Liz sat back while Max, Michael and Kyle, who Liz was pleasantly surprised to find with the group, determined that no one from the Special Unit followed them as they retreated from their base. They told Serena it appeared safe to drive back to the camper. Liz assured Max that the Special Unit only wanted to talk and didn't hurt her. She mostly struggled with any lingering effects of the drug they used on her in the alley behind Northwest Texas Community College. Liz thought she mostly recovered but became a bit car sick sitting on the floor in the back of Serena's van.
After they arrived back at the camper, Liz asked for some water and a small snack and then turned her attention toward Kyle. He explained the whole back story with Carmen and how he happened upon the old gang as he pursued her to rescue her from the unit.
Next, Max and the other hybrids filled her in on all the information Larek gave them, which proved a lot to take in and try to absorb. It continued to get late and Liz said she wanted to talk about her experience at the Special Unit in the morning because she needed rest before getting into all of that.
Ava wanted to charge after Zan. Liz knew that they stood a better chance taking Samuelson up on his offer of Special Unit assistance, but she didn't want to broach that right away. It took her several minutes to convince Ava, but eventually Ava conceded that if the group's fatigue compromised them, then they couldn't help Zan. She also recognized Max's logic from earlier that Kivar could've killed Zan in the general store and probably had other plans for Zan if they coaxed him to follow them out of the store.
The next morning, Liz woke up to find Max already awake. He leaned on his right elbow facing her. Liz looked into his eyes and smiled.
"Good morning," she said.
"Good morning," Max said back, as he brushed a strand of her hair out of her face and behind her right ear. "I didn't want to wake you."
"Am I the last one up?" Liz asked.
Max shrugged and looked like he didn't know, "I don't hear a lot of activity outside, so I don't think anyone's getting antsy waiting on us. How are you feeling?"
Liz took a moment to think that through before answering. She didn't experience any signs of a headache, lightheadedness or even an inkling of nausea. This assured Liz that any of the slight, lingering after-effects of the drug the Special Unit injected her with fully dissipated. A good night's sleep also apparently hit the spot, as she felt refreshed and rejuvenated. Liz figured she could eat a normal breakfast, but she didn't feel particularly hungry, either. She believed she was fit to tackle what figured to be yet another eventful day.
"I feel much better," Liz reported.
Max smiled as he looked into her eyes. Now came the hard part. Liz needed to address the apparent offer from the new head of the Special Unit, Agent Samuelson. Samuelson claimed the Special Unit managed to assess that Liz, Max and the other hybrids don't pose a threat to Earth. He also knew that Kivar and his forces oppose their family and represent a potential threat to the planet. Liz could barely come to grips with the offer herself, let alone explain it all to anyone else. But that wouldn't even be the hardest part. Liz also needed to convey that she believed they should take up Samuelson's offer and that Samuelson made it in good faith.
The previous evening Liz said that she didn't want to talk about what happened to her at the Special Unit because she didn't have the energy to get into it. While not an outright lie, in truth, she wanted to wait for the right time because she knew most in their group would scoff at the notion of trusting and working with the Special Unit. Liz knew she may not find another opportunity to speak alone with Max the rest of the day. She couldn't imagine a way to convince the whole group to take the Special Unit's offer unless Max endorsed it before they pitched the others.
But how could Liz find the words to sell Max on the deal when she didn't think she would necessarily believe it herself if she weren't the one sitting face-to-face with Samuelson? That's when it occurred to her that Max and Liz always communicated some of the most important information without the need of words.
Liz looked deep into Max's eyes, smiled widely, then leaned up and kissed him. After a couple seconds Max's lips relaxed like he expected her to give him just a quick kiss. But Liz continued a firm, passionate kiss and Max began kissing her back. For a moment Max seemed into it and Liz could sense them reaching a flashpoint, but then Max pulled away.
"Liz," he whispered, smiling at her like they were up to something naughty, "do you really want to do this with everyone just outside?"
Liz pushed him back up against the bed rest, which, embarrassingly, shook the camper just a bit. The move left Max in a sitting position. Liz pushed herself up and straddled him. She leaned into Max moving her lips just millimeters from Max's.
"Just kiss me Max," Liz said softly, as she leaned in to lock lips once more.
Once again Max seemed self-conscious and tense, but after a few seconds he started getting into it. A few seconds after that Liz felt the rush of intensity that sparked every time the couple embraced their way into a flash. Liz focused on directing the conversation with Samuelson, or pieces of it anyway. She also gave a little to attention to make sure she didn't stop making out with Max.
As usual, when the flashes began, Liz could only project—or maybe the limitation was that Max could only pick up—snippets of the conversation at a time. Liz made sure to not only let Max see and hear the conversation, but she concentrated greatly to ensure he could experience the same thoughts and feelings Liz experienced too.
FLASH
Samuelson: … "We've been monitoring both of you and are quite confident you mean the rest of us no harm. This is about the alien ship that landed in the Rita Blanca National Grasslands."
Liz conveyed to Max her feelings of both surprise and unease she felt at the time over the extent of Samuelson's knowledge and how casually he discussed it.
FLASH
Samuelson: … "Unlike you and your hybrid friends, we have every reason to believe that whatever, whoever landed there aren't friendly to you and are very much a threat to the American public."
Samuelson: … "And at minimum we're worried about a disregard they'll have for any collateral damage."
Now the feeling Liz pushed to Max centered on how she believed that Samuelson spoke the truth and, perhaps just as importantly, truly made sense to her.
FLASH
Samuelson: … "We can help one another on this one; combine our resources to abate the alien threat."
Samuelson: … "The enemy of your enemy is your friend."
Liz allowed Max to pick up on her initial shock and skepticism, but she also coupled that with her continued beliefs that Samuelson made sense logically and that she in no way sensed any deception from him. After all, their history with the Special Unit fueled her skepticism, not Samuelson's first impression.
FLASH
Samuelson: … "We have advanced weaponry years beyond what the public thinks is possible."
Samuelson: … "The purpose of the Special Unit throughout its history is to keep this country—to keep the whole world safe."
Samuelson: … "We may not be capable of doing that entirely on our own and without the help of you and your alien hybrid comrades."
Liz opened her heart and mind to show Max how her perception of Samuelson's logical reasoning and sincere body language began to overpower her continued reluctance to fully embrace the idea of allying with the Special Unit in any way. This breakthrough allowed her to toy with the notion that she might actually want to take him up on his offer for help battling Kivar. But she also made sure Max could sense and understand that she wasn't fully sold at this point in the discussion.
FLASH
Samuelson: … "We know the activities you and Mr. Evans have been up to all these years."
Samuelson: … "You're providing them the same level of protection, at least in principle, that the Unit was created to provide. It seems our goals are well-aligned."
Liz gave Max a glimpse of her somber, humbling realization that, as much as she wanted to fiercely dismiss Samuelson and tell him to shove his offer, their pride may not carry them to victory over Kivar. It broke her heart, just as she knew it was breaking Max's heart, to admit that taking a chance on trusting the Special Unit might represent their only successful path. She allowed Max to feel with force the hopelessness she tried to bury when considering the prospect of obtaining the Granolith and defeating Kivar once and for all. Under different circumstances, Liz would rather die than let Max know she thought this way, but she knew she couldn't hold anything back if she wanted to convince him.
FLASH
Liz: … "We could use a distraction to give us time to retrieve something. … It's not up to me to determine that we trust you."
Samuelson: … "We've long suspected that there was a hierarchy. It's Mr. Evans who's the leader, isn't it?"
Liz allowed Max to share her surprise from that moment, but she also fed him a feeling of confidence that Samuelson's knowledge of them proved his talent and potential value.
FLASH
Liz: … "If we were to collaborate with the Special Unit, then we would all need to agree to that."
Samuelson: … "We may not be afforded the time you and your companions prefer."
The note: … When you've talked to the others, and you're ready to collaborate, call me: 555-4732.
Finally, Liz revealed to Max her resolve to embrace this unexpected overture and the desperation she felt for wanting everyone to hear out the idea without immediately dismissing it, as she likely would've done had she been able to simply walk away from Samuelson.
WASHOUT
Max broke off the kiss. Liz slid off him, anticipating he would need space.
"I don't believe this," Max stammered. "I won't believe this."
"Max…" Liz said, about to start the process of assuring him.
Max scooched forward toward her and put his right hand on her face and looked deeply into her eyes.
"Did they do something to you?" Max asked. "Some kind of brainwashing or—or mind control?"
The suggestions were clearly off base, tempting Liz to snap at him. She took a deep breath before responding.
"You know they didn't, Max. You would've sensed that in the flashes."
Liz knew that Max would realize that too. He took a moment before saying anything, just staring deeply into her eyes.
"So, it's true?" Max asked rhetorically.
Then, he pulled back and rolled off the bed and stood up. He ran his right hand through his hair and looked back to Liz.
"You want to work with the Special Unit," Max stated, a bit calmer now but still showing signs of surreal disbelief.
Liz shared that feeling, but she had more time to get used to the idea at this point. However, Max's reaction resurfaced some of that original skepticism and doubt that Liz experienced during her conversation with Samuelson. She wanted to keep Samuelson's words fresh in her mind so that she remained convicted toward the unlikely team up.
"I don't want to," Liz clarified, "but I think we need may need to take a chance and see what kind of help the Special Unit will offer us if we call."
She watched Max intently. He looked pensive and a little conflicted.
"I'm… going to need some time to sit with this," Max explained. "I need a chance to let everything you showed me sink in."
Liz expected Max may react like this. She sensed he wanted her to leave, which stung a bit, but in another way, Liz considered this a good sign. The worst case scenario she feared involved Max stubbornly refusing to listen and acting completely closed-minded to the idea of collaborating with the Special Unit. Liz believed that her idea of communicating about her encounter with Samuelson and the Special Unit through flashes helped to avoid Max firmly dismissing the idea right away. She also recognized that he fully understood the direness of their circumstances and that surely contributed to his willingness to at least think on it. Liz still worried he would decide he couldn't get behind the idea of reaching out to the Special Unit.
"Ok," Liz said, acknowledging that Max needed the time he asked for to think through everything. "I'm going to get a little breakfast. Do you want me to bring you anything?"
Max smiled slightly, "No, that's ok. I'll come out shortly."
Liz stepped outside the bedroom and walked down the few steps to the main area of the trailer. She saw Kyle gathering all of his belongings. When he noticed her approach, Kyle looked up. When he realized only Liz came out, everything seemed to slow down for him. He gave her his full attention.
"Liz," Kyle said, "hi. Are you feeling better?"
"Yes," Liz replied, "thanks for asking. A good night's sleep really helped."
Liz looked around and noticed no one else inside the camper.
"Where's everyone else?" she asked.
"They left to get some food," Kyle told her. "I don't know if you've noticed, but you're running a little low on groceries here."
Liz smiled at that simple, yet fair observation. Kyle returned her smile. It felt good to take a quick moment and talk about something as mundane as the need for a grocery run.
"They wanted me to stay here to wake you and Max up in case anyone showed up unannounced. I think Isabel and Michael both wanted to keep close tabs on Ava in case she decides to do something rash to go after Zan. Serena and Ava seemed like they wanted to stick together too. I guess that makes sense with them being the newbies."
"I see," Liz said. "And you look like you'll be leaving soon."
Kyle nodded to confirm. "My partners are on the way. I told them to park outside the trailer park. I was going to meet them either when the others returned or you and Max woke up. Under different circumstances, I'd gladly stay to help kick Kivar's ass and save Zan, but I can't afford to let Carmen's trail run cold."
It occurred to Liz that Kyle may make the strongest argument against working with the Special Unit after she got the scoop on how they captured his wife, Carmen. Even so, Liz also considered how they could use all the help they could get. Plus, Kyle's ability could prove useful in tracking down anyone who got separated from the group, or he might even be able to weed out a shapeshifter if they all gave him a personal effect. She didn't consider trying to talk him out of leaving, but she decided she wished he could stay.
"I understand," Liz acknowledged. "I wish Carmen was safe and you could both join us. I also wish you had the chance to meet Zan."
"Me too," Kyle said. "And I will, right? Once Kivar's gone, and we're all safe. I have a feeling the rules of who we contact will change after this is all over."
Liz never took any time to think about that, but she quickly realized that he was probably right.
"Yeah, it would be nice to be able to stay in touch with everyone," Liz noted. "I'm glad you found your way here, Kyle. It was really nice to see you. It's a bright spot with everything going on, you know?"
Kyle smiled. "I agree. Even though I have help tracking Carmen, there's a different comradery with all of you. The circumstances couldn't be worse for any of us, but it's still felt kind of like a…"
He seemed reluctant to finish his thought aloud, so Liz concluded it for him, "Like a family reunion," she said with a gentle smile.
"Yeah, that's a good way to describe it," Kyle agreed.
Undertones of uncertainness hovered just below the surface as Liz and Kyle spoke about a future when everyone was finally safe and could stay in touch more freely. Of course, Liz couldn't realistically believe things would return to the way they were before Liz and Max found Zan and Ava and discovered Kivar arrived on Earth. But how they would change at the end of all this remained far from certain.
Both Liz and Kyle knew that Carmen's condition could be grave, but it seemed like Kyle's tracking power working indicated she remained alive. They also both got briefed on Larek's insistence that the Royal Four return home. They all agreed not to discuss that or retrieving the Granolith until after rescuing Zan. Liz couldn't fathom a circumstance where Max, Michael, Isabel and Ava all hopped in Larek's ship and charged back to Antar. Before forcing herself not to think about it, Liz considered Zan would likely go with them, and, if she got a say, she would elect to go too to stay with Max.
So while the uncertainty remained unspoken, Liz figured that Kyle also understood that depending on Carmen's condition and if the hybrids would even stay on Earth, the reunions he spoke of were far from a sure thing. She still appreciated his attempt at optimism, though.
Before their conversation could continue, Kyle reacted to his phone vibrating in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the screen.
"They're here," Kyle updated her. "Are you ok to stay with Max until the others come back?"
"Yes," Liz replied, as Kyle turned to leave, "but Kyle…"
He stopped and turned back toward her. Liz moved briskly told him and gave him a hug. Even after everything they went through and both winding up happily married, there always remained some tension between Liz and Kyle due to their high school relationship ending in Liz breaking Kyle's heart.
"Be careful," she said as she squeezed him tightly.
At first, Kyle tentatively wrapped his arms around her, but after she said that, he squeezed her tightly too. Because of their history, Liz always felt subconscious about embracing Kyle like any other friend, even though she knew his feelings for her were long behind him. In this case, she couldn't help it or force herself to hold back.
While Sherriff Valenti's friendship likely would've inevitably pulled Kyle into the orbit of alien affairs, Kyle initially took an interest into their business in high school because of Liz and their relationship. Liz always felt that she shared a unique bond with Kyle. Of their original Roswell gang, he became pretty good friends with Isabel and Maria, despite never getting particularly close to Max or Michael. At one time, he shared the closest relationship to Tess, but Liz's instinct into her true nature and cautions about not getting too close to Tess only added to some of the tension that always lingered between them, even if only slightly.
"You too," Kyle reciprocated.
They broke off the hug and Kyle moved toward the door. Before stepping out, he took one last look back at Liz. She simply smiled slightly with her lips closed. Kyle smiled almost sarcastically—but Liz knew he didn't mean it that way—and gave a shy wave goodbye at her before stepping outside. Liz couldn't help but think about how she may never see Kyle again. She wondered if the same thought coursed through his head.
With Max still in the bedroom and the others all out, Liz found herself in a quiet, serene environment for the first time in days. Someone put a pot of coffee on. Liz poured herself a cup and sat down at the kitchen table. She felt safe in the camper and decided she could revel in the ability to breathe easy, even if only for a little while.