Disclaimer: You know the drill…the characters aren't mine Roswell and all characters belong to Jason Katims, 20th Century Fox etc. I'm just borrowing them.

Rating: PG-13 – possibly to R

Chapter Forty Pulling Together

"I'm serious Liz," said Kyle, struggling to sit up. "Why are we here, in the middle of nowhere, and in the middle of the night? Did we have an accident? Liz, are you okay?"

"Kyle, if you'll just sit back for a second, we'll explain everything," said Max.

"Don't tell me what to do," said Kyle. "Hey, wait a second, you're that freak, Max Evans, aren't you?" Kyle looked closely at Max. "You are, aren't you? I've seen you around school before, with that hulking freak friend of yours. And I've seen you at the CrashDown too, checking out my girl!" Kyle's voice grew louder as he became more agitated. "Is that what happened? You were trying to spy on me and Liz, and you forced us off the road? You're not going to get away with it. Do you have any idea who my father is?"

"Kyle, if you'll shut up for a second, I'll explain everything to you!" Liz shouted over Kyle's voice.

"Liz," whispered Max. "You can't explain the past year and a half to him and expect him to understand. It's almost as if the fall erased everything about us from his memory."

Liz caught her lower lip between her teeth and chewed on it thoughtfully.
"You're right," she said. "Let me handle it though, okay. He seems really resistant to you. Kyle," she said turning to the other boy. "It's not like that. You and I were walking down the path. We came out here to look at the stars for a science project. You slipped and fell. Max was out here working on the same project, and he heard me scream when you fell. He came over to help us."

"Yeah, well, whatever, I'm fine now," said Kyle, glaring at Max.

"How about if you wait and go all Rambo on me AFTER we get you to the top," said Max.

"I don't need your help," said Kyle, struggling to his feet. He stumbled and started to fall back down, but Max grabbed him and held him up.
"Okay, maybe I do need some help," Kyle admitted.

"Liz, why don't you run up to my jeep and grab the flashlight that's in the back seat," said Max. "And try and get a hold of Michael and find out why Kyle was out here," he whispered as she walked past.

Liz quickly scrambled up the path and reached for her cell phone. She dialed Maria's number, with trembling fingers and waited anxiously for Maria to answer.
"Maria!" she yelled.

Liz, did Kyle find you? Maria asked.

"Yeah, but there's a little problem with that," answered Liz. "He fell, and bumped his head. Maria, he doesn't remember anything about Max and the others, and he thinks we're still together."

Oh, we so don't need this, moaned Maria. Listen. Lonnie and Rath are back in town, and they are looking for a certain missing book. Meet us at the granolith, and I'll fill you in.

"The granolith?" asked Liz. "Why?"

I don't know, said Maria. Isabelle just said for us to meet her there. And Liz, be careful.

"You too," said Liz, ending the call. She grabbed the flashlight out of Max's jeep and shined it down the path towards Max and Kyle. Max tightened his arm around Kyle's waist and half led, half carried him up the path. Once they reached the top, Kyle pulled away from Max, resentment filling his face.

"I'm fine," he said. "I can handle it from here. Uh, where's my car?"
Liz took the flashlight and pointed it into the darkness.

"There it is," she said. "Kyle, why don't you give me the keys, and I'll drive. You probably shouldn't get behind the wheel right now."

"Y-yeah," said Kyle, reaching into his pocket for the keys. "That makes sense," he said, handing them to Liz.

"Max, thanks so much for all your help," said Liz. "We're going to head back now."

"Do you want me to follow you, to make sure you make it okay?" asked Max, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, that would be great," said Liz. "Kyle come on, let's get you back to the car." She slipped her arm around Kyle's waist and led him in the direction of his car. She helped him into the passenger seat and waited until he fastened his seatbelt. Once she was sure Kyle was securely buckled in, she moved around the front of the car to the drivers seat and climbed in. She took a minute to fasten her own seat belt, and then she started the car. The engine roared to life, and Liz turned on the lights and began to drive.

Liz watched in the rear view mirror as Max pulled out behind her and followed her at a safe distance down the highway. Liz made small talk with Kyle as they drove down the deserted highway. In the distance, she could see headlights approaching, and she killed her high beams.

The car slowed as it approached them, and Liz was able to see inside the passing vehicle. To her horror, she saw Rath and Lonnie in the car as it passed. Lonnie's eyes locked with hers, and in that second, she felt a shiver reach down into her very core. It felt like everything was moving in slow motion to Liz. She turned her gaze back to the road and stepped on the accelerator. In the rear view mirror, she could see Max's headlights, but she also saw Lonnie and Rath's car slam on its brakes and turn around. Panicked, Liz pressed even harder on the accelerator.

"Liz, Jesus, slow down!" yelled Kyle. "Are you trying to get us killed?"

"I know none of this means anything to you, Kyle, but I'm trying to NOT get us killed," said Liz, through gritted teeth. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel and gave the rear view mirror another check. The other vehicle pulled out and passed Max, and came up behind Kyle's mustang.

"Hold on!" she cried as the car behind them hit their rear bumper. The mustang jerked against the impact, and Liz struggled to keep it on the road.

"What the hell?" shouted Kyle as he was jerked forward by the impact. "Who the frig is back there, and what is their problem?"

"OH, God!" shouted Liz. "Kyle, hold on!" Kyle looked past Liz to see the other car pull along beside them. He looked and looked again, shocked by what he saw.
"Isn't that Max's sister and that freaky friend of his? What the hell are they doing to us, and when did they go punk?"

"Kyle, we so don't have time for this," said Liz. "Look, it's not Michael and Isabelle, but they do look just like them, and they are trouble, big big trouble!" There was a clash of metal as Rath forced the car into Kyle's mustang. Liz struggled to keep the car on the road, but she wasn't strong enough. Rath gave one final shove, and the mustang went off the road, and down a steep embankment."

"Liz!" screamed Max from the jeep as he watched the car go off the road. He pulled off the road and jumped out of the jeep and slid down the embankment.
"Liz! Liz, are you okay?" he yelled. "Kyle? Damn it, Valenti, answer me?"

"Max? Is that you?" he heard Liz's voice call faintly. "Max?"

"Liz? I'm coming!" Max called as he made his way over to the overturned car. He pulled at the driver's door, but it wouldn't open. He held his hand against the lock and concentrated until he heard the lock release. He pulled the door open and found Liz, upside down, but held in place by the seatbelt. He released the safety mechanism and caught Liz in his arms and pulled her from the car.

"Get Kyle," she whispered. "Please Max, get him out."

Max rushed around to the other side of the car and pulled the door open. He quickly pulled Kyle out and dragged him away from the car.

"Max, is he okay?" Liz asked in a tired voice.

"I don't know," said Max. "Wait, be quiet, what's that?" Max stood up and began to make his way up the embankment

"Maxwell? Where are you?" he heard a voice call. Max remained silent, afraid that it wasn't Michael, but Rath, trying to trick him.

"Max! Are you down there?" he heard Maria call. Max smiled and continued his climb.

"I'm coming," he said. "I need your help. Kyle and Liz were in an accident. They were forced off the road."

Michael and Maria scrambled down the embankment, followed by Isabelle, Ava and Alex. The reached the bottom of the gully, and Maria rushed over to Liz and knelt down beside her friend.

"Liz, are you alright? Who did this?"

"It was Rath and Lonnie," said Liz. "They passed us on the road, and turned around and came back. They ran us off the road on purpose."

"Liz!" Kyle's voice rang out into the night. "Liz, where are you?" Maria helped Liz up, and the two made there way over to Kyle.

"I'm right here, Kyle," she said. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I was hit by a truck, but that isn't important. I came to find you and Max. We need to get to the granolith. Lonnie and Rath are in town, and it looks like they're going to cause trouble." Kyle paused and looked around at his surroundings. "Where are we, and what's everybody doing here? I thought we were going to meet at the granolith?"

"Kyle, do you remember anything about the last hour?" asked Ava, kneeling down beside him.

"No, the last thing I remember was being at Alex's house. Why? What happened?"

"I'm going to try something, if it's okay with you," said Ava. Kyle nodded, and Ava closed her eyes and concentrated on Kyle. She focused on his mind, until she found the area that was blocking his memory, and gave it a small nudge. She opened her eyes and smiled.
"Try and remember," she said.

"I left Alex's house, and went to the quarry. I slipped on some loose stones and slid down the path. When I came to, Liz was kneeling beside me, and I, I thought she was my girlfriend. Wow, it was like I totally blocked the past year out of my mind or something. Man, I was a total jackass."

"Don't' worry about it, Kyle," said Liz. "The important thing is that you're alright."

"Forget about me," said Kyle. "What about you, and the baby? Are you two alright?"

"I seem to be okay," said Liz. "And as far as the baby. Well, he still seems to be there hanging on," said Liz. "At least he hasn't sent out any danger signals."

"We need to get out of here," said Max. "They may come back and check out their work. Michael, can you and Alex help Kyle get up the embankment? I'll take Liz. Once we get up to the top, we'll head straight to the granolith."

The group made their way to the top of the embankment as quick as possible. Max strapped Liz into the front seat of his jeep, and Kyle and Ava climbed in the back. Michael and Maria climbed into Alex's car along with Alex and Isabelle, and the two groups sped off into the night toward the granolith.