Kyle returned home after a grueling football practice and walked into his room. He pulled off his sweaty jersey and collapsed onto his bed. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Kyle moaned as he glanced around his familiar surroundings.

He heard a faint whimper and felt a strong sense of pain and sorrow linger in the air. He felt drawn to a sense of loss and of sadness.

"I'm sorry," a tear stricken voice moaned.

Kyle walked past and pushed aside the gray figures that haunted his dreams. A flash of color appeared and lingered in front of him. He stepped closer and gasped as the form took Maria's form.

"I'm sorry," she moaned.

Her feelings felt so real, so alive. He watched in vain as Michael walked over and placed his arm around her.

Kyle smirked as she pushed Michael away.

"I'm sorry," Maria continued to moan as Michael persisted in trying to try to put his arms around her.

Kyle held his hand out to her as he snapped awake and looked up at the ceiling. Without a second thought he jumped out of bed and grabbed a t-shirt. He knew something was wrong and he had to see her. He had to make sure Michael would not hurt her.

Kyle grabbed his keys and was off.

He wouldn't let Michael hurt her. No alien was ever going to harm a member of my family again... even if I have to take them all out with my own hands.

~

Maria came storming out with Michael closely at her heels. Amy followed behind them, making objections left and right.

"And what about school? It's your Senior year! You won't get into college if you're skipping class all the time."

Maria rolled her eyes. "It's a family emergency."

"Maria!" Amy objected. "I'm not comfortable with my only daughter going out of town on a road trip to see relatives that I don't trust. Your father, your father's side of the family- it's best that we stay away. For me and for you."

"I have to do this." Maria said climbing into the Jetta. "I love you, Mom, but I have to go my own way. I have to do this for myself. Please understand."

"What's going on?" Kyle asked as he walked towards the Jett overhearing the end of their conversation

"Road Trip." Michael said bluntly.

"It is not safe for two teenagers to go off on their own like that!" He objected. "You'll end up like one of those urban legends."

Michael rolled his eyes. "Piss off, Valenti,"

"No, I mean it. Two isn't a good number. I'll go with you."

"What?" Michael exclaimed. "In case you haven't noticed the Jetta is an extremely small car anyway."

"Okay." Maria said, motioning Kyle to the back seat. "Get in, and don't mess up the leather."

~

"So?" Kyle stated glancing up from a discarded YM in the back seat. "Where are we going, anyway."

Maria took a deep breath. "My grandmother. She's sick... dying, and I need to go see her. I... it's a long story, but I got a letter from her today. She needs me. She wants to see me. And I can't turn that down."

"So, where's Grandma?"

"Texas."

Kyle groaned. "I don't have good memories of that state."

~

Amy stood in the kitchen looking over the letter from Maria's grandmother. She looked at the clock and sighed. Thirty minutes had passed.

At least Kyle was with them, so they won't do anything together. Amy sighed and shook her head. How many times had Maria and Michael ran off together? The difference was that each of the times previously she hadn't known about it, but this time? This time she did. This time it should have been her that had went with Maria. But she couldn't, she couldn't go because Maria didn't need her with her, she didn't need her there because Maria was still angry at her.

"Well, she's your daughter all right. How many times did you do the same thing to your mom?" Amy sighed and sat the letters on the table.

Amy continued to pace up and down the floor, biting her nails nervously as Sean walked in the kitchen. He stopped a few feet away from her and looked at her as he spoke softly, "If you want I'll take you to get her."

Amy smiled and walked over to stand beside him. "I don't know if that would do a lot of good just now, Sean. But thanks, I really appreciate it."

Sean shrugged his shoulders, "You want me to go after them on my own then? Just to keep an eye out for her?"

Amy shook her head and sighed sadly. "No, she has to be able to do this...it'll just be worse if she doesn't."

Sean nodded his head as he looked at Amy, "Okay, whatever you think is best."

They stood in silence for a minute before Sean smiled and began to talk again. "So, I'm going to go out and try and fix my car."

Sean smiled at her and walked outside leaving Amy alone in the kitchen. She walked over to the kitchen and lifted the receiver and took a deep breath before pressing the numbers.

The phone rang a few times and she tapped her fingers nervously before a deep voice answered on the other side.

"Hello?" Jim asked as he looked over a file that was lying open on his desk at home.

Amy took another deep breath and attempted to respond cheerily, "Hi, Jim? ."

When Jim heard Amy's voice he sat up abruptly and smiled slightly into the receiver. "Hi, I wasn't expecting a call from you..."

"Well, the thing is that I thought I should let you know that Kyle probably won't be home for the next couple of days."

"What? Why? Where is he? And how do you know?" Jim fired questions quickly before Amy had a chance to explain.

Amy took a deep breath and continued, "he went to Texas with Maria and Michael. Maria's on her way to see her grandmother and they decided to tag along..."

Jim nodded his head and thought for a minute before sighing and resting his head wearily on his hand, "Okay...I don't really understand why Kyle would want to go to Texas. Can you tell me what happened exactly?"

Amy sighed as she wrapped her fingers around the phone cord, It's...difficult to explain over the phone...can you come over tonight for dinner?"

"Yes. Did Maria tell anyone else she went to Texas with Michael and Kyle?"

"I...I don't really know, we didn't really talk before she went..." Amy answered softly.

The two of them sat in silence before Jim spoke up, "Well, we'll talk about it later. The three of them are smart kids, they'll be fine...what time would you like me to come over at?"

Amy smiled, "Umm, how about 7ish?"

"7 sounds good. I'll see you then, and Amy?"

"Yes?"

"Don't worry too much about Maria, neither of those boys will let anything happen to her."

"I know they wouldn't. Bye Jim..."

"Bye, Amy."

~

Outside, Sean had his car doors open and had the music blaring as he threw junk into bags. "Junk. Junk, hmm, not junk."

As he looked through the stuff in his car he didn't notice Liz who was standing in the driveway.

Liz looked around and walked slowly towards the front door. Sean looked up and noticed her approaching the house. She seemed lost in thought.

"She's not in." Sean announced as she looked up at him. "But, I guess you already know that."

Liz smiled. "Sean. Hi, I, I just wanted to see Maria about... about Max. You know, we had a stupid..."

Sean rolled his eyes and walked over to stand beside her. "Well, she's not here. She left to go to Texas with Michael and Kyle."

"Kyle?" Liz asked as Sean spoke, she already knew that Maria was leaving, but she knew nothing about Kyle going with her.

Sean nodded his head, "Yeah, they're having the right little road trip. Of course, I find it hard to believe that she didn't tell you that."

Liz looked at him and smiled. "She didn't..."

Sean nodded his head disbelieving and walked away. "Well, no doubt she'll call you. Do me a favor, when she call's tell her to call Aunt Amy. She"s going crazy in there."

Liz nodded her head. "Sure." She looked at him as they stood in silence before sighing and walking towards the end of the drive way. "I better go then, I'll see you later Sean."

Sean closed the door of his car and called to her as she began to walk away. "Hey, Parker? Do you want to go for a walk or something? Maybe talk?"

Liz turned to look at him and sighed. Deep down a part of her knew that it might not be a good idea to spend a lot of time with Sean. Maria had been right when she said that Sean didn't just see her as a friend and Liz didn't know what she felt about him, other than she felt normal when she was with him. Come on Liz, it's only a walk. Friends can walk together... "Sure Sean, a walk would be good."

Sean grinned and looked at her. "Good, just gimme a sec, okay?"

Liz smiled and nodded her head as Sean walked in the house. "Sure, no problem."

After a minute Sean walked out beside her and looked at her. "Okay, where do you want to go?"

Liz began to walk and Sean followed. "Hmm, how about the park?"

"The park it is, lead on Parker."

~

Maria was fast asleep in the car as Michael drove towards Texas. Kyle sat in the back seat looking at the road as the chords of Metallica lingered in the air.

"Do you want me to drive?" Kyle asked wearily from the back seat as Michael tapped his hands along with the music.

Michael looked at Kyle through the mirror and shook his head. "No. I'm fine."

Kyle rolled his eyes and slumped back in the seat. "Can you maybe put some actual music on then? Anything with actual music would be good."

"That's Metallica and that's what we are listening to. I'm driving so I choose."

"Fine, let me drive then. Come on, Michael, I hate this stuff!" Kyle moaned irritably.

"Tough...why don't you go mediate or something. Or, even better, why don't you go back home?"

"Why don't you?" Kyle shook his head and sat further down in the seat. "So tell me, Michael...does being a pain in the ass come naturally to everyone from a different planetary species or is that something you have worked hard at over the years to perfect. You know, so you could truly be better than regular people in at least one field?"

Michael's hand gripped tightly around the steering wheel and he glared at Kyle through the rear-view mirror. "You know, Valenti. No one asked you to get involved in this..."

Kyle's eyes drifted out the window as he answered. "Well, Guerin, I didn't ask to be involved in it either...but you and your 'leader' got me involved..."

Michael shook his head. "Yeah well, if you hadn't gotten shot this wouldn't be an issue."

"Yeah, well. If they had driven their spaceships a little better 50 years ago it wouldn't be an issue either..." Kyle muttered as he rolled the window down.

"You know, you don't have to be here, you can go home and get on with your own life, and hopefully keep the hell out of mine!" Michael looked at Kyle before reaching for the volume control on the car stereo and turned it up.

As the music blared loudly around the car Kyle called loudly over. "I'll keep out of yours when you stop trying to drag Maria down into whatever crap you will inevitably end up in next!"

As the two continue to exchange heated words neither of them noticed Maria opening her eyes. "What is going on here? Metallica? Gah..."

Kyle smiled as Maria leaned over and turned the volume down before turning to Michael. "Will both of you please shut up? Michael, what is this crap you're inflicting on us?"

Michael sighed angrily as Kyle began to grin in the back seat before Maria turned to look at him. "And you? You should know about harmony and stuff yet you can't keep the peace for one car ride? Now both of you do me a favor and shut-up, I don't want any more bickering between you two for the rest of the trip. Okay?"

Kyle sighed as he looked at her guiltily. "Okay...sorry, Maria...."

Maria looked at Michael expectantly. "Michael?"

"What?"

Maria looked at him clearly annoyed. "Michael, I won't ask again, are you both going to be nice to each other or else you can both get out and I'll drive to Texas myself."

Michael looked at her frustrated. "Fine. Sorry..."

Both Kyle and Michael looked at each other but didn't say anything as Maria reached to the stereo again and changed the station.

As the lyrics of a pop song began to play Maria smiled happily and turned the volume up. Both Michael and Kyle groaned loudly as Maria began to sing and Kyle shook his head as he slumped back in the car seat and muttered. "Come back Metallica, all is forgiven..."

~

Max sat on a bench in the park thinking things through, so much had happened in so little time.

Max reached into his pocket and pulled the medallion out. He slowly turned the medallion in his hands, his fingers traced it's design. He had never seen anything like it before, yet it seemed so familiar.

So many questions raced through his mind. What's does it do? Is it important? Was this what Riverdog wanted to give me? What is it?

Max returned the medallion to his coat pocket as he slowly leaned forward on the bench, resting his elbows on his knees.

He glanced over his shoulder and saw Liz and Sean walking down a path through the park.

Max felt his breath catch in his throat when he saw Liz and Sean together. Liz had already explained to Max that she only saw Sean as a friend, but that didn't make things easier for Max.

Why did things have to be this difficult between the two of us? Max sighed he had tried so hard over the summer to repair the rift that had grown between them. At times, he could tell that she was still uneasy around him and he knew the reasons why.

Her love, her trust, their friendship, he put it all on the line and he blew it.

Sure she said that she forgave him, but Max knew Liz better than that. Deep down he had hurt her so badly that it would take a lot more than just telling her that he loved her and that he was sorry.

Max decided to seize the opportunity and make things right between him and Liz. He placed his hand on the back of the bench and eased himself up. He turned to towards Liz.

He froze when he saw Sean embrace Liz and kiss her softly.

~

Amy frantically paced back and forth through her living room. She found herself in state of constant worry. Amy’s train of thought was broken when she heard a knock at the door.

"Jim!?" Amy moaned.

"Amy," Jim replied softly.

Amy burst into tears and buried her face into her hands. Jim quickly stepped up to her and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled back from the embrace and looked into Amy's tearstained face.

"Amy what's wrong?" Jim asked lifting her chin and gazed into her eyes.

"Maria," She whispered.

Jim pulled Amy closer to him. She rested her head on his shoulder while she cried.

"Okay, don't worry," Jim said reassuringly. "We'll figure something out."

~

Maria had stopped singing along with the radio and Michael was sitting placidly, holding a bottle of Snapple he'd purchased at the last gas station. Kyle was snoring lightly in the back seat.

"Maria." Michael said, breaking her from her constant gazing at the road.

"Is that a camel I just passed?" She said, looking quizzically to the other lane.

Michael sighed. "No Maria, that was a Fed-Ex truck. Pull over at the next exit. We'll get a hotel room and get some rest."

"Really?"

"I'm pretty sure your grandmother wouldn't want to see anything resembling Night of the Living Dead."

She made a quick turn to the exit lane.

~

"This is a cheap hotel." Maria remarked, looking at the decor.

"It's the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere. One of these motels is the only logical choice," Michael replied with a teasing glint in his eyes. "If only I could have gotten more than one room- or if only someone didn't invite himself..."

"Whatever, Guerin." Kyle said. "So what are we doing
about sleeping arrangements?"

"Maria and I get the bed, you get the sofa."

Kyle's expression soured. He didn't like the idea of Maria and Michael in the bed together...he didn't trust Guerin any farther than he could throw his extra-terrestrial ass...

"That's not fair."

"It sure is."

"To Maria. She's a girl."

"So?"

"She needs her own bed!"

"What, so I can share a bed with you? No way, Jose. I am not anywhere in the vicinity of that closet."

"I'm sure millions are upset by your choice..."

"And besides, I can sleep with Maria any and every damn time I want to. She's my girlfriend!" Michael exploded.

"Oh you can?" Maria said emerging from the bathroom.

"Yeah." Michael said, as his esteem and confidence slipped out of his voice.

~

"Night Maria." Kyle called from the sofa.

"Night Kyle. Night Michael." Maria called from the bed.

"Night Maria." Michael glowered from the floor.

~

Liz pulled away from Sean slightly shocked at his tender kiss. She touched her lips and looked at him. What could I say? What should I say? She smiled at Sean gently, and began to speak when she noticed Max looking at them both.

"Sean, I just...I have to see something." She touched his arm before walking off. "I'll just be a minute."

Max turned quickly as Liz walked towards him and began walking away from her. She called towards him. "Max? Max, wait there! I need to talk to you! Please..."

She arrived at the spot he was standing at and looked after him. He wasn't stopping. She brought her hands to her face and took a deep breath. This is all I needed.

She turned and was about to walk away when she looked down at the ground and noticed a glimmer of silver. She looked around before stooping down and picking up the object. "What's this..."

She fingered it carefully and noticed the texture of the metal and the engraving on it. The blue stone in the center was like nothing she had ever seen before. She smiled softly as she looked at it, that was probably because it was nothing that most humans had seen before. She looked around and saw Sean walking towards her.

"What's that?"

Liz looked at him and smiled. "That, oh nothing." As she put the medallion in her pocket.

Sean looked at her suspiciously. "I take it he didn't want to talk?"

"Who?"

Sean smiled bitterly. "Max."

Liz looked at him and sighed. She felt bad as she thought about what she had done. She had just kissed Sean and then chased after another guy. That must hurt. She thought back to the first time she had caught Max and Tess together and smiled bitterly. It does hurt and I just did it to Sean.

"No, I just wanted to know if Michael had called him. He couldn't have heard me...that was all."

Sean looked at her and shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, whatever, Parker."

Liz looked at him apologetically and took his hand. "No, Sean, that was all it was."

Sean looked down at her hand and smiled. "Okay. Listen, I'm not really in a park mood anymore. Is it okay if we head somewhere else?"

Liz nodded as she smiled at him. "Sure, where do you want to go? Home? Crashdown?"

Sean began to walk, still holding Liz's hand and smiled at her. "Hmm, Crashdown sounds good. Of course, my favorite waitress isn't on today so I'm not sure..."

Liz grinned at him and began to laugh as she looked at him. "Maria will never believe me when I tell her you said she was your favorite waitress."

"I tried to give her experience at home but she just doesn't appreciate it." Sean smiled as they left the park slowly.

"I wonder why..."

~

Jim sat looking at Amy from across the table as she explained what had happened earlier in the day.

"Amy, why didn't you tell her? You know what she's like..."

Amy looked at him exasperated. "Of course, I know what she's like, because she is exactly like I was when I was her age. I always thought I knew best and everyone on the planet didn't know as much as me!"

She stood up and walked over to the sink. "And look where I ended up, teenage mother married to a...a loser."

Jim sighed as he stood up and walked over beside her and put a comforting hand on her back. "You are a good mother to a good kid. She is bright, she is caring she is..."

"200 miles away with her boyfriend," Amy added sadly.

"They aren't stupid, and Kyle is there. Kyle won't let anything happen to her. Neither will Michael, for that matter. They both care about her."

Amy turned to face him. "I know they do Jim...but it's not the same. She should be here."

Jim leaned close to her and kissed her head. "I know she should Amy...but she is a smart girl. She knows to call if she needs to."

"I hope so...she's all I have left. I can't let anything happen to her. And now she's away, to Texas. What if he's there? That will hurt her so much..."

Jim looked down and hugged her tightly to him. "Nothing will happen to her...and if her dad is there I'm sure she can handle it. She's not a little girl anymore."

Amy sighed as she pulled away. "She's my little girl, and I'll be damned if he will hurt her again."

~

Maria sat up in bed unable to sleep. Her mind raced with thoughts of her grandmother and her dying wishes. She sighed as she looked at the boys sleeping and decided to get some fresh air. Maria tiptoed to the door and opened it.

The creaking of the door alerted Kyle. He looked up in time to see Maria leave the room. Kyle stood up and stepped over Michael sleeping on the floor. "Jerk," he muttered under his breath.

Maria looked over in shock as the door opened up beside her. "Kyle?" Maria whispered as she pulled him away from the door and out towards a little sitting area. "What are you doing up?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Kyle laughed as they sat down together on a wooden bench.

"I couldn't sleep," Maria whispered.

"Neither could I," Kyle replied as he recalled his dream from earlier.

"Why?" Maria asked knowing something else was wrong.

"Weird dreams," Kyle admitted as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Oh, do tell!" Maria giggled. "Please? Did they have biker bunnies running around?"

Kyle laughed, "you were in my dream."

"I was a biker bunny?" Maria giggled feeling slightly better.

"Not quite," Kyle replied. "Earlier I took a nap and I had a dream that you were crying. Michael was there but you wouldn't let him near you. You kept saying you were sorry."

Maria looked at him in shock. "That's why you came over, you were worried about me."

"Yes."

"Oh, my god... Kyle! That was my dream! You were in my dream." Maria gasped as she jumped out of her seat and started to pace back and forth. "Michael told me to take a nap before we left. I went to sleep for a few minutes and I had that dream. Your dream. My dream."

"Maria, that doesn't make any sense." He replied as he stood up and stopped her from pacing.

Maria looked up into his eyes and studied his reflection. "You must have dreamwalked me!" Maria exclaimed as Kyle eyes grew wide.

"No, it's not possible. I'm not an alien!" Kyle growled.

"Then how do you explain it?" Maria questioned as she tapped her finger against his chest.

He grabbed her finger and sighed. "I can't."

"Max healed you." Maria whispered. "He healed your chest, your heart... he changed you."

"I know," Kyle groaned as his hand brushed against where the silver hand print had been.

"Kyle you have powers, we have to tell them!"

"No, Maria." Kyle moaned. "Please, don't tell them, not now, not yet."

Maria looked at him for a second, "but Kyle?"

"Maria, please." Kyle pleaded as he turned away from her.

"Okay, for now." Maria whispered as she hugged Kyle.

His body tensed slightly with her touch, "Thank you."

He sighed as he relaxed and hugged Maria back. They walked back to the hotel room in silence.

~

Max laid on his bed listening to some music and he thought back to what he had seen in the park. He shook his head, he couldn't believe it... Liz and Sean, kissing. His Liz...with someone else. He sighed as he closed his eyes and tried to block the image out.

Hw heard a loud knocking at his door and he chose to ignore it at first. "Go away," he growled when the knocking continued.

He looked towards the door as Isabel walked in. "I locked that door for a reason."

Isabel looked at him. "Counting Crows again? It must be bad. What's wrong?"

Max sighed and let his head drop again onto his pillow. "Liz is with Sean. I saw them kissing earlier today." Max explained as he sat up. "I was in the park and they were there. I couldn't even talk to her...it just, it hurt seeing them together. I mean, I know that we are not together. And I have no claim on her..." He ran a hand through his hair as he continued. "But it hurts that she went with someone else. I just, I hoped that we still had a chance...you know?"

Isabel looked at him and shook her head. "No, I don't know. I can't believe that with everything going on just now the most important thing for you is your little relationship with Liz. If you focused less on your relationships we wouldn't be in the mess that we're in!"

Max stood up, clearly taken aback as Isabel looked at him as she continued. "I mean, first it was Liz, telling her meant that everyone found out and you alerted the FBI which is more than likely how Nasedo found out about us..."

"Isabel, that's not fair."

"Then, you go off with Tess who murders an innocent person just so she can go home with the heir! I mean, if you would start thinking like a leader for once!"

Max looked at her angrily. "Isabel, that's enough! What the hell is your problem? I didn't ask for another lecture!"

Isabel shook her head. "No, you expect sympathy and I just can't give you it because you are too irresponsible...your problems are not important. The whole world does not revolve around you!"

Max turned to her and began to shout loudly. "And what would you know about it? You sit here casting judgment and complaining when things don't happen the way you want them to. And don't you dare throw Tess in my face, just remember who it was that invited her into the group at first!"

Isabel stood up and looked at him before speaking quietly. "You are the leader, yet you gave the granolith to Khivar. Despite the fact that you knew that he needed it, you let her take it to him. If that is the makings of a great leader, to hand a powerful weapon to the enemy, then you will go down in the history books. You know what Max? You don't deserve to be leader...you aren't good enough at it."

Max looked like he was about to reply but instead walked straight past her to the door. He stopped at the door and turned to look at her. "I have no idea what is going on with you Isabel, but get over it. I am the leader, you don't like it? Fine. I am also your brother and I will not be the subject for all your issues with life. Just get over whatever hang up you have."

She didn't turn to look at him and he shook his head before walking out the room and down the stairs.

~

Maria flashed Michael a big smile as he rubbed the back of his neck and scowled at her.

"Have a good night's sleep, Spaceboy?" she asked him coyly.

Michael growled something incoherent in reply as he turned the key and brought the Jetta to life.

"I'm starving," Kyle called from the back seat.

"We can eat at the hospital," Maria told him.

"Hospital food? Ugh."

"Kyle!" Maria crossed her arms and glared at him.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Kyle nodded and leaned his head against the window, closing his eyes again.

They rode in silence the rest of the way to the hospital.

Maria looked up at the expansive hospital. She took a deep breath as she quickly asked a nurse for directions.

"Do you think she'll recognize me?" Maria asked as they stepped into the elevator that would take them to her Grandmother's floor.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't she recognize you?" Michael looked at her and scrunched his eyes up.

"Well, it's been a long time since I've seen her. What if she doesn't recognize me? What if she doesn't like me? Do you think I should have put my hair up today?"

Kyle and Michael exchanged glances.

"I think you're ok," Michael gave her a reassuring nod.

"You look great, Maria," Kyle said flinging an arm around her shoulder.

"Do I really?"

"Oh yeah, she'll probably call all of the nurses in so that they can see you and she can brag," Kyle grinned.

Maria giggled nervously as they stepped off the elevator and made their way down the hall to the correct room number.

"So, do you want us to wait out here?" Michael looked at her, then shifted his gaze uncomfortably to his shoes.

"Uh," Maria licked her lips and glanced around.

"Whatever you want, Maria," Kyle gave her a little smile.

"Maybe if you could sit over there," she pointed to some chairs just down the hall.

"Ok," Michael nodded and started to walk away with Kyle, then turned back to look at Maria to give her a smile.

A tear slipped down her cheek as she smiled back at him, then turned to walk into the room. At first the sound of blipping monitors was all she could hear as she stared at the frail, sleeping woman on the bed. Taking tentative steps, she made her way to her Grandmother's side.

" Mija," the woman whispered as she opened her eyes and smiled.

Tears spilled down Maria's cheeks as she nodded and returned the smile.

Her grandmother's arms came up in a gesture of invitation, and Maria almost threw herself into them, struggling to be gentle.

"I'm sorry that it took so long for me to get here," Maria choked out into the other woman's shoulder.

"Shhh," her Grandmother shushed her, and pulled back so that they could see one another. "Maria."

Maria waited for her grandmother to continue speaking, but she didn't, she simply sighed and fell back against the pillows on the bed.

"Grandmother?" Maria leaned toward her, and saw the old woman blink rapidly as her smile widened. "Abuelita?"

The machine to the right of her Grandmother's head began to let out a loud chirp, and then the one on the left of the bed set off a shrill beeping alarm.

Maria didn't lose eye contact with her Grandmother as someone pulled her away from the bed and shoved her in the corner. Doctors and nurses rushed in, working frantically, but Maria could only see her Grandmother's contented eyes.

End Episode 3

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