Author: X_tremeroswellian
Email: X_tremeroswellian@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine, with the exception of Charlie Parker. I am not affiliated with the show, or with the WB or with Jason Behr (sighs) in any way. Please don't sue me.
Rating: R (for adult situations and adult language, and some sexual content)
Author's Note: Thanks to Linda for reading the first few parts of this story and giving me the courage to actually post it! :)
Spoilers: Up through Blood Brothers.
Matters of Trust (Part Four)
Isabel was NOT in a good mood. She had stayed up all night, listening for the sounds of Liz's dream orb, but she never heard it.
Because, she realized when she Liz in the hallway that morning, Liz never went to sleep.
She looked like hell. And Liz Parker--well, she never looked that bad. Even Isabel had to admit Liz was beautiful. She was always in perfect order--not a strand of hair out of place, not a wrinkle in her clothes. She didn't know how the girl managed it; after all, Liz wasn't even an alien.
But today, Liz was wearing a wrinkled, long-sleeved flannel, button-down shirt and baggy jeans. Her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail and there were dark circles under her eyes that she had not succeeded in covering up with makeup.
"Liz," Isabel said as she passed her on the way to first period. But Liz didn't hear her. She just kept walking, staring straight ahead of her.
Isabel stopped in the middle of the hallway when she saw Maria coming towards her. "Maria!"
Maria waved at her and hurried over. "Hey, Isabel. Ready for that history test?"
"Forget that. What's going on with Liz?" she asked sharply.
Maria sighed. "So I'm not the only one who's noticed. Thank God. I have no idea, she like, won't talk to me."
"What about Alex? Would she talk to him?" Isabel asked suddenly, spotting him down the hallway.
Maria snorted. "Are you kidding? Alex won't even speak to us."
"But would she trust him enough to tell him what's going on with her?" Isabel pressed.
Maria shifted her bookbag to her other shoulder. "I don't know. Maybe. But Liz tells me everything, Isabel. If she was going to tell anyone, it would definitely be me."
Isabel stopped herself from pointing out to Maria that if the problem had to do with Maria, Liz wouldn't tell her. Instead, she just nodded. "Let's get to psychology."
Maria nodded and headed towards class. Isabel glanced back to where Alex was standing at his locker. He was watching her. She turned and walked over to him. He stared at her in shock.
"Meet me in the eraser room after lunch," she said quietly. "I need to talk to you."
He nodded silently, and she could feel him staring at her as she walked into psychology.
Alex looked at his watch again, wondering if Isabel had stood him up. Why does she want to talk to me? he wondered.
Just then, the door opened and Isabel Evans walked inside the eraser room. Their eyes met and she closed and locked the door behind her.
Alex swallowed hard. "So, uh, Isabel, what's going on?"
"I'm worried about a friend of yours."
He looked at her suspiciously. "Who?"
"Liz. I think you should talk to her, Alex."
Alex shook his head in disgust. "Forget it. Liz doesn't tell me anything anymore, and for your information, as long as she's hanging out with you and Max and Michael, I don't want any part of her. As far as I'm concerned, the three of you are responsible for turning her and Maria into complete strangers."
Isabel felt a stab of pain in her heart at the harsh words. "Alex, whether or not you and Liz are getting along right now doesn't matter. I know you still care about her. And she's in trouble, Alex. She needs you. Talk to her."
"If Liz wants my help, she'll come to me. I'm tired of being the boy toy here," he said cooly, remembering Kyle's statement not so long ago. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have class."
And with that, Alex walked by her, unlocked, and flung open the door and left Isabel to stare after him for once.
Alex found himself watching Liz in their sixth hour gym class that afternoon. He had to admit, she didn't look too good. She was much paler than usual and all of Alex's friendship sensors were sounding in his brain.
Maybe she really is into drugs, he thought. He pushed the thought from his mind. She has new friends to take care of her now. She doens't need me anymore.
Alex forced himself to focus on the game of volleyball he was playing. "Got it!" he called as he slammed the ball over the net, earning his team another point.
"All right, Whitman!" one of the guys on his team said, clapping him on the back. Alex grinned.
Suddenly a girl on the other team shrieked and Alex looked over. His heart jumped into his throat as he saw Liz lying on the floor, unconscious.
He raced under the net and kneeled down next to her, pressing his fingers against her throat. "Thank God!" he said as he located her slow but steady pulse. "Liz!"
The gym teacher rushed over and dropped down on Liz's other side. "Is she breathing?" he demanded.
"Yeah, her pulse is steady," Alex said, staring down at her. "Liz, wake up! Please, Liz, wake up!" he said softly, touching her cheek.
Her eyes fluttered open. "Alex," she whispered weakly.
"Yeah, I'm right here," he said. He felt her forehead. "No fever."
"Can you sit up?" the teacher asked, looking at her with more annoyance than concern.
"I think so." Liz struggled to sit up.
"Let's head to the nurse's office," Alex said, helping her to her feet.
"Good idea, Whitman," the teacher said.
Alex nodded and lead Liz to the hallway. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, Alex, I'm okay." She looked up at him and saw the worry in his eyes. "I don't need to go to the nurse's office. Can we just sit down a minute?" she asked, fighting another wave of dizziness.
He helped her into an empty classroom and she sat down at a desk. He watched her carefully. "Liz, what's going on?"
"I'm just--really tired, Alex. I haven't been sleeping well."
He sat down in the desk next to her. "Why not?"
"Nightmares," she answered softly.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Liz looked over at him, an immense wave of guilt hitting her. She burst into tears. Alex immediately left his seat and wrapped his friend in his arms. "Shh. Liz, it's okay. Whatever it is, we'll get through it," he whispered.
She sobbed onto his shoulder. "Alex, everything's so messed up. I'm so afraid."
Alex stroked her hair gently. "Afraid of what, Liz?"
"Everything."
Alex pulled away, searching her eyes. He was almost afraid. Never in five years of being her friend had Alex ever seen Liz this distressed. "Talk to me, Liz. Let me help you," he said softly.
"I'm so afraid you're going to hate me, Alex. I don't want to lose you," she whispered.
Alex brushed her tears away gently. "Liz, I've been upset with you. I don't hate you. I couldn't hate you. I just want us to be friends again. I want you to tell me what's going on. I want you to know that you can always trust me, Liz. No matter what, there's nothing you can't tell me."
"Promise?" Liz whispered.
"I promise," he said.
"Can we get out of here? Can we go over to your house?"
"Yeah, sure. Let's get out of here." Alex helped her to her feet and wrapped his arm around her waist as they walked down the hallway. He saw Maria out of the corner of his eyes, but he ignored her. He escorted Liz out to his car. When he got in the driver's seat, he saw Maria running out into the parking lot after them. He started the car, and his eyes locked with Maria's for a moment.
Then he drove away.
Alex's thoughts swirled as he drove to the UFO museum.
Liz had all but collapsed on his bed when they arrived at his house. He insisted that she take a nap, and that they could talk when she woke up.
Right now, Alex thought, I have to keep my mind on what I'm doing.
He parked his car outside the museum, and walked inside. He spotted the person he wanted to talk to almost immediately. He walked over and tapped him on the shoulder.
Max turned around, looking at him in surprise. "Alex. What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to give you a warning," Alex said tensely, his hands curling into fists. "I don't know what you and your sister and Michael have done to Liz, but if you ever do anything to hurt her again, I will kill you myself."
Max stared at him. "What?"
"Liz passed out in gym today. She said she's been having nightmares. I've never seen her that upset before, and I never want to see her like that again. And the way I have it figured, whatever it is that's bothering her has to do with you three," he said angrily.
"Wait, Liz passed out? Is she all right? What happened?" Max asked in alarm, his eyes full of worry.
Alex stared at him. That was definitely not the reaction he'd been expecting. "She's sleeping right now. I came here to warn you to stay away from her. I'm going to find out what you've got Liz hooked on, and I'm going to find a way to prove it. And when I do, I'm going to turn the three of you in to Sheriff Valenti."
Max stared at him, finally realizing what he was talking about. "Alex, I would never do anything to hurt Liz," he said quietly.
Alex glared at him. "Yeah, well, in case you hadn't heard, Max, drugs hurt people."
"This isn't about drugs."
"Then what is this about, Max?" Alex demanded. "Because I'm sick and tired of not knowing what the hell is going on with my friends."
Max took a deep breath. "Liz is protecting us."
"Protecting you from what?"
"Being killed."
Alex stared at Max. "What are you talking about?"
"The reason Liz asked you to switch our blood samples is because my blood isn't like yours. I'm different from you. So are Isabel and Michael."
"Different how?" Alex asked cautiously.
Max swallowed hard. "We're not human."
"Then what the hell are you? Aliens?" He snorted and looked at Max, who remained completely serious.
"Yes."
Alex laughed. "Right. Sure, Max. Aliens. Of course you are. We are in Roswell, after all."
"We were in the 1947 crash. We were in these incubation pods until 1989. Our parents found us wandering in the desert, and--"
Alex held up his hands. "I've heard enough. Just stop right there. What do you people take me for, anyway? A fool?" He didn't allow Max the chance to answer. "I mean it, Max. Stay away from Liz. Maria, too. I don't care--drugs, brainwashing, whatever. I'm on to you." He turned and walked out of the museum.
Liz awoke and realized she wasn't at home. She looked around the room. Then she smiled as she recognized the surroundings. She was in Alex's room, safe and sound. She looked at the clock. The red digital numbers read 6:29.
She sat up straight and Alex, who was sitting at his desk, turned around and looked at her. He was by her side in an instant. "How are you feeling?" he asked anxiously.
She blinked. "A little better," she admitted.
He felt her forehead. "Well, I don't think you're sick."
She shook her head. "I'm not. Not physically, anyway."
"So, do you feel up to talking now?" he asked gently.
"I think so. Can I use your phone? I was supposed to meet Max to study for our Hamlet test."
"It's all right. I talked to Max. He isn't expecting you."
Liz stared at him in surprise. "You talked to Max?"
"I went to see him while you were asleep."
"Alex, I know what you're thinking, but what's going on with me has nothing to do with Max."
"Liz, I don't know if this thing with you and Max is about drugs, or what, but I know that he's not helping you."
"Alex, what did you say to Max?" she asked carefully, trying to calm her heartbeat.
"Just to stay away from you. That whatever is going on with you, he's responsible for it."
"What did he say?"
Alex thought for a moment. "He said it wasn't about drugs."
Liz swallowed hard, the breath catching in the back of her throat. "Did he say what it was about?"
"Yeah, he said ou were protecting him from being killed. He said--" Alex began laughing. "--that he, Isabel and Michael were aliens."
Liz's heart stopped for a full two seconds. She stared at him, the words sinking in. Max told him the truth!
Alex realized Liz wasn't laughing. "Liz, you're not going to try and tell me that it's true, are you?"
For a moment, she couldn't even speak. Then she found her voice. "Alex, it is true."
He rolled his eyes. "Right."
"Alex, listen to me," she pleaded. "What Max said is true. He, Isabel and Michael--they're not human. Not like us. Not genetically."
Alex studied her, worry written all over his face. "This is serious. These people have you seriously brainwashed."
"No, Alex. Remember a few weeks ago at the Crashdown, when Maria told you she found blood on her order book? That was my blood, Alex. Two guys were arguing, and one of them pulled out a gun. It went off." Her eyes filled with tears. "I got shot in the stomach. I nearly died, Alex. but then Max ran over to me. He put his hand over the wound and he--he healed me. Max saved my life and it nearly cost him his."
For a long moment, Alex didn't say anything. She certainly appeared to be telling the truth. But aliens? There had to be some other explanation for this whole situation.
"It's true, Alex. That's why Topolski was here. Since that day at the cafe, everyone's been suspicious of Max: Kyle, Sheriff Valenti..."
"Who else have you told this to?"
"Only Maria."
"And she believes this?"
"She's seen it firsthand. Alex, they can do things."
"What things?"
"Besides healing?" Alex nodded. "Unlock doors without keys, heat up food without microwaves, make connections with people..."
He looked at her dubiously. "No offense, Liz, but this all seems a bit too..." he searched for the word.
"X-Filish?" she supplied. "I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I just--couldn't." Liz bit her lip and stared down at the bedspread.
"You uh--you said before that what's going on with you now doesn't have anything to do with Max," he said, hoping to divert her mind from the topic of little green men.
She looked away and Alex suddenly saw that distressed look on her face again. He seated himself next to her on the bed and put an arm around her shoulders. "Liz, it's okay. You can trust me, remember?"
Liz looked him in the eyes. "I know."
"So um...you said you were having nightmares. What about?"
"Some things that happened to me a long time ago," she answered, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What things?"
Liz swallowed hard and Alex saw the tears welling up in her eyes. "Please don't walk out on me, Alex," she whispered.
"I won't," he promised.
"When I was younger...my uncle Charlie used to make me play games with him. Bad games." The tears spilled onto her cheeks.
Alex stared at her in shock. "Liz, are you telling me that--your uncle abused you?" he whispered.
Liz put her face in her hands and started crying. Alex just wrapped her in his arms and held her tightly, fighting off the sickness he felt burning in his stomach.
"I think I'm in trouble now, Alex," she said, forcing herself to calm down.
He pulled away to look at her. "What do you mean?"
"He's here now."
"Your uncle? He's here? In Roswell?"
She nodded and choked back another sob. "He's staying at our house for the next two weeks."
"Oh, God." A thousand thoughts hit him at once. He chose to say the only thing that seemed logical. "You have to tell your parents."
"No, Alex, I can't. You don't understand. My whole family loves him. They all think he's wonderful. They wouldn't believe me even if I told them."
"Does Maria know?"
"No! And you can't tell her. You can't tell Max, either. Alex, promise me you're not going to say anything."
He stood up. "Liz, this is bad. I mean, if he's at your house for the next two weeks, how are you going to avoid him?"
Liz shook her head. "I don't know, but I will. Please, Alex. Promise me."
Alex bit his lip and met her eyes. "All right. All right, I promise. But I don't have to like it." And I definitely don't, he thought.
Go to Part 5