Author: X_tremeroswellian
Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer: Liz, Max, Alex, Isabel, Michael, Maria and anyone else you recognize like Diane Evans, Amy DeLuca or Jeff and Nancy Parker belong to Melinda Metz and Jason Katims and all the people at the WB (who are the some of the most intelligent people on the face of the earth--or any other planet--for renewing Roswell for a second season). Alyssa and Matt and the characters you don't recognize are mine. Please don't sue. This is just for fun, I'm making no money for it. Even if you sued me I wouldn't have money to give you.
Rating: R for language, violence and content.
Author's Notes: This is a sequel to my fic "Matters of Trust." If you haven't read that, you will probably be confused reading this.
Spoilers: Up through "Blood Brothers" of the tv show, Roswell High book #5 of the book series by Melinda Metz, and my fic "Matters of Trust."
Feedback is always good motivation (hint, hint). Even if you think this story sucks, please email with suggestions on how I can improve it. :)
Ghosts (Part 14)
Alex yawned and stared out the plastic covered window in the backseat of the Evans' jeep. It was almost 3 in the afternoon, and right now his legs needed a good stretch.
He glanced over at Isabel, who sat between him and Michael, looking about as uncomfortable as he felt.
Alex glanced past her to Michael, who was holding Maria in his lap. She was asleep, her head resting in the crook of his neck.
They'd been on the road since 8:30 this morning and had only gone through the McDonalds drive-thru for breakfast as they left Blueridge, and they hadn't stopped since.
Alex leaned forward. "Hey, Max," he said, his voice low so he wouldn't wake Maria.
Max looked at him in the rearview mirror. "Yeah?"
"We should stop soon and stretch."
"And get some food," Michael whispered as he stomach growled.
"And use the restroom," Isabel added.
Max nodded his head. "We need to get gas anyway. I'll stop at the next station."
Alex sat back in his seat and rested his head against the plastic, yawning again. Road trips always made him tired. Of course, he was tired anyway. The 5 a.m. phone call from Maria had woken him up when he had only gone to sleep at around 2.
Isabel had fallen asleep around midnight, curled up in his bed and she hadn't woken up even when his roomate Todd had stumbled into the room drunk around 1.
In fact, Isabel had slept through the phone ringing as well. He'd pulled himself out of bed and picked up the receiver by the third ring, mumbling a sleepy, "Hello," into the mouth piece.
"Alex, it's me. We're taking Liz back to Roswell this morning."
"What? Roswell? Why?"
"Her uncle Charlie died in a car accident last night."
Alex had stood in the darkness of his room, unable to respond as her words had echoed in his mind.
"Alex?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm here. Okay...What time are we leaving?"
"You and Isabel can stay, it's all right."
"No, I'm going."
"We're leaving around 8:15."
"How is she?"
"I don't know. She hasn't said much."
Understatement, Alex thought. She hadn't said anything the entire trip. She'd just been staring blankly out the windshield, like a zombie. He wasn't even sure if she was aware of what was going on around her.
He felt the jeep slow to a stop and he realized that Max had pulled into an Amoco station.
Thank God, Alex thought. My legs are killing me.
"I think we can take the top off now. It's not cold or rainy here," Isabel commented.
Michael gently shook Maria awake and she accepted Max's hand as he helped her out of the jeep. Michael and Isabel crawled out next, and as Alex started to follow, he realized Liz was still sitting motionless in the passenger seat.
He sighed as he climbed out of the jeep. Michael and Maria had already took off to go inside and find some food, and Isabel was working on undoing the top of the jeep while Max filled up the tank with gasoline.
Alex stretched his arms and legs and yawned again before he helped Isabel finish taking the topper off. Max put the gas pump handle back into place and went to pay as Isabel walked off to find a restroom.
He glanced at Liz and took a deep breath as he walked over to the side of the jeep. "Liz? You want something to eat or drink? I'm buying."
She shook her head, but didn't look at him.
Alex frowned. She hadn't eaten anything since dinner the night before. He leaned down so his arms were resting on the passenger door. He was beginning to wonder if Liz was seeing anything as she stared blankly off into the distance. Alex waved his hand in front of her face. When she didn't even blink, his frown deepened.
With a sigh, he pushed himself away from the jeep. He walked into the gas station and went over to Michael, who was looking at the selection of junk food.
Michael glanced over at him and then out the window. "How's she doing?"
"I think her vocal chords have stopped functioning. She's just staring ahead of her like an extra from Night of the Living Dead," he muttered, grabbing a bag of cheese curls from the shelf.
"She's in shock." Michael grabbed a box of chocolate doughnuts and followed Alex to the cash register.
Alex gave the cashier the money and stepped aside, waiting for Michael to finish paying, and then they both walked outside. They waited for Max, Isabel and Maria. When they joined them, the five of them headed back to the jeep.
"Max, do you want one of us to drive?" Isabel offered.
"No. Thanks." Max climbed into the driver's side.
Alex glanced at Liz before climbing into the seat behind her again. Isabel slid into the seat beside him and Michael sat next to her, pulling Maria onto his lap again. Within moments, she had fallen back asleep and Isabel's eyes were drifting shut as well.
He looked over at Michael, who was watching Liz in concern. He gave Alex a pointed look as he took a bite of chocolate doughnut covered in Tabasco Sauce, and then nodded his head towards Liz.
Alex took the hint and leaned forward in the jeep and placed his hand on Liz's shoulder. I'm here. We're all here, Liz, he thought. He just wished she could understand that.
The unexpected touch caused her to blink. She knew without looking that it was Alex's hand on her shoulder. After the connection they'd formed four years ago, she'd been able to sense which one of her friends was nearby. She wasn't exactly sure where the knowledge came from, but even after all this time she could still distinguish each of her friends individually without looking.
It was amazing, really. The connection they had made. It was almost like all six of their souls had joined into one.
Sure, she'd always felt close to Maria and Alex, and then Max, but...When the six of them had connected that day so long ago...Words couldn't even begin to describe what she felt.
In an instant, Isabel and Michael had become two of her best friends, and she'd felt even closer to Maria, Alex and Max.
And even after she'd yelled at Alex the night before, he was letting her know that he was there for her.
Tears filled her eyes suddenly and she quickly blinked them away. She had been wrong before. She wasn't alone. She didn't know why she'd ever thought that in the first place.
Liz reached over and laced her fingers through Max's that were curled loosely around the gear shift. He looked at her in surprise, and then squeezed her hand gently and turned his eyes back to the road.
She moved her other hand to touch Alex's hand that still lay on her shoulder. She sent him a silent thanks, but he kept his hand there and Max continued to hold her other one.
She leaned back in the seat and relaxed a bit. They were still about an hour away from Roswell. And she wasn't alone.
Whatever lay ahead, they'd be there--all of them--to face it with her.
And knowing that made Liz feel a lot better.