Part 3

It didn't strike Liz what all of this meant until she had made it to the terminal and sat down on one of the chairs in the departure lounge. Once she had managed to sit down it finally came slamming down that Alex was killed by an alien. He had died because of the secrets he was keeping to protect them all.

It was with this thought that the tears had begun to flow. She didn't care if she broke down in the middle of the airport with hundreds of people around her; she just needed to finally let it all out. Even though Liz was the one pressing to find evidence that aliens had killed Alex, she couldn't believe how much she had been secretly hoping that she would be wrong. And to find out that she had been right all along…well it made her question whether all of this had been worth it. Whether it wouldn't have been better to have died herself that day at the Crash Down than to have to go through this.

Liz knew she was being selfish, wanting to put her friends and family what she was going through now, while she escaped with death, but right now she didn't want to think about anyone but herself. She felt responsible for all of this. She felt responsible for exposing the alien, for bringing the FBI on their tail…for Alex's death.

What was she to do now? Who does she track down now? How does she get her mind off the truth now? Those were the questions to which Liz had no answer. She was basically lost. She couldn't go back to her friends, as they didn't believe her in the first place. Liz rocked herself back and forth, clutching her backpack in front of her, as if it would ward off all her pain. She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice the woman when she came and stood before her.

"Liz Parker?" she asked softly.

Liz looked up slowly at the sound of her voice, wondering whom it was that knew her name. She looked up into the face of a pretty girl, a few years older than her. Her platinum blond hair fell sleekly past her shoulders and her eyes shone a brilliant green, that reminded Liz so much of Maria. Liz gasped slightly when she recognized her. Liz stood up, anger and confusion coursing through her.

"You!" Liz yelled, attracting a few people's stares her way. "What are you doing here?"

"Liz, I have come to take you." Leanna said softly. She held out her hand to her but Liz ignored it as she jumped back.

"How do you know who I am?" she asked sharply. "Did you get it out of Alex before you killed him?"

"Liz, you have to listen…" she began but Liz cut her off.

"Why?" she asked snidely. "So you can lure me into a trap and kill me too?"

"I did not kill Alex." Leanna replied pleadingly.

"You expect me to believe you?" Liz asked, but she was a little taken aback by her pleading manner.

"Liz, I know I am the last person you think you should trust, but believe me I am here to help you." Leanna replied. She held out her hand again. "Take my hand, Liz. We have to leave."

Liz looked unsurely at her and then at her hand. She was confused. She didn't know whether she should go with her or not. The only thing Liz knew for sure was that she didn't trust her, not one bit. But if she had wanted to kill her she could have done so at any time.

Maybe she wants to go someplace where no one can find us. Liz thought. Liz bit her lip, sucking it. It was a nervous habit she had developed and which she I promised herself she would try and get rid off.

"Why are you here?" Liz asked finally.

Leanna looked distraught. She looked about the place and ran her hands through her hair. She looked back at Liz hesitantly.

"I can't tell you…not yet anyway." She replied.

"You really expect me to follow you to- to-wherever it is you want to take me?" Liz asked angrily. "How dumb do you think I am? I know what you did and what you want!"

Leanna looked at her with resignment, as if she knew that this would be the only way. "Alex is alive." She whispered.

Liz grabbed on to hold on to something when she heard that. The room began to spin and her head felt as if it would explode. It couldn't be! I saw him dead! I saw that car crash. I was there when they buried him. It could just not be true! Liz shook her head in silent denial.

"I saw him. I saw his coffin; I saw his body…" she whispered to Leanna, her eyes wide with denial and fright. "You're lying! You'll do anything to get me to come with you!" she spat out but tears were streaming down her face as she said that.

"I'm not lying. Alex is alive. He isn't dead." Leanna answered softly.

"How do you expect me to believe that?" Liz asked shakily. "Why should I believe that?"

"Because it's the truth." She replied with such conviction that Liz paused. She hurried on. "Please Liz… I know you don't trust me but I am here to help you. You must come with me." Leanna told her.

When she didn't move Leanna touched her shoulder gently. She paused to see if Liz would jerk away but she didn't. Her head was swimming with all the possibilities that Leanna's news opened.

"I promise you that I am not lying. Alex is alive. At this moment there is only one thing you can do: trust me and come with me."

Liz finally looked up into her eyes, her own eyes hard and unflinching. She looked at Leanna searchingly but coldly. Liz removed Leanna's hand from her shoulder and stepped back. She picked up her backpack from the floor, having made up her mind.

"I see no other way to find out what happened than to go with you." she replied stonily. Leanna began to smile but her next words put a stop to it. "But that doesn't mean I trust you."

Leanna nodded sadly before leading Liz out of the airport.

TBC…