Chapter 5
Max – March 29, 2005, Tuesday
Max set the files in the holder for his father's afternoon appointments, then took the filing pile back with him to the cabinets. It was tedious work but it kept him calm. Focused. At home, he'd taken on all manner of project to stay busy. Washing the siding, painting where needed. He'd revived his mother's old gardening projects. He'd practiced a bit of his powers on the plants. Frustration meant wilted hydrangeas and calm meant small blooms on just planted seeds. It was a little too much even for him.
Anything to keep his mind off the one thing, the one person, that would occupy his thoughts and destroy him. He searched for her sometimes and he could feel her but she wouldn't let him in. Usually, that's when he set something on fire. So he had to stop trying. He was driving himself crazy.
He ran out and picked up lunch at the Crashdown. Jeff waved with the stupid grin he'd had on his face since Liz had gone. Max just waved back and took the stack of boxes to the office. He delivered orders and sat with his father to eat in the conference room. He remembered they had done this a couple of times before. When he was newly adopted and had trouble adapting to school. When he was in high school and they'd made him see a therapist because he didn't have many friends.
"Are you studying?" Phillip asked him.
"Here and there. I can't sign up for classes until May."
"How close were you to your B.A.?"
"Three semesters. If I do both summer sessions, I'll only have to do two regular semesters. I'll graduate next spring."
"What are you thinking about?" Phillip asked him after a long silence.
"What if I switched to criminal studies?"
"Thought you were pre-law?"
"Just a couple of courses out of the way. I'd be two years from a B.A. instead of one. Some of my credits would apply."
"What's brought on the change?"
"I think it's fairly obvious what brought on the change." Max polished off his burger. "I just keep hoping to wake up and find it was all a bad dream."
"I know you…" Phillip trailed off.
"It's okay, Dad. It's hard for me to put into words myself."
"How are your talks with Sheriff Valenti?"
"Easier than the therapist I saw Freshman year." Max took a breath. "Sheriff Valenti just wants to listen and I don't have to lie."
"You could talk to me."
"Maybe someday."
"I don't understand."
"I don't feel like the man you raised anymore… I don't want you to look at me differently." Max breathed out. "So much has changed already. I'm… relieved you know as much as you do…"
"Okay." He laid his hand on Max's shoulder. "Okay, son."
Alex – March 28, 2005, Monday
Alex found the tree bridge when he went following the wires. Tess had really known what she was doing if Kyle insisted they didn't seem to be in real danger. When he had shown it to Isabel, she went about reinforcing it. She made him walk it with Chuck in his arms to make sure it could hold them. Just in case. Then again at a run, just to be sure.
When the crate of movies arrived for Isabel's homework via clandestine courier, they made a little area to accommodate their family activity. Isabel had the sofa and a desk. He had his laptop and a clear path for walking Chuck and for snacks. Chuck had an area to be his baby self within easy reach.
Alex didn't sleep much anymore. Isabel would sleep hard sometimes. Hard enough, he sometimes checked to make sure she was still breathing. She always was. Alex made sure she got to. He and Chuck took walks around the cabin and explored a bit. Sometimes when he was staring at the ceiling, she reached for him and their moment was always desperate and needy, like it was the last time they would ever be together. Alex just hoped they were going to survive this madness.
This didn't feel better than before. This didn't feel safer than before. Would that feeling ever end? Would they always feel like the other shoe was about to drop?
Zan – April 1, 2005, Friday
His sister drove him fucking nuts. Zan woke when she landed her big head on his stomach. "Get off."
"Bored."
Her big head was so damned heavy, he could hardly breathe. "Part of laying low is being bored. Read a book."
"Where did Ava go?"
"I don't know."
"Is she comin' back?"
"I don't know."
"That Tess girl just sits in her room all day with her eyes closed."
"I know."
"More mail came for you. What is all that stuff, anyway?"
Shit. She'd totally opened his mail. He sighed. "Just some stuff Kal wants me to look into."
"Since when do you take orders from the help?"
"I don't take orders from anyone."
"We should go into town."
"Not part of laying low."
"You're boring." She shoved herself to her feet. "You going to mope until Ava comes back?"
"If I feel like it."
"That kid was a mistake."
Zan seethed as she left him alone. She was trying to do something, and he needed to know what it was. Sitting up, he reached out. Tess perked up when he made contact. She hopped up and shut the door to her room. She fed him everything she'd overheard then gathered her things to go to town at his request.
Zan stood in the doorway to his room as she left. Rath followed. Lannie sat outside, talking to herself. So, he opened his window.
"Nah, we got time. These dipshits don't know what's comin'." Her voice came through the window. "King and Queen are split… Nah… We got this other group to worry about, but they scattered soon as the first job was done… They got some secret weapon. She don't look like hardly nothing though… don't know where she is. It's all top secret-hush-hush. I'll get it out of him… Just remember… I'm the one who goes home to rule."
Those conversations were happening too easily. Their enemies had resources. Zan closed his eyes and reached out.
Ava – April 1, 2005, Friday
Roswell was such a let-down. Alien themed crap everywhere. Still. Ava took a walk around. Then she almost lost her balance when Zan rushed her brain. "Whoa, calm down."
"Ava. Lannie knows something. Be careful. Watch out for the others. They won't know what's coming."
"I got this."
"She's trying to go home."
"Fuck that." Ava sat down to take a breath.
"She told about the other set, but I don't know if she told them about our son. Do NOT LOOK FOR HIM."
"Fine."
"You'll have to teach him. So, he'll be prepared."
"Got it."
"You okay?"
"Fine."
"Ava."
"I'm fine. Just hit Roswell today."
"Good. Stay safe."
"Yeah."
"I love you. Don't forget that."
"Fine."
"This is what I was afraid of. I had to."
"I know. People will think I'm crazy, talking to myself… Love you. You happy?"
"Stay in touch."
Ava sat there for a long time. Then she got herself up and continued her walk around town. Little green men everywhere. Probably was the best place to hide for years. She ran into Max while he was doing a lunch run. He froze and stared at her. Arms full of food and he just stopped. "Heya, Maxie."
"What are you doing here? Is something wrong? Is it Liz?"
"Just having a look around. I didn't get to come with everyone else." Ava shrugged. "Far as I know, everyone is safe. Zan and I had a falling out."
"Oh. Okay." He nodded and motioned. "Did you… need to… tell me something?"
"Nope, wasn't even planning this trip. Forgot… you know… that you people lived here." Ava shrugged again. "Everything's aliens, huh."
"Yep." Max stood there with the boxes in his hand for a minute. "I have to get back to work… do you… have a place to stay?"
"Hadn't really got that far." Ava shook her head. "Usually just crash someplace… abandoned buildings… alleys. Whatever's not freezing… but it's warm here."
"Okay… um… Well, then, let me drop these off and I think I know where you can crash."
So Ava followed him to his father's office and waited outside. Then Max walked her over to the police station. She started to feel uneasy. Max had her wait by the front desk. 10 minutes later, he emerged with a set of keys. "Tess had a house and it doesn't really belong to anyone right now."
"No one's going to call the cops on me?"
"Sheriff Valenti had a set of keys after he reported us all missing. Tess had a lot of resources because of our protector. She won't mind." Max assured her.
"So, what… I just pretend to be her?"
"Just if people ask questions but most won't." Max led her through the streets. "She kept to herself, so if people see you, they'll just assume you're her."
"You don't drive?" Ava asked after about six blocks.
"Used to. I… um… gave my Jeep to Michael when we… when we ran last fall. Michael said he traded it in, which was smart. Then the car we took to Mexico is Kyle's and that's still in Mexico. I'm saving up to replace his car for him. Then I… can get one for myself."
"I thought you didn't like him. Kyle."
"I didn't use to." Max nodded. "He dated Liz part of sophomore year and… well, he and I didn't get along much."
"And now?"
"He asks a lot of questions. I think Tess didn't answer any when they were staying together." Max took a breath. "Also, walking places helps keep me… focused. I have a lot of bad spells if I'm not actively doing something."
"Zan always figured that if the government got one of us, they wouldn't keep us alive very long." Ava watched him carefully.
"I kind of wish they had just killed me. My legs were broken so they ignored me until I healed naturally… then they took their time… exploring." Max began to sweat. "So… you and Zan and the whole… married deal."
"Not really. Not on this planet anyway." Ava sniffed. "We… had our full memories when we came out of the pods. It was… like we were asleep for a hundred years. We woke up and just kept being… us."
"Oh." Max frowned and walked in silence for a long time. "I'm starting to get those memories now."
"Not a lot of happy times."
"No." He took a breath. "I'm kind of glad you're here."
"Yeah?"
"I don't know what you were planning on and I don't know how long you're here but I'm… not good and everyone I know is gone." He breathed in harshly. "I don't know how to do this. I'm not… a king or a warrior."
"Zan told me what you were like when you came out of there. That's close." She told him. "It's not pretty. First time Zan killed someone… he wasn't himself for months. Some days were okay… others not okay… Eventually, he just got used to it. The idea that he could kill someone."
"I… didn't know their names. I don't think I had even seen them before I killed them."
"That's war, Maxie."
Max motioned up the sidewalk of the house. "It's furnished. She probably left some clothes."
"She's a bit thicker than I am." Ava shrugged. "Guess she was eating good." She took the keys and opened up the house. "Wow… even bigger on the inside than what it looked like. She lived like this?"
"Yeah."
"We got cheated." Ava whistled. "Left us in a sewer like we were garbage."
"No one came for me and Michael and Isabel. We got separated from Michael."
"But you got the rural life, adopted and shit. Room to run and grow." Ava looked around. "Water?"
"Probably."
"I could get used to staying in nice places. Who knows, maybe someday I'll get a job. Be like a real human."
"We are, human."
"That's what my husband always says."
Maria – March 31, 2005, Thursday
Maria pushed her cart through the small grocery store. She had her list. Her budget. She was going to be a responsible wife and mother if it killed her. Sammy was asleep for now and that was awesome. Nosey old ladies looked in her basket and then looked at her and then at her son but Maria kept pushing the cart and gathering supplies. The hot sauce aisle was sadly lacking. She hoped Michael didn't run them out of hot sauce before ordering time.
The cashier commented. "You making wings or something?"
"My husband likes spicy food. We go through a couple of those little bottles a week." Maria cleared her throat. "Any chance you all could order some of those bigger bottles?"
"I'll ask the manager."
"Appreciate it." Maria nodded. She kept playing her What-Would-Liz-Do game whenever she was out of her element and it seemed to be working so far. "I love this town. So peaceful."
"That is a word for it." The cashier made a face. "Any coupons?"
"No." Maria shook her head.
Cashier pointed to the newspapers by the door. "Come out every Wednesday. Pick one up before you go strolling around. Helps."
"Thanks." Maria smiled and held her breath because Sammy was stirring. Then he settled. She let it out.
"How old?"
"Six weeks."
"Big one."
"Yep." Maria nodded and handed over the money. The bagger loaded the cart carefully. Maria noticed the young man staring at the carrier. "He's asleep."
"I know." The bagger whispered as he set the last bag in the cart. "Have a nice day."
Maria pushed the cart out to the truck. She put Sammy in first. He barely noticed. She tossed the rest of her cart into the back. The bagger was there to collect her cart. He even tip-toed away. Maria said a prayer and turned the key. The engine woke him up. He screamed until she pulled into the driveway. She calmed him down and took the bags one at a time into the house while she held him in the other hand. By the time she was done, and he was fed, she was exhausted. She called her mother, but she was busy at the store. Daytime soaps on low volume it was. She needed a hobby. Laying lowing sucked when she couldn't work. There was no way Michael was approving anyone to babysit. Not that she could stand to be away from his chubby cheeks for longer than a nap.
She missed her best friend. She worried about her. Seemed like she was the only one. What if something had gone wrong? What if she was hurt? What if Pierce had locked her back in a cage? How would anyone know to go and rescue her?
Liz - April 1, 2005, Friday 11:59 pm
The doula couldn't make it. Traffic. Liz breathed and tried to focus on what needed to happen next. Her husband, that was still a weird word, climbed onto the bed between her legs. "We're going to do this. You and me. I got you, hon. We're the only two people we can trust in this world."
"Do you have a clean knife?" She asked him, trying not to think about what he'd just said.
"For the cord." He jumped off the bed to find and sanitize his pocket knife with mini-fridge vodka and a lighter. When did he start carrying a lighter?
85 long minutes later, pushing and screaming, Liz felt the baby leave her body and the silence was deafening. She shut her eyes and prayed for a minute. She could feel the afterbirth coming but she hadn't heard the cry yet. When she opened her eyes, he was standing there with the bloody knife in one hand and the baby in his other arm. His shirt was ruined. "Daniel?"
"Give him a minute." He set the knife down and tilted the baby's head down and rubbed his little chest. Liz waved her hand over the mess between her legs and scooted to the end of the bed. It was a long minute, but he finally took a breath and then cried. "There you go."
Liz took him, and he was gross, but he was perfect. "Hi. Hi there."
"Look at him. Little Russell boy."
"He's perfect. So perfect." Liz kissed his tiny hands. She could feel Pierce kissing her head, his hand touching the baby around hers. She wanted to block him out but she knew it would be a dead giveaway. "We should name him."
"We should. We didn't discuss this."
"We didn't have time." She reminded him. She looked up at him. Then her brain let her process the conversation they were having and the look on his face, the wet in his eyes. "When we get his paperwork… is going to be Russell or Pierce?"
He picked up the baby and paced, his leaking eyes on his son. "We are Pierces, now. Baby boy Pierce… What if we named him after my dad?"
"What was his name?"
"Nathaniel."
"Nate Pierce." She spoke it aloud.
"It's a good name. A good. Name." He spoke to the baby, he cleared his throat and sniffed back the tears threatening to spill over. "Look at those baby blues. Just like your old man. Sailing down behind the sun, waiting for my prince to come. Praying for the healing rain to restore my soul again…"
Liz covered her face for a moment to hide the sob she wanted to let out. She'd known but she'd hoped differently. She scooted back onto the bed and took him back so Pierce could clean the rest of the mess. It didn't matter to her, not really, who his father was. She would love her son in any case. She couldn't take her eyes off him. Not while Pierce dealt with the owner about the screams and mess, not while he got sleep next to her and not while he packed a bag, so they could go get their child checked out by a real doctor. While the doctor worked, Liz watched Pierce. He was beaming. Smiling. Being genial. Like he didn't torture people to get what he wanted. Like a proud father and husband. Liz felt like she was drowning.
TBC