Upon hearing the alarms, Alex, Isabel, and Liz ran from the car towards the
complex. Isabel manipulated the gates and the three rushed in trying to
locate Max.
"Over here," Alex called when he spotted the open door.
"Oh dear God!" Isabel breathed hard as she ran towards the door. "Something's wrong. I can't feel him!"
.....................
Michael heard Max calling his name. "Max?" Michael answered. He opened his eyes and squinted through a blue mist trying desperately to find his friend. "I'm right here," Michael called when he heard Max shouting his name again and again.
"Michael, stay with me," Max whispered.
"I haven't gone anywhere," Michael answered.
"Michael, please answer me!" Max screamed angrily.
"I am!" Michael replied becoming afraid that perhaps Max had been injured in the blast. He quickly thought that he needed to find Max and help him.
"Michael!" Max called again. "Open your eyes. I need you to look at me."
"Max?" Michael asked confused. "Where are you?"
Michael reached out into the blue mist, but he found nothing. and no Max.
"Is he dead?" Isabel asked.
"Isabel?" Michael answered trying to see her. "Can you see Max? Is he okay?"
"I'm not sure," Max answered. "He's losing a lot of blood."
"What the." Michael thought as the mist began to fade.
"Help him, Max!" Isabel screamed.
"I'm trying, Isabel," Max said.
Michael waved his hand in the mist and pushed the cloudy air out of his way. His stomach fell at what he saw. Max and Isabel were kneeled over a body. his body.
"I don't understand," Michael said. "What's happening?" A flash of light blinded his eyes and he saw a man holding a gun in the air. A second flash of light brought a new image. Michael saw a bullet slowly making its way from the gun to his own chest.
"I was shot," Michael realized. "Hope. Where's Hope?" Michael frantically searched the hallway and saw Hope standing against a wall. She was nervously rubbing her arms that were crossed over her chest. Her face was stained with tears and her eyes were glued to the scene before her. Her knees were trembling and small sobs of horror escaped her throat.
Michael immediately went to Hope to comfort his frightened daughter. "It's okay," Michael whispered in her ear. "Everything will be fine."
Michael shouted to Max, "Get her out of here. Max! Can you hear me? Get Hope out of here!"
Max lifted his head and looked around the room. He saw Hope standing alone against a wall. Max turned to Alex and said, "Get her out of here."
"Right," Alex responded moving towards Hope.
"You heard me?" Michael asked.
Max continued to take control of the situation. "Liz, stand guard. Let me know if we get company. Isabel, take the guy on the floor over there and go find Maria."
"Way to go, Max," Michael smiled. His smiled dropped as he considered Max's last command. "Maria," he thought. "Oh, God. Maria."
Michael watched as Isabel poked and prodded at the orderly still lying unconscious on the floor as a result of Hope's blast. Michael saw the orderly blink his eyes and then push himself away when he saw Isabel.
"Let's go," Isabel said pulling on the orderly's arm. "You're going to show me where Maria is."
"Who?" the orderly's voice shook.
"He's afraid of you," Michael shouted hoping Isabel would hear him. "Use it to your advantage."
Isabel rolled her eyes and pulled the orderly to his feet. "Marianna, idiot. Where's Marianna?"
With Isabel still keeping a tight grip on his arm, the orderly began leading Isabel down the hallway.
"You've got to look at me, Michael! You can't leave!" As he screamed at Michael, Max's voice grew fainter and fainter. Soon, all the chaos around Michael disappeared and silence surrounded him. Michael looked around and blinked as everything blurred into a mist. The air became cold and Michael shivered against the mist.
Michael was lost - physically and mentally. Michael took small, shuffling steps and extended his arms in front of him as he tried to find something - anything - in the mist. Michael focused on a dim, blinking light in the distance. The light intrigued him and Michael took steps towards it. He kept his eyes the on light. It seemed to call to him. As Michael moved closer, the light grew brighter. Michael's movement toward the light seemed to be involuntary. Though he was curious and wanted to know what the light was, his legs seemed to move on their own.
"Michael! Answer me !"
Michael heard a muted male voice call to him. In response, Michael turned his head away from the lights for a moment. He looked in the direction of the voice. When he saw nothing but an endless sheet of blue mist, he turned back towards the light and began taking steps. The light had become brighter and seemed to have an even stronger pull on him.
"Michael!!!"
Michael ignored the voice that continued to call to him from behind. His attraction to the light grew stronger and he found himself unable to turn away - not wanting to turn away. He followed the light until it was so bright and large that he raised his hand to shield his eyes. Still, he continued to walk towards it. He was almost there. He could almost touch it. A few more steps and he'd be there. Where? He didn't know, but he wanted desperately to go there.
He reached out in an effort to touch the brightness when he was awakened from his daze by the sound of laughter. Her laughter. "Hope" he called? He heard the laughter again - louder.
"Daddy!!!" Hope giggled.
Michael instantly turned away from the light and followed the sound of Hope's voice, "Hope, where are you?"
"I'm right here, Daddy!" Hope giggled.
"Where?" Michael asked searching through the mist.
He heard her laughter only once more before it, too, was consumed by the mist. Just like Max's voice had done, Hope's voice grew fainter and fainter until Michael could hear it no longer. "Hope?" he called.
Silence was all that remained in the mist.
Michael dropped his head, but lifted it immediately upon hearing laughter again. The laugh was different, though. He knew that laugh like he knew no other. He'd rejoiced in that laughter years ago. And it had indeed been years since he heard that laugh.
"Maria?" Michael called out in response.
Maria's laughter rang in Michael's ears louder.
"Michael!!!" Maria laughed and called his name.
And then, as if God were smiling down on him, Michael saw her! "Maria." She stood in the distance wearing a silky, white gown that illuminated her entire body. Michael smiled and ran towards her. Maria ran toward him, too. They stopped mere inches from each other. "She looks so beautiful. Just like an angel," Michael thought. He extended his hands to greet her. Just as he was about to touch her, Maria's form began to fade. "Maria?" Michael called. "What's happening?"
Michael turned back towards the light and saw Maria running towards brightness. Her white gown flowed behind her as she took giant leaps towards the light.
"I'm still here Michael," Maria laughed turning her head back towards Michael.
As Maria continued to laugh, Michael heard Hope's laughter join Maria's.
Before he had a chance to even begin to understand what was happening, Michael's mind was rushed with images and flashes.
Michael saw himself at sixteen chasing Maria on the front campus of Roswell High. Michael watched as his young, naive arms wrapped around Maria's waist after finally catching her. "Caught ya!"
Maria wrinkled her nose, "No, you cheated! You can't use your powers, Spaceboy!"
"Powers? What powers?" the teenaged boy asked innocently.
Michael saw himself leave Maria's window, turn back to cup her face between his hands, and bring his lips down to hers in a tender kiss.
Michael saw himself in the Crashdown's kitchen talking to Maria. "I think I do. I want to be with Isabel, Maria. She can give me all that I've ever hoped for, and more." Michael watched as he repeated the words that killed his heart and forever divided him from his love.
Michael saw the masses of bodies drenched in a pool of blood. He relived the relief he experienced when the war on Antar finally ended and he could go back home. Back to his real home.
Michael's heart ached as he saw his body shake with sobs after learning of Maria's death. He remembered thinking that if only he had been there for her, then she would still be alive. In an instant, he recalled every bit of guilt he felt in knowing she was gone. in knowing she was gone because of him.
Michael saw himself in the hospital's doorway afraid to move. He blinked a few times before looking back at the girl. "Your face," he whispered.
"What?" Maria asked reaching for her face. "Is it bad? The nurse said it wasn't bad."
"No," Michael answered. "It's beautiful," he whispered.
Michael saw himself watching Hope from afar with an unrecognized paternal instinct already developing in him. He marveled at how beautiful she looked. so smart and so full of life. Hope was just like her mother. Deep inside Michael longed for a family of his own - a family comprised of Maria and Hope.
Michael saw himself holding Maria tightly in his arms as she cried over Hope's disappearance. He remembered how he'd struggled to control his own tears as he realized he had lost his daughter. In that instant, he knew without doubt that he would do anything to get her back - anything.
Michael saw himself in the complex, adrenaline pumping through his body. He had to get Maria and Hope out of there safely. He nearly dragged Hope by her small hand in his desperate attempt to get her out of the complex as quickly as possible.
Michael saw the bullet coming straight towards him. He used his own body to shield Hope. He saw tears running down her tiny face and he saw her close her eyes to block the chaos before her. Her sound of her cries grew louder and louder. Michael inferred Hope must have been crying out in need of her mother.
Even as the flashes came to an end, Michael still heard Hope crying.
The sound of Hope's cries moved Michael to turn his back from the light once again. While he could no longer see Maria nor Hope, he heard the pain- filled cries of his daughter. He followed the sound. The cries were beginning to be overshadowed by voices coming from somewhere in the distance. Finally, Michael was able to see an image. a dim image. and for a brief moment he thought it was the beginning of another flash. The image slowly came into focus as Michael took long strides towards the image in the mist.
Michael looked on as a woman in a white lab coat paced around a small white room shouting into her radio.
"What?!" The woman shouted, annoyed by the continuous and pointless interruptions she'd endured during her experimentation.
"There's been an invasion in building 3," Jackson's voice boomed over the radio. "Leave the girl and initiate Code Blue."
Mildred's eyes grew wide and her breathing became shallow. She knew Code Blue meant the worst kind of invasion. one in which lives would be risked, files would be destroyed, and the entire case would be put in jeopardy.
She looked at the unconscious girl's body lying on the table before her. Mildred knew that if she abandoned Marianna at this point in the procedure, she would learn nothing of what she suspected. Still, she knew that if she didn't abandon the procedure and flee for her own life, then she would undoubtedly die.
"I can't believe this!" Mildred shouted into the radio. "I am so close to knowing! I am so close to exposing."
"Just go!" Jackson interrupted her.
Mildred threw the radio across the room and watched it break into small pieces when it hit the wall.
She turned to Marianna and said, "Sorry." She then unplugged Marianna's vitals monitor and breathing machine. "You stupid girl," she mumbled as she unplugged equipment. "If you had cooperated earlier, then this wouldn't be happening."
Mildred pushed her glasses over her nose and said, "Sayonara." She rushed for the door, punched in a code, and waited for the door to open.
"AAHH!" Mildred shouted as the door opened.
Isabel put out her palm and touched Mildred in the chest. With one large blast, Mildred fell backwards to the floor. Immediately, Isabel ran to Maria.
"Maria!" Isabel shouted shaking the girl's limp arm. "Maria, wake up. We have to go."
"You're not going anywhere," Mildred growled from behind. "You're what I've been looking for." Mildred placed a hand on Isabel's shoulder and shoved a cold metal object into Isabel's back.
Isabel froze. She prayed it wasn't, but the object in her back felt like a gun.
"That's right, sweetie. Turn around very slowly," Mildred hissed.
Isabel readied herself for battle and slowly began to turn. Just before making a complete turn, Isabel stiffened her arms and swung with all her might. She knocked the small hand gun from Mildred's grip and then smiled proudly when she saw the shock and fear in Mildred's eyes. She took the opportunity to grab Mildred's wrists and held them tightly with one hand.
"Now, sweetie," Isabel said mocking Mildred's tone. "You are going to do whatever is necessary to help my friend here."
Through clenched teeth, Mildred said, "She's as good as dead."
"You're mistaken," Isabel said tightening her grip on Mildred's wrists. "If she's not up and walking out of this room. on her own. in thirty seconds, then you're the one that's good as dead."
"Fine," Mildred mumbled. "But I can't do it with my hands bound by the Amazon woman."
"Listen, Beaker," Isabel countered. "If you know what's best for you, then you won't try anything funny in your little Muppet lab here."
"Her breathing machine is unplugged. Do you want me to help her or not?" Mildred asked raising her eyebrows.
"Do it," Isabel commanded.
Michael stared down at Maria's closed eyes. "This is not happening," he whispered while shaking his eyes. "No. I just got you back. I can't lose you again." Michael closed his eyes and took a deep breath in a vain attempt to steady his composure. "This is. no. No. Why is this happening?"
Michael opened his eyes hoping to wake from the nightmare that surrounded his life. Faintly, he heard Isabel and Mildred arguing somewhere behind him, but his full attention remained with the woman on the table below. "It's because of me," he murmured. "I did this to you."
Michael reached out his hand to stroke Maria's pale face. As he did, his senses came alive with images and he heard Maria whisper his name.
"Michael. You came. Take Hope home."
Michael stared at Maria's still form and closed eyes. He battled with his own elated emotions at hearing her voice and trying to understand how he heard her voice. "I'm sorry," he said taking her hand and hanging his head. He'd failed her.
"No, Michael. No apologies. No blame. Let's just go home."
Realization struck Michael hard when he heard her voice again. "No," he thought as his eyes widened with fright. Suddenly, he understood why they were able to communicate. "She's dying." Michael turned his head to see Isabel holding Mildred's wrists. "She's dying!" he screamed at the two women. "Help her! Help her now!"
He watched as Mildred walked toward the girl. He studied her emotionless face as she powered the breathing machine. He analyzed her satisfied smile when she saw the girl's chest begin to rise and fall.
When Mildred plugged in the vitals monitor still attached to Maria's thumb, a loud, unbroken screech circulated throughout the room until every molecule of air was saturated with the monotone hum of mortality.
"Like I said." Mildred said turning her lifeless eyes to Isabel.
Isabel reached across Maria's body to flip the switch for the defibrillator. "Like I said. thirty seconds."
Michael stood silently watching Maria as Isabel and Mildred hovered above her body.
"Clear," Mildred said before touching the paddles to Maria's chest.
Isabel watched the heart monitor hoping for a spike or a break in the continuous tone. When nothing happened, she glared at Mildred. "Again."
Michael took a step towards Maria and stood behind her at her head. He gently cupped her face as a tear escaped his clouded eyes. He bent over her and laid his face against her cheek.
"Clear," Mildred said and placed the charged paddles on Maria's chest.
Maria's body arched away from the table and Isabel stared nervously at the heart monitor.
"Damn it!" Isabel shouted striking the machine with her fist.
Mildred stood back in fear. She feared she would be Isabel's next target of frustration if Maria didn't come back quickly.
"Do it again!" Isabel commanded.
"It takes a minute." Mildred began.
"Do it again!" Isabel interrupted.
"Maria," Michael spoke oblivious to the shouting around him. He kept his face against Maria's and whispered words of encouragement. "You need to take a breath and open your eyes. Hope is waiting on you. She's out in the car with Alex and she can't wait to see you."
"Clear!"
"Maria," Michael continued. "I'm. gonna go. away. But Hope needs you to stay. You've done such a wonderful job raising her. You can't just give up now. She needs her mother. She needs you, Maria."
"She needs you, too," Maria's voice echoed in Michael's ears.
"No," he laughed sadly. "She's the spitting image of her mother. independence and all. She's perfect. And she'll be fine."
"I need you," Maria pleaded.
Michael could hold his composure no longer. Maria's words rang in the still air as Michael cried. As much as he wanted to be with Maria, he couldn't allow her to leave with him. not yet. And as much as he knew Alex and the others would take care of Hope, he wouldn't allow his daughter to suffer the loss of her mother. He knew first hand what it was like to grow up without parents and Michael refused to let his own desires deprive Hope of her mother. The alien curse had left him without family and he wouldn't let Hope's tainted blood be the demise of her happiness.
"Clear!" Mildred shouted nervously and once again touched the paddles to Maria's chest.
The screeching halted.
The breath caught in the chests of Isabel and Mildred.
Michael lifted his head, kissed Maria's forehead and said, "Goodbye, Maria."
A small mountain-like peak appeared on the heart monitor. The spike was followed by a short beep.
Isabel held her breath while waiting for a second beep. Mildred feared for her life while waiting for a second beep. Michael prayed for his love and his daughter while waiting for a second beep.
The silence haunted all three souls until finally, a second short beep and a divine spike danced across the screen of the heart monitor.
"Thank God!" Isabel breathed.
"That's my girl," Michael smiled.
Michael felt a strange warmth filling his chest and looked down and at himself. When he looked back up, Michael saw the blue mist beginning to fill the room. the same blue mist he'd experienced in the other room. Michael waved his arms in the air trying to clear the room of the clouds that grew thicker by the second. Then he heard Max.
"Michael."
Michael turned in the direction of Max's voice. He squinted his eyes trying desperately to see through the mist.
"Michael, open your eyes! You have to look at me!"
Through the fog and haze, Michael focused his eyes on the brightness. Max's voice seemed to come from the same direction, so Michael slowly took steps to move towards the light.
"Michael, come on! Damn it, Michael!"
As he continued to walk towards the brightness that reflected in the mist and seemed to surround him, Michael felt the warmth in his chest again. He looked down and saw a faint glow emitting from beneath his shirt.
"Open your eyes! Look at me!"
Michael grew closer to the light. In the distance, he could see a silhouette. Michael took bigger steps and squinted as the silhouette came into focus. Michael struggled to see the face.
"That's it, Michael. Go ahead and open your eyes. Liz, his eyes are."
Michael scanned the silhouette as the blinding light finally allowed him to see who was waiting for him. "Max?" Michael asked.
"Oh, thank God! Keep looking at me."
Michael looked into Max's eyes and felt the warmth in his chest return. He looked down at his body and saw Max's hand glowing against his skin.
As the connection between Michael and Max grew stronger, Michael felt the warmth spread throughout his body, extending into his limbs until his fingers and toes tingled with life.
A reel of images flashed across his mind. Michael saw Max reaching for him in the desert. Michael watched as he and Max hammered the "Boys Only" sign onto the cardboard fort in Max's backyard. He saw Max watching Hank and he felt the sadness in Max's heart. Michael watched as he and Max strolled the streets of Las Vegas looking for ways to spend a bag full of money.
With one final flash of bright, white light, the images halted, the warmth fell still, and the mist disappeared. Michael pushed his elbows against the cold floor and tried to sit up.
Max chuckled nervously. "Welcome back, buddy."
Michael looked down at where the bullet had entered his chest. He lifted his hand and touched the glowing flesh. He looked back up at Max with grateful eyes.
"We have company!" Liz shouted running toward the two boys.
"Over here," Alex called when he spotted the open door.
"Oh dear God!" Isabel breathed hard as she ran towards the door. "Something's wrong. I can't feel him!"
.....................
Michael heard Max calling his name. "Max?" Michael answered. He opened his eyes and squinted through a blue mist trying desperately to find his friend. "I'm right here," Michael called when he heard Max shouting his name again and again.
"Michael, stay with me," Max whispered.
"I haven't gone anywhere," Michael answered.
"Michael, please answer me!" Max screamed angrily.
"I am!" Michael replied becoming afraid that perhaps Max had been injured in the blast. He quickly thought that he needed to find Max and help him.
"Michael!" Max called again. "Open your eyes. I need you to look at me."
"Max?" Michael asked confused. "Where are you?"
Michael reached out into the blue mist, but he found nothing. and no Max.
"Is he dead?" Isabel asked.
"Isabel?" Michael answered trying to see her. "Can you see Max? Is he okay?"
"I'm not sure," Max answered. "He's losing a lot of blood."
"What the." Michael thought as the mist began to fade.
"Help him, Max!" Isabel screamed.
"I'm trying, Isabel," Max said.
Michael waved his hand in the mist and pushed the cloudy air out of his way. His stomach fell at what he saw. Max and Isabel were kneeled over a body. his body.
"I don't understand," Michael said. "What's happening?" A flash of light blinded his eyes and he saw a man holding a gun in the air. A second flash of light brought a new image. Michael saw a bullet slowly making its way from the gun to his own chest.
"I was shot," Michael realized. "Hope. Where's Hope?" Michael frantically searched the hallway and saw Hope standing against a wall. She was nervously rubbing her arms that were crossed over her chest. Her face was stained with tears and her eyes were glued to the scene before her. Her knees were trembling and small sobs of horror escaped her throat.
Michael immediately went to Hope to comfort his frightened daughter. "It's okay," Michael whispered in her ear. "Everything will be fine."
Michael shouted to Max, "Get her out of here. Max! Can you hear me? Get Hope out of here!"
Max lifted his head and looked around the room. He saw Hope standing alone against a wall. Max turned to Alex and said, "Get her out of here."
"Right," Alex responded moving towards Hope.
"You heard me?" Michael asked.
Max continued to take control of the situation. "Liz, stand guard. Let me know if we get company. Isabel, take the guy on the floor over there and go find Maria."
"Way to go, Max," Michael smiled. His smiled dropped as he considered Max's last command. "Maria," he thought. "Oh, God. Maria."
Michael watched as Isabel poked and prodded at the orderly still lying unconscious on the floor as a result of Hope's blast. Michael saw the orderly blink his eyes and then push himself away when he saw Isabel.
"Let's go," Isabel said pulling on the orderly's arm. "You're going to show me where Maria is."
"Who?" the orderly's voice shook.
"He's afraid of you," Michael shouted hoping Isabel would hear him. "Use it to your advantage."
Isabel rolled her eyes and pulled the orderly to his feet. "Marianna, idiot. Where's Marianna?"
With Isabel still keeping a tight grip on his arm, the orderly began leading Isabel down the hallway.
"You've got to look at me, Michael! You can't leave!" As he screamed at Michael, Max's voice grew fainter and fainter. Soon, all the chaos around Michael disappeared and silence surrounded him. Michael looked around and blinked as everything blurred into a mist. The air became cold and Michael shivered against the mist.
Michael was lost - physically and mentally. Michael took small, shuffling steps and extended his arms in front of him as he tried to find something - anything - in the mist. Michael focused on a dim, blinking light in the distance. The light intrigued him and Michael took steps towards it. He kept his eyes the on light. It seemed to call to him. As Michael moved closer, the light grew brighter. Michael's movement toward the light seemed to be involuntary. Though he was curious and wanted to know what the light was, his legs seemed to move on their own.
"Michael! Answer me !"
Michael heard a muted male voice call to him. In response, Michael turned his head away from the lights for a moment. He looked in the direction of the voice. When he saw nothing but an endless sheet of blue mist, he turned back towards the light and began taking steps. The light had become brighter and seemed to have an even stronger pull on him.
"Michael!!!"
Michael ignored the voice that continued to call to him from behind. His attraction to the light grew stronger and he found himself unable to turn away - not wanting to turn away. He followed the light until it was so bright and large that he raised his hand to shield his eyes. Still, he continued to walk towards it. He was almost there. He could almost touch it. A few more steps and he'd be there. Where? He didn't know, but he wanted desperately to go there.
He reached out in an effort to touch the brightness when he was awakened from his daze by the sound of laughter. Her laughter. "Hope" he called? He heard the laughter again - louder.
"Daddy!!!" Hope giggled.
Michael instantly turned away from the light and followed the sound of Hope's voice, "Hope, where are you?"
"I'm right here, Daddy!" Hope giggled.
"Where?" Michael asked searching through the mist.
He heard her laughter only once more before it, too, was consumed by the mist. Just like Max's voice had done, Hope's voice grew fainter and fainter until Michael could hear it no longer. "Hope?" he called.
Silence was all that remained in the mist.
Michael dropped his head, but lifted it immediately upon hearing laughter again. The laugh was different, though. He knew that laugh like he knew no other. He'd rejoiced in that laughter years ago. And it had indeed been years since he heard that laugh.
"Maria?" Michael called out in response.
Maria's laughter rang in Michael's ears louder.
"Michael!!!" Maria laughed and called his name.
And then, as if God were smiling down on him, Michael saw her! "Maria." She stood in the distance wearing a silky, white gown that illuminated her entire body. Michael smiled and ran towards her. Maria ran toward him, too. They stopped mere inches from each other. "She looks so beautiful. Just like an angel," Michael thought. He extended his hands to greet her. Just as he was about to touch her, Maria's form began to fade. "Maria?" Michael called. "What's happening?"
Michael turned back towards the light and saw Maria running towards brightness. Her white gown flowed behind her as she took giant leaps towards the light.
"I'm still here Michael," Maria laughed turning her head back towards Michael.
As Maria continued to laugh, Michael heard Hope's laughter join Maria's.
Before he had a chance to even begin to understand what was happening, Michael's mind was rushed with images and flashes.
Michael saw himself at sixteen chasing Maria on the front campus of Roswell High. Michael watched as his young, naive arms wrapped around Maria's waist after finally catching her. "Caught ya!"
Maria wrinkled her nose, "No, you cheated! You can't use your powers, Spaceboy!"
"Powers? What powers?" the teenaged boy asked innocently.
Michael saw himself leave Maria's window, turn back to cup her face between his hands, and bring his lips down to hers in a tender kiss.
Michael saw himself in the Crashdown's kitchen talking to Maria. "I think I do. I want to be with Isabel, Maria. She can give me all that I've ever hoped for, and more." Michael watched as he repeated the words that killed his heart and forever divided him from his love.
Michael saw the masses of bodies drenched in a pool of blood. He relived the relief he experienced when the war on Antar finally ended and he could go back home. Back to his real home.
Michael's heart ached as he saw his body shake with sobs after learning of Maria's death. He remembered thinking that if only he had been there for her, then she would still be alive. In an instant, he recalled every bit of guilt he felt in knowing she was gone. in knowing she was gone because of him.
Michael saw himself in the hospital's doorway afraid to move. He blinked a few times before looking back at the girl. "Your face," he whispered.
"What?" Maria asked reaching for her face. "Is it bad? The nurse said it wasn't bad."
"No," Michael answered. "It's beautiful," he whispered.
Michael saw himself watching Hope from afar with an unrecognized paternal instinct already developing in him. He marveled at how beautiful she looked. so smart and so full of life. Hope was just like her mother. Deep inside Michael longed for a family of his own - a family comprised of Maria and Hope.
Michael saw himself holding Maria tightly in his arms as she cried over Hope's disappearance. He remembered how he'd struggled to control his own tears as he realized he had lost his daughter. In that instant, he knew without doubt that he would do anything to get her back - anything.
Michael saw himself in the complex, adrenaline pumping through his body. He had to get Maria and Hope out of there safely. He nearly dragged Hope by her small hand in his desperate attempt to get her out of the complex as quickly as possible.
Michael saw the bullet coming straight towards him. He used his own body to shield Hope. He saw tears running down her tiny face and he saw her close her eyes to block the chaos before her. Her sound of her cries grew louder and louder. Michael inferred Hope must have been crying out in need of her mother.
Even as the flashes came to an end, Michael still heard Hope crying.
The sound of Hope's cries moved Michael to turn his back from the light once again. While he could no longer see Maria nor Hope, he heard the pain- filled cries of his daughter. He followed the sound. The cries were beginning to be overshadowed by voices coming from somewhere in the distance. Finally, Michael was able to see an image. a dim image. and for a brief moment he thought it was the beginning of another flash. The image slowly came into focus as Michael took long strides towards the image in the mist.
Michael looked on as a woman in a white lab coat paced around a small white room shouting into her radio.
"What?!" The woman shouted, annoyed by the continuous and pointless interruptions she'd endured during her experimentation.
"There's been an invasion in building 3," Jackson's voice boomed over the radio. "Leave the girl and initiate Code Blue."
Mildred's eyes grew wide and her breathing became shallow. She knew Code Blue meant the worst kind of invasion. one in which lives would be risked, files would be destroyed, and the entire case would be put in jeopardy.
She looked at the unconscious girl's body lying on the table before her. Mildred knew that if she abandoned Marianna at this point in the procedure, she would learn nothing of what she suspected. Still, she knew that if she didn't abandon the procedure and flee for her own life, then she would undoubtedly die.
"I can't believe this!" Mildred shouted into the radio. "I am so close to knowing! I am so close to exposing."
"Just go!" Jackson interrupted her.
Mildred threw the radio across the room and watched it break into small pieces when it hit the wall.
She turned to Marianna and said, "Sorry." She then unplugged Marianna's vitals monitor and breathing machine. "You stupid girl," she mumbled as she unplugged equipment. "If you had cooperated earlier, then this wouldn't be happening."
Mildred pushed her glasses over her nose and said, "Sayonara." She rushed for the door, punched in a code, and waited for the door to open.
"AAHH!" Mildred shouted as the door opened.
Isabel put out her palm and touched Mildred in the chest. With one large blast, Mildred fell backwards to the floor. Immediately, Isabel ran to Maria.
"Maria!" Isabel shouted shaking the girl's limp arm. "Maria, wake up. We have to go."
"You're not going anywhere," Mildred growled from behind. "You're what I've been looking for." Mildred placed a hand on Isabel's shoulder and shoved a cold metal object into Isabel's back.
Isabel froze. She prayed it wasn't, but the object in her back felt like a gun.
"That's right, sweetie. Turn around very slowly," Mildred hissed.
Isabel readied herself for battle and slowly began to turn. Just before making a complete turn, Isabel stiffened her arms and swung with all her might. She knocked the small hand gun from Mildred's grip and then smiled proudly when she saw the shock and fear in Mildred's eyes. She took the opportunity to grab Mildred's wrists and held them tightly with one hand.
"Now, sweetie," Isabel said mocking Mildred's tone. "You are going to do whatever is necessary to help my friend here."
Through clenched teeth, Mildred said, "She's as good as dead."
"You're mistaken," Isabel said tightening her grip on Mildred's wrists. "If she's not up and walking out of this room. on her own. in thirty seconds, then you're the one that's good as dead."
"Fine," Mildred mumbled. "But I can't do it with my hands bound by the Amazon woman."
"Listen, Beaker," Isabel countered. "If you know what's best for you, then you won't try anything funny in your little Muppet lab here."
"Her breathing machine is unplugged. Do you want me to help her or not?" Mildred asked raising her eyebrows.
"Do it," Isabel commanded.
Michael stared down at Maria's closed eyes. "This is not happening," he whispered while shaking his eyes. "No. I just got you back. I can't lose you again." Michael closed his eyes and took a deep breath in a vain attempt to steady his composure. "This is. no. No. Why is this happening?"
Michael opened his eyes hoping to wake from the nightmare that surrounded his life. Faintly, he heard Isabel and Mildred arguing somewhere behind him, but his full attention remained with the woman on the table below. "It's because of me," he murmured. "I did this to you."
Michael reached out his hand to stroke Maria's pale face. As he did, his senses came alive with images and he heard Maria whisper his name.
"Michael. You came. Take Hope home."
Michael stared at Maria's still form and closed eyes. He battled with his own elated emotions at hearing her voice and trying to understand how he heard her voice. "I'm sorry," he said taking her hand and hanging his head. He'd failed her.
"No, Michael. No apologies. No blame. Let's just go home."
Realization struck Michael hard when he heard her voice again. "No," he thought as his eyes widened with fright. Suddenly, he understood why they were able to communicate. "She's dying." Michael turned his head to see Isabel holding Mildred's wrists. "She's dying!" he screamed at the two women. "Help her! Help her now!"
He watched as Mildred walked toward the girl. He studied her emotionless face as she powered the breathing machine. He analyzed her satisfied smile when she saw the girl's chest begin to rise and fall.
When Mildred plugged in the vitals monitor still attached to Maria's thumb, a loud, unbroken screech circulated throughout the room until every molecule of air was saturated with the monotone hum of mortality.
"Like I said." Mildred said turning her lifeless eyes to Isabel.
Isabel reached across Maria's body to flip the switch for the defibrillator. "Like I said. thirty seconds."
Michael stood silently watching Maria as Isabel and Mildred hovered above her body.
"Clear," Mildred said before touching the paddles to Maria's chest.
Isabel watched the heart monitor hoping for a spike or a break in the continuous tone. When nothing happened, she glared at Mildred. "Again."
Michael took a step towards Maria and stood behind her at her head. He gently cupped her face as a tear escaped his clouded eyes. He bent over her and laid his face against her cheek.
"Clear," Mildred said and placed the charged paddles on Maria's chest.
Maria's body arched away from the table and Isabel stared nervously at the heart monitor.
"Damn it!" Isabel shouted striking the machine with her fist.
Mildred stood back in fear. She feared she would be Isabel's next target of frustration if Maria didn't come back quickly.
"Do it again!" Isabel commanded.
"It takes a minute." Mildred began.
"Do it again!" Isabel interrupted.
"Maria," Michael spoke oblivious to the shouting around him. He kept his face against Maria's and whispered words of encouragement. "You need to take a breath and open your eyes. Hope is waiting on you. She's out in the car with Alex and she can't wait to see you."
"Clear!"
"Maria," Michael continued. "I'm. gonna go. away. But Hope needs you to stay. You've done such a wonderful job raising her. You can't just give up now. She needs her mother. She needs you, Maria."
"She needs you, too," Maria's voice echoed in Michael's ears.
"No," he laughed sadly. "She's the spitting image of her mother. independence and all. She's perfect. And she'll be fine."
"I need you," Maria pleaded.
Michael could hold his composure no longer. Maria's words rang in the still air as Michael cried. As much as he wanted to be with Maria, he couldn't allow her to leave with him. not yet. And as much as he knew Alex and the others would take care of Hope, he wouldn't allow his daughter to suffer the loss of her mother. He knew first hand what it was like to grow up without parents and Michael refused to let his own desires deprive Hope of her mother. The alien curse had left him without family and he wouldn't let Hope's tainted blood be the demise of her happiness.
"Clear!" Mildred shouted nervously and once again touched the paddles to Maria's chest.
The screeching halted.
The breath caught in the chests of Isabel and Mildred.
Michael lifted his head, kissed Maria's forehead and said, "Goodbye, Maria."
A small mountain-like peak appeared on the heart monitor. The spike was followed by a short beep.
Isabel held her breath while waiting for a second beep. Mildred feared for her life while waiting for a second beep. Michael prayed for his love and his daughter while waiting for a second beep.
The silence haunted all three souls until finally, a second short beep and a divine spike danced across the screen of the heart monitor.
"Thank God!" Isabel breathed.
"That's my girl," Michael smiled.
Michael felt a strange warmth filling his chest and looked down and at himself. When he looked back up, Michael saw the blue mist beginning to fill the room. the same blue mist he'd experienced in the other room. Michael waved his arms in the air trying to clear the room of the clouds that grew thicker by the second. Then he heard Max.
"Michael."
Michael turned in the direction of Max's voice. He squinted his eyes trying desperately to see through the mist.
"Michael, open your eyes! You have to look at me!"
Through the fog and haze, Michael focused his eyes on the brightness. Max's voice seemed to come from the same direction, so Michael slowly took steps to move towards the light.
"Michael, come on! Damn it, Michael!"
As he continued to walk towards the brightness that reflected in the mist and seemed to surround him, Michael felt the warmth in his chest again. He looked down and saw a faint glow emitting from beneath his shirt.
"Open your eyes! Look at me!"
Michael grew closer to the light. In the distance, he could see a silhouette. Michael took bigger steps and squinted as the silhouette came into focus. Michael struggled to see the face.
"That's it, Michael. Go ahead and open your eyes. Liz, his eyes are."
Michael scanned the silhouette as the blinding light finally allowed him to see who was waiting for him. "Max?" Michael asked.
"Oh, thank God! Keep looking at me."
Michael looked into Max's eyes and felt the warmth in his chest return. He looked down at his body and saw Max's hand glowing against his skin.
As the connection between Michael and Max grew stronger, Michael felt the warmth spread throughout his body, extending into his limbs until his fingers and toes tingled with life.
A reel of images flashed across his mind. Michael saw Max reaching for him in the desert. Michael watched as he and Max hammered the "Boys Only" sign onto the cardboard fort in Max's backyard. He saw Max watching Hank and he felt the sadness in Max's heart. Michael watched as he and Max strolled the streets of Las Vegas looking for ways to spend a bag full of money.
With one final flash of bright, white light, the images halted, the warmth fell still, and the mist disappeared. Michael pushed his elbows against the cold floor and tried to sit up.
Max chuckled nervously. "Welcome back, buddy."
Michael looked down at where the bullet had entered his chest. He lifted his hand and touched the glowing flesh. He looked back up at Max with grateful eyes.
"We have company!" Liz shouted running toward the two boys.