AN: Well, next chapter... still no reviews but hey, the hits are not that bad! D So keep on reading!
Disclaimer: I do not own "Roswell"...
Ways of Life! – Chapter 5
The next hours would be decisive. Michaels first thought was to run away. Obviously the FBI was again after them.
But like always when he wanted to run someone told him he couldn't; this time this someone was Maria.
"I'm not saying that we should do nothing, but we can't leave town one second after discovering a man with a gun in a therapists practice!"
"But this was your practice and he threatened you!"
"And how do you know that this has anything to do with… Czechoslovakians?."
"Maria, we both have seen more than one agent in our lives! Didn't you see the suit and the haircut and the big fat sign on his forehead saying: Hi, I'm the friendly agent of the FBI?"
"Well, maybe I was a bit distracted by the pistol aimed at my face!"
There was silence. Maria and Michael connected eyes and then left the small side-street. This argument had been a little bit too loud. They crossed the street and entered the park, whispering.
"Michael, we can't leave! I have a life here. I have a responsibility towards my patients. We have friends. Everything went so good!"
"Until now."
"Why don't we call the police saying someone broke into my bureau?"
Michael shook his head. "Were your window or the lock at your door broken? You know, they won't find something. And they can't protect us."
Maria sighed. He is right. She looked up at him. "Okay. I agree with you. But I want to do one thing before I left!"
"What is it?"
"Jake Bradley. I promised his foster parents to find out about his real parents. He doesn't even know what I wanted to do for him but I started it and I want to end 'my mission'"
"What about your other patients?"
She shrugged. "None of them needs a daily meeting or a special care. – They will find other therapists."
"Okay…. Then… Is there any way to find out who Jakes parents are easier than to call 100 bureaucrats?"
"Hm… let me think of … Oh… oh, yes!" She beamed at him. "Isabel could dreamwalk him!"
"I know her powers grew but she can only find out something when he remembers his parents. Did he ever see them?"
Her enthusiasm faded. "Right. Um… I will think about it."
Michael nodded. "Good. While you are thinking we should go back to our apartment before the FBI is there and takes our stuff away. It is…" This moment Maria's cell ringed.
"Maria Myers, hello."
"Hi.. this is John Bradley, the father of Jake."
"Mr. Bradley is everything okay? – You don't sound good."
"Nothing is okay! Someone tried to kill Jake!"
"WHAT! Is he okay? - Where are you?"
"In the hospital. The strange thing is that he wanted to speak to you on the whole way and…"
"Don't say anything more. I will come to you! Bye!"
They were already on their way to the hospital when Michael asked, "Someone tried to kill Jake?"
Maria nodded. "Yes. It's impossible! Who would hurt him?"
Michaels face was like stone. "Maybe the 'who' didn't want to hurt him. Maybe the 'who' wanted to catch him."
"But… no, Michael. It is coincidence! Coincidence and nothing more!"
"Has there ever been coincidence in our lives Maria? This boy is the connection. That's why the agent was in your bureau. They followed Jakes trace until he reached your practice. They want to know what is going on in his mind and whether he is 'special' or not. And he leaded them directly to us!"
Maria didn't answer; she already dialed a number.
He just wanted to sleep. Sleep was necessary for a shift in the hospital. Obviously someone was other opinion. He grabbed the damn cell before Liz woke up.
"Max! This is Maria!"
In an instant he was at alert. "Maria! Why are you calling? Is something with Michael?"
"Michael is okay but… but…"
"Maria!"
"We think that we might have found your son."
Silence on the other end of the line. "Max?"
A rough voice answered. "Are you sure?"
"No, but you have to come to find out! Put on your clothes, wake up Liz, get packed; I tell you everything!" So she told him of her new patient, that he was adopted, how they met the agent in her bureau and shortly after John Bradley called to say someone tried to kill Jake.
"We come."
"They are on their way!"
"Fine. And here we are", Michael pushed open the door of the emergency room.
"Can I do something for you", a passing nurse asked them.
"Yes, we look for Jacob Bradley."
"And you are?"
"I'm his therapist. His father called me."
The nurse nodded. "Follow me; the Bradleys are in the waiting room."
"How is Jake?"
Mrs. Bradley cried, not able to answer. Mr. Bradley said: "We do not know! The doctors operate! Jake was on his way back home when someone attacked him. Neighbours could see it; they called an ambulance and let us know about it. When we arrived at the hospital they said three bullets hit him! God, we don't want to lose the kid!"
"Do you know why he wanted to see Maria", Michael asked.
"No… no, we don't know."
"Did you know whether he said anything else?"
"Just another name he was mentioned."
"Which one?"
"Max, I think."
"No… it's… - Thank you Mr. Bradley. I… I will see, whether I can get some more information out of a doctor, okay?"
The Bradleys looked grateful. "That would be great."
"Max. He spoke of Max. How can this be?"
Michael shrugged. "Maybe there is a connection between them."
"But he didn't know what happened when I called him. – Oh, I'm so worried. Can't you do anything?"
"You know my… abilities. What we could need is someone like Tess, and then you could slip into the operating room without anyone noticing."
Maria was amused. "Michael Smith wants Tess to be here?"
"Hey, I said someone like Tess. - I guess we have to do it the normal way. Excuse me", he turned to the nurse which had lead them to the Bradleys. "Can you tell us something about Jake?"
"The doctors are still at work."
"But… "
"I can't say more, I have to get back."
Great… Oh Max, please hurry! I couldn't stand the thought that your son died not ten metres
from me!
AN: What do you think? - By the way, critical reviews are also welcome...