| Secrets In The Past |
| Chapter 60 The Conclusion _________________ They all watched as Max walked dejectedly up the stairs. The air was eerily silent and Isabel couldn�t stop the flow of morbid thoughts from entering her head. She couldn't help it, never had anything seemed this bad, not even when the FBI had Max. She couldn�t help but wonder if the next time he came down those stairs if it would be of his own free will or when they carried out his lifeless body. After what she saw at Gwyn�s house and how unresponsive he was just now, there wasn�t a doubt in her mind that Max wouldn�t be able to live without Liz. Car doors slamming broke the moment of quite. The bells once again slapped against the doors and more than one of them thought about yanking the poor things down. Justin and the Sheriff walked in completing the party. The others watched their reaction to the room come the same as their own had. Shock, horror, grief and guilt all becoming evident on the faces. Gwyn got up from where she was still crouched on the floor and went to Justin. �Anything?� she asked, searching his face and their connection. The guilt pouring off him gave her a clue but she, and the others, needed details. At her simple question the barest amount of moisture brimmed in his blue eyes and his nose scrunched ever so slightly with emotion. Things that no one else would have noticed told her that he was barely hanging on and she could only hope that it was because they hadn�t found anything and not because they had. He pulled her to him, bending his head to rest on her shoulder before he spoke. Right now he�d never felt like more of a failure. He needed her strength, her presence, her love calm him. Breathing deeply of her peach scented skin he let himself feel her soft body mold against his. Her arms wound around his shoulders kneading the knotted, tense muscles. He felt her sigh and squeezed a little tighter in an attempt to get as close as possible for a few brief moments of solace. Reluctantly, Justin pulled back and kissed her forehead. �Thank you,� he whispered quietly, then shifted her so she was tucked tightly under one arm, her head leaning against his shoulder. Gwyn continued to rub a comforting hand over his back for support. He took a deep breath preparing to explain his findings to his superiors. Having noticed Max�s predictable absence, Justin looked up meeting Michael's gaze head on. �We followed her energy signature,� he began almost clinically. �It was very week, which could either be from injury or actual energy drain by her powers. I could still see it, so I would guess they�ve been gone a max of forty five minuets. We tracked it pretty easily. Liz�s is a very unique color of purple, that made it easy to separate from the other random signatures. We followed it for what?� He turned to the sheriff in question, �twenty minuets?� Jim nodded his agreement, �I�d say that�s about right. Depending on what they were driving and if they hit a lull in traffic, they could have driven the same route in ten or fifteen though.� Michael scratched his brow in agitation, trying to keep a lid on the mangle of nerves and emotions his taught body was becoming. �Ok. So you tracked them and what? You found her? You stopped for a potty break? Got invited to The Mad Hatter�s tea party? What?!� His voice became louder and more shrill with every word, making everyone jump when he ended by shouting out in frustration. Justin�s free hand reflexively came up to pull nervously on his ear lobe as he fought to keep eye contact with Michael. �Well,� he cleared his throat and tossed a desperate glance at the sheriff. �We- we lost it.� �What do you mean you lost it?� Maria asked before Michael had the chance, and a little more unassumingly than he whole have liked. �An energy signature is only visible for a limited amount of time,� he explained, �and in certain circumstances. Like the trial a jet leaves in the sky. You can only see it when the sky is clear and it only lasts for maybe a half an hour.� Michael grit his teeth. Why was it that when in the middle of a crisis everyone insisted on explaining everything at great length instead of doing what needed to be done? He didn�t care how the damn thing worked, he just needed the information. �Ok, so its not going to last forever, we got that. How far did you trace it?� �To the abandon air field at the base.� �What does that mean? They just disappeared? The trail had suddenly gone too weak for you to see it? What?� He managed to keep himself a little more in check this time but only because he was dreading what this answer was even more. �He�s saying they got on a plane Michael,� Maria explained gently, running a hand up and down his arm. �Isn�t that right?� �That�s what we think, yes.� Valenti answered for Justin. �If they used a privet jet, by landing out there they wouldn�t have had to deal with filing a flight plan or tower operators until they got in the air. Once national radar picked them up, I don�t know. I�m sure they thought of something.� �So she could already be there is what you�re saying? Its been forty five minuets and that bastard could already be doing God knows what to her?� Justin swallowed thickly but didn�t break Michael�s demanding stare. �Yes.� The silence that filled the room after that was oppressive. Michael, seemingly assaulted by the affirmation, slumped down into the booth that had been previously occupied by Max and buried his face in his hands. A shudder rocked his body and it was then that they realized he was crying. The realization was like the final blow. How bad were things that Michael would break down in public? Maria quietly made her way over, standing in front of him to shield him from from the rest of the group. Gwyn turned her face back into Justin�s chest in a last ditch effort to keep her composure, and a small sniffle could be heard from where Isabel was still kneeling with Alex behind the counter. Maria closed her eyes tightly, she would have given anything for a gallon of cedar oil right about now. Combing her fingers though Michael�s already unruly hair, she wished for the type of strength her best friend was usually blessed with. This was her worst nightmare brought to life. It had always been in the back of her mind when they had become involved with the aliens, that if something were to come after them the surest bet would be to grab Liz. Maria had worried about her safety even before they had known there was a threat. Not Liz though. She had shown stalwart courage and dedication in the most dire and heart breaking of circumstance. Liz was the glue that held them all together and gave them the strength to get though one crisis after another, even when she was scared out of her mind and her heart was breaking. It was her best friend that had helped them all weather the storms and now she wasn�t here when they needed her the most. For that reason, all those reasons, Maria wished for her strength and courage so she could do it for her. By some fluke she was the only one not a complete mental case at the moment and she would not let Liz down the first time she really needed them by flaking out. It was up to her to not fall apart and keep the rest of the group together so, unlikely a candidate as she was, she would do it, for Liz. But as soon as this was over she was going to do some major flipping out and there had better be ice cream involved at some point. Muttering one last oath, she licked her lips in determination and blinked back the last of her tears. Letting her hands slide from his hair and down to his strong shoulders she readied herself, she hoped, for whatever was to come. Michael�s head was leaning against her middle but his hands still covered his face. She guessed that he�d stopped crying since he wasn�t trembling as hard and she could hear the repeated sighs deep breathing of attempted control. Taking a step back so she could look at him, she gently pried his hands away from his tear blotched face and replaced her own on his cheeks. Staring down into his lost brown eyes her new found conviction nearly crumbled. This was the absolute worst she had ever seen him and there had been some pretty low points. This though, he looked so lost, helpless, and totally confused that it was enough to rock her earlier resolve. She loved him yes, but she�d never felt so completely bound to him before. The moment she looked into his swimming brown depths, she knew without a doubt that if he fell apart completely so would she. She could be strong but she couldn�t not be Maria, and Maria needed Michael. �Michael,� she said sternly, though not unwarmly. �You can�t do this to me right now, ok? I can�t have you fall apart too. I don�t care if its selfish. Liz is gone, possibly off to some scum bag who will do who knows what to her. Max is a basket case a best and Alex is bleeding all over the floor and we have no idea what happened to him. Please, I can�t have you fall apart on me too.� Michael stared up at her dumb founded. Aside from Liz, Maria was the strongest person he knew. He didn�t used to think that, but over the last few months and even back when all that destiny crap was going on, she had shown an internal strength and will to go on that never failed to amaze him. Now here she was openly admitting that she was going to lose it and he knew why to. She was opening herself up to him hoping his protective instincts would kick in and he would hold it together for her. He realized that Maria knew him better than he ever thought, better than he knew himself, and he liked it. �I�ll tell you what,� she offered when he didn�t say anything. �I�ll make you a deal. You keep it together until we can figure out a plan and then we�ll go somewhere safe and lose it together. Ok?� The way her voice wavered at the end pulled tightly on his heart strings. He nodded his agreement instantly, clearing his throat gruffly. �I�m sorry, I just...� he trailed off knowing that if he tried to explain what he was feeling right now that promise wouldn�t be kept. �Don�t be sorry,� she said softly as she squirmed onto his lap and wrapped her arms around him. He sighed deeply at the feel of her graceful hands dancing up and down his spine. Returning the embrace, he let his body relax for a few peaceful minutes and his mind blank out to only her calming presence. Of course, reality all too soon would intrude and he would once again be reminded that if his sister was murdered it would be on his head. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Max walked mindlessly up the stairs and towards her room. Away from all the panicked and questioning glances, away from all the concerned whispers and quiet sobs, away from that infernal question that no one seemed to be able to refrain from eventually asking, �what do we do now Max?� How was he supposed to know? He wasn�t any smarter, any more informed, or any less grieved than the rest of them. Why was it always falling on him to make the decisions? Why couldn�t they let him wallow in his disappear and guilt like he wanted to? The unrefutable answer taunted him from the corner of him mind: because he was King. Well damn it, he didn�t want it, not any of it. His status had already cost him the only thing that mattered, so why couldn�t somebody else make the decisions now? Hadn�t he shown over and over again that he wasn�t destined to be the leader everyone thought he should be? Michael had done a much better job of caring for Liz those two months when he hadn�t known about their special circumstances. Before that he had gone off to New York with barely a word to anyone. His main reason for going had been to hurt the people he cared most about; Liz, Isabel, and Michael. Then he had nearly gotten himself and Tess killed and almost handed the rest of their heads to their enemies on a silver platter. He had let himself be captured by the FBI and the others had raced in to save him. The pattern was beginning to become obvious to Max, he was always the one who screwed up and needed to be bailed out. Sure Michael and even Isabel had been reckless countless times, but when it came down to the do or die situations it was him who put them all at risk. Gwyn was right, Liz was still alive. He could feel it in his bones. He couldn�t sense her emotions and he couldn�t feel her like he could sometimes when she was near, but none the less, he knew she was still alive. That gave him very little comfort though. Max couldn't help but wonder, would it be better for her not to be. What kind of hell was she being delivered into because he wasn�t strong enough, wasn�t good enough, wasn�t fast enough to protect her. He didn�t want her dead, but he knew from experience there were somethings out there that were worse than death and he didn�t want her to ever wonder if they would happen to her. He was supposed to have protected her. He had failed. Again. So why would they need him? How could he possibly be this great King if he couldn�t protect the one thing that made his life worth living? For that matter, how was he supposed to be any kind of King without her? He stopped and stood in her door way, leaning wearily against the frame. The sun was starting to set, bathing the room in soft oranges and reds and casting long shadows across the rug. It was exactly the way she had left it. Her school books were stacked neatly on the end of her desk where she had been studying. Her backpack was slung over her desk chair, a few loose papers and pens poking out of a zipper pocket. The clothes she was going to change into after her shift, a short pink sun dress and a soft white cardigan, were laid out on the end of her bed. A tiny pair of sandals sat on the floor directly beneath them. Taking a step inside he was violently assaulted with her delicate scent and it sent pangs of desire and further unrest though his system. He hesitantly reached out and picked up the soft sweater as if it would reject his touch, just as she should have. When it didn�t retch itself from his hands, he brought the fuzzy material to his face, mating it to his cheek and breathing deeper still of her fragrance. Liz was beaming in triumph. The seductive command gone from her demeanor, replaced with an innocent giddiness that was just as alluring. Finally tearing his eyes away from the goddess in front of him to the suddenly twenty five pound pencil in his hand, his brows raised in shock as he glanced back and forth between Liz and his hand. His hand that was now wrapped around the hilt of a ornately scrolled, silver sword. She had been wearing this sweater that day, he remembered now that he was forced to. God, she had been so beautiful, so alive. If he hadn�t been so consumed with his fear of her, nothing would have stopped him from ravishing her right then. The way she reveled in her powers, the very same powers that defined his differences from the world, was an awe inspiring sight. It was another change that he had inadvertently brought on her that she embraced whole heartedly and seeing it put into action was one more stone on the mountain of things that made him love and adore her, worship her, and want her just this side of madness. At the same time, the remembrance of her lighthearted fascination with what she could do and how it was expressed with such innocence stirred a primitively protective urge that was never far beneath the surface where she was concerned. �Why a sword?� �Well, you never know when you might need a good sword.� �Right, �cause alien power blasts can be so unpredictable.� �Exactly, and you know, when rescuing damsels in distress, you want to have the latest in chivalrous weaponry.� �The heaver the better.� �Hey, a knight in shining armor�s gotta do, what a knight in shining armor�s gotta do.� The corners of his mouth tilted up mirthlessly as the flash came to an end and he lowered the sweater back to the bed. A knight in shining armor, what a joke. He was no knight and certainly not her�s. He wasn�t a knight, he wasn�t a King, hell, he wasn�t even a man. He was a lost little boy who would give anything for the comfort of his mother�s skirts at this moment. He felt so utterly helpless that it was suffocating. The only person who had ever been able to control his true emotional tail spins was gone and it was all his fault. He remembered a time when he would have risked life and limb to keep a promise to her. Had that changed? Had he changed, weakened so much over the past year�s events that he was going to let his sweet, wonderful Liz suffer? His eyes drifted from the bed to her night stand and the little star shaped night light that was in the near by socket. �Do you know why I�m afraid of the dark?� He heard her soft question as if she were still reclining in the protective circle of his arms. Turning to the window, his mind�s eye watched her tearful confession with renewed anguish. �Michael and Maria think its because there could be someone waiting there to grab me. That I�m afraid someone could be waiting for me. But that�s not the reason. Its because I remember.� �Remember what?� �The dark. I- I remember slipping into, having it surround me, pull me deeper until that�s all there was. I remember... dying.� Max�s heart clenched again at that line. He�d promised her he would keep the dark away. What darkness did the world she was being shuttled off to hold for her? Liz was strong, but a person could only be strong for so long. How much could she take before she was broken by all she had suffered? How long before she gave up? How long before she began to hate him because he wasn�t strong enough to keep that promise? He had contemplated the idea many times over, had even tried to convince himself to hate her once upon a time. But never, never had he ever thought it would be because he let something like this happen to her, because he couldn�t keep her safe. Everything was just so out of control. He was a control freak by nature, Michael and Isabel had told his so on countless occasions. Even Liz had not so subtly hinted at it. So then, that begged the question, when was the last time he truly felt any real modicum of control? Was there one precise moment or event that had begun the chain of events that had left his life, his heart, in the ruins they were today? Unbidden, the demonic visage of Agent Daniel Pierce appeared in his head. Instantly quaking with just the thought of him, Max sank to the bed with weak knees. Without question he knew that was his answer. If he had ever stopped to think about it, he could have traced every mistake since last May to that one night. Before then he had been what was professed of him. The leader. The calm, plan now, act later, take initiative and leave no one behind, head of their group. Until that night. The plan to get Liz had been quick and effective, if not completely concrete. It worked though, as had majority of his life and death plans up until then. Liz had been rescued. The only problem was he�d had to make the sacrifice in order for that to happen, Liz or himself. He had chosen himself. Max�s breath released in a whoosh as he realized that he would do it again. That monster had been ready to take Liz if he couldn�t have him and Nesado had been only too willing to hand her over. What would have happened if they had been too late? Would they have taken Liz? Would she have been subjected to the unthinkable as he had? Would her innocence, her light, have been damaged by that fiend? The images his mind called up under protest were more sickening than the pictures Pierce had shown him and his nightmares combined. It repulsed him further to realize that he wouldn�t even know where to begin to call up such phantasm if it hadn�t been for his own incarceration. Now the worst had happened, Liz had been taken, just as he, they both, had taunted. And what was he doing? Sitting here moping and crying like a child who�d had his favorite toy taken away. Liz deserved better than that. For the first time in nearly a year Max allowed himself to feel the molten anger that coursed steadily through his veins. The abhorrent hatred that was so intense if frightened him bubbled to the surface and a low primal growl sounded from his throat. Max�s breathing became shallow as he let the immense amounts of rage seep farther into his consciousness to give him purpose and direction. He reached out on either side of him to fist the sheets in his hands as blood, power, and energy simmered in his veins. He was easily distracted from his growing catharsis though when a piece of paper slid off the pillow he�d knocked askew and come in contact with his hand. The lief burned where it brushed against his skin without leaving a mark. Carefully picking it up with the tips of his fingers he looked the note over, did a double take, and read if over again in utter shock. Finishing the letter for a second time Max felt something in him snap. It had been gathering but this was the final straw. He was a King. He was her King. And it was about damn time he started acting like it. Fury rolled through him at an alarming rate. It brewed in his veins, bringing his blood to a steady boil. His power rose in anticipation and ebbed as he reigned it in with more control then he�d felt in months. He was through being afraid. It was time for this bastard who finally had a face to be brought to his knees. Gathering his swiftly turning thoughts, Max took one last look at her bed knowing for certain that he would keep the promises he�d made to her here. If only to bring her back. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ �... �cause this day couldn�t possibly get any worse.� Kyle�s ominously factious words echoed thought the diner as he led Tess back in though the break room. �Kyle.� Jim rushed forward from where he was leaning against what was left of the counter to impulsively pull both Tess and his son into a hug. Normally they were not into outward displays of affection but he couldn�t help himself. The kids had told him they had just gone out back to check things out, but all this devastation had naturally turned his mind to his children and their safety. �Dad. Dad, we�re ok.� Kyle pulled back after a minute. He understood, he�d been just as happy to see his father safe, though he might not admit it quite as openly. There was a more pressing matter that needed to be discussed however, and it couldn�t wait for family bonding. �Good. Good,� the older man gruffly cleared his throat, patting his son on the shoulder. �Tess? You�re all right?� He turned to the little blond who he had always seen as a might bit more fragile than other people did. �I�m ok Sheriff,� she smiled softly, touched by his concern. When no one moved or said anything after that Gwyn attempted to break the awkward silence from where she and Justin were leaning against one of the booths. �Did you guys find something?� The three turned back to the group forming a quasi circle with those standing, sitting, and leaning. Tugging on Tess� hand, Kyle brought her closer to his side, not wanting it to show how much what they�d found truly upset him. �Yeah, you could definitely say we found something. I�m glad you�re here dad, we�re going to need your help a lot more than I thought.� Before he could further elaborate a steady staccato of steps on the back stair case captured everyone�s attention. A moment later an obviously determined, if still paler than death, Max came though what used to be the swinging door. �Max!� Isabel flew at her brother from where she was sitting in a booth with Alex. Justin had managed to heal him some more. It wasn�t great, but it wouldn�t infect and there wasn�t any more pain. She threw her arms around him and held on for countless seconds, when she finally pulled back the hardness of his features caught her by surprise. �Max?� He offered her a small, sad smile as partial reassurance. Isabel looked her brother over appraisingly. Not great, not good even, but whatever he�d done or thought about by himself, his current state was a vast improvement from earlier. He was pale, his hair was messy, and his clothes wrinkled but he wasn�t shaking anymore and there was a light back in his eyes. It was considerably duller than she had seen just earlier that morning when he had been day dreaming about Liz while eating his cereal but still, it was a dark gleam that had purpose and direction. Looking deeper, she saw the way his lips drew into a line and how hard his features were set. That dark glow suddenly gave her a chill. It wasn�t born of renewed hope or remembered love, it was something angry and commanding that sent a shiver down her spine. He seemed so... in control. �Are you ok Max?� The slight quiver in her voice spoke of the toll the afternoon had taken on her usually composed exterior. His eyes softened further at his sister�s obvious concern, �no,� he answered honestly. �I�m not ok Iz. I�m a very long way off from ok, but I�m not going fall apart if that�s what you mean.� �I�m so sorry Max,� she whispered as she pulled him back into her arms, wanting desperately to take that dead note out of his voice. He hadn�t been unkind but it was very obvious, at least to her, that his control over his emotions was tenuous at best and the cold shell that had frightened her was his only way of coping at the moment. That she could defiantly relate to. There was something though, something different about him. It wasn�t the grief or stress and it wasn�t his cool facade. There was something about the way he was holding himself, the way he spoke, even the way the was stroking her hair that was almost, the only word for it was- regal. �Hey guys,� Kyle unceremoniously interrupted. �I hate to break up the moment but now that his highness is gracing us with his presence, Ow!� Tess jabbed him in the ribs while half the room pelted him with withering looks. �This is hardly the time to be sensitive,� he defended himself while rubbing his side. �Or snide and petty,� Isabel returned in full ice princess mode, as she moved to stand protectively next to Max. Kyle snorted, crossing his arms over his chest, not at all intimidated by her routine. �Hey, do you want to fight or do you want to know about the body in the dumpster?� That shut every body up pretty quickly. Max pinned him with that same look that had made his sister shiver, his voice coming out so smooth and dominant it took the group by as much surprise as Kyle�s announcement. �What body?� �I remembered that the trash got picked up yesterday, so there couldn't have been too much in the dumpster. It was a long shot, but I peeked over the edge to see if there was anything clue worthy in there and what do I see? None other than Rob McClain, dead. I�m guessing a broken neck, unless we find any other distinguishing marks.� No one really knew what to say. It had been at least a week since he had caused any trouble and now he had shown up dead outside the Crashdown. This was an unexpected complication they didn�t need. Maria, not surprisingly, was the first to find her voice. �Sure he was a jerk, nobody liked him, but who would have killed him?� She asked no one inparticular. Jim rubbed the back of his neck trying to get out the kinks that had formed at the mere thought of having to cover up another well connected body. �Do you think it could have been this Durton fellow?� The question was directed to Max who was obviously back in active leader mode. �No,� he responded shortly. Michael shook his head, refuting Max�s explanation, or lack their of, in true Guerin fashion. �Why not? This guy�s a psycho Maxwell. He�s out to kill Liz, what�s few more expendable humans along the way?� �He was never here Michael. If he were we would have known and if she saw him, Liz would have told me.� �Then who took her? Why wouldn�t he come himself?� �He�s been planing this too long to blow it by letting us see him. It was probably someone working for him.� �Ok. I�ll buy that,� he narrowed his eyes at him, �but why do you sound as if you know that for a fact?� Max held up the piece of paper he�d been clutching. �Because he left me a note.� He handed the paper to Michael who promptly uttered several colorful oaths. After reading it over several times he passed it off to Maria. The letter made the rounds of their little group leaving each one in a new state of shock before coming back to Max. He read over the letter one more time; As he finished reading, Max was acutely aware of everyone�s eyes resting on him looking for reaction and direction. The question he�d been dreading hung heavily in the air but went unsaid. Crumbling the note in his fist, he looked around the circle of what was essentially the royal council of Antar, meeting each of their gaze in turn. His cheeks blushed with anger and his eyes turned a tiger�s shade of gold as they finally came to rest on that spot where Liz�s blood cooled. With more venom and assurance than had ever been heard in his voice, he made his first official edict as King. �If its war they want then its war we�ll give them. Only this time we will win, and when we do your Queen will be at my side.� Back |
| Max, Max, Max. You always did wear you�re heart on your sleeve. It was your downfall then, and it will be your down fall now. I may not have found the Granolith when I searched your pitiful little mind, but I did find something much more important. Stings doesn�t it? Knowing it was you who led me to her all along. Don�t worry Max, she�ll be much happier with me. Dead or alive. Now, as much as I wish I could leave it there, I can�t. See, my brother really wants the Granolith and since I already have my prize I think its only fair I help him get his, don�t you? I mean, family is so important. Hmm... I wonder what Lillyah and I will name the kids? I�ve got her Max, you might as well give up the Granolith and maybe I�ll let you and your pathetic little band live out you days on this God forsaken rock. So, what�s it gonna be Max? Another futile fight you can�t possibly win, or give us back what is rightfully ours? Durton Silly me, you probably know me better by my Earth name, Nicholas. PS. don�t bother looking. You wouldn�t be able to find her if you lived a thousand lifetimes. THE END To be continued in . . . Beyond The Sea |