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Chapter Four Maria felt fine. She looked good and she felt good. She had no idea what she had gone through. She chalked it up to a freaky alien thing. The thought of carrying and losing a baby was too much for her. The weekend was good to her, she was able to spend time with Michael and Leia and actually feel like a normal person again. Well, as normal as she always was. Michael had left a few hours ago, the first time he left her side since the ordeal with Sloane and Max. Sloane, she mused, what a wonderful little girl. She glanced briefly to the spot on the floor where she felt like she was dying. Reassurances from a five-year-old girl had given Maria the faith she needed to get through. She'd never forget the warmth and compassion she felt as Sloane caressed her face. Never, she told herself over and over, would she ever forget what Sloane and Max had done for her. Never. * * * Michael was sitting in the Valentis' living room with Morgan waiting for Kyle. She told him Kyle was with his dad shopping for a birthday present for Amy and should be back soon. Michael told her about Maria and Sloane. Mrogan hung on his every word. Sometimes Michael got the feeling from her that she wished she were more involved in the 'other' part of their lives. "Sloane? Little Sloane who talks in whispers." Morgan held her hand over her mouth. "I can't believe it. She's so shy. Are you sure it wasn't more Max?" Although Morgan wasn't privy to witnessing too much of Max's powers, she had heard stories. "I'm sure. Max is the one who said it. He thinks Sloane used him for a connection to Maria, he said he felt a jolt of something like he's never felt before and it drained him. Meanwhile, Sloane gets up acting like nothing ever happened." Michael shook his head and smiled. "It was so impressive." "And Maria's fine now?" "Yeah, she's acting like her old self again and feeling great." "That's amazing," Morgan laughed. "So, how is Max? I'm not allowed to say the name in here anymore. I've been worried, but with Kyle..." "He's okay. He's not great by any means. I mean he lost his job and Liz is supporting them, he just kind of sits at home and mopes around. At least Isabel is there to keep Sloane company." "How's it going to turn out?" "I don't know Morgan. He didn't do it if that's what you're asking." "I know he didn't do it; but he's not exactly innocent. I mean, he did mess around with her, right?" "Not much." Michael hated accepting that this was partly Max's fault. "But he never raped her." "Do they have a strong case against him?" Morgan asked with pity in her eyes. She liked Max; she didn't want to see anything happen to him. Michael shrugged an answer. "How is Liz holding up? It's hard for me to get a hold of her." "Because of Kyle?" "Well, yeah." She sighed. "I hate how he's acting. I mean I know he's pissed, but he's acting like an overprotective boyfriend to Liz. It's driving me crazy." "Liz is like a little sister to him, don't be jealous. You know Kyle and Max have had a difficult history together. Friends. Not friends. Friends again. It'll pass, you just have to give it time." "So, why are you here Sheriff Guerin? I never did ask if this was a business or a social call." "Do you see my badge anywhere?" Michael asked and looked at Morgan. She was smiling until she saw his expression; there was no humour in it. She excused herself to the kitchen and returned with soft drinks. "Thanks." Michael took the can of carbonation from her and glanced at the front door as Kyle came through it. "What are you doing here?" Kyle asked shaking Michael's hand. "We have to talk." Michael looked to Morgan and she left the room. Kyle watched his wife until she was out of sight. "So, what's going on?" he asked hesitantly. He took Morgan's spot and looked at Michael. "Am I getting arrested?" "Why does everyone always think I'm going to arrest them?" He managed a laugh. "No, no arrests tonight. I'm off duty." "Alrighty, what can I do for you?" Kyle stood. "Mind if I get a beer? Want one?" Michael declined and Kyle returend with a frosty bottle in his hand. "Maria still doing okay?" "She's doing real good." Michael took a deep breath. "I need your help." Kyle raised his eyebrows and waited for the other shoe to drop. "Max needs your help." "Evans can kiss my ass." "This is serious, Kyle. I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't." "What?" "I need you to give the hair and blood sample for Max. He can't. For obvious reasons neither can I." "Forget it." Kyle shook his head. "I've played all the games with him for a long time. He went too far this time and will get exactly what he deserves." "Kyle, he didn't rape her." "Are you sure?" "Yeah, I'm sure." Michael shook his head and took a sip of soda. "You're not?" "I don't know anything. Did he actually rape her? I doubt it. Did he sleep with her? Probably. He was screwing around with her, that's a fact." "Is that around school?" "Surprisingly, no. I haven't heard more than a murmur about that. Her friends are backing that story up, you know, the true one. However, no one seems to be listening to them. There's even a petition to get his job back." Kyle shook his head. "Unbelievable. Teacher going on trial for rape and the kids want him back." "Maybe the students know him better than you do," Michael raised an eyebrow. "I need your help, man. This isn't just for Max. This is for me, Isabel, Maria, Leia, Sloane and Liz. What do you think would happen if his DNA was examined? They'd take him, Liz and Sloane away. That'd be it. Game over." Kyle shook his head. "I have to think about it." He help up his hand in protest. "I have to think about it, okay?" "It's tomorrow. He goes in tomorrow morning." "How the fuck do you think you're going to do this?" Kyle raised his bottle. "This is for a trial, Michael, it's not like peeing in a cup for someone. There will be experts watching everything to make sure it's done accurately. Don't you watch Court TV?" "Leave the rest to me. Will you do it?" "I'll call you tonight. That's the best I can give you right now." Kyle looked to the door. "Maria? She's seriously still okay?" "Yeah. Sloane and Max healed her. Without them, I don't know what would have happened to her." Michael rose and extended his hand to Kyle. "I don't have anyone else to turn to for this, Kyle. No pressure, but if you don't help us, I don't know what will happen. To anyone." Michael left and drove to the DeLuca/Valenti home. He knocked once and was relieved when Jim answered. "Michael, come in." Jim opened the door, letting him in. "I just got back a little while ago. Kyle and I went shopping." He rolled his eyes. "What's up?" "Amy here?" "No," Jim answered slowly. "Is everything okay with Maria? Leia?" "Yeah, yeah. They're fine." Michael sat down on the couch while Jim sat across from him in a chair. "I need some advice." Jim waited. "Max has to give a DNA sample tomorrow." "I heard." "I asked Kyle to help, but he said he needed time to think about it." Michael nodded. "He's kind of pissed at Max." "You think?" Jim shook his head. "He wants to kill him." "Well, anyway, there is no one else. Sorry Jim, but you're too damn old," Michael smiled. "It has to be Kyle or I don't know what will happen. Max will go away, along with Liz and Sloane. They won't come back. Then there's Isabel and my family. I don't know what to do." "Have a little faith in Kyle, he'll do the right thing." Jim cracked a smile. "Let him play hard-ass for a while. He'll come around and come through for you." Michael nodded. "Then what?" "What do you mean?" "They're taking Max's hair and drawing blood from him in the morning. How can I switch it?" "You'll see, Michael," Jim smiled. "You're a smart man, you'll figure it out. For years I was able to take care of everyone because of my position. Now it's your turn to keep everyone safe. You're in charge." "Will you help me if I need it?" "Of course," Jim smiled and relaxed back into the chair. "I'll always help you, all of you, whenever you need it." Michael stood and shook his hand. He left the house and knew what had to be done; how to do it was another story altogether. Michael Guerin went home with the plan to sit by the phone and wait for Kyle to call. He prayed Jim was right about his son. * * * Isabel cleared the dinner dishes, noticing Max was acting a little more sullen than he had in the past few days. The gloomy mood had seemed to be erasing as she saw her brother and his wife reconnect. "Isabel." Max said her name as she came back into the dining room. She looked to Liz who shrugged. "Can you sit down. I have to talk to both of you." Isabel sat down as Sloane bounded into the room with a colouring book. She held it out to Isabel. "No sweetie, we're going to have a grown-up talk. I'll colour with you when we're done, okay?" Sloane hung her head and nodded as she walked into the living room. "She loves having you stay here," Liz remarked, watching her daughter leave the room. She looked to Max. "Sorry, go on." "On Friday my lawyer called," Max drummed his fingertips on the table. "I go in for hair and blood samples in the morning. They want to match my DNA with what was on Lindy." "Oh shit," Liz's eyes were wide. "Why didn't you say anything?" "I didn't want to worry either of you over the weekend." "Well, now what?" Isabel felt her heart in her throat. "I don't know. I have to go and do it." He shrugged. "Then I guess me, Liz and Sloane plan an escape out of town and run." He shook his head. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." "No one is leaving town," Liz said. "Have you talked to Michael about this?" "No," he shook his head. "He's had Maria to worry about; I didn't want to put this on him too." "Shit Max!" Isabel slapped the top of the table. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed the broken cordless phone. She brought it out to the dining room and dialled. "Michael, Max has to give blood samples in the morning -" She listened for a minute then said goodbye and hung up. "He said not to worry." "What?" Liz questioned. "Michael knows already," she looked to her brother. "He said to go to the appointment and not to worry." "How can I not worry, Iz?" "Trust Michael. He hasn't let you down yet." Isabel stood and walked to the living room where she got on the floor with Sloane. "What's he thinking?" Michael asked Liz, actually expecting an answer. "I don't know Max, I've been a little preoccupied with you lately to talk to him much." She fought the urge for a fight. "Why don't you call him?" Max nodded but didn't reach for the phone. "I think we should just go. Maybe tonight." "Just go?" Her hands were played in front of her. "I don't want to 'just go'. This is my home, my family and friends. We're not leaving Roswell, Max." "They can't have my DNA," he said, stating the obvious. "Michael said not to worry. Isabel's right,he's never let you down before." Liz sighed. "Go there tomorrow and do what they ask. If Michael says it's taken care of, then it is." "You have a lot of faith in him," Max said with a spark of jealousy. "I wish you had that much faith in me sometimes." "I do, Max. Well, I did." She closed her eyes. "Before all this I had more faith in you than anyone else in the world. More love and more trust. It's going to take a while to get the trust back. You broke your wedding vows to me." "I didn't sleep with her." "That doesn't matter. You still cheated on me." Liz smiled sardonically. "You made me lose my trust in you and yes, it will take a while to get it back. It will come back, though. We're not getting divorced; we're going to have a nice happy life together. I know we are. But you have to give me a little time. I do love you Max, I always will. You are my life." "Thank you," Max said quietly. "I love you Liz." She stood and walked around the table to him. Placing her arms over his shoulders she hugged him and kissed his cheek. "Will you ever sleep in the same room with me again?" "Eventually." After kissing the top of his head she joined Isabel and Sloane on the floor with the colouring books and the crayons. * * * Michael did as he planned and waited by the phone. When Isabel called he nearly jumped out of his skin. Maria understood the urgency although she didn't know all the specifics. He declined her offer to help and waited. He watched Leia and then Maria go to bed after eleven. Five minutes before midnight, Kyle finally called. "Before I agree to anything," Kyle said. "I want to make it perfectly clear that I am not doing this for Evans. Okay? This is for everyone else that I care about, not him." "Does that mean you'll do it?" "What exactly do I have to do?" "Blood and hair, that's it?" "Where?" "Liz's. She can draw the blood from you." "Will he be there?" "I don't know." "What time?" "Can you be there after noon?" "I'll have to skip school." He sighed. "Twelve thirty. I'll be there; but you let him know I'm not doing it for him. This is for you guys, for Liz and Sloane." Michael promised and called Liz, waking her up. "Can you be home at twelve thirty tomorrow?" "Sure," she yawned into the phone. "Sorry." "Be home then and if you can, make Max disappear for a while." "Michael, will everything be okay?" "Yeah," he nodded. "It'll be fine." Michael hung up and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Was he lying to Liz? He didn't know. He didn't have a freakin' clue what he was going to do about anything and in less than nine hours Max Evans, alien, was going to have his blood drawn. |
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