would not let Maria put her life at risk here. He walked briskly back into the room where both she and the Professor were still at work. He caught her eye and motioned her over. As soon as she came near him, he grabbed her hand.

“We’re leaving.” He announced.

“What?” Maria exclaimed. She shook his hand off. “We can’t leave just yet!”

“No, something isn’t right.” Michael argued. “Forget this and let’s leave.”

“How can you say that, Michael?” Maria asked in disbelief. “Don’t you have enough proof? After all you’ve seen and heard? The flashes? The computer?”

“Look Maria, I know this is important to you but the situation isn’t safe for you.” Michael replied firmly. “Max and I can come back and finish this…”

Maria snorted. “Yeah, because Max is a firm believer in the ‘aliens-killed-Alex’ theory.”

“I’ll convince him, all right?” Michael interjected. “Let’s just get out of here.”

“No.” Maria replied firmly. “Not until I get my answers.”

Michael opened his mouth to argue but just then Professor Bergin spoke to them.

“Maria, I think I found Ray’s source material.” He cried excitedly.

Maria gave Michael a look before she hurried to see the images he had pulled up. Sighing, Michael followed her; curious as to what had been found.

“Pretty strange looking stuff.” The Professor was saying when Michael joined them. He peered at the symbols on the screen closely. “It’s some sort of language. Looks native American.”

Maria gasped when she saw it. “Michael…”she whispered, gripping his arm.

As soon as Michael saw the symbols he paled. He saw flashes of the dreams he had the year before, when he stood in a field filled with such weird symbols, the destiny book, filled with the language made of these symbols.

“Where the hell did this come from?” Michael asked when he was able to.

“This was what Alex was working on while he was here.” Maria murmured.

“What was he doing?” Michael asked, feeling something close to anxiety claw his stomach.

“Decoding whatever language this is.” Professor Bergin replied.

“Translating it to English…”Michael added in shock as it stuck him what Alex had been trying to do.

“Exactly.” The Professor exclaimed, misreading the shock on their faces for something else.

“Was he able to do it?” Maria asked. “Decode it?”

“Yes.”

He heard a sharp intake of breath from both kids before Michael asked shakily, “Do you have it here?”

“Well he deleted it. On the last day he was here he made this huge text file and emailed it somewhere…” Professor Bergin told them.

“Where?” Michael asked.

The Professor shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“Can you find out?” Maria asked.

Again the professor shook his head. “I can try but I doubt it.”

Maria nodded towards the computer. “Give it a shot.”

They were waiting anxiously for news of where Alex had emailed the translation when Kate appeared. She had someone with her. Instead of going to Professor Bergin though, she walked over to Maria and Michael.

Maria and Michael looked at her suspiciously when she came to them but that was dispelled the instant she told them who she had with her.

“This here is Doug.” She introduced the guy she had with her. “I was thinking that if I wasn’t on duty that night then either Doug or Jake would have been. And I talked to them. Looks like Doug did see Ray, a couple of times, in fact.”

Maria quickly pulled out Alex’s picture again. “This Ray?” she asked Doug. Doug glanced at it and nodded.

“That’s him.”

“Well I’d better get back to work.” Kate interjected, heading back to her desk.

Maria stopped her with a warm smile. “Thank you.” She said.

Kate nodded. “Glad to help.”

Once Kate was gone Maria turned her attention back on Doug. “So, you’ve met Ray?” she asked.

“A few times. He was almost always working whenever I came.” Doug told them.

“He never told you what he was working on?” Michael asked.

“He rarely talked with anyone.” Doug told them. “He used to come here really late at night. I don’t recall ever seeing him during the day. But I spent many nights here working on my project and would see him working away. And then a month later, he just left.”

“You didn’t think that odd?” Michael asked. “A person just coming in the middle of the term and then leaving?”

Doug shrugged. “Hey, it’s not like it hasn’t happened before. A lot of students transfer here to use our facilities or leave if they don’t like it here.” He looked at them curiously. “What is this about anyway? Why are you guys so curious?”

“He was a friend and we just need to know what he was working on. It could be very…important.” Maria supplied but didn’t reveal anymore. Doug, noticing the finality in her voice didn’t pry further.

“So, you sure he never talked to anyone about what he was doing?” Michael asked again. There had to be something they could follow up.

“No. no one. Except…”Doug paused as he tried to recall. “There was this one student who used to visit him once or twice and he did talk to her…”

“Her?” Maria asked, her ears picking at him immediately.

“Yeah…really pretty transfer student. She came right after Ray did. And left before he did himself. But I saw them talking a couple of times.” Doug told them.

“Who was she?” Michael asked.

“I don’t know man.” Doug replied. “I just heard her name once. It was a bit weird…. Should be in our records though.”

“What did she look like?” Michael prodded, now thoroughly curious.

“Well…like I said really pretty. Long blonde hair, green eyes…” Doug recalled.

Suddenly Maria stiffened. She dug into her bag frantically and pulled out another picture. Michael saw the picture and he glanced at her in surprise. With shaking hands, Maria showed the picture to Doug and pointed at the girl.

“Is this her?” she asked.

“Yes!” Doug cried. “That’s her with Ray there.”

“You sure?” Maria asked, almost hysterically. “You sure that’s her?”

“Positive.” Doug replied confidently.

“Oh God!” Maria whispered. She looked up at Michael’s stunned face. “Leanna…”

“Leanna! That’s her name! Now I remember!” Doug exclaimed. He saw the looks being exchanged between Michael and Maria and quietened down.

Michael shifted his stunned eyes from Maria’s face back to Doug. He tried to appear calm and collected but he was buzzing with adrenalin inside. “You said you have records. Will it have her dorm number or contact number?”

Doug nodded. “Students are required to hand them to us.”

“Show us please.” Maria finally spoke up, having conquered her shakiness.

Doug began to lead the way but Michael stopped Maria. “You stay here. I’ll go get the information.” He told her.

Maria looked indignantly at him. “Michael, no one is going to attack me while I’m walking across a hallway!” she snapped. She was getting really tired of this.

“It’s not that. Stay here, just in case Professor Bergin comes across something.” Michael reminded her. Maria sighed and looked over her shoulder into the room where Professor Bergin was still typing away.

“Fine.” She relented. She narrowed her eyes at him. “But you’re not going to run off looking up whatever you find without me, you hear?”

Michael smiled and kissed her lightly before replying. “I wouldn’t even try.” He told her with a smirk. Maria tried to glare at him, but a smile came out instead. She pushed him towards a waiting Doug.

“Go!” she ordered.

Once Michael had left she headed back into the small computer room. “Any luck?” she asked.

“I can’t seem to break through the firewall. But I’ll keep trying.” The Professor replied.

Sighing Maria sat back down. Her mind was reeling with the new information. If they were able to find Leanna, then lot of unanswered questions would finally be answered but also they would be forced to face the horrifying truth. Alex was really murdered….


TBC.....

Author's Note: Parker Evans I wasn't planning on updating until tomorrow (since Hell for me has started and I didn't have time to edit my chapter) but after seeing your fb I made time to do it and lo and behold! A brand new chapter all dediacted to you And 'fantabulous'? wow...I'm honored . Vegas312 you really wanna know what Rath and Lonnie are up to?

This part is dedicated to Parker Evans who made me edit this chapter in record time



Part 64


Professor Bergin rubbed his eyes wearily as he finally sat back. He nodded his head towards the computer screen. “It was sent to some place not far from here. It’s not on campus or in Las Cruses so I can’t trace it. Ray did a damn good job of covering his tracks.”

Maria bit her lip. “But you can’t give me an exact location or email address?” she asked a bit dejectedly.

“No. This was the best I could do.” Professor Bergin replied, standing up.

“Well, thank you so much for your help Professor.” Maria said shaking his hand. “We couldn’t have done this without you.”

“It was my pleasure to help you.” Professor Bergin replied with a fatherly smile. He paused as if contemplating his next words. “I don’t know what all this is about,” he began hesitantly. “But please be careful. This looks incredibly dangerous.”

“You have no idea.” Maria muttered under her breath. To the professor she said, “I know. I will be careful and thank you once again.”

“Where’s Michael?” Professor Bergin asked, looking about.

“We got another lead. Doug is helping him check out the student files.” Maria replied.

Professor Bergin nodded and then checked his watch. It was a little before four. “I better head back to my class room. I’ve got some students coming in,” he told Maria.

“Oh. Please go ahead. I guess we’re done here.” Maria replied.

With another exchange of formalities the professor left. Maria glanced at her watch and back at the hallway. Where was Michael? He’d been gone half an hour almost. She paused. Did she dare go after him? She didn’t know where the file room was, she could get lost.

I could always ask someone. Maria rationalized. Like Kate!

She hurried to Kate’s desk but found it vacant. Looks like she had left for the day. She looked around the room but didn’t see anyone else who might be able to help her. Sighing, she figured she might as well go look by herself. The building wasn’t that huge and with any luck she would run into Michael coming back. She might even be able to stop by the ladies room. With that thought Maria took off down the hallway.

At first she was pretty sure she knew where she was heading but after a few random turns she realized that she was lost. She had absolutely no idea where she was. She tried retracing her steps but found herself even more clueless. She desperately hoped someone would come down the hall so she could ask directions but the hallway looked pretty deserted and almost eerie.

“Looks like this place isn’t as small as I thought it was.” She mumbled. The irony wasn’t lost on her either. She hadn’t forgotten that when she had first arrived on the campus she had gotten lost then too. Only that time Michael had arrived to help her. She hoped he would find her now too.

Just as she was thinking this, she heard the sound of footsteps coming. Looking gratefully at the ceiling she hurried toward the sounds. The sounds of the voices were just around the corner and though she couldn’t make out what they were saying, they were distinctly male and female. She hurried her steps and rounded the corner.

“Hey, could you help me. I seem to be-” Maria began but then was brought to an abrupt halt. The people in front of her were definitely not Las Cruses students. She heard her head scream at her to turn around and run but her feet were glued to the floor. She could only watch in growing horror at the people in front of her.

“Well, well…looks like we won’t havta go lookin’ for you in this big dump!” Rath grinned at her. He looked at Lonnie who was standing next to him, apparently their argument interrupted by Maria. Lonnie just smiled at her twistedly.

Maria was finally able to think straight and she did the first thing she thought of. She turned around and ran. She heard Lonnie yell at Rath, “After her you ass hole! I ain’t lookin’ for her again!”

She heard the sound of running footsteps from behind her but she dared not turn around. Rath and Lonnie! She thought hysterically. What are they doing here?

But she didn’t pause to consider this. She only knew she had to get away from them as fast as she could. When I asked for Michael, I didn’t mean this one! Maria yelled internally.

“She’s gettin’ away Rath!” Maria heard Lonnie shout as she ducked into another deserted corridor.

Where is everyone? Maria wondered as she found this corridor to be empty too. And where is Michael?

She suddenly felt something hit her with a force on her back and she went sprawling with a yelp.

“You ain’t goin’ no where bitch!” Lonnie snarled. Lonnie and Rath both caught up to her while she was struggling to pull herself back up. Her bones ached from the jarring impact of Lonnie’s blast and she had difficulty standing up. Rath pulled her up roughly and smirked. Maria was instantly repelled by his smirk. It was nothing like the one she loved to see on Michael.

“Michael!” Maria let out a shout before Rath clamped his hand on her mouth. His grip on her hardened and she winced as she felt the blood flow slow down.

“You are one hard girl to find.” Rath told her. “We’ve been lookin’ for you since mornin’.”

“And you just made it easier for us.” Lonnie added with a smirk of her own. “By walkin’ right up to us.”

Maria could only look at them, refusing to let them see how scared she was. If Rath hadn’t had his hand over her mouth she was sure she’d have screamed till her voice was nothing more than a whisper.

“Where is it?” Rath asked her. Maria only looked at him blankly. “Where is it?” he demanded again.

Lonnie smacked Rath on the head. “Idiot, how’s she gonna talk if you have your hand ov’r her mouth?” she asked.

Rath then noticed that he indeed did have his hand on her mouth. Removing it, he asked her again. “Now, tell me, where is it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Maria cried hysterically.

“Don’t be lyin’ to us.” Lonnie told her. “We know you’s have it.”

“What are you talking about?” Maria asked, near tears. “Please, I don’t have anything. Just let me go.”

“Don’t be shittin’ us!” Rath snapped. “We know you found it.”

“I am telling you I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Maria cried. Rath just tightened his grip on her.

“We know you found the key. We need it.” Lonnie replied. “Kivar might have the translation but we need the key!”

“Key to what?” Maria asked. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

“Why else would you be here if you didn’t know where it was.” Rath asked her.

Maria felt like crying. He was griping her so tightly. And she felt frozen. Just then she heard Michael’s voice come from down the hall.

“Maria? Where are you?”

Lonnie and Rath snapped their heads up and began to scramble away with Maria but Maria let out a yell. “Michael! Help!”

Almost immediately she heard Michael running down. She fought against Rath and Lonnie’s pulling, praying for Michael to get here. Her prayers were answered when Michael came bounding the corner. Seeing Rath and Lonnie threw him but he saw Maria and without thinking twice let loose a blast from his outstretched hand.

It just missed Lonnie but that just doubled their efforts to drag Maria off. Maria now tried to fight them off.

“We need to get outta here.” Rath hissed. But Lonnie was already working on it. She was throwing blasts at Michael who was deftly blocking them. One managed to hit Rath and he went tumbling, his hold on Maria gone. Maria scrambled away, quick to get away. Lonnie tired to grab her but was prevented from doing so by Michael who had aimed for her arm. Snatching her hurt arm back, she shot daggers at Michael.

“Lonnie, let’s jet! Forget the bitch!” Rath shouted, moving towards an exit. Lonnie, after one last look ran out after him.

Michael now quickly hurried to a trembling Maria. He pulled her in his arms, hugging her close. “Are you okay?” he asked worriedly. “Did they hurt you? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine…”Maria replied weakly. “I’m okay…”

Michael pulled back a little to look over her, not satisfied until he had deemed her all right. When he was satisfied, he pulled her closer to him, her head tucked under his chin as he stroked her back, trying to calm them both.

“What were they doing here?” Michael wondered. “And what are you doing in this area?”

“I was looking for you and got lost.” Maria replied shakily. “I didn’t see them until it was too late. They chased me and caught me…”

“You should have waited for me!” Michael scolded her, but then just pulled her tighter against himself, his own heart hammering in his chest. He looked down into her scared eyes. “We’re leaving. Now!”

“No!” Maria cried.

“Maria, you were almost kidnapped by Lonnie and Rath. This is getting dangerous. Looks like we stumbled onto something and I will not see you get hurt!” Michael exclaimed.

“Michael, what ever we’ve almost discovered has to be very important to cause this.” Maria told him. “We can’t abandon this now. They might get their hands on what they are looking for.”

“What are they looking for?”

“A key. Rath kept mentioning a key. He assumed I had it. He said I would if I came here.” She told Michael.

“A key to what?” Michael asked but then he shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. We’re going back.”

“No Michael, at least let me follow up on Leanna.” Maria pleaded.

“Maria…”Michael warned, totally against this. But then he saw the look in her eyes and sighed, knowing she would ask anyway.

“Did you find anything?” Maria asked, trying to push aside her fear. Michael gave her a look but seeing the determined look on her face replied with reluctance.

“Her dorm room.”

“Then we’re going to check it out.” She replied firmly.

“Maria we can’t!” Michael almost yelled. “What if it is a trap? What if they want you to go there?”

“It’s not.” Maria replied confidently. “Otherwise Rath and Lonnie wouldn’t have tried to haul me off right now.” She was still pretty shaken by it but she knew that if Michael saw an ounce of fear or weakness in her he would forcibly drag her back to Roswell and right now she couldn’t afford to, not when she had a feeling they were very close.

But this time Michael refused to back down. He had already done so once and though that had proved fruitful, it had also put Maria in danger.

“I don’t care.” Michael said stubbornly. “We are going back to Roswell right now. No arguments!”

“You can’t order me around like your servant!” Maria cried indignantly, but also secretly pleased that he was so protective of her.

Michael’s hard tone softened and he held her more gently. “That’s not it Maria. It’s just that Lonnie and Rath were adamant on taking you for whatever reason and it’s a possibility that they are still lurking around here waiting for an opportunity. And I am not going to give that to them.”

“Neither am I!” Maria protested, though she shivered internally at the thought of being caught again by them. “It’s not like I like being taken hostage!”

“I can’t guarantee your safety, at least not when I’m alone.” Michael replied. “Look, let’s just go back and then we can discuss this with the others and come back here.”

Maria opened her mouth to argue but Michael clamped her mouth shut. “What if Leanna was some alien? I would feel better if we had someone to back us up.”

“Coming from someone who charges head first, and alone, into things…” Maria grumbled but then sighed. She knew Michael wasn’t about to back down and what he said did make sense. “Fine….”

Michael looked relieved and gently led Maria back outside. If this was as important as he was now beginning to think it was, he didn’t want to go into this blindly. They needed back up; they needed more time to plan this carefully. They needed the others.


TBC......

Part 65

Once Serena got back she was ready to try and work on Alex and Liz. After a bit of an argument, Alex decided to go first. Alex was sitting in the middle of the bed, leaning against the headboard with Serena sitting in front of him. Liz hovered near the edge of the bed; anxious to be near to help but at the same time not wanting to disturb whatever Serena was going to do. Alex glanced nervously at Serena then back at Liz.

“You sure you don’t want to go first?” He asked her with a panicky smile.

“You’re more important than my powers at the moment.” Liz told him with an encouraging smile. “Don’t worry Alex, you’ll be fine.”

Serena nodded. “Trust me okay?” she said. “I’ll be there with you and if you start to get troubled, I’ll pull you out.”

Alex swallowed the lump in his throat but nodded. He didn’t like the idea of anyone probing in his head, even if he was there with them, even if that person was Serena. He still felt that that was a violation of his privacy. His most personal thoughts would be open to Serena and though she had promised him that she wouldn’t look at anything except his blocked memory, he was still apprehensive about this.

Serena reached over and put her hand gently on Alex’s knee. Looking him in the eye she said, “Alex, I won’t look.”

Alex looked away in embarrassment. He hadn’t realized he was so obvious and he felt bad that he had let her think that he didn’t trust her. He did trust her, he trusted her with his life. Quelling his fears and trepidation Alex gave her a small smile. “I know. I trust you.” He replied. Taking a deep breath, he said as calmly as he could, “Let’s start.”

Serena nodded and then looked over at Liz. “If anything seems wrong don’t do anything! I’ll pull him out otherwise he could get hurt. Got it?”

Liz nodded. She sat down in a chair and watched as Serena took Alex’s hands in hers. They locked eyes with each other and Serena’s voice began to guide Alex.

“Let go Alex…”she said softly, almost whispering. “Let all your thoughts, your feelings go. Take my hand and reach out to me with your thoughts…. Open up to me, let me in… don’t be afraid, just walk with me…back to when you left Roswell….”

Liz watched in fascination as Alex fell into a gentle sleep. She could see him relaxing as Serena’s words floated through to him. When Serena was sure Alex had gone to sleep and was open to her, she sat back against the cushions piled behind her on the bed. Then she closed her eyes and let herself be pulled into Alex’s mind.


* * * * * * * * * * *


Alex felt himself being pulled down, he felt himself wake but he knew instantly that he wasn’t really ‘awake’. He was still sleeping and was being dream walked. He stood where he was with his eyes closed for a long while, almost scared to open his eyes and see where he was. It wasn’t until he felt a presence beside him that he finally dared to open his eyes. What he saw startled him for a split second and he turned to look at Serena who was standing next to him. Serena gave him an encouraging smile. Gesturing around her, at the rows of lockers and doors of Roswell High’s hallway, she explained, “This is just a linking passage. Something to make your journey from one memory to the other easier.”

“West Roswell High’s hallway?” Alex asked with a raised brow. “Do you not know how much trauma high school can be? I don’t think I need anymore than I already got…er…even if I can’t remember it.”

Serena just smiled at him. She looked about her and said, “It’s your subconscious. I didn’t choose this…not really anyway. I just think it’ll make things easier for you.”

Alex turned his attention to the rows of never ending doors on both his sides. The hallway, though the one like his high schools, was never ending. He couldn’t see the end of it. Just row after row of lockers and doors.

“What’s behind the doors?” he asked.

Serena shrugged. “That depends on you.”

“What do you mean? I decide what’s behind each door?” He asked perplexed.

Serena shook her head. “No, I mean that you can choose what you want behind the doors like your past memories, your present ones or just simply dreams, fantasies, anything you want.” She told him. “But once you decide what you want to view, then it’s unknown what you’ve called up.”

“So if I decide I need to see my past then I just…think it and memories will crop up?” Alex asked to clear himself. “But I have no control over what I see.”

“Something to that effect, yes.” Serena agreed. “Shall we begin?”

Alex quenched the nervous flutter in his stomach as he nodded and stepped towards the nearest door. Who knew he could be nervous in a dream? He wondered. As he stepped in front of the door, ready to open it, he wondered what he should call up. He didn’t even remember what he was looking for here, so how could he possibly know what to call up.

“Recent past Alex. Think of Sweden.” Serena told him, reading his mind.

“Right.” Alex replied and briefly closed his eyes, conjuring images of Sweden and Serena as Leanna. Wait, Leanna? I have to see about that image. Alex thought. If someone else did the mind warp then how come I saw Leanna?

Pushing aside his thoughts for the moment, he concentrated on Sweden and opened the door. He stepped inside and felt Serena come in after him. The door closed and disappeared behind them. Alex looked worriedly at Serena but she just shook her head. “Don’t worry, it’ll be back when you need it.” She told him. She looked around the place they were at. It was a small room and they noticed a suitcase lying on one side. Alex walked about the room and realized that this was his room at the Olsens’.

“Where are we Alex?” Serena asked.

“The Olsens’. My host family. This was my room.” Alex told her. He knitted his brow in confusion. “I think…” he added as an afterthought.

“You never went to Sweden Alex. This doesn’t exist.” Serena reminded him gently.

“I know.” Alex replied as he began to move toward the open door to the main hallway of the house. “But it seems so real…”

Serena didn’t say anything as she followed him quietly around the house. Alex felt confused as he walked around. It all felt and seemed so real. His memories were so… clear. He walked into the kitchen where he saw Mrs. Olsen cooking dinner. He smiled nostalgically at the image.

“Mrs. Olsen made this amazing dish for me once. She said it had been in her family for ages.” Alex told Serena.

“She never existed Alex.” Serena reminded him again, although gently, not wanting to push him.

Alex frowned in confusion. “I know…but…” he didn’t say anything further as he walked around. He touched things here and there and got even more confused. How could something that he remembered so accurately be so fake? He was so sure he had come here. How could it all be a lie?

He felt his head beginning to hurt as he tried to understand it, tried to fight whatever was blocking his memory. As he did so, the room began to fade in and out of view. Images began to turn gray, then blue, then back to focus. Only he and Serena remained as they were. Serena glanced at the fading images and knew Alex was trying to fight whatever was blocking his memory.

All of a sudden the house disappeared and in its place was a dorm room. Serena knew at once it was Alex’s at Las Cruses but she didn’t say any thing as Alex looked around himself in confusion. He didn’t know where he was anymore. One minute he was standing in the Olsen’s living room and then next in some strange room. But at the same time it was familiar. But not in a good way. He felt oppressed here, tired and trapped. He wanted to get out, to leave.

He turned blindly, anxious to get out. “Alex, it’s only a memory. It can’t hurt you.” Serena guided him but he didn’t listen. As soon as he made a move to the door he was back in the Olsen’s living room. The strange room was gone. Alex looked about himself in confusion.

“You pushed away the memory and retreated into something safe.” Serena told him before he could even ask.

“I’m sorry.” Alex replied.

“Don’t be. Just take it slow. Be careful of yourself.” She told him softly. Alex hesitated, his fear and uncertainty clear on his face. Serena touched him gently on the arm, trying to ease him. “Relax Alex. These are only memories. They can’t hurt you.”

Alex didn’t say anything; he was still tense and apprehensive. The memory of the dorm room and the feelings it had brought up had left him shaken. He didn’t remember it. He didn’t even know where that room was but for a split second he had felt scared, trapped and worried. The last part was one that puzzled him the most. He hadn’t been worried for himself; he had been worried for his friends.

Serena stood quietly watching as Alex stood stock still, reliving the memories. As he was thinking about them, the room once more began to fade in and out, the images blurring before becoming sharp once again. The images of the dorms overlapped with the ones on the house. It was like a tug and war between the memories. Alex wanted to know what had happened but at the same time he was fighting them off, terrified at what he would really find. The strain played out on Alex’s face as he stood indecisively.

“We can leave if you’re not up for this Alex.” Serena offered quietly, her voice soothing. “You don’t have to do this right now. We can always do this some other time.”

This seemed to help make Alex decided. “No.” he whispered firmly. “No, we’re gonna do this. I’m gonna do this.”

“You don’t have to Alex.” Serena said, offering him a way back again. But Alex shook his head, determination in his eyes.

“No, I need to know. I want to know.”

As soon as he said those words, the images changed so quickly and drastically that it felt that everything had been turned upside down for a split second. Serena even couldn’t help gasping at the sudden head rush she felt at the change. When she was able to focus again she saw Alex was already walking slowly towards the bedroom. She followed him as he took in his surroundings.

“Where is this place?” he asked Serena, somehow knowing she knew.

“Las Cruses.” Serena told him.

Alex didn’t ask anything else for a few moments as he carefully examined the room. He saw a photo frame lying on the bedside and he picked it up. He stiffened imperceptibly when he saw the picture. It was the one taken at the quad of Maria, Liz and him. There was another one of Isabel’s also lying on the side table. He touched Isabel’s face lovingly before quickly turning away. He walked back into the small den and walked almost automatically towards the computer sitting there in the corner. As he got nearer to it, he felt waves of anger, fear and weakness ripple through him. He stumbled as a torrent of images and feelings flashed before him.

** Flash **

“Why did you bring me here?” he heard himself ask his captor. He couldn’t see the person but he knew his captor was in the room with him, out of view.

“Because I need you; that is all you need to know for the moment,” the person replied coolly. Alex strained to try and distinguish the voice but his memory was still dim and he couldn’t make out if it was a man or woman.

“Why are you doing this?” Alex asked. “Why didn’t you just kill us before when you had the chance? Why now and done so elaborately?”

The person didn’t reply immediately. But Alex knew immediately that he was not going to get his answers. “We have work to do…” the person replied coldly.

** Flash **

“Alex fight it!” Serena cried as she sat next to him on the computer in another building. Alex didn’t turn to her, as if not listening. Serena grabbed his arm and shook him.

“Alex, it’s all in your head! Fight it!” she cried again.

Alex looked at her calmly and smiled. Even though he was looking at her, his fingers were still typing away. “Oh hi Leanna! Did Mr. Olsen let you in?” he asked.

“I am not Leanna!” She told him. “Remember me Alex. Serena?”

Alex just nodded his head. “Yes, she did tell me about the dance. Do you want to go?” Alex was carrying on a conversation with himself, the mind warp too powerful to fight.

“Alex, forget the image I planted of Leanna. It’s only to keep suspicion off you. So that no one knows I am here. Remember, I told you what I would do? You have to remember Alex.” Serena told him.

“Serena?” Recognition flickered in his eyes and he paused in typing. Serena nodded eagerly.

“Yes, Alex! Serena!”

But Alex by now was once again lost in his fantasy. “Thanks for dropping by Leanna.” He said.

Serena sighed, knowing it was useless right now. She would try again later. She squeezed Alex’s shoulder gently. “See you later Alex.” When Alex didn’t respond, his eyes fixed on the computer, Serena left, giving one last miserable look.

** Flash **

“I will not do this anymore!” Alex cried in anger. “You can not force me to do this!”

“Yes you will, and yes I can.” The voice replied with a cold malice.

“No! I will not help you with this! I will not lead my friends into a trap.”

“Then they will die!” the voice snapped.

“They’ll die too even if I do what you say, then what difference is there?” Alex asked but still felt fear grip him.

“The difference, foolish human is that you will watch. You will watch as I will kill them all. Your friends will scream for mercy and there will be none. Even the humans will not be spared. You will watch as I will kill your precious girlfriend. You will watch and you will be blamed!” the voice answered with deadly calm but Alex did not miss the determination in the voice.

“You will not hurt Liz, Maria or Isabel!” Alex spat out.

“Isabel?” the voice mocked. “For you maybe…but for us, she’s Vilandra, princess of Antar and I will stop at nothing to finish the Royal Four off.”

Alex could only listen in horror and helplessness. He knew without a doubt that this all will be carried through. He didn’t know what to do. He could warn the others…

“Oh yes…” the voice said, snapping him from his thoughts. “So you don’t blurt out anything…”

Alex saw a flash and images of places he’d never been swam before his eyes before everything went dark.

** End Flash **

When the flashes stopped Alex found himself being supported by Serena. He noticed that he was once again in the high school’s hallway. He looked questioningly at Serena who was looking worried herself.

“I pulled you out. Whatever you were seeing was making you agitated.” She explained.

“I saw things…I’m not sure what they mean but I saw things, places, people…you.” He paused. “I want to go again.”

Serena shook her head. “No. Not yet. We’ll try again later.”

Alex wanted to argue with her but then nodded. He was feeling tired. All of this had drained him. He just wanted to go back to the real world. He had enough for one day. For a second he saw her image again as she sat next to him, telling him to fight the images.

What images? He wondered but then realized that Serena was waiting for him to respond.

“Okay.” He agreed, although still a bit reluctant.

“Okay, I’m pulling out and then you do okay?” Serena asked.

“Fine.”

Serena let go of him and stood back. Her image began to waver and shimmer and then she was gone. Alex closed his eyes after she was gone and willed himself to wake up.


TBC......

Author's name: Well your wait is over guys! i'm back with a new part! And let's just say it's gonna be interesting. As for what Michael and Maria and the POD squad are up too, well you'll ahve to wait another chapter for that! And welcome aboard creative nickname (btw, love the name ). Look, youdidn't have to wait too long for an update! i update fast, ask these guys right here!



Part 66


Liz glanced at the clock worriedly. It had been over an hour and Serena and Alex showed no signs of waking up. She had been sitting here the whole time, unable to leave the room. She knew that if she wanted to she could go to get something to eat or keep checking in on them seeing as to how she couldn’t help them if something did happen but she couldn’t do that. She already felt helpless and worse of all useless just sitting here, waiting for them to wake up and she knew that she’d only feel more so if she left them.

She briefly considered waking them as her worry grew but she just as quickly discarded that thought. Serena had warned her not to interfere, not even if something seemed amiss. Right now nothing seemed wrong so she would have to settle for waiting. Liz instead, took this quiet moment to go through what Serena and Alex both had pointed out to her this morning.

Ava.

Could Ava really be one of the enemies? She wondered. Could she just having been using me?

Liz shivered at the thought and she wrapped her arms around herself. If Ava was really an enemy and if she was really working for Kivar then how much had she known about them? Had she known about them then at all? Or was that just a scouting operation? Was that why she had stayed behind? To learn as much as she could from them? Was all the distrust apparent between herself and Rath and Lonnie fake?

Liz frowned as she contemplated that thought. No, she decided. Whoever’s side Ava really was on, she really did distrust Rath and Lonnie. But Ava was really working for Kivar then why did she help Liz save Max’s life? It would have been so easy for Kivar to claim a hold on the throne once Max was dead. Then why did Ava pass up such an opportunity? And what about Zan? Did Rath and Lonnie really kill Zan? Or was that a setup by Ava herself?

Liz felt her head begin to throb. So many questions and so few answers. She dropped her head in her hands and massaged her temples, trying to ignore the flood of questions running in her mind. One led to another, and that led to another and another and another….

This can keep going on forever and I’ll still be nowhere near any answers. Liz sighed wearily. She grabbed her hair in agitation. God, she really needed Max right now. She just wanted to feel safe, unharmed for just a minute. That’s all she asked. One minute of comfort when she could forget all of this. Just a minute of pure, innocent happiness and bliss. Was that too much to ask?!

No! I will not wallow in self pity! Liz thought adamantly, shaking herself from these thoughts. I will not let this get to me. I will get through this. I will do this! I can do this!

But even as she thought that she couldn’t stop the bitterness from seeping in. She couldn’t control the rage that she felt flood through her. She had never felt so angry and helpless in her life. She hated this! God, how much she hated this! All she had ever wanted was a happy life with the person she loved and instead she was now officially dead. She had lost her life, her soul mate, her best friends all in a span of a year. How could anything be worth this?

Because he’s worth it. A small voice in her head spoke up. Liz shook her head, wanting to argue against it.

Is my life worth it? Is Alex’s life worth it? She asked that voice but she knew the answer to that before the other part of her spoke.

You know you’d give your life in a heart beat if it meant saving Max.

I didn’t save him from anything. In fact I may have pushed him into more danger! Liz argued. But that voice spoke up again, almost sounding amused.

You saved him and all your friends from death. Death that loomed fourteen years in the future.

Liz let her head drop in her hands again. That inner voice of hers was incredibly annoying. It was right, she had saved him and she knew she would do it again if it meant keeping Max safe. Because he was worth it. He was worth all the pain and heartache.

Liz was shaken from her thoughts by a small groan. She looked at Alex and Serena anxiously, her troubles forgotten as she saw them begin to stir. She rushed to their side as Serena slowly sat back up.

“Did it work?” Liz asked breathlessly. “Did you guys do it?”

“I couldn’t unblock everything because it was beginning to agitate Alex but I think we managed to get past some barriers.” Serena replied. Alex was also now beginning to wake up, though he was more disoriented than Serena.

Liz sat down next to Alex and smiled down at him as he looked bleary-eyed at them. “Hey,” he mumbled. “Did it work?”

“I think we’re supposed to ask you that.” Serena said in amusement.

“Oh, right.” Alex replied, now sitting back up. He glanced at Serena in silence for a moment. Then shifting his gaze away, he concentrated for a moment and then relaxed a bit. “Yeah, I think it did work. There are still huge chunks I don’t remember but I’ll get there.”

“Well, what did you see?” Liz asked eagerly, can not containing her curiosity.

“Well, I saw the dorm room.” Alex replied a bit quietly. He seemed a bit upset. He looked at Serena. “Did you…um have that flash?” he asked.

“Flash?” Serena asked with a small frown. “No. I pulled you out when you spaced out.”

“Oh.”

“Did you have a flash Alex?” Liz asked. When Alex nodded hesitantly, she went on. “What did you see?”

Alex hesitated, clearly unsettled by whatever he had seen. He swung his legs off the bed and got off. He paced for a bit and then finally stood by the window, his back propped against the pane. Liz and Serena were watching him with hidden concern. Whatever Alex had seen was something important, they were sure of it. And if it left Alex worried then something had happened when he had been in Las Cruses.

“What did you see in the flash Alex?” Serena repeated Liz’s question.

Alex looked up from his perusal of the carpet and at Serena. His eyes were unreadable as he looked at Serena carefully. Then he asked, “Did you mind warp me too?”

Serena was taken aback by the question. She hadn’t expected him to ask that at all. Just what did Alex see? She wondered. She hesitated. She knew what she was going to tell him would upset him but she had to make him understand why it had been important. Alex was still waiting for her reply, his gaze not wavering from her face.

“What did you see Alex?” Serena asked softly, trying to turn away the conversation from her. But Alex wasn’t easily deterred.

“Please tell me Serena.” Alex asked quietly, a slightly hurt and accusatory tone in his voice.

Liz was watching the scene playing out in front of her quietly. She was impatient to know what had happened but the look and tone of Alex’s question and face stopped her. She bit her lip, not understanding what Alex was trying to ask.

“Yes.” Serena finally whispered. Alex flinched as she said the words and hurt and betrayal registered on his face. He tore his gaze away from hers and turned around abruptly, looking out the window. His shoulders had stiffened, his back rigid. Liz could see Alex’s jaw clench and unclench from where she sat.

“Alex?” Liz said hesitantly. “What’s going on?”

Alex didn’t say anything for a long while, just staring out unobservingly. Serena and Liz both felt the air thicken with tension at the continued silence. Finally, Alex let out a small laugh. But it wasn’t a happy one. It was bitter, angry and hurt.

“You didn’t bother to tell me. All this time….”he went quiet before he turned around and faced Serena. “You manipulated my mind and you didn’t bother to tell me.”

Serena got up to her feet and approached Alex, her eyes suddenly ashamed and apologetic. She reached out with her out stretched hand to touch him but he backed away. Serena let her hand drop sadly. “Alex, I-I’m sorry…”she managed to get out.

“You’re sorry?” Alex asked scornfully. “That’s just great. You twisted my memories, you played with my mind and all this time you didn’t bother telling me? These past weeks when we trained, when I trusted you, when I woke up from nightmares, you didn’t say a word. You could have told me Serena! You’re my friend and friends don’t do this to one another.”

“I wanted to Alex, I really did but how could I?” Serena asked him. “You didn’t remember anything about Las Cruses so how could you remember me? I couldn’t just blurt it out that I was there.”

“Did you even try?” Alex shot back. “How about trying to explain to me what you did!”

“What could I say?” Serena cried. “What could I possibly have said that would have made you believe me? You hardly believed me when I told you about Las Cruses!”

“Well, gee, how about ‘Alex I was there with you at Las Cruses and I mind warped you into thinking that I was Leanna!’” Alex told her angrily.

“It wouldn’t have made a difference.” Serena replied quietly, knowing she should have told him but also at the same time knew it would have been hopeless.

“It makes a difference to me!” Alex cried. “It makes a difference because it is my memories you’re manipulated! It is my mind you’re playing with!”

“Alex, I said I was sorry. I didn’t know what to do when I found you.” Serena tried to explain. “I wasn’t supposed to take you after the crash!”

“Wait!” Liz exclaimed for the first time. “What do you mean you ‘weren’t supposed to take him after the crash’?”

Serena suddenly realized what she had said and kept quiet. Alex and Liz both narrowed their eyes at her. “Serena?” Liz asked.

Serena sighed. “I was supposed to prevent that…” she finally told them. “That was one part of the plan…. I was supposed to get to Alex before the car accident happened but I was too late. It would have made things a lot easier.”

“Hold up!” Alex said, holding up his hand in disbelief. “What are you saying exactly?”

“I’m saying that the plan was to take you away once you left Las Cruses.” Serena explained tiredly. “You were under a heavy mind warp. I was supposed to help you fight it off because the longer you were under it, the more difficult it would be to fight it. But the timing of my getting here was a bit off and I was unable to prevent the accident. I didn’t have all the details and kinks worked off and I was…I couldn’t help you…” She closed her eye for a moment before looking back at them. “I almost didn’t make it on time.”

“What about the mind warp?” Alex asked, his anger drained in light of Serena’s revelation. “Why didn’t you just take me then?”

“Because even though I managed to meet with you a couple of times, I was never able to find out who was behind it all. I tried, I tried to read you but the mind warp was just too powerful. You believed you were in Sweden.” Serena explained.

“But why did you mind warp him?” Liz questioned. “Why make him believe you were his girlfriend?”

Serena sat back down on the bed and fingered the bed sheet as she replied, “When I couldn’t break the mind warp, I decided to add something of my own. So that when he saw me later, he would know I wasn’t a threat.”

“So all the pictures were for Alex to remember what had really happened?” Liz asked. “You wanted to jog his memory.”

Serena nodded. “I hoped that he would remember something if he saw the pictures. But they were for your benefit too. I knew that if you ever got on the fact that he never really went to Sweden you would decide to look up who ‘Leanna’ was. I hoped it would help you in your search for the spy.”

“But I don’t understand.” Alex said. “Why keep this from us, from me? Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

Serena looked at him honestly. “Would it have mattered?” she asked bluntly.

Both Alex and Liz paused. Would it have? Would it have changed anything? Would they have tried to come to Roswell any sooner or figure out what was wrong with Alex? Would they have trusted Serena any more or less? Would it have helped jog Alex’s memory? Probably not. But it still hurt to know she was still keeping secrets from them. It hurt a lot.

Alex sighed and his intense gaze softened a little bit. “No, I guess not.” He finally replied, biting his lip. “But I thought we were done with secrets between us. You have to understand that we can’t be keeping secrets from one another.”

“We’re in this together Serena.” Liz added. “And there is no way we can fully trust each other unless we have no secrets amongst us.”

Serena nodded. “I know and I’m sorry but at that time I thought that was the best thing to do.” She replied. She looked at them earnestly. “But I promise no more secrets. None.”

After a little hesitation Alex gave her a curt nod, though he appeared visibly relaxed. “I hope so.”

Silence settled in the room after that. The air was still heavy with tension, all of them unsure what to say next or how to say it. They still had a lot to discuss but somehow they couldn’t find the words. Serena fidgeted slightly and began to play with the fringe of the bed spread while Liz looked around the room absently tucking her hair behind her ear.

“So…”Alex began hesitantly, his eyes showing tentative humor. “Is there something else you haven’t told us?” he asked.

Serena looked at him in surprise and slight hurt until she heard the teasing tone. Before she could say anything Alex hurried on, a slight smile on his face. “Like maybe you’re really a man who dresses like a woman or something?” he dead panned.

Liz choked back a bark of laughter, the ice broken. “’Cuz that’s just something we have to know.” She added with a grin of her own.

Serena looked from one to the other in disbelief before a slow smile spread across her face. “Maybe.” She teased. “Or maybe I’m a stripper by night.”

Alex brought his hand up to his heart and reeled in mock surprise. “Oh my! You never told us that!” then he grinned. “So, can I meet all your stripper friends for a private party?”

Serena finally let loose a laugh and Liz joined in. Alex appeared offended. “What? I can’t have a party?” he asked.

“Somehow I can never imagine you at such a party!” Serena laughed.

“Hey, let’s not forget Isabel’s birthday party!” Alex reminded them. “I was the stripper.”

“Alex, one nipple does not count as a strip tease!” Liz pointed out, still laughing. Alex just harrumphed but then he started to chuckle too.

When the laughter finally died down Serena walked over to Alex. “Alex I am sorry.” She said.

“I know.” Alex replied. He gave her a small smile. “But let’s forget about it okay?”

Serena bit her lip but then nodded. “Okay.” She agreed. Alex pulled her into a hug and Serena wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back, silently promising not to keep any more secrets from them.

“Is this just for you two or can anyone join in?” Liz piped up, coming next to them.

“Come here Liz!” Alex chuckled, pulling her into a three way hug. When they finally let go, Liz reminded them.

“In case you guys have forgotten, we’ve got work to do.”

Serena nodded. “That’s right.” She turned to Alex. “You need to tell us what you saw.”

Alex looked at them grimly now. “It isn’t pretty.” He replied. “And I have a feeling that we’ve got a few surprises coming our way.”



TBC.....

Author's Note: Looks like I've got you guys running around with various scenarios in your head...hmmm you might just kill me when you read the next part cuz I just made all your ideas very difficult to happene quickly..


Part 67

The trip back to Roswell seemed to take much longer than when Maria was going towards Las Cruses. Even though the route back was not scenic at all, Maria resolutely concentrated on the desert around her. She forced herself not to think about anything but the deserted road she was traveling on and the fact that she could take comfort in Michael’s arms once she reached Roswell. She knew that if she let her mind wander, she would be unable to quell her alarm and fear. At the thought of Michael she glanced in the rearview and felt relief flood through her when she saw him following her on his motorbike.

She hadn’t wanted to let him see how scared she had been when Lonnie and Rath had taken her. She knew that if she did Michael would never have let her set foot on the university campus again. And she couldn’t afford that, not when she was so close to solving the mystery. In a way though she had been secretly relieved when Michael had forced her to head back to Roswell.

Maria gripped the steering wheel tighter, her knuckles turning white as she tried to ignore the trembling in her hands. Too many things were happening all at once for her to remain calm. Tess’s pregnancy, her finding out about Alex’s real whereabouts, the codes, Leanna and now Lonnie and Rath. She refused to think about them all, focusing instead on finding the truth about Alex, Leanna and the code. If she let herself ponder on the other things she would break down and she wasn’t sure she would be able to pull herself back together.

Maria glanced in the rearview mirror again and saw that Michael was still following behind her. The sky was turning dark now, the evening beginning to end. Roswell was only a few miles ahead but it would be night by the time they got back. She bit her lip when she thought about whether the others would have noticed their disappearance. She doubted it since they had not even been gone a full day yet.

Her mind was whirling with all that she had learned in one day. It was too much to take in. She wanted to just close her eyes and forget for a moment all her worries. She wanted Michael to hold her and just…just be with her. Sighing, she turned her attention back to the road. She needed to get to Roswell. That was more important right now. She and Michael needed to discuss a few things with the others. She needed to solve this mystery. At the thought of talking to the others Maria winced when she realized that she had yet to tell Max about Future Max.

She groaned. She was not ready for this. She didn’t know how she was going to break it to them. She wasn’t sure how he would take it. She was thankful that she had Kyle and Michael to help her but still she felt nervous butterflies in her stomach at the mere thought of telling Max about it. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t realize that a car had began to steadily follow them. She didn’t notice Michael dart glances from the car behind him to Maria’s Jetta in front of him. With the head lights on, he couldn’t see the driver of the car but he felt a chill run down his spine.

Without warning the car suddenly veered onto the other lane, overtaking Michael and coming to a cruise next to the Jetta. Michael felt worry ripple through him the second he saw the driver and the passenger.

Rath and Lonnie. He thought in panic. He tried to yell out to Maria to stop the car but it was too late. They had already rammed into the Jetta, pushing it off the road and into a ditch.

To Maria it all happened so fast. One moment the car was behind her and the next beside her. When she saw Lonnie and Rath her blood ran cold. She felt her body freeze, she couldn’t seem to make her hands move. She heard Michael yelling at her to stop the car but she felt so scared that she could barely tear her gaze away from Rath’s mocking smile. Before she could snap out of her trance they had bumped their car against her. She tried to grip the steering wheel, desperately trying to get the car into control. But it spun no matter how hard she tried to stop it. And then she felt herself fall. She felt the car bump, roll and jerk as it fell into a ditch. She heard herself scream but through her fear induced fog she wasn’t sure whether she was screaming or if it was Michael yelling out to her.

“Maria!” Michael yelled out in terror as he saw the car veer off the road. He brought his bike to a halt and leapt off it, running to where Maria’s car turned lay a few feet below. He turned angry and terrified eyes back at Lonnie and Rath but they were already speeding away. He was tempted to follow them or at least blast them but he clenched his hands in a fist and let that pass. Maria needed him right now. If he wasted any time or energy on them, he might not be able to help her.

Michael turned his gaze back to the car, silently praying and urging Maria to walk out safe and sound. But as the steam rolled from under the hood of the turned car Michael felt panic grip him. There was no movement.

“Shit, shit, shit…”Michael cursed under his breath as he shakily ran down to the car. He let loose another string of curses when he saw Maria unconscious behind the wheel, her head lined with a cut that was bleeding.

The car had tilted a bit when it had rolled down and Maria was strapped limply to the seat by her seatbelt. He reached in from the open window and gently patted her cheek. “Maria, Maria!” he cried, trying to wake her. “Wake up! Maria!” When she didn’t move, he felt his mind go into over drive. He didn’t pause to consider about the possible people that could spot him from the road. His only thought was for Maria and her safety.

When tugging at the door didn’t help, he stepped back and raised his hand. He threw a power bolt at the hinges of the car door, not powerful enough to hurt Maria inside but to knock the door off. As soon as the door was off, Michael ran to Maria’s side and after unbuckling her seatbelt pulled her out from the smashed car. He lay her down gently on the floor and wiped her face with his hand, pushing back her hair and praying silently that his touch would wake her.

“Come on DeLuca!” Michael ground out. “Wake up! Please, don’t do this to me. I need you Maria!”

When Maria still didn’t shift Michael let loose a sob that he had been holding back. A single tear ran down his cheek and for once he didn’t wipe it away. He never had thought he could need or care for anyone as much as he cared for Maria and if something happened to her now….

No! He thought fiercely. Nothing is going to happen to her!

But what could he do? Her car was totaled and was going nowhere. And he could not take her on his motorbike. His gaze raked over the deserted road. No car seemed to be coming for miles. Then his eyes fell on Maria’s bag in the car.

Her cell phone! He thought in relief. Pulling her bag out he pulled out her cell and dialed the three numbers on which Maria’s life depended on. 911.


* * * * * * * * * * *


The emergency room was filled with people when Maria was rushed in half and hour later but Michael barely paid any attention to them. His eyes were glued to Maria’s pale face as she was whisked away by doctors. He was besides her all the time until the nurses stopped him from going any further. He wanted to yell and scream and demand to be allowed with her but he held his tongue and nodded stiffly. He didn’t move though, watching from the small window as the doctors began to administer drugs to her unconscious form.

His hands clenched into fists as he felt anger surge through him when it sunk in that Maria could possibly be very badly injured. His anger was directed at Rath and Lonnie. This was the second time they had tried to hurt Maria and he didn’t see why.

Maria has done nothing to do them dammit! He thought furiously, his eyes still glues to Maria’s limp form. If they want to fight, fight me! Not her!

He raised his hand and placed it lightly on the window separating him from Maria. He stroked the glass, trying to imagine touching Maria. Finally his anger gave way to the tears he had been holding back. With a dry sob, silent tears rolled down his cheek. He had been holding back all the while he was following the ambulance on his motorbike but now that they were here, with Maria being helped right now, he couldn’t stop the tears anymore.

As he wiped futilely at his tears, he felt a hand come and rest on his shoulder. Turning slightly, he faced Jim Valenti who he had called right after calling the paramedics. For some reason Michael hadn’t called Max or Isabel or even Kyle but had found himself dialing Sheriff Valenti’s number. He hadn’t realized until that moment how much he had come to reply on the man.

“I’ve called the others and her mother.” Jim Valenti told Michael softly. “They’re on their way.”

Michael nodded dully and turned his attention back to Maria. The doctors were still working on her, still trying to wake her.

“Why don’t you come with me and rest son.” Jim suggested, pulling Michael towards the waiting area gently.

Michael shook his head. “No. I’m going to stay here…until she wakes up.” He replied.

“Michael you need to rest. You look exhausted. I don’t know what you were doing in Las Cruses but whatever it was took a lot out of you.” At Michael’s questioning look he added, “It’s written all over your face.”

Michael didn’t say anything, still staring stubbornly ahead but his shoulders sagged. Jim took this as a good sign and pressed again. “Come on Michael. You’re not doing here any good standing here. She’s in good hands.” When Michael looked at him uncertainly, he put his hand on Michael’s shoulders comfortingly. “She’ll need you to be strong and alert when she wakes up. You need to rest…for her.”

At this Michael nodded and moved a step towards the waiting room. Then he turned abruptly and met Jim’s eyes with fright and desperation. “She’ll wake up, right?” he asked, his voice cracking a bit. “Maria will wake up soon and she’ll be all right…won’t she?”

Jim nodded slowly and gave Michael a small, strained yet assuring smile. “She will.” He promised. “She’ll be fine.”


TBC..........


Note: As for this new part, it took me a while to write this. I had to re-write this three times but still it ended the same way:( So it's not my fault...really! Just blame my darn muse...and she is working on fixing it!

Author's Note: Sorry it took me longer than expected to update. But here it is, a brand new part! Enjoy!


Part 68

Liz shifted slightly on the couch as she and Alex watched Serena pace in front of them. Alex had just related all that he had seen and Serena had been bothered by the images a lot. She kept questioning Alex about them, asking them to relate them to her again and again, pressing for the tiniest details he could remember.

Neither Liz nor Alex understood what she was trying to do. There was nothing about the flashes that told them anything about Alex’s kidnapper.

“Serena, you’re not going to find anything.” Liz spoke up as she watched Serena roam all over the room. “There’s nothing there that is of any help.”

Serena stopped in her tracks and shook her head vehemently. “There’s something…wrong about it. I know there is!” Serena turned to look at Alex. “Is there anything you’re leaving out? Like maybe another person or maybe some description of the person?”

Alex shook his head. “I told you everything I saw. I didn’t see who the person was. Even the voice was…almost disguised.” Alex sighed dejectedly. “It’s no use. It’s hopeless.”

“Something keeps bugging me…something that was said maybe…” Serena mused. Alex and Liz looked at her expectantly but then she shook her head with frustration. “I can’t pin point what bugged me so much.”

“I wish I could help you guys more.” Alex sighed. “I feel so frustrated not being able to remember much!”

At this Serena stopped her pacing and came and sat down next to Alex. Taking his hand in hers she stared him in the eyes and said strictly, “Alex if you ever think that again I’m going to have to knock some sense into you!” Liz bit back a smile at Alex’s startled expression. With a small smile Serena continued, “You have been more than helpful. We wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without you right now.”

“But I don’t remember most of the stuff. Stuff that’s important like my captor!” Alex protested.

“We’ll get there Alex.” Liz spoke up. “We’ll keep trying until we do. Didn’t you tell me that everything happen for a reason and us being here, like this, is just one of them many reasons?”

Alex gave her an unconvinced half smile. “Did I really say that?” he asked. He shook his head in mock-dejection. “What was I smoking?” He then looked back up at the two girls and gave them a more firm smile. “You’re right. We’ll get there when we have to. But I just wish I could remember more. It’s so wearisome not knowing this big chunk that I know happened but can’t remember it clearly!”

“We’ll try the memory revival a few more times. It seemed to be helping.” Serena said. “That is if you are willing.”

Alex nodded quickly. “Yes. Yes, of course I am.”

“Since Serena seems to think we are missing something important we need to become more organized.” Liz said. “We need to write down everything and maybe then we’ll spot something.”

“Yeah, that seems like a good idea.” Alex agreed. “I’ll help you; make sure everything is jotted down.”

Liz got up from the couch. “Good, I’ll go get some paper right now.” She offered.

“There are some pads I bought. They are in my room.” Serena told her.

Liz nodded and headed to Serena’s room. She was shifting through the drawer when she felt the room begin to spin. Her head felt light and heavy all at the same time. A dull pain began to throb in her head, which grew in intensity until a scream tore through her mouth and she fell on the floor, flashes consuming her thoughts.

** Flash **

Blurred images rolled passed her eyes. The images had no shape that she could make out. They were more like fast moving light. Behind the images she could hear words and sound.

Liz turned around in panic trying to get out. She felt trapped, caged in. Her head hurt and she brought her hand up to her head and felt something wet and sticky. Bring her hand in front of her eyes she saw blood. Wide eyed she stared at the blood. The pain in her head seemed to be getting worse. Then a scream startled her out of her thoughts. She tried to catch what words were being yelled but she missed them. There had been two voices, a male and female.

Suddenly the images around her began to take shape. But they flashed by so quickly, once more turning into blurred lights that she could only make out a car…a red car. As she backed away from the image in shock, she heard the unmistakable sound of Michael’s voice.

“Maria!” he yelled in fear, panic and desperation.

Liz began to shake when she saw the next image, a desperate cry stuck in her throat. She saw Maria, lying unconscious on the ground, her head bleeding. A pale light seemed to illuminate her but as Liz began to run towards the image and yell Maria’s name, she felt herself being pulled out.

“No! Not yet!” Liz cried. “Please, show me what happened!”

But the images paid no heed to her plea. She was unceremoniously jerked back out and in the last flash she saw Maria’s room and Michael’s terrified face.

** End Flash **


When she woke up she saw she was lying on Serena’s bed with Alex and Serena hovering over her. As soon as her eyes fluttered open Alex and Serena both let out a sigh of relief.

“Liz?” Alex asked softly. “Are you awake?”

Liz shot up in bed as everything came crashing back to her. She struggled to get off the bed, her eyes wide and panicked.

“Liz!” Serena cried in alarm. “What’s wrong?”

“Was it a premonition?” Alex questioned.

But Liz was already scurrying out to the door, furiously grabbing at her shoes and coat. Alex ran up and grabbed her.

“Liz, what’s wrong?” he asked sharply. “What did you see?”

Liz just looked at him quietly and suddenly Alex felt a dread sweep through him. He had a bad feeling he knew what Liz had seen. Quickly he let his connection open with the others and instinctively sought out Maria. What he felt made his stomach roll and his knees buckled. It couldn’t be! He thought furiously but he had felt it. Maria was hurt.

Liz turned terrified eyes towards him and whispered one word. “Maria…”

Alex let go off her abruptly and stood there gaping at her. “Ma-Maria?” he whispered. He had desperately hoped that he had been wrong with his sense, that Liz had seen someone else but to hear her voice the name made him want to puke.

Liz nodded. “She’s hurt Alex.” Liz cried, a tear escaping and running down her cheek. “I have to go to her!”

“Liz…a-are you sure?” Alex asked, his voice trembling. He knew, Liz knew he knew but he still wanted to ask, just to have the hope that they might be wrong. “Are you absolutely sure?”

When Liz nodded Alex swore under his breath. Liz took that moment to resume her frantic dash outside. But Serena stopped her.

“Liz! You can’t go outside without changing your appearance.” Serena reminded her.

“I don’t have time Serena!” Liz replied, pausing to address her. “I’m too weak to anyway. That premonition…it took a lot out of me…”

“I’m drained too after dream walking Alex. We have to wait for either of our powers to be working again.” Serena said. “You can’t go barging into town looking for Maria. Where will you look anyway? Did you see where she got hurt or how? Did you even know if it happened now?”

Liz shook her head. “No.” she admitted.

“Serena is right Liz. We can’t…god I want to run out there with you, but we can’t.” Alex replied. In truth Alex wanted to dash out to find Maria as he could feel her pain but he knew Serena was right. They had no choice. “Too much is at stake. We have to be careful!”

Liz bit her lip, swallowing her cry of anger and protest. “Please don’t do this to me. I have to go!” she begged.

Serena looked at them apologetically. “I-I’m sorry Liz. I know how much you’re worried but we can’t. At least give me some time to recharge my powers and you your too. Then we’ll change and go.”

Liz growled in frustration. Both she and Serena were drained by their respective alien powers. Could she wait for them to charge up? Could she take that chance on Maria?

No, she decided. I have to go.

She knew if she said anything they wouldn’t let her go, especially Serena. And the longer she stayed here arguing the longer Maria was in danger. So she whirled around without a word and hurried ran to the door, pulling it open.

“Liz!” Alex cried out.

Liz paused and turned to look at Alex. Her worry was written all over her face and Alex grew more alarmed. “Please Alex. I have to…”Liz whispered urgently. Her eyes begged him to try and understand. “It’s Maria…” she said quietly.

Alex looked at her for a second, not saying a word and then his stance changed. To hell with risks. Liz was right. This was Maria they were talking about. Their best friend! He nodded imperceptibly at her and Liz gave him a grateful look and left.

“Alex!” Serena cried. “We can’t let her go! In the state she is in, who knows what she might do?”

But Alex was already grabbing his own coat. “I’m going after her.” He replied and without waiting for Serena hurried after Liz.

Serena sighed. She understood their pain but this was too reckless. Quickly making up her mind she too hurried out after them.


TBC....

Author's Note: Thank you for your wonderful feedback. Things are beinging to fall into place. Think of this as having reached mid point of the story or maybe even a bit after. I know you all are worried (or not) about Liz and the others being spotted but I really doubt Liz would be seen. And Gerry, i really love all your feedback at every board! Thanks for nominating my story for the awards. I saw them a couple days ago and could not have been happier to see you like my story so much! Love your stories too!



Part 69


Every time a doctor used to walk past where he was sitting, Michael’s head used to snap up and he would feel hope surge in him. Every time he expected the doctor to stop by and tell him that Maria was awake and was demanding to see him. He had never missed Maria’s constant banter more than he did now. He wanted her to wake up; he wanted her to tell him off for taking so long to help her. He wanted her to yell at him, accuse him of not believing her earlier, most of all he wanted her awake, safe and sound in his arms.

As yet another doctor walked by Michael glared at him. When he too didn’t stop he got up and began to walk towards the room they had shifted her into. He didn’t see why he couldn’t see her. They kept telling him that only family members could see her but didn’t they see? Didn’t they see that Maria was his family? She was his only family aside from Max and Isabel. He had always needed her and now she needed him. He knew it in his soul. She needed him to be there next to her, holding her hand, helping her through this. Why wouldn’t they let him see her?

Walking up to the nurses’ station he banged his fist on the desk, demanding the attention of the nurse there.

“I need to see Maria DeLuca!” he ordered angrily.

The nurse appeared unperturbed at his demeanour. “Are you a family member?” she asked in a dull tone.

“Look, I am not her family but I am her boyfriend!” Michael snapped irritably. “I want to see her!”

“I’m sorry.” The nurse said rather unapologetically. “Only fa-”

“Family can see her.” Michael finished for her with irritation. “Yeah, yeah. I heard it before. But you don’t understand. I have to see her. No one is telling me anything. Is she okay? Is she awake yet?”

“I’m afraid only her doctor can tell you that sir.” The nurse replied before turning back to her work.

Michael slammed his fist on the desk again and turned away in anger. His gaze travelled to the swinging door that led to the rooms, one of which was Maria’s. Without thinking twice he began to hurry towards them. He had just made it when he heard Jim call out his name rather sharply.

“Michael,”

Michael turned to glare furiously at him. “What are you doing son?” Jim asked, his voice now soft but his gaze penetrating.

“I need to see Maria.” Michael told him.

“Amy will be here shortly.” Jim replied. “She should be able to see her daughter first.”

“But she needs me!” Michael cried. “I know she needs me in there right now. Not her mother or some damn doctor! Me Sheriff!”

Jim didn’t say anything as he watched the emotions play across Michael’s face. Then he asked Michael something that had been on his mind since Michael had called him.

“What were you doing in Las Cruse Michael?” he asked quietly.

Michael froze. “I-I can’t answer that right now Sheriff.” Michael said, averting his gaze. “Please don’t ask me that. I need…I need to talk to the others first. But I will tell you.” He looked back up at him and said earnestly. “But right now the most important thing to worry about is Maria. Sheriff this is my fault. I should have taken care of her; I should have brought her back to Roswell sooner”

“Not everything is your fault Michael.” Jim replied calmly.

“This is! I was supposed to protect her! I was supposed to protect her from R-” he stopped abruptly when he realized what he was about to say. If he told Jim about Rath and Lonnie, he might get suspicious and he needed to talk to the others first. So Michael instead said, “Sheriff, please. Try to understand. I have to be there for her. I have to…”

Jim didn’t say anything for a few seconds and then he sighed. “I’ll go talk to the doctor and see what I can do.” He relented.

Michael appeared visibly relieved. “Thank you Sheriff.”

Jim nodded and made his way to ask who the doctor was. Michael watched him arguing with the nurse for a while before he made his way back to the waiting room. The others were due to arrive any minute and he knew they would have questions. He was determined to tell the others about Rath and Lonnie and what he and Maria had found in Las Cruses.

He wasn’t going to shut up about it or make up some story. Maria was in this damn hospital because she was trying to help and because of their heritage. He was not going to let her sacrifices be for nothing. The others would find out and today! He would make sure of it.

He had only been sitting there a few minutes when a flurry of activity started in the waiting room. Michael looked up to find Amy DeLuca bursting in through the doors, her face a mixture of panic and fear.

“Where is she?” she burst out as soon as she saw Michael. “How’s my baby?”

Michael hastily got to his feet and nodded his head towards the nurses’ station. “They won’t let me see her. Only family…” he replied.

“I was out with a friend and my cell wasn’t working! Jim left a message on the machine. Thank god I got home only a few minutes after he had called.” Amy replied, looking around the area for something.

“Well…um…Sheriff Valenti is here. He went to talk with the doctors and see if he could find anything.”

Amy’s head snapped up and he saw partial relief in her eyes. “Jim?” she asked. “Jim is here?”

Michael nodded

“Where is he?” she asked. Then abruptly changing her mind, she walked over to the nurses’ station and he saw her talking with them. He joined her and saw that she was asking about Maria. As soon as the nurse pointed her towards Maria’s room she turned and headed over. Michael’s shoulder’s slumped again when he realized that she hadn’t invited him. He wanted to ask her to let him see her but then he kept quiet. He knew she would want to see her.

He wanted to scream in anger but still he kept silent. He didn’t know where this patience in him came from but in a way he was grateful for it. Maria probably needed Amy more at this moment. But even as he thought that he scoffed. Who was he kidding? Maria needed him. He knew she did. But even more he needed to be with her. He wanted to hold her hand if nothing else to convince himself that she was going to be fine.

She’s going to be fine. She’ll wake up and everything will be fine… he repeated to himself, desperate to believe it. His head sank down into his hands and he swallowed back the lump in his throat. She had to wake up. She just had to.

“Oh my God! Michael! We were at the Crash Down and we just heard!”

Michael looked up at the sound of Isabel’s voice and saw that Kyle, Tess and her had just arrived.

“Iz!” Michael cried with relief, getting up to hug her. She pulled him close, whispering all the while that it was going to be okay. Michael just closed his eyes and pulled her tighter to himself, trying to take comfort from her. But he let go quickly.

Backing away he nodded at Kyle and Tess. “Hey. Thanks for coming.” He replied.

Kyle’s face twisted into a frown. “Of course we’d come. It’s Maria.”

Michael nodded. “So, how is she?” Tess asked with concern.

Michael shrugged. “They won’t tell me. Amy and Valenti are here so I expect we’ll hear something soon.” Michael told them. He braved a small smile. “But they shifted her to her own room around half an hour ago. That should be good…right?” he added uncertainly.

Isabel nodded quickly, too quickly. “Right. That’s a good sign.”

“Is she conscious?” Kyle asked.

“She wasn’t when we got here.” Michael replied. “I don’t think she is now either.”

“What happened?” Kyle asked him.

“Car accident.” Michael provided shortly.

Isabel took a sharp intake of breath as she relived Alex’s death in her mind. Tess sensed that and took her hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze before dropping it. “She’s going to be okay.” She said firmly, for both Isabel and Michel.

Isabel nodded and laughed albeit forcefully. “Of course she will. She’s Maria DeLuca!”

At that moment Max came barging in with a wild look in his eyes. As soon as he spotted the group he rushed over and asked breathlessly, “How is she?”

“We don’t know yet.” Kyle supplied for Michael whose eyes had now zeroed in on Jim who was walking towards them.

Michael hurried to meet him part way and everyone else followed.

“How is she? Is she awake? Can I see her? Are they going to keep her here? For how long? She is all right isn’t she?” The questions just kept flying from his mouth and when Jim only looked at him grimly, Michael felt his throat tighten.

“What?” he asked in a low voice. “What is it?”

“Michael…”Jim began before he stopped uncertainly.

“What?” Michael asked fearfully. He felt Isabel slip her hand in his and he clenched her hand tightly, not pausing to think that he might be hurting her. “What?” he asked again.

“Dad!” Kyle snapped impatiently, trying to hide his growing alarm. “Tell us already!”

Jim looked at them apologetically. “The doctors don’t know if she will wake up.” He told him softly, his eyes misty.

Michael heard someone let out a sob. Tess? Isabel? Both? But he didn’t turn around to see. He didn’t care. His mind kept echoing Jim’s words hauntingly. “The doctors don’t know if she will wake up.”

That can’t be right! He thought almost hysterically. Of course she will wake up!

“You- you mean when she’ll wake up right?” he asked hoarsely, his mouth suddenly dry.

Jim shook his head and clamped his hand on his shoulder before looking at all of them. “Not when…if.” He replied. “She hurt her head pretty badly. There’s not much that they can do for her.”

“But- but that can’t be!” Kyle sputtered. “How can they not help? They are doctors for god sakes! This is their job!”

“But that doesn’t mean she won’t be fine does it?” Isabel asked tearfully. “I mean it’s just a temporary thing right?”

Jim could only shrug helplessly and look apologetic. “It’s a head injury. Those aren’t that easy to treat…or understand.”

Through all this Michael was silent. His heart hammered painfully in his chest as he heard Jim’s words repeating cruelly in his head. “The doctors don’t know if she’ll wake up…not when, if…it’s a head injury…not easy to understand…”

How could it be? Michael wondered in desperation. How could she be hurt? She isn’t supposed to get hurt! She can’t!...she can’t…

“The best thing we can do is wait and see…” Jim was saying to the others when Michael snapped his head up in fierce determination.

“No!” he almost yelled. He looked around himself with an almost wild, desperate look. “No we will not ‘wait and see’!”

“Michael, I know what you must be feeling but there’s—” Jim began but again Michael cut him off with a frantic shake of his head.

The others stared at him in partial shock and partial grief. “No,” Michael repeated, this time more in control and firmly. He turned to look at Max and said, “Max is going to heal her.”

“Michael, she’s in a hospital.” Isabel told him in a low voice. “Max can’t just walk in and heal her. There might be doctors about, nurses, her mother!”

But Michael’s mind was made up. Now with a plan, he appeared calmer, more stoic. “We can take care of that.” He replied.

“How?” Kyle asked.

“Tess.” Michael replied, shooting the blonde a compelling look. “She can mindwarp.”

“No!” Both Max and Kyle replied in unison. Michael and Tess both looked a bit taken aback by their vehement refusal.

“Um…guys…I can you know…”Tess ventured hesitantly.

Kyle turned to give her a firm look. “No.” he repeated.

Michael’s eyes narrowed. “Why?” he snapped. “Maria’s life is in danger, why can’t we use Tess? She can give Max enough time to go and do his thing.”

“Michael, it’s not that I don’t want to help Maria, I would have offered to myself later but we can’t use Tess.” Max argued.

“Why the hell not Maxwell?” Michael asked with growing anger. How could they refuse him this?

Kyle shot his father a look and said, “Well, she’s not feeling well nowadays and we don’t want her to drain.”

Suddenly Isabel and Michael caught on. Jim, apparently getting something was not for his ears excused himself with the pretense of going and seeing Amy. Once he was out of ear shot Isabel spoke up.

“They are right. Tess is pregnant. Her baby’s already draining her. We can’t afford to take the risk of her using her powers and draining herself even further.”

“So you’re going to let Maria stay like this?” Michael asked angrily.

“Of course not.” Max replied. “Just as soon as it is safe I’ll slip in and do it.”

“That’s not good enough Max!”

“It’s our only option.” Kyle replied rather apologetically.

Michael could only look at his friends in anger and disgust. Maria couldn’t wait for a convenient time! She needed Max now! Just as he was about to turn and stalk away Tess spoke up for the first time since the argument had started.

“I’ll do it.” She said softly.

Michael turned sharply to look at her. She met his gaze unwavering and gave him a reassuring nod. “I’m ready to do it.” She shot Max and Kyle a look that meant business when they opened their mouth to protest. “Let’s get on it, shall we?”

Michael felt gratitude and relief flood through him. He gave Tess a grateful smile. Inside he was joyous. He could have hugged her.

Max sighed, knowing it was no use to argue. “Fine. Let’s do it.”

He gave Isabel and Kyle a nervous look. He only hoped they could pull this off without any hitches.


* * * * * * * * * * *


Max waited for the signal from Tess before he and Michael hesitantly walked into Maria’s room. Tess stood in the middle of the hallway, against the wall, her eyes squeezed tightly shut as she first tried to lure Amy DeLuca out of the room and then the doctors. Finally she was concentrating on making sure no one went near Maria’s room while Max and Michael were inside.

After shooting one last look down the corridor, Max shut the door behind him and locked it. Turning around he found Michael already by Maria’s side, stroking her head lovingly. Max watched this display of affection with some surprise but at the same time he felt sympathy stir in him. He knew what Michael was going through and he was adamant that Michael would never find out what it was like without Maria by his side. He never wanted anyone to go through what he had.

Max came and stood opposite Michael and waited. Michael tore his gaze reluctantly away from Maria and gave Max a small apprehensive smile. “Try not to invade her privacy.” He said.

Max nodded. “I won’t.” he promised.

Michael shifted his gaze back to Maria and leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead. Then he moved aside for Max, but at the same time clasping Maria’s limp hand in his.

Max moved to put his hand over Maria lightly. Michael watched in silence as Max’s hands began to glow blue. The strain appeared over his features as he tried hard to concentrate and connect to her. Soon the blue glow encompassed Maria as well and Michael watched with bated breath, willing Maria to open her eyes. But a minute passed, then another and Michael began to grow worried. Their seemed no change in her. He shot a quick look at the monitors connected to her and to his alarm found them unchanged. Max was also growing weaker and weaker, sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Michael’s hold on Maria’s hand grew tighter as if willing his strength in her, as he realized nothing Max seemed to be doing was working.

“No!” he whispered. “Maria, come on honey. Wake up!” he urged desperately.

But even as he said those words, the glow was beginning to disappear as Max pulled out.

“No!” Michael ground out when he realized Max was almost drained and was pulling out. “No!”

Max seemed to have heard him and once again the glow pulsed but then flickered the next instant. Suddenly, it went out, like it got sucked in and Max fell back against the bed, panting.

Michael watched in silent denial, his gaze going from Max’s tired body to Maria who was still unconscious. He stared at her, rubbing her hand as if willing her to wake up, waiting for her.

“Michael…”Max’s weak voice called out.

Michael shot him a silencing look. “No!” he cried out softly, not wanting to hear what he knew Max was about to say. “No!”

Max had now pushed himself upright and was looking in anguish at Maria. He was still breathing shallow but his hand snaked up and clasped Maria’s other one. He closed his eyes in silent apology to her. When he opened his eyes, there were tears in his eyes. He turned to Michael and saw that Michael was now clutching Maria’s hand as if it was his lifeline.

Michael looked up slowly from his perusal of Maria and gave Max a desperate look. Max could only blink back his own tears as he whispered, “I’m sorry Michael. I’m so sorry…”

At his words, a sob finally managed to break through his throat and he gave Max a broken look. “Please, Max…try again…”

“I can’t…”Max told him, choking back his own sob. “I can’t help her…”

For a split second violent rage flickered across Michael’s face but then that was replaced by anguish so deep that Max had to look away. Max couldn’t bear to stay in the room a minute longer. He had failed. He couldn’t save Alex, he couldn’t save Liz and now he couldn’t help Maria…He was useless…

Turning abruptly to leave, Max was tormented by his guilt. He knew Tess was getting tired and the others were waiting. He was dreading telling them that he couldn’t help her. He turned around right before he was out to give Michael a last look and found Michael wrapped up in Maria. He had pulled her to him and he had buried his face in her hair as he stroked her back, her hair and her arm over and over.

Max could have sword he heard Michael sobbing.


TBC.....

Author's Note: I just had to update today basically cuz I don't want to keep you in suspense;)Max healing Maria is too simple;) We need to spice this up. Maybe this part will answer your question about why Max couldn't heal her.
camille - [HUGS]! don't worry girl, my muse is to the rescue!
cherie - I'm back, I'm back! Wasn't I quick?
frenchkiss - Thisp art should answer your question
Gerry - you deserve every nomination your stories rock!

To the others I will reply to your fb later cuz I don't want to give away my next few parts



Part 70

~* 45 minutes after Maria was shifted to her own room. Fifteen minutes before Max tried to heal her.*~


Maria’s form was lying limp and lifeless on the stark white hospital bed. It was a far cry from her true form: active, cheerful and frenzied. In fact looking at her now, one could hardly believe that this frail looking person had so much energy in her and so much zeal for life. But if anyone looked closer inside her they would have seen her soul struggling to overcome the barrier that separated her from the world.

As Ava stood watching her from the doorway she felt disgusted. She could almost feel Maria trying to fight her way back to the awake. And I simply cannot allow it! Ava thought fiercely.

She calmly stepped into the room, securing the door behind her with her powers. Walking casually up to the bed as if going on a leisurely stroll, she took her time, coolly taking in every bruise and cut. The more she assessed Maria’s wounds the more she became convinced that she would have to do something about it.

Rath and Lonnie had yet again been unable to complete the task efficiently! She thought with growing anger and impatience. Incompetent fools! Why Kivar still puts up with them is beyond me! They couldn’t even find out how much she knows!

She gripped the steel railing running alongside the bed harder, her knuckles turning white as she watched the IV trickle into Maria’s veins. Though much damage appeared to have been done, with Maria appearing battered and bruised badly, Ava could sense that it wasn’t as bad as it looked.

Ava had been furious when she had found out what Rath and Lonnie had done. It undermined her orders and had caused more problems for her in Roswell. After a heated argument with Rath and Lonnie, they finally told her that they thought Maria already possessed the key, if not that then she definitely knew where it was. And when she was told that Maria was still unconscious her fears at being found out vanished. All her anger at their rash and foolish behavior drained from her as a seed of a plan began to form quickly in her mind. She knew exactly how to use this to her advantage. If they were right then this might be very useful to her and her mission.

Quite possibly a blessing in disguise. She mused.

It had been tough mind warping everyone to leave the room and she could only hold it for a few minutes but a few minutes would be enough for what she was going to do. Knowing she didn’t have a lot of time, Ava placed her hand on Maria’s head, ready to sort through her memory to try and see what Maria had found out. She had expected to slip in with ease so she was greatly surprised by the resistance Maria offered. Even as she surged in past Maria’s mental barriers she could feel the push from Maria. Snarling in anger Ava fought back, determined to get what she wanted. But Maria was just as fierce and determined.

For a few moments Ava fought futilely against the barriers then she stopped, screaming in rage.

“Let me in you bitch!” she snarled as the swirling mist around her stood defiantly across her path. At her words the mist parted and Maria stepped through. She smirked at Ava.

“Right.” She said with a sarcastic roll of her eyes. “As if that is reason enough.”

“You won’t be able to hold up against me long!” Ava snapped. “In case you’ve forgotten, you’re hurt. You’re already using a lot of energy in healing!”

Maria regarded her dispassionately. “Still got loads left. No way am I letting you in.” Maria turned accusing eyes at her. “I should have known it was you all along! How could I have been so blind? I let you in my home; Liz let you in her home. We trusted you!”

“You were fools.” Ava scoffed.

“When I wake up, there will be hell to pay Ava!” Maria threatened.

Ava just jeered at her. “Not if I have anything to do about it.”

“There’s nothing you can do that will save you!” Maria told her fiercely. “We should have known what you’re really like. We were foolish to believe you were different from the other dupes!”

Ava’s anger flared. “I am different! They are incompetent fools! They have no idea what they really want.”

“And you do?” Maria drawled.

“Yes!” Ava hissed.

Maria turned to look at her with deadly calm as she controlled herself for her next move. She hoped to take the dupe by surprise. “Well you’re not getting anything from me!” And before Ava could say or do anything, Maria pushed her out of her mind with all of her might.

With a short scream Ava fell back on the hospital floor, glaring angrily on Maria’s prone body.

That bitch pushed me out! Me! She fumed. Pushing herself off from the floor, she stalked over to the bed again and reached for the IV drip, determined to pull it out. She couldn’t go back in there, it would be no use, but she could make Maria pay. But then she paused. A cold, malicious smile spread across her face. She knew something even better. She could trap Maria in her own head.

Yes, that should be punishment well deserved. Ava thought.

Ava once again placed her hands on the side of Maria’s face. She concentrated hard and finally opened her eyes, tired but gleeful. She had managed to shift a lot of Maria’s injuries from physical to mental. Now even if Max tried to heal her, as she knew he would, it would be no use. He could heal physical wounds, not mental. Only someone with mental powers like mid warps and dream walking could help Maria now, some one like Isabel.

And making sure Isabel doesn’t even try won’t be problem at all. Ava thought smugly.

On her way out she paused at the clipboard that held Maria’s reports. With a wave of her hand and a smile she changed the records to suit her. That aught to keep the doctors worried. She thought.

Then carefully she left from the back, ready to make an entrance from the front with the others.


TBC.....