Roswell Fanatics

*Kyle*

"Yes, Liz," I tell her. "I know we're not together anymore, but I need to figure out what's going on. You're better at that than I am and maybe you'll remember something important," I plead with her.

Then putting my hand over the reciever, I try to get the other's atention. I can't let Maria just leave until I have a better chance to talk to her. "What about Isabel and Alex? Or Tess??" I try to get her attention, but Tess keeps looking away. "I thought we were close. Please help me."

Turning back to Liz on the phone, I suddenly think of something to solve both problems. "Why don't you meet me at Maria's house? She can help, too," I suggest.

~Maria~

How the hell am I supposed to keep this up? I feel bad for Kyle. Really bad. If it was my mom that was missing, I'd be going out of my mind with worry and it's very obvious that is exactly what he's doing. I can't break. I can't. It would put everyone in danger. But how am I supposed to keep strong? I know! I grab my cell phone and dial Michael's cell number, stepping far enough away from Kyle that he can't hear but won't think I'm running off either. If anyone can talk me out of doing the right thing, it's Michael.

"Please pick up!"

OOC: not sure if this works, having a little writer's block at the moment so it's the best I can do. Hope it's okay for people, if not tell me and I'll try and edit

~Liz~

It’s difficult to resist the urge to roll my eyes at Michael as he states the obvious. I know full well that I can’t go meeting Kyle, I know that we don’t have time for starters, and that it would be dangerous otherwise, but if he actually listened, and thought about it, maybe he’d realise what I’m meaning, and then it would become clear to him that we’ve already got a fairly big problem…

Maybe I can arrange to meet him somewhere to get him away from the others…? But then what? I don’t turn up…? I shake my head. That’s not fair on Kyle, not after what I fear might have happened…

When Michael then decides to play a guilt card on me regarding Max, I’ve had enough though and I glare at him. Doesn’t he have more faith in me than that…? - Apparently not...

Of course it’s not too easy listening to two separate conversations at the same time, and as Kyle speaks again, I try to turn my attention completely to him for a moment. His mention of Maria’s house rings major alarm bells though…we don’t want to be going anywhere like that, and if he’s suggesting that, he’s thinking going with Maria I know…

Okay, so what are we going to do now…we need a plan, and fast.

As Michael’s phone begins to ring, I know this really isn’t good though…I’m supposed to be in the Crashdown…alone…where does a second mobile come from…? “I-I can try…” I tell him hurridly, lowering my voice slightly and trying to add another little edge to my voice. “Uh…there’s someone outside, I’m going to have to go for a moment…” I wrap the phone tightly in my jacket, hoping to block out the ringing in the background and back away slightly. ‘Who is it…?’ I mouth at Michael.

*Michael*

I can't believe my cell phone is ringing now. I do NOT want to have contact with anyone. Hell, I should never have allowed Maria to talk me into getting it. It's not like I could ever really afford it anyway. I expect them to cut off the service any day now for lack of payment...

Glancing at the screen, I see it's Maria and I realize I should have guessed that.

"Maria," I tell Liz, quietly and then I answer it.

"Hey, If you're done there, you gotta get back here," I say, skipping anything like a 'hello.'

.

~Maria~

I roll my eyes.

"Well hello to you too. We have a problem Micahel." I let out a deep breath.

"He won't let us leave. I've tried. He insists on us telling us where Valenti is. Please Michael talk me out of it cause I swear, I want to tell him the truth but I know we can't. But he's so upset which is understandable cause if it was my mom that was missing I'd be upset too and I just...I need help here Michael. Talk me out of it please. And before you yell, know that I love you."

I didn't even notice the full out ramble I had gone into I just knew Michael was probably gonna freak out but I really did need help!

*Michael*

'him?' Damn. She's talking about Valenti -- about Kyle. He's with her, not the FBI. That doesn't really make it any better.

"...know that I love you," she finishes.

Actually, that does make it a bit better. It's just Maria being Maria and I love that nutcase. I gotta help her. Somehow. I run my fingers through my hair, fixing the spikes as I try to think.

"You can't tell him," I say, feeling calm for the first time. "He'll blame us and come after us. We gotta get out here before anyone notices we're missing."

I look at Liz and Max. He's still so still, so wasted. He's in no shape for this but I know we can't wait. Every second eats into our chances for a clean getaway.

"Okay, maybe rest time is over," I say thinking aloud as I talk into the phone. "We'll pack him up and meet you on the road. But you gotta ditch Valenti. It's time to make tracks."

~Maria~

"We'll pack him up and meet you on the road. But you gotta ditch Valenti. It's time to make tracks."

I carefully motion for the others to follow me as we make a break for the Jetta. Jumping in and locking the doors, we speed down the road.

"Gosh Michael, we got away but what if he follows us? This thing won't go that fast and there's no way I can outrun him."

<<<Max>>>

"Okay, maybe rest time is over, we'll pack him up and meet you on the road. But you gotta ditch Valenti. It's time to make tracks." I here Michael say out loud.

He's right. We're not doing anything but waiting time and having Kyle on our buts isn’t helping the situation. I turn around and look at Liz speaking low so that there is no chance of Kyle hearing us.

“Liz you have to get him off the phone. Say you’ll meet him. Say anything; just get him off the phone. We have to go.”

There is no time to waist anymore. If we’re going to leave we have to do it now. If Kyle wants to meet Liz it must mean that he’s suspicious.

I look over at Michael who is still on the phone.

“Where are the others?” I ask him

*Michael*

"They're in Mountain View," I tell Maxwell. "We can meet them in Midway and then head up the Roswell by-pass to Melena and out to Texas - Damn. They have both cars," I realize.

"Listen, Maria. He might try to follow you but you have to stay out of town. Don't let the FBI spot you." I'm trying desperately to think of a way to make this work. She can take 256 around and up to 380 to Caprock. The truck stop there. I'll call Izzy and have her pick us up -- except she probably has Alex with her and maybe Tess. Even with just Alex it'll be tight in the jeep. Maria's Jetta's not big, but if she's riding alone, that'll be the best ride.

Biting my lip, I ask Maria, "Does either car have room for the three of us? Is Tess with you or is she with Isabel? She'll have to mindwarp Kyle and make him think you're all heading home, and one of you will have to come here and get us." Maybe both. Damn. Damn. Damn.


*Kyle*

I turn away for a moment, trying to get an answer out of Liz but she's stepped away from the phone. Probably the FBI guy in her house, too. Suddenly I hear car engines and I turn to see the others peeling out of the parking lot. "They're leaving!" I shout at Liz, hoping she's there. "Why are they running? Liz? What's going on?"

I put the phone on 'speaker' and turn up the volume as I jump in the car and try to follow them.

OOC: don't know how good this is, had a hectic week at work so it took me a while to post I'm afraid

~Liz~

Maria…well I guess that makes sense… She’s probably struggling just as much with Kyle at the moment… The thing is, if Kyle hears the ringing, and sees Maria, he might manage to put two and two together, and that would be majorly bad…

I hear Michael dive right in, telling them they have to get back here, and I shake my head. Still he doesn’t seem to have gathered the information I was trying to pass on by repeating some of what Kyle said…

Michael seems to listen for a moment, and it’s not too difficult to imagine that Maria’s probably in the middle of one of her freak-outs. Perhaps surprisingly, he actually begins to talk quite calmly after he realises that Kyle is there with them.

As he says it’s time to leave, Max then looks over at me, telling me I have to get rid of Kyle. I bite my lip and nod. I know what I have to do…but if it’s as I fear, I can’t help thinking this is so wrong… I know we can’t meet him really, but then I just keep thinking about if Jim really is dead…where does that leave Kyle…what’s he going to do…? And maybe more relevant given our current situation, if he is dead, and the FBI know he was helping us, what might they do to Kyle…

We need to know what happened there…but Michael doesn’t know for certain, and I know I don’t… I don’t know how we’re going to find out, if we even can…

Until now, I’ve been trying to hide my fears from Max, but now I’m unable to do so any longer. “Max…what if something happened to Jim…he helped us, doesn’t that put Kyle in the same danger as the rest of us…?” I shake my head, not knowing if I’m really getting through to him or not, but knowing I have to try.

Just then, I become aware of a muffled sound coming from my phone inside the jacket I have wrapped around it.

Stepping even further back, I unwrap it, bringing it up to my ear just in time to hear him ask what is going on. I swallow and take a breath. “Nothing that I know of Kyle…” I respond softly, trying to keep my tone as even as possible.

I see Michael looking over expectantly, and I know what he wants me to do. I close my eyes, praying silently that I’m wrong and that Valenti will be home later for Kyle. “So where do you want to meet…?” I ask, trying to move the conversation on to an ending as Max and Michael want. I feel awful about this…but I know it’s what I have to do…