Where Do We Go From Here? CC - YTEEN/ADULT - [COMPLETE]

[Roswell4ever1]

Where Do We Go From Here?
Written by Roswell4ever1 and Angelrose242000

Disclaimer: We own NOTHING!!!

Part Eleven: Sneaking Around




They all sat there with their eyes affixed to the screen waiting to hear what decision Jim had made. They were too terrified to look away and they all held their breath waiting for the answer.

“And what exactly would that decision be Mr. Valenti?” Baker asked.

“I am going to help you. But, we do it my way. I will be the only one to communicate with the kids. You will not be involved or I am out.” Valenti replied with a new wave of confidence overpowering him now.

Jim began to rub his nose.

“Is there a problem with your nose, Mr. Valenti?”

“Allergies.”

“I really don’t give a damn how you have to do it Jim. Just bring me those aliens and make it quick.”

“Do you really want my help Mr. Baker?” Valenti asked.

“No, I really don’t want your help, I need your help.”

“Then don’t be making demands. The quicker I do this, the sloppier it will be and they will figure us out. They are smart kids, I take my time or I don’t help.”

“Fine! Whatever you have to do. Just get it done!” Baker stormed out of the office and Jim sat with his head in his hands.

“Crap!” Alex exclaimed.

“What Alex?” Kyle asked.

“I can’t find my two way. I must have dropped it somewhere.”

“It has to be around here somewhere. We will worry about that later. What are we going to do about Valenti? Isabel asked.

Just then, Valenti looked up.

“Kyle, Max, Liz, Isabel, Michael, Maria and Alex. I know you bugged my office and my home. I may not be the most intelligent man, but I am far from stupid. I know you are watching me now and that you saw what just happened. You are probably thinking I am a traitor, but it is far from that. Far from that! I agreed to help only to throw him off and buy some time. I will do whatever I have to do to protect my son. The rest of you have become very close to Kyle. You have taken him in and have become very close friends of his. More like a family. I protect my son’s family therefore, I will also do whatever I have to do to protect all of you. I know you probably have a hard time believing that, but it is the truth. I think we need to talk. If you don’t trust me enough to come here, we can meet somewhere more public. Now, one of you left your two way radio on my window ledge.”

“Damn it! I knew I dropped it somewhere but I was hoping it was somewhere around here.” Alex exclaimed. Tess walked over to him and held his hand in hers in the hopes of calming him down. Alex didn’t know what to think at this point, but he knew he liked the closeness.

“We can make this real simple. If you are willing to meet me, simply call on the two way and confirm a place and time. If you are not willing to meet, call and say no. No questions will be asked. I am not out to hurt you kids. I only want to help. They are after you and they will find you eventually. I just hope you are willing to let me help you.” With that, Jim faced his computer, giving them a chance to decide.

“We planned for everything. How did we miss this?” Isabel asked with a tear running down her cheek.

Michael walked over and sat beside her. He put his arm around her. She lay her head on his shoulder. “We never figured he would catch onto us. We were so careful. We put the devices in places he should have never found them. But, you’re right, we should have planned for it. We should have had a backup emergency plan of some kind, but that doesn’t help us now. The question is do we trust him?”

Everyone was shocked at how well Michael was taking all of this. Normally, it would have been him who would have freaked out. Isabel had done wonders for Michael. The two of them couldn’t be happier than they were when they were together.

“I think we should. That way we can find out what all he knows.” Liz said.

“I agree.” Said Max.

“Me too.” Alex chimed in.

“What if it’s a trick you guys? We could be walking right into the hands of the government.” Isabel added.

“We take that chance everyday Isabel. And if it isn’t a trick, he can help us.” Michael said to her holding her closer now.

“You’re right. It scares me Michael, but I’m in.”

“It scares me too, Isabel. It scares me too.” Michael told her. “But, we are in this together and no matter what happens, I will be here for you.”

“I love you Michael.” She whispered in his ear.

“I love you too Is.” He whispered back to her.

“What do you think Maria?” Max asked.

“I think its something we need to do but that doesn’t make it any less scary.” She told him, shaking slightly. Kyle walked over and put his arm around her and kissed her on the top of the head.

Max nodded. “I know. I’m scared too. What about you Kyle? He’s your dad. Should we trust him?”

“He isn’t lying. If he were lying, his nose would be twitching like it did when he was talking to Baker. I think we should do it.”

Once they all agreed, they decided on a place and time to meet Valenti. Max made the call.

“Valenti.”

“Yes Max. What did you decide?”

“We will meet you at 6:30 at the old Coleman Ranch. Come alone or we leave.”

“Sounds good Max. I will not have anyone with me. See you at 6:30. Oh, and Max?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For trusting me.”

“Your welcome. Just don’t prove to us that we can’t trust you in the future.”

As their watches struck 5:30, the group divided into two vehicles, Max’s jeep and Alex’s Midnight Blue Firebird he got the middle of last year for his birthday. The Coleman Ranch was a good twenty-five minutes out of Roswell so they knew they had to leave early. Plus, as Max said, “We want to get there a bit early to check the place over.” Kyle couldn’t argue this feeling, for he replied, “Those pigs might have followed Dad without his having known it. That wouldn’t be his fault, Max.” Max looked at Kyle and said, “I know that. We take that chance going in. But we have to trust someone or we are walking on time bombs, all of us.” Kyle nodded and said as he climbed in beside Max in his jeep, “Just so you know.” Max replied, while turning on the radio, “I do.” They pulled out and Alex followed Max down Main Street, on out of Roswell. As they neared the ranch, the impending fears seemed to want to overwhelm them all.

Parking, they met as quietly as mice—each couple holding the other for support, all walking in with their eyes open, their hearts very afraid. Kyle looked within himself and thought, “I hope we can trust you, Dad…if not I’ve let everyone here down.” He didn’t know if he could forgive his dad if he betrayed them now after offering help in such a seemingly sincere fashion earlier.

One of Roswell’s highlights, according to Liz, was how the sun always seemed the sharpest as it neared the ending of a day. Just now it gave Liz and the others a clear view of the Coleman Ranch—or what it used to be. Back in the 70’s it was used as a farm. There were horses, cows, pigs, and a house full of children. William and Rita Coleman went to school with Liz’s parents, with all of their families, except maybe Tess’s. That was only because she wasn’t from here. About ten years ago, the farm collapsed due to lack of funds and they had to sell out. The government owned it now and so it looked absolutely deserted and awful. The two-story farmhouse that had once appeared old-fashioned and pretty was now worn and weathered. The windows were broken where spiteful kids had come along and thrown rocks at it or something large anyway, Liz thought, disturbed. She could only guess what was inside it, and they were meeting Valenti here. Oh well, since when was she a priss? Shaking off whatever might have come over her at the thought of entering an old house, Liz squeezed Max’s hand and they all walked up the porch steps, and Max turned the knob. As Max turned it, he had his own feelings of uncertainty running through him…His thoughts continued to run over one thing that was difficult to ignore. This was it, whether Valenti was genuine or whether he had just led them into a trap. There was no turning back now.

The house that appeared so tarnished on the outside appeared quite beautiful inside. The hard wood floors were dusty, but still unmistakably pretty. Furniture was displayed in each room for each purpose. The living room had a couch, two chairs, and a TV, which was covered with a sheet. A web dipped from ceiling to the sheet protecting the TV and its owner crawled currently across the sheet.

The dining room had a table that was wooden also and still had the chairs in what was probably the same spots they were in when the family lived here. Finally, they walked on through to the kitchen, where Valenti sat at the small block shaped table.

He wore his sand brown hair back in a ponytail and a horseshoe earring that dangled from his left ear. He dressed in casual blue jeans and a red T-Shirt with tanned boots. This combination always seemed to draw attention to the Sheriff. Some would claim he was a tad unusual for these choices. But Jim felt he had to be himself and since he was a teenager he had had that ear pierced, and just because he had a near to be grown son didn’t mean he had to take it out. Jim always felt it made him more on the level with the people who didn’t quite earn the leisure of Country Club lifestyles.

Looking up at the kids, he smiled and said, while putting out his cigarette, “Hey kids. I’m glad you decided to show up. Take a seat.” With that, he hefted a bag onto the table that held inside varying 2 Liters of Sodas. Pepsi, Coke, Sprite, Mountain Dew, and Mr. Pibb. Impressed, Michael looked at Max and said, “What do you know? He brought drinks along?”

Max replied quietly, “Cool it Michael.” He looked at Jim and said, “So you called us here, Sheriff. What is it you were wanting to discuss?”

Max felt if he strung it along it might make admitting to alien capabilities easier…he knew it was probably wishful thinking but right then, Max didn’t feel easy about this. He still had some misgivings. It felt too simple too conveniently laid out. Maybe he’d watched too many Sci Fi movies. Isabel always said so.


“You know what?” Max said. “Forget that question for just a minute. First, how did you figure out that we were watching you?”

“Well, to be very honest, I wouldn’t have. You are smart kids and wherever you hid the little bugs, you hid them well. I got a phone call from Merv Stamwell at the hardware store. He called me and told me that a very large order was charged to Alex’s credit card and that it consisted of surveillance cameras and voice recorders. He thought it was pretty suspicious looking.”

“Can’t take a crap in this town without the cows knowing it!” Alex said.

“You’re right about that.” Valenti agreed. “Anyway, after I got off the phone with him, I was sitting at my desk thinking about what they could have been used for when I spotted the ones on my file cabinet. Before I could get in touch with you, Baker came in and started making his little threats. Why don’t you all sit down and we can talk more about what is going on.”

They all sat down, some a little more reluctantly than others. Liz leaned over and grabbed the bottle of Mountain Dew and the cups.

“Anyone else want a drink?” She asked. They all told her their choices and she poured the drinks and passed them out.

“You want a drink Sheriff?” She asked.

“I’ll take a coke Liz. Thank you.”

“No problem.”

“I know you all have a lot of questions. Go ahead and ask whatever you want to know. I want us to be able to be open with each other and I am willing to answer whatever questions you might have. To answer your first question, Max, I got in touch with you kids to discuss what we can do to keep Baker and his Feds from catching on to us. For starters, I suggest we find a less likely place to meet than the Crashdown.”

Alex gave the Sheriff a funny look and said, “How did you know about that?”

The Sheriff replied, “Small town. It didn’t take a lot of investigating. Gomer Styles caught you all climbing up the ladder on the side of the building. I guessed the rest.”

Alex shook his head and said, “Man! This town is too damn small.”

Max laughed with him over this and said, “Yeah.”

Liz walked to Max, with her hand to the back of Max’s chair, touching his shoulder. She looked at Jim and replied. “So what are we going to do—besides relocate and where would you suggest we do that, Sheriff? Roswell is not exactly full of places to base at.”

Jim looked around at the house and said, “Why not here?”

Maria said indignantly, “The Coleman Ranch?” She bursted into laughter with Isabel.

Jim eyed Liz and Max and the others seriously as he said, “It is abandoned, no one comes here unless they orchestrate it as we have. It would be handy.”

Max looked at the group as a whole and said, “I’m in. What do you all think?”

Isabel looked at Max and said, “I think we are going to have to sneak around more than we already do.”

Alex chimed in, “But we have been doing that all along, Isabel. What’s the difference between sneaking to Liz’s place or out here?”

Isabel replied coolly, “Twenty-five minutes. This is out of town. Not so remote.”

Michael looked at Isabel and said, “So we carpool. It will save on gas, time, and will be simpler.”

Isabel said, “We’ll have to agree on times to meet and will definitely have to carpool.”

Once the first decision on this Survival Mission had been agreed upon, Max looked at Jim and said, “What’s next, Sheriff?”

“Well,” Jim said. “I think we need to keep the surveillance equipment in place. It was real smart of you kids to put them in place and that way if Baker or any of his dogs come back, you will know what is going on also.”

“Well, sheriff, my parents will be home in five days. Where will we keep the TVs then? We can’t stay out here all day every day. Our parents will get suspicious. And besides, like you said before, this is a small town. People will catch on eventually.” Liz said.

“I have thought about that Liz. I own a building downtown. It is not being used because it is a total wreck. I could talk to your parents and tell them that you guys are helping me restore the building. It will take all summer to get it done even with all of us working on it. Of course, we will actually have to work on the building but we can be watching the screens and listening at the same time. Then when we need to have our emergency meetings, we will meet out here.”

“What kind of part are you going to play Sheriff?” Michael asked.

“Well, I will be here in the office until 3:00 every afternoon. I will then head over to the building where I will help you kids keep guard. They will wait until I am out of the office to start snooping around. That way, I can’t interfere. And they WILL snoop around.”

“How do we move the screens without getting noticed?” Isabel asked

“That’s a good question. You don’t.”

“What do you mean we don’t?” Tess asked, "You just said we needed to move them to the other building.”

“Yes, that’s right. But I will do it. With your help of course. I can explain it easier than any of you can. Here is what we will do.”

Jim went on to explain the plan to the group before they all got up to leave for the night. He looked at the group as they began to walk out the door.

“Don’t worry. I will do everything in my power to protect you all. Oh and by the way, call me Jim.”

They all nodded and walked out of the old house

The next day at the Crashdown, Liz was cleaning off a table when Jim walked in.

“Hello Miss. Parker. How are you today?”

“Good. How are you Sheriff?”

“Well. Very well. I am here to pick up those pies for the kids.”

“They’re in back. I’ll go get them.” Liz smiled.

Liz walked into the back room grabbing the box with the surveillance equipment in it. She then walked back out to where Jim was waiting. There was a large crowd of customers in the Café and they had to be careful of what they said.

“Here you go sheriff. I know the kids will enjoy them. You said it was a DARE convention?”

“Yep. Over in Silver City. The sheriff over there came down with some kind of bug and they called and asked if I could fill in. I am not looking forward to the drive though.”

“Yeah, it is kind of a long way isn’t it?”

“Yep. Well, I better be going if I am going to be there by 11:00. Thanks again Miss. Parker.”

“You’re welcome sheriff. Have a safe drive.”

Valenti walked out of the Crashdown. He drove out to the Coleman ranch where he had a change of clothes waiting for him. He changed into some sweatpants, a green T-shirt, a wig that gave him a crew-cut look. He removed his earring and put on a mustache. He knew that this was the only way to protect the group and he would do whatever it took to keep them safe.

He walked out and got into an old Firebird that he bought cheap in Hondo two hours ago. He then drove back into Roswell and over to his building. He got out and took the box into the building. When he stepped back outside long enough to get his can of Pepsi out of the car, Mayor Thomkins met him.

“Excuse me sir, what are you doing messing around this building? This is private property.”

Jim curved his voice so that she wouldn’t be able to discover who he was. “Mr. Valenti hired me to do some construction work to the inside. Seems that he is turning it into an apartment for his son.”

“Oh, I’m sorry sir. We just don’t get too many new people in our little town so when we do, we tend to be careful.”

“No problem ma’am. I understand. If you’ll excuse me, I really do need to get back to work now though.”

“Yes sir. It’s sure nice to see someone who isn’t afraid to work. You have a nice day Mr. Um, I ‘m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“Orick. Josiah Orick.”

“Nice to meet you sir. I am Annabel Thomkins. You have a good day Mr. Orick.”

“You too Ms. Thomkins.”

Valenti walked back into the building thanking God for disguises. He hadn’t thought of a name for himself until she asked him and the first thing that came to his mind was the Orick vacuum cleaners. He couldn’t help but chuckle to himself now.

He got all the equipment set up and started to call the parents. He contacted all of them except for Liz’s parents and he wouldn’t be able to talk to them until they got back to town.

Liz closed down the Crashdown for the night, thankful that it was Saturday and she could meet Max. Since before this Operation Big Dog had begun, there hadn’t been much time for them to be together. They had to focus entirely on that so it made private dates or time together limited. Liz had nearly forgotten what it was like to hold Max, to feel his arms around her, when it wasn’t out of fear. Tonight, she hoped, they could have a nice time and be just Max and Liz and not two conspirators against Baker and his cronies.

As she shut off the lights and double-checked the bathrooms for people, Liz grabbed her purse and headed toward the front of the Café. Spotting Max in the shadows, Liz smiled and said, “Hey Max. I thought we were going to meet outside.”

Max walked slowly yet purposefully toward Liz in a way that had her heart racing. He was always able to make Liz feel swept away just by his mere presence and by knowing that he felt such strong feelings for her, that he loved her. Liz felt the tugs of desire again and smiled awaiting his kiss.

Max reached for Liz and pulling her to her toes, leaning his head down where she could smell his wonderful cologne, Max kissed Liz. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Liz kissed him back and felt sure that tonight would be just as she hoped it would be….

Max drove Liz to his house. They went inside, it had to be around eight, the sun was gone and had been for about an hour. It was still warm out, this time of year. November didn’t create a chill in New Mexico like it might in Minnesota, so they were in their T-Shirts and shorts as in summer. Tonight, Liz was in her uniform and Max in his black T Shirt and blue jean shorts.

He walked with Liz in through the back door saying, “We can go in and watch TV for awhile. Mom and Dad are out with some friends. Who knows how long they will be.”

Smiling up at Max, Liz said, “That sounds fine with me. What kinds of movies do you have?”

Max gave Liz a sidelong grin and said, “Does it really matter?”

Catching on, she laughed and said, “Nope. Not at all.”

Liz thought they would be going into the living room to watch TV, but was surprised to find herself being walked upstairs, down a darkened hallway, to Max’s bedroom. She’d never been in his room before. She’d secretly wondered what it looked like, what was in it, but as of yet, until this moment, she hadn’t been able to.

Shutting the door behind him, Max kicked off his shoes and dropped his keys on his desk.

Liz looked around at the things inside this room that was where Max slept. He had a collection of pictures ranging from photos of his dad and he out catching fish, one of him and his sister Isabel when they were young, and one of Max next to his jeep.

She did a once over, glancing at his telescope on his oak varnished desk, his schoolbooks that were on his desk, his notebooks still stuffed in his black and emerald green bag. No matter how intimate Liz knew Max, it was as if she had met him again, walking into this room. His possessions he had collected as a child, from toy soldiers, to Cub Scout honors, all these things showed a side of Max that Liz didn’t know. She smiled up at him and said, “Wow Max. I didn’t know you were in cub scouts, or that you won awards in school.”

Max grabbed his box of movies and flipped through them saying, “Yep. I was your typical nine-year-old; I got into all that stuff. Actually, my mom encouraged it and it stuck till I was about fifteen.”

Walking to him, sitting beside him on the bed, Liz said, “You act nervous. Does it bother you that I comment on it?”

Glancing up at Liz, Max said, “No, Liz I wanted to bring you in here. It’s only that you are walking in my bedroom, so it is a bit personal.”

Nodding, Liz replied, “Yes, it is. I know.”

Max grinned and said, “I suppose you would know about that, Liz, since I’ve been in yours before.”

Liz laughed at first, then smiled and said, “You and the rest of the group. But it is different; I know what you mean. I’m just glad to be here, Max. It’s been a long time since we have been able to spend time together and I’ve kind of missed it…”

Max put what he was looking at down and turned to Liz, saying with his heart, “I’ve missed it too, Liz.”

This was so awkward! It wasn’t as though they’d never been close before, but this was the first time in two months and they were somewhere new. Max moved toward Liz and took her face in his hands, saying, “I’m glad you are here, Liz.”

Smiling, Liz touched his face and said, “Me too.”

He brought his lips to hers and kissed her sweetly, softly on the lips. It was as innocent as a first kiss between a new couple. After the initial kiss, however, Max kissed Liz again and it intensified and Liz felt things moving quickly toward the point of no return, so she hurriedly said in a moment when she could, “Max…what about Isabel? She might hear us.” She held a hand to Max’s chest to stop him, long enough for him to digest what she was saying.

After all, her bedroom door or the one that she presumed to be Isabel’s was shut, so Liz figured there was a good chance she was home too. It was also right across from this one! Liz didn’t like her love with Max to be open for the world to hear. It was for Max and her to share, alone.

Max looked at Liz and said, “Liz, Isabel is out remember? She is out with Michael. I think they finally have accepted that they like each other.”

Liz chuckled, while touching Max’s shirt collar, “Took long enough.”

Max replied, “Yeah. Where were we?”

Liz replied, “About here.” She moved into Max, letting him take over, kissing her. Kissing him back, she easily went back onto the mattress beneath him.

Time and concerns fled them both as they undressed, touched and shared each other that Saturday night.

The night hours went by without them having ever known it….

The next thing that Liz heard was the pretty sound of a blue jay singing merrily outside, through Max’s bedroom window. She barely rustled over it, though, as she didn’t’ want to leave the warm comfortable moment she was experiencing.

Suddenly, though, Max’s door sounded and Isabel’s voice said, “Max, it’s me. Can I come in?”

Max didn’t hear her and Liz thought she was dreaming at this point, having heard the bird singing earlier and fallen back to sleep.

Isabel said, “Max?” Not hearing a response, she turned the knob and peaked in.

Immediately embarrassed to see her brother in bed with Liz, Isabel locked his door from inside and muttered, a nervous remark then left them alone.

When Max did awaken, Liz was already getting dressed. He smiled at Liz and said, “Hey, Liz. You’re dressing in a hurry. Somewhere you have to be?”

Liz was frantic. She knew that she was late going home and that his parents were probably waiting for Max to come downstairs and she couldn’t be there when he did. She glanced at Max and said, “Yeah. I have to get home. Max do you know what time it is?”

Shaking his head, Max replied, “No.” Then he let his eyes open the rest of the way and take in the brilliant sun that poured through the room. He moved up into a sitting position, and reached for his alarm clock. It read seven-thirty. Surprised, Max said, “Man, Liz, I guess I should have set this thing. Well it’s not that big of a deal.” He told Liz, but mentally was trying to figure out how he would explain his girlfriend spending the night with him last night to his parents.

Pushing on her shoes lastly, Liz stood and said, “It is, Max, it is! Your mom and dad are downstairs and they don’t know a thing about me.”

Max threw on his clothes from the night before and said, “That’s not true. I told them about you.”

Giving him an irritated expression, Liz said, “I doubt they know that we are serious.” Max’s expression of silence told Liz what she needed to know. She felt she knew anyway and so she said, “I’m going out the window.”

Max gave Liz a smile and said, “I don’t think that would be a good thing, Liz, since we are on the second floor of the house and there is no balcony or protruding bricks to climb down.”

Swearing, Liz said, “They’re going to find me here, Max.”

Max grabbed Liz’s hand and said, “So what if they do? I’m not ashamed about having my girlfriend, the girl I love spending the night with me.”

Liz didn’t argue further because she didn’t think Max could understand how in a small town this one thing was looked at differently from the boy to the girl. For Max, sure it would be brushed off, but for Liz she would be branded a slut. His parents would give her a dirty look and she would never be seen the same by them. Isabel might suspect something was going on, but she didn’t know for a fact, did she? She couldn’t, Liz thought.

Instead of debating this further, Liz made up Max’s bed and opened the window, deciding she would take her chances with the jump.

Suddenly, Max grabbed her from behind saying, “Come on, Liz. You can’t do that.”

Liz gave him a glare and said, “I can do this easier than having your parents walk in and see me here, then calling me a slut for sleeping with you. I shouldn’t have stayed here this long.”

Liz caught the way the Max backed off and saw the dark look in his eyes that meant he was hurt. Her big mouth! Max was busying himself with his things and seeing her looking at him said, “You regret being here. Liz whether you know it or not, I didn’t deliberately cause you to stay here late.”

Walking to him, Liz said, “I know you didn’t, Max. I’m sorry for saying that. I did want to be here, I don’t regret that at all…I just wanted to be able to leave early enough that we could keep the night ours and not have it be a sneaky fling at my boyfriend’s house.”

Max looked at Liz and touching her face said, “It wasn’t a fling, Liz. Nothing we have shared has been like that, at least not for me.”

Smiling now, Liz said, “For me either.”

He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips, then said, “Let me check something.”

Liz waited, while Max stepped outside his room. He looked down the hallway, searching out Isabel. When he heard nothing from her bedroom, he checked the bathroom. Sure enough that was where she was. He knocked. Isabel blustered, “What is it? I’m in here!”

Max rolled his eyes then said, “Is it’s me, Max. Can we talk?”

Ordinarily, Max knew Isabel would tell him to kiss off and wait his turn. But today, he saw her opening the door and saying with a grin across her mouth, “Have a good night, Max?”

Choosing not to think that Isabel knew a thing about it, Max said, “It was fine, I guess.”

Isabel blotted her mouth, facing the mirror again, and said, “From now on, Max, when you decide to have an overnight guest, lock your door.” Max’s jaw dropped, he was shocked to say the least.

Isabel faced him when he had closed his mouth and was just staring at her. She was loving this and both knew it. Isabel continued, “I mean I don’t like walking in and finding you in bed with Liz. It isn’t a good wake-up call for me.”

Max did the only thing he knew to do, he swallowed back his embarrassment at being seen and said flatly, “Listen, we can go over that later. Right now, I need you to do something for me. I need for you to make it out that Liz spent the night in your room, and not in mine.”

Giggling now, Isabel said, “Now why would I do that? You got yourself in that mess, Max.”

Max ran a hand through his hair and said, “Will you do it, Isabel? You can call it a favor to Liz. She is scared of being seen by Mom and Dad and is threatening jumping out my bedroom window so that she can leave unseen.”

Isabel gave Max a sisterly grin and said, “Fine. Have Liz come into my room and I’ll make it up like there was another bed on the floor. But remember, Max, you owe me one.”

Max grinned as he headed back to his room, “Yeah, I know.”

He opened the door and shut it behind him, saying to Liz who was looking out the window and contemplating that darned jump again, “Liz, I just spoke with Isabel.”

Stark horror crossed Liz’s face and she said, “You told her I was here?”

Max grinned now and said, “Come on, Liz. Isabel has known for sometime that we are an item. She’s my sister, remember? She’s not going to look at you badly. She says you can go into her room and she’ll make it out that you spent the night with her. Like a slumber party.”

Feeling some relief, Liz said, “A slumber party…okay...well I hate making her have to come up with a story.”

Max walked with Liz out the door and into the hallway, he said, “Trust me, Liz, Isabel wouldn’t do it if she didn’t want to.”

Max knocked on Isabel’s door and said, “Hey, Is? It’s us.”

Isabel replied, “Door’s open.” She glanced from Max to Liz and nearly grinned, saying something smart, but when she caught Liz’s nervousness, she changed her mind. She smiled genuinely and said, “Come in, Liz. Welcome to my room, sorry about the mess.”

Liz saw that while Max had been speaking with her, Isabel had put a pillow and blanket on the floor, like she had spent the night here. She glanced at Isabel and said, “Thank you, so much, Isabel.”

Isabel replied, “No problem. Max, go away.” Max replied, “Fine. Thanks, Is. Liz I’ll see you later. I love you.”

Liz smiled at Max and said, “I love you too, Max.”

Then, once alone, Liz looked at Isabel and said, “I do mean it, thank you, Isabel for covering for us like this.”

Isabel grabbed a pajama set and threw them on the floor saying, “Hey, it’s no big deal. Max and I are close and there isn’t much I won’t do for him, even if he doesn’t deserve it sometimes.”

Liz laughed with her, then said, “I’ve wondered sometimes what it must be like having a sibling. I’ve always been an only child.”

Isabel replied, “It’s nice sometimes, other times it is a pain!” Seeing Liz lightening up some, Isabel said, “Good. I’m glad you aren’t so nervous, things are going to be fine. Throw on that pajama outfit and I’ll just make it out that you stayed late and I lent you one. Mom and Dad didn’t get home until late, after I was already here and in bed, so as far as they know I did have a friend spend the night. They didn’t check on me during the night, except to say goodnight through the door and you could have been asleep by then. So I think it will work.”

Liz smiled, changed into the Garfield pajamas and said, “I think so too. Thanks Isabel.”

Isabel replied, “You’re welcome, Liz. Now let’s do some girl talk and I can tell you some juicy stuff about Max.”

Laughing, Liz said, “Okay.”

When Liz and Isabel went downstairs an hour later, they were met by her parents, hers and Max’s, and neither showed disdain. They spoke fondly to Liz and accepted the sleepover story. The whole family and Liz enjoyed a nice Sunday breakfast getting to know each other more….

[Roswell4ever1]

Where Do We Go From Here?
Written by, Angelrose242000 and Roswell4Ever1

Disclaimer:We Own NOTHING!

Part 12: Emotions in Motion

The month of November seemed to be flying by for everyone. Alex Whitman was ready for next week to come so he could be out of school for awhile. He liked school breaks as well as anyone and Thanksgiving meant that he and his dad and sister could enjoy a turkey, dressing and the works. It had been the one time of year when he could be himself and not have to impress anyone.

No one could really know just how glad he was to be out from underneath that mess! Now, he had a group of real friends who cared about him and Alex would help them in whatever way he could. On a new project, Alex found himself on a Monday working in the Computer Room—a place he used to boycott for it was for brainy kids—and he felt good to be here. He had driven to school at around seven this morning, and found the place locked solid. Spotting a car in the parking lot that wasn’t his, Alex knew that someone was in there. Alex made it his mission to get in. He had work to do.

The janitor, who had been mopping floors when Alex drove up, let him inside after listening to his persistent pounding for ten minutes. Walking into the classroom, Alex sat in front of the computer, and put his notes and books on the table next to the keyboard.

Clicking away in the Internet, Alex looked over his notes, being very careful to have made them appear some hypothetical school assignment and not a real predicament. He changed names, events, and ideas so that it stood behind this objective.

He had to find out why Liz and Tess were floating. It made no sense at all…unless something was going on, such as they were part alien. Aliens…yes, that was what he needed to be searching, not what made someone float! Going to the address bar, Alex typed in, “Recent Discoveries in Alien Activities” hit Enter and waited. And waited. The Internet was moving slowly this morning.

Glancing up at the wall clock, he saw he had about thirty minutes before school started so he had to get to the bottom of this or at least get somewhere. He rebooted the computer and went in again. Since he was alone, Alex felt comfortable doing this. Had the teacher been there, Alex might have simply gotten onto another computer and tried that way.

Suddenly a list of pages appeared with bolded names on Crashdown, Alien Life, and Investigations. Alex nervously clicked on the first one as it looked the most informative. If this was true, if they did have information, even false information, it could incriminate Max, Isabel, and Michael. Alex waited, while his heart beat fast, for the page to appear.

The page was called Roswell Alien Crash of 1947. It was a flipping article! Alex looked at the reporter, Jan Beasley and recognized her name as being the reporter for the Roswell Newspaper, or she used to be anyway. She’d not been around here in about five years. No one knew where she relocated to, the town had moved on and had a new head reporter, Ben Rylson.

Alex chose not to think of why he knew these things, or how he knew them…he simply hit print and printed off the article, looking this way and that to be sure he was still quite alone.

Reaching for the pages from the printer that stood across the room on the long oblong table, Alex skimmed over the beginning of it, to where he caught, ‘I made this my personal project, to investigate past documents and clues. My discoveries are quite alarming, as you will see as you read on.’ Alex shook his head and flipped pages to where he saw descriptions of Jan’s supposed Alien signs. He would have laughed if the list wasn’t so true to what they were experiencing now.
Among the ridiculous were a few very startling indicators:

Eyes turning black
Levitation
Visual Movement (The ability to move objects with eyes)

Although Alex hadn’t personally seen any of these, the others had. So he felt sure he was on the right track. Looking at the clock and seeing it was five till eight, he folded the pages and stuffed them into his jeans pocket. Closing out the Net the long way then going into the list of pages downloaded, Alex deleted the sites he was on.

He was in the halls when the students started pouring in. Suddenly spotting Max talking with Liz, Alex walked over to him and said, “Hey, man, I hate to interrupt, but we need to talk.”

Sensing it wasn’t good, Max looked at Liz and said, “Sorry Liz, it will just be a minute.”

He leaned over and kissed Liz and she said, “That’s fine, Max. I’ve got to meet up with Maria anyway. She needed some of my notes for class.”

So Liz went one way and Max and Alex went toward the computer room. Once they saw it was yet to be filled with anyone, they went in and shut and locked the door.

Alex looked at Max and said, “You aren’t going to believe what I found and on the Internet.”

Max asked nervous now, “What?”

Alex pulled his two-page article out of his jeans pocket and handed it to Max, running a hand through his longish hair in agitation.

Max took a moment to scan over the article, then when it got to the part of descriptors, he looked at Alex and said, “So much for not knowing what we are.”

Alex nodded and said, “Yeah…or being discreet. It is all over the Internet by now you can bet. This sucks, Max.”

Spotting kids nearing the room, Max closed up the papers and stuffed them into his jeans and said, “Well we have to get out of here. We can talk about this more later.”

Alex agreed and they walked out of the room with their own concerns meeting at the same central point—the cat was out of the bag, they knew what they were.

At lunch, the group met out in the front lawn this time instead of inside. They chose the opt for privacy and went by the jeep. Off-Campus-lunches were allowed since this was a small-town school. Max and Alex shared the news they found from the Internet and listened to the group’s responses. They weren’t good.

Liz asked, “So we know that this is a possibility, but how do we know that it is fact? The Internet often puts lies out more than the truth.”

Max replied, “Liz is right. People seem to feed off of lies.” There was a hesitancy in Max’s voice that had Isabel asking, “But you believe it, Max? Is that what you are saying?”

Max replied, “I don’t know, Is. I don’t know at this point.” Liz leaned back against Max’s chest as if in support.

Michael flared, “Well that doesn’t make me feel too damn safe, not knowing. We have to find answers.”

Alex nodded and said, “I agree. That’s why I’ve been checking today. I want to be sure that we are looking at the right stuff. Anyone can post, but I have to tell you all, I knew Jan Beasley well enough from rumors that she wasn’t a liar. Although some of what she put in that article there did have me laughing.”

Isabel had made copies for the entire group and looking at hers said, “It does sound funny, the article itself. But what is inside is frightening. Max, this means that someone has information about our history. If in fact it is true and we are aliens that is.”

Maria spoke up saying, “What else can we call it?”

Liz looked at Max with troubling eyes and said, “Maria’s right. We have no choice but to call it what it is…”

Max spoke lastly, authoritatively, saying, “That leaves us doing our best to keep this between us. As much as possible we have to keep it between us and Valenti. For our lives.” They simply had no other choice now….

By Wednesday, the group was completely engrossed in their mission with Valenti at the Coleman Ranch, each taking turns and shifts going and reporting what they knew.

In the midst of it, they went to school. At seven-fifty the following morning, Thursday, Alex walked in half-asleep as always, needing to get his books from his locker. That was when he spotted Tess and all his thoughts of needing to do anything fled. She was smiling up at none other than Scott Brinkman. Any other time, Alex would have been disgusted, dismissed it, feeling sorry for the girl and walked away. But this time it mattered because the girl was Tess and so Alex found himself walking toward them at the lockers.

Neither apparently noticed him because it took him a full minute to get Tess’s attention. She finally broke away from Scott and said kindly, “Oh, Alex. How are you?”

It would have been so easy to lose his entire purpose for existing if Alex let that smile dissuade him for even a second. But he knew he had to get to the bottom of this, if he was any friend at all. So he said, “Fine. Can we talk a minute?” He didn’t bother to give Scott a look at all, he didn’t figure it was necessary.

Nodding, Tess looked up at Scott and said, “I’ll see you in class, Scott.”

Then she walked over to Alex and together they walked to the pits. Sitting together amidst the sounds of laughter and lockers being closed, Alex looked at Tess and said, “Tess I don’t know how to tell you this other than straight out. That guy you were just speaking with is trouble.”

Smiling up at Alex mischievously, Tess said, “And how would you know that? Unless you…” Tess showed a thoughtful expression, then amended, “Oh yes. I think I remember hearing something about the fact that you did know Scott Brinkman, something about you being a gang leader. Am I right?”

Not liking this at all and quickly taking on a bad mood over the reminder, Alex said, “Unfortunately. But that isn’t why I’m telling you this.”

Tess felt she knew all she needed to know and said, “What are you, Alex, my friend or my warden?”

Alex didn’t know where this was coming from. All he was trying to do was say that this guy was trouble and to stay away from him. He said, “You’re friend, or I thought I was. But Tess I wouldn’t be a friend at all if I didn’t warn you about this guy. He is bad news. He uses girls, Tess. He knows you are new to this school and he is taking advantage of it by hanging around you.”

That was it. Tess folded her arms across her chest and said, “Now you are saying I am easy to be taken because I am new here? I think I’ve heard enough, Alex.” She started to walk away.

Alex stood watching as Tess started to walk away and all he could think was she was going right into the hands of destruction. He was attracted to her yes, but that wasn’t what was forcing him to tell her this. The fact was he was concerned about her welfare. So he said finally, “Tess, I like you. Okay?” She looked at him surprised, but that soon went to fury as she said, “You show it by comparing me to a…a stupid blonde who hasn’t any brains in her head to know what to look for in a guy? Stay away from me, Alex.”

Hurt, Alex stormed to his locker and grabbed his books. He had it in his mind to go to class, but somehow it was killed short by this confrontation. All he could do was look at Max and Liz and the others and say, “Sorry guys, I can’t stay here today. I’ll see you later.”

Max, Liz, Maria, Isabel and Kyle followed him out the doors of the high school. Max met him at his car and said, “Today just isn’t a good day to be here. Where you want to go?"

Alex said, “I don’t care. Anywhere but here.”

So the group got in Max’s jeep and Maria’s Jetta and took off for the dunes. They could sit out in the desert and talk.

Once there, the group got out and did some walking. Alex broke away and stood, overlooking the miles and miles of sand and hills wondering when it was he cared so much about Tess. When was it that he let his guard down that he could be hurt like he was now? He had no answer, all he knew was that it hurt like crazy and he wished it would stop.

Max put a hand on his shoulder and said, “Alex? What’s going on?”

Alex said flatly, “Oh nothing. Just me thinking I could help someone. I should have known better.”

Max pushed his hands into his jeans and said, “I’ve been there before.”

Alex looked at Max and said, “Have you? Have you watched a friend walk right into danger before your eyes and not be able to do a damn thing about it?”

Shaking his head, Max said, “Nope. But I see it coming.”

The rest swarmed around Alex now and Isabel asked, “What’s wrong, Alex?”

Alex pushed his hands through his hair and said, “I let myself care about her too much. Now she is going to be his next victim.”

Liz asked, “Who?”

Alex muttered, “Tess Barnston.” At Isabel’s registration of who he spoke of, Alex finished, “Yeah, the new girl. She is hanging with Scott Brinkman, just one of the biggest losers of the school. Oh well, I guess it takes one to know one.”

Maria said hotly, “You are not a loser, Alex! Don’t ever say that. Tess is a…” Catching his defensive glance her way, Maria changed what she was about to say and said instead, “new person, yes, but she is smart. She will know what to see and get away from it.”

Alex wanted a cigarette really bad, but tried hard to forget it as he was trying to stop smoking. Instead, he walked to the jeep and sat on it saying, “Sure, but how she will be after is what concerns me. I’ve seen Scott and I’ve seen the girls he goes through. He’s worse than I’ll ever be.”

Maria glanced at Isabel and Liz and all three exchanged looks of surprise. None of them had seen girls hurt from Alex’s hand. There were a few that he had been with, sure, but they didn’t seem to mind it. Maria asked, “Be that as it may, what can you do about it now? Nothing. So all you can do as far as I see it is be her friend and if she comes to you, then offer support.”

Liz nodded and said, “That is what I think I’d want too.”

Isabel agreed and they spent the morning consoling Alex, showing him he didn’t have to be alone….



Friday night, Michael was playing his guitar at the Crashdown, after hours. Liz had given him the Okay. The music always seemed to take him out of whatever his thoughts might have been on and into a world of his own. For Michael it poured every emotion he could have within himself that he might not show openly to others, onto the strings. And once alone, he could sing to the music and let his voice compliment it. He sang various selections from Eagles rock, to Al Green bluesy tunes alike. He had been known to sing Pop as well. But tonight, he was playing Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together and singing along with his guitar. It wasn’t a replicate, but he thought it sounded good, it suited him and his mood, so he put his heart and soul into it.

He had been thinking of Isabel, of the fun they had had and how much he liked her when he chose to sing tonight. In his mind, Michael could picture Isabel’s warm smile, her way of listening to him, as she had after the dance. And all he wanted was to be with her.

Suddenly as if her thoughts rang with his, Isabel walked into the Crashdown and watched as Michael sat on one of the stools, a silhouette in the dark shadows, really, but still captivating. He sang tonight as though he really felt the words he sang and Isabel stopped walking and merely stared.

She had gone looking for him. Liz told her he would be at the Crashdown and gave her a key, so she had come by, expecting him to be eating or maybe singing. But she didn’t expect to hear the combination of his singing with his guitar. The two had her stilling her feet, her heart opening its doors for him and welcoming him in, in an instant.

When Michael let his eyes register life, he spotted Isabel and for a moment wondered if he was still in his music fantasy. He had pictured her so clearly while singing that he found himself saying, “Isabel? I love you.” He was in his fantasy and in fantasies you could say whatever you wanted.

But this wasn’t a fantasy and Isabel found her lips trembling, her eyes filling and her feet moving forward. She walked to where Michael sat on the stool, saying, “I love you too Michael.”

Smelling Isabel’s perfume, Michael awoke from his fantasy, realizing he had just told the real Isabel what his heart was saying in his song. Putting his guitar on the floor, Michael stood and said, “How long have you been here?”

Shock and emotion still within her, Isabel said, “Me? About five seconds. Long enough to hear you play.”

Michael nodded.

Isabel touched his hand and said, “Michael you play wonderfully. I have only heard you one other time, but I can tell you that you have a gift.”

Michael looked down into Isabel’s deep brown eyes and said, “I attempt to play. It’s a hobby of mine.”

Isabel saw how he acted nervous about being caught in the middle of his singing, something that was still so much a personal thing to Michael. She said, “Well you are good at it.”

Smiling at her, Michael said, “Thanks.”

Isabel caught how Michael put his guitar away in his black case, and moved to the front door. She followed him, noting his silence, and went along with it. Until they were outside at the car. Then she looked up at him and said, “Okay Michael. I understand that you see your guitar playing as a you thing and I get that. But you don’t have to be so distant with me. I came by to be with you, Michael.”

He looked at her abruptly. “Be with me?” Michael said, only hearing the last part, his mind still off in the twilight zone.

Startled by the way he suddenly showed attention, Isabel said, nervously, “Well what I mean is I wanted to hang out with you. So I went looking for you. But if you are going to ignore me or try to brood around me, then I can go do something else. I’m sure I can hook up with some of the others and do something else on a Friday night.”

When he merely stared at her, his mind still on the whole “be with you” thing, Isabel turned and started to head toward her car. She was stopped suddenly by Michael who said, “Isabel?”

Turning to him, Isabel said, “What?”

Michael walked over to her and acting on impulse said, “I want to be with you too.” With that, he took her into his arms and kissed her. This wasn’t your average kiss either, no, this was a Clark Gable, ‘You need kissed and kissed often and by someone who knows how’ embrace. Isabel was lost and clung to Michael in total unrestricted desire.

Then Michael picked Isabel up, springing to life all her inner feelings of want and need, causing her to wrap her legs around him and hold him tightly to keep from falling. Walking in this fixed position, to the back room, he was searching for a soft place. He and Isabel were surprised when they found a small room off to the side that was evidently used as an old apartment. Seconds before entering the room, Michael envisioned a bed with a white canopy top. As they made it through the narrow door frame, Michael almost dropped Isabel when he noticed not only was there a bed in the room but it had a white canopy. This excitement only lasted a second, when he noticed Isabel unbuttoning her top. At that point the bed could have been an army cot in the middle of nowhere.

Knowing you have mutual feelings of attraction with someone and actually experiencing them coming to life were two different things and as Michael and Isabel soon found out, the reality was only that much more intense because it was real.

Liz couldn’t believe she had done it again. She walked out of the Crashdown without her journal. Freaked out because it had so much of her life in it, Liz frantically hurried downstairs with the intentions of grabbing it before anyone could tomorrow. The café was ensconced in darkness, but strangely, the light in the back room was still on. Liz nearly had a heart attack, thinking they had a burglar or someone locked in by accident, then she recalled Michael. He had asked to stay late to play on his guitar.

Letting out a deep breath of relief, Liz walked in search for her journal. When she didn’t’ find it in the café section, she realized she must have left it in the storage room. This used to be an old apartment, that her parents lived in before building the upstairs to the Crashdown. Now, it was used to store away uniforms and badges. Once before, Liz had kept her journal in here because she knew it was so remote that no one else would ever think to go back here, besides it was mainly for employees or close friends. Seeing the light as she walked ahead, Liz hollered out in the chance that Michael was here so he wouldn’t be startled to death, “Michael! It’s me, Liz. You won’t believe what I did. I walked all the way upstairs forgetting…” There was nothing else for Liz to say as she watched Michael and Isabel pulling on their jeans!

Stifling a laugh, Liz said, “Oh, excuse me.” And she walked out of the room, leaving them alone to quietly bicker over the embarrassment.

Hearing the all too familiar oops I’m caught routine, Liz laughed as she searched for her journal.

Moments later, Michael walked out with Isabel beside him. Liz tried very hard to appear that she had seen nothing. Although they both knew better. She had gotten a view of Michael in his boxers, with his shirt half buttoned showing a tanned chest. Isabel had her shirt buttoned, and wore bikinis, something that Liz swore she’d never wear mainly because she didn’t like the way they crept up on her. She wore crew cut panties.

Michael asked, “Sorry, Liz, we didn’t mean for you to see that just now.”

Isabel was bright red in the face and added, “I’m sorry, Liz.”

Liz smiled and said, “It’s fine, really. I was the one who came down and interrupted. So I’m sorry.”

As they got ready to leave, Isabel took Liz aside and said, “Liz I know that you must have been shocked…seeing us like this.”

Liz said, “As you know by now, I’m not Mother Theresa. Wasn’t it you who saved me when I was with Max?”

Isabel grinned at that memory and said, “Yeah, I suppose. Please don’t tell my parents, Liz, I don’t think they could deal with it and I don’t think I could handle facing them afterward.”

Liz said, “I won’t say a word, Isabel. I’ll ask the same from you, my parents no nothing at all about Max, except that he comes in now and then for a chocolate shake, a Will Smith Burger and Saturn Rings.”

Isabel hugged Liz. Just before Isabel walked out the door, Liz grinned at her and said, “So tell me, what was it like in the storage room?”

Isabel replied with a grin, “What was it like in my brother’s bedroom?” Both girls giggled and said goodbye, so Isabel could meet Michael and could be taken home.

Michael returned to the Crashdown soon after as he had for the past week. Liz had it in her mind to talk with her parents about him staying permanently in the downstairs apartment, where he and Isabel had shared their first romantic experience as a couple together.

In the middle of the night, Liz heard a car door and jumped, going to her bedroom window. Surprisingly it was her parents who were home four days early. Throwing on her robe, Liz hurried downstairs and let them in. “Mom, Dad, what are you doing here? You’re home early. Is something wrong?”

Liz’s dad, Richard, looked at her and said quizzically by the nervous tone in her voice, “We got rained out.”

Liz swallowed her tongue that had made her sound guilty as if she had thrown a party and she finally said, “Oh.”

Nancy looked at Liz, noting Michael standing by the kitchen table and said, “Liz, who’s this boy? And why is he standing at the kitchen table in his underwear?”

Liz glanced over nervously at Michael who indeed was standing in his boxers and wished she could have had a place to hide. Anywhere would do. Richard eyed Liz, as if waiting for her response.

Liz felt if she didn’t say, her dad would flip out, so she replied, “Mom, Dad, this is Michael. I go to school with him. I wanted to talk with you about this, but not this way…”

Michael finished, “I’ve been staying here, Mr. and Mrs. Parker, because I have no other place to go. The place I was staying at doesn’t work for me. My foster dad is an alcoholic and to him, I’m nothing more than a check to get once a month so he can buy booze and beat on me when he is out. So I have applied for government housing but haven’t heard anything back yet.”

Richard looked at Michael and said, “That’s fine. We need to talk with Liz for a minute, Michael.”

Michael decided it was a good time to go put his pants on so left the room. Then, Richard and Nancy looked at Liz with stern expressions mixed with concern.

Nancy asked, “Okay, Liz, what is really going on? Are you sleeping with this boy?”

Liz laughed and said, “No, mom. Michael is just my friend, nothing else. He needed a place to stay so I offered it. But he stays on the couch at night.”

Richard asked, “How old is he, Liz? My gosh we don’t know but what his foster dad is looking for him, thinking he ran away.”

Liz let out a sigh and said, “He doesn’t care about him, Dad. What Michael told you was the truth. Please, he has no other place to go. He’s eighteen by the way.”

Nancy looked at Liz and said, “We need to discuss this, Liz before making any real decisions. For now, though, Michael can stay the night on the couch. I won’t throw him out in the street.”

Richard chimed, “And neither will I.”

Liz accepted this as a possible positive answer and walking to her parents said, “I love you,” and kissed them goodnight. She told them she was glad they were home and went to bed.

When Liz awoke the following morning, she heard talking in the kitchen. Slowly tiptoeing to the entranceway, she heard positive laughter and conversation. Peaking in without being seen, Liz noted her mom and dad and Michael talking about living arrangements. It was decided. Michael would stay here, in the downstairs apartment and never go back to that jerk again….

[Roswell4ever1]

Where Do We Go From Here?
Written by, Roswell4Ever1 and Angelrose242000
Ratings: YTEEN, may go to ADULT

Disclaimer: We own NOTHING!


Part 13—Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

November 22, 1999…A quiet day at the Crashdown Café

Liz wiped tables for the fourth time that Wednesday. She was bored. The customers who were pretty regular in Roswell were gone, mostly because they were visiting family in other towns or states. Liz wished she could be upstairs, changed out of her uniform, into her clothes enjoying her holiday! She glanced at her watch, then when unsatisfied by this, glanced behind her at the wall clock to verify that it was only five minutes from the last time she looked. It was.

She had heard Dad agree to close down at around three, but it was ten in the morning and Liz felt sure no one was going to stop by. Normally, Liz liked helping out at her family’s restaurant, but today she grumbled and inwardly wined. She gave her mother a look as she cheerily came down the stairs, dressed in festive orange and brown slacks and a matching top. Nancy Parker was a lover for the holidays. As far back as Liz could remember, her mother had always decorated for each and every one. Sometimes it made Liz smile, but today when she was bitchy and wanting to get out of this predicament, she felt sour and said nastily, “Mom, couldn’t we close earlier than three? We haven’t had a single person in here all morning!” Of course they had only been open for two hours, but still, it was important to stress this, Liz thought with her hands on her white rag, that was soapy and presently sloshed the table.

Nancy looked around her and said, “It is dead in here.”

Liz wiped her sweaty forehead, pushing brown longish bangs from her eyes. Nodding, Liz said in a grumbly voice, “Yeah…it is.”

Nancy walked to Liz and said kindly, “Let me talk with your dad.”

Liz crossed her arms, forgetting her job, and said, “Tell him that I have things I need to be doing.”

Nancy perked up over that and said, “Well, Liz, if you had things to do, such as homework, or places to be, we would have understood and let you go. Why didn’t you say so?”

It was true. Maria could have covered if Liz needed her to. But Liz couldn’t do that to her best friend. She had let Maria have the day off so she could spend it with her mom. Recalling the conversation, Liz had insisted upon it.

Sure they could have had someone cover, heck Mom might have, but Liz didn’t like to shirk responsibilities. So she shook her head and said, “Where I want to be is upstairs, mom where I can enjoy the holiday…that is no reason to ask for it off.”

Suddenly, a customer of sorts did walk in. Liz felt defeated without having looked up. She knew this meant that they would be staying later. Well they better not expect her to smile! She was not a happy, understanding Liz right then. She might not shirk responsibility, however she did like thinking for a moment that she could enjoy the pre-Thanksgiving hours where she could hang around the house in her boxers and red T Shirt without a care.

That idea was gone for now.

Nancy leaned over and whispered, “Liz, I didn’t know you had an admirer.”

Giving her mother a strange look, Liz said, “I don’t…” then she glanced up in the direction her mother was looking at and spotted Max! Walking around the tables, Liz met Max midway, saying, “Max…Happy pre-Thanksgiving.”

Smiling, Max said, “You too. Listen, Liz I know that you are probably wanting out of here.”

Liz said, “No, I am glad to be here. I’m glad we were open, so you could stop by, I mean.” Somehow she now actually felt grateful that they were still open. The way that Max could make her forget her complaints was still a mystery to Liz. All she knew was that she loved him and loved being around him.

Max gave Liz a grin that she understood for it was private and said, “Me too.” It was plain as day the way that Liz and Max interlaced their hands and brushed against each other in small noticeable ways that they were not just school friends. Nancy watched in concern. Liz hadn’t told her a thing about this!

Feeling she was watching a part of her daughter’s life that she knew nothing about, Nancy felt intrusive, at the moment, and so she walked back into the kitchen, searching out her husband.

Liz noted her mother leaving and reached for Max’s brown leather jacket openings. He held her gaze, and slowly moved a hand up to her face, saying, “I had to stop by to see you, Liz.” He moved in closer to Liz and whispered, “Can you sneak out tonight?”

Grinning up at Max, Liz said, “I don’t know…I guess. When?”

Max touched Liz’s hair that was pulled back into a pony tail and said, “I don’t know. I was thinking of stopping by around eleven, that way it will be long after your parents go to bed. Then we can be alone.”

Richard wasn’t in the kitchen. He was in the back room and was rudely awakened by seeing his little girl presently being flirted with by some school kid. Liz was smiling up at him like he was everything to her. He was touching her waist, his fingers brushing against her flattened stomach. And his eyes had total interest in Liz like a predator.

Richard started to move toward them, when Nancy walked into the scene. Obviously surprised, yet not wanting to see her husband embarrass Liz, Nancy walked quickly to her husband and pulled him away saying, “What are you doing, Richard?”

Richard stepped into a shadowy area with his wife and said, “What does it look like, Nancy?” At her smirk, he gave her an irritated expression and said, “I know, you think I am being overbearing or overprotective. Maybe. But she is only sixteen, Nancy. And did you just see the way he was looking at her?”

Nancy glanced over and said under her breath, “The way he is looking at her.” Then up at her husband she amended, “Liz will be seventeen in two months, Richard. She’s not that much younger than that boy is, I’ll bet. Hard as it is to accept, I don’t think he is the only one making the moves either.”

Richard asked, “So what do we do? Ignore it?”

Nancy shook her head and said, “We invite him to Thanksgiving Dinner and get to know him. Apparently Liz is quite fond of him. Meantime, I am going to have a heart to heart with her, which brings me to what I was searching for you about. I think it is a good idea, Richard, if we close early.”

Agreeing wholeheartedly now, Richard said, “I’ll turn the sign now.”….

Max sneaked out the front door after the agreement to meet Liz later tonight.

Liz looked around to be sure she was alone and that this discussion was in private. Feeling safe, she grabbed her now warm rag again and took it to the kitchen. Rinsing it under the faucet, she didn’t hear her mother coming up behind her. Until…

Nancy asked, “Can we talk a moment, Liz?”

Liz wrung out the rag and tossed it in the hamper for dirty clothes. Turning to her mom, Liz smiled, still elated over seeing Max, her bad mood gone. She replied, “Sure, mom. What’s wrong?”

Nancy felt this was so difficult, but she said, “Let’s go upstairs, Liz.”
Knowing this meant that her mother was wanting to speak to her alone, Liz nodded and followed her upstairs. Often, her mother asked to speak with her this way. So Liz didn’t think much of it. She walked with her mom up the stairs and went into her room. Nancy shut the door and turning to Liz, she walked to her bed and sat. For years, Nancy had come in here, until Liz got to the age when she needed her privacy, and even at that later age, she had done so after asking if Liz was decent, respecting her daughter.

The walls showcased posters of Brad Pitt, and numerous other male stars that Liz found attractive or as Liz called them, hot. Liz had won awards in Speech, Literature, and several numerous honor awards for her grades. They also were in frames, upon Nancy’s and Richard’s insistence. And Liz was proud of those accomplishments, Nancy knew. She had every right to be.

The past couple months, Nancy thought back, and she recalled not hearing much about Liz’s grades, about her achievements. But the restaurant and being out on vacation had made it difficult to know what was going on…Nancy began to deeply regret that.

How did a mother ask her daughter that she held such high regard for about some boy that she had never mentioned before? This was new territory, withholding of information. Liz had never done that before. This only alarmed Nancy more. What all hadn’t she shared? Nancy supposed the answer to her dilemma was honesty.

So, Nancy smoothed out the wrinkles in Liz’s bed and said to her daughter, who was changing into her casual boxers and red T Shirt, “Who was that boy that was in the Café earlier, Liz?”

Liz knew her mother had seen Max, so she smiled and said, “Max? Just a guy I go to school with. He’s in my class.”

Nancy chose to make her daughter’s bed and so she did so and while doing it, she looked at Liz and said, “Liz, I saw…I saw the way you were together. I know for a fact that classmates don’t act the way that you did with Max.”

Liz frowned and said, while picking up her already neat desk, “Sometimes they do, mom.”

Nancy nodded and said, “You’re right.”

Liz looked her mother in the eyes, feeling confused over her mother’s odd behavior. Confusion worked its way into undeniable fears swelling inside her as she said, “Mom, if you are going to ask me something, just do it, please.”

Letting out a deep breath, Nancy replied, “I don’t have anything really to ask, Liz. I trust you and what you have just told me, that you and Max are friends.” Liz let out a deep breath too and said, “We are, mom.”

Nancy nodded and heading for her daughter’s door, turned and said, “Well I am going to start supper. I thought about making a casserole for tonight.” Smiling, Liz said, “Sounds good to me, mom.” Nancy said, “I thought you’d like that.” On a final thought that she hoped wouldn’t sound pushy, Nancy asked, “Liz why don’t you ask Max to Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow so your dad and I can get to know him too?”

“Ok mom. Thanks.” Liz replied right before her mom walked out of the room.

Later that night:

Liz sat in the treehouse waiting for Max and occasionally looking back at her parents’ apartment to make sure that they didn’t get up and go looking for her. How would she explain her very late meetings with Max Evans in the treehouse? The very idea was giving Liz a headache.

“Hey.” Max said quietly as he climbed up the ladder to the treehouse.

“Hey Max.” Liz responded.

Max could see a look of concern in Liz’s eyes.

“Liz, are you ok? You look really worried about something. Is meeting me here causing problems?”

“No Max. I am worried but not because of anything like that.”

Max sat there for a few minutes waiting for Liz to tell him what was worrying her so much but when she didn’t say anything, he decided to ask her. He could no longer take the silence.

“Well what’s worrying you Liz?”

Liz looked up at him suddenly embarrassed. She just realized that she had been sitting there and staring into space.

“My mom saw us at the Crashdown today Max.”

“Yeah. What’s wrong with that?” He asked confused now.

“Nothing would be wrong with it Max except that my parents don’t know anything about you. They don’t know about our relationship and they certainly don’t know we’ve been sleeping together. They think we’re just friends.”

“Is that the way you want it to stay? You want them to think we are just friends?” Max was still a little confused. His parents knew nothing about Liz because Max was a person that was very to himself. But Liz on the other hand, usually told her mom everything. Was she ashamed of him and their relationship? He decided not to ask any questions, but just to listen and see if she told him why she hadn’t told her parents about them.

“Of course not! I want them to know about us Max. I am just scared. My parents expect me to be a certain way. I am expected to get straight A’s in school and focus only on school and work. Not guys. I have wanted to tell her so many times and several times I have gotten real close to just spitting it out. But every time I do, her or my dad say something like “Your grades are looking good again this quarter” or “Can you help out at the café tonight honey? You’re the best waitress we have.” I have always striven to please them Max and I’m suffocating. I can’t take this anymore. I have to tell them, I don’t like our relationship to be a secret, something we have to hide. But I just don’t know how to tell them Max.” Liz began to shake as the tears streamed down her cheeks.

Max hated to see Liz upset. He would give anything to be able to take all her pain away but unfortunately, his healing powers didn’t cover broken heart syndrome. He now felt like a total ass for wondering if she was ashamed of their relationship. Leave it to me to jump to stupid conclusions before getting any of the facts. He said to himself while shaking his head.

“Liz, my parents don’t know about us either. But I want them to know. I’m tired of keeping our relationship a secret too. I want to be there for you Liz. When you tell your parents I mean. And I want you to be with me when I tell mine. I want them to see how much I love you. I want to be able to hold you in my arms without wondering what they are going to think. The only thing that matters to me Liz is being with you.”

“I would love it if you could be there with me Max and you know I will be by your side when you tell your parents. I want my parents to know how much I love you too.”

“When do you think we should tell them?” Max asked.

“I think we should tell them that we have been seeing each other as soon as possible. But, I don’t think we should tell them we have been sleeping with each other just yet. I think we should let them digest the fact that we are dating first.”

“I agree. If we ease into it, it will be easier for them to deal with.”

“We can tell them tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Max asked.

“Mom asked me to invite you to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Can you come?” Liz asked.

“Why Miss. Parker. I would love to be your escort to the evening meal. But only if you join me for chow time at the OK Corral on Saturday.” Max said with a cute little southern accent to his voice.
Liz laughed and trying to sound like Scarlett O’Hara, replied. “Of course good sir. But only if beans and cornbread will be served.”

“I’m sure that could be arranged little lady.” Max told her doing his Clint Eastwood impression.

Laughing so hard she was snorting, Liz looked at Max.

“I really better get back inside before they realize I am not there.”

“Yeah, I need to get back too. What time should I be here tomorrow?”

“Around 6:00 tomorrow evening, Dad insists on being open during lunch. Which I think is stupid, but he is set on the idea, so I guess we have no choice. And bring your appetite.”

“You never have to worry about that. I always have my appetite!” Walking next to Max, Liz grinned slyly up into his eyes and said, “Yes, I know.” Max pulled Liz up against him and said, “We’ll have to pick a new place to meet now that your parents are home.” Smiling mischievously, Liz blushed and said, “I know.” Max tilted Liz’s face up toward his and said, “We can do things like this though.” Liz knew where he was going and said, “Oh, always.” And suddenly Max’s mouth was upon hers.

Kissing and holding each other for moments undetermined, Liz finally broke away and they walked down the ladder. On the ground level, hand in hand, they walked back across the lawn, listening to night sounds and each other. At the back door, Liz looked up at Max and said, “Goodnight Max.”

Max pulled Liz’s hand, drawing her to him, and kissed her again. Then with his eyes on hers, his heart so readily seen in them, Max said, “Night Liz.”

Liz watched as Max left, feeling Thanksgiving tomorrow was going to be great. She felt mixed emotions right then for she enjoyed watching him go, keeping her eyes diverted to his cute butt in dark denim jeans, but wishing at the same time that he could stay….


Early to rise, Liz excitedly dressed and opened the Crashdown at eight that following morning. She knew that if she got busy that the time would go by and then she would see Max again and he would be at her house that night for dinner. She couldn’t be happier.

Michael came in not long after with a tired look on his face. He went to the coffee maker and turned it on. Liz smiled and said, “Good morning, Michael.” Michael merely gave her a dark look and said, “Is it?”

Busying herself in the kitchen before heading into the café part, Liz said, “Yes! It’s Thanksgiving, Michael. Don’t you have anything to be thankful for?”
Michael smiled halfway and said, “Yeah. I’m thankful that in about,” looking at the pot and his watch, Michael finished, “ten seconds, I’ll have me a hot cup of coffee. Then I can get alive.”

Michael watched as Liz pulled down chairs and set them at tables wondering again how on earth she could be so chipper before ten AM! And on a holiday too! Shaking his head, he turned on the stove, the fryer, and grabbing his coffee mug filled now with coffee, got to work frying food. If no one showed, then he would be making his own breakfast. Ultimately, he would be making himself some anyway, but this gave him a reason to do it. He figured some poor soul would wander in saying he was hungry. Then it would be justified if Michael sat at a table and dug right in on bacon, eggs, and sausage too.

Within a half an hour, Michael guessed right. Jim Morris walked in with sleep in his eyes, saying, “I hoped that there would be some food today. I’ve got a long day planned so I’m not gonna have time to eat until at Grace’s mama’s tonight. I’ve not ate since last night, so whatever you got I’ll be glad to eat.” Jim Morris was a regular. He ran a ranch not five miles outside Roswell and was big on coming in here for his morning and noon meal. Of course he would be here, Michael thought with a grin. It was expected. Soon he had his food and was handing it to Liz to take it over when Isabel walked in.

She was alone, had her honey blonde hair pulled up into a French braid twist that was piled on top. It was her I’ve got things to do hairstyle that pulled off casual yet attractive and Michael smiled. Her outfit was black jeans and a burgundy blouse that was off the shoulder and billowy on the sleeves. That too was easy to pull off, looking beautiful with little to no effort. Michael was grateful for her attempt! He held Jim’s plate for several moments, then merely stood staring.

Liz caught on as she walked over to him at the opening where Michael stood to hand over the food. She grinned and said, “See anything you like there, Michael?”

Michael gave Liz a brotherly look and said, “It’s Isabel. I didn’t know she was coming in here today.”

Liz continued to grin at Michael as she said, “Well why don’t you take a minute and walk over there to her table and find out why she’s here. Better yet, take her order. That will help me too and give you a legitimate reason for being there.” As if he needed one, Liz thought with her smile growing wider.

Doing so, Michael looked at Isabel and said, “Hey, Isabel.”

Isabel smiled and said, “Hey. Happy Thanksgiving.”

He grinned at her and said, “You too.” Pulling out his white tablet that Liz generally used, he said, “Need something?”

Isabel shook her head and said, “Actually I stopped by to talk with you, Michael. If you have a minute.”

Michael made an effort to look around the next to empty room, then back at her before he said, “I think I have one.” He sat across from Isabel and said, “What’s up?”

Isabel asked, “Well…I was wondering something and you can tell me you aren’t’ interested if you want. But I was wondering if you would like to come to my house for Thanksgiving on Saturday. We are holding it then because today and tomorrow my parents and I are going to my Aunt Renae’s and my Grandma’s.”

Michael inwardly felt nerves running in him over coming to his girlfriend’s parents place for a meal of any kind, but he saw the excitement and hope in Isabel’s brown eyes, so he said with a smile, “Sure. I’d love to. What time is it?”

Isabel relayed the time of 7:00 and dress casual and accepted Michael’s kiss before leaving the Crashdown. She had asked him to tell Liz Happy Thanksgiving.

Later that day, Liz handed the café over to her dad and helped her mom with getting things ready for the dinner. She had decided immediately after inviting Max that she would make him a special cake. She was famous for her strawberry cheesecakes, so she got the materials at the store last night and got to work as soon as she changed into her everyday clothes.

Helping mom was a fun experience for Liz because she knew that Max would reap the benefits of a nice meal and so would everyone else. While she was working beside her mom, Nancy said, “You know, I think that Michael invited Isabel Evans to come to dinner too.”

Stilling her hands for a second, Liz said, “Really?”

Nodding her head, Nancy said, “Yes. I guess they are dating. That is nice. Isabel seems such a sweet girl—from the brief time I’ve spoken with her in the Café and at banquets at the school.”

Liz replied, “She is nice. She’s become one of my best friends.”

Nancy showed Liz how to make dressing and Liz said, “I’ve always wondered how you could pull it off so well, mom, Thanksgiving I mean. Even before I was old enough to help.”

Nancy smiled and said, “It’s part of being a mom and a wife. You just learn to allow for mistakes and keep going until you get it right. I’m not perfect by any means, though, Liz.”

Liz smiled and said, “To me you are, mom.” Nancy smiled and said, “Well thanks Liz. You are to me too.”


An hour later, Isabel showed up and said, “Need any help?” Liz walked over to Isabel and said, “I didn’t know you were stopping by.” She reached over and hugged Isabel who hugged her back saying, “I thought I’d offer some help before the meal instead of just coming and eating. I think it’s wrong when people do that.”

Nancy smiled at Isabel and said, “Happy Thanksgiving, Isabel. As you can see by the look of this kitchen, Liz and I have been through about every dish and appliance trying to get some sort of a beginning on dinner. We don’t expect you to help, but if you want to, I guess you could cut up the potatoes and boil them. I’ve not started that yet.”

Nodding her head, Isabel got to work with that project and they three discussed the weather. Isabel said, “I like your kitchen, Mrs. Parker. It is bigger than the one at home.”

Nancy said, “Call me Nancy. I’ve been at Richard to do some more work in here, but the restaurant keeps him pretty busy. So we still have plywood on top and inside our cabinets instead of finishing Formica on the countertops and soft sealer inside on the bottom cabinets. But I can’t complain.”

Isabel nodded while cutting up potatoes at the table. Glancing at Liz, Isabel said, “So tell me, Liz, how do you make that famous cake that Michael keeps telling me about.”

Grinning, Liz said, “I’m flattered that he speaks of it. Okay, here is what I do,” and she proceeded to tell Isabel what she put in her cake to make it better than what was on the box.

Isabel said, “Sounds rich and wonderful.”

Nancy’s eyes largened as she said, “It is, trust me. Well you’ll find out tonight.”

Isabel smiled and said, “I’m looking forward to it. Michael is so excited about this meal that he has wrote a song about it.”

At their perplexed expressions, Isabel laughed and said, “Just kidding, but he has been going on about it for days. Long before he invited me.”

Nancy could see that Isabel really liked Michael by the way her face grew happy just mentioning his name. She noticed Liz’s smiles that showed she knew. Nancy just hoped that they were not rushing into anything. They were so young…

The dinner was at six-thirty, later than expected, but the boys were gabbing and the girls were fussing with them, trying to get them into the kitchen! Finally after re-heating the corn and the mashed potatoes, Nancy said, “If you don’t come in now, we’re eating without you.”

That did it. They were in there in seconds.

The table that was generally half filled was full to the max now. And everyone dug in after the prayer was said. Mom gave thanks, Liz recalled and did a nice job. Liz felt Max’s eyes on her and she looked his way smiling. Richard noted it too.

Afterward, when it was just Max and Liz with Richard and Nancy, Michael was taking Isabel home, Liz looked at her parents and said, “Mom, dad, I didn’t completely tell you everything about Max and me.”

Richard gave Nancy a look of concern. Nancy replied, “We didn’t think so.”

Max replied, “It’s nothing serious.” Well it was, but there was no reason in bringing that part up yet.

Liz replied, “No, I mean, we are friends. I didn’t lie. I just wanted to wait till Max was here to tell you from the both of us that we are dating…and have been for a couple months now.”
Meanwhile, at Alex’s house, he sat with his dad and little sister and they were eating their own Thanksgiving meal. Dad was talking to Alex and Amy about school. “How are things going for you both?”

Amy smiled and said, “I’ve gotten A’s so far, Dad I think in all my classes.” Duane smiled at his little girl and said, “Wonderful, Amy. That is fantastic. I’m proud of you.”

Alex used to give his sister suck-up faces over this announcement that was pretty common, but today, he smiled and said, “That’s good, Amy. I’m proud of you too.” Shocked to hear that, Amy said, “Thanks, Alex.”

Duane looked at Alex and Alex knew it was his turn to confess his grades. “Dad I’m not going to lie. I’ve pulled out with some B’s, but it has been tough and I’ve gotten C’s in the rest of the classes. It’s been a bad year.” It felt worse by the minute with Tess choosing to hang around Scott Brinkman even after Alex tried to warn her. His attempt at warning her had seemed to fuse her to him even more which disturbed him and had him hanging his head.

Hating that, thinking of her on his holiday, Alex lifted his head as quickly as he had lowered it and smiled saying, “I should be able to bring up the C’s, Dad, I think before the end of the year.”

Duane smiled at Alex and said, “I’m sure you will, son. But I only expect your best, you know that.” Alex nodded and said, “I know that.” And he did. His dad didn’t ever expect perfection from either one of them. Alex felt proud to have him as his dad as the weeks progressed. He was grateful that his dad was listening more and that they were growing closer.

The phone shrilled and Alex was tempted to let the answering machine get it, but he said, “No, what if it is an emergency.”

He leaned over and reached for the phone off the counter and pulling the receiving part to the table, he said, “Hello?”

Everyone could hear the sobbing sound of Tess as she spoke so loud.

“Alex! Is this Alex?”

Alex looked up at the ceiling and said, “Yes, this is Alex. What is wrong, Tess?”

Tess said, “I need your help, Alex.”

Alex would have helped her at any time but right now he was eating Thanksgiving with his family and he felt this discussion was in bad taste at the table, so he said, “Tess, I’ll be glad to help, but not right now. It’s Thanksgiving. We’re eating.” He guessed she was up for calling him a bunch of names as soon as he told her she was making a mistake being with Scott, so he didn’t feel too badly for what he said.

Until Tess hiccuped and Alex could hear the tears in her voice.

He stood, running a hand through his hair, his plate of food forgotten. He barely heard his dad ask him what was wrong.

He said bluntly, “Tell me what is going on, Tess. No holding back. Where are you and what has happened?”

Tess swallowed her next bout of tears and said, “I’m at the dunes…Alex he forced me to sleep with him. I’m alone and scared, Alex…I’ve not even gone home yet. The creep forced himself on me!”

Alex covered the phone so his eight-year-old sister wouldn’t hear this conversation and walking the phone into the dining room said, “I’ll be there in five minutes. Tess, this better be the truth. If it isn’t, then you are on your own from now on.”

Tess said it was and hung up her phone with shaky hands.

Alex walked into the kitchen, running both hands through his dark brown hair now. Looking from his sister to his dad, Alex said nothing for a minute. Then, Duane asked, “Who was that, Alex? What’s the matter?”

Alex let out a deep breath and said, “It was Tess, a girl I know. To brief this for obvious reasons, she has been hurt and is asking for my help. So I have to go. I’m sorry, Dad.” He added, “I should be back soon, Amy, so we can play Super Sega.”

Grinning, Amy said, “You better be.”

At the car, Duane looked at Alex and said, “It’s real bad isn’t it?”

Alex was in angry shock, and had to force his mind to function. He looked at his dad and said, “Yes. If what she said is true, dad, this jerk has raped her.”

Duane wasn’t heartless but he knew that it was odd that Alex would be the one to call, so he said, “I don’t see why she wouldn’t call her parents or the police. Why you, Alex?”

Alex opened the door and looked at his dad saying emptily, “Because she knows she can. I’m her friend. I’ll be back as soon as possible, Dad.”

Duane nodded and said, “Be careful, Alex.”

Alex nodded and sad, “I will be.”

When he reached Tess at the dunes, he wasn’t expecting to find what he did. Tess had been crying for sometime and her dress she wore was torn. She was alone, with her purse, which was probably where the phone was that she used. Her face was bloody from a fight he guessed and she was broken hearted. He could tell that from the destroyed look in her blue eyes.

He’d be damned if he’d tell her I told you so at this moment. Alex was far from the sort of person who could be that condescending.

Tess spotted him and said, “I don’t deserve you, Alex. I spit in your face and here you are, at my request.”

Alex replied, “I’m your friend, Tess. Friends do that.”

Tess shook her head saying, “Not all friends would do that after being treated as I have treated you.”

Alex replied, “I’m not that fickle, Tess. It takes a lot for me to give up.”

Unable to take that lightly, Tess walked over to near where he was and said, “I feel so stupid. I should have trusted you when you said Scott was trouble.”

Alex replied, “So you made a mistake. I’ve made my share.”

Tess looked up at him and said, “Alex…I’ve slept with him before.”
Alex could get this, but it was hard to compute with being raped just now. He said, “I thought you said you had been forced.”

Nodding, Tess said, “I was. Alex, I found out what a jerk he was and told him earlier that I didn’t want to see him anymore. He was mean to his own friends. When I told him that, he became ugly with me. He started pushing me around. I pushed back. Then he forced me into a car and pushed himself on me. There was nothing romantic about it either. Alex…” Crying, Tess continued, “I’d never been with anyone until Scott. I thought he was a good guy. I feel that I’ve been blind and stupid…and I don’t know what to do now.”

Alex wanted to take Tess into his arms, but instead said, “You could report this to the authorities.”

Tess said lowly, “Tell them what, Alex? That my boyfriend took what I’d been giving him all along? I doubt they would take that seriously.”

Alex shook his head and said, “He forced you, Tess. That is different.”

Tess turned to look at Alex, then seeing his love for her, his concern and needing support, she walked up to him. She said, “I need a friend, Alex. Right now I really need someone I can talk to and lean on.”

Alex put his arms around her and walking her to the car said, “Tess you’ve had me for sometime.”

Tess glanced up into Alex’s eyes and for the first time saw some of what Alex had been trying to show her for weeks. Right then, however, all she could do was lean her head on his shoulder and cry as he drove her to the police station. They walked in together, Tess feeling dirty and ashamed, and Alex said, “I need to speak with Sheriff Valenti.”

The commotion, stress and pain caused Tess to suddenly faint where nothing else could harm her….

***Ok guys, thats it for this part. We would really appreciate feedback so we can determine interest. Thanks!

[Roswell4ever1]

Here is the next part. Hope you enjoy. Important authors note at end!

Disclaimer: We own NOTHING!!

Where Do We Go From Here?
Written by Angelrose242000 and Roswell4ever1- We would like to give a special thanks to Gatormae, our Creative Assistant. She has been a big help throughout the writing of this fic and without her, it would not be what it is today!

Part 14—No Means No

Disclaimer: We own NOTHING!

Tess and Alex sat in the Sheriff’s office for a half an hour, waiting for Sheriff Valenti to return. He had taken the day off for Thanksgiving, so it took awhile to get a hold of him. Tess was a jittery mess after she awoke from her fainting spell. Then, seeing the shock from faces in the station, her jitters became uncontrollable. It took Alex’s convincing words, “You’re not alone, Tess,” to keep her steady and sure when she confessed what took place. Somehow knowing Alex was there helped Tess become stronger.

Sheriff Valenti asked his questions—at the hospital. He had insisted that she be taken there. Alex drove her on over. The faces that were inspecting Tess became monumental and she nearly fainted again, from being broken in body, mind, and heart. Alex held her hand and when he noticed her feet faltering, he picked her up and carried her on in the rest of the way, up to the front desk at the ER. When he saw no one, he moved to the locked door, next to the black button that he could push to speak.

Alex took over where Tess could not.

“Hey! I have a girl here who is hurt. We need someone to look at her. Now!” He faintly heard someone behind him telling him he needed to sign in first. Such protocol was inappropriate now.

Suddenly, the door opened and Alex rushed Tess inside, not even questioning or thinking for a second that she weighed 125 pounds. He was too upset to think about such things. Instead, Alex reached the front desk receptionists and said, “Listen, I know you are all busy here, but this is important. She needs to be checked.”

The receptionist named Nina took in the seriousness of the scene, stood and said, “Sir, I will get someone right away.”

It was a skeleton crew tonight because of the holiday, but Dr. Langly, a forty-three year old male doctor walked over and said, “In here.” He led Alex and Tess into his first available room. Then closing the curtain he said, “Get her on the bed.”

He looked at Tess with a smile and said, “Miss, I’m not going to hurt you, but I need to know what’s happened…are you up for telling me, or should I ask your friend here?”

Tess shook her head and mumbled, “Dr. I believe I’ve been raped… The sheriff sent us over here…I guess he is wanting me checked out…I’m sorry to be bothering you.”

Alex didn’t feel too friendly right then. He was angry. He watched as the doctor asked question after question of Tess and saw the look of terror then weariness on her once beautiful face now broken with cuts and tears. Then as if to blur his image more, he watched as a caretaker nurse for rape victims came in. Candace Brigby, a twenty-something blonde that looked like she hadn’t seen much in her career and smiled like a schoolgirl. Alex was becoming weary himself and bitter. Was this the best Roswell could do for getting the bottom of a crime? If so, then they were pretty useless.

Tess took a second through the questions to see Alex’s pacing and his concern, and she said, “Alex, why don’t you go outside for a little while? I’m fine for now. You look like you need some rest.”

Alex shook his head and said, “No thanks.” He didn’t want to leave Tess alone. Not one to be obsessive or protective except with his sister, Alex was surprised to see his attachment right then to Tess. Somehow he couldn’t’ detach himself from her, even to let Ms. Brigby ask her questions in her crème colored little number she called a skirt outfit.
Though it wasn’t a distraction in the romantic sense to Alex, but just an irritation. He glanced at her finally with a look that questioned her professionalism. Feeling it, Candace pulled her shirt down a little more, futile attempt though it was.

Candace asked, “Tess, start at the beginning. What do you remember?”

Tess let out a deep breath and began with Alex focusing fully now. It was as if she were taking them all on her horrid journey….

“It was a warm evening, I was mad as nails at Scott. He was trying to control me and tell me where I could go, what I could do, who I could hang with. I had had it for sometime with his chauvinism. I witnessed it too much with his people he called friends. So I took him aside at the Crashdown and told him it was over…He chose to let me leave but only for a while.”

Candace asked compassionately, “Why awhile?”

Trembling as she sat on the bed, Tess said, “Because he followed me… I had gone on a bike ride. I wanted to take some time to digest the fact that I had just ended a relationship with someone I thought cared about me. I was hurt. The day was hotter than sin, hitting me in the face as I pedaled on, on my ten-speed. When I heard the sound of a loud car coming behind me, I turned just in time to be thwarted off my bike, and onto the ground. Or at least this is how it felt. It probably took a little longer…I don’t know…anyway, I was scared. I got up and began to run. I knew how Scott was with people he was angry with so I didn’t want to be his next victim. I felt I had had enough of his antics…”

Alex asked in a near demand, “So you were running? Did he follow you on foot or in the car?”

Tess looked at Alex through tears and said, “By car…when he and his clones outdid me, I fell to the ground in a pile. Then, out of nowhere, I felt a hand pulling me back and I didn’t want to go, but it was hopeless. I was being pulled into a car. I heard him saying horrible things to me, crude things, in my ears and I realized it was Scott. When I had a chance, I fought. I fought with my hands, my teeth, my feet, whatever I had available.” Her voice rose then as she continued, “He pushed me into the backseat…” her voice became erratic as she said, “I felt sure he wanted to sleep with me. Well I didn’t want to! Never again with that creep. So I told him no. I said, No! I don’t want to! He backhanded me with his hand and thinking I was out, continued his pursuit…I fought with my hands pushing him, and biting him, but he seemed to get excited from it…he forced himself on me…tore my clothes, beat me up some more. When I thought I had had enough, he yanked up my skirt, tore off my panties and shoved himself into me with a force that was sharper than anything I had ever experienced in my life. In agony, I cried out. I told him NO! again and again, but he ignored me. When he was through, he tossed me out the door of the car and took off, his car fumes my only reminder of anything real…”

Alex asked, “What about the others in the car?”

Tess looked at Alex and said, “They didn’t take turns, but sat frozen in the car, not knowing what to do. Scott was threatening them along with me and they were scared…”

Alex felt for the guys, his ire for Scott only growing stronger.

Crying harder, Tess said, “I don’t know how long I lay there in the dust. Finally, I realized my purse was with me…my cell phone inside…I did the only thing I could do while my body ached and I felt so horribly exposed…” much as she did now, Tess thought miserably, “I called Alex because I felt…I felt he might help me.” Turning to Alex, Tess smiled barely and said, “I was right.”

Candace let out a saddened short breath as she said, “Tess you and Alex did the right thing coming here tonight. I want to tell you Tess that you were not at fault…I can see you blame yourself.” When Tess didn’t deny it, Candace smiled and said, “You’re not at fault. No matter how long you knew him, how much you knew him, when you said no, that meant no. That meant he had no right to push you for something you didn’t want.” Tess caught the steel in her voice and the pain in her eyes and wondered…had she or someone she known been raped? Tess said, “I know…I just wish I had gone someplace else tonight and not on my bike to the dunes. I wish I hadn’t been so easily available…to find…to be fooled. Alex tried to tell me he was a jerk, but I wouldn’t listen…I was stupid.”

Alex walked to Tess and said kindly, “No, Tess, you weren’t. You were right in following your own heart and not listening to me. I gave my opinion, but that was all it was. I care about you, Tess, too much to see you call yourself stupid.”

Candace took off her crème colored jacket—apparently sweating now—and crossing her legs on her chair, leaned in and said, “Alex is right…you aren’t stupid. The word stupid doesn’t fit in a situation like this, Tess. Do you understand your rights, Tess? You can take this further and prosecute Scott for what he did to you. You know that, don’t you? Rape is wrong, it is against the law.”

A million thoughts went through Tess’s mind during this mess, but prosecuting Scott, doing anything in retaliation for real was not among them. Seeing Alex coming back to the bed with a box of Kleenex, Tess took another and blew her nose, her crying subsiding for the moment. She looked at Alex and felt sure he saw her fears, her uncertainty, for he said, “Tess, you’ve been through hell. You can decide what to do next after you’ve had time to digest it all.”

Tess smiled at Alex, wishing she had never in her life or his called him the things she had, compared him to the likes of that puke. Alex Whitman was a good guy and he was far better than what she had known, far better than she could ever deserve. She found herself muttering, “I’ve been blind…but not anymore.” Looking at Alex, Tess finished, “I want to do this, Alex. I think I need to, for other girls that might have been used—maybe not by Scott, but by predators out there.”

She caught Alex’s nod and heard him say, “It’s not going to be easy, Tess.”

Tess nodded and said, “A lot of things aren’t. But if I don’t do something, then I’m saying what he did…” she said through some wavering in her voice, “that it was consensual. And it wasn’t.”

Alex said, “I’m behind you on this, Tess. All the way.”

Somehow, Tess figured he would be. She reached out and squeezed his hand, feeling the strength that materialized within her from this decision and knowing that Alex was a part of her life again.

She turned to Candace and said, “Whatever I have to do to pursue this…then I’m willing to do.”

Pictures were taken, exams, tests, and X-rays were performed. Tess became a project for the rest of the night. She stayed strong, picturing handcuffs on Scott Brinkman for taking something he had no right taking and abusing it—her trust, her love, her innocence. A woman’s innocence had a wide expanse of definitions and meanings, Tess thought. Scott had taken her virginity, yes, something she gave in trusting him. But he had done more than that. In a brief matter of time, he had abused her love, he had abused her trust, and he had nearly robbed her of all her ability to trust again. In one night, he had beaten her in more ways than one and shown her a dirty ugly side of sex, stripping away anything pure that could have been in the act, making it a violation, a horrific night she felt sure she would remember for years to come. When she thought of this, Tess became determined to fight back.

Alex stayed up all night, by her side, unwavering. Tess looked over at him at a moment early the next morning when she was alone with him and smiled. He was dozing in the chair beside her bed and didn’t realize it. She wasn’t about to rouse him, no matter what….

A few hours later, when Tess was again alone, she saw the visitor that came into her room. Instantly embarrassed, she said, “Mr. Whitman…hello…I’m sorry for disturbing your family during Thanksgiving…” her voice broken now, tears in her blue eyes only making them larger and more vulnerable, Tess finished, “I don’t know what I would have done…without Alex.”

Duane felt what it was like to be ashamed himself. He had been a bit upset at the call last night, not knowing fully what was behind it, until hearing outside from Alex. Of course Alex’s words were nothing compared to seeing for himself, the image of a once beautiful girl, now bruised and recovering in a hospital bed. Her sheets were covering her, she was in a hospital gown and looked tired and sounded guilty.

Walking across the room, stopping a few feet from the bed, Duane said, “You didn’t ruin our night, sweetheart.” Turning to Alex who lay sprawled on the brown chair, Duane felt admiration. He looked just like a typical teenager in his baggy jeans and throw over Hard Rock Café T-shirt. He might be irresponsible with his room, but there was no one else more reliable or diligent as Alex was when it came to needing something…or someone. But he had never gone this far in showing it. He saw now that his son cared for this girl considerably or he would have checked her in and come on home.

He turned to Tess and said, “Can I do something for you? Get something?”

Tess shook her head and said with a smile that made the bruises on her cheeks more visible, as she said, “No thanks. I think you did enough letting Alex come after me…”

Duane laughed as he said, “No…I mean do you want me to contact anyone?”

Tess replied, “My mom’s already here. She had gone downstairs to get a cup of coffee but she’s been here for a while now.”

Duane took in Tess’s strength in her face and knew that she would survive this. He admired her for it. But he did worry that a relapse of sadness might happen if she wasn’t supported enough. He didn’t know anyone who had been raped—he was thankful for this—but he had watched enough shows to see the way it often affected women. He hoped Tess would be an exception.

Duane nodded and said, “Well when Alex wakens, will you tell him that I stopped by and that I should be someplace in the hospital if he needs me?”

Nodding, Tess said, “Of course. Wait a second, please.” Duane stopped.

Tess looked over at Alex and said, “Alex?”

Alex had been asleep but when he heard Tess’s voice, he bolted up instantly awake. He had trained his mind last night to stay awake and somehow he had fallen asleep despite his efforts. Somewhat upset over this, he went to her side and said, “What is it, Tess? Is something wrong? Do you want me to call the nurse?”

Reaching for his hand, Tess said, “I’m fine…Why don’t you go on home, Alex?”

Shaking his head, Alex said, “No. I’m fine here. I won’t leave you.”

Tess smiled at him and said, “My knight in shining armor. Don’t you think that sleep is a requirement even for heroes?”

Alex looked into Tess’s eyes and spoke form his heart, “Tess I don’t feel like any hero. I just happened to be there.”

Tess became a bit ruffled over this as she said, “Just happened? That’s not how I remember it, Alex…anyway, your dad is here. I think he sees the need for rest as much as I do.”

Duane spoke then as he saw Alex turn to his presence and said, “Alex, it is up to you, but you do look like you could use some sleep. Tess appears in good hands here.”

Alex could not see it this way, however. He felt that she was still recovering from a tragic night and his place was here, with her. His mind going through his ultimate decision, a memory of a little girl who was waiting to play Super Sega entered in his mind and he felt suddenly torn. Looking at his dad, Alex said, “Can we talk a minute?”

Alex looked at Tess and said, “I’ll be right back.”

He squeezed her hand and she squeezed it back and said “That’s fine, Alex.”

Out in the hallway, Duane said, “She seems sweet, Alex.”

Nodding, Alex said, “She is…she just got lost for a while.”

Duane replied, “Maybe, but she seems to be on her way again.”

Alex walked across the hall to the tall window, then frustrated, took a longer walk down the hall, toward the end of the hall, where they could be alone. Then he turned and facing his dad said, “When I saw her, Dad…”

Duane replied, “It had to be a sight, I’m sure. I’m sorry, Alex.”

Alex let out a low breath as he said, “Yeah, so am I.” Running both hands through his hair, Alex felt all his guilt resurfacing and his throat thickening, constricting him. He was near tears and this was something Alex rarely ever experienced. Hurting beyond anything imaginable, Alex turned and faced the opposite his dad. Now that he didn’t have to be a hero as he had been dubbed, Alex could face last night and its impact on his heart and mind.

Duane asked, “Why are you sorry? You’ve done nothing wrong.”
Alex looked out at the sky, at the town of Roswell and saw only light. He spoke through bitter feelings of self judgement, “I could have fought harder to get her away from him, Dad. I didn’t.”

Duane could hear the pain in his son and felt it in his own heart. Running his hands through his hair much like Alex did, Duane said, “You did the best thing you could have done.”

Alex let the words fall and didn’t take time to think, he merely spoke his heart, “I did the worst thing I could have done. Some friend I’ve been. I didn’t even want to go there last night. I figured it was one of her tricks, just to tell me off some more. Just one more chance to take my heart that she already had and abuse it again. While she was hurt, all I was thinking about was my own damn self!”

Duane replied, “And I wasn’t happy about the phone ringing on Thanksgiving either, Alex, but things happen. You can change how you felt hearing her call…anymore than I can my initial reaction.”

Shaking his head, Alex said, “No. I guess not. It doesn’t make me feel better, Dad.”

Duane replied, “Instead of beating yourself over last night, Alex, why not look at what is there now.”

Alex caught this and said, “She is recovering from a rape, dad, I’m not going to start thinking on those lines. Not right now. I do care about her.”

Duane replied, “I know. You are a hero, Alex, whether you want to accept the honor or not. If you don’t think so, take another glance at the girl in room 101 in the bed who calls you one. You don’t have to rush into another relationship to have a good friend.”

Smiling, Alex said, “I’m not Lancelot, dad.”

Duane patted his son on the back and said, “To her you are. I have a feeling that you will become more of one as this rape issue progresses. If you’re up for it that is.”

Alex leveled his eyes with his dad’s and said, “Oh, I’m up for it. I want a piece of that creep, Dad. I can’t get it physically, but I sure as hell can legally. I intend if Tess is willing to take this all the way…in more ways than one.” He caught his dad’s look of interest and said, “When she is ready, that is.” Nodding, Duane said, “That might take awhile, Alex.”

Alex replied from his heart, “I’ll wait. One more thing, dad. Amy…is she crushed that I didn’t rush back?”

Shaking his head, Duane said, “No, she understood. But I figure when this is over, you will be owing her a game or two.”
“At least.” Alex replied before going back into room 101, to Tess.

Although Tess was able to positively identify Scott as the man who raped her, there had to be physical evidence to convict him. So during the time that she was at Roswell Regional Hospital, several tests were run. They took skin samples from under her finger nails from where she had scratched Scotts back trying to fight him off, fibers from her clothes that may have come off of his clothes or from the carpet and or apolstry from his car, saliva trying to match some of it to Scott from where he had tried to kiss her and sperm samples. Photos were taken of her face, thighs, arms, and dress. They also took a few photos of her neck from where Scott apparently tried to choke her and fingerprints to positively identify her as being in his or any of his friends cars. They then tested her for any kind of sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy. She was thankful that both were negative.

They released Tess that afternoon after setting her up an appointment for group therapy sessions for women who had been sexually abused. She was also set up with a personal crisis counselor that she could call day or night anytime she needed someone to talk to. By the time she left, she was thankful that Sheriff Valenti insisted she go to the hospital. She felt better knowing that not only was she taken care of physically but also that she was given the resources necessary if she would have any kind of breakdown. And most of all, there would be physical proof of what Scott had done to her and he would be brought to justice. Tess was tired, in pain, both physically and mentally, and terrified. Other than the doctors, the only male she would let touch her was Alex. All others were quickly shunned as she would shy away from them. Alex drove her home and sent her straight to bed to try to get some sleep. She was still exhasuted from the whole ordeal and he wanted to make sure she was at least well rested. She didn’t argue with him as she knew she wouldn’t be able to function if she didn’t get some sleep. Alex didn’t leave. He sat in the chair across from her bed watching her sleep in the case that she would have any nightmares. And it made Tess feel better knowing he was there. He was her hero through it all and she would always be thankful for Alex Whitman…

The group had set up a schedule of when each of them could be contacted. They wrote down their work schedules, cell phone numbers, home numbers and best times to contact them. They gave it to Tess so no matter what, there would always be a friend just a phone call away. They didn’t want her to think that they were trying to parent her but at the same time they wanted her to know she had a support system. The girls would take turns taking her to lunch and shopping and the guys took turns spying on Scott trying to get any kind of dirt they could find. This worked until he was arrested two weeks after the rape. At this point, Alex hired Billy Christofferson, a 23 year old, very well known P.I. to do a little digging of his own. What he found was shocking to all of them.

“Apparently, Tess was not the first girl he had raped. There was one other. But there was a bit of a difference.”

“What kind of difference?” Isabel asked.

“Tess was 17 at the time of the rape wasn’t she?” Billy asked.

“Yes?” Alex responded a little confused by what this had to do with the first girl.

“Well, the first girl was only 12!” Billy said with a disgusted look on his face.

“Why the hell was he not in prison to begin with?” Alex asked with a very angry tone. He knew that Scott had been in jail once, but the only time he knew about was when he had stolen a Playstation system and eight cartons of Camels from the Wal Mart in Hondo. He didn’t know that Scott had a history of raping girls. If he had, Alex would never had spent any time with him. Thinking of a poor 12 year old girl, made Alex think of his little sister. What if it had been her? There was no sense in thinking that. If it had been little Amy, Scott would have been dead already. Alex would have killed him with his bare hands which he had to fight hard to keep himself from doing already. But he figured that landing himself in jail would do Tess no good. No, Scott had to go down. And Alex would make sure it happened if it was the last thing he did!

“Well,” Billy started, “they did arrest him and he spent a year in the Juvenile Detention Center in Hondo.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me! He rapes a 12 year old girl and only gets a year in Juvenile Detention? What the hell kind of justice is that?” Michael asked, getting angrier by the second.

“The only kind you get when you are a ten year old first offender.” Billy replied.

“Ten? He was only ten?” Liz asked. She was beginning to get a headache now that she was sure would drop a full grown buffalo.

“Wait a minute. He rapes a girl at 10 and they don’t think he could possibly be a danger in the future? Where are his parents? I mean come on, if a guy rapes a girl when he is only 10 years old, then obviously he has serious problems and there is a very good chance he will do it again.” Max said. This whole situation was beginning to make his blood boil.

“Alright. We cannot allow him to do this to anyone else. We have to stop him before it happens again. The question is, what do we need to do?” Alex asked.

This was not the type of group you wanted to piss off. You hurt one of them, you deal with ALL of them! And things were going to get ugly.

“The first thing we are going to do is go to the Crashdown to get something to eat and then go bowling.” Tess said. No one knew she was listening to the conversation and were surprised to see her standing in the doorway.

“Bowling?” Liz asked.

“Yes, bowling. You guys have been working on this for the last two weeks and are on the brink of total meltdown and you will not do any of us any good that way. You need to get your mind off of this for a few hours. I know you are trying to help me and I appreciate it. I really do. But, you need rest too. Now, come on. Lets go. I am dying for a UFO Burger and Saturn Rings.”

Once they realized she was right, they all got up and headed towards the door. Michael looked back and realized that Billy was still sitting at the table looking over the information he had gathered.

”Come on. You need to eat and have a break too. The Crashdown has the best food in town. Lets go.”

That was all it took. Billy was not used to being invited out by his clients. As a matter of fact, he was not being used to being invited anywhere by anyone. His parents were always too wrapped up in their work to ever pay much attention to him and he always sat at home by himself with his nose stuck in a book. That is why he became a P.I. to begin with. He never had much of a life himself and through his work, he could see how other people lived. He had only been in this line of work for a week before he gained a true love for it. He had gotten to where he felt more comfortable with being able to sit on the sidelines and just watch others. This way, the only people he had to come in contact with were his clients. Rather introverted he knew, but that was just a way of life for him. But now, now someone was inviting him to go and hang out with the gang. To come out of his shell and have some fun. He wasn’t used to it, but he certainly wasn’t going to turn it down. He had waited too damn many years for this moment and it was finally happening. Maybe, just maybe he would actually have some friends. He quickly got up and followed Michael out the door to Max’s jeep. The group had split up into two groups. One group took Max’s jeep and the other took Maria’s Jetta. They headed to the Crashdown to enjoy some “normal” time. Whatever normal was.

Across town, Valenti continued to work on the survelience operation. The sheriffs department had closed for the night and he could not do much more with the Tess rape case until Monday morning when all the other legal offices would open back up. The hearing was scheduled for July 15th and he was positive they would be ready for it. Until then, Scott would remain in jail.

It looked like it was going to be a boring night. He had been sitting in the old building for two and a half hours now and nothing had happened. He decided to get up and go get a cup of coffee from the kitchen area.

“Wait! What was that?” He asked himself while jumping out of his chair. “Oh my gosh! They were actually doing this? That’s it, its time to play hardball now.”

Valenti sat there for another twenty minutes watching the men in black suits carefully placing the bomb in his office and police cruiser. “So much for I need your help Jim. Bring me the aliens Jim. That ass had no intention of letting me get close to them kids. Somehow he knew I would help the kids and not him. But how? Well, time for an emergency meeting.” With that, Jim picked up his two way and called for Max.

“You suck Kyle! How the hell do you manage to get a strike every time your turn comes up?” Michael asked in an almost jealous tone.

“Oh come on Guerin! You know I’m good! And I take it rather offensively that you act so surprised. I mean come on. When you start with perfection, there is no way you can go wrong.” Kyle replied.

“Yep, perfection.” Maria said. “That is a perfect blob of pizza sauce you have on the front of your shirt Kyle.”

Everyone started to laugh. Billy laughed and said, “It sure is a big improvement for that shirt!”

Laughing, Isabel walked over to Kyle and waved her hand over his shirt. When she pulled her hand away, the spot was gone.

Max heard a familiar sound and excused himself to go get some air.

“Cobra to Hot Stuff. Come in Hot Stuff.”

“Hot Stuff here. What’s up Cobra?”

“We have a bit of a situation here. Need emergency meeting right away.”

“On our way Cobra. Hot Stuff out.”

Max ran back into the bowling alley and went around telling everyone they had to go. When Valenti calls an emergency meeting, they know it is important. They started to run out when Michael realized that Billy is still there.

“Sorry man, we have some important business to attend to. We’ll see you tomorrow?”

“I think I could be of some help to you.” Billy replied.

Everyone turned and looked at Billy

“How could you be of help?” Max asked a little apprehensive.

Billy turned to the table where the pizza was sitting. He looked at the pizza box for just a brief second and it all of a sudden shot across the room and hit the wall. Thank God, the bowling alley had been pretty much unoccupied that night and those who were there were too drunk to notice.

“Whoa!” Alex exclaimed. “What the hell is going on here?”

“I don’t know. Who are you?” Max asked Billy.

“I’m still trying to figure that out. But I get the distinct feeling that you know.”

“How do you know about us?” Isabel asked him.

“I’m Mayor Thompkin’s nephew. I was across the street when I saw her confrontation with your dad at the building downtown.” He looked over at Kyle. “His disguise was extremely believable and I would have thought nothing of it had I not seen him walk into that ranch looking like the sheriff and walk out looking like someone totally different. And then I saw you all going in and out of the building and going out to that abandoned ranch every few nights. And then I saw you wave your hand over the spot on Kyle’s shirt and make it go away.” He said looking over at Isabel who got a shocked look on her face. “Look, I am not here to cause any problems. I just want to know what is going on with me. One minute I am a perfectly normal guy and the next all I have to do is look at something and it shoots across the room.”

“Give us a minute Billy. We need to talk.” Michael said as the rest of the group formed a circle and discussed.

“I think he’s telling the truth. I can feel something about him.” Michael said.

“Me too. I have felt it since we hired him.” Max replied.

“Yeah, me too.” Said Isabel.

“I thought it was just me.” Tess responded.

“So did I.” Liz told her.

“Why the hell is it that you guys can feel things about people but we can’t? It isn’t fair!” Maria chimed in.

“Well, I think we should take him with us. I think he’s right. I think we need him.” Michael said.

They all nodded in agreement and signaled for Billy to join them.

“Alright. We are trusting you which we only do with each other. If you prove that we can’t trust you, there will be hell to pay.” Michael told him.

“I understand. I just want to know what the hell is going on with me. I mean I know I’m obviously not human. But what I don’t understand is why is it just now showing up? And where am I from?” Billy said.

“That’s what we are trying to figure out.” Liz replied as they all walked out the door toward the vehicles. Valenti was waiting and whatever he had to tell them, it was important and they had a lot to discuss!

Valenti looked at the gang, then at the newcomer and said to Max, “Who the hell is he?”

Max said looking at the sheriff, “He’s a PI we’ve hired, who strangely also happens to be alien. So what’s going on?”

Valenti was a little nervous over this addition, readjusted his collar on his flannel shirt and said, “The FBI is here and in full swing. Bastards showed themselves on the camera tonight. The only reason I knew about it was I was still at the old building—apparently they thought they’d picked a good time to be sneaky. The point is, Max, we’ve got a problem.”

Max nodded, feeling Liz’s arm going around his waist, and glancing at Liz then the others, finally zeroing in on Valenti, Max said, “Not for long. I’ve got a plan up my sleeve. There’s five of us now and I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to give up without a fight.”….

***Authors Note: Rape is a serious crime. If you or someone you know has been raped, please get help! Go to the police and the hospital and call the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. Being a victom does not mean that it is your fault! You have done nothing wrong. When you say NO, it means NO! Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN):
1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673). It doesnt make you a coward to stand up and ask for help. It makes you a hero!***

[Roswell4ever1]

Here is the next part. Hope you enjoy! Please leave fb so we know what you think! Thanks!

Disclaimer: We own NOTHING!!!

Where Do We Go From Here?
Written by Angelrose242000 and Roswell4ever1

Part Fifteen: A Stranger In The Shadows Part 1

Alex had gone in that night and helped Valenti disarm the bombs. Thank God that Alex’s uncle had taught him as much as he did. Alex was able to disarm them in a matter of minutes without any complications. The gang had come up with a plan to hold the FBI off. Valenti had Mr. Baker meet him at the office. While there, Isabel dream walked him and told him that the investigation had been called off that the alien sightings had all been a hoax. While she was trying to convince him, Michael had gone to Baker’s car and got a hold of his paperwork and Alex changed the documents so that it would look like he had official word to pull out of Roswell. They didn’t expect this to last long, but it should hold them off for a while anyway. A few weeks later, although they still had to be careful, the gang had actually been able to relax for a while and Christmas was in the air. The Parker's decided to close the Crashdown early one Friday night and not to open up again until after New Years. They told Liz that she and her friends could hold a Christmas party there that Saturday.

Isabel, Maria, Tess and Liz arrived early to decorate the café. They wanted it to be perfect. Alex had gone and bought them a little Christmas tree and the Valenti's had provided the lights. Tess brought the tinsel and the rest brought bulbs, wreaths, exc. They had all brought some kind of food and gifts for everyone. They had at first planned on it just being the group but later decided to invite all of their parents also. However, the only one that was able to make it was Jim. The rest already had plans, which was alright with them. It was one of the best nights the gang had shared in a long, long time.
They finally had been able to have a night where they didn’t have to keep their guards up. They could just enjoy themselves. And that they did!

As time passed on, things progressed slowly. The court date still seemed so far off and Tess couldn’t wait to get it done and over with. However, she was thankful for the time to get prepared. Maria and Kyle had gotten closer in their relationship and were pretty much inseparable. Max and Liz were the same way. Always together. The group had never thought that it was possible for the two of them to get closer, but somehow, they had. It amazed them all. Tess and Alex had become best friends and spent so much time together that Alex’s dad looked at Tess as another daughter and her mom had pretty much adopted Alex also. Billy had become an important part of the group. He was not only their P.I., but he was also their friend and a part of their family. Wherever you saw the rest of the group, you saw Billy and vice versa. He felt so blessed to finally belong. Michael and Isabel spent a lot of time at Michael’s apartment. They had a scare shortly after Thanksgiving but the pregnancy test proved it to be a false alarm. They were both relieved about this. It wasn’t that they had a problem with children, but they were just too young to be parents.

Baker had seemed to disappear after the group convinced him that he wasn’t supposed to be there and Valenti hadn’t heard anything from the FBI sense. Still, they remained prepared. Maybe, just maybe things could finally go back to normal. At least for a little while anyway…


Six Months Later…


Friday night, May 28, 1999

School was officially out at 3 that afternoon until next fall. Max, Liz, Michael, Isabel, Alex, Tess, Kyle, Maria and all the other 200 some odd students in their class were officially considered seniors. It had been decided a month ago to meet at Max’s and Isabel’s that night at seven or whenever they could drop in for a Summer Bash. It would be the eight of them, so it would be more fun, they could hang out.

Kyle was buttoning his jeans, tucking in his Big Johnson T-Shirt, when a knock on the door had him hesitating slightly. Then it set in…it was his dad. Letting out a groan, he waited as Jim said, “Kyle, you decent?”

Pulling his comb out of his back pocket, Kyle proceeded to comb his hair in front of his miniscule mirror on the wall that was jam packed with photos taken through the years. One was mixed in with them now that made Kyle smile—it was of he and Maria taken at the junior prom. Maria was so beautiful as she stood next to Kyle in her wine colored dress and satin shoes, with her blonde hair pulled up into a twist, loose pieces in curls around her face. They had danced, ate, and made out well into the night. Had it only been a few weeks ago? It had. But the memory still had Kyle smiling, looking forward to picking Maria up in less than thirty minutes.

Absently, Kyle heard his dad turning the knob, and said, “Yeah, I’m alright.”

His dad had been pretty good about the dating issue with Kyle and Maria, but somehow Kyle figured it was because he and Maria hadn’t slept together yet. They’d been dating for several months, but had wanted their first time, whenever that was, to be natural, not planned out. Most of all, Kyle wanted to be prepared, he wanted to be ready and though he felt he was, Maria had nervous feelings about it. As long as she wasn’t ready, it wasn’t a go.

Jim looked at his son that he loved more than life and smiled. He was in love and it showed. Here lately, Jim had seen Kyle worrying more about his appearance, having his hair clean, washing it two and three times a day. Jim had picked on him once about it, then let it alone when Kyle gave him a Leave Me Alone look.

Kyle looked up now, with his thoughts mostly on tonight, and said, “What you need, Dad? I’m kinda in a hurry.”

Jim laughed and said, “I know. So what’s going on at Max’s?”

Kyle put his comb back into his back pocket, grabbed his keys off his dresser, and glanced sideways at his dad, saying with a grin, “We’re having a bash with lots of alcohol. Then after we are plowed, we are planning on using Max’s and Isabel’s rooms to have sex. Speaking of which…” Kyle opened his dresser drawer like he was digging for rubbers and added, “Dang it. Well I’ll just have to go buy some condoms at the grocery store—better yet I’ll ask Max for some.”

Kyle had to laugh over this, since he guessed it would be the furthest thing happening. His mom and dad would come home from their night out long before anyone could get it on.

Jim said, “Very funny, Kyle.” Kyle said with a smile on his face, “Well Dad I’m not going to some orgy, so you don’t have to worry about me. It’s at the Evans’s. You know them as well as I do now with our pact.”

Jim said, “Doesn’t matter where it is, Kyle. It’s a Friday night party and you are my son. But be that as it may, I trust you. I trust you to be responsible.”

Kyle met his dad’s eyes, saw he was serious now and said, “Thank you, dad.”

Kyle walked to the door and Jim stopped him, saying, “Here.” He handed Kyle a ten-dollar bill and said, “Just in case you need it.”

Kyle rolled his eyes and said, “You’d think I was a sex machine…but I know you are just being concerned. When you want me back?”

Jim replied, “It’s a Friday night, the usual, one am. Unless you’re planning on staying overnight, then call.”

Kyle said, “I will. See you later, Dad.”

Jim called out, “Bye. Drive carefully, Kyle.”

Kyle yelled back, “I will.”

Jim had plans too…he was going to relax and read some before fixing his TV dinner and enjoying the evening in peace. He was keeping his TV cameras on, though…


Maria looked at herself in the living room, checking her watch to be sure she could still run and change if the outfit wasn’t good enough. Her mom walked into the room with a mission in hand. She was going to find that movie if it was the last thing she did! Spotting Maria, she said, “Have you seen The Empire Strikes Back, Maria?”

Maria was thinking about Kyle, seeing him again in a matter of minutes. Would he wear that cologne she liked so much? Have that pretty-boy look about him that she adored? Figuring he would, as he always did, Maria smiled and imagined walking to him, feeling his arms going around her and registering the texture of his mouth against hers, something she could not get enough of.

In the past handful of months, they had become pretty close. Dating constantly, Maria felt she knew Kyle’s house as well as he did hers. He’d come over for dinner several times and she’d been at his for dinner too. His dad made the best hamburgers and French fries she’d ever had—they even beat the Crashdown food! And Maria didn’t think that was possible.

Finally registering that her mother asked her something, Maria said, “What, mom?” But her mom was muttering something by now and on her way into the bedroom to find it there. It was most likely there, whatever it was, Maria thought. Her mother kept most of her life in her bedroom! Maria thought she was bad but nobody could outdo her mother when it came to collections and keepsakes and making good use of a room.

Dismissing it, Maria put her earrings into her ears and sprayed perfume on in her bedroom. She’d nearly forgotten to put them on! School was out now and Maria was so glad to have a summer vacation where she could spend all her time with her friends and most of all with Kyle.

Maria heard the sound at the front door and walked out of her room, toward the door. Seeing Kyle, she smiled instantly, her concerns of how she looked gone. Opening the door, Maria took in Kyle in his jeans and shirt, his smile, the look of adoration in his blue eyes and invited him in with a large smile of her own.

The awkwardness gone, Kyle walked over to Maria and asked, “Where’s your mom?” Maria walked the last inches to him and said, “Off in her room, watching a movie.”

Nodding, Kyle said, “Good, we have a second then.” And he lowered his mouth to hers so they could share a kiss before leaving for Max’s and Isabel’s….

Tess knew Alex’s house pretty well too. Their friendship had grown over the last six months and she often stopped by after school to study or hang out. So Mr. Whitman said she didn’t have to knock, but she still found herself doing so.

Amy answered and smiling up at Tess, her new best friend, Amy said, “Hi! I like your shirt, it reminds me of spring with all the colors.”

Smiling at a little girl who had come to be like a younger sister to her, not to mention a good friend, Tess said, “Thank-you. I found it at K-Mart and couldn’t pass it up. You spending Friday as you should?”

Shaking her head, Amy said, “Nope. The Nintendo has to sit tonight. I’m going to a slumber party at Janet’s house in an hour.” Janet was her best friend, they’d hung out since forever. Tess knew about Janet, she had met her before. A nice girl, Janet Beasley was a good friend, she didn’t tattle or back stab, but she was a bad example when it came to homework. Amy had gotten in trouble before a couple months ago over not turning in assignments. Tess had helped her get back on track again in the afternoons. In a great sense, this family had helped Tess through getting past Scott in the last six months afterward.

Looking at Amy, Tess remembered the fun days of being a kid having summers off after school and enjoyed them still herself. Smiling, she said, “Good! I hope you have fun.”

Amy shut the door and walked with Tess into the house saying, “My brother is upstairs in his room, if you’re looking for him.”

Smiling, Tess nearly blushed as she said, “Okay. Thanks.” And she walked across the living room and to the stairs. Reaching halfway she crossed paths with his dad! It still made her nervous at times going to Alex’s room that his dad was going to have a fit over it. But so far he hadn’t.

Duane had his glasses on and was getting ready to go rent a movie from Blockbuster when he saw Tess. She had become a part of the family in many ways, Duane thought. Since the rape, she had spent hours over here, had supper, come by after school and helped Amy. She had nearly beaten Amy at Nintendo! Nearly. Amy was a pro.

So far Duane didn’t think anything was going on romantically between Tess and Alex so he hadn’t had a problem with her going upstairs to his room—not yet anyway. It crossed his mind how eventually that might happen or he might catch something he wasn’t expecting, but he figured he’d cross that bridge if he came to it. For now, he was going to let it be.


Smiling, Tess said, “Hi, Mr. Whitman.”

Duane said, “Hi, Tess. School’s finally out, huh? I’ll bet you’re glad for a vacation. Alex and Amy are.”

Tess answered, “It’s wonderful! I look forward to sleeping in and not having to study for tests. Of course I won’t tell Amy that.”

Nodding, Duane said, “Best not to. Alex is up in his room if you’re looking for him.”

Tess replied as she walked, “Thanks, Mr. W.”


Walking down the hall, Tess went past Amy’s room, past Mr. W’s and on to the end where she found Alex’s with his door opened a crack. Standing on the other side, Tess said, “Okay, Alex, it doesn’t take that long to put on your jeans.”

Tess opened his door and walked in and caught him walking out of his bedroom bathroom, zipping up his fly. Blushing and turning away, Tess said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I should have knocked.”

Alex said, “It’s okay. You can look now.” He was wearing his boxers underneath anyway, but Tess had never seen him without his jeans. He was flattered that she was shy where he was concerned. That meant she was interested. Or so Alex hoped anyway. They’d not dated before, on a technical basis.

Turning, Tess looked up into Alex’s eyes and smiled saying, “You took a shower. I like your hair when it is like that.” His hair that was shoulder length and dark brown was combed back, layered and full. Tess wanted to run her hands through it. She’d wanted to for sometime, but hadn’t the nerve to tell him. Instead she walked in and felt silly for mentioning that.

She added, “Now I will go back into the hallway and try to find a place to hide.”

She started for the door that she had apparently shut and reached it before Alex said, “For telling me you like my hair wet?” Alex was confused and humor wasn’t far behind his comment. He had to work at hiding it.

Tess turned and said nervously, “Yes! No! I guess…”

Alex grabbed his billfold off his in table by his bed and put it in his back pocket, then grabbing his keys he said bewildered, “I wasn’t offended by it. You are acting strange today, Tess. Are you sure you’re al right?”

No. She wasn’t. For sometime now, Tess had begun to have incredible feelings for Alex, feelings she was having such a hard time concealing. At night she’d dreamed about him. She had visions of going to his room like she did tonight and telling him how she felt. Then having him take her into his arms for the very first time and making love to her in his bed throughout the night. Other times she had dreamt of him coming to her, in her room, and she inviting him to her bed. Both times it was intense and she awoke with a void knowing he wasn’t with her.

Tess thought to herself that she didn’t have a right to experience anything romantic with Alex because she had been with his friend. Okay, ex-friend but still…

Tess started again for the door, which really had Alex concerned now. He said, “Tess what is wrong? Tell me. Has something happened about the court case?”

Shaking her head, Tess walked to his bed and sat, knowing she couldn’t go on not saying what was on her mind. They were too close of friends for secrets. So she said, “No, it hasn’t. Everything’s still on the up and up.”

Alex walked toward her and said, “Then what is it?”

Tess felt his pant legs not far from where she sat and looking up, slowly finally reaching his eyes, Tess said, “I’ve been having dreams, Alex.”

Alex figured it was nightmares, she’d had them for awhile after the rape. So he said, “Tess, I’m sorry.”

In this turmoil of her own, Tess said, “It’s not nightmares, Alex…it’s dreams of you and me. Clear dreams where we are together….”

Alex could have easily asked for details, but thought it less of him to do that, so instead he said, “It’s probably normal, Tess, we are around each other a lot.”

Tess leveled her eyes on his and said, “No, I’m not talking like that.”

Hurt that he was moving away, Tess felt a lump in her throat as she stood and said, “I shouldn’t have mentioned any of this, Alex. I’ve not a right to. I have to go.” She started for the door, when Alex said, “Tess wait.”

Tess stopped, still facing the door.

Alex continued, “Now I know why you are acting this way.”

Tess replied, “Alex, you’ve been wonderful to me.”

Alex replied, “I’ve been a friend, Tess. Your friend.”

Tess nodded and said, “I know…and I love you for it, Alex. But the truth is, Alex, the closer I get to you, it seems the more I have these dreams.”

Alex asked honestly, “What’s in them?” He had to know…Was he another replica of Scott because he was a leader of the gang once upon a time? That would figure, Alex thought miserably. Alex asked, “I’m not a doctor, Tess, so you’ll have to tell me. When you have these dreams, do they make you frightened? Am I bad guy in them?”

Tess looked at him then fully with intense blue eyes, showing all her feelings in them now. Tess said, “No, I don’t feel frightened, Alex, if anything I feel...happy. They’re of us, together. Romantically. You aren’t a bad guy, in fact you are a good guy.”

Relieved, Alex began to piece things together as he said, “Are you wanting to go to this party, Tess?”
Tess shook her head as she said, “Not really, but we should make an appearance.”

Alex grabbed his things again and walking toward Tess, he said, “We will. It just might not be at seven.”


Meanwhile at Max’s….
7:15 PM

Max and Liz were in the kitchen making popcorn and getting ready for the guests to arrive. Liz said, “Well, we have Maria and Kyle, Michael and Is. That only leaves one couple.”

Max got a grin on his face as he said, “It sure does.”

Where, Max thought, were Alex and Tess?

Alex walked downstairs with his arm around Tess’s shoulders and said to his dad, “Well we’re off. I’ll be back later, dad.”

Duane replied, “Be careful, Alex and watch the weirdoes out there. You know they drive like maniacs.”

Nodding, Alex said, “I know. What time you want me back?”

Duane spoke absently, “You have a cell. I’d say be your own judge. As long as it isn’t three in the morning.”

Alex agreed and Tess said, “It was nice seeing you again, Mr. W.”

Duane replied, “Have fun Tess.”

He watched looking for signs, but so far read only a friendship, so he dismissed it and went so he and Amy could watch their movies for the night….

In the car, Tess rode beside Alex wondering where they were going. Tess was surprised a little when she saw they were pulling into a Super 8 motel. Turning to Alex, she said, “Alex? What is this?”

Alex parked and looking at Tess he said, “Tess, I’m going to be honest with you. I didn’t bring you here for some sordid fling. I wanted us to talk…in a setting where we are alone. Sound good?”

Nodding, Tess got out of the car saying, “Well when you put it like that, I guess I can’t argue.”

Michael looked at Max and said, “Wonder what’s keeping Alex.”

Liz looked at Maria and Isabel and said, “I hope they are okay.”

Isabel said, “Yeah, me too.”

Maria replied, “If they weren’t they’d call. They know we’d be there.”

Max replied, “That’s right. So let’s relax, have fun, and not worry until we have to.”

They took out their tapes and begun watching movies and eating popcorn…wondering where they were….

8:00 PM—at the Super 8
Thirty minutes later…

Tess was sitting Indian-Style on the bed, Alex straddling a chair, facing her. Tess asked after a silence, “I should call Liz and tell her what is taking so long…I don’t want her to worry.”

Alex had been watching Tess, seeing her pretty face and knowing finally another side of her feelings—or what you hope to be feelings, Whitman, he told himself. He’d be a liar if he said there wasn’t a huge part of him that didn’t want to take things further with her. But he wanted her to be ready.

With other girls, Alex might have gathered his nerve and been a bit aggressive in letting them know his feelings, his wants. But Tess was unique. The feelings he felt for her were stronger and he didn’t want to scare her. Maybe coming here had been a bad choice to talk, but Alex had gone on impulse this time and not careful thought. He hoped he hadn’t been mistaken.

Alex knew he had to ask, “Tess we need to talk when you get a minute.” Tess nodded and catching Liz said, “Hey. I just wanted to tell you…” seeing Alex, she said, “that we will be there, but it might be later.” Liz asked, “Is something wrong, Tess?” Tess shook her head, and used her hands to describe what she was saying, making Alex grin, and said, “No, nothing’s wrong. We’re just getting last minute things done before hand.” This seemed to appease Liz and so Tess hung up saying to Alex, “There. I feel better.”

Alex grinning still said, “Good.”

Seeing his grin widen, Tess asked, “What is so funny?”

Alex shook his head and said, “It’s nothing.”

Tess knew when she was being picked on and so she said smartly, “Out with it, Whitman.”
Alex replied, “You are cute when you do that hand thing when talking on the phone. I was getting a charge out of watching you…I don’t think you know just how much I do watch you, think of you.”

Nerves swept over Tess and wants too. She blushed and said, “Alex…”

Alex continued, figuring he had nothing to lose, “What I need to know, Tess, is these dreams you had, are they your real feelings or just some spontaneous dreams you’ve had from nowhere?”

Tess felt the room warming up as she said, “Alex I’m not sure…”

Pulling back, Alex smiled and said, “That’s okay, Tess. You don’t have to be.”

Tess felt a silence in the room and knew she was the cause. But she didn’t think that Alex understood why. She readjusted on the bed and said, “What I’m getting at, Alex, is well…how could I know? We’ve never…we’ve never done much more than hold hands.” Smiling fondly, Tess thought of the dreams again and said, “I see them more as fantasies. Things I’d like to have happen, or must to have them at all.” Looking at him fully focused now, Tess said, “Does that help more?”

Alex replied, “Sort of. I guess what I wanted was to hear you were interested, but you can’t be if you don’t know how you feel. Which means I’m rushing things. Sorry, Tess.”

Standing, Alex grabbed his keys and said, “Come on, I’ll take you to the party.”

Was that what he wanted? A confirmation of her feelings to know how to react? Was he still afraid of hurting her? Tess shook her head and said, “Not yet. I want to say something now.” She had his full attention. Tess continued more assuredly, “Sit down, Alex, please.”

Alex sat on the chair straddle style again. He was understanding and didn’t look angry or defensive, but like Alex with his interest in his eyes, capped off for her sake as well as his.

Tess moved to the end of the bed and looking him in the eyes spoke her heart as she would as his friend, “Alex we’ve been friends for a while now. You’ve gone above and beyond what I could have ever expected, you’ve been my hero, Alex. So why would I ever think you were rushing something? I might be unsure of how far I want this to go tonight, but I am sure that I care about you and that I am interested in more, Alex.”

Tess reached out for Alex, to touch him but he backed off and stood, facing a window. Confused now, Tess stood and walked toward Alex stopping a few feet behind. She said, “Alex? What is it? Was I too forward?”

Shaking his head, Alex said, “No, Tess. You could never be that way. It’s me. Man, Tess, I’m not worthy of you.”

Tess said, “You’re not worthy? Why, Alex? If anyone has earned me it has been you. I didn’t know if I could ever feel this way again, but I know it is here now. Especially now.”

Tess walked to Alex and stood beside him, saying, “Look at me, Alex.”

Alex hesitated but did after she repeated herself. Somehow he didn’t feel aggressive tonight.

“You look at me in the eyes right now and tell me why you don’t deserve me. No holding back.” Tess said.

Alex ran a hand through his hair and said, “I was a leader of the gang once, Tess. I trained some of the boys. Hell Scott…he looked up to me.”

Tess nodded and said, tears in her eyes now, “I see. So you blame yourself still for a rape that you weren’t even a party to.” Swallowing her pain over this announcement, not initially angry, but hurt for him, Tess said, “Well come on then.”

Shocked, Alex sputtered like a boy, “Wh-what?”

Tears fell, Tess wiped them away and said, “Yes. Come on, Alex. I’m not wearing the same outfit as that night, but I imagine you can improvise.” So upset, Tess found herself moving to the bed and laying on it in invitation.

Alex turned away, swore, and said, “Damn it, Tess. This is stupid.”

Sitting up, Tess got to her feet and said, “Yes, it is. Because you and I both know that you had no part in that night. You could never do that to anyone, Alex and I know it.”

Alex muttered, “No, I couldn’t.”

Tess walked toward Alex and putting her hands in his, then running them up through his hair, she said, “When I’m with you, I want it to be special, because I see what we have to be special. Not some backseat romance. I’m done with that.”

Feeling Tess’s body next to his, Alex was helpless but to put his arms around her and pull her closer. This was what she was hoping for. Tess lifted her face up to his and said, “Oh, Alex…” Alex gave in to it and kissed Tess for the first time. It wasn’t enough. He kissed her again, feeling the need within him growing. Maybe it was the fact that he had poured his feelings out to her, the fact that she had to him, but he was overcome with it all.

Tess knew without question that her dreams were reflections of her real feelings. Through tears, she kissed Alex back again and again, deeper each time. She mumbled his name several times before they brushed against the bed.

Alex broke free long enough to look at Tess, as if to see if she wanted to stop. Her eyes said no. But… He said breathless, “Tess…What do you want to do?”

Only seeing Alex, Tess said, “I want to be with you, Alex. Make love to me.” Alex needed no further suggestions or invitations. He picked her up and carefully lay her on the bed. With careful tenderness he slowly undressed Tess, not rushing, not bruising her.
Alex wasn’t the sort to believe in quickies. He saw making love as to be just that, sharing each other completely. Taking his time, Alex moved forward and saw that Tess was there with him. Before Alex reached the final stage, he looked at Tess and said, “Tess…you on anything?”

Nodding, Tess said, “Yes. Keep going, Alex.”

Alex was all too happy to oblige. They spent the next two hours not caring about anything but what they gave to and received from each other….

10:15 PM—Leaving the Super 8

Alex put his jacket around Tess’s shoulders as they left the motel and they clung to each other, laughing. They headed to Alex’s car to go to the Evans’s.

What they didn’t see was the gentleman who sat in his car taking photos—or the footage he took from outside their window….

[Roswell4ever1]

Here is the next part. Feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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Where Do We Go From Here?
Written by Angelrose242000 and Roswell4ever1

Part 16—A Stranger in the Shadows Part Two

Friday, May 28, 1999 (That same night)
10:30 PM, Turning onto the street the Evans lived on…

Alex and Tess sat closely together on the drive to Max’s place. The aftermath of their first time was still present, and both felt certain vulnerabilities after sharing so much with each other. Though they knew now it had been right, Tess looked at Alex and felt naked, knowing that he saw a part of her that only one other guy had ever seen. There was no comparison as far as Tess was concerned. One was a weasel the other someone she loved. It made things deeper, more emotional and real.

Not to mention Alex had been the only one to be able to bring her back after six months of hell following her rape.

Alex felt similar emotions, though for him it was more the hope that he had made their time together what Tess wanted it to be. He had been with girls, but not so many that he could call himself a pro in the sack. Furthermore, Tess meant more to him than the others had so it was more impacting on him all around. He glanced at Tess, seeing her spacing off and wondered what she was thinking.

Suddenly, Tess must have detected Alex’s nervousness, for she reached over for his hand, squeezed it, smiling as she did. He smiled back and said, “This has been one hell of a night.”

Tess grinned at Alex and said, “But a good one, I think. Don’t you?”

Alex touched Tess’s face and said, “Yes. I think so too.”

Alex pulled into the drive thankful to have Tess and to know that they weren’t just friends anymore. He parked the car and said, “I wonder what they’re doing in there.”

Tess replied, “Probably watching movies. Liz told me that they were going to watch some tonight. I hope we weren’t supposed to bring something with us…Liz didn’t say anything about it.”

Alex replied, “Nah. I didn’t hear anything from Max or Michael so I’d say we are safe. You ready?”

Nodding, Tess smiled and said, “Sure. Ready as I’m going to be. I’d rather spend the night with you.”

Alex turned toward Tess, pulling her closer, and said, “You are.” He touched her face so tenderly and lifted her chin so he could look deeply into her eyes. Lowering his head, he kissed Tess.

Tess moved closer to Alex, if that was possible, kissing him again. Breaking away, they got out and met in the middle. Alex held Tess’s hands as he said, “Tess we can go in and say hi and leave if you want. Or we can stay two hours, it makes no difference to me.”

Tess smiled up at Alex, feeling sure about him and said, “I’d like to stay a little while.”

At the door, Alex asked, “Tess…how much don’t you want known about tonight?”

Understanding him, Tess thought a minute and said, “Alex I don’t care if they know we are seeing each other. I trust you enough that I know you aren’t going to go babbling to Max or Michael or Kyle about…about what we shared. But I don’t care if they know we spent the evening together, I just would rather the details be minimal.”

Alex moved closer to Tess and once they were standing against each other, he said privately, “I wouldn’t tell about that, Tess. You can trust me enough to know that I wouldn’t go telling tales.”

Smiling up at him, Tess said, “I know that.”

Alex added, “Tess when we have more time, I want to talk about us. It’s not bad, I just want to talk about how I feel about you. For now I can tell you that tonight has meant more to me than anything has. I love you Tess.”

Surprised as this was the first time Alex had said that, Tess felt tears entering her eyes as she put her arms around his waist and looked up into his eyes. She replied from her heart, “I love you too, Alex.”

Alex leaned down and kissed Tess. This was how they were found as Max opened the door.

It was also the same scene that a stranger in the shadows very close by had found—his camera made a little clicking sound….


Alex and Tess met Max at the door and were welcomed inside. Max looked at Alex when it was just the two of them, when Tess had gone in and met Liz, and joked, “Oh, man I want details and they better be good ones.”

Alex glanced at Tess from across the room and then back at Max and said, “Tess and I are together and that is all the details that are needed.”

Max respected this, a little disappointed as he would have loved to hear how it came about. Instead, they hung out for the next two hours and had a good time.

When Alex walked in the house it was late. He had just dropped Tess off at home and the clock in the living room now said 1:30 AM. Locking the door behind him, seeing the house was pitch black but for one light in the kitchen, Alex tried to make his way up the stairs, to his room. Something compelled him to stop and go to the kitchen. Maybe it was destiny. Maybe it was stupidity and his exhaustion working on him. He didn’t know, but turned and headed for the kitchen. The light was bright and he walked in with the idea of turning the light off and heading for bed.

The room was empty, but Alex felt suddenly thirsty, so he walked to the fridge and grabbed the jug of Orange juice. Bending down some to reach inside for a glass from the dishwasher, Alex didn’t hear the footsteps in the room.

He poured his glass full and turned to take it to his room—only to meet his dad standing in his robe at the entryway. Duane took in his son, and the time of morning, and said, “Well as long as you’re getting a glass, get me one too, if you don’t mind.”

Shaking his head, Alex said, “Sure. Thanks for leaving the light on…I thought everyone was in bed.”

Duane took his glass, and sat at the kitchen table. He took a drink and said, “Nothing better for a late night snack.”

For some reason, Alex found himself taking a seat at the table too. He drank some of his glass and said, “Yeah.”

Duane asked, “So did you have fun at Max’s?”

Nodding, Alex said, half asleep, “Sure. We surprised them I think with our entrance though.”

Duane was curious now, he asked, “Why’s that? Did you bring pizza or something?”

Alex realized he’d just said that and had to decide what to say next. Damn if it wasn’t his exhaustion making him an idiot! Rubbing his hands over his face, he said, “No…Man I’m tired. I think I’m going off to bed.”

Duane knew something was up. He originally said, “Okay. Night son.”

Alex stood and started to make his way to the doorway. Guilt was making him waver between going to bed or sticking around. He amended, “We were late getting to the party.”

Duane nodded, grinning now as he said, “I figured.”

Surprised, Alex said, “You figured what dad?”

Duane let out a low chuckle as he said, “Let’s just say this town isn’t so big, Alex that you can get by with too much. Do you forget who your dad is?”

Letting out a breath of defeat Alex said, “It’s not as bad as it seems. It wasn’t planned.”

Duane was enjoying this as it went on, watching Alex do a bit of healthy squirming. “Oh really? Well maybe you should tell me what happened then.”

Alex was about to go crazy! A headache was starting to throb in his temples from the anxiety of his dad having caught him somehow. It never used to bother him, what his dad thought, but now that they were closer, it did. Alex sat back at the table and said, “Damn it I want a cigarette.”

Duane laughed and said, “No you don’t. You just think you do.”

Alex gave his dad a long look of wariness and said, “Oh believe me, Dad, I do.”

Duane grabbed his pack from his shirtfront and handed them over saying, “Here, light up. But don’t tell Amy I did that.”

Grinning, Alex lit his cigarette and said, “I won’t.” Taking a long drag, he said, “Dad, I think I told you that I loved Tess.”

Duane nodded and said, “At the hospital, yes.”

Alex recalled that day and what led up to it and said, “Tess and I have been hanging around each other a lot—as you know. When she’s not here, I’m wherever she is. Dad what I’m going to say has to be kept here. She can’t know about it.” Alex made a glance at the edge of the kitchen to be sure Amy was in bed. She was.

His dad said, “Okay. I won’t say anything.” He was a bit nervous, but somehow he figured it would all make sense once Alex told all.

Alex continued, “I’d kept quiet about how I felt all this time because I didn’t want her to feel that she couldn’t lean on me as a friend. Then tonight, Tess told me she had been having dreams. Romantic dreams that she couldn’t explain. It didn’t help that I was her partner in them.”

Duane said with a smirk to his face, “Oh I’m sure you were distraught over that, son.”

Catching his dad’s smile, Alex’s smile became broader as he said, “Oh yeah, I was downright disappointed. Felt taken advantage of without having the pleasure of participating.”

His dad gave him a smart look followed by a chuckle. Alex took another drag from his cigarette and continued more serious, “No, but, dad had it been any other girl coming to me like that…it would have been different. But it was Tess.”

Duane said, “So you wanted to be sure about things.”

Alex nodded and said, “Yes. Tess has been through a lot this year. So I got her to tell me more about the dreams and her feelings. In the end, she offered herself in my bedroom…but it wasn’t what you’re thinking now. Tess is no slut.”

Duane replied, “You don’t have to tell me that, Alex. I know Tess is a good girl.”

Putting out his cigarette, Alex said, “I know. I told her I wasn’t worthy of her. She put me on this damn pedestal and I wasn’t sure I deserved it. Anyway, we wound up arguing and she told me if I was so sure I was responsible than I should…I should take advantage of her. She convinced me that I wasn’t responsible for the rape finally.”

Duane nodded and said, “And you weren’t Alex…but you don’t have to go into all the details if you don’t wish to.” He could tell that Alex was sharing a very personal part of his life and he wanted to offer the option for Alex to minimize it if he chose.

Alex felt he needed to though. Somehow he needed his dad’s ear during this. So he said, “I want to. Dad Tess has brought out this side of me that I didn’t know I had. Whenever I am around her or with her I am vulnerable and I hate that! If she asked me to walk through fire, I think I would.”

Alex continued, “She’s wonderful dad. She got me to admit my concerns—no other girl has been able to do that. I was always used to the cut and dry if you know what I mean. If she was interested and I took a liking to her we fooled around. When I was with her, though, it felt…well I can’t describe it. All I know is that I know that I am a point of no return. She could hurt me really bad, Dad, as no one else has, because when I’m around her my defenses are down.”

Duane felt for Alex. He’d been there in his life too. He smiled and said, “But you wouldn’t want to change it, would you?”

Alex shook his head and said, “No way. Well I should go on to bed.”

Alex stood and taking his cigarette butt, he threw it in the toilet off the utility/bathroom, to the left of the kitchen and flushed it, taking care to be sure it went down.

Duane met his son in the kitchen and said, “I’m going too.” They walked a few steps together, then Duane turned and said, “Alex?”

Alex looked at his dad and said, “Hmm?”

Duane shook his head and said, “It’s so strange sitting up at night and talking to you about sex when I can still imagine you as my boy. I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you. I hope all goes well with Tess. But Alex, if it doesn’t, then it wasn’t meant to be. You would come to me and tell me if you were needing someone to talk to wouldn’t you?”

Alex didn’t want to think of ever being apart from Tess, but said to his dad, “I did tonight, Dad, and I didn’t think I’d ever do that. Yes, I would.”

Duane patted his son on the back and said, “I think it will be just fine.” He had a feeling about Tess and his son. Something was going to happen there and he was crossing his fingers for the best….


Max awoke to the sound of a window breaking. He thought at first he was dreaming and though he didn’t like the dream he wanted to see its end, so he continued to sleep. When the cracking sound became a catastrophic boom sound, Max shot up in bed. Throwing back the blankets, he hurried to the door of his bedroom. Baseball bat in hand, he opened the door and proceeded to step into the hallway. It was there that he met his dad and mom. Giving them both looks of concern, Max ignored his dad’s request for him to stay there with his mother. He replied, “I’m going with you, dad. You shouldn’t be alone. What if there is two or more of them?”

So Phillip and Max crept downstairs at 3:30 in the morning, armed with a baseball bat and a pistol.
Edging their way down the carpeted stairs, whispering orders could be heard from the next room…

“Come on McCumbers, we’ve done our job.” The voice sounded bossy with a definite air of fear to it that Max picked up on. McCumbers retorted, “I say when we’ve done our job, Wimpuson! Either participate or get the hell out of here.”

Wimpuson knew his life would be on the line if he did that, he’d done it before at other jobs, so he said, “How much more do we have to destroy?” The pause in answer followed by crashing sound of appliances being smacked to smithereens gave Max and Phillip their answer—as well as did Wimpuson.

Not liking the sound of that, Phillip and Max moved faster. The men in shadows blended in well with the darkness of the living room, but Phillip had enough of an aim to do the job. He said loudly, “Hold it right there!”

Wimpuson blubbered, “I knew I should have stayed home!”

McCumbers turned to Wimpuson and leveled him with his fist. Then he turned to Phillip and lunged!

Phillip didn’t have time to react. The next thing he knew McCumbers fell to the floor holding his leg. Phillip said hotly, “Anything you’ve destroyed will be paid back, and the best way I can see that being done is by you doing time. Max dial the phone.”


Max dialed the number and the cops arrived in minutes. Wimpuson and McCumbers were taken away. The house was destroyed and there were damages that Phillip knew would cost money to repair—some things couldn’t be replaced like his award from the office that had been busted and sprayed with some gunk. Phillip said, “I think we’re safe now, Max. You can go back to bed.”

Max couldn’t sleep if he wanted to, and as for feeling safe, he didn’t think he’d feel that way for a good long while.

As the cop squad took away the two beatniks, the mysterious agent cameraman was sitting in the shadows, biding his time for his next move….

The next day, Max and Liz met at the Crashdown along with the others and they discussed last night. The parts that were dangerous that was. Liz said, “Max! I’m so sorry about your house. How bad was it after?”

Max felt like hell. He hadn’t had much sleep and when he did get shocked awake he couldn’t sleep no matter how hard he tried. He finally replied, “Pretty bad.” Liz said, “I’m sorry,” and she moved closer to Max to offer comfort.

Isabel added, “I was out late with Michael last night so I didn’t see the crime, but I know it is a frightening experience knowing you aren’t safe.”

Alex got a wary look on his face as he said, “It doesn’t make sense. I don’t remember hearing of burglaries around here…unless…what did you say their names were, Max?”

Max supplied the names of Wimpuson and McCumbers. Alex let out a breath of relief and said, “Nope. Don’t know them.”

Max replied, “I didn’t either. But I wonder if Valenti might have some insight. This all seems so connected. He sees the FBI on camera, then we have a burglary. One after the other. Too coincidental.”

Alex chimed in, “You’re right about that. I suggest we let him know when we see him next. When is that by the way?”

Michael replied, “We’re to meet him at the old ranch later this afternoon. At least that was the plan.”

Max wanted to feel better, really he did, but it wasn’t in the cards today. He said in an empty voice, ““Mom is still cleaning it up at home. I am only staying here for a little while then I’m going back to help. I don’t want to have her do it all. I can’t make it this time.”

Liz replied, “I’ll get an excuse and come with you, Max. I want to help.”

Max nodded and smiled, “Thank you, Liz.”


Maria said, “Well unless your mom doesn’t want all of us there, I think we should all help out.”

Kyle and Alex agreed, so did Tess and Michael.

Kyle said, “I’ll get word to my dad to meet us this evening instead of this afternoon that way we have time to help out.” Max and Isabel said, “Thanks.”

Kyle replied, “No problem.”

They stayed at the Crashdown for another fifteen minutes then went on over to the Evans’s house to help pick up the pieces….

[Roswell4ever1]

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Where Do We Go From Here?
Written by: Angelrose242000 and Roswell4Ever1

Disclaimer: We Own NOTHING!

Part 17—River Dog

Six weeks later…July 10th

It is July 10th. The court date is in less than a week now and I am nervous. Very nervous. It’s not that I have anything to hide but I don’t want to have to look Scott in the eyes. And in order to keep my strength and do what I know in my gut is right, I am going to have to. Being raped was the worst experience of my life. Now I feel like it is happening all over again. I am having to dredge up all the painful memories with my attorney for the case and by doing so, I feel like I am reliving it. But the funny thing is that I don’t feel hatred. I used to. Right after it happened I can honestly say that every time I would look at Scott, all I could feel was hate. But I have made myself forgive him. I will never forget that day and I certainly will never trust him but I forgive him. The one thing that has kept me going the most, has helped me to be strong is Alex. I don’t know what my life would be like now without him. I hope I never have to find out.

“It is a great improvement Tess. I am impressed by how well you have overcome this situation.” Dr. Jacomen said as he hands her back her journal.

“Thank you sir. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Alex by my side.”

“He really seems to care a lot about you.”

“I care a lot about him.”

A bell rings. Dr. Jacomen looks over at his desk.

“Well, it’s 10:30 which means our time is up for today. I really don’t think we need to continue seeing each other on a weekly basis Tess. You have made a lot of progress and I think we can start to spread these visits out a bit. Why don’t we go to biweekly and see how that goes and then try to work into monthly?” He asked her

“Sounds good to me!” She replied.

Tess walked out to the receptionist desk to make her appointment. The pudgy little woman behind the desk hands her an appointment card but no prescription. The doctor told her she no longer needed the Paxil. She had overcome the depression that was caused by the ordeal. However, he had given her some samples of a medication to help with anxiety and stress to help her make it through the trial.

Just as she turned around to walk to the door, she ran into someone and fell backwards into one of the chairs in the waiting room. She stood back up and saw a tall Indian man looking at her.

“I am so sorry! I didn’t know anyone was behind me!” Tess said to him nervously

“Relax Tess.” The man replied.

“How do you know my name?” Tess asked.

“I know a lot about you.”

This was getting way too freaky. What did he mean he knew a lot about her? Had he been stalking her? Was he one of the guys that broke into Max’s house? Who was he anyway?

“What do you mean you know a lot about me?”

“We can talk about that later. You and your friends are in danger.”

“What kind of danger?”

“Meet me at this address tonight around 4:00. We can discuss it then. Bring your friends. When you get there, ask for River Dog.” With that the strange man walked out of the office.

Tess looked at the card the man had handed her. White Sands Indian Reservation. She knew where this was. It was just on the outskirts of Roswell. This was really freaking her out. She had never met this guy before and now he was trying to get her and her friends to meet him at an Indian reservation. What if it was some kind of trap? What if it wasn’t? Either way, she had to talk to the others and she couldn’t do that standing here. It was time to go find everyone. She walked out of the office and headed to Alex’s house.

Once she got inside, she asked Alex to call a group meeting. He called Max and asked him to call some of the others and see if they could meet at the building downtown. Max agreed and made some of the necessary phone calls.

Everyone piled into the building around Noon. Tess filled them in on her encounter with this River Dog guy and asked for everyone’s opinion.

“I think we should go. I mean maybe he knows something that we should know.” Max said as his ulcer began to burn again. It had appeared to go away for a while but seems to be back now in full force.

“Yeah I think so too. I won’t be able to sleep until we find out.” Liz added.

“I agree with Maxwell. Maybe this guy knows about us. Maybe he can tell us who we are.” Michael agreed.

“I don’t know you guys. What if it’s a trap?” Maria asked.

“Well, that is why we are going to make sure to be prepared.” Valenti said. “I’m going with you but if I go into the meeting with you and this is a trap the FBI is planning, they will know I am helping you and it will only make things much worse for all of us. So here is what I propose. I will stay in the car but you will all have your radios as will I and if anything goes wrong, you use it. But I agree that we need to find out what he knows.”

“He’s right. We have to find out. If this guy is an enemy, it would be helpful to find out now and if he is an ally we could really use him.” Isabel agreed.

“I agree. We have to know.” Alex added as he hugged Tess to him.

“Count me in.” Kyle said

“Me too.” Billy added.

“Well it is decided then.” Tess said. “We go.”

“Look guys, I don’t know what River Dog is going to tell us. I don’t know what kind of danger were in or how things are going to turn out in the long run. But, I know that I have been very blessed to be a part of this group and I just wanted to let you know that you are all my family and I love you guys.” Tess told them.

“Yeah me too.” Liz said.

“That goes for all of us.” Isabel replied.

“You have all become my kids and no matter what, I will do everything in my power to keep you all safe. And once this whole mess with the trial is over, we are having a big party at my house!” Valenti told them.

After leaving the building, the group decided to hit the mall for a couple of hours. Valenti had gone back to his office so as not to look too suspicious. It would look pretty strange if the sheriff was all of a sudden hanging out at the mall with a group of high school students and the last thing they needed was more attention. They hung out at the mall for a couple of hours until they got bored and then decided to go to Juanita's for lunch. Michael, Maria and Liz didn’t want to get sucked into working so they avoided the Crashdown.

“You know, we really need to get this alien stuff figured out at some point. We can’t keep avoiding it.” Isabel told them.

“Why not?” Michael asked half whining.

“Because we need to get these abilities under control before someone ends up getting hurt.” Liz told him.

“Besides, we don’t know what all we can do. I don’t know about you guys, but I want to know.” Max replied.

“Is anyone besides Isabel and I going to the concert tonight?” Michael asked as if trying to change the subject.

“We aren’t. We have other plans already.” Max told him.

“I’m not. I also have other plans already.” Billy said.

“We aren’t either. We plan to go bowling and besides, its Dawson night. I have to see what Joey is going to do to get Dawson to notice her. Some guys can be so dense!” Tess told them.

“I am more interested in seeing if Pacey will actually get Miss. Jacobs into bed.” Alex added.

“Were going. Bought the tickets weeks ago.” Kyle said.

“You kidding? I wouldn’t miss a Kid Rock concert for the world!” Maria replied. She would never admit it, but she always thought he was hot. He was tall and built nice. And that long blonde hair. Wow! She quietly chuckled to herself.

“Cool. Maybe we will see you there.” Isabel said. Then looking at Michael, she smiled and said “Or maybe not. Depends on what time we leave.”

“Yep, I was thinking the same thing about Maria and me.” Kyle said smiling at Maria.

“Well, we better head out guys.” Michael told them. “Its 3:30 now and we are supposed to be there at 4:00. We still need to go pick up Valenti before we head out there.”

The group packed up their stuff and headed out. Max, Michael, Isabel, Liz and Maria went in Max’s jeep while Tess, Alex, Kyle and Billy went in Alex’s firebird.. Alex followed Max to the building downtown where they were to pick up Valenti. He was waiting on the steps. When they pulled up, he walked over and got into the jeep.

“Where did you get that ridiculous disguise?” Michael asked.

“Well, considering we don’t need anymore attention drawn to us right now, I figured it would be best if I used this ridiculous disguise. At least until we know what is going on.” He replied.

The group drove out to the reservation in silence. Everyone except Valenti got out of the vehicles. Valenti had crouched down two miles away from the reservation so as to stay unnoticed.

“Max, give me your radio a minute.” Valenti told him. He took a roll of scotch tape out of his pocket and tore a piece off. He then pushed down the talk button on Max’s radio and taped it down.”

“This way I can hear what is going on and I will know if you need help. You guys be careful.” He told them. The group walked slowly toward the first cabin. When they got there, they found an elderly Indian woman sitting on the porch. Isabel guessed she must have been about 80 or 85 years old. She had the most beautiful long silver hair she had ever seen. She was wearing what looked like a brown suede dress with turquoise beading all down it.

The woman surveyed the group.

“Hello Max. River Dog is expecting you all. Please, follow me.” She told them.

Max looked at the rest of the group with a confused and concerned look on his face. How did she know him? This just kept getting stranger. The woman led them to a large tent in the center of the reservation. She carefully opened the flap on the front and signaled them to go in. They all cautiously walked in and noticed a man sitting in the middle of the tent. “That’s him.” Tess whispered.

River Dog looked at the nervous group and after a long moment spoke. “Please sit.” They all sat down on the floor and waited to hear what he had to say.

“I know you fear me but I am not your enemy. I wish to help you.” He began.

“How?” Isabel quietly asked.

“You are all in great danger. There is an enemy in your midst. One that will stop at nothing until you are all captured or dead.”

Liz and Maria gasped.

“Why?” Billy asked. “We haven’t done anything wrong.”

“You didn’t need to. They know about you. Who you are, where you’re from and what you’re capable of. They see you as a danger. That is the only reason this person needs.”

“I don’t understand this. We don’t really even know who we are. We have no idea where we are from and don’t know what all we are capable of. So how can we be of any danger to anyone?” Isabel asked.

“Max, Michael, Isabel, Billy and Tess. You are hybrids. You possess something that they want. Something that no human possesses but every human wants.” He continued.

“What? What is it that we possess that is worth killing us over?” Tess asked.

“Intelligence.” River Dog told them.

“Wait a minute. I thought you said it was something no human possesses. There are a lot of people who have intelligence.” Michael said.

“Yes, but they do not to the extent that you have. You see, humans use approximately 8 percent of their brain capacity. You have the ability to use 100 percent of yours.”

“I really don’t see what the problem is here.” Liz said. “So they are smarter. Why does this make them dangerous?”

“Not just them Liz. You also. When you and Max joined, you began to change. You are now one of them.”

“What exactly are we? You say we are hybrids. What does that mean?” Isabel asked.

“It means you’re not human. You were raised on earth. But you are anything but human. I do not know where you are from but I was there when you hatched.”

“Hatched?” Billy asked.

“Yes. You hatched from pods.”

“Why don’t we remember any of this?” Isabel asked.

“You were too young to remember.”

“When did we hatch? Michael asked.

“August of 1985.”

“We were two years old.” Max said. “How is that possible? Why didn’t we hatch before then?”

“Yeah, no one is born at two years old.” Tess said.

“I don’t know the answer to that.” River Dog replied.

“Who exactly is this enemy?” Liz asked.

“Yeah. Is it someone we know? Maria asked.
“Or a stranger?” Kyle added.

“Before I tell you that, I think you should know a few other things. First of all, your powers cannot be detected. Unless you use them in front of someone, they don’t know who you are. At some point, this person has seen your powers in use. Probably before you realized you had powers.
Secondly, you have the power to heal and you have the power to kill. You need to get your powers under control or one or all of you or others you care about could get seriously hurt or end up dead. But only work with them in your own homes. Not in any kind of public place or even in the desert. You never know when there are eyes on you.
And lastly, trust the sheriff. He can be of great help to you all.”

“Do we all have the same powers or do they differ?” Liz asked.

“You all have the same powers. However, the strength depends on the person. What I mean by this is that Max has a stronger ability to heal than Michael who has a stronger ability to kill. Isabel has a stronger ability to communicate with people through dreams and you have a stronger ability to read minds.”

“I can’t read minds!” Liz said.

“Yes you can. You just haven’t tapped into your abilities yet.

“How do we tap into our abilities?” Max asked.

“You must concentrate. Focus on trying to tap into them and you will discover all of your abilities in the process. You must focus or you will not be able to use them. This is all the information I have right now. Do any of you have any other questions?”

“You never did tell us who this enemy is sir.” Alex said.

“Goes by the name of Annabel Thomkins. She is in charge of a group that calls themselves Operation Intelligence.”

“Mayor Thomkins?” Max asked shocked.

“Wow! I always knew she was a bit off but I never would have guessed her to be our enemy.” Isabel said.

“You never know who your enemies are my dear. You must be careful but not paranoid. Act like yourselves. Like normal everyday teenagers who have nothing to hide. The last thing you want to do is draw too much attention to yourselves.” River Dog told them.

“Does she now about my dad helping us?” Kyle asked.

“No. She thinks that you are all helping him fix the building downtown. That is all she knows.”

“What if we were followed here?” Isabel asked.

“You weren’t. She is at a mayoral conference in Silver City. She will be gone for the week along with her followers.”

“How many followers does she have?” Michael asked.

“There are two here in Roswell right now but they are part of a much larger group that is swarming the county. They are in constant contact with each other and more can come at any time. Her husband and son are the other two in town right now. That is all I know right now. I will continue to gather information and will get in contact with you as soon as I know something else.” River Dog told them.

Max stood up and walked over to River Dog. He held his hand out. River Dog took Max’s hand and shook it. “Thank you.” Max told him.

“I have a question.” Michael said. “How do we know we can trust you? How do we know you aren’t one of them and this isn’t a trap?”

“Free your mind Michael. Open up to your powers and you will be able to feel me. You will have the ability to sense evil. But you must open yourself up to it or you will never know.” He told him.

“Is there anything else we need to do?” Liz asked.

“Yes. Go and enjoy yourselves. If you act paranoid, you will just draw attention. Have fun and be young. Just be careful. I will be here if you need me.” With that, River Dog walked out of the tent.

Once they got back to the vehicles, Michael looked at Max. “What do we do now?”

“We go on with our plans for tonight. Like he said, we have to act normal.” Max responded. They all agreed and headed back to town. They all went along with their original plans for the evening and enjoyed being “normal.”


Saturday, July 16, 1999
8:30 AM at the Whitman’s….

Alex and Tess were eating breakfast in the kitchen. Tess had come by about a half an hour ago, visited with Amy until she was off and gone playing, and sat now with Alex and his dad discussing the weather.

“You think we’ll end up with the storm they are predicting?” Tess asked the two Whitman’s.

Alex replied, “Who knows?”

Duane added, “It’s possible, I suppose. But I haven’t seen a storm like their predicting in a long time. I wouldn’t worry too much about damage, Tess.”

Tess stirred her Lucky Charms and said, “It’s just when I hear about tornadoes it makes me jittery.” Not to mention the fact that her upcoming trial had already begun to unravel nerves throughout her system. Everyone had to know that by now, Tess thought as she awaited their answer.

Alex smiled at Tess and said, “Like dad says, we don’t normally get bad storms here in Roswell, but if it did hit, we have a storm cellar to go into. You know that dugout in the backyard?”

Nodding, Tess said, “Yeah, I remember it.” She’d walked over it a time or two on her way to Alex’s.

Alex brushed his fingers over her hand as he said, “If something happens, we’ll get in there until it’s over.”

Tess smiled and said, “I’m sure you’re both right. I’m just being silly.”

Duane asked, “How long before the trial, Tess?”

Tess let out a deep breath and said, “About four days…and I am becoming nervous about it. Getting up in front of everyone and discussing something so private…so awful. I felt exposed enough when it happened. Alex, Mr. W. I’m going to need both of you that day. I can tell you that.”

They both said in unison, “We’ll be there.”

Alex finished his Lucky Charms, stood and looking at Tess said, “You gonna eat anymore of that cereal, Tess?”

Tess didn’t even think about the fact that she’d been stirring her cereal for the past twenty minutes, barely touching it. Nerves did crazy things. She handed it over saying, “Thanks. I guess I’m not as hungry as I thought.”

The truth was she hadn’t been for sometime…

Alex said protectively, “Tess are you alright?” He lay the bowls on the table unforgotten, touching her face, looking into her ocean blue eyes. Suddenly, instinctively as if he expected it, Tess burst into tears. He didn’t give a damn how it looked. In an instant, Alex went down on his knees, pulling Tess close to him.

Tess looked down at Alex and said, “I’m sorry, Alex. Man I don’t know why I still let this get to me! It’s been over six months.”

Alex felt simmers of outrage within him at the display of Tess clearly upset. He tried to hold it back for her and for himself by saying with a smile, “Wanna go somewhere?”

Alex figured she needed air. Whenever he was truly upset he got in his car and drove for endless miles. The combination of wind in the face and speed beneath his feet purged his mood, whatever it might be at the time.

Wiping her tears, Tess shrugged as she said, “Sure.”

Alex brought Tess to her feet and said, “Let’s get out of here.” Turning to his dad, Alex added, “Dad…” he knew it was his turn to help out around here and he was ditching. But Tess was what was on his mind right then. She was what he was most concerned about. Dishes, housework, mowing the lawn, they could all wait.

Duane shook his head where Tess couldn’t see and said, “We’ll work it out later, son.”

Grateful again for his dad, Alex looked at his dad with a deep meaningful expression of appreciation.

Tess looked at Mr. W. and said, “Thanks for the cereal, Mr. W. For everything. I’ll see you later?”

Nodding, Duane said, “Count on it, Tess. You kids get out of here.”

Alex and Tess drove away in his firebird.

Meanwhile, Max and Liz were spending their summer Saturday fooling around in the tree house. It was a good day for being carefree and young and both were taking full advantage of this. Not to mention, Liz’s mom was gone in town shopping and her dad was off on some Fishing Expedition. He wouldn’t be back for a week.

They’d been in here for over an hour and had curled up together, just enjoying the feel of each other beneath a cool blue sheet. The fan that Liz had brought in a month ago was on and giving off a wonderful breeze for them to enjoy. It cooled them off nicely after a heated hour of hurried, impatient teenage romping.

Max grinned down at Liz, “What would your mother say if she knew who you had in here with you right now?”

Liz looked over at Max and said, “Let’s not think about it.” She giggled then and he laughed deeply with her, lazily touching her flat belly.

Liz grinned and said, “My mother still thinks I’m a virgin, Max.”

Max moved closer to Liz, pulling her against him as he said, “I see, only I get to see the real Liz Parker, huh?”

Liz thought a moment and then kissing him said, “Yeah, just like I get to see the real Max, the one that I’m sure your mom knows nothing about. You know, the passionate alien king who likes to take me at the oddest of places…like my girlhood tree-house…the roof above the Crashdown…my bedroom. Your bedroom. Need I go on, Max?”

Both were so intune to each other that it became a shock and horror when the door to the tree house opened abruptly and in walked the woman who saw her daughter to be a pillar of innocence.

All Liz could think was “Oh no!” …….. They scrambled to get dressed, but found themselves failing the act miserably….

While Max and Liz were beginning to wonder how many shades of red and pink they could turn at the tree-house, and Alex and Tess were driving to the dunes, Kyle and Maria were at the Crashdown drinking sodas and talking.

Kyle asked, “Did I get you in trouble taking you home so late last night?”

Blushing and grinning, Maria replied, “No. Mom didn’t give me a curfew…she doesn’t usually during the summer.” Smiling, she added, “Of course that might have been different if she knew I was out at a concert till three in the morning, then making out with you in your car.”

Thinking on the topic further, Maria asked with a sidelong grin, “Why, did you get busted…did your dad ground you this time?”

Kyle said in a male tempo, “Are you kidding? My dad was cool when I got home. He knew nothing about it. Said he hoped I had a good time." Of course, his dad had been half asleep on the couch when Kyle got home and was watching a movie on the screen, so he didn’t put the time together with Kyle’s being out. But Kyle wouldn’t think about that. He liked seeing Maria get surprised every time he took her out and they wound up home late. He played along like a typical male with a decent ego.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Maria looked pointedly into Kyle’s eyes as she said, “You amaze me, Valenti.” Taking another drink of her soda, Maria shook her head lightly as she added, “My mother, had she been awake when I got home, would have busted me. I’d be grounded to the chair right now. But you get by with everything. How do you keep your dad so fooled, Kyle? I’ve wondered that for a long time now.”

Kyle moved back, when Isabel put the tray of Pepperoni Pizza on the round table. Kyle did a double take and said, “Since when did you start here, Isabel? Where’s Liz?”

Isabel fought the blush as she spoke in a voice she thought was pretty believable as she said, “You tolerate this, Maria?” Maria gave Isabel a look of understanding as she said, “He’s harmless most of the time. Actually I can’t complain. He took me too a kick ass concert last night. Did you go, Isabel? I didn’t see you there.”

Isabel nodded and said, “Michael and me went.” It had damn near gotten her grounded coming in herself! She didn’t get home until one in the morning and had to explain to her mother that she was only at the concert and nothing had happened. Truthfully nothing had happened last night, aside from major making out scenes at the dunes, so she felt safe in this answer. She added, “Kid Rock was great, wasn’t he?”

Nodding, Kyle said, “He is just the best singer out there. Of course if you ask Maria, he wears black pretty good too.” Grinning at Maria, Kyle said, “I think she is just a chic in love with a guy in black, myself.”

Isabel said, “He does look nice in black. All men do.” Seeing that Kyle was wearing black, and was presently grinning like a stud, she gulped and added to cover her blunder “Back to your question earlier, Liz and Max are off at the noon matinee. I’m covering. Now shut up and eat…ooh sorry, I forget where I am. Enjoy your meal.”

Michael helped out by hollering over the noise, “Hey, Is! Table number two’s order here. Come on, I don’t make food to get cold and you sure don’t see me eating it.” He might make an exception today though, Michael thought. He was awful hungry and this food was addictive!

Isabel excused herself from Kyle and Maria and headed over to her favorite guy in a black shirt and blue jeans. Her cause of late nights and risky adventures. The only one she could ever want…

Nancy looked at Liz and said, “Well, well, well. Liz, here I thought I was coming to visit with you a minute and instead of seeing you writing in your journal, come to find out you’ve found a new way of spending your time.” Liz pulled the sheet up to her chin as she said, “Mom…”

Max was throwing on his clothes faster than a rabbit. Extremely uncomfortable, he just wanted to have clothes on again so he could feel right standing in the same place as Liz’s mother. He was probably seen as the one thing that caused Liz to become wild and for that he felt even worse. Max never wanted that image, but he wouldn’t regret his time with Liz. He loved her too much for regrets.

A headache of worry forming fast, Nancy said to Max almost dismissively, “Hi Max. Bye Max.”

Max hurriedly left the tree-house, secretly thankful to be on his own and not in the midst of what he was sure was going to be hell on earth in a matter of seconds. He hoped Liz’s mom wouldn’t be too hard on her.

He hurried to his jeep and took off for home.

Liz on the other hand had the pleasure of seeing her mother sitting in a chair opposite her, appearing to Liz to be doing her best to remain calm. Liz didn’t bother tucking in her shirt, she left it loose over her jean-shorts.

Numb by now, Liz pulled the blankets up on the bed, maybe in some futile attempt at covering what her mother had seen. She took a seat, looking at her mother for long difficult moments. What was she thinking, Liz thought. Did she hate her now? See her to be a horrible person?

Nancy asked, “How long has this been going on, Liz?”

Liz tried to be ignorant, saying, “What, mom?”

Nancy pushed her light brown hair back re-clipping it said frankly, “Let’s not pretend here, Liz. How long have you and Max been sleeping together?”

Liz let her legs dangle over the bed that she had just spent the day in with Max not so long ago and said quietly, “A long time, mom.” At her mother’s expression that said she wanted more, Liz said, “Several months, mom. Long enough I know what sex is.”

Nancy said, “Don’t patronize me, Liz. I’m not asking for attitude, just honesty.”

Liz became erratic as she stood and paced saying, “No, mom what you are asking for is some exact date, something to either prove or disprove some idea in your head. Are you trying to see if I’m pregnant? I’m not. I’ve been on the pill since I can remember. In fact it was you who took me to get me on it, Mom, because of my periods, remember?”

Recalling this with some disdain, Nancy said, “Liz, I’m not trying to make you out to be a bad person.”

Liz spun and said, “No? Then why does it seem like you are? Why are you giving me a look now like I’ve shamed you?”

Nancy said, “I’m not mad because of what I saw, Liz, I’m upset that you didn’t think to tell me about it. This wasn’t just deciding to wear a favorite outfit to school behind my back, Liz. You had sex and didn’t tell me. Liz we’ve been friends for years. I thought we agreed that when that happened, you would come to me about it. What’s changed?”

Max…her love, her life risks and all the other pieces to her puzzle that represented how she felt for him. Fears…fears of what Mom might think of her.

Liz was honest, “I guess I was scared that you would see me as a girl next door who gave herself to some guy that she liked. I was afraid, mom. You’re right, though, I did say I would tell you. I’m sorry.”

Nancy replied, “Well I do not see you as anything less than the girl I raised, Liz. I’m not angry with Max or with you. But, Liz, I have to be honest. It does bother me, you doing this here. I can’t have you sneaking around in the house or in the tree house with Max. What you do when you are away from the house, I can’t stop, but I can prevent this embarrassment for all three of us in the future.”

Liz replied, “I understand, mom…I do. Sorry.”

Nancy said, “I have to stress that I hope you are aware of the risks you are taking, making love is a big step, Liz. If you wind up hurt…it is harder to get over. I’ve been in that predicament. There. I’ve said my peace. Now the real reason I came up here was to tell you I was back from the store. Want to help me fix lunch?”

She saw her mother was back to her old self and she smiled accepting her arm around her shoulder as Liz said, “I love you mom.”
Nancy smiled and said, “I love you, sweetie.” She kissed her head and said, “I thought we’d take a walk afterward.”

Liz loved the walks she shared with mom. Time they could spend together, sharing private thoughts, feelings, things that made them more friends than mom and daughter. Mom had been eighteen when she had Liz so Liz always felt this bond. She cherished it now most of all as her mother told her she’d keep what happened a secret for her….

[Roswell4ever1]

Here is the next part! Hope you enjoy! Feedback is greatly appreciated!

Where Do We Go From Here?
(Rating NC-17)
Written by, Roswell4Ever1 and Angelrose242000

Disclaimer: We own NOTHING!

Part Eighteen—The Trial: Part One

Tess awoke the morning of the trial a nervous wreck. Lying next to Alex, he having spent the night with her out in the dunes, Tess moved enough to get dressed without rousing him. Her shirt, shorts and underwear were on the blanket. Walking to the firebird, Tess grabbed the two-way radio and pondered. What was going to happen today? Would they learn more about who they were? Would the trial go bad?

Suddenly the phone rang and Tess nearly jumped. Pushing the button she spoke in code, “Richie’s partner in crime.”

The phone clicked. Strange, Tess thought…Who would do that? She became cold wondering about it, then shook herself trying to tell herself that they could have had the wrong number. She’d done it countless times before.

She walked barefoot back across the sand to where Alex lay just now waking up. Smiling at him she said, “Morning.”

Alex sat up and wiping his face said, “Morning. What time is it?”

Turning her wrist, Tess read the time and said, “Just past seven. You could have slept a little while longer, Alex.”

Alex said, “Yeah, but I should get to the house, change and get ready for the trial.”

Agreeing, Tess said, “I think I left my outfit in your room. How does your dad feel about me sharing your closet these days?”

Alex shrugged and said, “I think he knows, he knows that we care about each other, and he is cool about it.”

Alex dressed and shoving on his high top shoes over bare feet, he grabbed the blanket they used to spend the night on, shook out the sand and put it in the backseat of his firebird.

They arrived at Alex’s shortly after and walked inside, hand in hand. Amy stopped in front of them saying, “Alex I’ve been looking for you. I need help with my bike. The wheels aren’t turning right.”

Alex brushed his little sister’s hair and said, “Sure. Where’s it at?”

Amy walked the bike into the kitchen from the backdoor and said, “Here. Look.”

Alex bent down and checked out the wheels. It needed greased. Alex said, “Let me get some oil from the shed and I’ll fix it. When do you need it fixed?”

Amy gave him a look and said, “Well I kinda need it right away because my friends are coming over and we’re going bike riding.”

Alex went out and grabbed the material needed to fix the bike, and while he was working on it, Tess spoke with Amy.

Amy asked, “Where were you guys?”

Tess swallowed her initial surprise as Amy didn’t ask things like this normally and said, “We’re early birds, Amy.” She hoped it would work.

Amy said, “Really? I’ve been up since six and I know Alex was gone, because I walked by his room.”

Tess fought to keep from looking at Alex. It would show guilt. So she smiled and said, “We met at the dunes an hour and a half ago.” It was partly true, they did meet there…but it was last night!

Amy dismissed it. For now.

She took her bike and rode on.

Alex stood and looking at Tess said, “She’s getting older, I guess.”
Tess said, “Yeah. We’re gonna have to be more clever, or she’ll figure us out, Alex.”

Duane walked into the room spotting the two of them and said, “Well, Good Morning.”

Alex said, “Hey, dad.”

Tess said, “The trial’s in a couple hours. I’m scared to death.”

Alex put his arm around her and she leaned in to him. He said, “It’ll be fine, Tess. If the judge is any good, he should see that you are innocent and that should be all it takes.” Tess replied, “Thanks, Alex.”

Tess sneaked upstairs and showered while Alex spoke with his dad. She didn’t want to go into the courtroom feeling self conscious; she wanted to be alert and clean with some amount of confidence or it wouldn’t work.

Duane looked at his son when Tess was upstairs and said, “You know you can’t believe what you just told her, don’t you?” Alex ran his hands through his hair and said, “I want to believe them, Dad. I want to believe that the judge will see Tess as she is and not be so hard on her.”

Duane shook his head saying, “I hope you’re right,” while he thought to himself, How little you know about judges and the law. Being a lawyer himself, he had this feeling this trial would drag out for a good long time. They would need each other to get through the obstacles that lay ahead….


Dressed up formally, Tess, Alex, and Duane walked into the courthouse at around nine that Monday morning. Tess held Alex’s hand snugly and Alex felt the tremors that she was experiencing.

Leaning to her ear he said again, “It’ll be fine, Tess. I’m right here.” She smiled up at him and whispered back, “I know. I love you, Alex.” Alex was about to reciprocate that when they faced Scott’s attorney, who grinned at Tess.

She smiled back, trying to take his as sincere. Alex looked at his dad; both had a different opinion on the attorney’s gesture. They were wondering what was coming.

Walking to the doors, Duane looked at Tess and said, “When you go in here, Tess, remember something. You are the victim. That attorney in there is going to do everything in his power to make you feel like you aren’t, so you are going to have to work harder to prove that you are. It starts, Tess, from within, believing it. Your attorney will brief you more on this.”

Nodding, Tess said, “Thanks. Well I guess I’m ready.”

They walked in together and found seats near the middle. Sitting among other family members, Alex looked at Tess and said, “He’s here. Don’t look. You don’t want to give him anything to go on.”

Tess said, “That sounds paranoid, Alex.”

Alex said seriously, “In this room, there is no such thing. Everything is up for grabs and you have to be aware of that, Tess.” He’d learned that enough being a lawyer’s son, Alex thought. He just hoped the judge would see over the lawyer’s scrutiny.

Judge Pickett walked to his desk and said, “All rise.” Everyone in the room rose.

He told them to be seated and then organizing his files said, “The first case of the day is Barnston vs. Brinkman.”

Tess got up and walked to the table meeting her attorney, Luke Skywalker. Mr. Skywalker had a very interesting way of dressing that everyone seemed to notice. He wore a white jumpsuit like outfit with a long black cape and what looked like commando boots. And his assistant, Leia who was also present, looked like she had two giant cinnamon buns stuck to the sides of her head. Tess had to kind of chuckle to herself. She needed a good laugh anyway! Alex kept asking himself where Han Solo and Obe One were. And he half expected to see C-3PO walk in any minute and exactly where were Luke’s laser swords? I mean come on, you cant be a good Jedi Knight without your laser sword! What the hell was this, Halloween? This whole getup made it difficult to take these people seriously but they were supposed to be the best in the area.

Michael simply looked at Max and said “Oh for heaven sakes!”

Max looked back and said “Good Lord! These people have lost their minds!”

Liz giggled to herself. Isabel wondered what the heck he was wearing under that white jumpsuit! He was kinda cute!

She turned to Michael and siad, “I’ve never seen you wearing one of those….” She wondered what it would look like.

Michael rolled his eyes and said, “And you aren’t going to either. I don’t wear fruity looking jumpsuits.” They’d have to haul him away and strap him down before he’d wear one of them things, Michael thought in disgust.

Isabel leaned in and said, “But I’ll bet you’d look sexy in them.”

Max watched the entire scene as determined Michael melt like wax and said, “You want that, you’ll have to wait till Halloween.”

Enthralled, Isabel shook her head and said, “No! I know a shop in Hondo that has them for sale right now!”

Max grinned from ear to ear, watching Michael slowly transitioning himself to the thought. He was hooked more than Max was!

Back to the case…

Judge Pickett looked over at the prosecuting attorney and asked him for his opening statements.

“Good morning your honor. My name is Oscar Bean and…”

Before he could finish his sentence, there was a large uproar of laughter coming from throughout the courtroom.

Kyle looked over at Maria and laughingly said “This just keeps getting better and better! I wonder if it is Pork and Bean or Baked Bean or Butter Bean.”

“Order in the court! Order! I will not have this kind of behavior in my courtroom. Mr. Bean, please continue.” Judge Pickett said with a hint of laughter in his own voice thinking to himself that his this case was a total freak show produced by the three ring circus!

The prosecuting attorney, Oscar Bean gave Tess a hard look as he said, “I’d like to ask Ms. Barnston to the stand, you’re honor.”

Tess looked at Mr. Skywalker and he said, “Just answer his questions, don’t give out anything else. Remember, Tess, you are the innocent one here.”

Nodding, Tess walked to the stand and putting up her right hand agreed to ‘Tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth’, told her name, and sat. Mr. Bean began, “Hello, Tess. Will you mind telling us here why it is you’ve brought us into this room?”

Tess swallowed her fears and spoke up, “I was raped, Mr. Bean.”

“I see. And can you tell us who you presume to be raped by?” Mr. Bean asked.

“Scott Brinkman sir.”

“And what makes you think that Mr. Brinkman or anyone else raped you?”

“I said no and he did it anyway.”

“Miss Barnston, you had a sexual relationship with Mr. Brinkman before this incident didn’t you?”

“Yes sir, I did. But…”

He holds his hand up in the air signalling her to stop and grins at her sarchastically. “A yes or no answer will suffice Miss. Barnston. You had sex with Mr. Brinkman in the past and suddenly when you have a change of heart about your relationship, he rapes you?”
“Yes sir.” Tess replied not liking where this conversation was going.

“Miss. Barnston, have you ever engaged in rough sex? Or bondage?”

Repulsed now, Tess looked Mr. Bean in the eyes and said “No sir.”

“How are we supposed to believe that this is actually a case of rape and not simply a case of rough sex? I mean you had had sex with Mr. Brinkman in the past. Maybe this was just a case where you and he decided to be a little rough and things got out of hand?”

“Objection!” Mr. Skywalker shot up. Badgering the witness.”

“On what grounds, Mr. Skywalker?” Judge Pickett asked.

“Miss. Barnston already stated that she did not engage in any kind of rough sexual acts your honor.”

“Objection Sustained. Please watch your wording Mr. Bean. You may proceed.”

“Can you tell us exactly what happened on the day of November 23rd, 1999 Miss. Barnston?” Mr. Bean asked her.

“Yes sir. Scott and I had been dating for a couple of months. I had broke up with him because he was too controlling and I left to go to the dunes. I was on my bike riding to the dunes when a car came up behind me and Scott pulled me into it.” Tess broke into tears at the horror of having to relive the situation yet again.

“Then what happened Miss. Barnston?”

“Well, he pulled me in the car and started hitting me and calling me horrible names. Before I had a chance to stop him, he had torn my dress and shoved it up.” Tess couldn’t control her emotions and had to stop talking for a minute.

“Can I have a glass of water please?” She asked politely.

“Yes ma’am.” The court clerk walked over and placed a glass of water in front of Tess along with a box of kleenexes. Tess wiped her eyes and quietly blew her nose. Then after taking a drink, she continued.

“He pulled my skirt up and tore off my panties and forced me to have sex with him. I tried my best to stop him but every time I would try, he would hold my hands down and punch me.”

“Can you please tell me what you were wearing Miss. Barnston?”

“I was wearing a ankle length tan dress sir.” She replied.

“Miss Barnston, if you were wearing a dress, how were you able to ride a bycicle?”

“The dress was long and poofy enough that I could ride it easily without revealing anything.”

“I see. Miss Barnston, have you had any kind of romantic relationships since the incident?”

Tess looked at Alex briefly and then back at Mr. Bean. “I don’t understand what that has to do with the case sir.”

“Just trying to gather information on your credibility ma’am.”

“Objection!” Mr. Skywalker jumped in.

“On what grounds this time Mr. Skywalker?” Judge Pickett asked sarchastically.

“Miss Barnston’s crediblility has never been an issue your honor and her present love life has nothing to do with what happened eight months ago.”

“Overruled! Continue Mr. Bean.”

“Miss Barnston, have you or have you not been in any kind of romantic relationship since the incident?”

“Yes sir I have but…”
“Yes or no only please. And has this relationship been sexual?”

Tess looked at Alex and felt trapped. If she told the truth, she may incriminate herself but lying would just incriminate her more. Alex’s dad looked at Tess and nodded his head.

Closing her eyes, Tess replied quietly, “Yes sir it has.” Tess begins to cry again as she feels like she has betrayed not only herself but also Alex and their love. She never wanted their relationship to be something so public. Family, friends, and other Roswell citizens sat in this room, listening to all the details, Tess thought glumly. She had wanted it to be special between them and now it felt as if everyone knew all. Her mother was sitting in the courtroom with a concerned look on her face. She had known nothing about her having sex with Alex.

“Yes you have and it has been quite steamy too. Permission to approach the bench your honor?”

“Permission granted.” Mr. Bean walked up to the bench and stood there for what seemed like an eternity when actually it was just a matter of seconds.

“Miss Barnston, do you remember this incident?” As he asked this, he suddenly turned on an overhead projector showing slides of when Tess and Alex had been together at the hotel. The prosecuting attorney said, “I call this Exhibit A: The Hotel Scene.” There were four pictures at the hotel. The first was innocent, Tess and Alex walking inside. The second was them kissing. But the third showed Alex and Tess undressing each other. Saving the best for last, apparently by his sick grin, Tess noted, a blown up shot was displayed for all to see of them naked, making love on the bed.

Tess sat there with tears streaming down her cheeks. How did they get these? Tess felt so devastated.

Alex was furious to say the least, as was his dad. The others in the group merely felt compassion for Tess and Alex. There was no laughter in the courtroom this time around. Liz had never seen anyone use such methods to exploit someone else, until that moment and felt tears falling for them both.

“Objection!”

“On what grounds Mr. Skywalker?” Judge Pickett was getting tired of having to ask what kind of grounds this fruit loop was objecting on.

Luke sputtered.

“Mr. Skywalker, do not hollar objection unless you actually have one!” Luke sat back down and rubbed his forehead with his hand. He was beginning to get a migrain.

Alex looked at his dad. “Can they do this dad?”
His dad looked at him sadly. “Unfortainately, yes. It is legal for anyone to hire a P.I. and it is legal for them to take embarassing pictures and use them in court.”
Judge Pickett looked at Tess. “Please answer the question Miss Barnston.”

“Yes. I recognize it.”

“And what about this one?” Mr. Bean asked flipping the slide to a picture of when Alex and Tess were in the desert the night before. The prosecutor said, “Exhibit B, your honor: The Desert.” These pictures were more detailed because it was out in the open, even though they felt they were alone. There were shots of Alex on top of Tess, right down to when they physically came together, done in such a way that it looked like they were in the motion of having sex. Not to mention the little things, such as of Alex holding Tess’s thighs up, Tess’s nails scraping his back—no blanket or sheet covering them. Then they showed Tess on top of Alex and to add insult to injury it showed images of oral sex as well, Alex then Tess. Finally, an obvious shot of a naked Tess getting dressed and leaving with Alex the next morning.

Tess felt her case was done. These pictures were enough to make her out to be an experienced lover. One who enjoyed sex, not so much a person getting past a rape, but one currently enjoying being with someone else. Tess had never felt more exposed or on display as she did right then. What had been something private had become something to make sport of to use against her and there was absolutely nothing she could do about it except face it. Her heart felt heavy and her reply empty as she said, “Yes.”

“Moved on pretty quickly for someone who was supposedly raped didn’t you Miss Barnston?” This comment just affirmed Tess’s thoughts on how others would see her. He was digging the blade in even deeper, Tess thought miserably, working his way into making her out to be a liar and a slut. What was more, Tess caught him all but drooling over the two of them together which made Tess want to tell him to rent a movie if he wanted that sort of pleasure.

“Sir, I have known Alex a long time. He is my best friend.” Tess looked at Alex feeling deflated, noting his concern on his face, his anger. She looked up at the clock wondering how much more she could be put through before this part was over for today.

“Do you usually have sex with your best friends Miss Barnston? Or just the ones with prominent parents?” Shocked anew over this remark, that for some reason slapped her harder than any of the others, Tess felt more tears falling and was at a loss for a reply.

“Objection!” Luke jumped up. “He’s badgering the witness.”

“Sustained. You are treading on thin ice here Mr. Bean.”

Alex sat in his own state of shock. How could this judge let a prosecutor be that hateful, that spiteful against another human being without stopping him sooner? He’d been a lawyer’s son, he thought again and found himself muttering, “Damn it…I should have known better.” Being a lawyer’s son, growing up hearing shop talk from his dad through the years, Alex knew things like this happened. Alex felt responsible for not taking Tess someplace safer during this case, or simply delayed their coming together until after. He hadn’t thought about any of this and so felt guilty for not doing so, for not being responsible….

“Prosecution rests your honor.” Mr. Bean said with satisfaction, thinking he’d won the case hands down.

“We are going to recess for today and will reconviene tomorrow at 10:00am sharp.” With that, Judge Pickett slapped the gavel on the desk, stood and walked into the Judges chambers.

Tess got up and walked over to her mother. She was looking for understanding and love and all she got was a devastated look right before her mother turned and walked away from her. Tess stood there and sobbed. When Alex saw what happened, he walked over to Tess, put his arms around her and led her out of the courtroom. They walked out to Alex’s car and got in. Alex started to drive them back to his house.

“Alex, maybe this isn’t such a good idea. For us to be together I mean. All of this is going to bring you down and people are going to form bad opinions about you like they have me. I don’t want that for you.”

“Tess, let them believe what they want. I love you and I am not going anywhere. I choose my own paths Tess and I choose the path that leads to you.”

“I don’t know where I am going to go. My mom hates me and there is no way she will allow me back in her house. She told me before that if I disgrace the family, I better find another one because I will no longer be a part of hers.” Tess was crying again at the thought of the look her mom gave her.

“Don’t worry about it Tess. We will figure something out.”

They pulled in the driveway at Alex’s house and his dad came out to meet them. “Alex, once you get Tess settled inside, can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure dad.” Alex walked Tess into the house where she lay down on the couch. She was drained physically and mentally and needed to rest.

Alex walked back outside to where his dad waited.

“Where is Tess at Alex?”

“She’s sleeping on the couch. Dad, I had no idea they had those pictures. I’m sorry if we embarrassed you in any way.”

“You didn’t Alex. There was no way you could have known they would have those pictures. You’re human Alex. I don’t expect perfection. That isn’t what I need to talk to you about though.”

“Do I want to know?” Alex asked.

“Tess’s mom called. She informed me that Tess no longer belonged in her house and for her to come and get her belongings.”

“Shit. She was afraid that would happen. She is already so devastated dad, how do I tell her that?”

“You don’t Alex. I will. I think it would be a good idea if Tess came to stay with us. She feels safe with us and that feeling of comfort is something she really needs right now. I love Tess, Alex. I would never let her live on the streets. She belongs here. I will talk to her when she wakes up.”

“Oh dad, thank you! I was so worried about what would happen to her.”

“Don’t get too excited yet Alex. It is still a long road ahead.”

[Roswell4ever1]

Feedback is appreciated! Thanks!!

Where Do We Go From Here?

Written By, Roswell4Ever1 and Angelrose242000

Disclaimer: We own NOTHING!

Part Nineteen—The Trial: Part Two

July 15, 1999—The Same Day of the Trial

Tess and Alex went and gathered her things at around noon that afternoon, following the trial. Her mother took in Alex and Tess and said, “You’ve got a lot of nerve bringing your lover over here with you, Tess. Why not just shout it to the world?”

Tess had already braced herself mentally for this comment so she squeezed Alex’s hand and said, “Mom, if you only knew the truth about us you wouldn’t be saying that. I came to get my things, though, not to get into an argument.” When her mom said nothing, Tess and Alex walked around her and went upstairs and together they packed and took her things to the firebird. Once done, Tess looked at the house from the outside and shook her head. In a thin space of time, Tess was moved out and any article that could signify Tess’s living there was gone. She looked at Alex, her feelings of pain evident. Putting his arm around her shoulder, Alex said, “I’m sorry it had to come to this, Tess.”

Tess said, “Me too. But it had been coming for awhile, Alex. Long before we got together. This just cinched it.”

Alex nodded his head, remembering how it had been with his dad until now. Remembering it well with the consequences of not having him for a long time, he asked, “Tess, are you sure you don’t want to make amends?” Tess looked up at Alex and said, “Nothing I could say now would change my mom’s way of seeing things, Alex. She proved that by calling your dad earlier and kicking me out. It’s best this way.”

Alex took her hand and said, “Let’s go, Tess.”

Nodding she walked with him to the car and got inside. Scooting close beside him, Tess put her head on his shoulder as he drove her home….
Later in the day when Tess had taken stock in her new bedroom, across the hall from Alex’s and chosen to take a brief nap, Alex walked back across the house meeting his sister coming. She didn’t question Tess being there yet since she was generally there. Alex was thankful for he hadn’t the words to explain it yet and felt it best to wait till Tess was there to give her a chance to help explain.

He saw her moving quickly and nearly collided with her saying, “Whoa there! Watch where you’re going Amy.”

Amy made a small remark and took off out the front door. Alex stopped what he was doing and chuckled. He muttered, “Always on the go.”

Suddenly, Duane walked into the room and said, “I seem to remember someone else that was that way. Before he got stuck on extracurricular activities.”

Alex grinned at his dad and said, “Yeah, well…some things are worth the change.”

Duane said, “Since we got on this topic, I wanted to talk with you about something Alex.”

Alex said, “Okay. What is it, Dad?” Though he felt he knew what it was.

Duane said, “Let’s go in the kitchen.” Agreeing, Alex followed his dad into the room and they sat at the table.

Duane let out a deep breath and said carefully, “Alex, I’ve not said a lot about you and Tess, about your steamy relationship.” He added with a smile that gained Alex’s. Then he added more somberly, “But, Alex, you know things are different now.”

Nodding, Alex said, “Yeah, I know. She’s living here now.”

Duane said, “Yes, and that changes things.” He paused and continued, “Alex…I’d rather if you didn’t fool around here, at the house.”

Alex nodded saying understandingly, “Dad I wouldn’t do that. It’s tacky not to mention I don’t like playing the sneaking game when I’m with someone, certainly not Tess.”

Tess came into the room then and catching the abrupt silence said, “What’s up? Have I walked into something?”

Alex looked up at Tess, gauging her emotional day she’d had and said with a smile, “Nope. Just shooting the breeze.”

Tess said, “Oh. Alex, I need to borrow your car.”

Duane watched as Alex handed over his keys to his baby and chuckled. He thought to himself how he knew something was serious between Alex and Tess when he was lending out his car!

Alex said, “You have enough to get what you’re needing?” Tess nodded, holding her purse and said, “I got paid last week, remember?”

Nodding, Alex said, “I forgot.” It had been a busy time.

He said, “I’ll walk you out.” They left his dad in the kitchen and walked to the car.

Alex held Tess’s hand as he walked her to the car, and said, with a slight grin, “Dad asked that we not fool around here at the house.”

Tess nodded, reaching the car in the driveway, saying, “He did?” Nodding, Alex said, “Yeah. I told him we hadn’t done anything like that so basically he didn’t have anything to worry about.”

Looking him in the eyes mischievously, while leaning somewhat against the car now, Tess said, “Nope we haven’t. So you were talking about something when I walked in. I knew it!”

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Alex said, “You’d been through a lot today. I didn’t know if you wanted brought up to date in front of dad. If you know what I mean.”

Knowing exactly, Tess moved closer to Alex, smiled and said, “Thanks, Alex. I don’t know if I could have discussed it in front of him. I guess I like to think that he doesn’t know about us. Even if deep down I know he does.” She laughed lightly and added, “I know, it probably sounds ridiculous.”

Alex said, “No, it doesn’t. It sounds like you want to keep what we do together private. I want that too, Tess. I hate being on display.”

Tess walked toward the front door and said with a halfway grin, “Well there is one way to look at it, Alex. The pictures show you to know what you’re doing. Maybe one of the ladies in the room will want to go home and have their husbands do that to them.”

Alex laughed and said, “Yeah right. I’m no Don Juan, Tess.”

Tess looked at him and said, “How do you know? Have you seen Don Juan in action? He might be totally inferior compared to you.”

Alex pulled Tess closer to him again and said, “I don’t care what he’s like. I only care about you.” He kissed her and the kiss intensified. They stood there kissing, leaned up against Alex’s firebird, and didn’t hear until it was too late the sound of Amy and her friends coming up the drive on their bikes.

Amy’s eleven-year-old friend Bernadette grinned at the couple and said to Amy, “They need a room for that kind of thing.” Suddenly the four girls looked at Alex and Tess and said, “Rent a room!” And they took off for the house.

The kiss broken, Alex ran a hand through his hair and said, “Rent a room? Since when does Amy talk like that?”

Letting out a dry chuckle, Tess said, “Since she began hanging out with older girls, that’s when.” The next thing they new there was laughter going on, so Tess said, “Well I’m going, I’ll be back in a bit.”

Alex moved in to kiss Tess again, then out of the corner of his eye caught a shadow of something and backing up said, “We have to be careful, I guess. It feels like we’re being watched at all times now.”

Tess looked where he was and letting out a deep breath said, “I know. But the trial should be ending soon, I’d think.”
Alex touched her face and said, “I hope. Anyway, I’ll see you. Drive carefully.”

Nodding, Tess said with a smile, “I will.”

Alex watched as she drove off and went in search of the shadow only to find nothing at all….

Tess was met by scrutiny at the grocery store. She was there merely to pick up some personal affects when she was shocked to stillness by the not so silent whisperings in front of her. One of the elderly mothers in town looked at her daughter and said, “Edna, that’s her….” Edna said, “Come on mom. I don’t wish to be here suddenly.”

Trying to be nice, Tess said, “Hello.”

Instead of a kind reply, she received nothing except watching as they moved the other direction. Then, to make things worse, she heard kids—teenage boys--not that much younger than she was giggling in the next aisle and saying things to the effect of, “With a figure like that she could go with whoever she liked and get away with whatever she wanted.” “Yeah, Whitman’s got himself a real winner now. Better watch his back.”

All she could think was, ‘I’m not built perfectly at all! And I don’t go using people!’ She went to the registers, paid for her things and left the store abruptly.

She drove home, parking Alex’s firebird, thinking over everything. Then, she got out and walking into the house, calling out, “Alex.”

Alex came from the kitchen with a cold Pepsi in his hand, spotting Tess upset walked to her and said, “What happened, Tess?”

Tess looked around then said, “Where’s everyone?”

Alex said, “Amy’s out with friends. Dad’s working on a case in the den. Why?”

Tess didn’t say anything, she just dropped her things on the floor and Alex said, “You’re shaking Tess. What’s wrong?”
He added, “Come on, let’s sit down.” He led her to the couch and sitting together waited till she was ready.

Tess folded her legs beneath her, looking at Alex, and said, “Ugly rumors are spreading across town, Alex. I overheard them at the store earlier. I wouldn’t bother you with it except that your name was mentioned.”

Alex could care less about rumors, but seeing how it bothered Tess he said, “My name has been mentioned a half dozen times throughout my life, Tess. Goes with who I am, where I’ve been, my association.”

Tess shook her head and said, “No, this wasn’t just some kid saying he didn’t like you or saying he remembered you before and that you were a bad loser. People are accusing me of getting by with whatever I want by my body and my apparent ability to use it for my own gain.” This pissed Alex off. He got up and said, “That’s a bunch of crap!”

Nodding, Tess said, “Tell me about it. But they said it.”

Alex paced, asking, “What else did they say? And who is they?”

Tess said indifferently now, “Just a couple of high school boys. I didn’t recognize who they were. Apparently from how the town sees it I am a slut who is sleeping with you easily and you are a glutton for punishment. This is paraphrased, Alex, but it is how it sounded to me.”

Duane came in the room then with his glasses on and his attention off what he was looking for and on the conversation. He said, “It’ll pass. The trial has given Roswell something to talk about, that’s all.” He headed to the in table, grabbed his dictionary and headed back to the den.

Alex said, “I’d like to know who said these things and tell them how it really is.”

Tess was calming down again as she said, “It won’t do any good, Alex. It will just get worse if you interfere. The rumors will fade, like your dad says.”

Alex said, “And what about you going to town? Are you to continue hearing such crap?”

Tess shrugged and said, “Sticks and stones, Alex. The important thing is I know how it is and you know how it is. Since when do you pace the floors? I thought you were the calm one, Alex.”

Alex calmed down now and said, “Every so often when I get angry I pace the floors. But I’m past it.” He sat beside Tess and said, “You do know that I don’t see you that way, don’t you Tess?”

Tess smiled at Alex, touching his face, and said, “I know.”

He moved closer to her and while alone, kissed her. Breaking away, he said, “There is one thing. We are going to have to talk with Amy. Or I am. If the rumors are existing at all, she’ll find them. I don’t want her thinking less of you, Tess. Or of what we have.”

Tess nodded, though not liking it or looking forward to it. She needed to know the truth even if that meant being honest with what Alex and Tess had….

Amy came home that late afternoon saying nothing. But as they sat at the table at around seven that night, she said, “Tess, I heard some awful things today from Bernadette.”

Looking at Alex, then at Amy, Tess swallowed her fears and said, “Really? What kinds of things?”

Before Amy could say, Duane said, “You know, rumors are not something worth discussing, Amy. You know full well that most of them are not true.”

Amy said, “I know. But I thought Tess ought to know they were said…and I told Bernadette and the others I didn’t want to hang out with them anymore because of it.”

Tess looked at Duane and said, “Mr. W. I’d like to hear what Amy heard. It might help.”

Not quite clear on this, but going along to see where it went, knowing he’d interfere if necessary, Duane said, “Alright. Go ahead, Amy.”

Amy acted nervous as she looked first to Tess then her brother and said, “Are you two having sex?”

Alex felt the wind knocked out of him, but tried to cover it with a focused older brother expression. Tess was struggling for some composure, and finally holding Alex’s hand under the table said, “Amy, I want you to know that whatever you heard today, it is probably stretched and ugly and not true.”

Amy said, “I told Bernadette that you were a nice girl and that you wouldn’t hurt Alex at all. She says you will, that you use boys, then accuse them of hurting you. I told her to jam it.”

Alex couldn’t help but think to himself, Good for you. It must have shown for Amy smiled at him and added, “I thought of you, Alex, when I said it.”

Tess whispered, “Whoops.”

Alex felt like he’d been cornered and his dad was looking at him warily. He said, “It isn’t a good thing to say, Amy.”

Amy said, “I was mad and it came out. Remember, Alex, you told that paperboy you called a boy wonder to jam it when he charged us a bill we didn’t owe. Then he gave us two free ones. Maybe by telling that girl that she will stop saying such ugly things, saying that Tess is using you and that you are having sex. Like she would know about that. I told her you weren’t having sex that the only thing I’d ever seen you do was kiss.”

Duane said, “You know what? I’m going to get busy on my case. I’ll see you all later.” He wanted out of this mess and felt sure Alex and Tess could handle it.

Alex wasn’t so sure about that. He felt his sister should be thinking about mud pies and Barbie’s not wondering if her older brother was having sex or not with his girlfriend. Dad left the room at a bad time!

Amy’s blue eyes became somewhat bothered over Alex’s hesitance at replying and Dad’s leaving the room so suddenly. She said, “Alex…Tess…”

Alex said, “Amy, it’s not like what Bernadette’s saying.”

Tess replied, “We love each other, Amy. When two people love each other, become as close as Alex and I have, they form a bond, an intimacy. Some crude or dirty-minded people would like to call it horrible names. For some it is as basic as sex, but not for me and Alex.”

Amy was confused and felt she was learning something she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to. She said, “I don’t understand…are you trying to tell me you are having sex?”

Alex let out a deep breath, and took a chance saying, “Yeah, Amy. Tess and I are sleeping together.”

Tess tried to interject, “But it isn’t dirty or ugly. It is special because of our love for each other.” She looked at Alex and smiled, holding his hand as she said this.

Amy got up and holding her head up, while feeling uncertainties about her brother, someone she looked up to like a superhero, and about Tess, someone she saw as a friend, Amy said sadly, “Then it’s true about the pictures? You were really there at the dunes and at a hotel, Alex?”

Alex felt as if he’d been hit in the gut over seeing his little sister in such obvious pain. He tried to reach out in a gentle big brother way, but he wound up speaking somewhat dryly, “What happened with Tess and me, Amy was between Tess and me.”

As if slapped, Amy moved to her feet, and wiped tears while battling her broken heart at Alex’s flat words. She looked down at the floor, feeling her friends were right and she was just as naïve as they said she was—whatever that word meant. She wasn’t able to get past this to see what was said at the table tonight, not yet. Right then, Alex’s words hurt too much as they only went along with what was said from Bernadette and the others. Her voice when she was finally able to utter a sound came out very shallowly, “When did we stop being the three musketeers Alex? Why did things have to change?”

Alex saw Amy try to run from the room and said, “Amy wait! Don’t run off. Let’s talk about it.” He hated feeling like this.

Amy looked at Alex and finished his destroyed feelings by saying, “You think you are so cool, Alex, but you’re not. You’re just a jerk! A big fat jerk and I don’t want to talk to you anymore!” She took off in a run for her room, slamming the door behind her.

Alex was going to go in to talk with his sister, but wanted to make sure Tess was okay first. She looked so sad from this. He walked over to her and said, “You okay, Tess?”

Tess shrugged her shoulders saying simply, “I feel bad for her. I never wanted that, Alex.”

Alex said, “I didn’t either. I’m going to go in and check on her, see if she’ll talk to me.”

Tess said, “Okay.” She was a little shaken herself over it. Never did she want to hurt poor Amy.

Alex touched Tess’s face as he said, “This isn’t your fault, Tess. It’s not. It’s no one’s fault. Okay?”

Nodding, Tess let Alex believe that and watched as he walked to Tess’s room. She meantime let the tears fall over how drastically things had changed in her life in less than one year. She was just so thankful for Alex and this family. She never wanted to hurt any of them and felt she had. It was a bitter pill to swallow feeling she had awakened her little friend to things that should not have had to be made known. She had begun to regret telling her a thing.

Then her conscience answered no, it was far worse to be deceptive. But the truth of this didn’t ease her heart.

Alex walked to Amy’s bedroom door and knocking said, “Amy? Let me in.”

Amy said, “No! Go away, Alex. I don’t want to talk to you!” She said bitterly.

Alex persisted, “I know, but I do. We need to talk, Amy. Please… When we’re done you can go back to despising me to the world, if you want.”

Amy let out a bad huff and walking to the door opened it wide saying, “What do you want, Alex? Is this where you tell me more things you haven’t before? Because if it is, I don’t want to hear it.”

Alex couldn’t help but grin at his sister over this as he said, “Anyone ever tell you you’re stubborn?”

She tried to fight a grin and failed. But she covered it saying, “I’m stubborn? You’re one to talk.” She walked over to her bed and sat, watching as Alex walked in.

Alex said, “I was a jerk for saying that back there. I was just upset at having to tell you something so personal, something you should not have had to know about. Relationship stuff isn’t something I thought I’d be telling you about yet, Amy.”

Amy asked, “Why?” She asked with a queer look on her face, like he was crazy for thinking she couldn’t know about it.

Alex sat straddling her desk chair, running a hand through his hair as he said, “I don’t know.”

Amy said, “I’m old enough to hear about it in class. There are girls in the sixth grade who are having sex. Beth Smith’s older sister who’s twelve has done it. And the school nurse has talked to us about condoms.”

Alex was appalled. He said, “In the third grade!”

Amy said, “I’m nine years old, Alex. I’m not a baby. I helped baby sit Aunt Grace’s baby last August, remember?”

She’d had help, but Alex had remembered her part in it. She had been very adult and had surprised him. Smiling, he said, “I remember. And you’re right. You’re not a baby. I forget sometimes how grown up you are. The point is, Amy, I’m sorry.”

Amy replied kindly, “It’s okay…Alex I do have a question since we are talking about this.”

Alex really wanted to beg her to tell him that she wasn’t having sex, but instead he said, “What?”

Amy replied, “Beth’s older sister Anne was used, she said, because the guy she was with said he loved her. Then after they did it, he didn’t want anything to do with her anymore. Have you ever done that, Alex, to another girl?”

Alex freely spoke, “No. Amy I’m not going to lie to you and say that I don’t know what you are talking about, though, because there are guys out there that are like that. But for me, I couldn’t do that. Doing it as you call it,” he grinned as he continued, “well, Amy,” he thought of Tess as he spoke, “it is emotional. You are giving yourself to someone else, opening your heart to that person. When that happens, you don’t want it to be just a quickie in the backseat.”

He couldn’t believe he’d said that. Neither could Tess who was standing on the other side of the door, not eavesdropping per say but concerned.

Alex did ask before he left the room, “Your talk about the girl in school…tell me you haven’t, Amy, please!” Amy grinned broadly, saying, “I haven’t.” Alex laughed saying, “Thank god. I’d have to find the little punk and make him suffer.” Amy said, “Alex!” Alex said, “That’s what big brothers do.” He put his arm around her shoulder and they walked out to the others. All was okay again and Alex, Amy, and Tess were as close as they were before as if no ill word had been said by a snot in the fifth grade.

They spent the evening indoors hanging out as the Three Musketeers once more….

[Roswell4ever1]

Here is the next part. We would again like to thank our Creative Assistant Gatormae! She has been a great help to us and it is greatly apreciated!!

Feedback is appreciated!!

Where Do We Go From Here?
Written by roswell4ever1 and angelrose242000

Authors Note: Scott’s attorney, Mr. Bean is actually the defense attorney, not the prosecution. Tess’s attorney, Mr. Skywalker, is the prosecuting attorney who is prosecuting Scott. Sorry for any possible confusion this may have caused.

Disclaimer: We Own NOTHING!!!

Part Twenty: The Trial- Part Three



Alex had been up for hours. Well, since 4:28 A.M. He just couldn’t sleep no matter how hard he tried. He knew he would need his rest for the trial but just couldn’t do it. So he had gone downstairs and was playing on the Sega. Until he got an idea that is. He quickly made his way to the phone. He was given permission to call at any time. Day or night. Well, it was time to take him up on that offer.

“Hello?”

“Hey. Listen, I know it is only 4:45, but this is important! Can you meet me?”

“Yeah. Give me fifteen minutes and meet me at the park.”

“Ok. See you there. Thanks.”

“No prob.”

Click. The conversation was over almost as quickly as it had begun. Alex hated to leave the house this early but he knew what had to be done and it had to be done now!

He got out of bed and pulled on his jeans. It was early, but he knew what this was

about and it was too important to be worried about the time. Besides, he had told Alex to call anytime he needed him. He quickly walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Pulling out a can of Pepsi, he popped the top and took a large swig. Then, he walked to the sink and splashed some cold water into his face. That should do the trick. He hated cold water! Especially first thing in the morning, but he knew it was the only thing that would wake him up. Walking over to the door, he grabbed his keys off the hallway table and walked out. Getting in his car, he quickly put on his belt and started it up saying to himself “Its Showtime.”

Alex left a note on the kitchen table to let his dad or whoever got up first know that he had to run a quick errand and would be back shortly. He figured he would be back before any of them got up, but this way if he was covered in the case that he wouldn’t be. He quickly but quietly ran out of the house and to his car. Thinking of how loud his car was though, he decided to take his bike instead. He hadn’t ridden his bicycle since…since… well, he couldn’t remember when. But like they say, it is just one of those things you don’t forget. He made his way to the park and saw him waiting. Alex quickly dropped the bike and walked over to the other man.

“Morning Alex.”

“Hey Billy. Thanks for meeting me.”

“No problem. You sure you’re ready for this?”

“No. But it has to be done. I hate the idea of having to do it, but it is the only way.”

“I agree. Ok. Here’s the plan.”

7:00 A.M. came early to Tess. Too early. But she knew she had to get up and ready for the trial. She was dreading it. If it was anything like it was yesterday, she was done for. She got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. She closed the door behind her and turned the shower on. After adjusting the water to the temperature that was right for her, she got in. It was hot. So hot she could barely stand it but it was what she needed right now. She needed the steam to surround her. Maybe it would fog out all the worries that were going through her mind right now. As she was standing there, the water was hitting her skin like a thousand daggers and leaving red marks that looked like it was trying to form one very large blister. Although, she knew better. It wasn’t quite hot enough for that, but it was how it looked. Twenty minutes later, the water was beginning to get cold and Tess decided it was time to get out. She turned the water off and opened the shower curtain. Her towel was hanging on the towel rack right next to the shower. She reached over and grabbed it and wrapped it around herself like she was holding onto it for dear life.

After stepping out of the shower, Tess walked over to the sink and grabbed her toothbrush. She placed an even amount of Colgate on it and began to brush her teeth. After she was finished, she rinsed the toothbrush and put it back in the holder next to Alex’s. She then grabbed a comb and took it to her hair and then put on a robe. She stepped out of the bathroom and walked down the hall to her room to dress. Thank goodness she had set her clothes out the night before because at the rate of brainfry she was experiencing right now, she wasn’t sure she could function enough to find clothes that matched let alone that were court appropriate!

Once she was dressed, Tess opened her bedroom door and walked downstairs. She didn’t hear anyone but that wasn’t unusual. Upon walking into the living room, she found Amy sitting on the couch reading a book. Alice in Wonderland to be exact. She walked on into the kitchen and saw Alex sitting at the table drinking orange juice and reading the newspaper.

“Hey.” Tess said.

“Hey yourself.” He replied putting the paper down. Looking at her, he knew he had made the right decision. He already knew he had but seeing her just made it even more obvious. “Sleep well?”

“Actually, yes. I was so exhausted that I just crashed.”

“I am glad that you got your rest. You will need it. It is going to be another long day.”

“Yeah I know. I’m scared Alex. What if they have more pictures or something else that can incriminate me even more? I was trying to be so careful and in one court setting, the prosecutor in a around about way raped me again. How do I know it won’t happen again and again and again?”

“Unfortunately we don’t. All we can do is be careful and try not to give them anything they can use. But no matter what happens Tess, I will always be here for you. I’m here for the long haul, Tess.” Tess said with a chuckle, “Don’t you ever question that brain of yours when choosing to be with me?” Shaking his head, he stood up and walked over to Tess. Putting his hands on her shoulders, he looked into her eyes. “Not since I met you and found myself falling in love with you.”

Seeing her smile turn to a frown, a worry face, Alex added sincerely, "Tess, it is going to be ok. I know you’re scared. That is understandable. Just know that I love you and I will do everything in my power to keep you from getting hurt again. Everything!”

“I know you would Alex. Just as I would for you. But you’re right. I am scared.” She put her arms around his waist and hugged him to her as if trying to hold on for dear life.

“I know your are. I know.” He replied hugging her back.

They walked into the courtroom ready for whatever might come their way. Ok, maybe not completely ready, but as ready as they could possibly be under the circumstances. Her attorney was already waiting for them and Billy sat in the back of the room with the rest of the group. They sat down and waited for the judge to enter the room.

Tess couldn’t help but scan the room. She hadn’t paid much attention to it yesterday. She was too nervous. The walls were covered with blonde wooden paneling. There were chairs everywhere and to the left was the jury box. To the right was the area for inmates to sit when they would be awaiting their case to be heard. In front was the judge’s desk with the witness box attached to the right of it. They were made from what looked like deep Mahogony as were the court reporters desk and the attorney’s desks. The walls were adorned with pictures of past and present presidents and a large plaque of the Ten Commandments was directly above the judge’s desk. There was a wooden barrier with a gate that separated the main part of the courtroom from the visitor’s seats. The room was big and Tess felt intimidated by it. She felt small and afraid.

“Tess, remember. I will…” Alex started.

“All rise!” The court clerk began. “This court will now come to session. The honorable Judge Pickett presiding.”

They all stood up and waited as Judge Pickett walked into the room and took his seat behind his desk.

“Please be seated. The first case of the morning will be Barnston vs. Brinkman. Is the defense ready?”
“Yes your honor.” Mr. Skywalker answered.

“Please proceed Mr. Skywalker.”

“Your honor, I call Tess Barnston to the stand.”

Tess stood up and looked down at Alex who nodded his hand and mouthed I love you to her. She made her way to the stand and raised her right hand.

“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?” Mr. Skywalker asked.

“I do.” She replied.

“Please be seated Miss. Barnston.” He told her.

Tess sat down and waited for the games to begin. She felt a little safer knowing that it was now her attorney that was asking the questions and not Scott’s!

“Miss. Barnston, can you please describe the breakup between you and Mr. Brinkman for us?”

“Yes sir. I had gone over to Scott’s house that morning and we were sitting around watching TV. He started to boss me around which was nothing unusual but it seemed to be getting worse.”

“And what kind of things would he say to you Miss. Barnston?”

“Objection!” Mr. Bean hollered. “Hearsay.”

“Sustained.”

“I move to strike the question from the records your honor.”

“Very well. Please proceed.” Judge Pickett stated.

“Miss. Barnston, what happened next?”

“Well, at first when I noticed him bossing me around acting possessive, I shrugged it off, because I figured it was part of the image he was trying to live up to around his friends. I didn’t think he meant to be mean to me in the beginning. After awhile, when I figured out he had to know how he was treating me, I was scared that he would become mean with me like he was his friends if I said anything. When it continued, though, for months, I knew I couldn’t handle it much longer. We met at his house to talk, then later at the Crashdown. After about an hour or so at the cafe, I got real tired of hearing him brag on himself and putting me down. I told him that things weren’t working out for me and that I thought we should split ways.”

“And how did Mr. Brinkman react?”

“He acted fine about it actually. It surprised me. He acted like I had just told him that I stepped on an ant or something.”

“So one could say that he acted indifferent?”

“Yes sir.”

“Miss Barnston, you described the rape to us yesterday. Could you please tell us what happened afterward?” Mr. Skywalker asked.

“Well, I called Alex. He came and got me and took me to the police station. I reported the rape and the sheriff sent me to the hospital.”

“Did the hospital take pictures Miss. Barnston?”

“Yes sir.”

“Your honor, I would like to enter these pictures of Miss Barnston taken at the hospital into evidence.” He walked to the Judges desk and showed him a stack of hospital pictures before walking to Mr. Bean and showing them to him.

“These pictures show a very battered girl. A girl who is covered with bruises and cuts from her face to her thighs. A girl who was obviously very traumatized.”

He then looked at Tess and said “Miss Barnston, have you received any counseling since the incident?”

“Yes sir.”

“When did you begin counseling?”

“About a week after the rape.”

“And are you still receiving counseling services?”

“Yes sir.”

“The prosecution rests your honor.” Mr. Skywalker stated.

“This court will take a brief recess and reconviene at 2:30 this afternoon.” Judge Pickett stated as he got up and slipped into the judges chambers.

Tess stood up and walked over to Alex. They talked for a minute and then walked over to the rest of the group.

“Hey girl!” Maria said giving Tess a hug.

“You’re doing great Tess!” Liz said.

“Hey guys we are headed to Ellie’s Café to get something to eat. Want to come with us?” Michael asked.

“Dad says it’s on him.” Kyle added.

Alex looked at Tess who nodded and then said “Sure. Just let me talk to my dad for a minute.”

“Cool.” Michael said.

Alex and Tess walked over to where Mr. Whitman was standing. He looked at Tess and said “Tess, you are doing a great job. It takes a lot of courage to get up there and stand up for your rights. I just want you to know that I am proud of you!”

Tess’s eyes welled up with tears that she refused to let spill over and she replied “Thank you Mr. W. That means a lot to me.”

“Dad, we are going to go to Ellie’s with the rest of the group. You want anything?”

“No. I’m going to run a few errands and will pick something up along the way. Thanks for asking though. You kids just remember to be back here before 2:30.”

At Ellies…

“Ok guys. It’s noon now so we have a couple hours to discuss what is going to happen next.” Max said.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen next Max.” Tess replied.

“That isn’t entirely true Tess.” Alex said.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, this morning, I went and had a little meeting with Billy and some things are going to happen that you need to know about. It isn’t anything bad, I just want you to be prepared. There will be some people there that you may not expect.” They filled Tess in on what would be happening next. She was confused and a little worried but mostly happy that she might just have a bit of a break after all!

The group ate their lunch and then went to the Valenti house. Kyle somehow had talked them into trying a new kind of meditation technique that none of them thought would help. They were all surprised when it did in fact calm their nerves considerably.

“Kyle, how long have you been meditating?” Liz asked.

“About a month. I saw it on the Morning Show.”

“Why meditation?” Michael asked.

“When I am stressed or upset, I meditate. It helps to clear the mind and get rid of a lot of stress.”

“Hmm. Well, I’ll be! He’s right. This really is helping!” Tess said. She felt better and clearer minded than she had in a long time.

“Yeah, I know. It’s weird!.” Alex added.

After an hour of vigorous meditation, it was time to head back to the courthouse. They all took their seats and waited for the next phase in the trial. The judge walked in. They went through their usual please rise, please be seated and they all sat waiting for the hell to start.

“You may begin Mr. Bean.” Judge Pickett stated.

“I’ll make this quick Miss Barnston. Prior to this incident, had you ever received counseling?”

“Yes sir.”

“And can you please tell us when that was?”

“When my dad died sir.”

“Any other time Miss Barnston?”

“Yes sir.”

“And when was that?”

“When I was twelve sir.”
“Can you please tell us what happened when you were twelve Miss Barnston?”

“My um…my older brother went to prison sir.”

“What for Miss Barnston?”

Tess sat there for a minute not saying anything. Knowing she could not avoid the question, she finally answered. “Armed robbery and rape sir.”

The group sat in the back of the courtroom. “I didn’t even know she had an older brother.” Liz said.

“Me either.” Said Michael.

“Did you know Alex?” Max asked.

“No. But that explaines the picture in her locket. I thought the guy was a friend or a cousin or something.” He replied.

“Something tells me she isn’t too proud of it.” Maria said looking at Tess who kept her head down.

“Could it be, Miss Barnston…” Mr. Bean began again. “could it be that you have decided to accuse a young man of doing something so horrendous to punish someone for what your brother has done? Maybe as some kind of closure?”

“No sir! I would never do anything like that.”

“Maybe you have brought us here because you are mad at your brother for getting in trouble and leaving you to pick up the pieces?”

“Objection! Badgering the witness!” Mr. Skywalker interviened.

“Sustained! Watch it counselor!”

“The defense rests your honor.” Mr. Bean said before returning to his seat.

“Mr. Skywalker, would you like to rebut?” Judge Pickett asked.

“No your honor.”

“Very well, the defense may call its first witness.”

“Your honor, due to the fact that the proposed incident took place in the middle of the desert, we do not have any witnesses at this time.”
“Does the prosecution have any witnesses?”

“Yes sir. The prosecution would like to call it’s first witness, Mr. Wesley Jacomen.”

A tall slender man with short brown curly hair and glasses approached the witness box. He turned around and faced the court.

“Mr. Jacomen. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?”

“I do.”

“You may be seated.”

“Mr. Jacomen, could you please state for the court where you are employed and what your title is?” Mr. Skywalker began.

“Yes sir. I am employed at Summit Heights Behavioral Health Center and I am a Licensed Counselor.”

“Are you Miss Barnston’s counselor?”

“Yes sir.”

“Could you please tell the court the state of Miss Barnston when she first came to see you?”

“Well, she was angry and hurt and terrified. She was suffering from severe Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and was very hard to reach. It took me weeks to really get through to her.”

“Mr. Jacomen, you stated that she suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Could you please explain what that is?”

“Yes sir. Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is a form of a panic disorder brought on by extreme trauma. It can cause anything from minor depression to being completely closed off from everyone and everything. Almost like being comatose.”

“And how severe would you say Miss Barnston’s case was?”

“She was pretty bad. She wasn’t completely closed off in the sense that she would talk to some people but she had definitely narrowed her line of communication.”

“What do you mean by narrowed her line of communication?”

“Well, Miss Barnston has many friends. She has a lot of people backing and supporting her and she would communicate with all of them. However, according to her previous medical records, she used to be the kind of person who never met a stranger. After the incident, she was terrified to even look at people she didn’t even know and she certainly wouldn’t talk to them.”

“And has this condition improved?”

“Oh yes sir! Miss Barnston has made great strides. She has come a long way since the incident but isn’t out of the woods just yet.”

“Thank you sir. I have no further questions.” Mr. Skywalker sat back down at the desk.

“Does the defense have any questions for the witness?”

“Just one your honor. Mr. Jacomen, you said that Miss Barnston continued to talk to her many friends correct?”

“Yes sir.”

“Well if she was talking to a large group of friends, that doesn’t really describe someone who has been traumatized does it Mr. Jacomen?”

“There are different forms of trauma sir and everyone deals with them differently. Some people need someone to talk to and others completely shut out the world. Miss Barnston was one who needed her friends. That doesn’t make her any less traumatized Mr. Bean, it just means she was able to deal with it in a more productive way.”

“I see. No further questions your honor.”

“You may continue Mr. Skywalker.”

“Your honor, the prosecution would like to call its second witness, William Winters.”

Tess knew he would be here along with Joe Nemeth. Alex had told her at lunch. He had told her that they were testifying against Scott, but she couldn’t help but wonder if they would turn on them. If maybe this was a trick to make her look worse and Scott look good. After all, these guys hung out with Scott. They were there when he raped her. They did nothing to stop it and now all of a sudden they want to help her? She knew she should be grateful but she couldn’t help but be nervous. Bill walked up to the stand and swore to tell the truth. He sat down and looked right at Tess. She couldn’t make herself look away. She felt like maybe if she looked at him close enough, she would be able to tell if he was really on her side.

“Mr. Winters, can you please tell the court your association with Mr. Brinkman?” Mr. Skywalker began.
“Well I went to school with him. He was my best friend.” Bill answered.

“How well would you say you know Mr. Brinkman?”

“Too well. More than I would like to.”

“Mr. Winters, were you with Mr. Brinkman the night of November 23, 1999?”

“Yes sir I was.”

“And can you please tell us what happened that night Mr. Winters?”

“Well, we were all hanging out at The Crashdown. Scott had been treating Tess like shit. Excuse me, I’m sorry. Umm, like crap. Anyway, she was fed up with it and she told him that she thought they should break up. He acted like he just didn’t care which bothered me. I couldn’t understand how he could be that uncaring but it wasn’t my place to say anything so I didn’t. Tess left on her bike and Scott decided to go out cruising so we left too.” He paused for a long moment feeling like he had been suckerpunched. He couldn’t believe how badly he had misjudged Scott. He had trusted him. Looked up to him. Heck, he even wanted to be him! Now he couldn’t get far enough away from him. He took a long drink of the water that was sitting in front of him.

“Anyway, we were driving around and Scott decided to go out to the desert. We were probably about half a mile out of town when we spotted her. She was headed toward the dunes. Scott told me to pull up closer to her. I thought maybe he wanted to talk to her maybe to apologize for how he treated her so I did what he said. Before I knew it, he had grabbed her off of her bike, pulled her in the car and started hitting her. I wanted so badly to help her but I froze. It was like I couldn’t move and I couldn’t speak. No matter how hard I tried. Next thing I knew, he had her dress torn and her underwear off and was forcing himself on her.” He was trying so hard to compose himself but couldn’t fight the tears that began to stream down his cheeks.

“Mr. Winters, would you say that Miss Barnston did anything to provoke this?”

“No sir. She just wanted out. I am as much to blame as Scott is. I could have stopped him. I could have called the cops but I didn’t. I didn’t do anything. She was screaming and crying and in pain and I just sat there and let it happen. She didn’t deserve any of it and I wish I could go back in time and take it all away. But I cant and I hate myself for that.” The court clerk got up and took Bill a box of Kleenex.

“I have no more questions your honor.” Mr. Skywalker said.

“Mr. Bean, do you have any questions for the witness?”

“Yes your honor. Mr. Winters, you said that isn’t it true that you and Mr. Brinkman were in a school gang together?”
“Yes sir.”

“And isn’t it true that you were expelled for putting out a bomb threat to the high school?”

“Yes sir.”

“So you are a well known trouble maker who has threatened the lives of others and you want us to believe that you suddenly have a conscience?”

“Objection!”

“Sustained. Mr. Bean, I have been more than lenient on you but you badger the witness one more time and I will hold you in contempt. Understood?”

“Yes your honor. I have no more questions.”

After Bill left the stand, they called up Joe Nemith who gave his account of what happened that night. It was almost identical to that of Bill’s.

It was not time to bring out the big guns.

“The prosecution would like to call its fourth witness, Bill Christofferson.” Billy walked up to the stand and went through the usual swearing in before taking his seat.

“Mr. Christofferson, could you please tell the court what your title is?”

“Yes sir, I am a Private Investigator.”

“And can you tell us how you came in contact with Miss Barnston?”

“Her friends hired me to look into Mr. Brinkman after the rape.”

“And did you find anything Mr. Christofferson?”

“Yes sir. Several things actually.”

“Your honor, I would like to enter this into evidence.” Mr. Skywalker walked up to the judge and handed him a paper. Judge Pickett then handed it back and Mr. Skywalker walked back over to Billy.

“Do you recognize this?”

“Yes sir. It is a background check I conducted on Mr. Brinkman.”

“Can you please explain it to us?”
“Well, it states that Mr. Brinkman has a criminal record for robbery and rape sir.”

“Can you please tell me how old he was when he was arrested for the first rape charge Mr. Christofferson?”

“He was Ten years old sir.”

There was a loud sound of people inhaling in shock.

“Thank you Mr. Christofferson. I have no further questions.”

“Thank you Mr. Skywalker. Would the defense like to question the witness?”

“No your honor.”

“Do you have anymore witnesses Mr. Skywalker?”

“Yes sir. The prosecution would like to call its fifth and final witness Dr. Samuel Langly.”

After being seated, Dr. Langly looked over at Tess with a look of compassion in his eyes.

“Dr. Langly, can you please tell us how you know Miss. Barnston?”

“I was the physician on duty when Miss Barnston was brought into the hospital needing treatment sir.”

“And can you tell us the kind of condition Miss Barnston was in when she was brought to the hospital?”

“She was battered and brused, she had cuts all over her legs and face and had been raped.”

“Is there anyway to mistake rough sex for rape?” Mr. Skywalker asked.

“Yes it is possible. However, in a case like that of Miss Barnston, there was no mistaking it.”

“And what made Miss Barnstons case different?”

“Well, there was enough evidence on Miss Barnston to conclude that it was a rape case.”

“Could you please elaborate?”

“Yes sir. Miss Barnston like I said was covered in bruises and cuts. There was a handprint around her throat from where she was being choked. The opening to the vaginal canal was severely torn and she had skin particles under her fingernails where she had tried to fight off the offender. Also she had a large cut on her leg from where she had been dragged off the bicycle and into the car.”

“Dr. Langly, were any DNA tests run?”

“Yes sir, several of them actually. We took sperm and saliva samples.”

“And what did you find Dr. Langly?”

“The DNA matched that of one Scott Brinkman.”

“Thank you Dr. Langly. The prosecution rests your honor.”

“Your witness Mr. Bean.” Judge Pickett stated.

“Defense rests your honor.”

After the two sides gave closing statements, it was finally time for a ruling. The court had gone into recess for twenty minutes and everyone sat quietly waiting for the judge to return. He finally came in. Tess had butterflies in her stomach the size of the Grand Canyon. Judge Pickett finally sat down at the desk.

“Will the defendant please stand? I have been trying to look at this from both sides and maybe come up with any kind of possibility that this may have been a misunderstanding or a case of teen angst. However, no matter how I look at this, it is apparent to me that this is not the case here. After listening to the arguments made by both sides and carefully reviewing the evidence, I can only come to the conclusion that this was not a matter of rough or consentual sex. Therefore, I hereby find Mr. Scott Brinkman guilty on the charge of rape. Since this is your third offense Mr. Brinkman and New Mexico has a three strikes and your out rule, I have no choice but to charge you with the maximum of 35 years with no chance for parole. Court is dismissed.” Judge Pickett finished.