Author: Miranda Douglass
Email: [email protected]
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters or the basic premise behind the show.
Rating: PG-13
Blame (Part Three)
Isabel stared at Max from across the room. He still leaned against the wall, his shoulders sagging. He hadn’t reacted when Michael and Alex had run out. He seemed unaware that Sheriff Valenti had also left and that Liz’s parents had gone back to see her.
Isabel wanted to just wrap her arms around her brother, but she kept her distance. Better to let him work things out on his own. He knew where she was if he needed her.
The Parkers walked back into the waiting room to gather their belongings as the doctor told them what time they could pick Liz up later the next day. Maria jumped to her feet. “What about us? We want to see her.”
The doctor smiled and shook his head. “Ms. Parker is being settled in for the night. She needs to rest. I’m sure her parents will allow you to see her in a day or two.”
Maria’s face fell as she sank back into her chair. Liz’s
mother looked from the girls to Max, then
squared her shoulders. “Dr. Connor, as Liz’s mother, I
give my permission for them to see her tonight.”
Dr. Connor looked from her to her husband. “Visiting hours –“
“I don’t care,” she interrupted. “These are Liz’s friends and they have been waiting here just as long as Jeff and I have. My daughter needs them now, probably more than she needs us.”
The doctor looked at each of them for a moment and shrugged. “Just don’t stay too long. She needs to get some rest.”
Mrs. Parker attempted to smile at Maria and Isabel. “How about if Max goes in to see her first, Maria? Then you and your friend…?”
“Isabel,” Maria clutched Isabel’s arm and smiled.
Nancy Parker nodded. “Thank you for being here, Isabel. You’re Max’s sister, aren’t you? I’ve heard Liz speak of you. It’s nice to finally meet you.” She looked at Max once more, her brow furrowing with concern. Then she picked up her purse and walked out the door.
Jeff Parker hugged Maria and patted Isabel’s shoulder. He walked over to Max and took his hand, shaking it. “Down the hall, first right, then the third door onthe left.”
Max raised his eyes briefly. He nodded and let his hand slip from the other man’s grasp. Liz’s father left, but Max still hadn’t moved.
Isabel glanced at Maria and walked over to her brother. “Max,” she whispered. “You should go see Liz.”
Max pushed himself away from the wall. His eyes locked with Maria’s hopeful gaze, and then he turned and shuffled down the hall.
Maria joined Isabel. “His eyes. They’re … blank. It’s like he has no soul left.”
“He’ll find it. It’s down the hall, to the right, third room on the left.”
Max stood outside the room, peering through the dim light at the figure in the bed. She looked so small. He head was turned away from him, facing the window even though the drapes were pulled.
She was silent, motionless. She was so still Max was afraid of disturbing her. He silently backed away and continued down the hall. Ten minutes later he returned to the waiting room and nodded to Maria and Isabel.
Maria shot past him, pulling Isabel along with her. Max collapsed into the chair with the bright green cushion and thought about his options. He hadn’t been able to approach her. He had told himself it was because he didn’t want to disturb her, that she needed to rest and that the last thing she needed to see was another male that had done nothing but hurt her.
But he knew what was the real problem. He was a coward. He was afraid.
Afraid that she would blame him, that she would blame herself. Afraid that she would scream at him to get out. That she would scream at him to leave her alone, to stay away from her, because he HAD hurt her and there was no way he could ever make that up to her.
But he was afraid of other things, too. Afraid of never being able to talk to her again, of never seeing her smile at him again. He was afraid of never beinga part of her life.
“Hey Lizzy,” Maria gripped her friend’s hand, forcinga smile on her face.
“Hey,” Liz smiled weakly in return, looking from Maria to Isabel. “Thanks for being here. Mom and Dad told me you guys were waiting.”
Isabel sat on the edge of the bed. “Michael and Alex are here, too. We … didn’t think you’d want … you know … too many visitors right away. But they’ve been here all night.”
“Michael and Alex,” Liz nodded.
Isabel frowned. “And, of course, you already know that Max was here all night.”
Liz froze. “He was?”
Maria and Isabel’s eyes met over the bed. Maria’s eyes blazed hot with rage and Isabel quickly opened her mouth. “Of course he was here. Where else would he be? It was just decided that the guys should wait until later to see you. And, you know, I’m thinking that nurse is probably going to come by and kick us out any second, so let’s make some plans. Do you think you’ll feel up to company in the evening, around 7:00? We could bring some videos? I’ll even make brownies.” Isabel shot Maria a look of warning.
“Yeah,” Maria nodded. “How does that sound? Oh Liz, if you don’t want to, we’ll understand.” Maria’s voice caught and she looked away for a second, blinking furiously. She turned back and knelt next to the bed, bringing her face close to Liz. “We just want you to know we’re here for you. Whenever you’re ready to have us around, you let us know."
“Seven sounds good. Thanks.” Tears shook her voice.
Isabel bent and pulled Liz into a hug. “Take care,” she whispered. She pulled back and looked Liz directly in the eye. “Everything will work out.”
Maria kissed her on the cheek and held her for aminute. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Liz smiled.
“We’ll see you in about…” Isabel consulted her watch as they backed out of the room, “…15 hours.”
They said nothing to each other until they turned the corner and headed back to the waiting room. “I’m going to kill your brother,” Maria fumed.
“Get in line.”
Alex and Michael were waiting for them. Michael was fiddling with the strap of Maria’s purse and kept glancing at the clock.
“Relax. We’ve been here for exactly two minutes,” Alex reminded him as he lay back in the chair, his eyes closed. He sat up straight when he heard the girls come into the room. “How is she?”
“Quiet,” Maria replied.
“We told her we’d stop by with videos tonight if she felt up to it,” Isabel added.
Maria looked around the room. “Where’s Max?” She spit his name out between her clenched teeth.
Michael shrugged. “He was already gone when we got here.” He studied Maria carefully, taking in her tapping foot and narrowed eyes. “Is there a problem?”
“No,” Isabel cut in. “Did you guys find anything?”
“Yeah,” Alex nodded, then looked at Maria. “Remember that necklace I got Liz for her birthday two years ago?”
Maria nodded. “The onyx beads with the teeny-tinyopal in the middle.”
“Well, imagine my surprise when I saw a guy wearing an Artesian letter jacket AND that necklace.”
“Oh my god, he was wearing her necklace?” Maria’s hand went to her neck, fresh tears brimming in her eyes. Michael reached over and pulled her hand from her neck, pulling it to his lips. He gazed at her as he gently kissed each knuckle.
Isabel ignored them. “So, where did you find them?”
Alex snorted. “Where you’d find anyone in Roswell at 3:30 in the morning. The 7-11. Apparently they don’t grow them too bright in Artesia.”
“Well, I’m just glad you two didn’t do anything stupid,” Isabel said softly.
“That’s right,” a voice boomed at them from across the room. “It’s a good thing that whoever called in that anonymous tip about our two suspects being at the 7-11 didn’t try to take the law into their own hands.” Sheriff Valenti grinned at them. “Otherwise I’m afraid they would all be spending the night in the same jail cell.”
“Sheriff,” Alex called out nervously. “You startled us.”
“Obviously,” Valenti replied.
“So, the bad guys are going to jail and justice prevails?” Maria asked hopefully.
The smile faded from Valenti’s face. “You know things don’t work out that easily, Ms. DeLuca. They are in jail for the moment. They’re both over 18, so we can hold them until they make bail. But, unless they confess, the matter will go to court. Liz will have to identify them in court and tell her story and answer any questions their attorneys may have. Liz is a minor, so she will have the advantage of a closed courtroom, but it still won’t be easy. She’s going to need friends. But it looks like she has that covered.”
“Yeah, like Max,” Maria grumbled.
“Oh, that reminds me.” The sheriff dug in his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “Ms. Evans, your brother asked me to give these to you. Said he wouldn’t be driving anywhere tonight.” He tossed the keys to her.
Isabel easily caught them and looked at the sheriff. “Did he say where he was going?”
Jim Valenti shook his head. “No, but I don’t think he’s far.” The sheriff turned on his heel and leftthe building.
“I wonder what he meant by that?” Isabel looked at Michael.
“I don’t know and I don’t care,” Alex stated. “This whole deal with Liz and Max and all of us avoiding each other has got to end. Max and Liz have relationship problems. I’m sorry, I feel bad for them, but I’m not going to put my life on hold because of it anymore.”
“Alex,” Isabel began, but Alex grabbed her and pulled her tight against him, silencing her with a kiss. He relaxed his grip on her arms, wrapping her long hair around his hand as she returned the kiss.
Maria looked at the floor, her eyes nervously darting around, afraid to meet the eyes of the man in front of her. A hand gripped her chin, raising it until she was looking straight into Michael’s eyes. One corner of his mouth turned up in a smile. “What he said,” he jerked his head in Alex’s direction.
Maria smiled as Michael lowered his face to hers.
Max stood in the doorway of the darkened room. He walked to the bed, careful not to make a sound. He could see the bandage on her sprained arm, the bruises on her neck and bare arms looked even darker in the glow of the nightlight. He swallowed hard and focused his gaze on the slim fingers of her left hand.
“Max?”
He shifted his eyes to her face. “I’m sorry. Ididn’t mean to wake you.”
“I wasn’t asleep. What are you doing here?” Her voice was so soft he had to strain to hear it.
“I wanted to ask you a question. A favor, really.”
“What?”
He shifted his feet. “I was wondering if it would be okay if I spent the night here?” He smiled briefly at the look of puzzlement on her face. “You see, Isabel took the jeep and I’ve been up for a really long time and that chair there by your bed looks to be the most comfortable one in the building.”
“The nurse will kick you out if she catches you.”
He shook his head. “The only one who can get rid of me is you.” He looked away from her. “And, I have it on very good authority, that no one will bother me as long as I stay in this room.” He chanced a look at her and was amazed to see her smiling at him.
“Then I guess this is where you’ll have to stay.”
Max walked around the end of the bed, pulled the chair up close, kicked off his shoes and sat down. He clasped her hand between his and gently pressed a kiss against her palm. “Goodnight, Liz.”
“Goodnight, Max.”