Part 13

Liz smiled lightly at Alex's question. "Max." she answered softly.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "AND Michael." He added.

Liz was surprised, but then accepted it.

"They both made me promise not to leave you alone tonight. But I think they already knew I was coming here anyways." Alex said and got up from the chair. "And now, I suppose we're heading to Max's." Alex smiled.

Liz sighed with worry and nodded. "You coming?" she asked.

"Of course. I had specific orders from Isabel that came from Max, that if, or rather when you came over in the middle of the night to see him, that you NOT walk the streets alone." Alex replied, amusement in his voice. He was finding this whole connection/ bonding/ friendship thing amusing too.

Liz nodded and let Alex walk with her to Max's.

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

Before Liz could knock on Max's window, he opened it and helped pull Liz in. He nodded to Alex who gave him a salute.

Then Alex wandered off to wait for Liz to need a walk back home. He knew Isabel would be waiting for him by the back door, and headed that way.

Max held Liz in his arms and felt her shaking. He put his large comforting hand on her neck, and then ran his hand down her hair and hugged her tighter. They both needed the comfort.

Finally Liz stepped back and sat with Max on the bed. "Oh God Max, what happened?" she whispered. They did not want to wake Max's parents.

"I got a call earlier." He started. "A voice said if I didn't want to see you hurt, I was to meet him at the old soap factory, alone."

Liz looked into Max's eyes with fear and then held his hands. "What happened then?"

Max shook his head. "I was on my way to the old soap factory, when I heard a scream coming from Vickie's house. I pulled over and ran to the back where the scream seemed to come from, and then the next thing I knew Kyle grabbed me and tackled me to the ground." Max sighed in frustration.

He kissed Liz's hands that were wrapped around his, and then released them and got up to pace.

"I don't think Valenti has anything on me other than that I was there, but then so was Kyle. But Kyle states he was going to visit Vicki, which makes sense." Max tried to sort out.

Liz bit her lip. If Max was rambling, then he really was worried, and so was she. "But you told Valenti that you heard the scream right? So what did he say?"

"That's just it. He kinda just looked at me with his reptilian eyes, like he was gonna find something more to make sure I was blamed."

"But there isn't anything else! So he won't be able to prove anything. What about Vicki? Did she see who it was? Liz asked, watching Max pace.

"If she did, she's the only one who knows, and she's in a coma according to Valenti. He said he was on his way to the hospital after he let me go, to get more information and do more investigating."

"So he will find out that you didn't do it. That you weren't in the house, and there will be nothing to connect you to this other than that you were outside the house." Liz said hopefully.

Max stopped pacing and sighing, he sat back down next to Liz again. "Yeah, that's what I'm hoping. But you know Valenti, he's determined to get me somehow."

Liz knew that even the short time Max had been in Valenti's custody, it had really scared him. And knowing how relentless the Sheriff was about proving Max was an alien; Liz could imagine how he must have made Max feel.

Liz scooted closer to Max and snuggled into him. She needed to comfort him as much as she needed his comfort.

Max did need Liz. He was scared. He'd never been so scared before. He knew that the sheriff was just looking for any reason to get him and interrogate him. This would be too good an opportunity to miss.

He held Liz in his arms for a second, and then realized that it wasn't close enough, and lifted her onto his lap. He breathed deeply of Liz, snuggled tight against his chest, and closed his eyes, just enjoying the feel of Liz this close.

Liz too, was just absorbing the feel of Max all around her. She concentrated on his heartbeat, his warm, strong arms wrapped around her, and the rise and fall of his chest, as he let the tension of all night, slowly release from his body.

But the calm didn't last long"

"Max! Maxmellian!"

Max turned toward the window with Liz still in his arms. He saw Michael peak in, and seeing them; he climbed in the window, and then reached outside the window again, to pull Maria in.

Max shifted Liz back on the bed and stood up.

"Michael?" Max frowned. He had a bad feeling, and the wild look in Michael's eyes confirmed it. Michael looked like a wild animal when it was cornered.

"Where's Isabel? We need to get Isabel. Michael said.

The door to the bedroom opened and Isabel and Alex slipped in. "We saw Michael crawling into your window and knew something must be up." Isabel said, her own look turning worried. She too felt something was really wrong.

"Michael, what?" Max asked.

Maria came over and sat next to Liz. She took her hand and squeezed it. Liz's own fear escalated at the look in Maria's eyes, and she saw Isabel reach for Alex's hand, as he put his arm around her.

"Maria and I followed Valenti to the hospital. We wanted to know what he could find out. Either from Vicki if she was awake, or see what Kyle told him. When we got there, Vicki was still unconscious, but the doctors wanted to show Valenti something odd. Max Vicki had a silver hand print!"

Michael rushed all this out, pacing and raking a hand through his hair.

"WHAT?!" Max and Isabel said at the same time.

"Oh my God. Is someone trying to set you up, Max? Only two people knew about the hand print." Isabel stammered and Alex held her tighter.

"So Kyle or his dad is in on this?" Michael asked, his wild look searching the room, looking for enemies in every corner. He looked ready to bolt.

Maria gave Liz's hand another squeeze, and then she got up and gently put a hand on Michael's arm, to calm him before he lost it completely.

The gentle feel of Maria's hand was enough to bring Michael back from the black hole he'd started falling into. But it only strengthened his resolve.

"We have to go Max. It's time." Michael said and stared at Max and Isabel.

Liz gasped and stood up, and Max put an arm around her, but never took his eyes off of Michael's. He knew Michael was right.

If Valenti was setting him up, there was no way he would get a fair trial. Valenti would have him at his mercy; to interrogate or probe anyway he wanted. He would find out all of Max's secrets, and then in turn find out Isabel's and Michael's as well.

Max looked from Michael to Isabel and saw the resigned frightened look on her face as well.

None of them wanted to go. They had talked about this possibility before, but things were different now. They weren't alone any more. It wasn't just the three of them anymore.

But Max knew that the three of them had no choice. He took a deep breath and turned to Liz, taking her fully into his arms.

Liz saw the resigned, desperate look in Max's€™s eyes and whimpered. "Take me with you!" She whispered, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

Max's jaw clenched and he shook his head. "God Liz, I wish I could. But we're in danger. We're going to be chased. It's not safe."

"I don't care." Liz said shaking her head and holding tighter to Max as she met his eyes.

"I don't either." Maria said taking deep breaths to try to stay calm.

Michael looked down at Maria, looking miserable, but determined.

"Max" Isabel choked out. She knew there was no other choice, but she wanted one. She did not want to leave her life in Roswell. She had parents she loved, and now three friends that she had formed a bond with as well. And with Alex she had been hoping for more.

Max met Isabel's eyes, and knew what she was thinking. "I'm sorry Is." He said in a sad, deep voice.

Then he looked down at Liz and saw that she too knew that the three of them had to go, alone.

"Liz I promise you. I'll find a way to come back. I'll find out who's doing this, why they are trying to frame me, and I'll be back." Max swallowed, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Just as soon as I clear my name."

"Max where are we going to go?" Isabel asked, holding tighter to Alex, not wanting to let go.

"I can answer that."

All six of them turned toward the voice and saw the figure of a man standing in the shadows, outside the window.

Part 14

Michael, Max and Alex reflexively pulled the girls behind them and waited as the shadow easily came through the window.

"You don't have to fear me Children." The shadow came closer to the light and they saw it was a man with soft, warm, brown eyes that smiled upon them. He had white hair, and yet he didn't look older than the late 50.

Max and Isabel automatically relaxed. Somehow they just KNEW this man would not harm them. That he was here to help.

Michael couldn't quite believe what he was sensing yet, and didn't relax his stance.

The man turned to Michael and smiled softly. "Child of the sky you do not trust easily, do you?"

There was a small-shared gasp from the group at the mention of the sky. And the man smiled again, and put out a hand to Isabel.

Isabel studied the warm, inviting eyes and held out her hand. She couldn't NOT reach for his big gentle hand.

When Isabel touched the older man's hand he clasped it gently, yet firmly in his own, and sighed and looked deeply at her. Studying her.

"God, you look just like your mother!" the man whispered hoarsely.

Isabel gasped and pulled her hand away. "Who who are you?" she asked. Too much was being said by the man all at once. She didn't know if she wanted to believe what she was starting to suspect.

"We don't have time to talk here. The sheriff is on his way with a few of his men, to take you, Max Evans, into custody."

Liz held tight to Max's arm at hearing that.

Max had been stunned and totally focused on the man before them, until he felt Liz's fear and her grip. He looked down once again, with painful eyes.

"Liz. I'm sorry we have to go." Max said again, in a low hoarse whisper. He didn't want to say goodbye like this. So quickly. Without getting to say all he wanted to say.

"That man, he's one of you isn't he?" Liz asked, but she knew.

"Yeah. We'll be okay, Liz." Max swallowed and cupped her face gently.

Liz smiled around the tears welling up in her eyes. "I know you will. And that really does help, knowing that, Max." she said, taking deep breaths to keep from crying.

Max's own face was filled with pain and regret, and his thumb brushed over one of Liz's silent tears coursing down her soft cheek, and he groaned, feeling the tear like a lash of pain.

He pulled Liz to him and kissed her with all the love he felt. Then he pulled Liz tighter to him and kissed her hair and made a promise.

"Liz if there's a way back, from where ever we're going, I PROMISE I will be back. For you Liz." Max whispered hoarsely near her ear. And he inhaled the scents of Liz one last time.

"Don't don't come back unless it's safe Max. I want you but I want you safe and alive even more." She bit her lip to keep from crying out for him not to leave her at all.

"I'll be back, and it WILL be safe. I promise" Max kissed her once more, gently on the lips, just to savor the taste of each other, and then gave her one last look and turned to the patiently waiting man.

He saw Maria clinging to Michael, and Michael actually holding on to her as if he couldn't let go. His own eyes were closed and his face was full of pain.

Isabel was kissing Alex and Alex was trying to memorize every inch of Isabel's face.

Max knew that didn't have any more time. The man nodded his silent agreement to Max and Max stepped forward.

He reached for Isabel and gently separated her from Alex.

Isabel too was crying, and didn't look away from Alex even as she followed Max toward the window.

As the three got to the window, they turned once again to look at the ones they were leaving behind.

Liz and Maria were holding each others hands tightly, both trying not to cry. Silent tears marked their faces, but they held wobbly smiles on their faces.

Michael and Max both exchanged a look with Alex, and he nodded. He came up behind Maria and Liz and put an arm around each of them. He promised them with a nod, that he would take care of the girls for them.

Then he looked to Isabel and back to the guys, and they promised the same thing. No words were necessary.

All of this did not go unnoticed by the man. He raised his eyebrows at the silent communication going on between the six, but said nothing.

They heard the sirens and the man knew they had no more time. He turned toward the three and nodded for them to go out the window first.

As the last of the three exited the window, Liz came forward a little and the man stopped as he was heading out the window.

"Please" she swallowed. "Please keep them safe." She whispered and then put a hand over her mouth, not able to say anymore, for fear of breaking down completely.

The man looked sad, but nodded. And then he too was gone.

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

Max looked out the window of the cabin, and watched the people of the small community farming. It was just dawn now, and they had been out there since before dawn. These people amazed Max.

He hadn't slept yet, and rubbed his tired eyes, but knew if he tried to get back into that bed behind him, he'd just toss and turn. His mind was spinning from the little they had found out.

Jordan had taken them out of Roswell in a regular pick up truck. Not new, quiet old and well used. If the three of them hadn't been so shaken by the events that had happened so quickly, Michael probably would have made a comment about how it was supposed to be a spaceship that would come for them.

They had driven through the night, and had only just arrived at Jordan's ranch an hour ago. Jordan had explained only a little in the truck on the way up to his ranch. They knew he lived on a small ranch in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, which were part of the Rocky Mountains, and stretched across the Northern part of New Mexico before heading up into Colorado. The ranch was about 15 or 20 miles out side of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and not far from the Pueblo Indian Reservation.

Jordan had explained that a lot of the people found the Native Americans much more open to the concept of visitors from other worlds, and could accept them, unlike most of the rest of the people the visitors had encountered.

Jordan knew they had a lot of questions, but wanted them to rest before he told them all he knew. He wanted them to absorb what he had said so far and then after they had rested, they would talk more.

Max had thought that he would have fallen right to sleep, for his eyes were gritty and burning from being tired and so tense over the last 15 hours. But as he lay there, he just couldn't stop his mind from forming a million questions.

When he had heard the noises outside the cabin, he had padded over to the window and seen a small group of people starting farming chores in the pre dawn.

His bedroom door opened and Michael peeked in. When he saw Max was up, he came over to the window as well.

Max looked at Michael and could tell he hadn't gone to sleep in the last hour either.

"Isabel sleeping?" Max asked Michael. He figured Michael would have checked on her as well.

"Yeah, I think so, she didn't look awake when I peeked in there a minute ago. I can't imagine being able to sleep right now." Michael said and started pacing.

"I mean, what are we doing here Max? Where's the spaceship to take us home? Where is home? Why is Jordan living among the humans on earth?" Michael wondered out loud.

Max too had been asking himself similar questions, and needed to know the answers as well.

Isabel dispelled Michael's thoughts on her sleeping, when she too came into the room.

She sat on the bed and sighed. The three of them were exhausted, but had too many questions to sleep.

As if sensing this, the door opened again, and Jordan stood in the doorway. "Let us go to the kitchen and have something hot to drink. Then we will talk." He smiled as he saw their anxious faces.

Isabel sat with a cup of hot chocolate in front of her, but barely touched it. Her stomach was in knots with all that had happened in last 24 hours.

Michael and Max sat intently waiting for Jordan to sit and answer their questions.

Jordan sat with his cup of coffee and took a sip. "Ah a very human weakness. The need for coffee." He chuckled as he put the cup down and sighed at the first taste.

Then he looked around at the three lost ones and took a deep breath and began.

"I know you have a lot of questions. And I too have many. Although over the past few months, I have gathered quite a bit." He started.

The three were intent on his face, so he continued. "Ahhh where to start? First off, if I would have known that there really was a possibility of survivors from the Roswell Crash, I would have come looking for you." He said.

Michael, Isabel and Max exchanged glances but didn't want to interrupt what they had been waiting all their lives to hear.

"Yours was not the only craft to come to earth that night, or in the nights to follow. There were 12 ships in all. Yours was, unfortunately, the only one to crash." He said looking at the three who were frowning, and then continued.

"Let me start with a year before your crash. Our planet was dying. We had known about it for several years, and some of us had started working on building ships and finding another place to go. Many hadn't wanted to believe it, and they did not plan for the final days." Jordan shook his head sadly, remembering back, then continued.

"Many of my own family stubbornly stayed behind. But my sister and her husband were among some of the people who believed like I did. So we worked with the ones who knew it would happen, and built ships and tried to find a place to go. My sister and her husband were star explorers. They researched and studied the skies and knew a lot about the surrounding galaxies. My sister had done a paper on a certain planet around a star in a galaxy two over from ours. She tried to convince people that this planet was a lot like ours. That we could possibly live compatibly on this other planet. It had the same mass and density, and the life forms were not unlike us in many ways. There were other theories and explorers as well, who disagreed. When the time came for us to leave, we still hadn't all come to a consensus on where to go. And, not knowing if any of us was right, we split up into two groups of twelve ships, hoping that at least half of us would survive to continue our species. So, myself along with my wife and other friends, followed in our ship, my sister and her husband and her family, trusting in her instincts and scientific data. She was a brilliant scientist and star explorer."

Jordan stopped, and then stood up to walk to the window, deciding how to tell these children the rest.

Part 15

"My sister and her husband had just started their own family, and their babies were very young. Since we didn't know how many years it might take us to get to the distance star, or the planet around it, we put our children and ourselves in deep freeze pods until we were at least within a few months of the planet. Then we would come out of deep freeze and when we got to the planet safely, and knew we could survive, we would open the pods for the children."

He turned back around from the window to see the three who were now on the edge of their seats. They knew they were some of those children.

"There were several families on my sister's ship, and several on mine, and several families on each of the twelve ships that came to this planet."

Jordan came back to sit down. He studied each anxious face and then sighed.

"Your parents were on the ship with you when it crashed. They did not make it. And we didn't know any of you had until a few months ago when we had the proof. When you saved the girl Max, you brought a lot of attention back on the city of Roswell, and this caught our eye as well."

Max's eyes widened but he waited. None of them wanted to interrupt the story until Jordan was done.

"There had been rumors of survivors, but that they too had been found, and well, tortured to death." Jordan swallowed and raked a hand through his white hair. Even after all these years, the thought of what had happened to his sister and the other families still haunted him.

"When the rumors started spreading about Roswell again a few months ago, and this time we heard word of a healing, and silver hand prints, I knew it could be true. That someone from that crash had survived. So I started my own investigation and have been studying the city of Roswell now, for months."

"When I was sure it was you three that had survived and had to have been some of the children in the pods, I knew I had to come to you. But I waited for the right time, and was almost too late." Jordan frowned, but pushed that thought aside since it was in the past, and he had something very important to share with them.

"I didn't tell you that my sister and her husband had tribirth. And that their three children all born together, were about a year old when they were put into the pods."

The three gasped and exchanged looks, but waited for Jordan to continue. €yes, you three are my sister's children. I'd know you anywhere." Jordan smiled sadly, but his eyes were also happy at having found a part of his family after all these years.

"You mean Michael" Isabel couldn't say it, she was too afraid to get her hopes up until she heard it from Jordan in exact words.

"Yes, Michael is your real brother, and you two are really brother and sister as well", he nodded to Max and Isabel. "You were all born on the same day, and were very much the pride of your parents."

Michael swallowed but couldn't contain his eyes from filling up. He looked over at Max and Isabel and saw that their eyes too were full.

Isabel was letting the tears stream down her face, while Michael and Max tried to suck in and hold the tears back.

"So you're our uncle?" Isabel asked in a gentle voice, and reached for the man's hand.

Jordan smiled and nodded as he took Isabel's hand.

"And you have been living here. On earth as well? There is no other place to go to?" Michael finally voiced.

"No. We were just leaving the orbit of our planet when it exploded. We almost didn't make it ourselves. We had waited too long, trying to decide where to go."

"Where where are the others from the twelve ships that landed here on earth?" Max asked.

"All around. We all found each other, but we were afraid at first, when we heard what had happened to your ship, and how the humans had reacted. So we all hid in the mountains of this beautiful place, and waited. Finally after several years of quiet, and the rumors had died down, our people started going out among the humans to find their place on this planet."

"Were were we different looking?" Max asked, remembering the question Liz had asked awhile back.

Jordan smiled and then looked sad. "No. One of the reasons we chose this planet was because the humans were very similar to us in looks and genetics. Similar enough that we could live among them, and with them."

All three stared at Jordan. "You mean we are compatible with the humans enough to" Max started.

"For procreation? For loving and having a family with the humans? Yes. But it doesn't work for everyone." He started. Then seeing the disappointment on the three children who had come to love and live among the humans, he continued. "Many of the adults from the original landing have died. But others and their off spring, are living happily throughout the world, among the humans and with the humans. But then there are still others that still feel safe only among their own. And those visitors have formed very comfortable little communities not too unlike the Amish and other such groups."

"How do you know if it's possible to be compatible with the humans?" Michael asked. Max was surprised that it was Michael who asked that. Michael had always been saying that they had to stay away from the humans, to find their own and go home.

"You will know. By the acceptance of the ones you trust with your secrets, and by the love you have for the humans, and that which they return to you. It takes a special kind of human to make a life with one of our kind. Although we are genetically compatible, if not exactly alike, we have found, that the ones who can create a life between the two species, are the ones who truly can live together in love and trust."

"No doubts or fears?" Michael asked, his eyes narrowing.

Jordan laughed. It was the first time they heard the rich mellow sound. “Of course doubts and fears! They are human after all, and as much as we like to say we aren't. We too have similar emotions as I am sure you three have found out." He smiled at their stunned faces.

They had just absorbed so much in so short a time. But these three had been hungry for the knowledge, and Jordan knew they wouldn't be satisfied with half answers.

"What about you Jordan? Do you live among the humans? Or is everyone up here?" Isabel started.

"I lost my wife a year after we came to this planet." Jordan began. He saw Isabel reach for his hand in sympathy, and he took it. These three were so human he thought.

"At first, I took my two children up here on this mountain and tried to hide away from life around me. I blamed the humans for her death. Even though it was not their fault she had died of one of their diseases. For they too cannot stop certain things from happening to them. But I had to blame someone, so I blamed them. And I might have stayed like that to this day, if it wasn't for the most wonderful woman in the world. Nadi came up from the Pueblo Reservation once, with her uncle, and took one look at me and fell in love. Or so she tells me.� Jordan smiled at the memory.

"At first I wanted nothing to do with her, but eventually she wore me down. These earth woman are very stubborn when they set their minds to something." Jordan teased and winked at Max and Michael.

Both of them nodded and smiled. They had to agree.

Isabel smiled as well. "What about your children, Jordan?" She asked.

"My son and daughter from my first wife, now have families of their own, and have taken human partners and live among the earthlings very happily. And, ironically enough, my son from my marriage to Nadi, he has fallen for a close friend of mine's daughter, who is one of us." He smiled at the irony.

"Does he know she's a visitor?" Isabel asked. Thinking how difficult it must be to trust someone. She knew how hard it had been for her.

"Of course. You cannot have a relationship or a life with the humans if they do not know who you are. And if they cannot accept you, completely, for who you are, you will not be able to produce offspring together either. And this is one blessing that has helped keep our people alive. No children of mixed blood has come into this world, that we know of, unless the two were totally in love and trusted each other." Jordan explained.

The three sighed and looked stunned. Jordan figured that was enough for now. He stood up. "You three should try to get some sleep. We have much to do and plan when you awaken."

The three only nodded and headed off to their rooms. They were too numb and full of all they had absorbed to do anything but close out the world for a few hours in restful slumber.

Jordan knew there was much more to talk about, and for him to find out from them, and he was not looking forward to it. For if his theory was right, there could be serious trouble ahead.

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

Liz opened her eyes to another morning and once again had to use all of her strength to get out of bed and keep going. It had been three weeks since Max, Michael and Isabel had disappeared into the night with the visitor.

Three weeks where she had had to fight with herself to get out of bed, every morning. Three weeks where she had just gone through the motions of living and breathing and working and going to school. Nothing seemed important to her anymore. Nothing seemed important to any of the three of them anymore.

The disappearances of the girls and what had almost happened to Vicki were no longer the topic of the town. That too seemed to have died down. And Liz felt more dread realizing that people would suspect Max even more. For there had not been another incident since Max had taken off.

She knew now that someone had set him up, and that with him gone, whatever they had been hoping to accomplish must have been completed. But even the possibility that the stalker might not be done with the people of Roswell didn't faze Liz. She found it hard to work up enough strength for any emotion these days.

Alex still watched over them like a hawk. And she knew he was worried about Maria and her, and how they both seemed to have just lost that zeal for life.

Liz still wanted to believe with all her heart, that Max would return some day, like he had promised. But maybe that just wouldn't be possible for him? Maybe it wouldn't be an option. Who knew where the stranger had taken them. Off to some far away planet? Would they ever return? Would they ever want to? It was not like the earth or the humans as a whole had made them feel comfortable and welcome over the years. She couldn't blame them if they found out their home was with others like them, where they could live without fear.

Liz sighed and pulled herself out of bed. Maria was going to pick her up for school today, and she had only about 10 minutes to get in the shower and be ready. It seemed that all she wanted to do was sleep all the time now.

But then a thought came to her and she couldn't wait to see Maria. There WAS something they could do, all three of them, to help make it safe, if there was any possibility at all, for the three aliens to return to them.

She just hoped she wouldn't be waking a sleeping evil.

"You want to what?!" Maria asked as she drove toward the school. This was the first time she had seen the old Liz, and it was slowly bringing her around too. If Liz had a plan, maybe the others could come back to them. But this plan was too dangerous. And she KNEW Alex would never go for it.

"Liz the stalker might have stopped, but Vicki is still in a coma in the hospital, and they don't know if she will ever wake up. Why would you want to stir things up again!?" Maria asked in frustration.

"Because, Maria, if someone was setting Max up, and now his goal is done, he won't try anything anymore, and the sheriff will always believe it was Max, and Max will never be safe to come back here." Liz explained, pushing the hair behind one ear, and grabbing her books as they pulled up in front of the school.

"Okay, now wait." Maria started as she too got out of the car. “First of all, do you think even if we WANTED to find out who this stalker was, is, or whatever, that Alex will go for it!?" Maria asked.

Liz looked at Maria with a determined face. "Alex won't have a choice. I'm going to find out who has done this to our classmates, and to Max, even if it means using myself as bait."

Maria's mouth dropped open. "Liz! Are you crazy!?"

Liz sighed, then got a sudden urge. "No but I'm starving!"

Part 16

Liz sighed with relief when the bell rang and she could leave her biology class. She now dreaded that class more than anything. Not only were the empty seats of the two missing girls still a frightening reminder of all that had happened, but now, Max's seat was depressingly empty next to hers. And she had a cold lump in her stomach every time she saw that empty seat.

She got up and headed toward her locker. She had plans to make now. Plans that might bring Max, Michael and Isabel home to them. Or so she hoped.

Liz stopped when she saw Kyle three lockers over from hers. Kyle and his friends were talking around his friend Paulie's locker.

Liz watched Kyle with worry. Kyle too didn't look good. He was pale, he had grown quieter, even among his friends, and he always had an angry look deep in his eyes now.

She couldn't blame him though, considering what had happened to Vicki, and that they still didn't know if she was going to be all right or not.

Liz took a deep breath and went over to the group of football players. She saw Kyle become aware of her first, and then they all parted for her to walk up to Kyle.

"Hey, Kyle." Liz started, feeling conspicuous with all of his friends listening.

Kyle nodded. "Liz." He said in a curt voice. She could feel the anger in him. She didn't want him blaming Max. If she could convince Kyle that it hadn't been Max, then maybe it would help convince Kyle's dad.

Liz bit her lip. "How's Vicki? Any change?" she asked softly. She sincerely hoped for the best for Vicki.

Kyle took a deep breath, straightened and held his books tighter. "No change." He said in a voice that seemed emotionless. Liz figured he was just so tired from worrying.

She nodded. "Kyle, I'm so sorry." She started.

Kyle's eyes narrowed. "You're just lucky Liz. Lucky that Evans didn't kill you before he ran."

Liz gasped. "Kyle, No! It wasn't Max. You can't honestly believe it was Max! Kyle he had to run, someone was setting him up. Making it look like him."

"Save it Liz. I've had enough of hearing about Max Evans from my dad, from the whole school, and especially from you always defending him!" Kyle said sharply, and started to walk away.

Liz grabbed his arm. "Kyle wait. Kyle, Max could never hurt anyone. Did he even try to get back at your friends Tommy and Paulie and those guys when they beat him up?" she asked and glanced sideways at the culprits whom were all still hanging around.

"Damn it Liz! Just once can you think of someone besides Max Evans! It's Vicki in that hospital, and Pam and Louisa who are probably dead, and I'm sick of your defending Evans! Let it go Liz. Why the hell can't you just let it go?" He asked harshly, shook his head, and walked away.

Liz was left feeling scared. God, every one thought it was Max. How was she going to prove other wise!??

"I'll prove it to you Kyle. Somewhere the real stalker is still out there, and I'm going to find him!" Liz called down the hall after Kyle and his friends.

Maria couldn't help but hear Liz yelling down the hall, as she came around the corner. She sighed realizing Liz had had it out with Kyle, and knew her friend had probably been the one to confront him. Liz didn't like bad blood between her and anyone if she could help it. But she could have told Liz that Kyle had become too bitter and angry to listen.

"Well, now that the whole school knows you're going after the stalker, let's go to lunch."

Liz smiled at Maria's sense of humor. Maria hadn't shown her dry humor in weeks, and Liz had actually missed it. If going after the stalker could not only bring their friends back, but get Maria back to the living as well, she knew it was worth it to try.

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

Later that afternoon, Liz and Maria were cleaning up the Crashdown from the big aftern school rush. It was Liz's favorite time. Right after the big rush, and before the dinner rush. They had about an hour to clean and actually talk or get some of their homework done as they waited on the few customers.

It was just the two of them, and Maria was cleaning off a table, and Liz was filling a sugar container at the counter. Only one other person was in the cafe, and he was sipping coffee and just reading the paper.

Liz heard the bell over the door and looked up. Then she sucked in her breath as Mrs. Evan's came in.

***

Liz remembered Mrs. Evan's face when she had gone back over to the Evan's house that very next morning, before even Max and Isabel's parents knew they were gone. She had told Max she would be the one to tell them. And Max had felt better.

She remembered how early it was that morning after the three had left. She hadn't slept at all in those hours, only waited the few more hours that it would take before she could go wake the Evan's.

It had been around six when Diane Evan's had opened the door for her. Liz remembered the surprised look on Mrs. Evan's face as she told Liz that she thought Max was still asleep, and how Liz had nodded and asked to speak to her.

She remembered telling Mrs. Evans how they all suspected that someone within the law system had set Max up, and how they were coming for him, and how he decided to stay out of jail so he could find out who had done this to him.

At first Mrs. Evans had been shocked, then she had cried, and when she had seen Liz crying too, she had hugged her close. She knew how much Liz meant to Max. And how having Liz tell her was the best Max could do in this situation.

"He'll be back, they both will." Liz had promised. She told Max and Isabel's mom how they'd promised they would be back, but that they had to find out who was trying to frame Max and could only do that if Max wasn't sitting in jail.

After that, Liz and Mrs. Evan's had become closer. Not that they talked much, but it seemed that the two were equally worried about Max and Isabel and Liz tried to help ease Mrs. Evan's worries as much as she possibly could, and she knew that she was the only link their mom felt she had now, to Max and Isabel.

***

She watched as Mrs. Evan's came up to her at the counter. She saw the concern in their mom's eyes as she looked Liz over. Liz tried to smile, seeing how tired Mrs. Evan's looked as well.

"Hi Liz. I just wanted to see how you were." Diane Evans said softly as she sat down for a moment at the counter.

Liz could see her hands shaking, and knew this was a big strain on their mom. She too was hearing all the rumors that Max had run because he was guilty.

"I'm okay Mrs. Evans. How are you and Mr. Evan's holding up?" she asked gently.

Diane took a deep breath, let it out and shrugged. "I just need them to come home." She admitted.

Liz felt her eyes fill with tears as she nodded in agreement. She reached for Mrs. Evan's hand and it seemed as if Diane Evans' took it like she would a lifeline.

She looked at the small young girl who seemed to have won her quiet son's heart, and knew that if Max could come back, he would. And she knew Isabel would come back too, once they knew Max would be okay.

"Have you have you heard from them at all?" Mrs. Evans asked.

Liz shook her head sadly wishing she had, and wishing she could give their mom more hope.

Diane Evans nodded, sighed and giving Liz's hand another squeeze, she stood up.

"Well, I just wanted to make sure you were okay, and to see if there was anything new."

Liz nodded her understanding and watched sadly as Mrs. Evans left.

Maria came up to the counter as their mom left. "Wow. She looks terrible." Maria remarked and put the dirty dishes she had on the counter and looked back from Mrs. Evans, to Liz.

"And you don't look much better." Maria added.

"Well thank you. And of course you look the picture of health yourself." Liz teased.

Maria sighed and picked up the dishes again. "You should try to get more rest Lizzy, your eyes look really dark and shadowed." Maria said as she headed toward the kitchen.

Liz shook her head at that and continued to pour the sugar and set up another pot of coffee for the soon in coming dinner crowd. She didn't know what Maria was talking about. For Maria looked just as tired and worried.

Liz put the sugar away, and headed into the kitchen as well.

Maria was putting the dirty dishes in the sink for Carlos, and Liz headed over to the refrigerator.

Maria turned around in time to see Liz scooping out ice cream into two bowls for them. She smiled. Liz must be feeling worse than usual, for they didn't usually have an ice cream break in the middle of the day, and right before the dinner rush either.

Maria wiped her hands on her apron and joined Liz at the table in the kitchen.

"So, Mrs. Evan's really upset you huh?" Maria asked.

Liz looked up from her preoccupation with the ice cream, and then realizing what Maria had said she looked surprised.

"No. I mean yeah, but no more than normal. Why?" Liz asked as she grabbed two spoons, handed one to Maria and dug into her ice cream.

Maria shrugged. "Afternoon binges on ice cream kinda made me wonder." Maria said tongue in cheek, as she too scooped up some ice cream.

"Hmm Just felt like it that's all." Liz said as she dug in for another scoop.

"Liz, you sure you're okay? I mean, first you don't sleep at all, now all you do is sleep, and now this sudden burst of energy to go find the stalker" Maria asked with a frown of confusion.

"Yeah, of course I'm fine. Well, as fine as any of us can be." Liz reassured her. Then she looked at her spoon, dropped it back into her bowl and reached for the Tabasco sauce that sat on the end of the table with all the other condiments.

Maria stopped eating, the spoon half way to her mouth, as she watched Liz pour the Tabasco sauce over her ice cream and then dig back in and smile in satisfaction as she tasted the new combination.

Maria's look of shock turned to fear. "OH MY GOD! Liz, you aren't!" Maria looked around to make sure they were alone, then came around to Liz who seemed oblivious to Maria's sudden hysterics.

"Liz!" Maria started. "My God! Are you pregnant?" She asked the last in a whisper.

Liz dropped her spoon in surprise and laughed. "Maria! Of course not! What ever made you" Then she stopped as Maria held up the Tabasco sauce, and Liz realized that she had put it in her ice cream without thought.

Liz thought about it calmly and then only shook her head. "I probably just felt closer to Max by eating that." She smiled sadly.

"Oh my God, Liz!" Maria said again, and started pacing. She hadn't thought about it when Liz had confided to her that she and Max had made love on the beach that one time, but now…

Liz didn't want to deal with Maria's hysterics right now, she was too tired. And this conversation was too ridiculous.

“Maria, for one thing, it's probably not possible remember we're too different. And you know it was only the once, and I'm not feeling any you know symptoms. Stop imagining things. Don't we have enough to deal with without making some crazy one's up?" Liz asked, as she watched Maria start to clean the dishes in the sink.

She knew for Maria to be cleaning the dishes herself, when she didn't have to, she was too upset to sit still.

"Come on Maria. Don't get crazy on me now." Liz tried to calm her friend down. "Maria, I'm fine!"

"Oh my God." Was all Maria could say again as she continue to furiously clean the dishes.

"Maria" Liz started again to use logic.

But Maria stopped her when she held up a hand. "Liz, how can you possible know if you are or aren't. We don't even know if you would have the same symptoms, or if you would have it the same way, or anything! Liz, it could be green!"

Liz couldn't help but laugh at that. Maria was totally losing it. "Okay, Maria, you need to calm down before"

Maria's gasp stopped Liz's sentence. A knife had slipped out of Maria's hand and she was staring at the blood the slice had done to the inside of her hand.

"Oh God, Maria." Liz said and grabbed a napkin, with one hand and Maria's hand with the other. "Don't move. Let me put this over it."

But when Liz's hand came in contact with Maria's, Maria saw the wound close up.

"Liz" she whispered. She couldn't say anything more. She had no breath left.

Liz turned back around and saw Maria's hand under her thumb, and that it was perfectly fine. No blood, no cut.

They both stared at Maria's hand for a second more, and then met each other's eyes.

"Oh my God!" Liz whispered and fainted.

Part 17

It was late, but Max couldn't sleep. He paced the room he had been given. It had been three weeks now, three weeks in which they had been holed up here, knowing every second, that he was only a few hours away from Liz. Yet he couldn't even let her know he was okay, or where he was!

He understood Jordan's reasons. It would be dangerous to all of them, Isabel and Michael too, if Max tried to go back to Roswell before they found out who was really the stalker.

He had promised Jordan, Isabel and Michael that he would stay away from Roswell, knowing that some of Jordan's people were there watching and trying to discover who the stalker was.

But Max wanted to go to Liz. Ever since he had found out that he was here to stay, and that it was okay for him and Liz to be together, he'd wanted, no needed to go to her.

And he suspected Michael and Isabel were feeling the same way. For he would see the same wistful look in their eyes when they looked down the mountain, to the valley below, and to Roswell, somewhere beyond.

To know they were all so close, and yet couldn't even let Liz, Maria and Alex know they were okay Max didn't know if he could keep that part of his promise. Jordan had told him to trust him that he had a very good reason why they couldn't let the three humans know where they were yet. The whole town had to believe that Max, Michael and Isabel were gone. Especially, the stalker, Jordan had emphasized.

When Max asked him what it would matter, if they told their friends, since they knew they could trust them with their lives, and had, Jordan had just shook his head and said to trust him for now. That he would explain it all to them soon.

Max knew Isabel cried at night when she thought of how they had left their parents. She knew their mother would be sick with worry. Max frowned knowing this too, and knew how hard it would be on her and their dad. He hated having to run like that, but he knew that his life, and the lives of Michael and Isabel would have been over, if the sheriff and the FBI had had any reason to take him in and question him.

But now he was getting stir crazy. Sure, the three of them had met many of their people, and the humans who had come to accept these aliens, but he needed to go home. Now that he knew for sure where that was, he and Michael and Isabel needed to go home.

The door opened and Max stopped pacing. Michael came though the door and then closed it silently behind him again.

"Sorry Michael, I don't have a sleeping bag here." Max tried to joke.

"Yeah well Maxmillian, you're so funny I'm in stitches." Michael snapped.

"Michael?" Max frowned.

Michael sighed. "Sorry. I guess I'm getting stir-crazy hiding up here. I want to go get that bastard myself! I hate having to lie low like some coward!" He said and started pacing, himself.

Max nodded and went to the window. No sense in both of them bumping into each other pacing.

"Can you believe it, Michael? We are home. And that it's okay for us to think of our futures here on earth?" Max asked aloud, still amazed at all they had learned.

When Michael remained silent Max turned from the window. "Or are you still wishing there was another world you could go to, to get away from Roswell." Max wondered.

Michael stopped pacing and leaned back against the wall near the door. “You know Max, the funny thing is, I always wanted to find our real home, so that I would have a family too, and a better life than I have in Roswell. But, now I've found out that my family is here. That you and Isabel are actually my real family." Michael said in amazement.

He still couldn't get over it, and still got a little choked up thinking about it. He swallowed, then continued. “And now I don't need to go anywhere else to find home. But I tell ya, Max, I still want out of Roswell." Michael added.

Max cleared his own throat, knowing how much it meant to them all to know they were a real family, and how especially important it was to Michael.

He smiled at Michael's last words. "I don't blame you there, brother." Max agreed.

The word brother slipped out naturally, and surprised both of them. They looked away, trying to be casual, and were relieved when the door opened again.

"Why is it my room is always the popular one?" Max teased.

Isabel came into the room and waved Max's words away. "I've been thinking, Max. There has to be some way we can let mom and dad know we are okay at least." Isabel said and started her own pacing.

Michael was glad he had backed up against the wall, seeing as how Isabel was flying around the room like a tornado. He smiled remembering how Jordan had said she reminded him of his sister, their mother. He wondered if their mother had been a firecracker like Is.

"And Alex, Liz and Maria, they must be going crazy too." Isabel added as she paced.

"Yeah. I know." Was all Max said. "But we promised to trust Jordan. That he had a good reason for not letting anyone in Roswell know what's going on." Max tried to convince them, hoping it would convince him as well.

"Well I don't like it!" Isabel said and stopped pacing suddenly and sat on the edge of the bed. All the steam went out of her, and she slumped her shoulders in defeat.

Max went over and sat next to her. He put an arm around her. "I know Is. I don't either. None of us do."

Michael watched the two and wished he could go comfort Isabel, like a brother should. But he wasn't used to being a brother, a protector, like Max was. So he stayed where he was.

But as if Isabel could sense Michael's feelings, she went over to him and put her arms around him.

Michael automatically wrapped his arms around Isabel, but was startled.

Max almost chuckled at Michael's look, but new how important this was to them. For Michael to really accept that he had a real family.

"I'm so glad that things turned out the way they did Michael. I've always thought of you as my brother, but now it's real." Isabel smiled and stepped back again.

Michael put his hands in his pockets, but there was a smile in his eyes as he nodded, acknowledging Isabel's words.

He glanced over at Max, and they shared a smile as well. No words were needed. They never had been.

A knock at the door made Max sigh, and Michael and Isabel laugh. The door opened and Jordan stood in the doorway.

"Do you three always have this habit of deciding you need to have a heart to heart, in the middle of the night?" He teased.

They followed Jordan into the living room, and Jordan watched at the three sat on the couch, as if ready to take a stand against him if they had to. He smiled. Rebellious teens never changed. No matter what genetics they had.

Jordan sighed. It was time to let them know what he hadn't told them. What he had found out almost right after he had brought them here.

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

Alex paced Liz's room as she packed, and Maria sat on the bed. "No. This is crazy!" he stated.

"You don't know for sure if you're pregnant! Let alone running away like this, in the middle of the night!" He tried to be the rational one. For neither Liz nor Maria were rational right now.

"Alex. She healed me." Maria stated, running one of her scents under her nose. She was beyond scared now.

"Well, what if when you make you know, contact, physically with the Czechoslovakians, it like changes you. Maybe it has nothing to do with being pregnant. Come on Liz, you said yourself, you are on the pill, and that it's probably not possible for humans and aliens to have children."

"Yes, but Alex, how do we know that a pill would work in a case like this. Oh my God. Think of the possibilities here. We have NO CLUE what this will do to Liz. Will she have a birth like a normal human? Will it be a slow gestation period, like with humans? Or will she just all of a sudden blow up real big and hatch something." Maria said, getting all excited again.

Liz tried not to laugh at the images Maria was creating, but then she stopped when she realized that it could all be true. They had no idea what to expect. Maybe it would kill her. Maybe they had defied nature by doing what they had done, and she was going to pay. She just hoped Max never knew. He would never forgive himself if she died because of what they did.

Liz's hands were shaking as the closed the suitcase, and straightened. "Alex. I can't wait around to find out what's going to happen or not happen." She explained in her most rational voice.

Alex looked at her in frustration. He was supposed to watch over them. How could he do that if Liz left? And what was going to happen to her?! "Alex. I'm not worried about me. Alex, what if I am carrying a baby? A half alien baby. What do you think Sheriff Valenti and the FBI would do when they found out I was pregnant. Who would they know I was with? Alex, they would want to get their hands on me, to get my baby. I can't let them know I'm pregnant! Don't you understand! I have to go. Now!" Liz whispered urgently.

Alex saw Maria's bags beside her and sighed. "Okay, I'm going with you guys." He said in defeat.

"No." Liz said and knew Alex would argue. She stepped closer to him and put a hand on his arm.

"Please Alex. I need someone to stay here, cause I know Max will be back if he can, and he won't know where we've gone. I need you to be here to tell him where to find us if and when they do come back."

Alex knew this made sense. One of them needed to stay behind for when their friends returned. For not one of them wanted to believe for a minute that they were gone for good.

And if one of them had to go with Liz, to watch after her, it should be Maria, who would know more about the female stuff.

Alex nodded in defeat and put his head down.

“Alex, please try to understand. I am trusting you with something very important. You are the only one who can tell Max what's going on. And we will need them, when they come back.� Liz bit her lip to hold back a sob of fear. She didn't want to alarm Alex anymore than they already had. If he knew just how terrified she was, not knowing what to expect, or what could happen, he'd never let them go.

"But what's to stop the FBI from questioning Alex and getting our whereabouts out of him?" Maria suddenly asked.

"FBI? Why would they care." Alex frowned in confusion. He couldn't think straight with all that they had hit him with.

"Alex, Valenti and the FBI are going to think we went to join Max, Michael and Isabel. They will know that you are the only one who we would tell." Maria explained slowly. Realizing that Alex was in shock as they had been earlier.

"Which is why I am not telling Alex where we will be." Liz said

Now both of them looked at her in confusion.

"I am going to leave some clues with Alex. Things that only Max knows, that will help him put together what they mean, in order to find us." She explained.

"Brilliant!" Maria grinned.

Alex shook his head. "No! I have to at least know where you two are! What if you need me? What if Alex took a deep breath. None of them wanted to think it aloud, but it might happen. "What if they don't come back? If they can't? How will I find you?" Alex asked with fear in his eyes.

"Alex. Maria will come for you if that happens. But we have to give them a chance. They said they would be back if they could, and I believe them. I trust Max completely, and know that some way, some how, Max will get back here someday." She vowed in determination.

Seeing her total belief in Max, Alex relaxed a little. "I'll do it, but you tell me where you are the first sign of trouble!" He made them promise.

Maria and Liz nodded and Alex watched as they climbed down into the alley below, and silently drove off into the night, in Maria's mom's car.

He knew that they wouldn't have that car for long. He knew that they would change cars somehow, as soon as they could.

Alex watched his two best friends as they drove off, and he new he had never felt this helpless or frightened before in his life.

Part 18

Someone else also paced that night. He was furious. He had left Liz alone after Max had left. He had hoped that she would become her old self again, and not think of Max Evans as the savior of her world. But today not only did he find out that she was still defending Max Evans, but now she was going to try to get HIM. He had hoped that he could still try to make Liz into the woman he thought she could be, with Max out of the picture, but now he knew that wouldn't be possible. If she tried to snoop into this, he would have to do to her what he had done to the others.

And he knew if Vicki showed any signs of waking, he would also have to do something about her as well. But he knew he had a close enough connection on that end that he would be told right away if there were any changes in Vicki's condition.

He grimly realized that he couldn't wait any longer for Liz to change. She wasn't going to. She was not a good girl like he had thought. She was not worthy like he'd believed her to be. He had to stop her now. Before she did find anything out, and before Max and the others came back. For he knew that that too, was only a matter of time.

*********

As the day dawned over the hot desert, Maria looked over at Liz in the seat beside her and bit her lip. Liz had been very quiet, even when they had ditched her mother's car and stolen the heap in the desert. It barely ran, but at least it ran, and would get them to the next place. And from there they could take a bus.

"Liz?"

Liz turned and saw the concern on her friends face. She knew Maria was just as scared as she was. She tried to smile a little, to reassure her friend.

"I'm okay, Maria. Just tired."

Maria gave her another look and Liz saw the fear. She guessed that no matter what she told Maria she was feeling, Maria would think it was something awful that was happening because of the baby growing inside her.

"I just know how Max and Isabel probably feel leaving without letting their parents know. You know?"

Maria nodded. She had left a note for her mom, telling her she was okay, but going to go with Liz to get away from Roswell for a while. That Liz needed some time away from Roswell and all that had happened. She knew she couldn't tell her mother anything, for fear it would go right to Jim.

"Liz, what did you tell your parents?"

Liz sighed and rested her head against the side window and faced Maria. "I didn't tell them anything, other than that I needed time away. And that I would be okay. But needed to get away from Roswell, without anyone trying to interrogate me or follow me everywhere."

She knew her parents would believe that, since right after Max and the others had left, the FBI and the sheriff had questioned the three of them in detail.

But she didn't dare tell her parents that she was pregnant, for they would know it was Max's. And they would die if they knew that. For they too believed the rumors about Max. How could they not? There was no reason for them to doubt the law. To them, Max was guilty.

Liz just hoped that Max would somehow figure out how to come back. For she obviously couldn't go after the stalker now.

God Max, where are you? She wondered silently.

**********

"You mean you knew who it was three weeks ago?" Michael exclaimed and jumped up from the couch.

Jordan shook his head. "Not exactly. I had my suspicious on what he was, but not until yesterday, did we finally pin point the WHO it was."

"Who? Who the hell is it? And why are we waiting here, when we can catch him before he tries to go after Maria or Liz!" Michael said.

"We had to be completely sure who it was before we went after him." Jordan started to explain.

"Wait a minute. What do you mean? What he was?" Isabel asked. Max and Michael were too worked up to catch the words Jordan had used.

Max lifted his head from where he had been studying the floor, his hands gripped tightly between his spread legs. He was still trying to comprehend the fact that Jordan had known about this and hadn't let them go after him.

"Are you saying he's one of US?" Isabel asked in shock.

Jordan had the total attention of all three of them. "Yes. I had my suspicious that he was one of us, when I first heard what was happening, with the handprint and other evidence. But I couldn't be sure who it was. And I could not let you three go after him without knowing who he was for sure."

"Why? We would have gotten it out of him!" Michael argued.

Jordan shook his head. "No. His powers are much stronger than the three of yours. He has had years of learning to control them, to keep hidden from you three so you couldn't sense his presence. He is pure evil, and would destroy you three without thinking about it. And he would be able to feel you coming for him, and would have stopped you before you even knew who to be warned of."

Jordan sighed. He looked like he'd aged over night. He hated knowing for sure it was one of them, and what that might mean if his powers came out. There would be another mass search for other aliens, if this one were discovered to have been living among them all these years. And he knew what that would mean for the three here in his living room. They would never be able to go back to Roswell or their friends, for they would be hunted for sure as evil aliens.

"What do we do now? If you know who it is, let's go get him. Together we can all," Max started, as he got up.

"Even together we could not confront him that easily. For one thing, you three have not learned to hide your presence from others like you. You haven't needed to. So he would know you were coming way before you got near him. Even some of our people cannot completely block each other out. But this one for you three to have never known of his presence, evil." Jordan said again.

"Jordan who IS it?" Max asked, his jaw clenched. He just knew he wanted to get this guy.

**********

The fourth alien waited outside the Crashdown cafe later that morning, waiting to see Liz Parker come down for her shift at work. He knew her schedule. These humans were so easy to read. So easy to predict. He could pick at their brains so easily too when he wanted to.

He was going to get rid of Liz Parker today. Before she could do anymore harm. Before she could open her big mouth about Max Evan's innocence again, and get people to start wondering if she could be right.

********

Jordan had gotten the three to agree not to go after the forth alien, with the promise that he would have his friend Matthew,one of their people who was still in Roswell, pick up Liz, Maria and Alex, and bring them here. The three would only stay here and wait for Jordan's people to take care of it, if they knew for sure that Liz, Maria and Alex were okay, and safe and not worried anymore about them.

The three waited out front of Jordan's ranch house for their friends to arrive. Jordan had called his friend a few hours ago with instructions to go pick the three of them up.

When they saw the unfamiliar truck pull up, the jumped up and ran to the vehicle before it even stopped.

When Alex was the only one to climb out, Max and Michael stopped in their tracks, fear freezing them. Something was wrong.

Isabel ran to Alex and he held her close. "Close you've been so close." Alex whispered, holding Isabel tightly and then meeting Max and Michael's eyes over Isabel's shoulder.

He moved Isabel gently to the side of him, and faced the two men. "They're gone." He said, thinking of no other way to say it gently.

"WHAT!?" both of them demanded.

Alex put up a hand realizing how it could sound as if the stalker had gotten them. He shook his head. "No, I mean they left town on their own." He corrected.

"What? Why?" Max asked with a frown. He couldn't think of one reason why Liz would leave town, and why was Alex wouldn't be with them?

Alex sighed, not wanting to be the one to tell Max, Liz's reason for running away.

"Why would they run away, Alex?" Isabel asked, as if reading his mind.

Jordan stood back waiting as well. Then he turned to his friend who had brought Alex to them.

"It's okay. They told me how to find them, so we will just go get them. Matthew here told me that you know who it is and that they are getting him as we speak." Alex tried to reassure them. He could see the total fear on Max and Michael's faces, and knew how he felt. He also wasn't sure how to tell Max the rest.

Jordan saw Matthew shift his feet in the dirt and look down.

"What is it Matthew?" he asked his friend. His own fear now surfacing. He was afraid he wouldn't like the news his friend was trying not to tell the group of teens.

Jordan knew it was too late to hold anything more back from the four teens.

"The alien. He too is gone. He disappeared after he found out that the two girls were gone. He gave us the slip." Matthew replied.

Go to Part 19-24