Title: Twisted Fate

Disclaimer: I do not own Roswell. Also this is a re-write of a fiction I wrote in 2003 under the pen name polarchica77 that I never finished. * Indicates italics

Category: Romance, angst

Rating: M

Summary: My version of what happens during "Max to the Max". Michael gets captured instead...and things start to change

A/N: I very much appreciate reviews! The more I get, the more frequently I will revamp these chapters and get new ones started.

Chapter Three: Fear

Liz

"There they are," Alex informed me. We were sitting in the control room of the UFOcenter. I turned my head to see Valenti and Pierce walk into the building.

Max and Isabel cocked their guns by the door. Alex glanced worriedly at Isabel and she gave him a small smile.

"Be careful," he said to her.

Max loosely dangled the gun by his hip. "It's nothing difficult. We just have to pretend to bust Valenti and Pierce. Are Michael and Maria on their way?"

"They should be. Tess is picking them up," I replied.

"Are you sure that you should load those?" Alex asked, doubt clouding his face.

"We don't know what Pierce is capable of," Max pointed out.

I do, I thought.

Isabel flung her hair over her shoulder. "Let's get this over with, Max."

Max nodded and they both left. Alex and I watched while Isabel and Max pointed their guns at Valenti and Pierce. They both raised their hands in surrender and Isabel guided Valenti in one direction. Max dragged Pierce in front of the projector and used his powers to tie him to a chair.

Alex and I shared a look. Valenti and Isabel walked up the steps and entered our little hideaway. Valenti rubbed his hands together. "Is Kyle alright?"

"He's fine, Sheriff. Max had to lock him in a closet so he wouldn't see anything or get hurt though," I informed him.

Valenti nodded and pulled up a chair. He rested his chin on his arm and gazed at Pierce. "What do you suppose we do with him?"

"My first suggest would be to kill him," I said solemnly. When they all looked at me in surprise, I continued. "He's a monster."

"That may be," Valenti mused. "But maybe there is another way."

"How?"

"Well the government doesn't take very well to exposure. If we threaten to go to the media, Pierce will be taken care of."

"But that doesn't guarantee anything," I argued.

We all turned when he heard the back door open. Tess, Maria, and Michael filed in and came up.

"Where's Max?" Tess asked immediately.

Ignoring her, I focused on Maria who looked like she had been crying. I was going to ask Michael what was going on but his eyes were focused elsewhere. He crossed over to the window overlooking the facility and choked out, "Is that him?"

His gray eyes met mine. "Yes."

Michael braced his body weight and leaned against a wall. "I thought we just were going to draw him out," he said, rubbing his temples.

"And we did. We have to find out what happened to Nasedo, Michael. Pierce has to know something," Tess said.

"What happened to Nasedo?" Michael asked in curiosity.

"He never made it out of the building when we rescued you. We haven't heard from him since," Isabel informed him. "Maybe Pierce can tell us where he is."

Michael laughed dryly. "He isn't going to tell you anything."

"We don't know that," Isabel tried to reason.

"I know *him*, Isabel. He won't tell you anything. You made a mistake by bringing him here."

The coldness in Michael's voice made everyone stand still. I began to understand the logic behind Michael's cold demeanor. He was afraid that somehow Pierce would escape and take him back. But I was the only one who knew that and to everyone else, he masked his fear with anger.

"Well we can't just let him go, Michael," Tess argued.

His eyes narrowed and he began to pace. "I'm not saying that we should."

The implications of his words hit all of us. I, however, agreed with him. Just seeing what Pierce had done to him made me want to kill Pierce. Michael had to live it.

"Michael, we can't just *kill* him," Isabel said through gritted teeth.

"You're the one holding the damn gun, Isabel!" Michael shot back.

"That doesn't mean that we should use it. Valenti had an idea about letting the government take care of him. There has to be another way. We don't just kill people."

Michael scoffed. "Things changed."

"Look," I said as I stood between the two of them. "Right now, we have to get information out of Pierce about Nasedo. When we get that information, we'll figure out how to handle him. I don't think that Pierce will just *tell* us where Nasedo is. We have to find that out another way."

"I can dream walk him," Tess volunteered. "Once we figure out where he is, we can heal him with the healing stones. Isabel told me you guys have them."

Before anyone could reply, Max came in.

"Max? What are you doing up here?" Valenti asked.

"Pierce is pretty much incapable of escaping, guys. Don't worry. Actually I'm here because Pierce has a request."

"Since when do we take requests from our enemies?" Michael asked snidely.

Max turned to face Michael.

"He asked to talk to you."

Michael froze. "Let me think about it."

"He won't talk until he sees you, Michael. If we want this information…"

"I said I'll think about it dammit!" Michael wailed and turned angry eyes at Max.

"Look, we need him to talk," Max said, sounding slightly annoyed.

"And you need to let it go!" I shouted at Max. "You have no right to make Michael do this."

"I'm going outside to think," Michael said briskly. We heard the backdoor slam shut a minute later.

Max came over to me. "Liz, I'm sorry."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not the one you should be saying sorry to. I'm going to go check on Michael."

"Dammit!" I heard Michael yelp and I watched as a trash can flew across the back alley.

"No trash can is safe from Michael Guerin," I joked. Leaning against the back door, I looked at him in concern. "You want to talk about it?"

"No. You already know what it is."

I looked down. "I'm really sorry about Max, Michael. He just doesn't understand."

"Of course he doesn't, Liz. Why would he?" he replied bitterly. "I know you love him or whatever but he never has understood. Why start now?"

I went over to stand next to him and frowned. "Because you need him to. I know what you're doing-pushing them away. Maybe you should let them in."

"Maybe you should stop trying to give me advice," he snapped.

I shrunk back into the door, hurt etched on my face. "You let *me* in, Michael," I pointed out.

"No, Liz. I didn't really have much of a choice," he growled.

Tears brimmed my eyes. Is that what I did? Force myself into his mind? Hurt washed over me so I decided to tread on safe territory.

"Are you going to talk to him or not?" came my tight reply. "Because we would like to know."

"Liz.." he began, a sad look passing over his face.

"No, Michael! What the hell do you want from me, Michael? I'm so sorry that I just barged into your life. So don't mind me. Just go back to brooding your ass off, alright?" I yelled.

"Liz, that wasn't what I meant," he tried to explain.

"Is this what you always do? Make people care about you and then just push them aside like it means nothing? Despite what you think, Michael, you need somebody. Especially now with what you've been through. I'm willing to be there, Michael, but if you think that I'm barging into your life then please let me know," I finished, my tears beginning to spill over.

"I didn't mean what I said. I'm just upset and I wasn't thinking, Liz. I want you to be there. The thing is that you understand me. No one can understand like you do. You didn't barge into my life and even if you did, I'm happy that you're here. Why should I open up to them when I have *you*, Liz?"

I stood speechless.

"I'm sorry, Liz."

"Did you just apologize to me?" I asked in disbelief.

Michael smirked, "But don't mention it to anyone. I have a reputation to protect."

I grinned. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you, too. I still can't believe this is happening. I mean we hardly got along before and know we understand each other."

"Can I ask you something?" he asked shyly.

"Yes."

"I want to talk to Pierce but I can't do it alone."

"You mean me?" I asked in surprise.

His eyes met mine and he sighed deeply. "I need you to do this for me."

"Of course, Michael. Are you ready to do this?"

"Yeah. I think I am," came his haunted reply.

Michael

Two pairs of questioning eyes fell on Liz and I when we got back to the control room. I glanced at Liz by my side and couldn't help the sense of comfort that came over me.

"Where are Maria and Alex?" Liz asked.

"They are providing our families with alibis. Isabel and Tess are able to find out where Pierce has Nasedo's body so they went to get it and said we should meet them at the Pod Chamber later so we can use the healing stones," Max answered. His eyes darted between Liz and I. "So what are you going to do?"

I took a deep breath. "I'll do it."

Valenti stood up from his chair. "Do you want me to go with you?"

"No. This is something I have do on my terms."

Valenti nodded in understanding. "Good luck, Michael."

I ran a hand through my hair in a nervous gesture. "I just want to get this over with."

With that said, I turned on my heel and began to descend down the stairs with Liz following behind me.

"Wait!" I heard Max yell. "Why are you taking Liz with you?"

Before I could answer, Liz responded, "He needs someone to go with him."

"Yeah. Someone with powers. Not you," Max argued, eyes ablaze.

I knew he was just trying to protect her but when I saw Liz cross her arms, I knew he was in for it.

"I'm not an invalid, Max. If it makes you feel better, I have Michael there to protect me."

With my eyes, I dared Max to question my abilities. He backed off and just said to Liz, "Watch out for anything strange. I just don't want you to get hurt."

Liz softened and gave him a small smile, "I'll be alright, Max."

With one last glance at Mat, she gestured for me to proceed down the stairs.

It felt like I was walking to the electrical chair or something. With every step, I began to grow more nervous. The smell of medical supplies and blood reached my noise. My nostrils flared and bile began to rise in my throat.

Suddenly the room began to feel a lot smaller and the walls turned white. The cold steel of the table shocked my bare back.

Then the room returned to normal. I must have been going crazy because I swear I saw movement in the back curtain by where Pierce was. I shook it off because I knew no one else was in the building besides the gang.

I began to panic but then I felt Liz's hand holding mine. Or had I grabbed hers?

She gave me a small knowing smile. "You alright?"

Before I could answer, HE spoke.

"Michael, how are you doing?" he asked in his usual taunting voice.

Anger and fear consumed me. Torn between running away and killing him with my bare hands, I stood still.

Sensing my conflict, he sneered. "Long time, no see. Miss me?"

Clenching my fists, I tried to ignore the energy building up in my hands. "I should kill you right now."

"But you can't, Michael, or you won't," he mocked. "Either way, you need me for something. Otherwise, you would have killed me by now."

"Are you *asking* me to kill you because that would be arranged," I growled, narrowing my eyes and bringing my lips to a tight line.

This bastard was making it too easy.

He raised an eyebrow. "It's only fair, Michael. That's the only reason why I didn't kill you-because you had information I wanted. I wouldn't have hesitated to kill you if you didn't have what I wanted. And I would have enjoyed every second of it. Let's be honest with each other here, Michael. If I didn't have what you wanted, would you kill me?"

I regarded him with a cold expression. "Yes. And I would have enjoyed every second of it," I admitted, playing on his words. "Why did you want to talk to me?"

Pierce laughed with malice. "So you can see the irony in all this, dear Michael. *You're just like me*. You'd kill me just as fast as I'd kill you. How does that make you feel?"

I'm not going to lie to you, that hurt. I knew it wasn't true but just because the words came from him-it hurt.

"You're wrong," Liz said from next to me. "He's nothing like you. You're a cold heartless bastard. If he doesn't kill you, I *will*."

Shocked by the determination and hatred in her voice, I turned to her with wide eyes. So did Pierce.

Both Liz and I turned around when we heard Max and Valenti banging on the window in the control room. They both looked panicked and Max was pointing behind me.

By the time I turned around, it was too late.

Pierce was standing up and his chair was on the ground along with the rope. He stood still with a gun in his hand and his signature smirk on his face.

Fear ran through my veins. Not only for me but for Liz too.

I pulled her tense body closer to me and turned to Pierce.

"But how?" I asked in shock.

Pierce gave a evil half smile. "I had a little help, Michael," and he waved the gun carelessly. "It's good to have friends."

And then Kyle Valenti came out from the back curtains, holding a gun of his own.