CHAPTER 11

Serena opened the door to her small apartment and walked the short distance to her bed and collapsed on top of the covers, fully clothed. It had been a long day. They had been following leads for weeks now and nothing. Tess had gone through a phase where she would find jobs for everyone and lead the search for her son, but now, as the weeks rolled on she was becoming convinced that Josh was dead and she would become hysterical. She needed to be sedated most nights now. Max didn't seem to sleep at all - he tirelessly went out all day everyday driving halfway across the country and back, following every lead. Kyle and Jim Valenti were heading up the police search but still hadn't come up with anything. Serena had stopped by Kyle's office a few times and she could see that he had been crying.

Since the day at the motel, Serena had tried her best to avoid Michael. It broke her heart every time she saw him with Maria, saw the way he looked at her, the way he touched her.

Serena raised her head slightly as a familiar figure stepped out of her small bathroom, wearing only his Homer Simpson boxers. She had to admit, Rohan made a fine looking human. He was 5'10" and extremely well built - his floppy blonde hair and brown puppy eyes made him look so innocent.

"Hard day at the office, honey?" Rohan offered her a small smile and sat down on the bed next to her. Serena turned over on her stomach as Rohan began to massage her shoulders and back.

"We're coming up with nothing Rohan" she groaned as he put pressure on a knot in her lower back.

"It'll be ok, Ser. We'll find him, we just have to keep looking. I'd know if he was dead - I'd feel it. Although it's really starting to take its toll on Mekhi, have you noticed?"

Serena agreed, her mentor looked terrible lately. "He looks like he's aged 10 years in a matter of weeks. I'm worried about him."

Rohan finished the massage and lay down next to Serena. He brushed a lock of hair away from her face and traced his thumb along her jaw.

"I love you" Rohan whispered as he kissed her sweet lips.

Serena smiled and closed her eyes. She couldn't return the sentiment and he knew that. Rohan turned and lay on his back * Maybe one day she'll say it back * he thought.

As he closed his eyes, he was suddenly hit with one of his visions. He could see Josh sitting in the middle of a room, legs crossed and eyes closed in concentration. Rohan was in the room himself and Josh looked directly at him, his eyes hopeful. Then everything went black and Rohan woke with a start back on Serena's bed.

"Ro, what did you see?" Serena knew he had had a vision.

Rohan looked dazed for a second and then dived for the phone beside the bed. He dialled Max's number.

"Hello?" a weary voice answered.

"Max! It's Rohan, I just had a vision! Don't ask any questions yet, just connect with him Max, reach out to him NOW! Just do it! I'm on my way over!" Rohan slammed down the phone and began to dress quickly. He looked at his lover who was still sitting on the bed a bewildered expression on her face.

"Call the others. Josh is alive."

At the Evans' Max had jumped away from the table and began to concentrate as hard as he could, trying to reach out to his son.

* Josh, where are you son? Please hear me! *

* Dad? Is that you? *

Max breathed a sigh of belief and smiled when he heard his son's voice in his head.

* Josh! It's Daddy, are you ok? *

* Yeah Daddy, I'm ok. I don't know where I am and there's two men. They're gonna hurt you guys . . . they wanna hurt you and mommy and Michael and Isabel! *

* Josh it's ok, we're going to find you, I promise! No one is going to hurt us and NOBODY is going to hurt you ok? *

* Daddy, one of the men, his name is Jez and he said I'm going to Antar. Dad, where's Antar? *

* Joshua, did they say when they were taking you or how? *

* No they didn't. Dad, I have to go - they're coming. Jez sounds angry. Please find me Daddy! *

* Josh wait! I love you son! * Max didn't get an answer.

Max leaned his head forward and rested it against the edge of the coffee table. Then he began to cry. Once he started he couldn't stop, the sobs were uncontrollable.

Liz stepped out from the bedroom and was startled to see her husband sitting on the floor crying. The only time Liz had seen Max cry was the night Josh went missing.

"Max? Oh my god, Max, are you ok?" Liz rushed to his side.

"He's alive, Liz. I talked to him - Josh is alive!"