Disclaimer: You know the drill…the characters aren't mine. A lot of stuff in the beginning is taken from End of the World. God knows THAT'S not mine. Anything that makes sense and makes it all better, now that's mine. Seriously, Roswell and all characters belong to Jason Katims, 20th Century Fox etc. I'm just borrowing them

Author's Note: I promise, I'll try really hard not to steal any more lousy dialogue from the show

Chapter Sixty – Six Conflict and Chaos

"This is killing me, Maria," Liz said through clenched teeth.

"Try not to think about it Liz," said Maria. "Try to pretend it isn't really happening, because when you think about it, it really isn't."

"What?" said Liz. "Maria, I so don't get you some times." She turned her back and reached into her locker and pulled out her chemistry book.

"It's simple, Liz. What we're seeing; it isn't real. Max isn't really with Tess. It's like he's an actor, playing a part. We all are."

"Yeah, well, Max is making his part seem a little too realistic if you ask me," Liz said darkly. "Look at them over there. God, if she were any closer to him, she'd be inside his jeans."

"Liz!" Maria cried. "I can't believe you just said that."

"Why not, it's true. Anyhow, I've got to go do my thing. I'll see you later." She slammed the locker door shut and walked towards Max and Tess.

"Hi Liz," said Tess, with a smirk on her face. She reached down and slipped her hand into Max's.

"Yeah, hi, Tess," said Liz. "Look, Max. I need to talk to you. It's about Alex."

"Liz, there's nothing left to talk about. He killed himself. I know you don't want to accept it, but it's the truth. All the evidence points to it."

"Yeah, well, all the evidence was wrong!" shouted Liz. "Why can't you see that?"

"And why can't you accept the fact that Alex killed himself!" Max shouted back. "I hate it Liz, I really do, but we have to face the facts. Alex committed suicide."

"You're wrong, Max. Alex is dead, but he didn't kill himself, he was killed, and it was by one of your kind."

"Liz!" shouted Max. He dropped Tess' hand and grabbed Liz by the arm and yanked her into an empty classroom.

"Great job," he whispered.

"Thanks," Liz whispered back. "Ready for some more?"

Max nodded, and Liz started yelling at the top of her lungs about Alex and being murdered.

"Liz, you're hysterical," said Max. "You need to calm down. You're not helping anybody acting this way."

"I'm not going to calm down!" shouted Liz. "What I'm going to do is find the proof that Alex was killed by aliens!" She pulled away from Max and stormed out of the room into the crowded hallway.

Tess peeked into the room and looked at Max. "Well that went well," she said.

"She's crazy," said Max. "She thinks that Alex was killed by aliens. None of us did it, and Nascedo is dead, so who else could it possibly be?"

"Ignore her Max. If we're lucky, she'll start to get over her grief, and accept the fact that Alex killed himself," said Tess. "Come on, let's go to class."

Liz watched from the partially opened doorway of the girl's room until Max and Tess were out of sight. She abruptly turned and ran into an unoccupied stall and began to vomit violently. She moaned in pain as a sharp cramp shot through her abdomen.
"Max," she whispered softly. "Help me."

Several minutes later, she heard the sound of footsteps pounding down the hall. Someone banged on the bathroom door.

"Liz! Liz, are you in here?" she heard Max call.

"Max," she answered, her voice weak. "I'm here."

The stall door opened, and Liz looked up, to see Max staring down at her.

"Liz, what happened?" he asked, as he knelt down beside her. "Are you okay?"

"I don't know," she said. "I watched you and Tess walk down the hall, and then I felt so sick. I started throwing up, and then, ohhhhh!" she cried out in pain. "It hurts so bad. Max, I'm afraid. What if there's something wrong with the baby?"

Tears streamed down Liz's face as Max looked at her with concern. Without a word, he scooped her up into his arms, and carried her out into the hall. He rushed down the empty corridor to the nurse's office. He placed her gently on one of the cots, and turned to the nurse.

"Her name is Liz Parker. She's nauseous, and complaining of stomach pains."

The nurse walked toward Liz, and pulled out a thermometer. Liz blanched, and Max quickly found a bucket and passed it to her. She threw up again, and at the same time held her stomach.

"Maybe we'll just pass on the temperature," said the nurse. "Last name is Parker, you say?" she asked Max. When he nodded, she went to her computer and typed in the name. "Got it, she said. "I'll just call her family to come and get her."

The nurse turned her back and reached for the phone. As she did, Max placed his hand on Liz's abdomen and concentrated. After a few moments, he smiled at Liz.

"The baby's okay," he said. "At least I'm pretty sure he is. We should get you to the Granolith to make sure, but I can't sense anything wrong."

"Okay, Ms. Parker," said the nurse, hanging up the phone. "Your mother will be down right away. You can leave now," she added, looking at Max. "I'm sure you're supposed to be in class."

"Liz, you'll be okay?" he asked, ignoring the nurse, and looking at Liz.

"Yeah," Liz answered weakly. "I'm sure it's just a stomach virus or something. You go back to class."

"I love you," he whispered softly, as he reached down to squeeze her hand.

Nancy Parker brought Liz home, and tucked her into bed. She placed a cool hand against her daughter's warm forehead, and smoothed her long dark hair away from her pale face.

"I wish you'd let me call the doctor, Liz," she said.

"No, Mom, really, I think it's just a 24 hour bug. If I'm not better tomorrow morning, I won't argue, but give it a chance to get out of my system."

"All right," said Nancy, doubtfully. "But if you get any worse, I'm not going to wait."

"Fine, Mom, listen, I really just want to get some sleep."

"Okay, Sweetie, that's probably the best thing for you, anyhow. I'll be up in a while to check on you."

After Nancy left the room, Liz dropped off into an uneasy doze. Disquieting images filled her dreams. Michael and Isabelle were there, but they kept transforming into Rath and Lonnie. There was a sudden burst of light, and Rath and Lonnie lay on the floor, in a pool of blood. Max and Tess stood over them laughing. Liz looked from Max and Tess, then back to Rath and Lonnie. She felt herself begin to scream. Rath and Lonnie were no longer lying on the floor, it was Michael and Isabelle, and Max and Tess laughed all the harder.