A/N: No, I haven't fallen off the face of the planet. Just having a hard time ending the story, hense the slow updates. Enjoy, and Reveiw!

Chapter 36

Michael pressed more firmly on the accelerator. He hadn't been back to the pod chamber since they'd returned to earth and he didn't like any reason he was coming up with for Max wanting to meet there. He looked in the rearview mirror at Liz. Kyle was sitting next to her, his hand covering hers. Liz hadn't said much after she had declared Max was in trouble. Michael had wanted to talk with her, but she was avoiding his gaze. She was also blocking him forcibly from her mind.

"Isabel said Max is fine," Michael announced when he couldn't stand the silence anymore. Liz met his eyes in the rearview mirror and nodded. Michael held her eyes for a moment before turning his attention back to the road. "Were you planning on telling us about Jeremy?" Michael didn't realize he'd spoken aloud until he heard Maria ask what he was talking about.

Liz cleared her throat and looked at Kyle. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "Yes Michael, I was going to tell you that the wedding was off."

"That's not what I meant."

"Yes," She whispered softly. "I was going to explain that too…"

Maria spun around in her seat and looked at her best friend. "Explain what?"

Liz smiled weakly, and Kyle squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Can we wait until Max and Isabel are here too?"

Maria nodded as she turned her attention back to the road. "We're only a couple of miles away," she said as they passed another mile marker. A heavy silence filled the car as they continued to speed down the road.

Liz practically leapt out of the car as Michael killed the engine. She hiked halfway up the rocks, hoping that no one would follow her. She didn't want to answer all the questions and endure Maria's concerned glances, or Michael's enquiring ones. She sat down near the edge and pulled her knees to her chest, resting her chin on top of them. The sun beat on her back as she closed her eyes. Max was still blocking her, so this time she tried to simply nudge his mind, hoping that he would be more receptive if she wasn't trying to form a connection. She felt the block relax a little, and let out a relieved sigh. That was all she needed to know, that he was still with her…

A few moments later, she saw a huge dust cloud trailing the speeding Mustang that was headed towards them. Obviously, Isabel was driving. She stayed on her perch, even after the pair got out of their car and stood talking to Michael, Maria and Kyle.

She was exhausted. She hated feeling scared, and for almost two weeks she'd been fighting the fear that was bubbling up inside her. She was losing the fight and it was destroying her. She wasn't sure if she could face it again. She knew she'd break. Telling everyone what happened seemed impossible in her present state.

Liz was so lost in her thoughts she didn't realize that Max had climbed up behind her until the hair on her neck started to stand on end. She turned her head and looked at him as he sat next to her. "Hey," he said softly.

She tilted her chin in acknowledgement but remained silent. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see him watching at her. She felt like she was a lightning rod when he was near, with jolts of electricity flowing from one end of her body to the other. She tightened her hold on her legs and firmly planted her chin on her knees. She had to get some control, or she'd never survive this. She took several deep breaths as she looked at the desert landscape

"Nooooo!" The scream that haunted her nightmares echoed through her mind. Her stomach lurched and she jumped as she felt Max's warm hand on her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" his face was concerned.

She looked into his eyes and felt tears automatically fill her own. "I don't know," she whispered honestly. Her thoughts whirled in her head, as she tried to find the words to explain.

Max sighed and looked over the desert landscape. "Do you dream about when we left often?" He asked after a few moments of silence.

Liz jerked her head up and looked at him. She nodded slowly. "Do you?" she asked, fearing that she already knew the answer, that every dream she'd had, so had he.

Max swallowed. "Yeah, I'd have this dream, like the one last night, except it ended differently."

Liz dug her heel into the ground as she looked back over the landscape. She knew where Max was going with the conversation. "Max, I really, really can't do this."

"I know," he added quickly. "We just need to figure out what to do." He gently brushed a section of Liz's long, silky, hair behind her back so that he could see her profile.

"We have to know what happened with Jeremy," she said softly.

"I'm not letting you connect with him," Max said forcefully, knowing what she was implying.

Liz raised her head and looked directly into his eye. "What makes you think you can stop me?" she hissed.

Max's eyes widened at her tone. "Liz…"he began.

She cut him off, her emotions suddenly raging. This was ending. Now. "Max, he hurt me and he attacked you. He's out of control. We have to find out what we need to do to stop him!"

"Isabel or Michael could do the same thing." Max tried to reason with her.

"They don't know him like I do."

The statement pierced Max's heart, and caused him to remember exactly how close Liz had been to Jeremy. They'd been intimately close. It made him sick to think of it. "You obviously didn't know him well enough, or you'd have never agreed to marry him."

Liz's back went rigid. How dare he accuse her! She'd only settled because she couldn't have him. Her eyes were hard as she stood. "I'll tell Isabel and Michael that I'm going to connect with Jeremy." Max opened his mouth the object, but Liz cut him off. "Isabel can listen in, but you can't stop me from doing this. It's too important, and you know that."

Max scrambled to his feet. "Liz, wait!" Liz could hear the pleading in his voice and she stopped in her tracks. "I know this is important, but you could get hurt." Max's voice cracked slightly. "I can't protect you when you're in there…"

"What do you mean, you can't protect me?"

Max slowly exhaled, "it's dangerous," he said stubbornly.

Liz turned around. "You keep saying that. Max, what's so dangerous?"

Max bit his lip and averted his eyes.

"If you want to protect me, I need to know the dangers." Liz gently put a hand on his arm. Max finally dragged his eyes to meet hers, and the world stopped. "What happened to you?" Liz barely whispered when she saw the pain in his eyes.

Max looked away again. Liz could see his face beginning to crumple. She reached her arms around his waist and pulled him to her. His arms enveloped her as he rested his chin on her head. "I learned most of what I know about connections from Kivar," he finally said.

Liz shuddered at the name. "What did he do to you?" she asked, her face still buried in his chest.

"Please don't ask." Max's voice trembled. "If you see something that you can't handle, there's no going back. It'll be with you the rest of your life," he added as he pulled Liz closer.

"Max," Liz murmured. The broken sound in his voice made her ache. "I'm so sorry." Once again, their connection flared to life with little thought from either of them.

I just can't bear the idea of you having to live with what you might see. Max explained.

I understand, Max. I do, but if I'm ever going to feel safe, I need to do this. And I need your support.

Max released his hold on her and looked down into her face. I still don't want you to, but if it's what you need to do, then I'll be here for you. Max finally conceded.

They stood looking at each other for a long time, feeling each other's emotions and speaking words of encouragement that only the other could hear. They were startled by Maria clearing her throat. "I know that you guys have a lot to catch up on, but there are some things we need to take care of…"

Liz shot her friend an embarrassed smile. "Yeah, Max and I were just discussing that."

"Sure…" Maria joked as she stared at the couple, who were still in each other's arms.

Liz pulled away from Max. "I suppose I should probably also explain where I've been the past week?" Liz quickly walked over and gave Maria a hug.

"Yeah, what was all that about? Michael said that you called off the wedding and that you were in Davis. What happened?" Maria slid an arm around Liz's waist as the two began their decent back to the car with Max trailing behind them.

Liz took a deep breath. "I couldn't do it any more, Maria." She explained as they reached the bottom where Isabel. Michael and Kyle were standing. She looked up at the three and then back at Max who joined the circle. "When I told Jeremy that the wedding was off, he…" Liz took another deep breath, "he hit me." She met Michael's eyes and saw them flash with anger, and Isabel took a small step back, stunned. "My dad came in before he could do it again."

Maria let go of Liz's waist and turned to face her. "He hit you?" Her voice was quiet, like a little girl who was lost.

Liz nodded but didn't meet her eyes. "While Jeremy moved out, I went to Davis to salvage anything that hadn't been shipped to Washington. Kyle came with me."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Maria demanded to know.

"I was embarrassed." Max came up behind Liz and gently rested a hand on her shoulder. She turned and looked at him. "I knew what he was thinking, and I egged him on, because I knew it was the one excuse everyone would accept for me breaking it off," she explained, keeping her gaze on him.

Max swallowed. "There had to be another way, Liz."

"There wasn't, Max. There still isn't." Liz turned to face Maria, Michael, Isabel and Kyle. "I'm going to connect with Jeremy and try to figure out what's happened. Once we know, we can form a plan."

Isabel frowned. "Liz, I'm not sure that's a good idea."

Liz looked at her friends. "Does anyone else have a better idea?"

Michael cleared his throat.

"One that doesn't involve blasting him…" Liz added before Michael could say anything. There was silence as everyone tried to find another way. After several moments Liz cleared her throat. "I'm doing this," she said with quiet determination. Reluctantly, everyone agreed. Liz sat down on a smooth rock. The warm sun beat down on her as she made herself comfortable. She closed her eyes and began to concentrate.

Liz, Max's voice shot through her head. Please let Isabel connect with you.

Max, after what you just told me, do you really want to put Isabel through that?

No, but I don't want you to do this alone.

Liz's independent streak reasserted itself vigorously. I can take care of myself Max. Plus if there's something bad to see, why force more than one of us to see it. If something happens, at least it only happens to me.

Max's thoughts were clearly in turmoil, and Liz opened her eyes and looked directly at him. They both flinched at the electricity that flowed through them at the look. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you… Max told her. You've already been through too much because of me.

Liz twisted her mouth into a half smile. It's worth it, Max. When this is all over, it'll be worth it, she promised. Trust me, she added as she began to disconnect from him.

The last thing Liz felt before she disconnected with Max was his intense love for her. I've always trusted you, he confided.

Liz smiled as she closed her eyes again, and let herself drift. She focused on the sun beating down on her, the warmth made her skin prickle. Her mind had to be completely clear before she could find Jeremy's mind. After the day's events, it was hard for her to concentrate on the task at hand. She was too full of worry and anger. She took a deep breath and recalled Jeremy's face. First she remembered his fun spiky hair and full lips. He's always had a nice smile, she reflected. She focused on his eyes, and remembered them filled with love for her. Her stomach plummeted as she remembered those same eyes filled with anger. She shoved aside her feelings as she began to feel a familiar thought frequency. She'd found him. It was almost like seeing a trail of smoke from an extinguished candle. She followed the faint stream of emotions until she was sure she'd found his mind.

It was still a surreal feeling, connecting with someone. Especially when they didn't know that someone was listening to their private thoughts. Slowly, she pried open his conscious and practically cried out at the feelings that assaulted her. He was embarrassed about something, she realized as he mentally squirmed. She tried to pay attention to the thoughts that streaming towards her like dozens of arrows. "You're fired," she felt a man say.

Liz took a deep breath and tried not to respond to the hope that flared to life within her. It was impossible to know if what was said had just happened or was a distant memory. She desperately searched for another thought that would help explain everything she felt coming from him.

She saw Jim Valenti standing in front of her. Jeremy was sitting in an uncomfortably hard chair in a room she recognized as the interrogation room at the Roswell police station. "So tell me again, Mr. Highland, why did you pull a gun on Max Evans?"

"I felt that he was a threat," Liz heard Jeremy reply.

"What kind of threat?" Jim inquired as he sat across from him, looking concerned. "Is the FBI watching him?"

"You know I can't answer that, Jim."

"But if he's endangering my citizens, I have a right to know."

Liz heard Jeremy sigh. "I don't have anything else to say."

"Then I'm afraid I'm gonna need to call you're superiors to talk to them about this…" Jim stood and began to walk out of the room.

"Jim, wait." Jeremy said softly, "my superiors don't know about this yet."

Jim shut the door and sat back down. "Why not?"

Jeremy grunted. "I really can't say. It'd be dangerous for all involved."

"I don't believe that." Jim's voice was harsh. "I think you just don't want your superiors to know what you used your badge for today." With that Jim left the room, and the scene dissolved before Liz's eyes.

Again, Liz felt Jeremy's frustration and anger as she again heard, "you're fired, Highland."

Liz again tried to filter between Jeremy's thoughts and emotions that were barraging her. She could feel his anger, and his frustration. Again, she found herself in the white room.

"Alien life forms don't exist," an older man in a suit was saying. "At least not to the world at large…" He opened a door and made a motion for several people to step inside.

Liz was about to try to delve deeper, when she felt a familiar pressure in her mind. She forcibly disconnected herself, hoping that Jeremy wouldn't notice her response. Liz's eyes flew open. Everything was hazy, but she could feel Max. The terror that he felt was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. Still lost in the connection that she'd held with Jeremy, she blinked trying to bring her eyes back into focus. I'm here Max, I'm fine. She reassured him. She felt his hand squeezing her own, and she squeezed back weakly as she tried to reorient herself. She was in Max's bedroom, lying on his bed.

In answer to her unasked questions, Max explained. It was too hot to stay out there, so we brought you back here. You've been connected with him for almost three hours. You scared me.

Liz stiffly pulled herself up to a sitting position. It's okay Max. I'm fine. She repeated as he shifted his position from kneeling next to the bed to sitting beside her legs.

Promise me you won't do that again, he pleaded.

Liz had never felt such anguish before. She bit her lip, unable to make the promise. I think he got fired, Liz said, referring to Jeremy. But I also got the impression that he may think you're not from around here…

Max's panic was clear through the connection. You mean?

Liz nodded as she scooted closer to him. I'm not sure, but he said something to Valenti that makes me think he suspects you.

Max frowned and tried to stand, but Liz griped his arm. Max, if Jeremy isn't working for the special unit anymore, everyone is just gonna think he's an obsessed nut. No one's going to take him seriously. Liz tried to reassure him.

Liz, Hubble was an "obsessed nut." Anyone who suspects us is dangerous.

Liz nodded. Then we just have to figure out how to convince him that he's wrong.