Season 4 – Episode 1: Here with Me
Disclaimer: Melinda Metz wrote the books and one episode. Jason Katims, Ronald D. Moore, Thania St. John, Gretchen J. Berg, Aaron Harberts, Toni Graphia, Russel Friend, Garrett Lerner, Breen Frazier, David Simkins, John Harmon Feldman wrote the show. I personally have no rights to any of the characters or the story. This is for entertainment only.
Author's note: Everything that happened canon, happened for my stories. I know that many people hated the 3 season. I'm not a super big fan of it myself but it's staying in. The only thing I address is the healing plot hole. At the beginning of the series, they could all heal (Michael heals River Dog's leg in Into the Woods). Toward the middle that changes so only Max can. Max is still the best healer of them but for my purposes all Antarians can do it since it's not magic its molecular manipulation. Max just has more talent for it than the others so he can do bigger things without completely exhausting himself.
Summary: You can run but you can't hide.
The road was almost empty as the beat up blue van crossed over the Washington state line. Max's eyes burned. He'd been driving for five hours and it was getting pretty late. Liz, in the passenger seat next to him, had fallen asleep a few hours before. In the rearview mirror he could see Maria curled up next to Michael and Kyle leaning against the window snoring softly.
The only other person awake looked to be Isabel. She was staring quietly out the window. Ever since they left Roswell, she'd turned more inward. Unlike Michael who seemed to revel in it, living this nomadic sort of life was hard on her. She wanted a place to call home. Somewhere they could settle down and stop running.
Once upon a time, that place had been Roswell. They had their family, friends, school, and the possibility of a future. They had to keep their identity secret but there was comfort there. Now, they were on everyone's hit list. The newly restored UNIT had been close on their heels all summer. It was exhausting to move around so much. Thank god he had Liz. Max glanced at his sleeping wife again. He'd given everything up for this woman and he would do it again in a heartbeat. As soon as they could get settled, he was going to give her life she always dreamed of.
As for tonight, he would have to find a place to stop. It was almost midnight, his legs were falling asleep, and his back was screaming. "Is" he called softly to his sister in the back. "Mm?" she replied as her head came up. "I think I'm gonna stop for tonight unless you want to drive for a while." She smirked giving him a look that said 'not a chance'. "We can stop. It's getting late anyway. I saw a sign for a motel at the next exit. We can just stop there." Max nodded. He'd seen the sign too and was already in the right lane preparing for the turn off.
The motel was mediocre at best. The golden orange polyester comforter was complimented by the hideous green and yellow wallpaper and pressed board furniture. It's only saving grace was that it wasn't the van and it wouldn't break their budget. They got two rooms; a double and a single. Max and Liz took the single. Early on they offered to switch off with Michael and Maria so they could get some 'privacy' every now and again but Michael simply smirked and replied "We can do that anywhere, Maxwell. You take it." Max wasn't fooled. He and Liz never got a honeymoon and he knew that his best friend was trying to give them alone time to make up for it. Max honestly believed Michael's insensitive badass routine was only to keep everyone's expectations low.
He handed Kyle the key to their room then led Liz into the single. "So tired" Liz groaned as she dropped her duffle bag and crawled on the bed without undressing. Max chuckled and started pulling off her shoes. "Oh I know. All that sleeping in the van must have worn you out." He teased lightly as he kicked off his own shoes. "Ha ha." She said sarcastically as she rolled onto her side and raised her arms up to him. "Come here." Not wasting any time, he climbed onto the bed over top her. He kissed her tenderly at first but then it grew more heated. His hand slid over the curve of her breast down her waist to the hem of her shirt before sliding around to her back and pulling her against him. Exhaustion gave way to their mutual need and they took advantage of the private room.
With his bag on his shoulder, Michael carried Maria into the double. Kyle carried Maria's bag and his own while Isabel took up the rear. "I've got the shower first." The tall blond said as she walked into the room. The brown hair was nice but she had only really done it because she needed a change. Alex had died and her life was a mess and it seemed like a good idea at the time. Plus Jesse liked it. But with him not around she couldn't find a reason to not go back to her natural color.
Neither of the men in the room complained as Isabel made her way to the bathroom. Kyle looked like he was about to pass out and Michael was preoccupied with getting Maria ready for bed. The cramped bathroom consisted of only a toilet and shower since the sink was out in the main part of the room. It seemed clean and the water pressure was okay so Isabel was satisfied enough.
Stepping under the hot jets, she tilted her head back and let the water cascade over her thick hair. It seemed like the only time she got alone these days was when she was in the shower. It had been such a hard and lonely summer. Even though it was her idea for him to go, she missed Jesse so much. It was only made worse by the martial bliss in the next room over. Isabel was happy for Max. She was. She loved her brother but if she had to be trapped in a van while they made googily eyes at each other for much longer, she was going to be sick. Michael and Maria weren't much better. The really needed their own room. They thought they were quiet enough but the distinct sound of sucking face couldn't even be drowned out by a pillow over her head.
Her only refuge was Kyle. He had to be going just as crazy as she was but he was such a trooper. He never complained or snuck off with some random girl for temporary entertainment. It had to be the Buddhism because some nights Isabel was climbing the walls. She remembered, before she started having sex, mocking people that went through sex withdrawals. Of course now that she had gone without it for months, she understood how unfunny it really was.
With a hand waved over her hair, it was dry and she changed into her pajamas. Kyle and Maria were already asleep. Michael looked like he was waiting. "Took you long enough" he grumbled as he stood up. His shirt was already off by the time he was squeezing by her to get in the bathroom. Her eyes lingered at his torso before she forced them to look away and head toward the bed. She really needed to get herself under control.
The next morning was business as usual. They had done this so many times it was routine. The others slept in a bit while Kyle and Isabel got up early to go for a run. She had so few things that brought her any sort of peace, Max didn't want to deny Isabel such a small comfort. But he didn't want her going alone either. It was too dangerous for her to go by herself. Kyle saw an opportunity and took it.
Getting up at the ungodly hour was worth the precious time he got alone with her. He knew she was having a rough time without her husband but he couldn't help but be a little happy about the forced separation. Since Max was with Liz and Michael was with Maria that left Isabel with Kyle and he secretly longed for it to stay that way. Thank god she had agreed not to dreamwalk any of them because if she knew half the things he did with her in his head, she wouldn't share the same van let alone the same bed with him.
The sheriff's son didn't have to worry about slowing his pace. The leggy woman next to him had no trouble keeping up. In fact, by the time they made it back to the motel, he was the one struggling. Isabel laughed and jogged backwards "Come on Valenti. I saw more hustle out of you freshman year." He loved it when she smiled. "Cut me some slack Evans. It was a late night." She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on his sweaty cheek. "Wimp" she whispered as she darted for the stairs taking them two at a time. "I'll show you a wimp" Kyle hollered after her as he willed his shaky legs to take the stairs.
She laughed as she reached the top before nearly colliding into someone. The strange man had blond hair and extraordinarily clear green eyes. He stood motionless for a moment and Isabel could only stare at him. Kyle barreled up behind her grabbing her around the waist before realizing there was another person there. When he touched her, Isabel glanced over her shoulder breaking the connection and the man backed away. "What was that about?" Kyle breathed into her hair as they watched the man disappear around a corner. "I have no idea" she replied equally quiet.
