Chapter
Nine: Increased Intensity
Max didn't know what to do. He knelt on the floor by Jeff's body,
staring down at his hands with indecision. A hand on his shoulder shook him from his daze. He looked up. Valenti looked down at him grimly. "It's too late," he said softly, "I know you tried your
best." Max turned away and stood
up. He walked to the window and stared
out, his back to everyone else. He
couldn't bear to look at Liz; she must hate him now.
"It's okay," Tess whispered, joining
him at the window. Max shook his head
and closed his eyes in grief. "A man
just died," he choked out, "Liz's father. And I couldn't save him." She didn't say anything. Nothing
she could say would make him feel any better. They were joined by Kyle and his father. "Let's go outside and give them some time alone," Valenti
suggested, gently ushering the other three to the door.
**
Silent tears streaked Liz's face as
she watched her mother lean over her father. Nancy's head rested on Jeff's chest, praying to feel his breath rise up
and meet her. But it wouldn't. "Mom?" Liz called, placing her hand over her
mother's. Nancy closed her eyes and
shook her head. "Mom, we need to … to
call somebody. They need to … take the
body." Nancy finally raised her head,
her eyes red and brimmed with tears. "Liz," she said, her voice strained, "if this really is … alien …
I don't want you anywhere near them. Not ever again." Liz was
surprised by the stern tone in her mother's voice. "Mom," she cried, shaking her head adamantly, "this isn't their
fault. We're trying to save
everyone. We just …" she looked down at
her father regrettably, "we just couldn't save daddy in time. I'm sorry." She sniffed loudly and wiped her wet eyes with the back of her
hands. Nancy's face crumbled and looked
down at her husband. Slowly, she bent
to kiss his cheek, then the other, and then his lips. As she did, Liz noticed a smattering of red spots across her
cheekbone and her tears started anew. "Mom," she sobbed, "oh god. Not
you too."
**
Kyle held the cell phone to his
ear. "Yeah, Alex," he said, "we'll tell
her." He paused. "No, you should still just sit tight there
until we call you again. Okay. Yeah. Bye." He hung up and handed the
phone back to his father. "They hate
being there with nothing to do," he said, "I don't blame them." Valenti briefly touched Kyle's arm. "There's nothing they could do if they're
here," he reasoned. Kyle nodded. "Yeah," he sighed, "I know. Still, it would be nice to have them here."
The four were startled when the door
swung open and Liz flew out, throwing her arms around Max's neck. "What?" he gasped, stroking her hair, "it'll
be okay. I'm sorry I couldn't help
him." Liz squeezed her eyes shut,
holding him tighter. "I saw it!" she
cried, burying her face in his neck, wetting his skin with her tears. "Saw what?" Max asked calmly. He tried to comfort her, to stop her
shaking. "The rash," Liz answered, "my
mom has the disease!" Valenti's eyes
fluttered shut in despair. Kyle and
Tess reached for each other. Max merely
held Liz as tightly as he could without crushing her. "Shhh," he soothed, rubbing her back and her hair and bending to
kiss her shoulder. He looked up into
the Sheriff's eyes. What passed between
them was unspoken. The disease was spreading. And they still had no idea how to stop it.