Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me, but to the writers and producers of Roswell
Spoilers: After Chant Down Babylon, changes happening where Max is successfully rescued,
and Michael was the one who broke up with Maria.
Loving Destiny Chapter Ten
***
What though the radiance
which once was so bright,
Be now forever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back
the hour of splendor
in the grass,
of glory in the flower,
We will grieve not,
rather find strength
in what remains behind.
- William Wordsworth
***
Isabel wiped Max's brow. She'd been with him since the afternoon. Michael had gone to work that evening and Liz and Maria also had to work. "Max? Come on, speak to me!" pleaded Isabel. "I need to hear you order me around one more time."
Max seemed in a daze, his head tossed and turned in a state of constant confusion. Isabel felt helpless. Michael had thought of trying to contact someone on Antar, for information, for help, but there seemed to be no safe way of doing it. Isabel reached into Max's mind, hoping to calm the confusion, and maybe even find some answers hidden away in Max's subconscious. She'd never really tried reaching into someone's mind while he was awake, but Isabel felt in her gut, that while in a state of delirium, she'd be able to reach inside with the same effect as walking in Max's dreams.
There was darkness at first. Isabel concentrated within the dream-like plane and ignited a flame in her palm. There seemed to be a war-like tension in the air and then suddenly she felt a tap on the shoulder. It frightened Isabel because she'd never experienced anything of the kind – a presence on the same plane as herself. As she turned around to reveal the face of her guest, Isabel heard terrible screams within Max's mind. Isabel turned in search of the source, but the unknown presence held her back. "You can't help him that way Isabel."
Isabel turned to face her acquaintance only to find a figure clothed in light. She could make out a bodily shape, but there was no face. "Who are you?" asked the disillusioned Isabel. "Are you the same woman who spoke to me before?"
The shimmering figure seemed to nod in a quick flash of dim lights. "I can talk to you here a little while longer. Remember your illness. Connection with your other. Healing comes from your partner."
The being talked in disjointed phrases. Isabel couldn't quite understand what she was saying. "How do I contact you? Is there a cure here?" Isabel felt her pleas rising to desperate pitch. "Help! Please. I can't watch him die!"
The shimmering figure came seemed to float forward and Isabel could feel what seemed like arms reaching out to her and embracing her. She felt a warm comfort in those arms. Suddenly something familiar seemed to flash before her. Eyes of crystal blue burst within her thoughts. A sharp stabbing pain shot through her temple. "Oh God, what's wrong!" screamed Isabel as she held her throbbing head.
The figure floated backwards into the stark black desert sky within Max's dreamscape reality, until Isabel could no longer distinguish between the once prominent figure before her and the millions upon millions of other radiant hosts of the night. Unexpectedly the throbbing pain stopped and she was alone in Max's mind, and before her was an expanse of red skies layered with cliffs and black clouds threatening to envelop the beauty ahead.
"Isabel?" Max's voice called.
Isabel turned around and saw her brother standing before her. "Max? Can you see me?"
Her brother frowned. "Yes, how did you…" Isabel shook her head. "It must be this sickness. I'm actually in your consciousness. You can hear me and see me." Isabel ran her hands through her hair. "It's amazing."
Max smiled and hugged her. "I've missed you Isabel."
Isabel wrapped her arms slowly around Max's neck, in disbelief that she could actually hug him. "Do you know what's going on?" asked Isabel as she pulled out of the embrace.
Max's brow furrowed. "I'm not quite sure. I have some idea. The last thing I remember is being in the hospital."
Isabel nodded. "Well, we think this might have to do with what happened in Las Vegas."
Max frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Well," Isabel bit her lip, hesitating to inform Max of what she and Michael had suspected. "We think it's got to do with Liz and what happened in Las Vegas."
Max still didn't seem to understand. "We didn't have anything happen to us there," Max protested.
Suddenly before Isabel could say anything more, another figure approached them. "You know what happened in Las Vegas," a voice chided.
As the figure came into view, Max and Isabel looked at each other in confusion. It was Max. "Don't get your knickers in a knot!" Max 2 spat. "I'm still Max, in a way. I'm just not the oblivious one like he is!"
Isabel was confused. "But, why two?"
"Ah, don't have time to spend explaining it all, but I know that we're dying because you couldn't keep it in your pants!" accused Max 2, who pointed to Max.
"What are you talking about?" Max growled.
"Your lust for Liz was what put all of us in danger in the first place, and now it's gotten us killed!" shouted Max 2.
The accusation echoed through the dreamscape and Max launched into Max 2, attacking him. Isabel shook her head and pulled her two brothers apart. "Stop it! Fighting won't solve anything!" Isabel yelled. Finally the two Maxs's broke apart and Isabel stood between them. "Well, Max," Isabel directed the conversation to Max 2, "Do you know how to help?"
Max 2 began to shake his head when the dark clouds that loomed overhead began to move, faster than Isabel had ever seen clouds move. The trios' gaze was captured by a shining figure that stood above draped in a silvery wave of white. "Who's that?" Isabel gasped.
'Max' and 'Max 2' left Isabel's side. Isabel tried to follow but somehow she was frozen, unable to follow the Maxs toward the shimmering figure. And just as they were about to reach the bottom of the cliff on which the figure stood, several feet away arose another pillar, of equal height and with another shimmering figure. But this time, the figure was draped in a creamy white, the sun's rays brightening the raiment of the being. The two Maxs stood caught in between. The pale moon's splendor hailed the silvery figure's purity, but the sun's rays expelled the warmth of the other figure's warmth.
Isabel found she could only stand and watch. The internal struggle, which waged war against Max's soul, had begun. Isabel didn't know how, but she felt like this was a link and answer to Max's illness. But for some reason, Isabel didn't know how it could be.
Finally Max was drawn towards the golden raiment of the sun's rays, while the other Max, Max 2 had chosen the pale moon's purity. It seemed that the decision had been made, but somehow, 'Max' seemed to draw 'Max 2' with him towards the almost golden figure. 'Max 2' seemed to protest, but whose will seem to give out and joined 'Max' in their journey towards the waves of creamy white light. When they arrived at their journey's end, both Maxs unexpectedly converged into one Max and reached out towards the shimmering figure, which seemed to beckon them with arms wide open. Then Max was enveloped in the white waves and Isabel felt the heat of the sun intensify, suddenly Isabel witness a blinding flash of light and was brought to her knees. "Oh God not again!" moaned Isabel as her head throbbed and she felt a sharp stabbing pain in her stomach. The pains continued until the dreamscape was enveloped in the dark clouds and faded to black.
~~~
Michael was grateful to his boys for shooing him out the door. They knew he'd been distracted all afternoon and told him to take off early. Michael headed straight for the cliffs. He'd been worried about Max during the entire shift. He'd continued having visions of light and Max's screams. He'd also been having new visions, just that afternoon. He'd seen lights, two similar lights, but yet different. Michael had made a mental note to talk to Isabel about this.
As he entered the darken chambers, Michael expected to see Isabel leaning over top of Max, but when he arrived, Michael was greeted with the sight of Isabel slumped over Maxwell, her hand pressed against his face. "Isabel?"
Michael rushed to her side, pulling her off of Max. He felt her pulse and brushed the stray locks of auburn from her fair face. "Isabel? Come on! What happened?" mumbled Michael to himself. "Wake up. Please."
The stillness of Isabel's body frightened Michael. It was the same picture of the night Isabel had almost died. Michael pulled her against him, cradling her body. He buried his face into her neck and whispered into her ear. "Please Isabel. I can't lose you too." Michael rocked her warm body to and fro.
The scent of lavender and chamomile wafted through his senses. Her breaths were short and shallow at first, but then unexpectedly, Isabel inhaled loudly and deeply. She began coughing and sputtering. "Michael!" gasped Isabel.
Michael pulled her away from him and propped her against the Granolith chamber walls. Isabel cradled her head in the palm of her hand, using the other to sit herself up. "Ugh. Michael. What happened?"
Michael quickly wiped a stray tear from his eye and smiled. "I'd like to ask you the same thing."
Isabel looked up at Michael and smiled sheepishly. Now that Michael was sure Isabel was somewhat out of danger, he leaned over to check on Maxwell. He seemed to take shallow breaths, although his sleep seemed to be more or less painful.
"I think you'd better tell me what happened here."
~~~
Tess, again, was wiped out from contacting Isabel. She hadn't set out to do such a thing, but it was a great asset. Tess had been walking with Max in his subconscious for days. She'd monitored the times and was careful to make sure no one was around. Although Khivar threatened her with the knowledge of her contact with Max, Isabel, and Michael, Tess believed it was less than Khivar would have liked her to believe.
It was a coincidence that Isabel happened to be dream walking through Max's mind while Tess was there. She didn't get the chance to talk to her long, but Tess hoped that Isabel was able to understand the short message she'd relayed to her, in relation to curing Max.
Tess didn't quite know exactly the remedy, but she'd heard rumors about Michael's effect on Isabel when she had been injured. It was good to live in Nicholas's house at times. Tess received timely information, though the master of the house didn't know it.
As she leaned against the balcony terrace outside of her room, Tess welcomed the Antarian air. It was much more cleansing for their system than Earth's oxygen, as Tess had learned. The light atmosphere helped heal the headaches she'd begun to receive since mind walking and converging with Max and Isabel. As she closed her eyes, Tess heard Zander's cry from his room. "Coming honey," Tess smiled.
Tess cradled her son in her arms as the disgruntled child's eyes fought to open. She clucked her tongue and rocked him gently back to sleep. Settling down in the nearby rocking chair, Tess enjoyed watching Zander sleep. He'd been growing so quickly in the past few weeks. Tess nestled her nose against her child's cheek. He smelled of roses and chocolate. "I wish your Daddy could see you," cooed Tess.
As she closed her eyes, Tess imagined Maxwell walking through Zander's door and taking him in his arms. "Oh Max," cried Tess softly. "We could have been a family. I'm sorry." She wiped a shimmering tear from her cheek. "I'm sorry." Tess whispered into her son's ear and kissed him on the cheek. Then she arose from the rocking chair and placed him back into his crib.
She'd done everything she could to save her family - even if it meant keeping them apart.