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.
****
If there's one spark of hope
Left in my glass,
I'm holding it with both hands
It's worth the risk of burning
To have a second chance
-
Brenda K. Starr
****
"Michael?"
Isabel exclaimed, surprised at the impromptu call. "What's wrong?"
It was an
intuitive reaction. Michael hadn't
contacted Isabel in the month since she and Jesse had moved to New York. Not
since their last chilling conversation in Roswell.
"Does
something have to be wrong?" Michael asked defensively.
Isabel
rolled her eyes. "Michael, there
has to be. You wouldn't call if it
there wasn’t."
There was
silence on the opposite end of the receiver.
Finally Isabel heard a sigh, and Michael answered her question. "Max is sick."
The statement sent a shiver down her spine. Isabel had felt uneasy the past couple of days. She'd attributed it to the promise of not using her powers, but Isabel now knew in her heart that it was because of Max. "What's wrong?"
Michael
explained quickly over the phone, the events of the past several days. Max had come down with flu like symptoms
since his magical night with Liz. It
seemed for a time that he'd begun to recover from whatever strange sickness
that had suddenly overwhelmed him, but then last night Max had collapsed in
Liz's arms.
The effects
of the sickness were now in full force.
Their parents took Max to the hospital.
Much to the Evan's chagrin, the doctors seemed clueless to what might be
causing the unusual deadly condition.
Michael rattled off how the three frantically stalled the doctors during
the blood tests and any other type of examination of Max's internal body. The Evan's agreed with the doctors that
blood tests were needed and asked the doctors to do what ever was needed.
"So
what did you do?" Isabel gasped, running her fingers through her hair and
pacing back and forth in the living room.
"Maria,
Liz and I snuck him out of the hospital."
Isabel
swallowed. "Was that a good
idea? What if he gets worse?"
There was a
hollow silence that sent a shiver down her spine again. "Where did you hide him?" Isabel
whispered.
"He's
in the Granolith chamber, but he's…he's not doing to good," Michael's
voice cracked, the worry obvious in his gruff voice.
She was
alarmed and headed towards her bedroom.
"I'm coming home," Isabel stated as she began frantically
packing her clothes and bathroom amenities.
Michael
sighed over the receiver. "I was
hoping you'd say that. We were planning
on trying to heal Max with the stones.
Liz and I tried with Maria, but I need you. I thought maybe Liz might be able to do something since she's
started having powers…"
Isabel
stopped packing and frowned. "Powers?"
"Yeah,"
Michael sighed. "It's a long
story, but in the end, I guess it's up to you and me to work the stones."
"Michael,"
Isabel gulped. "Can it work with
two people? I mean last time we were
healing Nasedo and we had Max. Can we
use them with only two?"
Again,
silence.
Isabel had
finished packing and headed towards the main door. "I'm catching the next flight out Michael. We'll talk about this when I get there. I have to go, so I can book a seat. I’ll phone you at the airport with the
time."
"Yeah,
uh sure. Bye."
Click.
Isabel
quickly hung up the phone and dialed the airline. As she finished writing down the information on her flight and
what terminal she was leaving from, Jesse arrived home early. "What's with the suitcase honey?"
Jesse
waited as Isabel finished writing down the confirmation numbers. Then she ran over and gave Jesse a kiss and
a hug. "I'm sorry. I just had a call from Michael tonight and
he's just told me Max is sick. Really sick. I just phoned the airlines and booked a flight to Roswell, tonight."
Isabel
realized she was rambling on and took a deep breath. "Jesse, I know this is short notice, but could you give me a
ride to the airport?"
Jesse
frowned and loosened his tie. "You
can't go, Isabel," Jesse said quite calmly as he set down his briefcase on
the nearby loveseat.
"What?"
Isabel asked incredulously.
"You
can't go. It's just not…possible…stupid
promises and…"
Isabel
tilted her head to the side, trying to catch the words that were coming out of
her husband's mouth. It was a jumble of
words and sighs. Quite frankly, it left
Isabel confused. "What are you
saying Jesse? Why can't I go back to Roswell?"
~~~
Jesse
rubbed his face. How could this be happening?
There was no way he could allow Isabel to go back there. It was tempting fate. It would be breaking a promise.
"Honey,
I need you here," Jesse finally sighed.
"I have these important meetings and functions…” Jesse knew it
sounded like a lame excuse, but he couldn't think of another reason. "I can't go."
Isabel
nodded. "I never said you had to
come Jesse. I just need to go. I have to see if I can somehow help my
brother. I have to see him."
Jesse
looked into Isabel's big brown eyes that were threatening to tear up. He swallowed, having a hard time getting out
the words. "I can't let you go. I need you here," Jesse choked on his
own words.
"Jesse!"
Isabel looked at him with big round eyes.
"I can't believe you're saying this!"
Isabel
turned her back on him. "I'm
leaving tonight. I've booked a seat and
I'm going home. You can either drive me, or I can take a taxi."
He was
cornered. Jesse wasn't about to lose
Isabel over this, not yet. "Can't
you just wait a week maybe? I can get
everything in order here and come with you?"
Jesse felt
her warm arms wrap around him.
Caressing his ear with her lips, Isabel whispered to him, "Please, this can't wait."
Shaking his
head, Jesse gave in. He just wouldn't
be able to keep her away -- love or not.
"Fine. I'll drive
you," Jesse said stoically.
Isabel
pulled out slightly, just enough to look into his eyes. "Thank you."
Jesse
pressed his lips lightly to hers and then buried his face into her neck. He didn’t know exactly what would happen,
but Jesse knew he had to find a way to get off work. When Isabel returned, Jesse didn't know whether it would negate
the deals he'd made. He didn't know if
he could keep his promise to her; Jesse didn't know if she'd be safe anymore.
~~~
Michael
felt relief when Isabel confirmed that she was coming home that night – for
Max. He shook his head and waited for
the phone call with the arrival time of Isabel’s flight.
“Michael?”
a familiar voice called out softly.
His head
jerked up to see Maria standing at the door.
“What are you doing here? Is Max
all right?”
They had
been taking turns watching over Maxwell in the Granolith chamber. Liz had been doing most of the bedside
hovering.
“No,
there’s no change,” Maria informed hesitantly.
“Are you waiting for a call?”
Michael
frowned. “Why?”
“Because
you’re clutching that phone like it’s a lifeline. And I’m pretty sure you’re not playing ‘Who Wants to be a
Millionaire’,” Maria joked, sitting down on the couch beside him.
Michael
shook his head. “I phoned Isabel. She’s coming home tonight,” he informed.
A blank
expression came over Maria’s face.
“Oh.”
Michael
swallowed and got up from the couch. He
was restless. “Can I borrow your car?”
Michael asked.
Maria
pouted. “Will you not get into an
accident this time?”
Michael
smiled half-heartedly. “Can’t. No one’s after us now.”
Sighing
loudly, Maria came up from behind Michael and wrapped her arms around him. “Are you okay Michael? I know you’re worried, but we’ve been
through worse, right?”
She tried
to comfort him, but Michael knew that this time was different. All the other difficult situations that the
trio had found themselves in, Max had always been there. He was the healer. And this time Max was the one needing the healing. “I don’t know Maria. Max is so weak. And there’s this frantic search for him, now that the Evans’s
think he’s missing. I don’t know what I
should do,” Michael admitted gruffly.
He turned
around in Maria’s arms until he was face to face with her, leaning his forehead
against hers. Maria began to kiss him,
lightly and gently. Michael’s head was
in a spiral. He didn’t know what else
he could do for Maxwell. And seemingly,
the kisses melted away the thoughts and turmoil that was brewing inside him.
Michael
cupped Maria’s face in his hands and deepened the kiss. As she began to lead him to the bedroom, the
phone suddenly rang. “Michael?”
Isabel’s voice chimed over the receiver.
“Isabel.”
Maria’s
face became solemn as he resisted her beckoning gaze.
“Michael,
my flight’s leaving in 30 minutes. I
should be home in a few hours. Is
someone going to be there to pick me up?”
Michael
nodded and replied. “Yeah. I’m coming to pick you up. Then we’ll head over to the chamber from
there.”
“Good. Michael, we’ll be all right.” There was a pause. “We’ll figure out what’s wrong with him. Stay strong Michael, do it for Max.”
It felt
good to hear her voice, just as it had a half an hour ago. Michael’s confidence was bolstered by
Isabel’s belief in him. “I will. Stay safe.
I’ll see you in 3 hours.”
As he hung
up the phone, Michael felt a peace, not just because they would figure
out how to heal Max, but also because Isabel was coming home. And Michael would have a second chance. He would tell her exactly how he felt.
“Michael?”
Maria called to him, beckoning him to finish what they had started.
Maria.
An overwhelming sense of guilt filled Michael. He would hurt Maria. And
again, Michael waffled.
What has
changed Michael
thought to himself? Isabel is
still married to Jesse, who still loves her.
“I have to go Maria.” Michael grabbed his denim jacket and left the solemn Maria standing behind him, arms opened.
A second
chance had appeared out of nowhere from amidst this sorrow, but along side it,
Michael knew that there would be another tragedy. And it would be either involve himself and Maria, or Jesse and
Maria. Either way, someone was going to
get hurt and Michael didn’t know if he had the heart to do it. Even if it meant Isabel would be his
forever.