Note: The character I have been referring to as Val in previous installments is supposed

to be Lonnie. For some reason, I thought she was called Val (short for Valandra), but I

went to www.crashdown.com, and read the transcript of the episode "Meet the Dupes".

That's where I found she was called Lonnie, and I remember that she was now. My

explanation for this mess up is that I haven't seen the episode since it last aired in May,

and I don't have it on tape. My memory was wrong, and I apologize for the resulting

confusion.

*******************************

CHAPTER SIX:

Max, Michael, Maria, Liz, and Kyle, returned to town the next evening, leaving Isabel,

Ava, and Alex, out at the mining cabin. It was decided that most of the group would

return to town for now and be on the lookout for Rath and Lonnie. Alex and Ava had to

stay at the cabin to keep from being seen. Isabel, Max, and Michael, were each going to

rotate times of staying at the cabin with them, to provide for extra assistance just in case

Rath and Lonnie found out where they were hiding. Isabel volunteered to take the first

watch.

Alex lay on a cot in the front room of the cabin, allowing Ava to sleep in the bed he had

been unconscious on for months. He just lay there, staring up at the ceiling, unable to

sleep. Isabel was outside, sitting on a chair in front of the cabin, having gone out there

nearly two hours before. He was trying to giver her space, but decided that he would just

go outside and keep her company.

Isabel looked up at Alex as he came out of the front door, closing it quietly behind him so

as not to wake up Ava. "Couldn't sleep either, huh," said Isabel.

"Well, since I was unconscious for seven months, I think I've got some sleep time to

spare," he said.

Isabel shivered a little bit, so Alex took off the blanket he had wrapped around him and

wrapped it over Isabel. "I have a coat, Alex, I'm okay," she said.

"Now, now, don't play tough with me," said Alex. "Its freezing out here."

"Aren't you cold?" asked Isabel.

"A little," said Alex. "But remember, I went to 'Sweden', where I got used to cold

weather."

"I'll say this for Tess, she was thorough," said Isabel. "God, she had me so fooled."

"Izzy, she had everyone fooled," said Alex.

Isabel looked pointedly at him. "I haven't heard anyone call me that in a while," said

Isabel. "Of course, you were the only one who really called me Izzy. Max did,

sometimes, but when he says it, he just says it….differently, somehow."

"Speaking of Tess," said Alex. "Just out of curiosity, how DID she end up pregnant with

Max's child?"

Isabel smiled at him. "Do I really need to explain the birds and the bees to you, Alex?"

she asked.

"I know how they DID IT," said Alex, with a chuckle. "I mean…I know Tess and Max

kissed at prom, but I didn't think it would go that far that soon. I mean, he and Liz, when

they were together, never even…"

"Yeah, well, I wasn't really around much for the specifics," said Isabel. "I knew they had

gotten close, but I really wasn't seeing Max at that time. He kind of pushed me away

from him. Everyone, for that matter. Liz was hell bent on finding your killer, and he was

hell bent on holding onto the belief you weren't murdered."

"What about you?" asked Alex. "What did Max do to push you away?"

"He and I had a disagreement about my future," said Isabel. "I was considering going

away to college. I just…I had to get out of this town. I needed a change. But Max

ordered me not to go. I was going to apply to a University in San Francisco anyway, but

then Max threatened to tell my parents I was on drugs or something, to keep me from…"

"I can't believe he threatened you!" said Alex. "How could he…"

"I'm convinced now it was more Tess' influence than anything else," said Isabel. "She

found him weakened after you died, and used it as an opportunity to wrap him around her

little finger."

"Yeah, I guess so," said Alex. "So, you ultimately decided to go to college locally."

"Yes," she said. "When I thought I was going to have to leave for Antar with Max,

Michael, and Tess, I finally realized that the only home I know is Roswell. My Mom and

Dad are here. My family is here. I just didn't want to go after that."

"I know what you mean," said Alex. "I miss home, myself."

Isabel got up from her chair and put her arms around Alex. "We'll figure out a way for

you to go home again," she said. "I promise you that."

"I wonder if I really can go home again," said Alex. "I mean, everything…everyone has

changed, gone on with their lives. Do I even still have a place in what I know as home?"

"Yes, Alex, you do," said Isabel. "You always will."

They looked at each other silently, Isabel's arms still around Alex. He reached up and

wrapped his arms around her as well. The two of them continued to stand there, arms

around each other, eyes locked on one another, searching for an answer to the unspoken

question that stood between them. Could they really go back?

Isabel's cell phone rang. The sound brought her thoughts back to reality, and she gently

withdrew from Alex's embrace. Taking out the cell phone from her pocket, she answered

it with a quiet "hello."

"Isabel," said a voice on the phone. "Its Jesse."

"Oh….hi," said Isabel, turning away from Alex, as if it was somehow shameful for her to

be talking to Jesse in front of him. "What's up?"

"What's UP?" asked Jesse. "Isabel, we were supposed to have dinner. I waited for three

hours…"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I just," began Isabel. What should she tell him? "An old friend came to

town, and it was…kind of unexpected. My friend really needs help right now. Its kind of

hard to explain. Look, I am SO sorry."

"Its okay," said Jesse. "I was worried about you, though. I saw Max in town this

evening, so I know he's back. Does that mean you are going to tell him and your parents

about us now?"

"Can we talk about this tomorrow?" asked Isabel. "I know I sound like I'm giving you a

brush off, but I just…I really need some time right now. And its late."

"Okay," said Jesse. "Meet me for lunch tomorrow?"

"Late lunch," said Isabel. "Two o'clock?"

"Fine," said Jesse. "Goodnight. I love you."

"Goodnight," Isabel replied, hanging up the phone.

"Somehow I know who that was," said Alex.

Isabel turned and looked at him. She had a look of guilt on her face, and didn't reply at

first. Finally, she just went and sat back down in the chair.

"Isabel," said Alex.

"Not now, please," said Isabel. "I need time."

Alex nodded his head. "I understand."

Isabel's cell phone rang again. She reached into her pocket and answered it.

"Hello," she said.

"Isabel," said Max's voice. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, why," said Isabel.

"You just sounded…weird, just now, when you answered the phone," said Max.

"I'm fine," said Isabel. "Now, what's up?"

"We think Rath and Lonnie might be in town," said Max. "Maria spoke to her Mom,

who said Michael stopped by looking for her. But Michael was with us at the cabin when

Mrs. Deluca said he stopped by."

"It must have been Rath," said Isabel. "You think they were looking for us?"

"They must have been," said Max. "We're going to ask around, see if anyone else saw

Michael or you while we were all out at the cabin. They shouldn't know where you are,

but keep your heads up anyway."

"Will do," said Isabel.

**

Ava was walking down the streets of New York, taking in the scenery of the city she had

grown up in. Even though she knew she was dreaming, it was still nice to go home

again, even if was only in her dreams. As she walked down the street, she saw a familiar

person walk towards her. She jumped and let out a little scream of joy, and ran into her

lover's waiting arms.

"Zahn!" she yelled, as her lover took her in his arms.

"Hey, baby," said Zahn.

"You're supposed to be dead," said Ava.

"Don't let it get you down, baby," said Zahn. "I'm always alive in your mind."

"I don't think so," said another voice.

Ava turned and saw Lonnie walking towards her. "Bye, bye, bro," said Lonnie, as she

threw her hand up towards the image of Zahn, and made him disappear.

"Val!" said Ava. "What are you…"

Val put her arm around Tess' shoulders. "We've got to talk, babe," said Lonnie. She led

her down the street, and into a dark alley. Ava felt that something wasn't right here, and

tried to break away.

"Where you goin?!" said Lonnie. "I said we need to talk!"

"What about?" asked Ava. "Leave me alone!"

"Not 'till you tell me where the other Royal Four are," said Lonnie. "And where you are.

Where you been?"

"Nowhere," said Ava. "And how should I know where our doubles are?"

Lonnie chuckled. "Sweetie, I know better," said Lonnie, in a condescending manner. "I

bet you ran straight to that hick town, to them, to get their help after Rath and I did a

number on you in the city. Now, where are they?"

A look of realization passed over Ava's face. She figured out what was going on.

"You're dream walking me, aren't you?" asked Ava.

"That's right," said Lonnie. "You aint safe anywhere, because wherever you go, I will

still get in your mind. Now, you better tell me what I want to know, or I'll turn Freddy

Krueger on you and let him slice and dice your mind."

"Freddy Krueger," said Ava. "What are you talking about?"

Just then, Ava felt something, some pull on her. She felt weak, too weak to stand.

Collapsing to the ground, she clutched her head with her hands and screamed.

"What's going on here?!" screamed Ava. "You…you can't…"

"I can, baby," said Lonnie. "You see, I got some help from a friend. He's givin me a

boost of dream power so I can look right into your mind, and see what I want to see.

Your gonna give up the goods. Question is whether or not your brain is gonna be mush

when we're done with you?"

***

Alex and Isabel both heard Ava scream inside of the cabin. They dashed in through the

front door and ran into the backroom. When they got there, they found Ava unconscious

on the bed. Alex bent down next to her and felt for her pulse.

"She's alive," said Alex. "But I don't think she's just sleeping."

"What the hell could have happened?" asked Isabel.

"I don't know," said Alex. "But she needs help. We need Max."

"I'll call him," said Isabel.

End of Chapter Six. Chapter Seven coming soon.

What's going to happen next? You'll have to be on the lookout for Chapter Seven to find

out. In the meantime, feedback is always appreciated, so post a review if you would like

to provide some. Thank you.