Rating: PG-13 for language and sexual situations

Category: Other Stories

Disclaimers: The characters of Roswell belong to the WB, among others, but apparently I need to keep borrowing them.

Summary: “There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it.” - George Bernard Shaw …and so continues this author’s version of ‘Sexual Healing’…

Author’s note/soapbox: May I suggest you read these before traveling to my alternate Roswell universe: “Dealing”, “Lost Treasures”, “Prepare Yourself” (Dealing trilogy); “Attitude”, “Plan C”, “The Spin Cycle” (Tess trilogy); “Nuts”, “Wraiths of D’Spayre”, and “What’s Your Favor?” (Revelations trilogy); “…and The End is linked to The Beginning” (a cliffhanger); “!”, “?”, and “…” (Choices trilogy); and finally “Ready or Not”, and “Rounding Second” (Awakening trilogy, Parts 1 and 2). Sorry, I couldn’t help but quote from Romeo and Juliet…

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room, middle of the night. Liz is sitting up in bed, startled and confused. Max, having awoken to the sound of Liz’s voice, is now sitting on the bed facing her.)

Liz (looking at Max for answers, shakily): I’m the…key?

Max (quietly and guiltily): I know…I’m so sorry.

Liz (looking at him confused and questioningly): You knew? When were you going to tell me?

Max (almost ashamedly): Tonight…but then the journal…I didn’t want to upset you.

Liz: What does it mean, Max? What did he mean?

Max (alarmed): He?

Liz: Nasedo…I remember what he said…(She looks at Max) He said he needed to see what you would do for your past…for the key… How far I would let you go if…if it was me.

Max (pained): Liz, I’m so sorry.

Liz: What does it mean, Max?

Max (hesitantly): He’s given you his…memories.

Liz (swallowing in disbelief): What?

Max: I don’t know how…but…um…I think when you were in the coma he gave you…his memories.

Liz: Memories?

Max (meekly): Yes.

Liz: Have you seen them?

Max (looking away from her): Some.

Liz: What have you seen, Max?

Max (meeting her almost hurt gaze): The crash, the cave…the pods.

Liz (watching him closely): When do you see them?

Max (swallowing hard and unable to look her in the eye): When we’re kissing.

Liz (softly): Oh.

Max (reaching out to her): Liz, I’m sorry. (She looks up at him and he reaches out and brushes a loose strand of hair behind her ear.) I’m so sorry.

Liz (breaking a seemingly endless pause): Where’s the line…Max? (He just looks at her confused, not knowing what to do or say) I just need to know where the line is…that defines when kissing stops being about what we’re feeling and becomes about what you’re seeing.

Max (struggling): Liz…I don’t need visions to want to kiss you…trust me. (Liz softly smiles at him and he caresses her face with his hand) Trust me.

Liz (looking away from him): You don’t know how many there are?

Max: No.

Liz (after another pause): Maybe, Max…maybe we should just do what it takes so that they’re gone.

Max (angry with himself and the situation): Don’t say that, Liz…please, don’t say that. It’s not supposed to be like this. Why can’t I be normal? Why can’t *this* be normal?

Liz (gently grabbing his arm to stop him from getting off the bed): Max…this is our normal.

Max (shaking his head): I can’t.

Liz: Max…I can’t not kiss you. It’s not an option.

Max (strained): Liz…I can’t hurt you.

Liz: Max, your kisses don’t hurt me.

Max: But I don’t know where this will lead…we don’t know…and we can’t.

Liz: We’ll deal with that when we get there.

Max (struggling): No.

Liz (cradling his face): Max, this is your past…how can I keep you from it?

Max: Liz…

Liz (softly): It’s okay. (She leans in and kisses him. It takes everything inside of him not to kiss her back. She pulls away and looks at him) Do you want to kiss m,e Max? (He doesn’t have to answer, the struggle is visible in his eyes.) Don’t do it for what might happen…do it because you want to and we’ll see where it goes…Kiss me, Max. (Music: Third Eye Blind - Deep Inside Of You)

(She kisses him again. At first he doesn’t respond, but as she starts to pull away he reaches up and, holding the back of her head, he pulls her back to him. She parts her lips and braces herself for the tidal wave of emotions about to break. She can feel herself being swallowed by the sensations of Max. The smell…*his* smell…of his skin and lips…and…kisses. But the taste…God, his mouth…it tastes so good. Is it possible to drown inside of someone - inside of a kiss?

(The sound of her breathing - what little of it she’s doing - is the only thing she can hear. It echoes in her ears, stifling the fumbling thoughts that come and go in her mind. It even drowns out the pounding of her heart. Can it beat any faster? Yes - yes, it can…and does as Max gently glides his hand from the base of her neck down the curve of her spine. Falling…drowning…dying…what is this? Max slowly lowers her to the bed and brings his hand from her lower back down over her hip and then slowly up and over her stomach until his hand is resting over the bandage. She can feel his touch almost burning through the gown and gauze - like they’ve melted away - his fingertips on her stomach touching her skin…

(It didn’t take long for the visions to come - a fast paced slide show flashing through his mind. The desert…hitchhiking…random towns, one after another…loneliness…random faces…empty faces…then a woman…hesitation…the woman again…a kiss?…revulsion - wait, that’s Max’s - no, it’s hers…a look of fear and terror in her eyes…rage - pure unadulterated rage…killing - a man…a woman…a child…hitchhiking…Roswell…more killing.

(Max is fighting a battle within himself - a battle between ‘want’ and ‘need’. He wants out - to pull back…the line…where is the line? God, he wants out - but he can’t. This unleashed need inside of him - need to see…to know - it’s too powerful. Where did it come from? What is it pulling him toward? He can’t control it - it’s frightening in it’s intensity. But Liz…think about Liz…who’s he kidding? That doesn’t help. She’s so soft and so…smooth. Is he touching her skin - he can’t be, she’s wearing a gown…but it’s so real, so soft…What is he doing? God, please make it stop…

(The electric shock from the brush of her fingertips on the skin of his stomach is enough to momentarily break this…‘force’ controlling him. He opens his eyes…to find hers staring up at him - God, she’s beautiful. He can’t look away from her - she’s holding him with her gaze. Their breathing synchronizes as they stare at one another. And then his catches in the back of his throat as he feels the palm of her hand slowly and deliberately press down on his upper abdomen - the same spot where his hand is on her.

(As soon as she touches him he can feel the visions waiting to explode behind his eyelids. No! He doesn’t want them. He wants to scald the image of Liz in his mind. No more visions…damnit, make this stop! And then he feels her hand move, slowly up his chest and stop. What is she doing? Stupid question, he knows exactly what she’s doing. She can feel him - his struggle…his need…and she’s telling him it’s okay. He can’t let her do it…can’t? He can’t stop her…and he certainly can’t stop himself. All he can do is search her eyes for a flicker of doubt, of hesitation of something that will break this hold this pull between them. But there’s nothing but assurance…and trust. So he follows her lead and slowly moves his hand. Holding his gaze she continues to move her hand and all he can do is mirror her movements. She sucks in her breath and closes her eyes and he lowers his forehead to hers. Before he can think she tilts her head up and kisses him. He gives in and closes his eyes…

(The images come at an exhausting speed. Roswell…the cave…the pods…rage…the reservation…River Dog?…the reservation cave…loneliness…the stones…wait - what is he doing with them?…two larger stones with symbols on them…that blue light - blinding…the symbols in the reservation cave…emptiness…the vision of that woman - and this time there’s a faint sense of familiarity about her…rage…killing again…Atherton? His body can’t take it anymore and he quivers. Liz can sense his exhaustion and gently breaks their kiss and slightly turns on her side to give him room. With her hand still on his chest she eases his fall to the bed. What was this? What did he see…feel? What did he do? It’s too much…to understand…to process…to deal with…and he’s so tired…*so* tired. Liz watches him, gently stroking back his hair from the side of his face and listening to his breathing slowly become steady. He almost immediately drifts into sleep - the last thing he hears being a distant ‘I love you’.)

(Scene: School Quad, next day before classes. Michael is sitting at a table reading a book, with his head ducked down so his bruised eye is not visible. Isabel spots him and heads toward the table.)

Isabel: Michael, have you seen Max this morning?

Michael (not looking up at her): No - he’s probably with Liz.

Isabel: He wouldn’t miss school.

Michael: Isabel - trust me - he’s with Liz.

Isabel (looking a little irritated): He spends all night with her and now he needs all day too. (Michael can’t help but chuckle and look up at her) Oh my God, Michael, what happened? (She reaches out and touches his cheek)

Michael (brushing away her hand): Nothing.

Isabel: Nothing? What…Maria finally kick your ass?

Michael (glaring at her): No.

Isabel: Why don’t you get rid of it?

Michael (frustrated): Because I can’t…and I couldn’t ask your brother to do it since he’s the one who put it there.

Isabel (shocked): What? Max…You had a fight?

Michael: I guess you could call it that.

Isabel: What about? (Michael just looks at her and then away) Don’t tell me it was about Liz. (Michael doesn’t say anything and Isabel looks a little disgusted) What was it this time - you’ve realized she’s the girl for you too? (Michael shoots her a seriously irritated look and Isabel just looks at him expectantly.)

Michael (letting out a sigh): He’s getting visions from kissing her.

Isabel: There are some things about my brother I do not need to know.

Michael: Yeah, well, we need to know these visions and Mr. Sensitive doesn’t wanna do the deed to get them.

Isabel (flabbergasted): What? Wait…you *want* Max to make-out with Liz so he’ll see visions…and then you want him to share them with you? Living vicariously, Michael?

Michael: The visions are about us.

Isabel (taken aback): Excuse me?

Michael: He thinks the visions are from Nasedo…like he ‘put’ them in her when she was in the coma.

Isabel: What?

Michael: He’s seen the crash…the cave…some other stuff - he thinks they’re Nasedo’s memories.

Isabel (struggling to understand): And he only gets them when he…kisses her?

Michael: Yeah.

Isabel: Oh my god.

Michael: Tell me about it…it’s like being punished with a trip to the Playboy Mansion.

Isabel: No, Michael…that’s…how could Nasedo do that?

Michael (disgusted): Please.

Isabel: Michael, he’s using her…her body - that’s such a…violation.

Michael: The only thing he’s doing is helping them out of their sexual frustration while giving us the answers to our past.

Isabel (just looks at him in disbelief): Is that when he hit you?

(Michael glares at her and they’re interrupted as Alex sits down.)

Alex: Have you seen Max today?

Michael: Why?

Alex (noticing the bruise): Did Maria find you? (Michael gives him an angry glare) No seriously, she’s been looking for you and she’s pissed about something. I mean, she lives in a state of angry when it comes to you but she couldn’t even talk about it on the way to school - that’s *seriously* pissed.

Michael: You think I’d let her hit me?

Alex: You think you can stop her? Do you remember fifth grade at all? (Michael looks away in annoyance) I would not go home if I were you.

Isabel: Why are you looking for Max?

Alex (remembering the crisis at hand): Um…have you seen him?

Michael: I’m sure he’s with Liz.

Alex: Liz? (He looks at his watch) Now?

Michael (looking at him and raising an eyebrow): Trust me.

Alex: (furrows his brow): I thought Liz was having a meeting with the doctor this morning. (He looks at Isabel) You didn’t see him at all?

Isabel: Alex, what’s this about?

Alex (not sure where to begin): The journal.

Isabel: Please tell me that you found it yesterday.

Alex: Can I get back to you on that?

Isabel (panicky): Oh my God. Max.

Michael: What about the journal?

Alex: It’s missing.

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room, mid morning. Max and Liz are fast asleep - on the bed. Max is sleeping on his side with Liz, lying on her back, snuggled up next to him. His chin rests on the top of her head and his arm is draped over her with his hand softly placed on the bandaged area of her stomach. Liz’s arm is looped through his with her hand splayed over his. The silence of the room is broken by the sound of the doorknob turning and the door opening. Nancy Parker steps into the room and immediately stops when she sees the bed. Jeff almost bumps into her and follows her line of vision. They simply stare at the bed. After the shock wears off they both can’t help but notice the way the light filters through the blinds of the window and falls on the sleeping teens - they radiate…it’s almost breathtaking…if it just wasn’t their daughter.)

(Scene: Random Hotel Room. Agent Jones is sitting on the bed with a bunch of paper work spread out in front of him. He shakes his head, picks up the phone and dials.)

Jones (into the phone): 9-7-4-2-8.

(Scene switches to Agent Stevens sitting at his desk)

Stevens: What’ve you got?

Jones: You’re not gonna like it.

Stevens: Just tell me what you’ve got.

Jones: Blood…

Stevens: And…

Jones: AB like half the country.

Stevens: Impossible!

Jones: I’ve got it in a vial I labeled.

Stevens: I want it now!

Jones: Already on its way.

Stevens: It has to be wrong.

Jones: I went from the room to the lab…

Stevens (cutting him off angrily yelling into the phone): Check again…and this time I want hair and skin…do you hear me!

Jones: Yes sir.

(Scene: Max’s Bedroom. The door opens as Max enters. He stops immediately when his eyes fall on the messy room. It was *not* this messy yesterday. Swallowing back panic, he looks around the room. His bed is ruffled - like he’d been sleeping in it, which he hasn’t for almost a week. Clothes and books litter the floor and his desk. A total mess - and it’s never a mess. He shuts the door behind him and slowly sinks to the ground.

What would someone be looking for? Why? His mind sifts through the jumbled thoughts that race through it as he stares blankly in front of him. His eyes focus on something barely visible, covered by his ruffled comforter, but his mind doesn’t register it. It takes him a few moments to realize he’s actually staring at something. He furrows his brow and slowly moves forward, reaching out, he picks it up. A book? He turns it over in his hands and then opens it up to the first page…“I’m Liz Parker and five days ago I died…”

He instinctively shuts it and drops it to the ground. Her journal - how the hell did he get her journal…and why…and what’s that? Looking down at where the book landed there’s a folded piece of paper lying next to it. He hesitantly reaches out and picks it up. As soon as he opens it he wants to drop it…fold it back up…get rid of it! But he can’t. His eyes are frozen on the few deliberately highlighted words…the important ones being ‘sex’ and ‘Max made me ready.’ Look away. Look away. ‘He catapulted me into ready’. If he can’t look away at least he can close his eyes. Like that does any good…

As soon as his eyelids fall he’s hit with images of last night…of kissing her…of…touching her. Swallow. He drops the paper and opens his eyes to stare at where it was just in his hand. After a moment he looks around the room again…why the hell is he doing this to them?)
Music: Leonard Cohen - Everybody Knows

(Scene: Outside Michael’s Apartment Building. Maria is furiously pacing back and forth in front of the building and having a very animated conversation with herself. Michael turns the corner to the building and quickly hides behind a car when he sees Maria. He watches her talking to herself and flaying her arms around angrily and can’t help but smile. He shifts a little to get a better view and get comfortable - she’s not going anywhere soon and he’s definitely not either - and if Max *is* in the apartment he’s not coming out.)

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room. Liz is in bed, Nancy is sitting in the chair next to her and Jeff and Doctor Sanchez are standing around the bed.)

Dr. Sanchez (shaking his head at Liz): Well, Miss Parker, you’re a medical miracle and a mystery.

Jeff: We’ll take the miracle.

Nancy (smiling up at Dr. Sanchez): And I’m sure you didn’t have anything to do with it, Doctor?

Dr. Sanchez (shaking his head): Oh no, I can’t take credit for any of it - it’s all Liz.

Liz: Just lucky.

Dr. Sanchez (returning his attention to the charts): Extremely lucky.

Nancy: So when will my baby be able to come home?

Dr. Sanchez: Well, the wound is looking good, there’s no damage visible from the coma…(looking up at Liz) The blood transfusions went well. Your body is recovering at a healthy speed. I can’t really see what more being in the hospital will do. I think tomorrow would be fine. But there are still some things to discuss. Elizabeth, you shouldn’t be doing any extraneous activity - anything that would stretch and threaten the stitches to reopen. (Liz nods at him)

Jeff (looking at Liz): No Crashdown for you.

Nancy (holding her daughter’s hand and looking at her): And PE at school.

Dr. Sanchez: I’ll have the nurse draw up a list of activities that should be avoided. Now if you’ll excuse me.

Jeff: Let me walk you out. (Dr. Sanchez and Jeff exit to the hallway where Jeff beings to ask specifics)

Nancy (watching Liz): That’s exciting.

Liz (not too convincing): Yeah, it’ll be nice to be in my own bed.

Nancy (still watching her): Just no Max.

Liz (shocked): Mom!

Nancy: Your father and I were pretty surprised this morning…though I guess we really shouldn’t have been.

Liz: Mom…

Nancy: Honey, I think after you’ve recovered from this we should make an appointment for you.

Liz (hesitantly): An appointment for what?

Nancy: For *my* doctor.

Liz (getting the reference): No, mom, we really don’t need to do that.

Nancy: Honey, you’re serious about this boy - it’s impossible not to see that.

Liz: Not that serious.

Nancy (giving her a raised eyebrow): Sweetie, your father and I have been really lucky with you. You’re so responsible - with school, the café, your friends…we’ve never really had to worry about you…about the choices you make. We trust you and I think we’ve been pretty reasonable about our expectations. All we’ve ever asked is that you be honest with us. (She pauses) You’re serious about Max Evans.

Liz (looks away from her mom and softly): I think I love him.

Nancy (nods): Well, I think it’s pretty safe to say that he feels strongly about you too - his behavior this last week and…(she trails off, remembering the morning she caught them on the couch) I just want you to be safe - be smart about this.

Liz: Mom, we haven’t.

Nancy: Amazing as it might be for you to think - I was your age once, and I do remember what falling in love is like. I’d keep you my baby girl forever if I could but I know I can’t… So if denial isn’t an option, the best I can do is make sure that you’re protected and that you know you can talk to me about this. (She pauses and reaches out to brush back Liz’s hair) Your father and I have always wondered who would take our baby girl away from us…

Liz: Mom, I’m not going anywhere.

Nancy (softly): Not yet.

(Scene: Park. Agent Jones and Agent Banks are sitting on a bench)

Banks: What’s he want?

Jones: More blood, skin and some hair samples.

Banks: What? 30 milliliters isn’t enough?

Jones: I don’t know, but it’s gonna have to be tonight or tomorrow - I heard the nurses talking, she’s going home soon. Might as well get it while it’s easy.

Banks: I still don’t understand how she survived that shot.

Jones: That’s what we’re here for. The blood doesn’t match with what happened in September.

Banks: Maybe it’s the girl. We spend so much time with this Evans kid - she’s the one who’s lived through two shootings. We even sure that’s her blood on the uniform?

(Jones just looks over at Banks and they both shake their heads.)

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room, later in the day. Liz is sitting up in bed, thoughtfully leaning over and writing on a piece of paper.)

Voice over: Is it possible…to lose yourself inside of someone? I mean, is it possible to literally give yourself - or a part of yourself - to someone else? And if it is then what exactly does that mean? Is it like…you lose your identity - who you are? Or is it…that you can’t exist outside of that person - that you need them to be who you are? Or are those the same thing?

(She lets out a sigh and looks out the window thoughtfully for a moment before returning to the paper)

V.O: See I’ve had this plan - I mean that’s who I am, right - the girl with the plan. And everything in my past leads to this ‘pre-planned’ future. But…the problem with having a plan…is that plans really don’t…adjust well to change. It’s like a house of cards - by pulling out one card, the whole thing can fall down. I can feel the cracks forming in my plan, like it’s getting ready to crumble around me. And I feel like I’m losing myself in Max. And I’ve been thinking about this…about what defines a ‘need’. Because I know that I want Max…last night I wanted him like I’ve never wanted anything - like I never thought I could want something. Or someone…

(She closes her eyes remembering and takes a deep breath)

V.O.: It was so overwhelming so…so almost painful. And when you want something like that, does it become a need? Do I need Max? Sure, I can still breathe and function without him…but can I really be who I am now…without him? No one will ever be able to make me feel the way he does. And yeah, I’ve never been in love before and I’m only sixteen but…I *know*…I know that no one could ever make me feel the way he does. And I like the way I feel…and I’m not talking about the physical feelings - though, those are amazing - I’m talking about everything else…the feeling of being beautiful…of being alive…of being loved…of being…complete. And where does that leave me? Cause…I told him that I’d let him go when I needed to…and now he’s so close to finding his past…and there’s no way of knowing what future it leads to. And if we do…what every cell in my body is almost aching for us to do…how will I be able to let him go? How could I ever possibly let that part of me go?

(Scene: Max’s Bedroom. Max really hasn’t moved since he arrived home earlier that day. He’s still sitting on the floor of his ransacked room and staring at the journal a foot or two in front of him. This whole thing is like some sort of sick and twisted nightmare. He knows what he wants and he knows he can’t have it - but everywhere around him are temptations making him want it beyond control. If he could just wake up…While in that train of thought the door behind him opens and Isabel and Michael enter.)

Isabel (borderline panic): Max! Oh my God I thought something happened…(noticing the condition of his room) Max, what happened to your room? (Max doesn’t really respond to her) Max?

Max (letting out a breath): I don’t know, Isabel…I don’t know.

Michael (steps around Isabel and heads for the bed - he stops when he sees the journal): You took it?

Max (looking up at Michael): No…it was here…somebody left it here.

Michael (letting out a laugh): Somebody?

Isabel (not understanding): What are you talking about?

Michael (bending over and grabbing the journal he holds it up to Isabel): This. (Isabel looks at it and shakes her head still not understanding). Did you read it?

Max: No.

Michael: You’ve just been staring at it all day. (Max just glares up at him, seriously irritated) So tell me, Maxwell, how far did you go last night? (Max’s irritation grows and Michael looks down at the journal in his hand) Obviously not far enough.

Isabel (irritated): I don’t know what language you’re speaking but can someone explain what the hell is going on?

Michael (raising his eyebrows and shaking the journal at her): The disappearing diary of Liz Parker.

Isabel (confused): The journal - wait, how do you know what it is and (looking down at Max) how did you get it?

Max: Nasedo.

Isabel: Why? Why would Nasedo take it and then give it…to you?

Michael (amused and smirking at Max): “Tempt not a desperate man.”

(Max begins counting the ways he can wipe that smirk off of Michael’s face while Isabel looks between the two of them.)

Max: Go to hell, Michael.

Michael: Maxwell, you’re thinking about this way too much. The guy is giving you the opportunity to do what you know you’ve been dying to do…(looking down at the journal) both of you.

Max (can he get any more irritated): Michael, we can’t!

Michael: Uh…(looking down at his body and then back up at Max) Sure ‘seems’ like we can.

Isabel (under her breath): Oh…please…

Max: It could hurt her…*I* could hurt her.

Michael: If he wanted to hurt her, why wouldn’t he just hurt her - why save her?

Max: Because…it’s me…this way I’m the one who hurts…not him.

Michael: Maxwell, you don’t know…

Max: That’s right, Michael, I don’t *know*! And I’m not gonna risk it…I can’t…I can’t do this anymore.

Michael (getting serious): Maxwell, this is our past…this is the only thing we’ve got…you can’t just…

Max: What! I can’t just what, Michael…risk her life?

Michael (exasperated): Maxwell…this is our fucking past…it’s everything.

Max: And if it was Maria - you’d say what, fuck it? Is that what you’d *do*, Michael? (And with that the tension in the room explodes. Isabel, not at all comfortable with a.) Sex and b.) Listening to her brother discussing it, figures it’s time to suck it up.)

Isabel: Michael, Max is right…I mean, look at his track record…is there a human he’s known and hasn’t killed?

Michael (letting out a sigh): Max, you see the visions when you kiss her…what? You can’t do that anymore?

Max: I can’t control it…I can’t…stop.

Michael: You can’t stop? What are you, the Viagra Bunny?

Isabel: Okay, I do not want to be listening to this.

Max: Michael, it’s like a force…when the visions start - I can’t control myself…it’s like this pull - to keep going…to see more.

Michael: What have you seen, Max? (Max rubs his forehead with his hand…what has he seen? He’s been so caught up in Liz that he has to think about it) Maxwell, what have you seen after the crash?

Max: Um…random towns…people…and (he looks up at Michael) a woman.

Michael: So?

Max: This woman, I think he kissed her. I think she knew and…

Michael: What?

Max: She looked at him…the way we thought people would look at us if they knew…and then he started killing people.

Isabel: You saw him killing people?

Max (under his breath): Yes.

Isabel (softly): Thank God Liz can’t see it. (Both Michael and Max look at her) It’s bad enough what he’s doing to her but that would be…I don’t know…(under her breath) beyond cruel.

Michael (trying to sensitively continue): What else did you see, Max?

Max (looking away from Isabel to Michael): The stones…there were these two stones he had with symbols on them.

Michael (almost desperate): What do you mean, Max…like the ones we have or…

Max: Different…bigger…he did something with them - I couldn’t see but I think they created that blue light and the symbols.

Michael (thinking aloud): Stones with symbols? We don’t have those, neither did River Dog. Maybe Nasedo still has them. (Looking at Max) You’ve gotta find out, Max…You have to find out where they are.

Max: Michael.

Michael: Maxwell…that’s all we need…

Isabel: Michael…

Michael (looking between them): Something to go on…that’s all we need.

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room. Liz is sleeping restlessly in bed. The scene focuses on her face and gradually changes to the dream she’s having. She’s standing in the middle of a strikingly beautiful red rock landscape - similar to Canyonlands or Arches in Southern Utah. She looks around, not knowing where she is or why she’s there. As she turns her head to her right he appears in the dream - and she quickly looks away.)

Liz (stoically): What is this place - one of your memories?

Nasedo (pretending to care): It’s not fair that he gets to see everything, is it?

Liz (disgusted): Fair?

Nasedo (patronizingly): Now, Liz…I’m giving you a…a reward.

Liz (with hate in her eyes and voice): Reward?

Nasedo: I realize it’s not quite as nice as the…‘gift’ I’ve already given you…consider it a…‘you’re welcome.’ (Liz just glares at him) This (motioning around them) is what you’re helping Max find.

(Her face sort of falls - not sure whether to believe him or not. She slowly moves her gaze from him to survey the landscape again.)

Liz (hesitantly): This is his home?

(She looks back in the direction of Nasedo but he’s gone. She can feel him still there but can’t see him. She searches her surroundings for him but he’s not anywhere visible.)

Nasedo (voice): Not just his home, Liz, it’s his life, the one he’ll eventually be living.

(Liz scans the rocks in the distance and then she hears it - a giggle…a woman’s giggle - coming from behind her. As she turns toward the source of it the landscape quickly changes. It’s beautiful…the most beautiful meadow she’s ever seen. It doesn’t seem real. The colors - they’re so vibrant…like Kool Aid colors. Then that annoying giggling again. She looks around slightly irritated…and then they come into view. She has to squint a little to see who it is and when she does she swallows hard and unsuccessfully wills herself to look away. It’s an older looking Max with a woman who is clearly not her.)

Liz: Why are you showing me this?

Nasedo (voice): I lied before, when I told you it could never lead to anything. This, Liz, this is what it leads to…of course, only if you love him enough.

Liz (she can’t take her eyes off of Max and this woman holding hands walking toward her, softly): Do you enjoy this?

Nasedo (voice): What would that be?

Liz (softly): Pain.

Nasedo: The pain makes it real, Liz…otherwise it’s just…a dream. (Max pulls the woman to him, she giggles and they kiss.) Let me ask you again, Liz, how far will you go to help Max find his past - to find this? You said you’d *let* him go…but do you love him enough to *help* him go?

Liz (with watery eyes staring at Max and this woman, weakly): Why are you doing this to me?

Nasedo: It’s nothing personal.

Liz (fighting back tears): Personal…right.

(The kissing between Max and the woman disgustingly intensifies and Liz closes her eyes and wills herself to wake up, she turns her head slightly and opens them again and Nasedo comes into view)

Liz (with pleading in her eyes and voice, under her breath) Please…

(Scene cuts back to the Hospital Room)

Alex (coming into the room and seeing Liz sleeping with tears streaming down her cheek): Liz? Liz, are you okay?

Liz (startled and waking up): Alex? Um…I’m…fine…it was just a dream…a…(trying to reassure both of them) a bad dream. (She looks at him quickly remembering) Alex…the journal.

Alex: No worries - I got a call from Isabel saying that everything was okay.

Liz (confused): They found it?

Alex: Don’t know - she wouldn’t give details, just said that Max would explain. (Liz furrows her brow, trying to understand how everything could possibly be ‘okay’. Alex sits down in the chair and watches her closely) I’m worried about you.

Liz (absentmindedly): Me too.

Alex (sitting down): Let’s try that again…the correct response is ‘Alex I’m fine, there’s nothing to be worried about.’

Liz (smiling at him): If I say it, does it make it true?

Alex (nodding): We can play that way.

Liz: Well then, ‘Alex I’m fine, there’s absolutely nothing for you to be worried about.’ (Looking at him slightly questioningly) Why are you worried about me?

Alex (with a sweeping gaze over Liz lying in the hospital bed): Do I really need to answer that?

Liz: Alex…

Alex: It was something Isabel said…though seeing you crying in your sleep doesn’t help either.

Liz (not expecting that): Isabel?

Alex: Yeah, she said I should…check on you.

Liz (softly): Oh.

Alex (watching Liz): Yeah, and I didn’t really like her tone.

Liz (weekly): Her tone?

Alex (still watching her closely): Uh huh…kinda like that one. (Liz looks away from him) You do realize you’re not helping here.

Liz: Alex…

Alex: Don’t ‘Alex’ me…‘Liz.’

Liz (smiling at him and then letting out a sigh): I don’t really understand it, Alex.

Alex: Do we really understand any of it? I still think I’ve eaten one too many Ho Ho’s and fallen asleep watching an X-files marathon.

Liz (laughing at him): Alex, you can’t eat Ho Ho’s - you’re allergic.

Alex (gives her a ‘that would be the point’ look and Liz laughs) Now tell me, Miss Parker, why is Isabel - of all people - worried about you?

Liz (letting out a deep breath and looking away from him): Max is getting visions from me. (Alex looks at her expectantly) He thinks…um…he thinks Nasedo put them in me when I was in the coma.

Alex (looking at her blankly): Repeat please.

Liz (hesitantly): Max is seeing Nasedo’s memories when he…(softly)…kisses me.

Alex (still staring at her in bewilderment): One more time.

Liz: I told you I didn’t understand it.

Alex: Okay, let me get this straight…while *you* were in the coma…Dr. Demento - a.k.a the murderous shape-shifting alien that we’ve been avoiding for months - gave you *‘his’* memories…and Max sees them…when he kisses you.

Liz: Something like that.

Alex (half under his breath): Uh uh…definitely one too many Ho Ho’s. (He looks up at Liz) What’s he seen?

Liz: The crash, the cave and pods. I’m not really sure what else.

Alex: And it’s only when you kiss?

Liz: Yeah. Alex: Oh, Liz…I’m sorry.

Liz (failing miserably at an attempt to lighten the mood): You know it’s not that bad, Alex - at least it’s kissing, right?

Alex: Liz…

Liz: I don’t know…I want to kiss him - I mean, I can’t stop kissing him…and I know that he wants to kiss me - not because of the visions…It’s just…I don’t know.

Alex: What does Max say?

Liz: You know Max - he wants to stop…but, Alex, it’s his past - and as much as that…might scare me…what am I supposed to do?

Alex: If this guy ever plans on showing his face he might as well just kill me because that’s all I want to do to him.

Liz: Alex…

Alex (getting angry): Why is he doing this to you?

Liz (miserably): Because he can.

(Alex is about to say something when Maria, looking upset, enters the room.)

Alex (turning to see her and immediately trying to calm her down): It’s okay, Maria, Isabel said everything was okay.

Maria (looking at Liz): I know, I ran into her at the Crashdown. (She walks over to the bed, looking a little peeved.)

Alex (concerned): Maria, are you okay?

Maria (still looking at Liz): Uh uh. (She sort of thrusts the sheet of paper she’s holding in front of Liz) Care to share what this is?

Liz (looking at the paper and then up at Maria): It’s the work schedule for the Café.

Maria: Uh uh…and (pointing to a line on the paper) this?

Liz: The ‘cook column.’

Maria: Yeah, and um…(dragging her finger down the paper and stopping) who’s this?

Liz: The new cook.

Maria: Right, and can you read that aloud so all of us can hear?

Liz: Maria, he needed a job…my dad asked me and…

Maria: Aloud.

Liz (rolling her eyes and letting out a sigh): Guerin.

Maria: Thank you. Now explain.

Liz: He needed a job.

Maria: A job? Is he even qualified - and boiling water does not count. Hello…the guy clearly doesn’t do domestic - have you seen his apartment? Nasty! He doesn’t know how to do laundry and do we even know if he showers?

Liz (trying not to laugh at her): Maria. Dad asked and I couldn’t see any reason.

Maria: Any reason! She’s standing right here!

Liz: Maria…I’m sorry I wasn’t thinking.

Maria: Oh you were thinking, but it wasn’t about me. Can you stop thinking about Max for like a minute?

Alex (defending Liz): Okay, that’s enough of that.

Maria (turning to look at him): What was that?

Alex (looking from Maria to Liz): She doesn’t know? (Liz shakes her head and Maria looks between them)

Maria: Okay, what’ve I missed - besides (shaking the paper) this?

Liz (taking in a deep breath): Maria, you should sit down.

(Scene: Sheriff’s Office, later that night. An unidentified person, wearing gloves, is standing over the Sheriff’s desk. Reaching into their coat, they pull out a videotape and carefully place it in the middle of the desk, followed by a small folded note.)

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room, much later that evening. Liz is sitting up in bed, thoughtfully looking out the window. She lets out a sigh and turns her head toward the door to find Max standing just inside it watching her.)

Max: Hey.

Liz: Hey. How long have you been standing there?

Max: Not long. (He steps into the room and heads to the bed) I come bearing gifts - well, gift actually. (He reaches behind his back and pulls out the journal.)

Liz (taking it from his hands, wide-eyed): Max.

Max: It was in my room…it must’ve been Nasedo. (Liz just stares at him and he quickly adds) I didn’t read it. I think he wanted me to but I could never do that, Liz.

Liz (looking through it, after a pause): Max, I think you should destroy it - burn it or something.

Max (surprised): Liz, it’s a part of you…

Liz (cutting him off): A part of me that could hurt you. I couldn’t live with myself if someone found it and used it - against you.

Max: Liz.

Liz (handing it back to him and shaking her head): It’s a part of me I can let go. Take it. I’ll start a new one and be…be smarter about what I write.

Max (taking it and setting in on the table next to the bed): Are you sure?

Liz: Yeah. (She pauses and then looks at him out of the corner of her eye) You didn’t read it?

Max: No - it’s not mine to read.

Liz: Such the gentleman.

Max (his face sort of falls at her comment and he lets out a sigh): Liz, we need to talk about last night.

Liz (suddenly shy): Okay.

Max (hesitantly and not able to look at her): Last night I…last night I crossed the line - I couldn’t stop. I don’t need visions to want to kiss you and I have a hard enough time controlling my feelings as it is but when the visions start…I…I don’t know - I can’t stop.

Liz (softly): I know, Max.

Max: I know and I can’t let you do it.

Liz: Max, you need to know.

Max: Not like this…not like this. (He finally looks at her and she can feel the pain and sadness reflected in his eyes.)

Liz (reaching out and pulling him to the bed): Come here.

Max (in his little boy voice): I don’t want them anymore.

Liz: Max.

Max: I don’t want to see visions I just want to see…you. I want to feel you…not him. I can see what we do in my head like I’m outside of myself watching but I can’t feel it - all I feel are the visions and him and…that’s not how it should be. It should be you and me and…(his voice cracks and Liz reaches out and pulls him into a hug. They hug for a moment and then Liz readjusts in bed and pulls him down so he’s lying next to her, looking into each other’s eyes. After a pause) I don’t understand why he’s doing this to us…to you.

Liz (brushing back his hair): I’d do anything for you…and he knows it.

Max: I’m so sorry.

Liz (closing her eyes): I have to be honest with you, Max.

Max: Liz, please don’t be anything but honest.

Liz (she opens her eyes): I’m scared. Not of what might happen if…you know. I can’t imagine how something that feels so wonderful...so right, could hurt me. That’s not what scares me. It’s…(she looks away from his eyes) it’s your past - what you might find.

Max (with a flicker of fear): My past?

Liz: It’s not really even that…it’s what your past might mean for you…for your…future.

Max: Future?

Liz (rushing to just get it all out): I know you need to find your past, Max, and I’ll do whatever it takes, whatever that means, because it’s important to you and it’s important to me. I’m just afraid of…of losing you to it. I know that’s silly and um…(willing herself not to cry)…it’s just…I don’t know…I’m sorry, Max. (She rolls on her back so he can’t look at her.)

Max (a little overwhelmed): I’ve never really thought about the future, not until you. I mean we always told ourselves we shouldn’t think about it because we didn’t think we had a chance for one. (He looks at the side of Liz’s face, after a pause) I need to know - I didn’t realize how much I needed to know, wanted to know until the visions started…it was…almost…

Liz (softly): Painful.

Max: Yeah.

Liz: I know that feeling.

Max (still watching her): I’m scared of it too. (Liz turns her head to look at him) I mean, what if we’re all like him, evil and dangerous…or if we really are little green men - you can’t love that.

Liz: Max.

Max: When you’ve wanted something for so long - to actually get it…I don’t know. It’s like you…all I ever wanted was to talk to you and then when you did - I was terrified…afraid of where it could go - or couldn’t go. Afraid it’d be another one of my dreams.

Liz (under her breath, thoughtfully): The pain makes it real.

Max: What?

Liz: Something someone said…‘the pain makes it real…otherwise it is just a dream.’

Max (reaching out and caressing the side of her face): I don’t know what my past is, but the only future I’ve ever wanted or thought about…is you. (He pulls her face to his and they kiss - not a passionate, vision inducing kiss but a very tender and loving one. They break apart and he moves like he’s going to sit up and she grabs onto his arm and stops him)

Liz: Stay.

Max: What about your parents?

Liz: It’s our last night…sleep here, with me. (She snuggles up to him and gently moves his arm so his hand is resting on her stomach - like it was the night before. He slowly traces the edge of the bandage with his fingertips. She closes her eyes, as does he.)

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room, middle of the night. The door opens and a janitor enters. He slowly walks to the bed, staring at the teens. After a moment he places a hand on the side of each of their faces. Once contact is made, the hands glow and the scene focuses in on Liz’s sleeping face and then switches to her dream…Liz is in the middle of a random dream about school when it suddenly stops and everything goes black. She’s now standing in the middle of darkness and very aware of it.)

Liz: Max? (She looks around her) Max, I feel you, why can’t I see you? What is this? (She starts to get a little panicky) Max? Am I in another coma? (She hears him, before she can see him)

Max: Liz? (She turns around and he sort of fades into the dream)

Liz (a little scared): Max, what’s going on…where are we?

Max (totally confused): I don’t know…I must be…dreamwalking.

Liz: Dream what?

Max (looks around and then to Liz, very confused): Dreamwalking...but this doesn’t look like a dream.

Liz: What do you mean - dream walking? (Max looks from the darkness surrounding them to Liz’s confused face and lets out a sigh.)

Back to Area 51 (Section III)