CHAPTER 7 (Cars and a dome)
Back at the hotel
Maria was leaning against the jeep with Alex as Max fixed the Jetta. It was decided that there was no point going back to Roswell now, they might as well just go to Marathon and get it over with. "So who drives with who?" Isabel asked as she stood beside Michael.
Max looked around at everyone and said, "Ok, umm, well I can take Liz and Maria"
"No," Max looked at Alex with confusion. "Hey, I'm not letting her out of my sight again after tonight" he motioned to Maria who rolled her eyes, "And I'm not riding with the two of you either.
Max shrugged. "Fine, I'll take Liz, Michael you take Isabel and Kyle can—"
"I can take Maria and Alex" Michael suggested. Even though he had been cold to her before he still wanted to be with her, and if she was not in the same car as him then his quest would become harder.
Maria shook her head. "No we'll go with Kyle" she walked over to the mustang and got in. Alex turned to Michael with a smug grin then turned serious.
"Whatever your hoping to achieve with Maria forget it, I won't let you hurt her." With that he turned and got in the passenger side. Max just looked confused over the whole situation. When Alex sat down he furrowed his brow in confusion. 'Where did that come from' he thought to himself, just before he was thinking that maybe it was a good idea for Maria to be with Michael, but out of nowhere this sudden feeling of possessiveness overcame him. The only thought going through his head was that Maria was his, and his only.
Michael stood there frozen, what the hell was that about? Did Alex have feelings for Maria? No he couldn't they were just friends, but if he did then it would crush Isabel, Michael knew that his sister liked Alex, but he was sure that they were just friends. Maria herself had described Alex, as a brother, 'Just me and my brothers' were her exact words. Maybe Alex just meant that he didn't want him to hurt his family, sure that was it that had to be it, Alex couldn't have feelings for Maria.
As they started driving Maria sat in the back of the car thinking about what had happened with Michael. They had kissed, twice and both times were amazing. She could no longer deny that she felt something for Michael, she was sure she was slowly falling for him. But she couldn't, she had made a pact with Alex and Max not to get involved, and she sure as hell wasn't going to be the one who broke it, no matter how good it felt to be in Michael's strong warm arms.
Alex looked behind him and noticed that Maria had a sad look on her face. He wondered why and what exactly happened in that room before they had gotten there, they were in the same bed after all, but no Maria wouldn't, she made a pact and out of all of them Maria was the most loyal, she wouldn't become attached, he knew it.
They came to a screeching halt; Maria braced herself on the back of Kyle's seat. "KYLE" she screamed.
Kyle blushed. "Sorry the brakes kinda suck"
Maria shook her head and got out of the car. What stood before her was the dome that had made itself present in her visions. "Oh my god, this is it, this is the place."
Maria started to walk forward with the rest following behind. Once they reached the door Max unlocked it with his powers. They all walked inside and started to look around. "Looks like someone's already been here" Liz commented
Maria rolled her eyes. "Really you think so?" she asked sarcastically making Alex and Kyle chuckle. They started to look around; Maria went over to a far wall. "Damn it, there's nothing here" she yelled in frustration.
"Maybe if you concentrate you can get a flash or something" Alex suggested.
Maria nodded then tried. She closed her eyes and furrowed her brow. Michael looked on as she did this; he thought that the expression she wore was adorable. Maria opened her eyes and shook her head. "There's no use, I can't do it."
Michael walked over to Maria and took her hand in his. Maria looked down at the intertwined hands in confusion. "Try again" was all he said. Maria nodded. Alex looked at the two and shook his head. Yep something definitely happened in the motel. Maria gasped as she came to. "There's a room, a hidden room somewhere"
Everyone started to look around. Alex moved his hand over a rocky wall and pulled one away where he noticed a lock. He waved his hand over it and a door rose from the floor. "Guys look" he pointed to the floor. He walked over to it and walked down the stairs with the others following. They started to look around when all of a sudden they heard footsteps.
Upstairs
Jim looked around the dome noticing that someone had already been here. He tried looking for clues, anything, something. He knew that his son was here somewhere because he saw his car outside but it looked as though he wasn't. As he continued to look around he heard footsteps behind him, he went to turn but before he cold he was hit over the head by a large object. Darkness became his sight.
Downstairs
"Oh my god, what was that?" Liz whispered.
Alex started to put some papers in a box. "I don't know but help me out here, grab hat you can, whoever it is, is not going to get this stuff before I can look at it." As the others grabbed papers Maria walked over to a shiny object that had attracted her attention. A necklace, it was a necklace with a symbol. She looked closer and realised that she knew this, but how?
Liz walked over to a sewer drain where she witnessed a rat crawl through. "Guys look, I know a way out." They all started to follow her out, Maria just stood where she found the necklace.
"Maria, come on Maria we have to leave, oh god there coming" Max said as her heard the door open. Maria came out of her state and ran into the drain following Max. When the got outside they all ran into whatever car they could. Max, Liz and Isabel were in the jeep, Kyle and Alex were in the mustang and Michael and Maria were in the jetta. As they drove off Topolsky, there supposed school guidance counsellor popped her head out.
"Damn it" she yelled. She had been following the Evan's kids and the Whitman boy for a while, so far they hadn't seen her as anything but a guidance counsellor which was good but none of them had slipped up yet, she had no proof that these three were aliens.
"Shit that was close" Maria panted as she rested her head on the back of the seat.
Michael nodded. "Yeah it was, so do you think anything we grabbed was important?"
Maria played with the necklace around her neck; she knew that it had some significance but what? "Um I don't know, I hope so, it was the first link we had to finding out where we came from. I mean, there has to be something, I didn't have a vision for nothing"
"Well what if it's nothing, what will you do?" he asked. He was kind of hoping that they hadn't found anything. He knew it was mean but he didn't want anything to take Maria away from him.
Mara shrugged "Then we keep looking I guess."
Michael nodded feeling a little disappointed. She wouldn't stop until she found something, something that would make her leave him. As they continued driving he glanced at her profile. "Maria, about what happened back at the---"
She cut him off. "Just forget it Michael, I told you we can't be anything, I can't get involved." She sighed. He would never know how much it hurt her to say those things to him. She wanted nothing more than to pursue something with him, she felt sparks when she kissed him, she felt alive. But she couldn't be with him she had to be Teflon. Being who she was would inevitably come between them anyway. She was afraid, afraid to get to close in fear of never being able to leave, and she knew she had to, she wanted to. It's all she's ever wanted, a place to belong, a family. But then why does it all feel like a lie? Like when she thinks about it, it doesn't seem right. She wanted to leave earth, she wanted to find home, didn't she?
Michael sighed. This was going to be harder than he thought, he needed to convince her that they were meant to be, he needed to make her see that she could have a home here with him, that he loved her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Max walked in Maria's room to find her looking through a photo album. Ever since they had gotten back she had become silent and somewhat sad. He didn't know what to make of it. Him and Alex had a talk before about Maria. Alex thought that something had happened in the motel before they got there, Max would kill Michael if he hurt his baby sister.
"Maria?"
Maria looked up at Max startled. She grabbed a photo and dragged Max into the living room. "Max look at this" she gave him the necklace she found.
"What is it?" he asked
"I found this at the dome, see that symbol Max, it means something. It's familiar isn't it?" When Max nodded she continued. "Well I knew I had seen it somewhere so I went looking through our old photos and I found this." She held up a photo of herself and Max as children drawing the symbol in the sand. "Do you remember that day? We were in California visiting Aunt Edna and mom and dad took us to the beach"
Max nodded. "Yeah we begged them for hours to take us. Things were so much easier then. I miss them" he smiled sadly.
"I miss them too Max, but the symbol, we drew the symbol." Maria said after a moment.
Max looked at the necklace again. "It means something, maybe something from our planet. We'll talk about it later we have to get Alex's he wants to go through the files."
As they drove up the street to Alex's they noticed a few police cars out front. They jumped out of the jeep and ran up to Alex. Maria hugged him. "Alex, what's going on are you ok?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah but someone broke into our house, mom said it was while we were at school. I went to my room and the box was gone, we weren't robbed, they wanted the box, the house looks like they were looking for something specific."
Maria gasped. "The box is gone? Shit now what?"
Alex shrugged, just then a police officer walked up. "Alex, where were you before you came here?"
"I was at school, why?" Alex wondered
"Oh just procedure, I had to ask." The officer smiled at Maria then looked at her necklace. "That's interesting where did yo find it?"
Maria toyed with the necklace, "Um a friend gave it to me why?"
"It's just I haven't seen anything like that since I left the reservation a while back" he told her.
Maria looked at Max and Alex. "Ah, what reservation?"
"Mesaliko Reservation, it's just outside of Roswell well I have to go we'll do our best to catch whoever did this" the officer turned and walked away.
"Let's go to the Crashdown and talk" Max said as they all got into the jeep.
Crashdown
Kyle walked in the Crashdown and headed for Liz pulling her towards the backroom. "Kyle what's this all about?"
"I just want you to know that I'm ok with us breaking up" he told her.
Liz looked at him weirdly. "Ok Kyle, um that's great"
Kyle smiled. "Yeah so you can pursue Max or whoever now, I won't get jealous or anything."
Liz looked at him with confusion. "Kyle what's going on?"
Kyle shook his head. "Nothing just letting you know, that and I don't want Max to like zap my balls off or anything over you"
Liz gasped, "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked angrily.
'That your not worth it' he thought but aloud said "Nothing, I'm cool with you wanting Max, go for it"
Liz smiled. "Thanks Kyle, you're a good person" she went out to start taking orders.
Kyle took a long breath. "Finally I can start going after Vicki without Liz thinking it's a rebound or anything. Michael was right. Why did I ever go out with her?" he said as he went to join his friend at a booth. "Hey man so what happened between you and Deluca?"
Michael rolled his eyes. "Nothing, we made out, I moaned, she moaned but then told me to forget it. End of story."
Kyle sook his head and stared at his friend wide-eyed. "Whoa, hold up, go back to the make out part"
"We started talking then I kissed her then you know it began to progress then she pushed me away and gave some bullshit reason as to why we can't be together." Michael said frustrated.
"Tough break man, so you gonna forget about her or what?" he asked well knowing that there way no way that Michael would stop lusting after Maria, not after years of crushing on her.
"No way, I just need to try harder at getting her to see that she and I are made for each other." Michael glanced at the door as it opened.
Kyle leaned in. "Well now's your chance." Michael glared at him as Maria, Alex and Max walked over to them.
"Hey we all need to talk" Max said. Maria shook her head. She didn't understand why Max felt the need to include them in everything; it was between them three, not the seven of them.
Alex put his hand around Maria's shoulder in a comforting way. He knew that she was pissed; Max had said that the others needed to know. Why was beyond him but Max said it was for the best. They had agreed to no secrets and Maria was even more pissed at that. But Alex couldn't blame her. This had nothing to do with them. "Let's go to the break room"
Liz called Isabel to tell her to come down, they all waited until she got there. She saw the necklace around Maria's neck. "Wow, that's pretty."
Maria nodded then started to tell them about the necklace and the Reservation. "I know where it is," Isabel suddenly said. "I go there sometimes, they have cool jewellery"
Michael rolled his eyes. His sister and jewellery, he never understood the fascination with things like that. Must be a chick thing.
Maria looked at Max. "No Maria we can't go out there, what if it's dangerous"
Maria shook her head. Not again. "Max we have to, it's a link."
Before a fight could erupt between the two Isabel stepped in. "I'll go" the others looked at her in confusion. Wasn't she afraid of them? "Look, they know me over there so it won't be all that strange if I turn up, I'll just ask about the necklace and come back."
"No, I won't let you Iz, like Max said what if it's dangerous they have powers to protect them at least" Michael cut in
"It could work" Alex said from the couch. They all looked at him. "Look if they know her it won't be suspicious. All she has to do is ask then leave, if she senses trouble then she can call us on her cell." Isabel nodded. "I trust her" Alex smiled at Isabel who blushed and smiled shyly back.
"So when do I leave?" she asked
"Now I guess, just be careful ok. If something goes wrong call us" Max said as he gave her the necklace. Isabel headed for the door when Michael stopped her.
"You don't have to do this"
Isabel nodded. "I know but I want to, you would for her" she motioned to Maria who was talking to Max. "Just like I am for him," she said looking at Alex. "If whatever this is helps them then I'll do it, I'll be careful I promise" with that he pulled her in a hug.
"Just remember to leave if you sense anything bad ok," he whispered before letting her go.
Alex walked up to him and patted his shoulder. "She'll be ok"
Michael nodded then went to sit down. He wouldn't be ok until his sister came back unharmed.
A few hours later Isabel walked in the Crashdown. Michael rushed up to her. "You ok?"
She smiled. "Yeah I'm fine." She turned to the others. "I couldn't find out anything. But this one guy saw it and seemed to act strangely, I think his name was River dog."
Maria sat down in a huff. "Great another dead end, just fucking great"
Isabel looked apologetically at Alex who smiled in thanks. She walked back over to the counter. A man tapped her shoulder and she turned recognising him as the man from the reservation. He handed her a piece of the necklace that had been missing from the original. "Come to the reservation tonight, come alone" he said then left. She rushed over to the booth.
"Who was that?" Maria asked
Isabel placed the part on the table and explained. "I'll go with you" Alex said
"He told me to go alone," Isabel argued
"I'm not letting you go alone, I'll go as well after all it is about us," Alex snapped.
Isabel sighed. "Fine, we'll leave soon, it takes awhile to get there" Alex nodded and watched as she went to get changed.
"You guys wait for us here, we'll come as soon as we get some answers" They all nodded as Alex and Isabel walked to the door. Maria ran after Alex. "What?"
"Just be careful ok. I can't lose you, leave if—"
Alex cut her off with a hug. "Anything is wrong, yeah I got it. I'll be fine, just find something to occupy yourself with" he motioned to Michael. "Or someone" he laughed and ran outside as Maria was about to hit him. She laughed and rolled her eyes then went to sit by Kyle.
2 hours had passed and they hadn't heard a word yet.
"Something's happened I know it" Maria said as she started pacing. Max looked at her and noticed how worried she looked. "They've had an accident or something, why hasn't Alex called, we have to go out there"
Max walked over to her. "Maria calm down, I'm sure there fine. Alex said he'd call if something bad had happened. Just wait ok, there fine."
Maria nodded but kept glancing at the doors. Keep busy, that's what she needed to do. She noticed a tub of sugar and some empty containers on the counter so she went to fill them. Sure she was doing Liz a favour but at that moment she didn't care, she just needed to stay busy.
Max shook his head as he watched her. He too was worried. He decided to go to the back to rest for a while. Liz followed him. "Hi Max, so um what are you doing?"
"Resting, I'm just tired," he told her. Liz nodded.
"So um do you think about me?" she asked startling him.
"Um well, I mean sometimes yes, why?" he stuttered
"Well it's just that Kyle said it was ok if I be with you and I just wanted you to know" Max nodded but then looked at her sadly.
"We can't be together Liz, we made a pact not to get involved and I'm going along with it, no matter how much I don't want to"
Back out front Kyle watched on with amusement as Michael tried his hardest not to look at Maria. "God man, just go over there"
Michael shook his head. "No dude, I wouldn't know what to say"
Kyle rolled his eyes. "Just try and calm her down or something, she looks like she needs it" he looked over to find Maria pour some Tabasco sauce on a piece of chocolate cake. "Now that's disgusting, I'm gonna go bug Max and Liz"
Michael laughed as he watched Kyle go into the back room. He got up and walked over to Maria. "Hey what's with the Tabasco?"
Maria looked up not noticing how close he was. She could feel the heat of his skin. She moved away a little. "Sweet and spicy"
Michael looked confused "Sweet and spicy?"
She nodded. "Yeah we like things sweet and spicy, if we don't add Tabasco to things then everything tastes to bland. We have to even it out." Michael just grimaced at the thought. He watched as she ate some of the cake. She saw him watching her. "Want some?" Michael made a face and she smiled. "Thought so"
A few minutes went past and Maria had started to pace again. "That's it we have to go"
"Maria calm down, like Max said there probably fine, maybe on there way back even" he said trying to calm her worries.
"I've lost to many people in my life I can't lose Alex, what if they had an accident?"
Michael shuddered. He was just as worried as her, his sister was out there, but he couldn't think like that and neither could she. They had to be positive. "Maria they are fine."
Maria sighed loudly. "Just saying there fine doesn't make it true, god I just wish that, that I don't know do something"
Michael looked at her strangely. "Do what?"
"I don't know, something to make me feel calm, make me feel as though everything will be alright." She said softly. She turned and went to the window knowing it was useless; nothing was going to calm her. Not until Alex came back.
Michael walked over to her and swung her around to face him. He then crushed his lips with hers. He plunged his tongue into her mouth and she accepted it massaging hers with his. She moaned and steadied herself on his chest. Ok maybe trying to calm her down wasn't useless.
Michael moaned as she touched his chest. He didn't know what possessed him to kiss her, she just looked so worried and lost, and he wanted to make her feel better. He pulled away when air became necessary. Maria let go of him and looked up at him questionably. "That was to calm you down"
"Thanks" Maria replied then walked off into the back room.
Michael hit his head on the wall. 'That was to calm you down, you idiot, why of all things did you go and say that?' Michael's mental scolding was cut short when Alex and Isabel came through the door.
Maria ran through the door and straight to Alex. "Where the hell have you been?" she yelled
Alex rolled his eyes. "Sorry it took a little longer that we thought but we talked to River dog and we found a few things out." They all sat down as Alex explained about the writings on the cave walls, all of the symbols and about Necado.
Maria gasped. "There are more of us?"
Alex shrugged. "I'm not sure, but River dog said that there was definitely at least one, Necado, but he hasn't seen him since."
Maria jumped out of her seat excitedly. "We have to go back there now, I want to see, to learn more"
Alex shook his head. "We can't, River dog said that there wasn't anymore to tell, and not to come back. But on the way back here I drew the symbols, see here." He gave the paper to Max. Maria just stood looking angry. She wanted to go; she knew she should have gone. "Maria—" Alex started. Maria just raised her hand telling Alex to stop.
She took a breath and walked outside. Michael followed her. "Maria"
"Go back inside Michael I want to be alone" she snapped.
"God what is your problem, you were just given some answers or at least some clues about your past and yet your pissed off. I don't get you" Michael yelled
Maria turned and spoke evenly. "You don't understand, you never will." With that she went to the jeep and drove off. Max came outside and stood beside Michael.
"She's just upset because she wasn't the one to go, you have to understand, finding home was Maria's thing. That's the only thing she cares about, well ever since our parents…" Max trailed off the memory to painful.
"I just want to help her," Michael said softly.
"I know but, look just let her calm down ok. She's just angry right now; she'll get over it. You really like her don't you" Max stated rather than asked
Michael nodded. "Yeah I do"
Max looked at him long and hard. "Just don't get in too deep. Maria's not one to show her emotions well."
Michael sighed as Max walked back inside. "Too late"
