Roswell Fanatics

<<<Max>>>

As I am about to let Michael help me go up the stairs I see Maria come flying down them. She runs straight to Michael, hugging him fiercely, and almost knocking the two of us over. She quickly releases Michael and steps back.

What should I do?" she asks.

I lean against Michael and take Liz’s hand with my free hand, gripping it tightly.

“Just open the door.” I say. “We have to get the others, and get out of here.”

*Michael*

I'm so glad to see Maria and I don't even mind that she nearly knocks me over. "Glad you made it," I tell her as she quickly recovers and steps back.

I help Max to his feet again and am pleased to see that he's doing more than half the job of balancing on his own. That's a good deal better than he did on the way in here a couple hours ago. Whatever they drugged him up with seems to be wearing off, at least a little bit.

Maria asks what to do but Max answers for me, telling her to open the door. She takes two steps up and the door seems to open on its own...


*Kyle*

Maria hops out of the jeep and runs inside the doors without a backwards glance. There are no windows, so I feel safe driving right up and parking behind her. I leap out of the car and run inside after her, wishing so bad that I could call my dad and get his input on this. But he hasn't answered my calls all morning and I doubt I'd get lucky now, even if I did have time to talk to him.

Inside, it's dark and I can't see much beyond what's lit from the open door but I can see Maria leaning on Michael Guerin. Michael has his arm around Max Evans and seems to be holding him up. Max actually looks like shit; he's wrapped in some sort of tarp and Liz is holding his hand. They all look up in surprise as I burst in.

"Liz!" I shout as she was the last person I expected to see. She was at home and on her way to Senor Chow's. She lied to me. She was going to stand me up...

"What the hell are you doing here? What's going on!" I demand to know.

~Maria~

"What the hell are you doing here Kyle?" I burst out. "So you're what, a stalker now? Following people around?" Ok, so I'm scared and when I'm scared, I have a tendency to yell.

OOC - This pretty much sucks, but I guess I have to post something...

*Kyle*

"Me? A stalker?" I repeat, not really sure what to think about anything. "You said you were going to your mom's shop. And YOU!" I say, turning to Liz. "You said you were going to meet me at Senor Chows. And Evans looks like he's about to puke. What are you all doing in some abandoned mine in the middle of nowhere?"

They're in an abandoned Silvermine for heaven's sake. I shake my head. I know my dad was after Max for some reason. I gotta tell him about this. I should probably stop them.

I fix my stare at Liz. We used to mean something to each other. She's already lied to me, but she seems to be most likely to tell me the truth. "Does this have anything to do with the FBI everywhere? What do you know about where my dad is?"

<<<Max>>>

"Does this have anything to do with the FBI everywhere? What do you know about where my dad is?" Kyle asks looking at Liz.

I push away from Michael and stand directly in front of Liz, and then I look at Kyle.

“Leave her alone Kyle, she doesn’t know anything about your dad.” I say trying to take his attention away from Liz.

I know that Kyle is upset and worried about his dad, but I don’t want him grilling Liz.

“Kyle you shouldn’t have come here.” I say calmly.

*Kyle*

I turn to glare at Evans even 'though he's still leaning on Michael like he's about to fall over or something.

"I don't know what you're up to, but my Dad is onto you. Whatever it is, he's going to stop you. Don't even think you're going to get away with it," I tell him, angrily. I'm still mad at him for stealling Liz, but mostly I'm upset because Dad is still missing and I don't have the first clue how to find him.

~Liz~

I swallow and bite my lip as I hang up the phone. “I guess he bought it…” I comment softly, shoving the phone back into my pocket and looking round. There’s nothing left to do really except wait…

My mind keeps going back to the question of what really happened at the base… The possibility, that if it is as I fear, we’re abandoning Kyle and leaving him at the mercy of the FBI…

I don’t know if I can do this…and yet I look at Max, and then Michael, and then there’s the point that it’s not my secret to spill… I swallow and bite my lip nervously, listening in silence to Michael’s half of the conversation as I try and guess what Maria is saying in response.

My attention isn’t completely focused on Michael though…my gaze is fixed on Max, watching him for any sign of a problem.

Remembering a mention of calling Isabel, while Michael continues to talk to Maria I decide I’ll see what I can do about that. Dialing the number quickly, I wait until it’s picked up and then ask where they are. Obtaining a location, and arranging somewhere to meet as soon as possible, I hang up again, not knowing what else to say. Besides, I want to check on Max…he seems more steady than he was, but I’m still worried…

Folding up my phone, I move to help Michael as he guides Max over to the stairs and urges him to sit down. He doesn’t really need any help at the moment though, so I just hover, and then sit down next to Max.

Michael goes on up to watch out for Maria, and comes back a few moments later announcing she’s here. I slip my arm around Max’s waist, unsure exactly how much help I can be but wanting to help… “Easy…careful Max…” I tell him softly, biting my lip nervously. Michael helps him up too, taking most of his weight, but then Maria comes running in and flings herself at him. I can’t help smiling even in the current situation and shake my head. I guess she’s happy to see him…

Max takes my hand as Maria asks what she can do, effectively taking charge once more and saying that we have to get out of here. All further action is put on hold for the minute as suddenly the door opens once more and Kyle appears. I feel the colour drain from my face and as he demands answers from me, I struggle not to cave. Kyle really is involved in this as much as any of us…maybe he should know…

Biting my lip, I try not to look at him directly, and Max releases my hand, stepping forward and in front of me in a protective manner. Even in his current situation, he’s thinking about me, and I love him for it. I look over at Kyle nervously from behind Max now.

Max tries to divert Kyle’s attention away from me, insisting I don’t know anything and then telling him he shouldn’t be here, but I’m not sure it does much good and Kyle simply returns with another angry comment. His mention of his dad again makes me draw in another ragged breath though as I run a hand through my hair. I step out from behind Max, taking my place at the side of him again and reaching for his hand as I look over at Kyle. “I’m sorry Kyle…” I say softly. I’m sorry for so much…his dad, lying to him just now… “You’ve got it wrong about Max though…you’re dad wasn’t after him…” I trail off, lapsing into silence. I want to say more, I want to say he was helping Max, I want to tell him the truth, but again it’s not my decision to make, and I look over at Max, silently asking if I should go any further…

~Maria~

Gosh this is hard. I want so badly to tell Kyle the truth. I look in his eyes and all I can see is the pain of not knowing where his dad is or what's going on and I feel this incredible guilt. It's consuming me. I have to walk over to Michael and grab onto his shirt for strength because I know that if I don't, I'm gonna spill.

*Kyle*

I see Maria go cling to Michael but nobody answers my questions. "I've got it wrong?" I ask Liz, disbelieving. She's standing there holding his hand like he's the most important thing to her. Like she can't see him for what he is. My dad's been warning me about Evans for most of the school year and Liz wants me to believe that he isn't after him. "Then make me understand. Tell me what the hell is going on here."

Michael merely looks bored. "Just get out of the way, Valenti," he says. His voice is flat and I'm sure he thinks he sounds dangerous but he doesn't scare me.

"No," I say, deliberately blocking the door. "Not until you tell me what's going on.

"Just get the Hell away from there before I blast you into next week," Michael says, clearly losing what little control he ever has. "We don't have time for this."

"What's your hurry? Got a train to catch?" I demand, staring him down. "Or are you just afraid my dad is going to track you down here and throw you all in jail where you belong?" I bet they're making drugs. I don't smell any, but it seems like the most likely thing.

"Your dad?" Michael shouts, glaring. "Your dad is dead. Got it? And we're not letting 'em kill us, too."

"No," I whisper, my shoulders sagging. I'd been afraid to even think that but the thought had been hiding at the back of my mind, even if I hadn't wanted to acknowledge it. How could he be gone? Why wouldn't Hanson or the FBI guys tell me?

I start take a step backwards, but I'm on the stair and my foot hits the riser, throwing me off balance. I throw my hand back, catching myself against the door. I look up then, and see that Michael has taken a step upwards. I bare my teeth, staring at him. I feel a growl in my throat as my anger grows. "You did it! You killed him! This is your fault!"

~Maria~

"No Kyle, it isn't. They didn't do anything wrong." I let out a deep breath. "Look, I'm sorry about your dad, but it isn't their fault. Blaming them won't bring him back." I say, wiping the tears from my eyes. I'm crying. Great! Just what I need. I'm trying to be sympathetic but at the same time, trying to make him understand. Max, Michael, Isabel, none of them were to blame for Jim dying. Pierce was. But how could I make Kyle understand that?