What Are Friends For? (CC/ML~Teen) 5/20 ~ Part 5 Complete

[roswellbrat]

What Are Friends For?

Category: CC

Rating: Teen

Disclaimer: I don't own the Roswell show or the charaters. I only borrowed them to help their story continue.

Summary: The story takes place a few months after graduation. They are on the run, and decide to stop for a meal in a small town...little did they know what they would come up against!


What Are Friends For


It's August 17th, we've been on the road for days now, and I can't remember the last time we dared to stop for more than a few hours. Everyone has been taking turns driving so we don't have to stop. Once in a while we get a motel room, just long enough to shower and sit somewhere that isn't moving to eat our dinner. I don't know how they found us, but they have, we're usually only about two days ahead of them...

"Max, do you think we can stop for a few hours, we really need to stretch our legs. I'm afraid if we would have to run for any reason, we won't be able to." Liz looked over at Max, he needed to rest, the burden of being "the leader" was really starting to show. She leans over and runs her hand through his hair, he looks at her with love in his eyes, knowing she would always look out for him, for all of them.

"Okay, I think I saw a sign that said that there was a town a few miles up the road." Looking behind him at the others in the back seats he asks "Anyone up for some real food in a real restaurant?"

"You'll get no complaints from any of us; I think my butt is permanently embedded in this seat." Maria reaches out to stretch and accidentally hits Michael in the head.

"Watch it, I just combed my hair!" He has been crabby lately; being around all these people has just about pushed him off the deep end. "The sooner we get out of here for a while the better!"

"How's the money holding out? I think the last stop really ate into the funds." Kyle was turning into a worrier, wondering if and when he would get his powers.

Isabel pulls out the little box with what money they had, counting it, she recounted it. "Max, we are really low. I hate doing this again..."

"I know you do, but for now it's the only thing we can do. Just use as little as possible." Max hated asking her to fix the situation, again.

Isabel takes out a few ones and a five, waving her hand; she changes them into some tens and a twenty. It's a good thing these can't be detected or we would be so screwed, she thinks.

"Looks like we have reached the fine city of Ridge Rock, where are we now? Are we still in California?" They all look out the window, wondering why there was no one on the streets.

"I hate to say this, but it looks like Roswell did when the skins..."

"Then don't say it Maria. Let's go eat." Michael jerks open the door of the van.

The group sees a restaurant, reminding them of the Crashdown. Suddenly they all get quiet, thinking about home and their families. Max, taking Liz's hand walks to the door. "Last one in pays the tip!" He says as he smiles at his "family".

The bell over the door jingled to signal the coming of customers. Harry jumped; afraid to look, to see who it was...When he did he was relieved to see a group of kids, about his daughters age, maybe a little older. Then he remembered, it wasn't safe for them, he didn't want them to suffer the fate of the town, they needed to leave, especially the girls...if they came into town no one would be safe.

"Sorry, we're closed."

"But the sign says you're open. We really would like to get something to eat; we've been driving for a long time." Max looked directly at the man behind the counter.

"I don't...sure, take a seat. But for your own sake, please leave as soon as possible, it isn't safe here." He looks at the girls, worry filled his face.

With that one look, Liz has a flash, a strong one...
"Oh!" The flash is so strong it almost takes her breath away; it causes her to double over.

"Liz!" Max, Maria and Kyle all reach for her.

"Are you okay, young lady?" Harry grabs a glass of water, hands to Liz.

"They have them, don't they? They have them all!" Liz looks at Harry, her eyes wide; she is feeling his terror and the terror of the whole town.

"How...how do you know? Who told you?" All the color drains from his face. Looking at the group of young people, he's suddenly not sure what he's seeing. "Who are you?"

"We’re friends, and we're here to help you, help you all." Liz looks at the man, then at the rest of the group. "We have to stay, no matter what the cost, if we don't this town is dead."


To Be Continued....

[roswellbrat]

What Are Friends For
Part Two


He didn't know what to make of her comments, how could this group save the town, return to them all that they hold dear? They were kids...

He made up the last burger and put it on the tray. Watching them with their heads together, talking quietly, totally unaware of their surroundings, he couldn't believe that they could do anything and survive. Picking up the tray, he approaches the table. "Umm...," Clearing his throat not wanting to eavesdrop on their conversation. "Here's the burgers, I'll get your drinks."

"Excuse me; do you have any Tabasco sauce?" It was the boy they all seemed to look to, like a leader.

"Don’t have much call for it, but I'll see what I can find..."

"Oh wait! I have some, here!" The blonde, he thinks they called Maria, reaches in her purse, finally finds what she's looking for, and sets it on the table.

"Since when do you carry Tabasco in your purse, Maria?" Liz was amazed that she didn't know Maria did such a thing.

"Ever since we left that last place and Spac...uh, Michael couldn’t find any."

Harry started pouring the drinks from the fountain, funny, not much call for Cherry Cokes these days. This group was a strange lot, but if they can do what they say they can, then who is he to question anything.

The bell jingles again; he looks up to see Charlie walk in. Looking over at the new group of kids, he sits down at the counter.

"Who are they?" He reaches over the counter to get a mug, and then pours himself a cup of coffee.

"They say they can fix our problem."

"Them? From the look of them, they probably couldn't fight their way out of wet paper bag."

"Looks can be deceiving." Smiling, Max sees the straw dispenser on the counter. opens it, and takes out some straws. "I didn't want to bother you for the straws, I saw you were busy." With a slight nod of his head he goes back to the table, to their discussion.

"So, what is it they're hiding? What can WE do?" Kyle was watching the rest of them dump the Tabasco on their fries. Then he looked at Liz, she was picking up the bottle of mustard and shaking it. She opens up the bun and starts to write something on her hamburger. Kyle looks at Maria, "What is she doing?"

"It's a Sean thing, don't worry, she'll be fine in a minute." They sit and watch as she spells out the word ‘Fear’ closes the bun then takes a bite.

Max, needed to have a private, well as private as you can get in a room full of people, moment with Liz. He walks to the jukebox, runs through the songs, sees one and smiles. Putting the money in, he pushes the buttons. 'I Shall Believe' begins to play, Harry and Charlie watch as the boy walks over to the dark haired girl, holds out his hand. As she takes it, the men see the look that passes between them, never had they witnessed such a look, it was like they were one person, that they would die for each other...and if they took on this fool venture of theirs, they just might.

"Man, don't those two ever get enough?" Michael was eating some of Max's leftover French fries. "Ow! What did you do that for?" He reaches down to rub his shin where Maria kicked him.

"You sure are in rare form today, aren't you Michael?"

Kyle and Isabel exchange looks, at least they weren't in the confines of the van, they could actually get away, even if only to the other side of the restaurant. While they are trying to finish their meal in peace, they hear a loud noise...and it was getting louder. Isabel looks over at Harry, the man was losing the color in his face, what was going on?

"You kids, you need to leave now, before it's too late!!"

"What's going on?" Max and Liz stop dancing to look out the window, not believing what they were seeing-three motorcycles come riding up. Two of the grubbiest people they have ever seen walk in, leaving one back to stay with the bikes.

"Why look Tiny, some fresh meat!"

"Yea, I like this cute little dark haired thing..." He makes his way over to Liz. "Hey, baby, I want to dance." He makes a grab for Liz.

"I don't think my wife wants to dance with you, do you?" Max looks at Liz, giving her a 'do what ever it takes' look. Liz reading his meaning, tries to walk over to Max. The rest of the group, sitting at the table, keeps an eye on things, but they know those two can take care of themselves.

"He's right; I only dance with my husband." Harry and Charlie are behind the counter, watching, wondering, what are they going to have to do to help protect these kids. Just as Tiny makes a grab for Liz, she grabs his arm, catching him off guard, and then flips him on the ground, all 300 pounds of him. "I guess I didn't make myself clear, I said 'NO' thank you." While Liz was taking on Tiny, Max was deciding what to do as he sees his buddy making a run for him with a broken bottle.

"Max! Look out!" Isabel yells a warning.

"I got it covered, Is!" Not caring who was watching, Max throws a green force field around Ace, making it so he couldn't move.

"Yea, right, way to go Maxwell, tell the whole damn world!" Michael mumbles under his breath.

As Tiny goes to get up, Liz sends him flying across the room with a flash of green energy. "I'd stay down if I were you. I haven't even gotten angry yet, and you won't like me angry." She smiles down at Tiny.

"What the hell, who are you?!"

"We're your worst enemy, so I'd advice you to leave now and return whatever it is you took from these people..." He releases the force field from around Ace. The two bikers get up and start to run out of the door.

"Don't think this is over, you'll be seeing us again!" Jumping on their motorcycles, they ride off leaving a giant dust cloud behind them.

"Okay, as you can see, looks are deceiving, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. If we're going to help you, you have to trust us. We will get back what they have. Now’s the time to make a plan, our time here is limited..." Max looks at Harry and Charlie, reaching his hand out to Liz. As she takes it, he pulls her close, breathing a sigh of relief.

Harry looks at Charlie and pours a cup of coffee, wishing to himself that it was something stronger. "Okay...this all started about a week ago..."


To Be Continued...

[roswellbrat]

What Are Friends For
Part Three


"I had spent the better part of ten years in the Merchant Marines, in the roughest ports in the world, but nothing prepared me for the day that they rode in." Harry was shaking his head, feeling the loss all over again. "We were having our annual end of the summer pep rally at the high school, you know something to get the football team egging for a new winning season...When we heard the noise of all those motorcycles, we didn't know what to do, they all had guns." His mind drifted back to that day, the feeling of terror when they had seen them. "There must have been twenty or thirty of them. The leader, I think his name is Ace, started pointing at the girls, mostly the cheerleaders and some of the ones close to the field, telling them to get on the backs of the bikes. He held a gun right in their face if they tried to refuse to go. My Sarah, she was the bravest one of them, when she refused, he started to hit her with the butt of the gun, but for some reason he just stopped. When they rode off with half of the girls in the school the others all ran home with what kids they had left...but my Sarah is the only child we have...I don't know what we're going to do." He hung his head, almost in shame because he hadn’t been able to protect his daughter.

"Isn't there any law here?" Isabel was curious about a town that would let a group of bikers ride off with their daughters.

"Ma'am..."

"Isabel, please. I don't mean to sound judgmental, I was just curious."

"Isabel, this is a very small town, as you have seen, we just aren't equipped to handle such things. We had, I mean have, a sheriff. He did what ever he could, but he was out gunned. Ace attacked him with a knife; he knows how to handle it, too, way too well. The sheriff is my cousin, we almost lost him, but he is strong and he survived. The problem now is we have no idea where they have taken them.”

“I think I can find them, do you have a picture I can use?” Isabel knew the risks, but she was willing to take them to help the town.

Harry reached into his pocket to take out his wallet. Opening it, he pulls out a picture of a beautiful red-haired girl. Handing it to Isabel he asks “What good will this do?” While Harry was getting Sarah’s picture out, Charlie was digging for his wallet too. “I have one of my daughter, too. Will it help to have both?”

“It can’t hurt, if I can’t reach one, maybe I can reach the other. Do you have a place where I can be away from everything; it’s easier to concentrate where it’s quiet.” Isabel picks up the pictures. “They are beautiful; we will get them back for you.” She gives them a confident smile.

“How do you know you can do this?” Charlie was starting to get worried.

“Because it’s what we do best, we save the world.” Isabel winks at the men, and they start to relax.

“You can use the office, it’s kind of crowded in there, but it’s quiet and there is a real comfortable chair to relax in…”

“I know how hard this can be on you Isabel, let me help.” Kyle was worried about her; he knew that sometimes it was hard for her to break the connection.

“Thanks Kyle, it helps to know I’m grounded to someone. Let’s go, I have a feeling they’re running out of time.” She heads for the office, Kyle following right behind her.


“Maybe I shouldn’t ask this, but, where are you folks from? I don’t mean around here…but where…?”

Max looks around at the faces at the table; this would be the actual moment of truth. Looking at Michael, he knew what his answer would be. Isabel was busy; the only other person’s opinion that mattered to him was Liz’s. Looking at her, he got the answer in her eyes, she believed in these people, that they could be trusted; she saw that in her flashes. Max looked at Harry then at Charlie, “We’re from up North.” Pointing his index finger towards the ceiling, he hears a grunt from Michael. A curious look came over the two men. “You know, way up North…” Pointing again, but this time he makes the tip of his finger glow, like E.T. The two men jump when it finally hits them.

“Son, I don’t care if you are from the last moon of Pluto, your secret will always be safe with us.” He walks over and starts to shake Max’s hand, and then he grabs him into a hug. One tear rolls down his check. “You’re the only chance this town has.”


In the office…

Isabel touches her finger to the picture of Sarah, “Oh, please let me in, we want to help you.” As she closes her eyes, the connection was almost immediate. She is standing in the dining room of an old farm house, around her are about twenty five girls. Some are crying quietly to themselves, a few of them are just staring into space, but Sarah and Hope are sitting on the floor, heads together whispering. Isabel decides to try to connect to both of them at once, by putting her finger on Hopes picture at the same time. She feels them sensing something, it’s now or never…
”Girls, I’m here to help you…I’m a friend…” The girls spin around to see Isabel standing there.

“Who are you?”

“This must be fast, where are you? We want to rescue you, but we don’t know where you are. You’re fathers are so worried about you.”

“I don’t understand, what’s going on…?”

“There is no time now, I have to know where you are!”

“At Aunt Maggie’s, my father will know…he’s coming!”

Isabel steps off to the side, out of the girl’s line of vision. She wants to see just what is going on here. Ace walks into the room, looking over the girls; they would bring a good price. “Enjoy what time you have left, Ladies, tomorrow you’ll be going on a long journey. I think you’ll like where you’re going, I hear it’s beautiful this time of year.” He throws his head back and starts to laugh.

Isabel jumps, sucking in some air, her eyes wide.

“Isabel, Isabel, are you all right?” Kyle gently shakes her arm.

“Oh my God, Kyle! They’re going to be sold! People are coming for them tomorrow! We have to tell Max.”

They go back into the restaurant, all faces turn towards them.

“Well, did it work; do you know where they are?” Max was looking anxious.

“I know where they are and I know why they were taken, we only have until tomorrow to save them! They are going to be sold; the people will be coming soon.” Charlie and Harry look at her in disbelief. “Sarah said to tell you that they are at Aunt Maggie’s, that you would know where that is.” She was still breathless from the trance.

“Maggie is my sister, she’s out of town for a month with her husband, their daughter just had a baby and they went to help out. I know that place like the back of my hand…it’s the old homestead that’s been in my family for a hundred years!” Harry walks over and gives Isabel a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you…I know things will be all right now.”

“Are they okay, I mean, they weren’t… hurt?” Charlie looked into Isabel’s eyes hoping to see that she understood what he meant.

“They’re fine; I don’t think they want to damage the “merchandise”. That’s probably what saved Sarah from getting hit that day.”

“Okay Maxwell, we know where and we know when, now what?” Michael was gearing himself for a fight, he had enough built up energy to knock out half an army. “I’m ready to kick some biker butt!”

Max starts to clear the table, looking around he sees some napkins. Charlie reading Max’s mind, reaches in his pocket and throws him a pen.

“Now we make a plan.”


To Be Continued…

[roswellbrat]

What Are Friends For
Part Four


Liz sat back, watching the others work through the plan; then noticing that the coffee was getting low she got up to fix some more. "I haven't been away from the Crashdown that long; I should still be able to remember how to fix this." She said to herself. Reaching for the coffee, she starts to measure out what they used to use at home.

"Hey girlfriend, we haven't had much chance to talk lately...what are you doing?"

"Old habits die hard." She turns to her best friend and smiled. "As much as I complained, I loved that place."

"Who do you think you're talking to here? I know you, your nervous about tonight, aren't you?" Maria looks right at her, knowing her like she did, she'd be able to tell if she wasn't telling the truth.

"A little, we have things covered pretty well." Looking towards Isabel, watching her study the plans with the rest of them. "It'll be hardest on Isabel, she has to make the connection with the girls again, to let them know what is about to go down." She flips the switch to start the coffee brewing. Just as she turns around, Harry comes up to the counter.

"Sorry to interrupt. Maria, Max needs you to go over your part of the plan with Kyle."

"My audience waits!" Maria goes over to join the rest.

"Liz, could I have a word with you?"

"Sure. Oh, is this about the coffee? I'm sorry, my dad has a restaurant back home, and it was part of my job to always keep the coffee going. I guess I miss it sometimes." She looks at Max, a tear in her eye.

"Does he know where you are?"

"Oh no...they can never know...it's not safe for any of us." Harry gives her a curious look, wanting to know more, but not wanting to appear nosey. Liz senses this, and continues. "Max and I have been through a lot in the past three years...he's the only reason I'm alive right now." She looks at him with deep love in her eyes, Harry finds it odd that two people so young could feel that way, something that some people that are together for decades never feel. He waits, then she continues. “Three years ago, Maria and I were working the lunch shift, two guys got into an argument and a gun went off..." Her mind starts to wander off, and then shaking her head she brings herself back to the present. "I took a direct hit, well; I guess you could say, I was dead." She looked him square in the eye, and in that instant he realized what she was saying...she had really died. "I fell behind the counter, no one was around, Max was there within seconds of me going down, he put his hand on me and healed me and brought me back to life. He gave up his life that day...no one knew, except for Michael and Isabel, not even their parents."
Harry gives her a questioning look. "Oh, they, Max and Isabel, were adopted; Michael was bounced from foster home to foster home. There is so much that happened in those three years I can't even begin to tell you. But, one of the side effects of my being healed was I began to change...to become like my husband. I'm proud of the fact I can be like them, it is a big challenge at times, but it means I can help him fight his enemies, or your enemies for that matter." She looks at him and smiles with her eyes.

"When was the last time he heard from you?"

Liz sighs "One of the powers I have developed is to be able to see things before they happen, this has saved our lives a few times. But, the first time it happened was twelve days before graduation...I saw us all killed, Max Isabel, Michael and me. The FBI wanted us dead...there was a special unit of alien hunters. A few years ago they captured Max, and tortured him." Harry sees her look at Max, the tears filling her eyes as she remembers what happened. "Now they were coming after us, all of us this time. In my vision I saw a speaker, someone that was scheduled to speak at a convention, twelve days after graduation, giving us hardly any time to prepare. Then at graduation, they had a surprise speaker, it was the same man. We knew then that we didn't have twelve days or twelve hours, we didn't even have twelve minutes. Max stands up and goes to the stage, using his powers; he knocked out all of the lights, but one. He started making a speech, setting himself up as the target, so we could get away. If it wasn't for Michael, Max wouldn't be here now." She takes a deep breath then continues, "When we left town that night, we never got a chance to say good bye to our families, well, all except Kyle. Kyle's dad used to be sheriff, but because he helped us, he lost his job. He helped us escape town, Isabel had to leave her new husband, and Maria gave up her home and her mother." She reaches up and pours a cup of coffee for Harry, he takes a sip.

"This is really good, if you have time before you leave, you'll have to show me what you did. So your parents don't know why you left?"

"They do now, I managed to send them my journal, it explained most of what we went through those three years. We just can't keep in touch and I know it hurts them."

Reaching in a drawer, Harry gets a business card out and hands it to Liz. Taking his pen out of his pocket, he lays it on the counter next to the card. "Give me his phone number, when you're long gone, I'll give him a call."

"I think they listen, or at least check the phone calls..."

"I'm one restaurant owner calling another getting a reference on two waitresses that applied for a job."
He gives her a wink.

"Thank you..." Liz leans over the counter and gives him a kiss on the check.

"I see how you are, I turn my back for two minutes and you're kissing another man." Max approaches the counter, taking the coffee that Liz offers. "It's time to go over the final plans; Isabel is heading to the office to contact the girls."


In the office...

Touching the pictures, Isabel is once more drawn into the country dining room. Seeing the girls, she quietly comes up to them. "Sarah, I have something very important to tell you..." She sees them jump, but this time they don't panic. "We're coming to rescue you, here’s the plan..."



Harry meets up with the other two men in the parking lot, it was midnight, Charlie comes out of the restaurant ready to go.

“Harry, these are kids, what do they know about taking on guys like this?”

“I trust these kids with my daughter’s life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He looks at Charlie, a knowing look passes between them.

“Let’s get going, I think striking at night is our best bet.” Max gives Liz a quick kiss before he jumps into the bed of Harry’s pick up truck. Liz and Maria are riding in the cab with Harry, Isabel is with Charlie.

During the ride they go over the plan once more. “Maria, you and Kyle have to move fast, we don’t know how much trouble we’ll have with those guys.”

“We have it all covered, everything will be fine.” At that moment Liz brushes Maria’s arm and she gets a flash.

“Oh, Maria, please, please be careful…whatever you do, watch your back…” Liz tries to warn her friend, without causing any panic.

“Don’t worry; we’ve been in tougher spots.”


Two of the fathers park their trucks in the small woods behind the house to wait; they will be there to take their children home, hopefully. Charlie parks as near the edge of woods as he dares. Isabel gets out of the cab and goes over to meet the rest of the group. They all wait while Max goes up onto the back porch with Kyle and Maria. After Max unlocks the back door he comes back to get ready.

Isabel rings the doorbell on the front porch. Waiting, she looks nervously at Liz. The door opens; one of the bikers starts to eye Isabel. “What can I do for you? I sure know what you can do for me…” What a pig, Isabel thinks.

“My car broke down just up the road, you’re the only house with lights on, can I use your phone?”

“Sure honey, come on in.” Isabel feels her skin start to crawl.

“I have my friend with me, is that okay?”

“Yea, if she looks as good as you, bring her on!” He starts to rub his dirty hands together, thinking this is his lucky night.

Liz comes up to the door and looks in. Just as she does, Tiny comes around the corner into the living room.

“What is she doing here?! Go away girl!”

“I just wanted to finish our conversation from this morning, I didn’t finish the job then.” Liz walks in the room, walking right towards Tiny.

“Tiny, you mean this little thing gave you that black eye?” Rollie starts to laugh, pointing at Tiny.

“You don’t know man! They’re both crazy!”

“You don’t mean me do you? Because I’d have remembered somebody so…so..ugly!” Isabel comes into the room.

“I’m talking about that other guy! The one that said he was her husband.” Tiny nervously looks to see if Max is any where around…

Rollie wasn’t impressed, but he did like what he saw in Isabel. “I think I’ll just take this one…” Reaching to grab her arm, he finds himself flying across the room. “What happened?”

Hearing the noise, the rest of the of the bikers run into the room.

“Did that girl do that? Man, you’ve got to be kidding!”

Michael couldn’t take it any more- he just wanted to hit someone! He starts to blast the door, but Max stops him. “Try not to make a big mess, this is someone’s home”

As they walk into the house they see Liz and Isabel throwing bikers across the room. Two guys make a run for Michael, seeing them coming his way he just grins and wiggles his fingers as a come on “Come on boys make my day!” He waits until just before they reach him, then sends a green charge out of the ends of his fingers, they stop like they were going a hundred miles an hour and have just run into a brick wall. With a big thud, they go down.

“Nice job Michael, something new?”

“Yea, just found out about it the other day! Come on guys, I didn’t come all this way just to lay out two of you bad boys!” He starts to feel like some one is coming up behind him, as he turns around he sees a baseball bat coming for his head. “I don’t think so…” He puts his hand near the guy’s throat and lifts him off the ground without ever touching him. Raising his hand, the biker floats in the air, almost to the ceiling. Looking up Michael says “That’s good enough.” Shutting off his force field, he watches the guy fall onto the floor.

“Max, we could use a little help here…” Isabel calls, Max turns around to see the girls surrounded.

“Michael, did you say you wanted to kick some biker butt, well, now’s the time!” Max turns his force field on them, feeling Liz beside him; she extends her hand to double the energy. Michael and Isabel start their own. The bikers are all suspended four feet in the air.

“Maxwell, how far can you throw yours? I think I can manage at least twenty feet!”

“Please, let us down, we’ll get outta here, we’ll be long gone in five minutes…!”

“Make it two and you have a deal.”

“Max, don’t take away my fun! It was just getting good!”

They lower the shield and watch the biker’s run as fast as they can…



In the kitchen…

Kyle was getting the last two girls out the door, they were Harry and Charlie’s daughters, they had insisted on being last, they wanted to be sure they had everyone. “You know where your dad is?”
Sarah nods her head, takes Hope’s hand and they run for their lives. Just as Kyle turns around he sees Ace coming up behind Maria. Before Kyle can call a warning he sees Ace grab Maria’s hair and pulls her towards him. That’s when he saw the shiny blade of the knife go into Maria’s back.

“Nooooooooooo!!!” Kyle yells and not realizing what he is doing, he points his hand at Ace and sends him flying across the room knocking him out.


To be continued…

[roswellbrat]

A/N This is the end of this one, hoped you liked it.





What Are Friends For
Part Five


Max, Liz, Isabel and Michael stood at the window and watched the bikers run out to their motorcycles, looking like whipped dogs with their tails between their legs. They turn around laughing; they give each other high fives...then what they heard made their blood freeze. It was Kyle screaming 'No', they look at each other and run for the kitchen. They never expected to see what was waiting for them...Ace was laying unconscious on the floor, a bloody knife by his hand and Kyle was kneeling by Maria's still body, blood flowing from her back.

"Oh no Maria!!" Michael was on the floor picking up her head. "What happened?!"

"Ace came out of nowhere...he had a knife...I didn't see...Max you have to help her! You have to hurry!!"
Kyle was trying hard to keep himself in control.

Max gets on the floor, Liz and Isabel stand there staring not knowing what to do. "Michael, you have to get her to look at me! Michael!" Max grabs Michael's shoulder and gives him a shake. "Michael, listen to me!"

Michael is completely lost, holding Maria in his arms he starts to cry. "Maria, don’t you dare leave me! Do you hear me?"

"Michael, I can't help her until she looks at me..."

She feels herself floating in the fluffy darkness "Is this what it's like to die? It's not so bad...it's quiet and warm..." In the far off distance she hears a familiar voice. "Oh that's Michael, I wonder what's wrong with him...Be quiet Space Boy, I can't sleep when you make so much noise..." She feels herself floating deeper into the darkness...


Isabel and Kyle stand by the back door watching the other three work on Maria, but Michael isn't being much help, he won't let go of her long enough to try to get her to open her eyes. Max is beginning to panic; he doesn't know how much time he has. "Michael, help me! You have to get her to look at me!"

Harry and Charlie run up the stairs, opening the back door they see Kyle and Isabel, Kyle is covered in blood. "The girls said they heard some tro...Oh my God." They see Max and Liz trying to get Maria to open her eyes, Michael has her head on his lap, blood covering the floor.

"I'll call Doc Henderson; he just lives down the road!" Charlie starts to run to the phone. Isabel reaches out and stops him.

"It's too late for that now, Maria's only hope is my brother..." Isabel is shaking, she is remembering the last person Max tried to get back-Alex. Kyle seems to read her mind, "Don't do this Isabel...Alex was dead for hours before Max got to him, he was beyond help. This...this is different."


The darkness was bliss, she was enjoying the wonderful feeling of it...then to her right she saw the beginnings of the bright light. "So, this is the bright light you hear about...it is really..." Then she hears voices again, only this time there is more than one, Liz was there too. "Why can't they just be quiet...I can't sleep in with the noise..." she feels herself floating towards the bright light, it keeps calling her...
"Maria! Don't you dare die on me! Your mom will kill you if you do! Then she'll kill me for ever getting you involved with this! Maria, damn it! Open your eyes...look at Max!" Liz sounded really angry at her...oh well, she'll get over it...the light is calling...


Harry knew what was happening, so this is what Max did to save Liz...he looks in awe at the boy. Then he feels the pain they are all going through. "Is there anything we can do to help?" He whispers to Kyle.
Kyle just shakes his head no, then looking down; he realizes he is covered in Maria's blood. Isabel looks at Kyle as he is looking at his clothes; with her hand she erases all signs of the blood.
"Thank you. I can't take this, why isn't anything happening!"

The seconds seem like hours, everything going in slow motion. Max is looking at Maria, calling to her to open her eyes, to look at him...


Floating, the darkness was steadily getting warmer, the light brighter...the voices seemed stronger now, why do they want me to open my eyes, the darkness is so much nicer..."Maria, I love you, do you hear me! Open your eyes...Maria!" She feels warmness on her cheek, not the warmness of the dark, but a wet warmness, like a tear...was Michael crying? The floating begins again, only this time it's away from the light and towards the voices. She tries to open her eyes, but they are just so very heavy...Michael wants me to do this. I'm trying Michael, but they’re just so, so heavy...

"Max, what will we do if she doesn..." Suddenly there is the slightest of movements in Maria's eyes; Max moves quickly, he has to make this connection...


By the door, the others are watching. Then things begin to happen, "I think he's done it, he's got the connection!" Isabel watches her brother place his hand on Maria's back. As they watch, Max starts to lean forward, the pain is evident on his face, he is absorbing everything from Maria. Sweat breaks out on his forehead, his breathing becomes labored.
"Will he be all right?" Harry was beginning to worry about Max.

"It only lasts about a minute, he'll be fine. He'll be a little weaker for a while but that doesn't last long either." As Isabel finishes her comments, Max stands up and pulls Liz to him, absorbing her strength.

To the amazement of the other two men, Maria stands up. She turns towards Michael; he takes her into his arms and gives her a deep kiss. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!" Then he kisses her again.

Liz and Max take turns hugging Maria, "Thank you, Max."
"No thanks are necessary, your family." Max kisses her on the cheek.
The others walk over; Kyle opens his arms and gives Maria a big hug. "Welcome to the 'I am becoming an alien club'." With that one comment, everyone laughs. Maria looks down at Ace; Michael reaches down and picks up the knife. He wants desperately to stick the knife into the man who almost stole Maria from him, but he knows he can't...the law would handle Ace. Maria looks down at her shirt, there is a hole in it and it's covered in blood.

"Wouldn't you know it, that scum sucker ruined my favorite shirt!"

"No problem Maria." Isabel waves her hand over the shirt and it's good as new.

"Great! Thanks Isabel! Hey, you even got out that stain I've been fighting for the past two weeks!" She gives Isabel a big hug.

"Maria, the next time I give you a warning, please, please listen to me. My nerves can't take this again!"

"Who did that to Ace, I mean it must have been one good blow to keep him out that long!" Kyle was wondering who had come in and got to the biker while he was trying to help Maria.

"He was like that when we came in...Well Buddha Boy, I think your long lost powers have arrived!" Max looks at Kyle and winks.

"Me, I did that...no way!" He looks at his hand; suddenly there is little bursts of green energy running through his fingers.

"Anybody ready to head to a welcome home party at the restaurant?" Harry was ready to find his daughter and give her a big hug.

"Yea! I'm starving! These alien powers work up an appetite! What about Ace?"

"I don't think he's going anywhere any time soon. We can tie him up, and then I'll call the state boys, once you're long gone." Charlie was ready to find his daughter too.


At the resturant, everyone is hugging and laughing, enjoying the fact all were safe. It was 2:30 in the morning and no one seemed the least bit tired. Max and Michael were talking to Harry and Charlie.

"...we don't know how they find us but they do. Sometimes it's only hours, sometimes its a few days. We change the color of the van every other day and the license plates in each state. It's been getting really close." Max was starting to get worried about how long they'd been there, even though it had only been two days, and what a two days it had been!

Harry and Charlie exchange looks, Charlie nods at Harry, knowing what he was thinking. "I'll be right back." Harry heads over to where their wives are talking with a few of the other mothers, listening to what he has to say, they nod their heads, smiling. Harry reaches up on a peg board and grabs a set of keys. A few minutes later, an RV pulls up in front of the restaurant. It wasn't big, about twice the size of the van, but it slept six people so it would do them well.

Walking into the restaurant, Harry hands Max the keys. "She's all yours. She ain’t new, I guess she's about four years old, but she’s solid and has just had a complete tune up."

Max was speechless, "Harry. we can't take that! It's too much!"

"Nonsense, Charlie and I went in on it a few years back, but we've gotten too old to deal with the whole camping thing. It's just gonna sit in the barn and rust, so it might as well be put to good use." Taking Max's hand, he presses the keys into it. "It sleeps six, there's a little kitchen, well, a sink and mini 'frig and a microwave. Oh, it's even got a bathroom and a shower, a real little shower.” As he says that he brings his thumb and index finger together, showing how small.

"After driving in that van for all these months, it will seem like a palace!" Max takes the keys and hugs Harry.

"Good choice of words, Maxwell." Michael winks at Max then reaches his hand out to the older men. Charlie wasn't going to settle for a handshake, he grabs Michael and hugs him, patting him on the back.

"It will never be enough for all you folks did, never be enough..." He shakes his head.

"What will we do with the van? We can't hide it anywhere, somebody might find it." Max said as he was remembering how the jeep was found.

"We'll put it in my lake! It's on private property and who would even think about looking for something like that there?" Charlie was getting excited; finally he would be able to help them.

"It might just work, I say we do it!" Michael looks at Max, he nods his approval.

"Let's do it!"

Max, Michael and Kyle follow Charlie and Harry to Charlie's farm; following a dirt road, they come to the lake. Everyone gets out; Charlie studies their options for a minute, then looks at the younger men, "I guess we can just push it in." Rolling up his sleeves he gets ready to push.

"Or, we can do it the easy way." Max gets ready to use his powers to do the heavy work.

"Max! Let me, okay? I want to try them again!" Kyle was dying to try out his new found powers.

"Okay, but go easy, you don't have much control yet..."

"Maxwell, I don't think this is a good idea."

"Have faith Michael!" Kyle points his hand at the van, waiting...nothing. "Man, what was I, a one shot wonder?" Suddenly the van almost flies into the lake, making a large splash. "Whoa!"

"Let's get back, the girls should have everything loaded and we really need to get on the road."


Back at the restaurant, Harry sees Liz showing his wife how they fixed the coffee at the Crashdown.
"It's not that different from the way you do it." She smiles at his wife, even though they have only known these kids for a few days, he would surely miss them.

"Liz, can I see you a minute, I have something for you."

"Sure, but you don't have to give me anything, you've done enough."

"It's nothing big, here." He hands her a large brown envelope. He sees the questions on her face when she looks inside. "Those are envelopes with the restaurant logo on them. When you want to get in touch with you families, write your letter and put it in the envelope, then mail it to me in the little brown ones. That way, I can mail it from here; no one will be able to trace it. As far as the federal government knows, your father is getting mail from another restaurant owner." He sees tears in her eyes.

"Thank you." It was all she could say, no words could ever explain how she felt.

"No problem, I would like to think that someone would do the same for my daughter if she was in your shoes." He felt his eyes getting a little misty.

"Liz, we really need to go." Max looks at her with urgency in his eyes. She just nods her head and follows him.

By the RV, most of the town's people have gathered to say good bye, everyone but Max has boarded, Max turns to offer Harry his hand again, but Harry would have none of it, he hugs Max again, whispering in his ear. "Your secret is safe in this town; we will die before we would ever tell anyone. Thank you for giving us back our lives."

Max smiles, returns the hug then goes to get into the driver's seat. "That's what friends are for."


It's August 19th and where do I begin...First the RV has been a god send; the extra room has made all the difference in the world. Michael, Maria, Isabel and Kyle are playing cards on the little table. Michael is a changed man, I guess he realized that sometimes people aren't always going to be there, so you better grab the moment while you can. When we started to unpack the goody box made by Harry and Charlie's wives, we found an envelope with a Polaroid picture of the group of kids and their families, but how could we ever forget these wonderful people. There had been another surprise in the envelope too, almost three hundred dollars in cash. There had been a note, saying that they wish it had been more, but it had been short notice and they collected what they could and that they hoped it would help us out. In my life time I will never forget the town of Ridge Rock California...


Back at the restaurant...

A few of the stragglers were helping to clean up after the homecoming party. Harry was at the counter, he sees the card with Liz's father's phone number on it, picking it up he puts it in his shirt pocket. As he starts to gather up some of the leftovers he sees a white van and a black government car pull up and stop. He exchanges looks with Charlie, then looks at the clock, they had been gone two hours...
"Right on time."

Three men get out of the car, one is carrying a briefcase. "Morning gentlemen, can I get you some coffee?"

"We’re here on government business, not to socialize." Opening the briefcase he pulls out six pictures, laying out each one on the table. "Have you seen any of these people, any of you?"

"They look like good kids, what did they do?" Charlie steps up to look at the pictures.

"That's not important, just know, they are dangerous. It's a matter of national security that we find them. They drive an old blue VW van."

"Well, sir, if an old van such as that with that many strangers would have come into town, we'd have known all about it." Harry kept cleaning the tables.

The agent was clearly agitated; grabbing the pictures he shoves them in the briefcase. He hands Harry a business card. "If you or any one else sees them, contact us immediately!"

They watch the two cars pull away. Once they're gone, Harry rips up his card and dumps it in the garbage. Patting the card in his shirt pocket, he goes to make his phone call. "Yes indeed, that's what friends are for."