Chapter Three: When The Past Knocks Down Your Door
"Liz, you don't know what you're talking about."
Liz flushed with anger and clenched her teeth. Max was being absolutely infuriating. "I don't know what I'm talking about? If Tess is out there-"
"She isn't," Max said sharply, leaving no room for argument.
"If Tess is out there and we just ignore her, it's going to get worse," Liz continued anyway.
"She's *dead*, Liz," Max yelled, annunciating each syllable as if he were talking to a small child.
"No, Max. You *want* her to *stay* dead. You can't even say her name without twitching. You just want to ignore this because you don't want to deal with it!" Liz shouted back. "How many more people does she have to kill before you realize this is a fucking problem!"
"Will you guys calm down, please!" Kyle screamed. He knew having a group meeting was going to be a disaster. But planning one was turning into World War Three. They were in front of Tumble Inn and fighting about whether to stop for the night or keep going. Max wanted to keep going and find a place to settle. Everyone else wanted to come up with a game plan to find Tess.
Max wasn't even willing to admit that Tess was alive. Liz was trying to convince him otherwise and was failing miserably.
Max turned accusatory eyes to Liz and laughed. "I don't see why you're so eager to drag her back into her lives, Liz. Are you trying to shove my past mistakes at me?"
Liz was getting frustrated at how Max was twisting her words. "This has nothing to do with you, Max."
Max just shook his head in disbelief. "Like hell it doesn't," he spat back. "There could be other explanations."
"But there aren't, Max. Can we just stay here tonight and *make* a plan even if we don't use it?" Liz pleaded, trying to meet him half-way. Max just looked at her. His hands were gripping the steering wheel tightly.
"You can go in and make a plan," he said softly. "I'm going for a drive."
Liz opened her mouth to say something but then looked at Isabel pleadingly, her eyes asking for time alone with Max.
"Let's go in, guys," Isabel said. "We can get our rooms."
Maria and Kyle eager to get away from the couple's bickering, quickly got out of the car. Isabel followed after them while Michael hung back a little. He had not liked the way Max had talked to Liz and wasn't so sure if he trusted the two of them alone. He reluctantly chased after Isabel after giving Liz a worried glance.
Once the van was empty, Liz spoke. "I don't want her back in our lives either. You have to believe that I'm not trying to force her on you. Now please just help us come up with a plan. Come inside."
Max shook his head. "I have to think by myself. What if she is back, Liz? What if she wants Zan?"
Liz just looked out the window and felt bad for pushing the Tess issue. She had never thought of that. Looking back on it, it made sense. The only time Liz had seen Tess display any human emotion was over Zan. As much as it shocked Liz, Tess truly did love her son. "She can't have him," Liz replied strongly. "Zan is safe where he is. Wasn't that the whole point? To keep him safe?"
Liz could see Max was beating himself over this. Max, on the other hand, seemed to be looking away from her. "He's safe for now. But if Tess gets a hold on him, she'll drag him into a whirlwind of danger. I can't allow that happen."
"Then don't," Liz said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We'll take care of Tess, Max."
Max just hung his head and prayed that she was right.
"I thought we left all of this behind," Isabel groaned. She sat cross-legged on the bed and was facing Kyle. Kyle was worried. He did not like the idea that Tess was back.
"Ever hear that phrase about 'you can't escape your past' or something like that?" Kyle asked vaguely.
"We've been more like running from it at very high speeds. But, yeah, I get what you're saying."
"Maybe we should run faster," Kyle said sadly. "I just wish that things were different."
Isabel thought that he meant he had wished he was never brought into the alien mess. Kyle, however, knew differently. To him, he was the odd man out. The two couples in their group had placed the label of third wheel over his head, even in Roswell. Now the feeling of isolation was even worse. The only thing that made it better was Isabel.
Whether or not it was chalked up to limited choice or a matter of the heart, Kyle was undoubtedly enamored with Isabel. But there was sense of impossibility that came with those feelings. Sure, Isabel wasn't technically married. She and Jesse and signed those papers about two months ago unbeknownst to everyone else. Isabel came to him and ,in turn, she was his lifeline also.
If only it was meant to be…
Footsteps out in the hall make Kyle's skin crawl and he tensed up. When Liz opened the door, he relaxed noticeably and saw that she was still upset. Kyle had a hard time figuring Liz out these days. But right now, she was worried about Max and he could tell. "Where is he?" Isabel asked.
"Out thinking, whatever that means," Liz said
dismissively. "He's worried about Zan. He thinks Tess wants Zan back and he's afraid of what that means for his son."
"I'm more afraid of what this means for us," Kyle voiced.
Liz nodded in agreement. "I still don't understand how she was able to find us. Where has she been the last year? Why is she after us now?"
"How about we get Maria and Michael and discuss this as a group?" Isabel suggested.
"Yeah, because *those* always go well," Kyle muttered under his breath. Even though Liz heard him, she brushed the comment aside and went to get Maria and Michael.
"We're not very much of a group, are we?" Kyle muttered. "Max should be here for this. He *is* our leader."
"He's upset, Kyle. His son might be in danger."
He's the one who got her knocked up, Kyle thought bitterly. "Zan isn't the only one in danger here."
Isabel looked away from Kyle, anguish written all over her face. "You don't get it, Kyle. To give Zan up was one of the hardest things Max had to do. I mean, that was his *son*. Max just wanted his son to be safe and the thought that he isn't is killing Max inside. With all that's been going on, Zan is the only person Max could truly protect. Kyle, wouldn't you do anything to protect someone you love?"
Kyle avoided her searching gaze. Yeah, I would, Isabel. I'd protect you with my life. But once again, the words died in this throat.
Isabel just watched the door and hoped her brother would come back soon. In a few moments, Liz came back with an anxious Michael and Maria. "What's the plan?" Maria asked immediately. "Because I don't like the idea of the blond bitch running around terrorizing people."
"You and me both," Isabel said solidly. "I think we should find a way to lure her to us. Obviously that's what she's doing, trying to find us."
Everyone was silent. It was the only way to keep her from killing any more people. "It's dangerous," Liz argued.
"We need to keep our families safe," Isabel replied, with a pointed look at Liz. *For Zan*
Liz just looked away and thought of how this plan could go wrong. "How do we get her to come to us?"
"Well you said that she's been in your dreams. Maybe you could show her where we are and she'll think…" but Isabel's words were lost to Liz's deaf ears.
"No," she mumbled in a soft tone full of pain. That's why Tess had been in her dreams. To find out where they were. How many times had the happier dreams Liz had been about working at Harrison's? Then, Liz's heart stopped. She had fallen asleep in the van on the way here. Tess was using her as a locater and Liz had played right into her plan.
"We have to get out of here," Liz said frantically. "Tess knows we're here. We have to find Max! He could be in danger."
Liz began for the door quickly and prayed that Max was alright. He knew where Zan was and if that's what Tess wanted-
"I really don't think you should be worrying about Max right now," a familiar voice said when Liz opened the door. A voice that dripped with malice and a pair of ice blue eyes met Liz's.
Behind Liz, Michael and Kyle had both the girls behind them. Liz was amazed at how much she still hated Tess. "So you figured it out," Tess drawled as she closed the door behind her. Michael quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her next to him. Tess began to clap and sick smile crossed her face. "Go team."
"You like the hair?" she asked, twirling a long brown lock around her finger. "Oh, come on! No one wants to talk? No 'welcome back, Tess' or 'I could have sworn you were dead'? Not even a 'what the hell are you doing here'?"
With a flick of her wrist everyone went flying in which a way. Maria hit a counter and she was knocked unconscious immediately. Kyle went to go for her but Tess clicked her tongue at him. "Not a good idea. Don't worry, she's not dead."
"Wouldn't be the first time you killed anybody," Kyle shot back.
"I *told* you I never meant to kill Alex," Tess practically yelled at him.
"What about those people at the bar?" Isabel growled. "They were innocent."
At Isabel's words, Tess grabbed her head and tried to shake a feeling of dread off.
*There is no innocence, not any more. No more killing, no more sacrifice. Just this, you being a victim, a *freak*.*
"What the fuck?" Michael muttered. Tess's brown hair turned back into her blond curls and she continued to ramble to herself until she pressed herself up against a wall. He felt movement behind her and saw Liz going towards Tess. "Don't."
Liz met his eyes and stayed where she was. "What happened to you after you went into that building?" Liz asked. She needed answers. Everyone else was still in shock from Tess's behavior. She was always so cool and calm but now she looked like hurt child. Human.
Tess still clawed at her hair and didn't look up at Liz. "I didn't die. I wanted to but I didn't. They took me to a hospital or at least that's what they told me. I woke up one day, six months after and they would me I was in a coma. Then they took me to this *place* where they…"
"Where they what?" Isabel pressed. Liz narrowed her eyes at Tess. She looked like Max that night after they helped him escape from Pierce. Was it possible that they had her too?
"They did things," she whimpered. "Things that made me wish I could go back in time so I could be *sure* that I died in that fire. When I escaped, they all deserved to die. So I killed them, just like they would have killed me."
Liz swallowed loudly. "How many?"
"Fifty of them, I suppose. All of them had white coats but they were red when I left. Everyone was red."
Before anyone could respond, Tess's mood shifted.
Suddenly she began to laugh loudly. "I chose you, you know, because I knew you would do it. Max would have been too soft. Deep down inside Max always thought I was better then this. He always had too much faith in people."
Isabel just looked confused. Tess's body abruptly calmed down and when she lifted her head, her eyes pierced into Liz's. "But *you*, I knew you would take me wherever I asked you to take me. You never really wanted to stop me, did you? You *wanted* me to die. I guess you aren't as godly as you thought because you know it's the truth. You were right that night. You *aren't* a killer but you would let me die."
Liz stiffened at her words. She was right and she knew it. Tess had killed Alex. Hadn't that been reason enough? "When I went in there and felt myself getting burned alive, I admired you, Liz. You gave me what I wanted. I needed Zan to be safe, that's why I did it. I *needed* to die and that's why I chose you."
Kyle was half-listening to Tess's words and trying to get Maria to wake up. Isabel glared at Tess and processed her words. Tess was broken. Wherever she had been, she had been broken down. But somehow, she had held on to Liz. That's why she came into Liz's dreams. That's why she was here now.
Liz couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed at Tess's statements. Tess stood up shakily and everyone else in the room eyes her warily. "Why did you kill all of those people at the bar?"
"Exactly why you think I did. To find you guys. To let you know I was coming for you," Tess answered simply.
"Why are you here?" Michael growled.
"Because I need a favor."
"No way in hell," Michael said back quickly.
"I'm not going to make it out of this room and I need you to make sure that happens," Tess said with her eyes on Liz.
"You want us to kill you?" Liz asked incredulously.
"My body's natural instincts are to heal fatal wounds if I have enough energy to do so. I can't do it myself."
"No," Liz said simply. "You'd suffer more alive. That seems pretty appealing to me."
Tess narrowed her eyes. "What? You can't do it again? How about I give you an ultimatum? You kill me before your little husband gets here or I tell him you and the second are fucking behind everyone's backs. Don't deny it. I saw it in the dreams."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Kyle asked from behind everyone. The three turned fear-filled eyes to Kyle. "Is it true?
"Kyle," Liz began. "It's not like that. We aren't cheating on Max and Maria, I swear."
Kyle closed his eyes and pieced together all the little clues. "But you were," he clipped out, anger evident in his voice.
Tess laughed. "See? The group is falling apart, Liz. Just *wait* until I tell Max," she taunted.
Liz was convinced. The bitch needed to die. "I don't have any powers that could kill you."
Tess looked at Michael and Liz shook her head. She knew Michael wouldn't want that burden on his shoulders, especially after Pierce.
"I do," Isabel spoke up.
Tess frowned. "But you won't do it. Looks like we need some motivation."
Tess rubbed her hands together and set her eyes on Kyle. "Would you do it if I killed Kyle? Or Liz?"
Michael tensed and pulled Liz closer to him unconsciously. Suddenly heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway in front of their room. Tess's eyes went saucer-wide with fear and everyone froze. Insistent pounding of the door stopped their hearts. With no windows in the small room, they couldn't get out that way. Even if they could, the building had to be surrounded.
How could they have caught up to them so fast?
They were all going to die. Thinking quickly, Liz frantically whispered to Tess. "You help us get of here and I'll make sure no one finds your body for weeks."
Tess nodded and without thinking, she stepped next to Isabel and raised her hand to the door. "Once they get in, we blast them. You ready?"
She looked questionably at Liz and Kyle who also had their hands raised. Kyle just looked at her. "Things change, Blondie."
Tess just looked to the door and ,together, they waited for the door to open.
