Disclaimer: Roswell, and it's characters do not belong to me. Melinda Metz, Jason Katims and 20th Century Fox have that particular pleasure. I'm simply borrowing them until the Season 2 DVD's get released.

Tomorrow's Yet to Come

Chapter Eight    Somebody's Eyes are Watching

Maria stood on the stage, singing, looking out into the smoky darkness of the small nightclub. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She grabbed the mike out of it's stand, and began to weave her way through the audience, singing first to one person than another, as she tried to locate the stranger that followed them from the pizza parlor.

The song drew to a close, and Maria quickly made her way back to the stage.

"Thank you ladies and gentlemen," she said to the small round of applause. We're going to do one last number, before the club closes. It's a particular favorite of mine. Before we begin, lets give a round of applause for the guys in the band."

Maria half turned to face the musicians that backed her up and applauded. She signaled the drummer who gave a downbeat, and the band swung into Full of Grace, by Sarah McLachlan. When the song ended, she thanked the audience, and started to help break down the instruments.

"We got it, Maria," said Mick, the drummer. "Besides, Michael just walked in. Looks like he's ready to take you home."

"Don't worry, guys. Michael'll wait. He knows this is part and parcel of the whole music gig," said Maria. "Besides, if we do it together, it will get done faster, and we can all get home that much sooner."

"Thanks, Maria," said Jack, they keyboardist. "I have an early class tomorrow, and the professor is a real hard ass about people blowing off his class."

"Imagine that," Maria said dryly. "A professor that expects you to actually go to class. Go figure."

When they finished, Maria walked over to the table where Michael sat, waiting patiently.

"Thanks for waiting," she said to him.

"You could have hurried," he answered with a grin.

"You could have helped," she shot back, the smile on her face revealing that their argument was more of a well loved game.

"How was the show tonight?" Michael asked. "I wanted to get here earlier, but we were busy tonight."

"The show was fine, Michael. I wish you could have been here too, but I know you have to work. I just don't get why you're working on a loading dock," Maria complained.

"I like it, Maria. I don't need to work at all, but I enjoy it," Michael said, simply.

"I know, I'm sorry," said Maria, apologizing. "I'm just on edge a little."

"Why?" demanded Michael. "Did something happen tonight?"

"No, nothing happened, but I think there was someone out there watching.

"Would it be pointless for me to point out that you are on stage singing, and people pay to watch you," said Michael.

"Not that kind of watching, jerk." She stopped to wave goodnight to the band as the prepared to troop out the back door of the club. "Come on, lets get out of here too," she said.

Michael helped Maria gather her belongings in an unexpected show of gallantry, and escorted her out of the club onto the New York streets that still bursting with life, even at 2:00 a.m. He led her over to his motorcycle and handed her a helmet, and waited while she climbed on.

"This is not easy in a dress," she complained.

"You could always walk," he countered.

"Shut up and drive, Space Boy!"

Michael kick started the bike, and it roared to life. He merged out into traffic and gunned the engine. Maria's delighted laughter could be heard as he tore down the street.

In the darkness of a deserted doorway, a stranger watched as they drove down the street.

Isabel Evans Whitman walked down the street, her head filled with fashion design, and her arms filled with groceries for tonight's dinner. Suddenly, she felt as if she had collided with a brick wall, and the bags when flying from her arms.

"I'm so very sorry," said a man, who bent down to help her up.

"No, no, it was my fault," said Isabel, scrambling to pick up her groceries. "I wasn't looking where I was going." She glanced at the man, making note of his gray Armani suit, and gold Rolex watch.

"No, really, it was my fault," said the man. "Please check, is anything damaged. I'll replace it for you."

Isabel looked up at him, and felt a shudder of fear go down her spine. This man is dangerous, she thought to herself. She did a quick survey of her items, trying to contain herself before she spoke.
"No, really everything seems to be fine," said a flustered Isabel, still stuffing things into the bags.

"Oh, look," said the man. "Your bottle of wine has a crack in it."

"It doesn't matter," said Isabel, taking the bottle from him. "It's not a very god bottle of wine, anyhow. She crammed the leaking bottle into her bag, and stood up. "Thank you for all your help."

She began to walk away, but ducked into an empty doorway to look back at the man, but he was gone. The sidewalk teamed with people but the guy in the Armani was nowhere in site. She looked around to make sure she was unobserved, placed her bags on the ground, and reached in and pulled out the leaky bottle of wine. She passed her hand over the bottle, and sealed the crack, and returned the wine to its bag. She leaned down to lift both bags, using her powers to make them light as a feather, and resumed her trip home. She was so intent on leaving, that she failed to notice the young man in the baseball cap leaning against the street lamp, watching her every move.

Alex carried the last of the platters to the table, and sat down next to Maria.

"So you still up for us coming to hear you sing, tonight?" he asked.

"I guess," said Maria, with uncharacteristic quietness.

"Hey, if you don't feel up to it, it's no big," said Alex. "Isabel and I can come another night. Right Isabel?"

"Hmm, oh yeah," said Isabel.

"You okay?" Michael asked, sotto voce.

"No, actually, I'm not," she said. "The strangest thing happened on my way home today, and it has me worried." She explained the incident with the guy in the Armani suit. "My reaction to him was similar to the one I had with the guy at the pizza place," she finished. "I felt like he was seeing right inside of my soul."

"That's too freaky," said Maria. "The other night when I was singing, I felt like someone was watching me. I mean really watching me, not me singing, you know? I kind of got he feeling I used to get when I knew Tess was going to show up."

"Something strange is going on," said Michael. "We all have to be extremely aware of our surroundings from now on."

"Do you think we should call Max?" asked Isabel.

"No, I most especially do not think we should call Max," said Michael. "He and Liz do not need this kind of stress in their lives right now. Until we know what this is, we can deal with it on our own. For now, we keep them out of the loop, agreed?"

The other three nodded. The meal continued, as the four discussed various possibilities, but nobody was able to come up with a reasonable idea of what or who was watching them, or why.

"What about Kyle and Ava?" asked Maria, suddenly. "Should we try and get a hold of them?"

"That might not be a bad idea," said Alex, reaching for his cell phone. He punched in Kyle's number and waited.

"Kyle, hey, how you doing? It's Alex."

I know who it is," came Kyle's voice over the cell phone. Number 1, I'm not stupid, and number 2, I have caller id on this thing. Anyhow, what's up?"

"Well, honestly, we're not sure, but it is something," said Alex. "Maria's been getting some weird feelings, like someone has been watching her, and Isabel has had run ins with two different guys that have totally freaked her out. We're not sure if any of it means anything, but we just wanted to give you guys a heads up."

Thanks, man. said Kyle. Listen, maybe you guys could keep this to yourselves for a bit, and not tell Max and Liz about it. They really need a chance to just have a life, you know?

"That's exactly what Michael said, and we all agreed," said Alex. "Where are you guys headed now?"

Actually, we're on our way back home. Ava really misses Roswell, so we're going to head back there for a while and just hang, and figure out what to do next.

"Cool. Say hi to everyone for us, will ya?" He looked at Michael who was motioning for the phone. "Hang on a second, Kyle, Michael needs to talk to you for a second." He passed the phone to Michael and took a forkful of spaghetti.

"Valenti? Listen up. I'm going to be sending you guys something in the next week or two. Where should I send it?"

My dad's place, we're headed back there.

"Great, watch for it. We'll see you later." He disconnected the call and tossed the phone back at Alex who had to drop his fork to catch the phone.

"Jerk," he said, good naturedly as he wiped in effectually at the sauce stains on his shirt.

"Here, let me," said Isabel. She waved her hand over his sleeve and the stains vanished. "So, what are you sending Kyle and Ava, and why aren't you buying me, you're oldest and dearest friend presents too?" Isabel asked Michael.

"Forget it, Isabel, you're not getting any information out of me," said Michael, as he helped himself to more salad. "Except for maybe a compliment on the great meal."

"Do my ears deceive me?" quipped Isabel. "The stoic Michael Guerin paying compliments?"

"Watch it, or you won't get even that," said Michael.

"Children, children," said Maria, raising her hands. "Play nice, or there is no dessert for you."

"Dessert, I forgot dessert," moaned Isabel.

"Lucky for you, I didn't," said Maria. "We picked up a cheesecake on our way over here."

"It's so nice to get together just like we were normal couples," said Isabel as she stood to go get the cheesecake."

"Yeah, too bad we're not," said Alex, softly.