ROSWELL on PLANET-SF

Chapter Three

Michael didn't arrive back home until after eight o'clock. Leia was home and in bed, completely worn out from an afternoon of walking through the museum and terrorising Isabel's new friend's daughter, Paige. Maria was waiting for him in the kitchen. An empty pizza box and a few beer bottles sitting on the counter.

He smiled. "Did you have a party without me?"

"I invited Kyle over for dinner." She stood and walked to him, embracing him. "I have to talk to you, it's important." She felt his shoulders sag, he was so exhausted. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay. I should have been home hours ago. Let me change, I'll be right back." Michael walked to the bedroom and took off his uniform shirt and jeans. He'd given up the matching pants when he became Sheriff. Dressed in pyjama bottoms and socks he went back to the kitchen. He sat across the table from her and grinned earnestly. "What's up?"

"Bad things," she said and shook her head. "I was bleeding today and I think there's something wrong with the baby. I mean, if there is a baby."

"Bleeding?" He leaned closer while running his hands through his hair. "From..." he motioned downward with his eyes.

"Yeah." She did the same. "Michael, I think we really lucked out with Leia because if this isn't some funky alien thing then I might really be screwed."

"We have to get you to a doctor."

"We can't."

"Shit!" He stood, paced the room and sat back down. "Are you in pain?"

"No, I've had a couple of sharp ones, but they pass within seconds. I don't feel anything."

"Nothing strange?"

"Not really," she sighed and wished she knew one way or the other because she really wanted one of the beers in the fridge. "I'm scared, I don't know what to do. I wanted to talk to you about this before, but then everything went bad with Max and I know you're working hard for him. God, you work so much, and I turned away from Liz and Kyle and everyone. I just wanted to be alone or with you. Tonight with Kyle was great, I finally could tell someone everything that was going on."

"I should have been here," Michael said softly, guilty.

"It's okay." She smiled. "I just don't know what to do. Remember all the jokes I made with Leia about being green with antennae? Well, I'm not joking now. Should I go see Max?"

"Well, he's not a doctor and he's not a medicine man, but maybe he could help."

Maria relayed the story of Sloane on Christmas Day, her small hands on Maria's belly, the tears and Leia telling her she was helping. Michael leaned back in his chair tilting it on the back legs and covered his face with his hands.

"It might have been nice to know this at the time," he said quietly. "C'mon. Get Leia up -"

"Why?"

"I want you to see Max." Michael shrugged. "You said it yourself, you wanted to see him.""

"Not tonight, Michael.

"Why not?" He looked at the clock on the microwave. "This could be serious. Real serious." He walked across the room to the phone and dialled Max's number. He answered.

"I want to bring Maria over, is now a good time?"

"For what?"

"She needs help."

"Bring her," Max said and Michael heard the disconnection.

"Let's go." Michael walked to her and hugged her. "Don't worry, I'll make sure everything's okay. I won't let anything happen to you."

She smiled and kissed him and knew he was telling the truth. She was safe with Michael; she always was safe wtih him. Michael left her and went to change again while she woke up Leia and got her up. She didn't make her change from the Star Wars nightgown she was wearing. She carried her from the bedroom and laughed when she saw Michael. Still dressed in the plaid pyjama bottoms, he donned a grey sweatshirt and sneakers. He shrugged with a sideways grin and took his sleeping daughter from her arms. They piled into the Tempo after Leia had been safely buckled into the backseat. She mumbled something about 'not being awake' but then drifted back off to sleep.

Upon arriving at the complex, Michael got his daughter out and carried her inside. The elevator seemed to take forever to reach the correct floor. Max was waiting in the open door and invited them in. Michael laid Leia on the couch and faced Max and Liz, who stood about six feet away from her husband.

"What's wrong?" Max looked at Michael and then Maria.

"Tell him." Michael motioned to Maria and listened to the story again.

Max looked to Liz. "I don't know what I can do."

"Fix her," a small voice came from the other side of the couch.

Maria jumped up and nearly ran to her daughter. She was still sleeping. "You heard her Max, fix me."

"I don't know," he shook his head. "What am I trying to fix?"

Maria looked at him, eyes bugged. "This baby or whatever is going on inside of me." She looked back to Liz. "I don't know."

"He'll do what he can," Liz offered and felt like an idiot. Max wasn't a miracle worker and he didn't even know what the problem was.

"He'll have to." Maria looked fretfully at him. "I haven't always trusted you as a person, Max. I trust you with my life and my child's life, but not other things. I just wanted you to know that."

Michael bounced on the balls of his feet. The day's exhaustion dissipated. He wanted Maria to be well. He needed his Maria to be okay. "Can you just do your thing?"

Max nodded and knelt on the carpet in front of Maria. She smiled, embarrassed, as he lifted her shirt and placed one hand on her stomach. His eyes closed and his mouth gaped.

"What is it?" Michael knelt down next to him. "Max?"

Max shook his head. "It's not good, but I can't tell why. Or what."

"Am I pregnant?" Maria asked.

Max looked to her and took a deep breath. "You were, I think."

Maria closed her eyes and swayed. Michael was at her side instantly holding her arm. He sat her down at the dining room table, kneeling in front of her, rubbing his hands over hers. "Maria."

She shook her head as the tears she hated rolled down her cheeks. "What do you mean I was?" She looked to Max through tear-soaked lashes. "I'm not now?"

"I don't think so Maria." He touched her shoulder receiving instant gratification when she didn't recoil. "I can't feel life."

"Then what is wrong with me?"

Max shook his head. "I felt the traces of life."

"Traces of life," she snorted. "Are you saying that my baby is dead?"

"Max?" Michael looked to his life-long friend.

"I can't be sure Maria, I'm sorry. But something's wrong." He wished he really could fix her and make everything better, but he didn't know how. "Give me time to think about what to do, okay? I'll try to figure it out."

"Are you sure the baby's not alive?"

"Maria, I don't know for sure it was a baby at all."

Michael opened his mouth to speak and then caught Max's eyes. It was alien. It was Michael's other side. He closed his eyes and rested his head on her thigh. "Let's go home."

She nodded and stood looking at Max. "Please, try to help me." She hugged him and then Liz. She walked out of the condo and waited for Michael to gather Leia.

"It was alien, wasn't it?" Michael asked quietly although he already knew the answer.

"I think so," Max looked towards the open door. "It didn't feel like human life."

"Fuck." He ran his hands through his hair. "Don't tell her. Okay? I have to; this is all me. Was it the not being able to breathe on Earth thing?"

"I wish I had an answer Michael, but I don't, maybe..."

"Is she hurting?"

"Yeah, inside. Physically, no. Any pain she had like tonight is gone. There's nothing there." He put his hand on Michael's shoulder. "I'm sorry, I know I could be so wrong, but I think I'm right. Now we have to figure out a way to make it okay."

Michael thanked the Evanses and met Maria in the hall carrying the sleeping Leia.

* * *

Isabel was happy. For the first time in a long time, she was truly happy. Her life was right on track. She had cash in the bank, more to roll in with each book she wrote and she had found a cosy cottage style house barely inside the Roswell city limits. She had taken Jim Valenti with her to make sure the dwelling wouldn't be knocked off the foundations by a gust of wind. After careful inspection, he deemed it worthy of her inhabitance. She made an offer and it was accepted within an hour. Isabel Evans was going to own her first home. She was elated. Her parents were moving in less than a week, so when her brother and sister-in-law offered her a place to stay until she closed on the house, she jumped on it. Through all of her own happiness, a scar of pain shone through. Max. His life was in turmoil. His world had fallen apart. Her brother with the kind, gentle soul and giving nature had made a huge mistake and unfortunately it might cost him everything.

Staying with the younger Evans might be a tough ride but at least she had Sloane to keep her company when she wasn't babysitting Max. She smiled at that. The leader of a planet needed a babysitter. With their parents moving so soon and the trial coming up, she was actually somewhat impressed Max hadn't sunk further into the dark hole of guilt he was so fond of. Liz was working a lot and always putting on a happy face when she got home for Sloane. Interaction between her and Max was so strained, Isabel knew Sloane could see right through it. Sloane knew everything that went on around that place.

Isabel left the confines of her temporary room, which was a guestroom that held a bed and nightstand and nothing else; there wasn't any room for anything else; it was more like a glorified closet. She didn't care. In about a month she was going to have a whole house to herself. She couldn't wait. And then there was Rick and his daughter. The few times they'd spent together were fun. She felt sorry for Paige at first after learning her mother had died when she was only a baby; but then she realised what a good father Rick was. Rick Mineo, a handsome retail store manager was fun. Their relationship was still at the friendship stage, which was fine with Isabel. She didn't want to get involved with anyone seriously for a while. She was loving life and didn't want to complicate it with a serious boyfriend and all the relationship crap that went along with it. Outings with Rick and Paige, sometimes bringing Sloane and Leia along were fun. she was having fun.

Way ahead of schedule on her books; she had the outlines for at least a dozen more ready to go. She had decided to milk the "Robin" series for all that it was worth. She wasn't worried about money at all. The money she had wired to get Max out of jail would probably come back to her if, no, when he was found innocent. Either way, she didn't care. While forking out the cash for Max's lawyer, she didn't even bat an eye. It was, after all, just money. Max was family.

* * *

Two days passed before Max received a phone call from his lawyer. Jared Knox informed him that he was required to give a DNA sample: blood and hair. He had made an appointment for him for Monday morning giving Max the weekend to stew over it. He didn't say anything to Isabel all afternoon or to Liz when she arrived home from work. He met Liz nearly at the door; she raised her arms as if to hug him, then remembered she didn't do that anymore.

"Hi," she said and walked by him, setting her briefcase on the table. "Did Sloane have a nice day?"

"Yeah, we all did." He shook his head and walked into the kitchen. He turned around, surprised when he felt Liz in back of him. "Need something?"

She nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You."

He sighed, closing his eyes and buring his face in her neck, inhaling her scent, feeling her touch. He had missed his wife. She tilted her head and kissed his cheek quickly. His heart ached against her. Fog was lifting, and the darkness had a white light glare around it. His world was not over.

* * *

Maria sat on the couch with Leia half lying in her lap. It was almost dinnertime and Michael wasn't home yet. No big shocker, Maria thought, he's never home. She jumped when the front door opened and the silhouette of a Sheriff stood in the dusky light. Her Sheriff.

"I'm taking the weekend off." Michael hung his hat on a hook on the back of the door. "I want to spend a little time with my two favourite girls." Maria blushed and felt like she was back in high school. He walked to the couch and bent down to kiss her. He motioned for her to join him in the other room and walked away. Maria pried Leia off her and stood, nearly getting banged in the head by the remote control.

"Damn it Leia!" Maria scolded her. "I told you not to do that, remember? You have to be very careful no one ever sees you doing that!"

"Isabel lets me." Leia changed the channel with the contraband and giggled.

"Well, we'll just have to have a little talk with Isabel now, won't we?" Maria stood with her hands on her hips and suddenly felt like her mother. She shook her head and left her daughter to watch the live animal shows that she loved. She met Michael in the bedroom and closed the door behind her. "So, what's up?"

"How are you?" he asked, taking her into his arms. "Seriously?"

"I'm freaked out, how do you think I'd be?"

"I wish I could help you." He buried his face in her hair as he had for years. "I can't let anything happen to you."

"Nothing will happen to me."

"It's my fault, this is all my fault."

"What do you mean?" she asked while queasiness in her stomach materialised.

"Max. He thinks it's an alien thing, that, you know."

Maria nodded. She had known for so long and didn't blame Michael. She could never blame him for anything. "It's not your fault."

"Everything is my fault." He exhaled against the smoothness of her cheek. "It's because of my lineage that you're going through whatever it is that's happening. I don't know how to make you better. I was hoping the other night with Max..."

"I told you she wasn't awake," Leia said, cracking open the door.

"What, honey?" Maria looked at her daughter.

"She wants to help you, but she wasn't awake." Leia let out a deep breath and crossed her arms over her chest. "I told you she wasn't awake but you didn't listen!"

"What are you talking about?" Michael let go of Maria and knelt down on one knee in front of Leia.

"She wasn't awake," Leia repeated clearly getting frustrated with her parents. "You have to go when she's awake!"

"Who?" Michael asked, already knowing the answer."

"Sloane! She can help mommy but she was sleeping!"

Michael turned to face Maria, her eyes wide. "Sloane."

"Yes, Sloane!" Leia clapped.

"Sloane can help mommy," Maria stated instead of asking while Michael was already reaching for the phone.

Michael called the Evans' condo. Liz answered.

"Tell me everyone is home," Michael said breathlessly into the phone.

"All home."

"Leia. She said Sloane could help Maria. Can you bring her over?"

"Sloane?" Liz smiled. "Of course. We'll all be right there."

Michael hung up and hugged his daughter. "You did try to tell us, didn't you?"

Leia nodded and laughed when Michael swung her around over his head. The Guerin/DeLuca family waiting in the living room for what they hoped was a miracle in the form of a little girl.

Liz, Max, Isabel and Sloane showed up within a half hour. Isabel had been filled in on everything on the way over. Her feelings were slightly hurt that no one mentioned it to her before, but this was real life now and somethings were still private.

"Sloane." Liz escorted her to the couch. "Can you help Maria?"

Sloane shrugged and looked to Leia who nodded back at her. "I think." She walked to Maria and pulled the hem of her shirt until Maria knelt down in front of her. Sloane closed her eyes tight and put her hands on Maria's stomach. After a couple of minutes of silence Sloane stopped and turned around to face her father. "Can you help me?"

Max didn't ask how, he got down on the floor next to his daughter and waited for directions. She placed her hands back on Maria and told Max to put his over hers. Max did as he was told and felt a jolt of something powerful course through his veins. He forced himself to keep his hands on his daughters. Maria felt the electrifying jolt as well and tried to push away. Liz and Isabel were there to hold her steady while Michael stood watching, his mouth gaping.

Max, who had pressed himself closer to Sloane, was now afraid to break contact. What was his daughter doing? Maria let out something close to a sharp scream and fell to her side. Blood poured from inbetween her legs, soaking the cotton pants. Michael fell to her side while Isabel reached for the phone.

"No!" Sloane yelled in her passive voice. Everything stopped as Sloane smiled and crawled to Maria. She tucked Maria's hair behind her ear and kissed her cheek. "You're okay now."

Michael looked frantically from his fallen lover to Max who couldn't offer him any answers. Maria sobbed while Sloane caressed her face. Max felt like all the energy had been sucked out of him. He was amazed at Sloane who seemed fine. Liz darted into the kitchen and back out with towels. She and Isabel joined the others on the floor trying to place the towels stragetically under Maria as more blood continued to soak her pants.

Michael watched in horror. "Sloane, why is she bleeding?"

"Washing away the poison," she explained, continuing to stroke Maria's cheek. Leia joined her and looped her arm through Sloane's as they nursed Maria.

Maria looked up at the two little girls and smiled. "Thank you."

"They wouldn't listen before," Leia explained to Sloane.

Max was still trying to catch his breath as Isabel helped him to his feet.

"What the hell happened Max?" Isabel demanded.

"I don't know but I never felt anything like that before." He looked down at the scene on the floor. "I felt so much energy and I think it was all from Sloane."

"She healed her, you both did." Isabel felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise.

"I think she needed me to make the connection, otherwise it was all her," Max smiled. He leaned back down to Maria while supporting himself on Michael's shoulder. He placed one hand on Maria and smiled. "It's not there anymore, Maria."

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STORY OF LINES:
BOOK 7 - TREADING LIGHTLY

CHAPTER THREE

Written by BECKY W

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