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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN:
Isabel and Liz were both on their feet now, holding each other and shaking with fear. They didn't know what to do. Isabel wanted to run to see if Alex was alright, and come to his aid if he was in trouble. So did Liz, but she knew that Isabel was in no condition to use her powers to combat an armed agent due to her pregnancy. Liz also had to stay with Isabel because there would be no one else to do so.
"Maybe we should do as Alex said," said Liz. "Go to the road, and..."
"And leave, not KNOWING whether he is alright!!" said Isabel. "I don't think so!!! I couldn't....I WON'T!!"
"Let's just stay here then, for a while," said Liz. "But we stay low!"
They sat back on the ground and waited. Neither of them knew how long to just wait there, but they both inwardly did not want to leave. The minutes ticked by, and the woods were impossibly silent. The only sound Liz and Isabel could hear was that of their own breathing.
Then, the sound of rustling bushes. "The agent!" whispered Liz. "We'd better...."
"ISABEL!" called out a voice. Both Liz and Isabel heaved a massive sigh of relief.
"Over here!!" yelled Liz.
Alex came bounding out of the woods, as Liz helped Isabel get up off of the ground. Both girls grabbed Alex, and pulled him into a hug. All of them were shaking.
"Alex!!" said Isabel. "Are you okay?!"
"More or less," said Alex, quietly.
Isabel and Liz looked into his face. Through the darkness, they could see a strange look in his eyes.
"What happened?" asked Liz.
"Not now," said Alex. "Let's get back to the road."
They retraced their path back through the woods to the road, doing the best they could given the fact that they had originally ran through the woods in a panic. When they got back to the road, they were about one hundred yards away from the cars. Alex recognized a curve he had driven past when he was being chased by the other car.
"This way," said Alex.
Isabel, Liz, and Alex, got back to the car. The agent's car was also nearby. "Liz," said Alex. "Help me shove our car into the bushes. We'll take the agent's car. Isabel, use your powers to change the license plate."
"Are you going to be okay to do that?" asked Liz.
"It's a small job," said Isabel. "I'll be alright."
A few minutes later, the group piled into their new car, and took off down the road. Isabel was exhausted, and fell asleep in the back seat. Meanwhile, Liz sat up front, while Alex drove down the dark road in silence.
"We should ditch this car as soon as possible," said Alex. "We'll need to get a new one. Luckily, Isabel and I packed just about all of the money we have in the bag we brought."
"What's wrong with this car?" asked Liz.
"Its FBI," said Alex. "It might have a tracking device in it."
"Oh, right," said Liz. "Like in a James Bond movie."
She chuckled slightly, her comment deliberately meant to lighten the mood. When Liz looked at Alex, she knew it hadn't done so. She took a deep breath, and decided to try and get Alex to talk about it.
"So," said Liz. "You still haven't said what happened."
"Your right," said Alex. "I didn't."
"Alex," said Liz. "Are you sure...you're okay?"
Alex was silent, not answering. Liz just stared at him, trying to read what her friend was feeling. Then, she saw it. The glisten of a tear as it fell down Alex's face.
"Liz," said Alex. "I killed a man tonight."
Liz reached up and wiped away Alex's tear. He sniffled a little bit, and wiped away more tears from his other cheek. "Why did he make me kill him?" he said. "Why?"
"Alex," said Liz. "It might help if you told me exactly what happened."
"I led him through the woods," said Alex. "I was SO scared! I heard him chasing me. I prayed that he would keep chasing me, so I could lead him away from you and Isabel. I...I tripped. Fell into some bushes. The wind got knocked out of me. It gave the guy a chance to catch up. I was able to get up, and pull out my gun. That's when I saw him. He was standing there, raising his gun. I just...REACTED! I fired my gun at him. Missed. He fired at me. I got lucky. He missed, too. I guess...he didn't expect me to be armed. Me shooting at him...caught him by surprise."
"And he still would have killed us," said Liz. "Even knowing we probably weren't armed. Bastard!"
Alex fell silent again. "Sorry," said Liz. "Go on."
"I fired again," said Alex. "Missed again. He fired back. I could actually hear the round impact in the tree, only inches away from my head! Then, I took a better aim. Fired one more time. He fell to the ground. I knew I hit him. Then, I walked over to him. I wanted to see if he....he was still alive. I think I hit him in the stomach. He was in a lot of pain. But, he...he was raising his gun again!!! He was still going to shoot me!!! The stupid son of a bitch!!! I begged him not to! I didn't WANT TO!!! Then.....then I...I raised my gun, and..."
Alex was sobbing now, as the tears flowed freely down his face.
"Pull over," said Liz.
He complied, pulling the car to the side of the highway, putting it in park. Then, Liz pulled him over, and put her arms around him as he began to cry.
"Its okay," said Liz in a soothing voice, rubbing his back. "Shhh. Its okay. You didn't have a choice. He would have killed you, Isabel, me. The baby. He was a killer, Alex. Its not your fault."
"I KNOW!" said Alex, looking back at Isabel's still sleeping form. She must have been exhausted to sleep through what was going on. "That's part of....the reason why! That BASTARD was going to kill my Isabel, my BABY! Liz, when I fired that gun....when I finished him! I was angry!! SO ANGRY!!! God help me, Liz!! I WANTED the guy dead!!!"
"Alex," said Liz. "You had every right to be angry! Just like you said...he was trying to kill your wife and child! What you felt....was natural."
They sat there by the side of the road for a long time, as Alex cried into his friend's arms.
**
A little over twenty-four hours later, Liz, Alex, and Isabel, were all settled in at the motel in Hartford, Connecticut, where they had pre-arranged to meet with Michael, Maria, and Max. They stopped in a small town in Massachusetts along the way, and acquired a new car after ditching the FBI car into a lake. Now safe for the time being, Liz said she would keep watch, giving Alex and Isabel a chance to rest. As the couple lay in the bed, Alex held Isabel close to him, his hand on her pregnant belly, feeling the baby kicking.
"Any day now, huh," said Alex.
"Yeah," said Isabel. "Thanks to you."
Alex closed his eyes, trying to push the memories of the past twenty-four hours out of his mind. Isabel reached up and caressed Alex's cheek.
"You save me, Alex," said Isabel. "You protected me, Liz, the BABY!"
"I once said I would do anything to protect you," said Alex. "And I did."
"You had no choice," said Isabel.
"I know," said Alex. "I just...wish that killing someone, even someone who was trying to kill you, wasn't necessary. I didn't want to take someone's life. And to do it in anger. I don't know what to feel right now...about myself."
"I know how you feel," said Isabel. "I felt the same way, after I killed Whitaker. It...it hurts, even knowing the person you killed was trying to harm you, those you care for. You feel...dirty, somehow. But Alex, you have to look at it from a perspective of the alternative. What was the alternative? What would have happened if you hadn't killed him?"
"He would have killed me," said Alex. "Then, he would have hunted you and Liz down, and killed you both. I saw it, in his eyes. When he raised his gun at me one last time. This look of determination. I was angry, because I knew he was intent on killing you, and he was making me kill him to stop him."
"If you could go back," said Isabel. "If the same circumstances were presented to you again, would you make the same choice?"
Alex was silent for several moments, before he quietly said. "Yes."
Isabel kissed him, then gently caressed his cheek once again. "You'll get through it," said Isabel. "I'll help. We all will."
"GUYS!" said Liz, with excitement. "THEY'RE HERE!! I SEE THEM!! THEY MADE IT!!"
Alex got up, and helped Isabel off of the bed. Then, they joined Liz as they went out the door and into the parking lot to greet their friends. After everyone met up in the parking lot, they went back into the room to talk.
"Glad to see you made it okay," said Max.
"We have Alex to thank for that," said Isabel. "He really came through."
"I knew he would," said Max. Then, he reached out his hand to Alex. The latter shook Max's hand. "Thanks. For looking out for them."
"No problem," said Alex.
"What about the guys who were chasing you?" asked Liz.
"Dead," said Michael. "They shot out our tires a few miles outside of Bangor. Max and I kind of caused their car to have a little accident and explode."
"We didn't want to do it," said Max. "But we had to. It was them or us."
"I know what you mean," said Alex.
"What happened?" asked Maria.
"One of them chased us," said Isabel. "Alex...had to kill him."
"Your gun," said Maria.
Alex nodded. Maria walked over to him and hugged him.
"So," said Liz. "What now?"
"Well," said Max. "I've been thinking. Since Isabel is having a baby, and Liz...you might be, too. I have a proposition."
"Oh boy," said Michael. "This is going to be one of those ideas that gives me a headache, I can feel it."
"We left a lot behind, both when we left Roswell, and now that we've left our new lives in Bangor as well," said Max. "I think its safe to say we left a lot more behind in Roswell. We haven't heard anything from home in two and a half years. Alex's and Isabel's family don't even know they are about to have a grandchild. It could be the same thing for me and Liz, if she is indeed pregnant."
"Are you saying what I think you are?" asked Alex.
"I think it might be time we made contact with home," said Max. "And, if possible...I think we should go home."
Everyone looked at each other, waiting for one of the others to reply to Max's suggestion. Finally, Michael decided to break the silence.
"So what are we talking about here?" asked Michael. "We go to Roswell, knock on Valenti's door, and say 'Lucy, I'm home'?"
"Actually...yes," said Max. "Exactly that."
"That's nuts," said Maria. "We can't just waltz into Roswell, I mean...what if they are waiting for us to do just that?"
"As much as I sympathize with the idea of going home," said Alex. "I don't want to put Isabel and the baby at risk."
"Neither do I," said Max. "I didn't say we would all go back to Roswell. At least at first."
"I get what you're saying," said Liz. "Some of us could slip back into town, make contact with Valenti, and get the lay of the land before the rest come."
Max smiled. "Damn, I married a smart girl!" he said.
"So, this would be sort of a little reconnaissance mission," said Michael. "Sweet. We could go in under cover of darkness, wake Valenti up. He could give us a sit rep."
"Sit rep?" asked Isabel.
"He's been watching JAG again," said Maria sarcastically.
"That's actually not a bad idea," said Alex. "Going in late at night, you know."
"I say Michael and I should be the ones to go in," said Max. "Alex, you stay with Isabel, Liz, and Maria."
"Wait, why shouldn't I go?" asked Alex.
"Because, I want you hear to look after the girls," said Max. "You've already shown you can handle things if they get rough. And if something does happen to Michael and I...I want Isabel's baby to have its Father. Liz needs to stay to help Isabel with the delivery just in case."
"She has been extremely helpful with me and the baby up to now," said Isabel.
"What about me?" asked Maria.
"The less people going in, the better," said Michael. He came over, and kissed her on her forehead. "I know you want to come, too. But, it would be safe if its just Max and me."
Maria was about to protest, but then closed her eyes and nodded her head in resignation.
"So, are we all in agreement," said Max.
They all nodded.
"Good," said Max. "We'll go together as far as Santa Fe. Then, Michael and I will proceed to Roswell. We leave tomorrow."
End of Chapter Twenty-Seven. Chapter Twenty-Eight coming soon.
Will they be able to go home? What surprises will Max and Michael find waiting for them in Roswell? To find out, don't miss the next installment, coming your way soon. In the meantime, please do keep those reviews coming. I always appreciate any feedback my readers want to give me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN:
Isabel and Liz were both on their feet now, holding each other and shaking with fear. They didn't know what to do. Isabel wanted to run to see if Alex was alright, and come to his aid if he was in trouble. So did Liz, but she knew that Isabel was in no condition to use her powers to combat an armed agent due to her pregnancy. Liz also had to stay with Isabel because there would be no one else to do so.
"Maybe we should do as Alex said," said Liz. "Go to the road, and..."
"And leave, not KNOWING whether he is alright!!" said Isabel. "I don't think so!!! I couldn't....I WON'T!!"
"Let's just stay here then, for a while," said Liz. "But we stay low!"
They sat back on the ground and waited. Neither of them knew how long to just wait there, but they both inwardly did not want to leave. The minutes ticked by, and the woods were impossibly silent. The only sound Liz and Isabel could hear was that of their own breathing.
Then, the sound of rustling bushes. "The agent!" whispered Liz. "We'd better...."
"ISABEL!" called out a voice. Both Liz and Isabel heaved a massive sigh of relief.
"Over here!!" yelled Liz.
Alex came bounding out of the woods, as Liz helped Isabel get up off of the ground. Both girls grabbed Alex, and pulled him into a hug. All of them were shaking.
"Alex!!" said Isabel. "Are you okay?!"
"More or less," said Alex, quietly.
Isabel and Liz looked into his face. Through the darkness, they could see a strange look in his eyes.
"What happened?" asked Liz.
"Not now," said Alex. "Let's get back to the road."
They retraced their path back through the woods to the road, doing the best they could given the fact that they had originally ran through the woods in a panic. When they got back to the road, they were about one hundred yards away from the cars. Alex recognized a curve he had driven past when he was being chased by the other car.
"This way," said Alex.
Isabel, Liz, and Alex, got back to the car. The agent's car was also nearby. "Liz," said Alex. "Help me shove our car into the bushes. We'll take the agent's car. Isabel, use your powers to change the license plate."
"Are you going to be okay to do that?" asked Liz.
"It's a small job," said Isabel. "I'll be alright."
A few minutes later, the group piled into their new car, and took off down the road. Isabel was exhausted, and fell asleep in the back seat. Meanwhile, Liz sat up front, while Alex drove down the dark road in silence.
"We should ditch this car as soon as possible," said Alex. "We'll need to get a new one. Luckily, Isabel and I packed just about all of the money we have in the bag we brought."
"What's wrong with this car?" asked Liz.
"Its FBI," said Alex. "It might have a tracking device in it."
"Oh, right," said Liz. "Like in a James Bond movie."
She chuckled slightly, her comment deliberately meant to lighten the mood. When Liz looked at Alex, she knew it hadn't done so. She took a deep breath, and decided to try and get Alex to talk about it.
"So," said Liz. "You still haven't said what happened."
"Your right," said Alex. "I didn't."
"Alex," said Liz. "Are you sure...you're okay?"
Alex was silent, not answering. Liz just stared at him, trying to read what her friend was feeling. Then, she saw it. The glisten of a tear as it fell down Alex's face.
"Liz," said Alex. "I killed a man tonight."
Liz reached up and wiped away Alex's tear. He sniffled a little bit, and wiped away more tears from his other cheek. "Why did he make me kill him?" he said. "Why?"
"Alex," said Liz. "It might help if you told me exactly what happened."
"I led him through the woods," said Alex. "I was SO scared! I heard him chasing me. I prayed that he would keep chasing me, so I could lead him away from you and Isabel. I...I tripped. Fell into some bushes. The wind got knocked out of me. It gave the guy a chance to catch up. I was able to get up, and pull out my gun. That's when I saw him. He was standing there, raising his gun. I just...REACTED! I fired my gun at him. Missed. He fired at me. I got lucky. He missed, too. I guess...he didn't expect me to be armed. Me shooting at him...caught him by surprise."
"And he still would have killed us," said Liz. "Even knowing we probably weren't armed. Bastard!"
Alex fell silent again. "Sorry," said Liz. "Go on."
"I fired again," said Alex. "Missed again. He fired back. I could actually hear the round impact in the tree, only inches away from my head! Then, I took a better aim. Fired one more time. He fell to the ground. I knew I hit him. Then, I walked over to him. I wanted to see if he....he was still alive. I think I hit him in the stomach. He was in a lot of pain. But, he...he was raising his gun again!!! He was still going to shoot me!!! The stupid son of a bitch!!! I begged him not to! I didn't WANT TO!!! Then.....then I...I raised my gun, and..."
Alex was sobbing now, as the tears flowed freely down his face.
"Pull over," said Liz.
He complied, pulling the car to the side of the highway, putting it in park. Then, Liz pulled him over, and put her arms around him as he began to cry.
"Its okay," said Liz in a soothing voice, rubbing his back. "Shhh. Its okay. You didn't have a choice. He would have killed you, Isabel, me. The baby. He was a killer, Alex. Its not your fault."
"I KNOW!" said Alex, looking back at Isabel's still sleeping form. She must have been exhausted to sleep through what was going on. "That's part of....the reason why! That BASTARD was going to kill my Isabel, my BABY! Liz, when I fired that gun....when I finished him! I was angry!! SO ANGRY!!! God help me, Liz!! I WANTED the guy dead!!!"
"Alex," said Liz. "You had every right to be angry! Just like you said...he was trying to kill your wife and child! What you felt....was natural."
They sat there by the side of the road for a long time, as Alex cried into his friend's arms.
**
A little over twenty-four hours later, Liz, Alex, and Isabel, were all settled in at the motel in Hartford, Connecticut, where they had pre-arranged to meet with Michael, Maria, and Max. They stopped in a small town in Massachusetts along the way, and acquired a new car after ditching the FBI car into a lake. Now safe for the time being, Liz said she would keep watch, giving Alex and Isabel a chance to rest. As the couple lay in the bed, Alex held Isabel close to him, his hand on her pregnant belly, feeling the baby kicking.
"Any day now, huh," said Alex.
"Yeah," said Isabel. "Thanks to you."
Alex closed his eyes, trying to push the memories of the past twenty-four hours out of his mind. Isabel reached up and caressed Alex's cheek.
"You save me, Alex," said Isabel. "You protected me, Liz, the BABY!"
"I once said I would do anything to protect you," said Alex. "And I did."
"You had no choice," said Isabel.
"I know," said Alex. "I just...wish that killing someone, even someone who was trying to kill you, wasn't necessary. I didn't want to take someone's life. And to do it in anger. I don't know what to feel right now...about myself."
"I know how you feel," said Isabel. "I felt the same way, after I killed Whitaker. It...it hurts, even knowing the person you killed was trying to harm you, those you care for. You feel...dirty, somehow. But Alex, you have to look at it from a perspective of the alternative. What was the alternative? What would have happened if you hadn't killed him?"
"He would have killed me," said Alex. "Then, he would have hunted you and Liz down, and killed you both. I saw it, in his eyes. When he raised his gun at me one last time. This look of determination. I was angry, because I knew he was intent on killing you, and he was making me kill him to stop him."
"If you could go back," said Isabel. "If the same circumstances were presented to you again, would you make the same choice?"
Alex was silent for several moments, before he quietly said. "Yes."
Isabel kissed him, then gently caressed his cheek once again. "You'll get through it," said Isabel. "I'll help. We all will."
"GUYS!" said Liz, with excitement. "THEY'RE HERE!! I SEE THEM!! THEY MADE IT!!"
Alex got up, and helped Isabel off of the bed. Then, they joined Liz as they went out the door and into the parking lot to greet their friends. After everyone met up in the parking lot, they went back into the room to talk.
"Glad to see you made it okay," said Max.
"We have Alex to thank for that," said Isabel. "He really came through."
"I knew he would," said Max. Then, he reached out his hand to Alex. The latter shook Max's hand. "Thanks. For looking out for them."
"No problem," said Alex.
"What about the guys who were chasing you?" asked Liz.
"Dead," said Michael. "They shot out our tires a few miles outside of Bangor. Max and I kind of caused their car to have a little accident and explode."
"We didn't want to do it," said Max. "But we had to. It was them or us."
"I know what you mean," said Alex.
"What happened?" asked Maria.
"One of them chased us," said Isabel. "Alex...had to kill him."
"Your gun," said Maria.
Alex nodded. Maria walked over to him and hugged him.
"So," said Liz. "What now?"
"Well," said Max. "I've been thinking. Since Isabel is having a baby, and Liz...you might be, too. I have a proposition."
"Oh boy," said Michael. "This is going to be one of those ideas that gives me a headache, I can feel it."
"We left a lot behind, both when we left Roswell, and now that we've left our new lives in Bangor as well," said Max. "I think its safe to say we left a lot more behind in Roswell. We haven't heard anything from home in two and a half years. Alex's and Isabel's family don't even know they are about to have a grandchild. It could be the same thing for me and Liz, if she is indeed pregnant."
"Are you saying what I think you are?" asked Alex.
"I think it might be time we made contact with home," said Max. "And, if possible...I think we should go home."
Everyone looked at each other, waiting for one of the others to reply to Max's suggestion. Finally, Michael decided to break the silence.
"So what are we talking about here?" asked Michael. "We go to Roswell, knock on Valenti's door, and say 'Lucy, I'm home'?"
"Actually...yes," said Max. "Exactly that."
"That's nuts," said Maria. "We can't just waltz into Roswell, I mean...what if they are waiting for us to do just that?"
"As much as I sympathize with the idea of going home," said Alex. "I don't want to put Isabel and the baby at risk."
"Neither do I," said Max. "I didn't say we would all go back to Roswell. At least at first."
"I get what you're saying," said Liz. "Some of us could slip back into town, make contact with Valenti, and get the lay of the land before the rest come."
Max smiled. "Damn, I married a smart girl!" he said.
"So, this would be sort of a little reconnaissance mission," said Michael. "Sweet. We could go in under cover of darkness, wake Valenti up. He could give us a sit rep."
"Sit rep?" asked Isabel.
"He's been watching JAG again," said Maria sarcastically.
"That's actually not a bad idea," said Alex. "Going in late at night, you know."
"I say Michael and I should be the ones to go in," said Max. "Alex, you stay with Isabel, Liz, and Maria."
"Wait, why shouldn't I go?" asked Alex.
"Because, I want you hear to look after the girls," said Max. "You've already shown you can handle things if they get rough. And if something does happen to Michael and I...I want Isabel's baby to have its Father. Liz needs to stay to help Isabel with the delivery just in case."
"She has been extremely helpful with me and the baby up to now," said Isabel.
"What about me?" asked Maria.
"The less people going in, the better," said Michael. He came over, and kissed her on her forehead. "I know you want to come, too. But, it would be safe if its just Max and me."
Maria was about to protest, but then closed her eyes and nodded her head in resignation.
"So, are we all in agreement," said Max.
They all nodded.
"Good," said Max. "We'll go together as far as Santa Fe. Then, Michael and I will proceed to Roswell. We leave tomorrow."
End of Chapter Twenty-Seven. Chapter Twenty-Eight coming soon.
Will they be able to go home? What surprises will Max and Michael find waiting for them in Roswell? To find out, don't miss the next installment, coming your way soon. In the meantime, please do keep those reviews coming. I always appreciate any feedback my readers want to give me.