Title: Turbulent Minds

Author: Kerry

Email: Whatever212@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: Roswell is not mine, nor will it ever be.

Rating: PG

Feedback: Do a person needs air to breathe? Yes. Does a writer need feedback to keep writing? Most definitely!

1 [b]Part One[/b]

Focus.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

With every breath she took, the weight upon her shoulders grew even more devastating, the motion of breathing becoming not merely a necessity, but a sheer force of will. The shell in which she had been encased throughout the confrontation between Max and Tess shattered, scattering its pieces around her feet, exposed to the thoughtless wandering of a careless foot more than willing to grind.

Her face expressionless, Liz Parker withdrew from Max's embrace, her arms turning cold even as she stepped back. She had watched with wide eyes as the world changed around her, its seeming innocence pierced and corrupted by the bitterness of deceit. Within the space of a few moments, the world had grown dark, disturbing as the reality dawned. It was a reality she had not yet accepted, her mind and body conflicted as her eyes saw one thing, yet her mind denied it.

They all stood silently clustered in an informal circle, all eyes turned toward him, the one designated as their leader, needing answers to questions still too overwhelming to put into words.

Yet, Max himself looked unseeing at the landscape spread out before him, the very image of that perfect hero whom had seemed to exist only in fairytales, one who was unblemished and undistorted by the cruelties and realities of the world around him.

Looks can be deceiving, Liz knew. She knew it all too well.

The words echoed about them, each syllable drawn out as though to taunt.

"I have to save my son."

Crunch.

Grind.

The group seemed to pulsate in reaction to the words, their bodies tense and their eyes wary. The recent weeks of stress were taking its toll, and almost everyone was becoming slowly but surely limp with exhaustion.

"Liz?" Max turned to her, his shoulders slumping slightly as his eyes pleaded for her reassurance, her assertion that everything would be okay. His actions were automatic, as though a force other than himself had carried them out.

Silently, Liz shook her head and turned to make her way down the path, feeling very isolated despite being surrounded by the group she was bound to, no matter her earlier attempts to escape from it. Vaguely, she was aware of Maria and Kyle, previously standing mutely aside, Maria clasped into the loving embrace of Michael, moving to flank her protectively, leaving the alien trio to fall in step behind them.

Rocks moved noisily as they made their way down the slope, yet not another word was spoken as thoughts turned inward. A cloud of depression darkened what should have been joyous expressions on their faces. The aliens were not leaving Earth, and the group would remain together. Yet celebration was put on hold in light of the revelations only just discovered. The real reason behind Alex's death: Tess' deception.

Numbly, Liz kept her eyes on the ground, watching her own footsteps with a fascination, which, under normal circumstances, would have worried her. Normal. Nothing was ever normal any more, and it was in this moment a part of Liz craved the simplicity she had lost that day in September.

Lost in her own thoughts, the suddenness of a hand upon her arm startled her, and she spun around, her hand raised reflexively to defend, to protect. Either one. Her confused mind knew not. His eyes wide, Max stumbled backward, his mouth gaping open slightly as he took in the sight before him.

His beautiful Liz, his dark haired goddess, now looked upon him as though she no longer saw him, her eyes large when set against her pale face and appearing as though lifeless. Desperately, Max took a step forward so as to ease the physical gap between them, yet instinctively knew that the emotional one would not be so easily bridged.

"Liz, please. We need to talk." He kept his voice low, slightly wincing as she turned from him, acting as though his words had meant nothing. It was as though, Max realised, she did not even hear him.

Maria snorted, her eyes lighting with a fire that the by standing Michael knew all too well. "Now is really not a good time, Max. You can save this for later." Tossing Michael a meaningful glance, she took Liz's unresisting arm and led her towards the waiting Jetta.

When Max made a move to intercept, Kyle deliberately moved forward, shaking his head meaningfully, warningly.

"That is not a good idea, Max," Kyle warned gruffly, his body tensing in reaction as Max took another step forward. "Liz has been through a lot because of you three – I think it is time for her to take some time off from all of this alien shit." His eyes pierced Max's soulful ones. The words that followed were unspoken, yet despite this, Max heard them loud and clear. "That especially means you."

Max nodded slightly, defeated for this brief period of time at least. His eyes followed Liz as she got into the little red car, her face directed blankly out of the windshield. He swallowed thickly as Kyle got in behind her and, gently resting a hand upon her shoulder, received a grateful smile in return. The Jetta pulled away, leaving the three aliens to step back so as to avoid the churning dust left in its wake.

"Well, there goes our ride," Isabel said, her eyes worried.

Michael didn't pay any attention, his eyes focused on Max who continued to stare fixedly where Liz had once stood. "Its time to make a choice, Maxwell," he began, his words coming easily as his posture relaxed for the first time in weeks. "Are you going to fight for her? Get her to trust you again?"

Max darted a disbelieving glance towards his best friend. "I sure as hell will!" His voice shook with his determination as his eyes turned flinty. Trust. It was something he had to regain; he had to work at it – and work at it he will.

"I think you are missing the point here," Isabel said, her voice tinged with a whine. "We don't have a way to get back to Roswell!"

The two young men looked out at where the Jetta could be seen disappearing into the horizon. In unison, they frowned.

"Well, Isabel," Michael said, almost mischievously. "I hope you brought your walking shoes."

The two boys shared a laugh at Isabel's groan before starting off down the path towards town.

TBC