Sacrifice

A Sequel to Quietly into the Night

Conventional Couples

Rating:  PG-13

Chapter Three

"You what?" exclaimed Max.  "And you're just now getting around to telling us.  Isabelle, what the hell were you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that I walked into your house, was nearly blown up by Michael and then delivered a baby, THAT'S what I'm thinking Max!" shouted Isabelle.  "God, why did I even come back here?" she asks, dropping her head into her hands.

"Isabelle," said Jim softly.  "What did you mean when you said you'd heard from Kyle?  Did he contact you?"
"Yes, no, I don't know," she cried in confusion.  "I'm not sure what it was.  I've been having these dreams for the past month and a half.  I kept dreaming of Kyle, that he was talking to me."

"Why did you wait so long to tell us Iz?" asks Max.

"Mostly because I wasn't sure it was really happening.  After Alex was killed, I kept seeing him everywhere.  I dreamed about him all the time.  At first, I thought that's what was happening.  Plus, I was under all this stress, trying to finish my classes up so that I could start my residency, I was just a mess."

"Your residency? As in doctor type residency?" asked Amy.  "Isabelle, how could you have finished medical school already?  You've only been gone for a few years."

"Well, one of our abilities is to absorb knowledge.  I can read a book once, very quickly and retain it forever.  Because of that, I was able to take extra classes while I was going to school here, and test out of some classes all together.  Once we started running, I took classes whenever I could, and I just had all my grades transferred back here."

"How could you register at schools and keep your identity a secret?" asked Jim.

"Oh, that part was easy.  I'd simply use a fake name to register, and change all my transcripts to reflect the name and personal information I was using.  Whenever we had to leave, I'd simply write to the school and ask to have my records forwarded to me, and I'd change them and register at a new school.  Anyhow, I had enough credits to graduate when we came back, so I did.  After our trip to Antar, I decided I just couldn't stay here any longer, so I went to New York and to medical school."

Max didn't say anything.  What could he say?  He loved Isabelle, but he had always figured she was kind of shallow and superficial.  He had just found out how wrong he really was.  "So, tell us about the dreams?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get off track," said Isabelle.  "Ok, I started having these dreams of Kyle.  Nothing concrete, just images of him, so I didn't give it much thought.  I just assumed I was missing him.

"Well, that's understandable," said Jim.  "What changed?"

"Well, about two weeks ago, I was in the library, and I heard Kyle, clear as day, calling my name.  I looked around but I couldn't see anybody.  I dismissed it as a freak happening, but the thing is, it happened again and again.  Tonight, I was driving into town when I heard him again.  This time I got a message from him.  He called my name, and said 'We're ok.'  I don't get it.  I'm beginning to think I'm losing my mind."

Jim jumped up from the table and began to pace the confines of the small kitchen.  Max pressed the bridge of his nose between this thumb and forefinger.  "Let me tell you what happened tonight.  Lexie had what I thought was a nightmare.  She had apparently woken up crying.  When I asked her about her dream, she said she had a dream about her Mommy and Unca Kyle, and that they and Xander Michael were ok."

"What's so strange about that?" asked Amy.  "It would be more peculiar if a small child didn't dream about a missing parent."

"Yeah, except for Lexie doesn't know who Kyle is.  At least not to call him Uncle Kyle.  She knows you had a son, Jim, but not how close he was to us."

"Well, who is Xander Michael?  How do you explain that?" asked Jim.  "It was just a dream Max."

"Alexander Michael was the name Liz and I had chosen if our baby was a boy," said Max softly.  "And Lexie didn't have any way of knowing that.  She also said that her Mommy said it was ok for Unca Michael to tell."

"Tell, tell what? asked Jim.

"We don't know," said Max, as the sun came up over the horizon, signaling the start of a new day.  "That was right around the time that Isabelle made her appearance, and then all hell broke loose and this place turned into baby central."

"Speaking of babies," said Amy as she stood up.  "I'm going to call the hospital again and make sure everything is ok."

"Don't bother," said Michael, walking in from the garage.  "Everything is fine.  Maria's asleep, and so is the baby.  They're going to be coming home this afternoon, but I couldn't wait until then, I have to talk to you Maxwell."

"Yeah, you have some secret you need to tell me?" asked Max.

"Look, this is going to take some time, so before I start, I want you to promise me, you'll let me finish before you start asking questions or anything."

"Whatever it takes to see if we can make any sense out of this mess.  Lexie's dream, Isabelle's voices and your secret.  Damn, I thought this stuff was behind us," said Max.

"What do you mean Isabelle's voices?" demanded Michael.  "What are you talking about?" 
"Well, for the past few weeks, images of Kyle have been appearing in my dreams, and recently, I heard his voice, first calling my name.  Tonight, I know I heard him say 'We're ok.'"

"God," said Michael almost to himself.  "Why did I listen to her?  I should have insisted that they come with us."

"Michael, what are you talking about?" asks Jim.  "Maybe you'd better start at the beginning."

Michael nodded, and crossed the kitchen to stand at the window and watch the sunrise.  With his back to the others he began to speak.  "We had been on Antar for about a week, when Liz took me aside one day and said she wanted to tell me something.  She was so excited, it was like she was lit up inside by some secret light.  She told me the physicians on Antar had confirmed the fact that she wasn't carrying one baby, but two.  She didn't want to tell Max, because she wanted it to be a surprise."  Michael stared unseeingly out the window, flashing back to their time on Antar.

"Liz, why are you telling me?  Isn't this something you should be telling Max, you know, the babies father?"

"No Michael, I want it to be a surprise, but I had to tell somebody, or I was going to explode."

"Well, why me, why not Maria or Isabelle, or even Kyle for that matter?"
"Well, I love Maria, but she couldn't keep a secret like that, and Isabelle is still so sad over Jesse, and Kyle is so busy working on developing his powers.  He's turned into such a soldier in the short time we've been here.  Anyhow, I just had to tell somebody."

"Alright Liz, I'll keep your secret, but don't you think this would be a good time for you to go back to Earth.  There is so much unrest here, it can't be safe."

"Relax Michael, we'll be fine.  Now, more than ever, I want my babies to be born on Antar.  I know the physicians have assured me that there isn't anything wrong, but I'd rather stay here and make sure the babies are born without any problems."

"I suppose that makes sense," Michael agreed reluctantly.  "Ok, I'll keep your secret.  Won't Max have a fit when he finds out there are two of them?  Do you know what they are?"

"Yeah, a boy and a girl.  Alexandra Claudia and Alexander Michael," said Liz.  Michael realized they were planning on naming one of their babies after him, and he flushed a dull red. 

"Maybe you should be lying down or something?"

"Michael, relax, we're fine."

Michael stepped away from the window and turned around to face his best friend.  Max was staring at him with eyes full of rage.  "She was having twins.  You knew, all this time, you knew and you never told me!" he yelled.  He jumped up and pushed his chair back and started towards Michael.  Jim reached out and grabbed Max and pushed him back down. 

"There's more Max," said Michael.  "The night Liz went into labor, the fighting had escalated, remember?  Kyle and I were sitting with Liz, while you, Maria and Isabelle where getting some food.  Even though there was no more royal family, the military still treated me as your strategic leader and had been keeping me up to date.  I knew the rebels were coming into the city.  I also found out, that what they were after.  They wanted Lexie.  One of the physicians was a spy for the rebels, and he informed the rebels that Liz was carrying your child, a child of royal birth, who had powers.  Apparently, there was some way they could test for that sort of thing.  When those loyal to your cause found out that this physician had betrayed you, the informed me immediately.   I tried to reason with Liz, to get her the hell out of there.

"Liz, you have to leave, now.  It's dangerous.  We're about to be overrun with rebels, and they are going to try and take Lexie."

"Well then, take Lexie home Michael.  Get her and Max and the others and leave.  I'll follow as soon as it's safe."

"Damn it Liz, you have to leave too."

"Michael, I can't undertake that kind of travel while I'm in labor, it could hurt, or kill the baby."

"She is right, General," said one of the physicians.  "To undertake travel at this time would put both mother and child in jeopardy."

"She's right Michael," said Kyle.  "I'll stay with her.  I'll bring them back as soon as it's safe.  I'll protect her, them," he amended.  "With my life." 

"No, I don't like it," said Michael.  "We said we'd never split up again, and that's what you want us to do.  Besides, if they can't have Lexie, won't they try and take Xander instead.  Doesn't he have powers too?"

"General, the rules of our society say that the first born will rule, so the second child will be deemed unimportant by the rebels.  They will not harm him."

"Wait," said Kyle.  "What about Zan?  By rights, he is the first born."

"That child displayed no powers," said the physician.  "He was rejected by our people.  The female child is very powerful, and thus, will be considered a threat to the rebels."

"Michael, you have to do it.  Help me make Max leave with Lexie."  Michael nodded, knowing she was right, and unable to see any other solution.

"Help you what?" asked Max as he came back into the room with some water for Liz to drink.

"Max, I want you to take Lexie and go back to Earth. You'll be safer there."

"Liz, are you crazy?" said Max.

"Max, take her and go," Liz urged  "Take her back to earth where she'll be safe.  I'll follow you as soon as I can."

"No, Liz, I'm not leaving you," Max said.  "Maria and the others can take her back, but I'm staying.  Michael will you tell her to listen to me!"

"Excuse me, Max," interrupted Naloch.  "I hate to disturb you, but I have need to speak with you privately."  Max and Naloch left the room together and in a short time, he returned.

"Naloch says the rebels are close, and there is a good chance they'll be able to breach the security systems of the castle.  Liz, we need to get you out of here, now."

"Max, I can't leave yet, I just can't.  I'd only hold you back.  Take our baby and get her to safety.  Kyle said he'd stay with me and we'll leave as soon as I'm able."  Michael had looked over at Liz and she nodded slightly.

"She's right Max, come on.  They want you and Isabelle, and they'll want the baby.  Kyle and Liz will be ok, they're not of royal blood."  She kissed her husband and baby daughter goodbye and watched as Michael escorted them out of the chamber.  He looked back at her.  "Liz, please come with us."

"I can't Michael, you know that.  But I'm counting on you to keep them safe.  Protect them Michael."

"With my life," he said.

"Michael, if something happens, and we don't make it back, promise me, you'll never tell Max."

Unable to speak, Michael nodded, and followed the passage the other had taken.

"You son of a bitch!" shouted Max.  "You left my wife, my son and our best friend back there.  You sacrificed them to the rebels, that's what you did."

"And saved you, your sister, your daughter and your wife's best friend in the process," Michael shot back.  "Jesus Max, don't you think that I live with that decision every single day of my life?  I loved Liz and Kyle too, but there was no alternative.  Liz wasn't going to leave and put the other baby's life at risk.  And she knew that if she told you the truth, you would insist on staying.  Lexie would have grown up an orphan.  Is that what you want for your daughter, because Liz sure as hell didn't!"

"It wasn't your decision to make Michael," cried Max.  "It wasn't."

"No, it wasn't, and it wasn't yours either.  It was Liz's decision, and she made it."

Max sat in the chair, slumped over, his bowed head resting in his hands.  He looked up at Michael and the others, and they saw the grief etched on his face.  A slight thumping on the stairs alerted him to Lexie's arrival, and he quickly wiped hands across his face, trying to erase any signs of tears.  Lexie's feet pattered across the hardwood floor as she ran into the kitchen and threw herself at her father.

"Hi Daddy, I'm hungry," she said.  "And guess what!  Mommy was in my dream again and she says she wants to come home now.  Let's go get her."