Disclaimer:
These characters do not belong to me, but to the writers and producers
of Roswell
Spoilers:
After Chant Down Babylon, changes happening where Max is successfully
rescued, and Michael was the one who broke up with Maria.
Pairings: You’ll have to wait and see!
Pronunciation Guide:
Author’s notes: Queen Fadilia
Kedar: Max/Isabel’s mother
King
Alaric Kedar: Max/Isabel’s father
Andaria: Tess’ mother
Radim:
Tess’ father
Kedrans: race from which Royal Four descended
Iturians: race from which Khivar descended, and
overthrew and killed Zan and the Kedrans
Cerideans: special core ops of the Iturian army, mostly
psyonics and telepaths
Kaptar’s
Jewel: constellation in the
Antarian’s star system
Yun’s
Garment: Aurora Borealis - Northern Lights
Chapter Forty Seven
***
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
-
Chinese Proverb
***
The introductions had been
brief. Michael felt like everything had
happened in a blur. "Commander Rath,
I suspect that you are anxious to return home?" Nalder asked
inquisitively.
Michael stared blankly at the Munan
Observer. His features were not unlike
human features. Their skin was
comprised of copper hues, and they had lanky appendages. The race of people also had one less finger
than humans. "Uh, yeah. I guess." He smiled politely, trying not to stare at the ridges, which
lined the crown of their head in three diverging rows.
They seemed like a timid race of
people, but Michael couldn't be sure.
Desya and Nalder seemed to belong to a scouting group, at least that's
what he had been able to glean from snippets of conversations the three aliens
had. The Munans weren't at all 'weird',
if Michael could use that term, as he imagined.
'Of course not,' he thought to himself. 'No more than you.'
Michael looked up to see the younger
Munan, who had apparently been appointed to oversee their needs, smiling
contently at him. When the alien
realized he was uncomfortable under such scrutiny, he quickly returned to his
duties on the ship. He bowed and made a
timely exit.
The arrival of the spacecraft had
been mind-boggling. Small oblong discs
converged to form the two-layer vessel.
Michael wouldn't have noticed the small lights, except the Munans had
pointed out the formation of the spaceship.
The Aurora Borealis...he knew
Science 10 would come in handy, danced across the night sky while they stood
atop Blunder's Bluff. According to
Nalder, the ribbons of light were useful to most intergalactic travellers, as
they hid most ion trails left by their ships.
They had been fortunate to leave on such a night as this; it was
fortuitous.
Michael wandered down the dimly lit
corridors of the vessel. Its' walls
were smooth and contoured. He stopped
mid-stride and took in the immensity of the unfathomable ship, on which he
stood. It felt foreign, yet familiar.
After regaining some composure, he
set out to find Tess, who had disappeared with Desya. As he wandered through the winding halls, he stumbled upon what
seemed to be the operational centre of the ship. There were several stations, each separate from each other, yet
forming one cohesive unit.
He slowly surveyed each station -
most had been left empty, as there were only three crewmembers. He studied each flight board, fascinated at
the familiarity of the flight controls.
Even now, Michael was amazed at his ability to recall the small details
of Rath's training.
Once he grew tired of his new
discovery, Michael refocused on his task of locating Tess. He exited the operations centre and turned
right at the next fork in the road.
Just as he was about to forge ahead in the dark hallway, he was faced
with a large oval portal. It looked out
into the vastness of space. The stars,
which used to stand still in the infinite darkness, were white streaks in the
eye-opening portal window, as they hurtled across space. In the unexpected awe of the moment, Michael
found himself wishing Isabel were standing there to share it with him.
All of it seemed almost pointless
without her.
~~~
Tess had less time to explore the
light-speed ship than Michael. Her
thoughts were preoccupied with their imminent return and Andaria's escape. While on board, requested Desya to guide her
to a private room, where she could contact General Steren. The tall, dark Munan nodded respectfully and
rushed her off to this room, which was brightly illuminated compared to the
rest of the ship, and sat her down in front of a bronze, sundial-like control
board. Desya taught her the basics of
operating the ship's holo-transmitter.
"We're aboard and prepared for
debrief," Tess informed the General.
"Line is secure. Your arrival has been arranged. Khivar is on the manhunt for you, Your
Highness."
The General's physical - albeit
transparent - presence set Tess at ease.
She listened to the General's foremost thoughts, though her mind was on
her mother. Tess steeled herself
against her vulnerable concerns.
"News on Andaria?"
There was a pause in the
transmission. "Sources inform us
that she his holding firm."
Tess sensed a 'but' in his
voice. "Has he hurt
her?" Her hand gripped the edge of
the console. The thought of her mother
in pain filled her with worry.
"There has been probing
involved, Your Highness."
Tess still knew he was holding back,
but she let it lie. Perhaps it was best
she didn't find out such news while on this ship. There was nothing she would have been able to do, had she known
her mother's true state. She let out a
sigh of frustration. "Are we
prepared for an assault?" she asked darkly. Her thoughts were bent on Khivar's destruction.
"We are almost completely
mobilized," General Steren answered.
"Our forces have also been supplemented by the Munan army...and the
Guili have also joined us."
Tess was encouraged by the planetary
support. The last she had heard was of
their reluctance - Andaria must have convinced them. "You have done well in Andaria's absence," Tess acknowledged,
somewhat relieved that everything had not fallen to the wayside at Andaria's
capture. "She would be
proud."
The General shook his head. "I have not taken command, Queen
Ava."
The news caused her to frown. "Then who is leading our troops?"
she asked curiously. Tess was sure
Andaria would not have trusted another to command their troops and oversee the
impending war. It seemed odd.
"Queen Mother Fadilia."
The news stunned her. Queen Fadilia. She hadn't been mentioned much while she stayed at Tel
Edrei. In fact, Tess had the impression
that she would remain in hiding.
"She is well then?"
The static ridden hologram of the
General nodded. "Her Highness is
anxious to see you again."
A lump formed in her throat when he
said that. Tess didn't know what Queen
Fadilia would expect of her. Though she
remembered Ava's life - distinctly her relationship with Max - there were
differences between the dead Queen and Tess.
Over the past couple of years, Tess had learned that she could not return
to her past. She, Tess, was not the
same woman. "Tell her I return the
sentiment," she replied graciously.
"So be it," General Steren
nodded.
Suddenly Tess heard a familiar
bubbling, like liquid. She glanced
behind her and found Michael standing in the entranceway of her private
room. It was good timing on his
part. Tess smiled.
It was time the two soldiers met.
~
* ~
"Commander Rath." General Steren's hologram turned and greeted
Michael with reverence. "It has
been many seasons."
Michael searched his memories for
the face that now appeared before him.
He recognized the voice, and the face had aged, but it was still the
same General who served along side him during many battles. "General Steren." Michael saluted his former comrade in arms.
Tess smiled happily at Michael's
ability to recognize the General. He
seemed to recall his military life easily.
General Steren also seemed pleased that Michael would remember him, she noted,
as the General's somewhat transparent eyes gleamed with pride.
"So what is
happening?" Michael turned his
gaze upon Tess.
"Arrangements are being made
for our arrival," she answered, repeating what she had been told minutes
earlier. "Queen Fadilia is waiting
for us."
Michael's heart skipped a beat. Queen Fadilia. His thoughts turned back to the moments as a
child, where the elegant and unassuming Queen greeted him with a mother's love
and respect. It triggered memories of
the face the Four had seen almost two and a half years ago, and how pitiful an
injustice it had been to her true beauty.
"It will be an
honor." Michael lowered his
head. "You will send her my
regards?"
The General nodded.
"Tell me in on the details of
the placements of the battalions, and where the strongest fronts our men will
have to engage in." Michael knew
they didn't have time to dawdle. If
Khivar had two decades to prepare for this battle, he had no time to
waste. "What are our numbers and
how are our provisions? How equipped
are we?"
"Our number is about five
thousand fold. If we add Munan and
Guilian troops, maybe seven thousand," General Steren reported
stiffly. "Our rations hold, but
that won't matter if it is a bloodbath the first night."
Michael frowned. "What do you mean?"
General Steren let out a deep
breath. "Our sources inform us
that Khivar's secret weapon is almost fully functional...he seems to be waiting
for something though."
Michael glanced at Tess. "What
secret weapon?" His chest tightened. He was already going into this battle,
somewhat blind; and now there seemed to be information that he had not briefed
on.
Tess shook her head; she was unaware
of this weapon as he was. She lifted
her hands and shrugged. "I don't
have a clue what it is," she replied to Michael's questioning face.
"It has just arisen. The name we know it by is 'Pilan'. It is said that it will win the war for
Khivar...not that he knows there is one coming." The General shook his head somberly. "If we don't get any specs or some kind of break in the wall
of silence surrounding this project, I don't know what we're going to do."
Michael clenched his fist. Khivar would not win - not this time. If it took everything he had to take the
bastard down, he would do it.
"There isn't anything we can do
now," Michael growled. "But
we will talk more about this when we arrive."
The General bowed. "Yes, Commander Rath."
Michael needed to focus even more on
the game plan. There was an unknown element
in the plot against Khivar - and that was dangerous.
"Your Highness, Commander Rath,
I'm sorry to end trans, but we cannot hold the line securely for much
longer," General Steren informed regretfully.
Tess and Michael both nodded
understandably. "Until we meet on
solid ground," Michael saluted.
The General answered in like-form,
saluting Michael respectfully; he then turned and bowed reverently to
Tess. "Trith tave Kedi!"
Michael and Tess recognized the
Antarian greeting. It was in the 'old tongues'. "Trith tave valat Kedi!" they
replied in unison. Long live House
of Kedra!
Both hoped they were enough. If not, then Antar would fall - harder than
it had the first time.
~~~
Jesse awoke with a throbbing
headache. As he moistened his lips, he
found his mouth as dry as the desert.
His tongue felt like fuzz covered the outer layer of his taste
buds. Everything tasted like bitter
cinnamon.
When he tried to lift his head, he
found himself lying down. Underneath
the back of his head was something damp, and somewhat hard. His arms were loose, lying down at his
side. Jesse frowned, as his eyes
remained closed, unable to open because of the drug they had stuck him with.
Where was he?
He groaned out loud. After taking a deep breath, Jesse forced his
eyes open. The first thing he was met
with was the blinding sun. He shut them
instinctively, barring the intense brightness with his reluctant-to-cooperate
arm.
It was daylight, and he was
outside. The sounds of crickets and
birds chirping filled his ears; he could smell the fresh air, and the grime of
the soil rubbed against the parts of his body that were not clothed. He rolled over on his side and braced
himself against the ground with his forearms, slowly pushing himself into a
kneeling position. When he sat there a
moment, on the back of his heels, Jesse blinked quickly, and several times,
before his vision seemed to adjust to the sun's radiant light.
Jesse surveyed his
surroundings. He was in the middle of
the desert, with no road in sight.
There was no menacing agents looming over him, and it was as if nothing
he had gone through in the past several hours had happened. His body shivered involuntarily.
It felt like he sat there for hours,
trying to clear his mind from the fog it was in. Jesse slowly rose to his feet, holding his arms out to his sides
for balance. When he regained his motor
skills, he began to walk toward a hill several feet away. Jesse prayed that civilization would appear
over that one hill; if not, he would surely die out in the desert, where the
birds of prey had already began to circle.
~~~
"You're messing with a bureau
of the national government!" a short, dark-haired man yelled, squirming
under his bindings. Along side the man,
was another, who was bound as well, though less aggravating; he cowered behind
the boisterous one.
The seven-foot tall, young, muscular
Caucasian stared with loathing at the useless waste of cells. He turned to a subservient Hispanic man,
average height, who was as disgusted with the sight. "Is the implant activated?" His tone was raspy and crackled whenever his voice went beyond a
certain pitch.
The Hispanic man nodded, scratching
irritably under his long straight black locks.
"We've placed him in position, Sir." He paused. "How long
are we to be here?" the man asked restlessly.
The Caucasian man snapped his head
around and glared menacingly at his right-hand man. "We'll stay here until our mission is accomplished!" he
sneered. The Hispanic man cringed,
taking a step back from the looming threat.
"Don't try my patience, Captain.
Now tell me if our reserve has arrived."
The Hispanic man nodded. "Yes Sir," his voice trembled.
"Yes Sir...what?"
"Uh, yes General, they have
arrived?" the Captain recoiled; unsure whether his answer was correct.
"Is that a question or
an answer?" the General barked, slowly inching closer to the
cowering soldier. "Do you know if
reinforcements have arrived!" His
tone was agitated and ominous.
"Yes sir. They have arrived," the Captain said
more confidently. He straightened his
posture and saluted his superior.
The General's eyes narrowed, he
opened his mouth to respond, but he was interrupted. "You are part of the Army?" the short, dark-haired man
bellowed. "Do you know how much
trouble you're in General?"
The General stalked over to their
bound prisoners. He leaned over and
looked calmly at the annoying prisoner.
"You piece of human scum have no idea just what hell you're in for,
if you interfere," he threatened.
"I. Will. Destroy. You." The corners of his lips curled into an evil smirk.
After his declaration, to his
delight, the General was no longer bothered by the empty threats of the human
scum before him. And he was left to his
own devices, which were already set into motion.
They would never know what hit them.
~~~
"And do you know what just
happened?" Liz asked Kyle, as the drive to Michael's apartment had been unusually
quiet, due to the spaceship that had just flew off into the night sky.
Kyle's eyes darted around, unsure of
how to answer that question. "Uh,
do you?"
Liz shifted her position in the
black bucket seat of Kyle's car.
"Do you know how messed up this is?" she exclaimed.
She couldn't believe she had just
witnessed a real spaceship. It was
something off the Sci-fi Channel. And
once more, Michael had left with Tess for Antar. But that didn't take the cake.
He had told her that she had to help Max understand...something.
Kyle tried to keep his focus on the
dark desert roads, but he kept glancing over at Liz, who seemed tormented by
her conversation with Michael.
"What happened back there?" he asked curiously. "What did Michael say?"
Liz lowered his hands, which had
been cradling her aching head, and grimaced.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean, 'I don't
know'?" Kyle frowned. He wished he hadn't been so busy reaming out
Tess because apparently, Liz had needed him more. "What did he say to you?" he coaxed.
She sighed and tried to figure out
exactly what she was really freaking out about. Was it the spaceship? Was
it Michael's departure? Or was it the
realization that she might have to do something she didn't want to do?
Liz looked at Kyle, who was waiting
patiently for her answer. "He said
that I have to help Max," she said slowly. "That I have to help him understand something."
Kyle arched one eyebrow and looked
at her like she had just eaten a snail or something. "And...?" There
had to be more. He waited for the big
major, news breaking revelation. But
none came.
Liz didn't know what else he
expected her to say.
"Is that all?" he scoffed
at her complete nervous breakdown.
"So what? No big
deal."
Liz stared at him in disbelief. He had no idea what this meant. Kyle had no idea what the ramifications of
doing what Michael had requested of her.
"You don't understand,"
she huffed.
"What's to understand? He asked you to help Max out. It's not something new!"
The things she had done for Max went
beyond the call. It amazed Kyle how
much she was willing to do for the guy.
He never saw Liz behave so 'lovesick' in their entire relationship, even
when they started dating.
Liz shook her head as they pulled up
to Michael's apartment. "You don't
get it, do you? He wants me to help Max
realize that he needs to go back to Antar!"
Kyle turned the ignition off and
sighed. Facing her, he watched Liz's
mind race at the probability of Max leaving...and nonetheless, because she told
him to. "Did Michael say
that?" he asked exasperatingly.
"From what you said, Michael just asked you to help Max do what he
has to do."
"And that means go back to
Antar."
Kyle shrugged, unable to think of
what he could say to calm her down. He
pulled at the door handle and slid out of the car. "Liz," he said empathetically. "I know you're sure that's what he
meant, but could you be wrong?"
Kyle walked around behind his car and caught up with Liz as she headed
towards the apartment.
"Kyle, you just don't
understand," she groaned.
"They actually buy that whole 'Destiny' line. I mean, Michael up and left Maria to return
to some strange planet with Tess, for Pete sake!"
Just as she turned the key to the
apartment door, Kyle grabbed her arm and pulled her gently back, until she
faced him. "Sometimes...," he
paused a moment, gathering his courage to say something he knew she didn't want
to hear. "Sometimes we need
to let go Liz."
Liz's jaw dropped and she pulled out
of his grasp. She shook her head in
disbelief, unable to accept what Kyle had just said to her. "What are you talking about?"
Kyle scratched the back of his head,
feeling uncomfortable under Liz's scrutinizing gaze. "Well, uh, I just think that..."
Liz shook her head and held out the
palm of her hand towards Kyle.
"Don't...just don't," she stammered, unable to listen to
anymore. "I can't listen to that
right now." Liz yanked open the
apartment door and ran up the stairs.
Kyle closed his eyes and
groaned. "Good one Valenti."
~~~
"So what are we going to tell
them?" Isabel asked uneasily, as they drove into town. The dawn's crimson rays painted the sky with
a mixture of orange hues behind the shadowy grey outline of the small town's
businesses and houses.
She had thought about her decision
over and over again. Each time, the
outcome was completely opposite to the one she had made just minutes
before. Her life as Vilandra seemed
like a dream. Countless times she had
told herself that she was no longer this person; which she wasn't, but deep
down Isabel also couldn't discount the fact that she was Antarian, or half
Antarian anyway. As a little girl she
had dreamed of her people calling her home, telling her that she belonged
somewhere and that she wasn't some abnormal freak - in the end, she would
always wake up.
But this wasn't a dream. Her people were calling her home, and what
was more astounding was that they were waiting for her return. So much expectation now fell upon her
trembling shoulders, and even more so on Max's.
What was her decision?
~~~
Max didn't know how to answer
Isabel's question. He was more tense
now than when he had left.
"Michael will push us to come with him after we tell him about
Fiachra," he said absent-mindedly.
How would he handle the pressure
Michael and Tess were bound to place on his shoulders, especially stressing the
fact that he had received the sign he had always been holding out for? He dreaded the knowingly look Tess would
give him. She wouldn't say anything,
but there would be that one question he had refused to answer. 'What more do you need to convince you?'
Max swallowed hard, as his gaze fell
upon his parents' house. He couldn't
face them just yet. Max could feel
Isabel's questioning gaze upon him. "I
just need a little more time," he whispered to Isabel. He glanced uncomfortably at Isabel, hoping
she would understand.
A slow spark of understanding
flashed in his sister's dark brown eyes.
She nodded, gripping the door handle.
"We'll shower and get cleaned up first," Isabel said
incisively.
Across Max's face flashed a look of
appreciation. "Great. I'll get the bags," he smiled, sliding
out of his seat.
~ * ~
Before they reached the front steps,
their mother came bounding out of the house.
"Max! Isabel! I wasn't expecting you to come back home so
soon," Diane gushed. She fluttered
about, hovering nervously. "Did
you have a good trip? I was so worried
about you."
Max and Isabel looked at each other
wryly.
Isabel smiled happily and shook her
head. "Mom," she sighed. "We're okay. We just needed to get away."
"But you weren't even gone for
the full weekend," the obsessive mother hen clucked. "You said that you would be gone at
least the weekend, if not more."
Her expression was perplexed and confused.
"Mom," Max chuckled,
trying to remain as upbeat as possible, as not to give anything away. "The road was under construction, so we
decided not to stay. Nothing went
wrong." He embraced his mother and
squeezed tightly.
"Well, if that's all,"
their mother laughed nervously. She
threw her hands up in relief. "I'm
glad. Your father about had a
conniption about the trip. He'll be
glad you're home."
Max and Isabel smiled faintly.
"Right," Isabel replied
distractedly. "Where's
Jesse?" She hadn't seen him since
she arrived, and his car was in the driveway, so she assumed he would be home
to greet her.
Isabel glanced into the living room,
and found it arranged neatly, without a pillow out of place. She frowned. Her mother had been unable to keep organized since Jesse's
arrival. He always managed to have
papers and files lying about, leaving her mother frustrated to no end.
"Uh, he left."
Isabel spun around and frowned. "What?" Her heart raced. Had he
already had enough of her indecision and secretiveness? Isabel was stunned to hear those words come
out of her mother's mouth.
The older Evans' frowned briefly
before shaking her head and laughing.
"Oh, Isabel dear, he didn't leave you!" she exclaimed,
apologetically. "He had to back to
New York."
Suddenly Isabel could breathe
again. He hadn't left her. Relieved, she smiled at her mother. "Oh," she laughed uncomfortably. Isabel glanced at Max, who was also
concerned at Jesse's sudden departure.
He smiled encouragingly to her.
"When did he leave?"
Diane sat down on a nearby stool in
the kitchen. She furrowed her brow and
tapped her index finger against her lips.
"It was yesterday," she replied. "But you know, I didn't know that Jesse was working on a
case that urgent."
Isabel leaned against the
entranceway to the living room.
"What do you mean?" she asked curiously, glancing
apprehensively at Max, who shared the sentiment.
"Well, these men who came to
talk to Jesse...I didn't know clients or friends of clients came to their
lawyer's house...and well, they said something about tragedies happening to
Jesse's clients," their mother explained.
"The next thing I know, Jesse said something about having an
emergency at the firm and that he had to fly back that day."
Max had moved to Isabel's side the
further their mother explained the events of that day. It sounded unusual...more than unusual.
Isabel swallowed hard, stifling her
desire to freak out, and smiled. "Mom,
what did these guys look like?"
"Nothing unusual," she
shrugged. "They wore those
expensive suits they wear in New York, and one had dark hair; the other had
blonde hair. Why? Do you know them?"
Isabel felt ill. She had a foreboding feeling about Jesse's
emergency flight to New York.
"Mom, did Jesse say anything before he left?" she
asked, masking the desperate panic that was arising.
The wait while her mother was trying
to recall if Jesse had said anything was excruciating. Isabel felt Max's strong-arm slide around
her waist. It was meant for comfort,
but she didn't know if there was anything that could console her if they had
let their enemies capture him again.
"Yeah, I know he told me to
tell you something..." Their
mother frowned and scratched the back of her head. "Now what was it?" she scowled.
Isabel locked gazes with Max; she
could feel him urging her to hang on.
Taking a deep breath, she willed herself to relax. If he had left her a message with her
mother, it couldn't possibly mean they had found them again...could it?
"Uh, well, here's the jest of
it," her mother sighed exasperatedly.
"Um, well, he said that he was glad you guys worked things
out." She paused again. "And that his friends from his internship
came by?" Mrs. Evans looked
questioningly at Isabel and Max, as if they would know what that meant.
Isabel's heart sunk. They had been right. The FBI had him again.
Her chest tightened, and as she
closed her eyes, she felt her knees begin to buckle.
Max watched anxiously at
Isabel. Her face had paled and her body
had begun to fall limp. With all of his
strength, he tried to keep Isabel on her feet, willing her to stay strong. Uncomfortably he turned to his mother. "Uh, we're going to get cleaned up
after that long road trip," Max smiled painfully, excusing both he and
Isabel from their mother's scrutinizing eyes.
Isabel felt Max turn her around and
push her to walk towards their rooms.
It was like she was walking on air.
Her thoughts were muddled and disjointed. All of her excuses to delay her decision about whether she would
forgive Jesse and take him back were all for naught. He was gone.
"Isabel," Max called,
snapping his fingers in front of his sister's unfocused eyes. He gently slapped her cheek, hoping to wake
her from this daze she had fallen into.
They were safely in her room, and he had locked the door. "C'mon! Isabel!"
Suddenly, like waking from a trance,
Isabel grabbed Max's wrist, as it was raised to slap her one more time. "Max," she exclaimed. "We have to find him! We have to!"
Max breathed a sigh of relief when
Isabel regained her composure - sort of.
"I know, but we have to think this through," he said
calmly. "We don't even know who
took him!"
"Jesse told us!" Isabel exclaimed
in disbelief. "Weren't you
listening?"
Max relaxed his shoulders and
considered the situation carefully. He
looked Isabel in the eye, and frowned uncertainly. "But Isabel, we got rid of the FBI agents that were after
us, and knew about Jesse's information," he said hesitantly. "And the guys Mom described didn't
sound at all like Agent Watts or Agent Patch."
Isabel shook her head wildly. "I don't care! I don't care Mom didn't describe the guys to
a tee," she spat. "All I know
is that we have to get him, Max, before it's too late!"
Her heart was pounding, and she
recalled the condition Jesse was in the last time they took him. Jesse wouldn't stand a chance. They had been gone a whole day, and those
men could have done anything in that amount of time.
"Think Isabel," Max said
through clenched teeth. Deep down, he
knew there wasn't something right about the situation. From what Watts had blurted out, they were
the last of a dwindling group of operatives who knew about them. "We can't lose our heads now. We'll get to Jesse in time. Besides, if it is the FBI, they want us, not
Jesse. And they'll keep him alive until
they get us."
Isabel peered up at Max, who seemed
in control of the situation, or at least had the appearance of control. "Max...I can't be responsible for his
death," she whimpered. "I
just can't."
Just the thought of having to
shoulder Jesse's death, tore her to pieces.
How much more do I have to endure?
Max's heart ached as he kneeled in
front of Isabel and wrapped his arms around her. He couldn't imagine what it felt like to have someone he loved in
danger of dying...well, someone as close as Liz. As he felt Isabel's whole body shudder in uncontrollable tears,
Max knew that this couldn't be their life.
They could not keep being hunted like animals.
Max pulled out of their embrace and
his hands cupped Isabel's red, tear-stained face, "We're going to find him
Isabel. I promise. We're going to find him."
Isabel searched Max's determined
face. She knew he would do anything in
his power to make that happen, but somewhere deep inside, a little voice was
nagging at her, saying, 'It just wasn't meant to be.'
"We have to find him," she said hysterically, gripping Max's shirt, and shaking her head. "We have to save him."