Title: Fired
Author: Shannon (aka on Fanfiction.net, superCANDYgirl)
E-mail: slaygirl2000@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Roswell does not belong to me, sadly neither does the idea for this
episode. The idea is Jade's, though the
writing's all mine.
Rating: PG-13
Category: General really, slight M&M and M/L (next
episode will deal with the couples more)
Summary: This is the fourth episode of my version of season 3. Liz's dad is forced to sell the
Crashdown. Brody's death leads to something
unexpected for Max.
Spoilers: Everything that's happened so far in the
series, nothing that I write is based on anything I've heard for S3.
Distribution: If you want it take it, but let me know please.
Feedback: YES!!! Please, send
feedback. This episode will be a little
different from the others, and I'd love to know what everyone thinks. While you're at it, could you do me a favour
and tell me if you'd like some episodes (I have 3 potential ones in mind) to be
NC-17? (No PWP of course, it'll all be relevant to the story arc) Cuz I'll
write it, but only if people want it.
Author's
Note: This is the fourth episode of In My
Dreams. You should really read the
first three parts first. See Ep 1 or 2
for air date explanation. Thank you so
much to Jade for the amazing idea. This
episode really wouldn't have been possible without you! You rock! Hope you enjoy it. J
Air
Date: October 30, 2001
It was Monday afternoon, and Michael, Maria, Liz, Max, and Kyle were eating lunch in the quad. Less than 24 hours ago they had been fighting an evil alien bounty hunter who was hell bent on delivering them to Khivar. Now they were sitting outside trying not to think about what was actually in the cafeteria food, and trying to act like normal teenagers.
"You know, for a minute there, I was terrified that that's what all of you actually looked like. It would be like my worst nightmare from two years ago coming true. Thank God it's not," Maria paused for a minute, contemplating something, before she spoke again. "Though it would've explained Tess." Liz considered this for a minute before nodding her agreement, Michael snorted, Kyle laughed uncomfortably, and Max looked at the ground. He remembered Isabel saying she'd had the same thought, and he hated being reminded just how much he had screwed up. And to top it off, he hadn't been having any success finding a way to his son. He had let Tess take their only transportation home, and he hadn't been able to find a way to contact anyone on Antar to see if they would help. Brody had been MIA all summer, and now he was dead, so it's not like they could get a hold of Larek, or vice versa. Must have been why Garok killed him, Max thought sadly. He turned his attention back to the conversation at hand when he realized Liz had been asking him something.
"I'm sorry, what?" Max asked her.
"I was wondering if you knew what you guys looked like, you know before. You're the only one who really remembers anything," she said, careful not to mention that he was really the only one left who remembered anything.
"I'm not really sure, but from what I could gather, I think we looked basically human." Liz looked a little disappointed, but Maria was clearly relieved. However, this quickly faded, and her eyes widened in horror at Michael's next statement.
"You know, except for the tentacles."
Later that night, Michael and Maria were heading to the Crashdown for their evening shift.
"So you really don't have tentacles?" Maria asked Michael for what seemed like the millionth time since lunch.
Michael sighed, exasperated with her. "No Maria, we do not have tentacles. But even if we did, I don't see why it matters. It's not like what we looked like then is how we look now. We're completely human physically."
"Still, I just don't like the thought of you having tentacles ever," she said shuddering as they reached the entrance to the café.
Michael smirked. "Well, I do have one, but I kind of thought you liked it," he leered at her. Maria's mouth dropped open, appalled that he would even think something like that. She gave an indignant shriek of disgust, and began swatting at him. But it didn't take long for Michael to grab hold of her wrists, and he quickly pinned them behind her back, effectively pinning her against him. She glared at him, but the smug little smile never left his face once, not even as he leaned in to capture her lips with his own. She struggled against him at first, but gave in, and opened her mouth inviting his tongue in. He let go of her wrists, and her hands moved up to tangle in his hair.
"Ahem." They both jumped and turned around to face Liz standing in the Crashdown doors. "Sorry to interrupt, but Maria's taking over for me, and I'd really like to go home. Some of us do our homework. Besides, you're scaring away customers." Maria gave apologetic looks to both her best friend and her boyfriend before hurrying to the backroom to change. Michael moved to follow her, but Liz stopped him just inside the entrance to the restaurant. "You wait until she's out," she told him while pointing a menacing finger at his face, before joining Maria in the back. Michael glared daggers at Liz's retreating form, and started muttering curses under his breath.
"Like you don't get it enough." Michael looked over to see Isabel sneering at him from their regular booth. Max and Kyle were trying to hide the amusement on their faces. Michael was about to make some snappy remark back when they heard the shouting coming from the backroom. The four of them ran to see what was going on. When they got there, they saw Mr. Parker on the phone in a heated argument with whoever was on the other line. After a minute, his face turned pale, and his body sagged with defeat. The six teens exchanged worried glances. "Fine, thank you," Jeff Parker said tiredly and bitterly, hanging up the phone. For a moment no one moved, then Liz stepped forward.
"Daddy?" she asked softly. He looked at her for a minute, before giving his heartbroken response.
"We lost the café."
Liz, Maria, Michael, and the other members of the Crashdown staff sat in the backroom. Mr. Parker had gone to meet with the man who wanted to buy the café. The employees had been told to what for him to return, when they would have a brief staff meeting and he would explain what had happened. Even Liz did not know yet why her family had to give up the restaurant. What are we going to do? Liz thought. Just then her father, looking rather bedraggled, walked into the room with a man Liz had never seen before. The man was tall, probably about Max's height, with jet black hair that only served to set off his almost frighteningly pale blue eyes. He was well dressed but there was something about him that made Liz uneasy. She looked over at Maria to see her regarding the newcomer with the same amount of suspicion. Before anyone else could speak, Liz got up.
"What the hell happened? Why did we sell the restaurant?" Liz demanded, realizing for the first time just how angry she was.
"Liz," Maria admonished her softly.
"No, it's okay," Mr. Parker said, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "You all have a right to know what happened. As you know, this restaurant is largely dependant on business from tourists, especially during the summer. The business we take in from the beginning of June to the middle of September provides us with the majority of our profit for the year. The UFO museum across the road was vital in maintaining this; probably 70% of our summer clientele came from tourists visiting the museum. Unfortunately, when the owner of the museum, Brody Davis, disappeared without warning at the beginning of the summer, the museum was closed until Mr. Davis reappeared a week ago. And now with his unfortunate death, the museum has closed indefinitely. Not to speak ill of the dead, but all of this has caused us to take a huge drop in income. Unfortunately, I do not have the money to continue operating this café, as a result of the stock market crash earlier this year. Thus I have had to sell it. I had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but I was left with no choice. I would like to introduce you all to the new owner of the Crashdown Café, Mr. Peter Lening." The introduction was met with a smattering of applause from the other employees, and icy stares from Maria and Liz. Michael gave no reaction whatsoever, though Maria could tell he was not happy with this change of management. Lening stepped forward.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman. Let me begin by assuring you that none of your positions are in danger. I rather hope that you will all chose to stay on board and continue with the fine job you were doing before. Though should you choose not to I will understand," he said with a pointed look at Liz, who only increased the intensity of her glare. "Mr. Parker here has already agreed to stay on as Head Manager. I hope that with his help we can make this change as easy for you all to deal with as possible. I expect to give the Crashdown a fresh start, and turn it back into a success. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to speak to me. Now, I do believe we have a restaurant to run." Lening opened the door, and greeted the employees as they filed out, either to work or return home if they were not on duty. After a few minutes, Maria, Michael, Liz, Mr. Parker, and Lening were the only ones left in the room. Liz walked over to where her father and Lening were talking quietly.
"Why didn't you tell me we were losing money?" she asked her father.
Jeff Parker hesitated a minute, before looking his daughter in the eye. "I wasn't sure if we were going to be alright or not, and you seemed to have so much on your mind this summer, I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily."
Liz nodded, seemingly satisfied with this answer, and turned to face Lening. "Why would you want to buy a failing café?" she demanded harshly.
"Liz!" her father exclaimed, shocked by her rudeness. Lening, however, did not seem the slightest bit fazed, as if he had been expecting this from her.
"I have a passion for business, and taking small companies from the ground up. Your father's restaurant has great potential, and I feel my expertise is just what this place needs to recover," he told her in a demeaning voice, an obviously fake plastered on his face. Liz's father seemed to be the only oblivious to the man's attitude.
Liz looked from him to her father, then turned her gaze back to Lening before speaking.
"I quit."
Max sat on his living room couch channel surfing that night. He was waiting for Liz to call and tell him what had happened at the café, but until then had nothing else to do. When he heard the knock at the door, he assumed it was Liz. He was quite surprised then when he opened it to find a man seemingly in his early forties holding a brief case.
"Can I help you?" Max asked.
"Yes, I'm looking for a Mr. Maxwell Evans? He does live here?" the man asked consulting his papers.
Max eyed the man, trying hide his suspicion. You never knew who could be an alien, and the skins were still out there. "I'm Maxwell Evans."
"Good evening. My name is Simon Walsh. You were a friend of a Mr. Brody Davis correct?" Mr. Walsh extended his hand for Max to shake.
"Yes, well I worked for him. What's this about?" Max asked, even more confused than he had been.
"Mr. Evans," Mr. Walsh paused, "I don't suppose I could come in?" Max apologized and moved out of the doorway allowing Mr. Walsh in, and closed the door behind him. Max directed him to the kitchen, where they sat at the table. Mr. Walsh began again. "Mr. Evans, I'm Mr. Davis' attorney and the director of his estate. Mr. Davis, as I'm sure you know, was a very wealthy man, with a number of pieces of property. In reviewing his will, we found a portion of his estate was left to you, Maxwell Evans."
"Me?" Max asked shocked, wondering what in the world Brody would have left him.
"Yes, Mr. Evans. The UFO Museum at which you worked for Mr. Davis is now you're property. You own it, Mr. Evans, along with all the profit generated by the museum, plus the money he set aside for operating the museum $1.5 million. In his will he said he wanted the museum to be in the hands of "a true believer". I'm terribly sorry about Mr. Davis' tragic death, but congratulations Mr. Evans."
"Thank you," Max said stunned beyond belief, and the two began on the paper work.
"I can't believe you just quit like that!" Maria was berating Liz at lunch the next day. Michael and Kyle sat watching the girls talking. Isabel, who had no afternoon classes that day, had also decided to join them.
"I'm sorry, but I just do not want to work for that man. He's going to change the entire café, I just know it. I don't trust him," Liz responded, not looking the least bit sorry.
"I don't trust him either," Michael joined the conversation.
"You don't trust anyone," Isabel snapped at him.
"That's not true," he replied quietly, glancing down at Maria, who smiled softly in return, and snuggled into his arms. Isabel rolled her eyes.
"Hey," Max said walking up to them. He had talked to Liz last night, and he slipped his arm around her, silently asking if she was okay. She nodded and smiled slightly.
"Well, if it isn't the young millionaire himself," Isabel said, a bitter tone in her voice.
When everyone looked over at him curiously, he responded, "Brody left me the museum and a million dollars to operate it." For a minute everyone was quiet then everyone began speaking at once.
"When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me?"
"This is so cool! You guys can finally fix my car when you wreck it!"
"Dude, can I have a loan?"
"You're not actually gonna keep it are you?"
It was the last comment that Max responded to. "Why not?"
Michael look seriously offended. "It's a UFO Museum. You're an alien. What does that say about you?"
"Dramatic irony aside, I think it's a good idea," Isabel interjected.
Max looked gratefully at his sister. "Isabel's right. Brody had a lot of equipment that could help us keep track of extraterrestrial activity. It could give us an advantage over our enemies."
"Plus you probably get much better pay as owner than stock boy," Maria quipped.
"Wow, owner," Liz looked like she was still in shock, and she also seemed to be a bit envious.
"Which reminds me, Liz, I was wondering if you wanted a job as manager?" Max asked.
"Max, I'd love that! But, are you sure? I mean there are probably people more qualified out there, and if this is just out of pity…"
"Don't even think that! I know you have experience from the Crashdown, and there's nobody I'd trust more to do this job. Come on, don't make me beg," Max said.
Liz still suspected that he was offering her this job at least partly because of what had happened at the café, but she certainly wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. "Alright, I'll take the job. Thank you so much Max."
Max smiled at her, glad she had accepted. "Anything for you Liz. Anything," he said, emphasizing the last word. The truth was, he did have an ulterior motive for offering her the job, though he would have done it regardless. He was hoping that maybe by him and Liz working together, it would give them a chance to sort of reconnect, start to repair their bond. The look of joy on Liz's face told Max that he might not be wrong about this, and he couldn't help but smile. Isabel's aggravated groan broke them out of the moment.
"Well, as much fun as it's been watching the four of you make goo-goo eyes," she began, receiving a glare from Michael who was clearly mad at having been accused of such an offense. This earned him a glare from Maria, and he quickly tried to make it up to her. Isabel raised her eyebrow, and Michael realized she was right. "I really must be going. Revisiting my lunch was not on my schedule for today." With that she huffed off. Isabel had been acting like this, well since the summer began really, but it had gotten worse in the last couple of days. But this level of hostility was uncharacteristic, even for her. Everyone at their table was surprised by it.
Michael gave a low whistle. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Ice Queen Reclaims her throne."
Liz came home that day to see her mother crying, and her father trying to comfort her. "What's going on?" she asked, concerned, but certain that it had something to do with Lening.
"We're being evicted," Jeff Parker replied, looking like he'd aged 10 years in just a day.
"What? Why?" Liz cried.
"The apartment and the restaurant are the same property. Lening bought the entire piece."
"So? He can't let us stay here?" Liz was growing increasingly angry. I knew it, damnit I knew it.
"We can't afford to, on a manager's salary. And he wouldn't cut me a deal. Said he needed the space for business," Jeff told his daughter.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean? I knew not to trust that bastard!" Liz screamed, outraged.
"Liz! Calm down!" her mother cried. "We're not happy about this either but we don't have a choice. Cursing won't make it better." Liz bit her tongue, choosing to say nothing. After a few minutes, she asked, "Where are we going to go? And how long do we have?"
Her mother and father exchanged worried glances, not wanting to upset their daughter more. Liz knew that it was not good. Nancy sighed heavily, but it was Jeff who answered. "We don't know. And until the end of the week."
Michael and Maria showed up early to their shift that night downhearted. Liz had told Maria what had happened. The sudden eviction and vague reason only served to increase Michael's suspicion that there was something seriously wrong with Lening, that he was hiding something. Maria was more than inclined to agree. Unfortunately, neither of them had the slightest clue what it was.
"There has to be something we can do to help Liz," Maria was saying as they walked inside. "It's not fair, that stupid…" she stopped abruptly when she heard Lening's voice and one that she didn't recognize coming from the back of the restaurant. She looked at Michael and saw that he had heard it too. He motioned to Maria to be quiet, and they silently walked up to the door that lead to the changing area. They could now clearly hear what was being said on the other side.
"Listen Johnny, you better not mess this up," the strange man said. 'John'? Maria mouthed to Michael, who shrugged.
"Relax Vinnie. The Parkers will be out by the end of the week, and we can set up shop in their apartment. The restaurant will serve as the perfect cover."
"No one suspects anything, do they?"
"Of course not. We're talking about a bunch of teenagers and old ladies. To dumb to figure out anything." Michael and Maria exchanged angry glances at this last comment.
"Alright. Be ready in a week. You screw this up, and Sam will have your head. It's your last shot Johnny." Vinnie apparently left out the back after this remark, as there was no more talking. Maria and Michael were still standing there fuming when the door slammed into them. Maria fell back into Michael's arms. "Shit!" he swore. It was clear from the look of rage on Lening's (Johnny's?) face that they had been caught. Nonetheless, Maria tried to cover.
"Wow, that floor sure is slippery. Hey Jo-Mr. Lening," she stuttered as Michael poked her at her slip up. They began backing away slowly.
"Don't even think about it kid. Isn't that cute? The happy couple playing spy. You know, curiosity killed the cat," Lening leered at Maria, advancing on them.
"Don't you even think about touching her!" Michael shouted threateningly.
Lening quickly sized up Michael, and realized that this kid could definitely take him out. Nope, physical violence wouldn't solve this one. Besides, the two didn't know enough to pose a real threat. And in this town, the disappearance of these two was likely to cause a lot of commotion. "Not yet, but you two say anything, and her pretty little head won't be attached to her neck."
"We'll go to the police!" Maria blurted out.
Lening gave a short laugh, that had no trace of amusement behind it. "You don't have anything against me! You have no proof, you don't even know what you're dealing with. Besides, it will just be the word of two disgruntled employees versus mine. Now get out of here, both of you. Stop wasting my time"
"Excuse me?" Maria asked.
"Oh, did I forget to mention? You're both fired.