Connections 23

"Powers?" Max turned back to Liz and stepped closer to her. "Who are you, and why are you in Roswell?" he asked forcefully, with an authority that had always impressed Liz, but it did not do so at that moment.

She swallowed hard and opened her mouth to speak to the man she loved, but found no words.

"Well? What does it mean that your last name is Harding? What are you doing here in Roswell Samantha? What are you?" His eyes flashed angrily and it made Liz cringe, but also brought her out of her haze and she was able to speak.

"I can't tell you all of what you want to know yet. I did not choose my last name, it was forced upon me and I would disown it if I was given the power to, but I don't have that choice right now. I'm here in Roswell because it is where I need to be. I am human, is that what you wanted to know?"

"No. What do you mean; you can't disown the name? And you need to be here, in Roswell, why? Human? Humans don't do what you just did in there!" Maria cried out. Michael came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist in an effort to calm her. Max proceeded to take over a calmer position.

"Let's start at the beginning here Samantha. Is that your real name? Samantha?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because you won't believe me...and he'll find me because he now knows where I am."

"But you said that this is where you're supposed to be. If that's true, the why would anyone want to keep you away from here?"

"Because he believes it is for the best, because he is evil, because he tricked me and betrayed people who trusted him."

Michael came forward from his place beside Maria and glared at Liz, making her cringe. "I am sick of your talking cryptically. You either answer straight up or one of us will just go into your head and find out what we wanna know."

Liz knew he meant it, but there was nothing she could do. She couldn't tell them, they had to figure it out, and otherwise Nasedo's control over her would be permanent. She only knew this because it was what the alien had told her, but she, though she didn't trust him, believed him.

"What's going on back here??" a woman's voice came from the doorway. Max spun around and faced his birth mother, but Michael answered her demanding question.

"She isn't who she seems to be. We don't know how or why, but she's one of us, or one of our enemies. And we intend to find out."

"Why don't you just go into her mind instead of all of this?"

"That's just what we were going to do," Michael said angrily, "you care to do the honors Kareena?"

"Fine..." Kareena shut her eyes and focused on the girl's life force in search of a way to get inside of her head.

Liz began to cry as she felt the probing at the edges of her mind, knowing that nothing would come Kareena's searching. She wouldn't be able to get through, even though she was stronger than anyone else, she wouldn't be able to. The only way to get through was for Nasedo and Liz's connection. It had started to deteriorate, but it wasn't weak enough to be broken down. The tears poured from her eyes and her shoulders shook as Kareena opened her eyes and looked at her incredulously.

"You...I...I...can't get into your mind, why? I could even get into Nasedo's mind." The only answer was Liz trying to get her tears under control. "I know you, oh my gosh, I know you..." Kareena walked over to her and pulled the girl's hair back away from her tear stained face. "I can't place you, but I know that we know you..." Kareena stood again and stepped back as Max cam e forward again.

He knelt slowly in front of the crying blonde. He gingerly took her face in his hands and was amazed at how much the simple action calmed her. His face went into shock as recognition seeped into him. His own eyes filled quickly with tears he hadn't allowed anyone to see for almost a year.

His hand softly fell into the girl's hair and at his touch, the blonde strands quickly turned brown. Maria gasped, and Liz looked up into Max's eyes. He brought his other hand up to her face and gently closed her bright blue eyes. When he removed his hand from her eyes, they were their real color, the deep brown that saw into Max's soul.

He whispered slowly, his voice full of emotion, "Liz..." His arms wrapped around her tightly as they could. Liz sobbed into his shoulder and held him close to her. There was nothing the two could do for a moment as they simply held each other and cried.

Maria started crying and Michael held her in his arms and kissed her forehead softly. The moment was interrupted as Isabel and Alex came walking into the back room, unaware of the entire situation.

"What're all the tears for?" Alex innocently asked. Maria looked up to him and nodded towards Max hugging a brunette. Alex and Isabel just looked questioningly at her until Max stood up with the girl beside him. Alex cried out when he saw the girl.

Liz found herself giggling as her friend tackled her in a huge bear hug. He hugged her tightly and twirled her around for a moment before putting her down again.

Maria came forward and stared at her old friend for a while before speaking. "Hun, you got some major explaining to do here. I am so glad you're back! I missed you so much!"

Liz found herself caught in an embrace that knocked the wind out of her. Maria wrapped her arms around her tightly and rocked with her. Liz smiled brightly and knew that it wasn't too sudden for her friends. They had always been ready for her to come back, they had simply been looking for her and awaiting her return.