PYGMALION

 

by DocPaul

 

 

 

 

Chapter Six: If yet I have not all thy love,

 

Day Six: Sunday, 4:17 am

 

 

Night was the best time to travel. Roswell, a sleepy town normally, was fast becoming a hotbed of after hours activity. Traveling up the side streets, he ducked under an overhang and observed the footsteps he heard coming behind him. Waiting. Patient. Tensed.

 

The hunters became the prey.

 

Sneering at the two that thought to trap him, the figure emerged from the shadows. Walkers, not Skins. Pity. Pity for the borrowed body.

 

Hitting the first one without remorse, he watched it fly and then hit a wall. The second purser stopped and turned.

 

“You.”

 

“Well, so you know me. And I must say, I have no idea who you are. Want to enlighten me as to whom I am about to destroy?”

 

“Zepar.”

 

Nicholas smiled a wicked smile that was made even more obscene because it moved across the face of a young boy. “Zepar. First Lieutenant to Larek. Interesting. Tell me, whatever does Larek want from this powerless planet so much that he would expend the energy to send you?”

 

Zepar was silent. Nicholas, Kivar’s goon. Right hand General to the tyrant who held them beneath his thumb. “Nicholas. Using a body so young.  Kivar had a sense of humor. Surprisingly. I can’t say that our corner of the universe hasn’t been a little less unpleasant with you gone all these years, trapped on this planet of water.”

 

Nicholas reached out a hand towards the unconscious body on the ground, and extended his power in a grasp that exploded in fire, engulfing the body.

 

“No!” Zepar slumped as his tenuous hold on his own body was fading. The energy needed to take back the essence of his companion also was pulling at him. The human host was destroyed.

 

“You’re not pulled back yet. They can only retrieve one at a time, and I’m afraid your friend is in dire need of attention.” Nicholas moved even closer. “What is Larek’s plan?”

 

“To see you dead!” said Zepar as he felt his consciousness being pulled home. If they didn’t find it first, all would be lost.

 

Nicholas watched. They were faster than he had anticipated. Kicking the slumping human host body for good measure, he continued on his journey. Pity. He might have learned much from Zepar.

 

Larek. Larek visiting Earth. Hmmm.... It must be for the King. Zan. Nicholas stroked his chin thoughtfully. The protector had to be near. There was no other way for this to play itself out. They had wasted so much time on the pretenders, the Dupes. Time was short. Watching the other body burn on the ground for a moment, Nicholas smiled. These humans were capable of so much agony. So fragile. Lovely. Just lovely.

 

~~~

 

Courtney swore in the early morning gloom. Damn. Trying to drink her coffee, she couldn’t ignore the itching. Her skin was dry. Luckily Hanson’s car came around the corner in time to pick her up. Their turn at the top of the Homicide rotation always came too quickly, and why always in the middle of the night? Ignoring that it was almost daybreak, Detective Courtney Banks wondered if Michael Guerin would be called to the scene.

 

Since she started working at the PD over four months ago Michael's work time had been drastically cut down, and she could count on one hand how often she had actually talked to him. New world. New body. But one thing remained true - the Commander was still one impressive individual and very worthy of worship.

 

“About time you got here, Carl.”

 

Hanson just smiled. Some days he was just slow. It had taken him a good three minutes to get out of his place after the call came in from dispatch. They had a body and an unconscious man down. It was going to be a busy morning.

 

The area was already crawling with support teams, and it was Courtney’s nature to take control of the scene. But Hanson was primary, so all teams reported to him.

 

“Morning, Sam.”

 

“Simon, Sir. What we got?”

 

Simon just shook his head. Another one. Over the last four months their area had been crawling in dead bodies. Mysterious ones at that, and the FBI units had moved into the area quickly taking over most of the exotic cases.

 

“I’ve got two men. One is a white Caucasian, approximately forty-three, in good health except he's dead. He was burnt almost beyond recognition, but I’ve got one good hand for prints. More than seventy percent of trunk mass is gone. This was one hot fire. The other man is maybe thirty-three. He’s been transported to County General. The extent of his injuries is undetermined, but he was found close to the other victim, unconscious, and the EMT unit was unable to determine the cause. He was transported immediately.”

 

Courtney was walking the transit, checking out the site. The burnt body was still in Situ, and she paused. Damn. Avoiding the others, she looked around and moved her search a little further afield. Unseen by others, she bent down and picked up something. Holding it up, she watched as it disintegrated into nothing. A Skin.

 

“What you got there?” Hanson asked startling his partner as he came up next to her.

 

“Nothing. Just some dust.”

 

Simon came up to stand with the two detectives. There wasn’t much to see from the field, but it was obvious that something had happened here.

 

“Sam, your call. What do you need?”

 

Hanson looked at the area. “Call Guerin. He’ll need to see this.”

 

Simon nodded. Good. That would’ve been his suggestion. Simon didn’t fail to notice Detective Banks' look of excitement. He allowed a sense of unease to pass over him. The last time a woman in the Department showed a real interest in Guerin it had ended in bloodshed. Cassie Welch.

 

~~~

 

Michael entered the scene without anyone spotting him at first. Circling to the right, he came to the alleyway with the scene before him and to the left. Ignoring other people, he slowly approached the remains of a scorched body. They had held it for him.

 

“Sam, you copy Evans on this?”

 

“Aye, Sir. He was called.”

 

“His orders?”

 

“To have you assess the field, devote as many resources as needed to identify the victims, and my partner and I are on the way to check up on the other victim and question him, if possible.”

 

Michael nodded. “Good. You remain primary. Work the case. You're looking for someone small.”

 

“Sir?” Simon and Courtney came to join them, quietly listening to Michael.

 

“The concentrated blast. I can see it from here. It hit the man in midgut, below the ribline. He was propelled back from the force. You can see the stronger singe just above his navel. All else radiates. A larger man would have hit him midchest. We’re looking at someone small in stature, maybe five-four or pretty close to that. Don’t let height fool you. This person was strong, and whatever they used was powerful. Powerful enough to fry this man to a cinder. You’ll need to check all high-burning accelerants. Something powerful enough to ignite to blue fire or white. Simon, what are we looking at, or can you tell?”

 

“Burning power? I’d guess about three thousand degrees. Fire marshal and investigator can place it better. Maybe five.”

 

“That would be something like jet fuel then, or napalm. Check the specs, Sam. Run all high-end accelerants, and see what kinds of specials come back, but I have a feeling that this one won’t be in your lap too long. I expect FBI'ers to intrude, much like they’ve been doing all along. Cut clothing remains and send them to Parker for analysis. Tell her to look for chemical debriefing and residue. Simon will autopsy and get a report to you. You're going to have to push hard and work fast before the Feds come in and take it away.”

 

Courtney came up next to Michael, demanding his attention. “What should I do, Commander?”

 

Michael’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment he was disoriented, but quickly regained his focus. Looking at the woman who looked too young to hold a golden shield or have the credentials she did, Michael pointed to Hanson. “Follow your primary’s instructions. He holds authority in this investigation, but the outcome will be credited to you both. So you should watch his back, as he'll watch yours. Go call the hospital now. See if there's news on your surviving victim.”

 

Michael watched as Courtney walked away. Something…

 

“Commander?” Hanson said softly.

 

Michael looked at him and frowned. “Sam, why do you call me that?”

 

“I don’t know. My partner does, and it fits you perfectly. So now I do.”

 

Michael just grunted.

 

Simon joined them. “We gathered the scene. But we need to move the body.”

 

“In a moment, Simon. Sam, come with me.”

 

Michael moved back out of the alley, and looked at it from an angle. Walking to the far right side, he looked back at the alley entrance and marked placement of bodies. His eyes narrowed. Squatting, he searched the area, now lightening into day. There was enough gloom to see what must be seen. Simon watched in silence.

 

“Sam, tell me what you see.”

 

Michael and Simon listened as Hanson gave a rundown of his information. After he finished, Michael reached up and took away his notebook, pulling the man down to squat next to him. “Now tell me what you see. Quickly, look…and see. We’ll lose the shadows soon.”

 

Hanson looked at where Michael had positioned them, the entrance to the alley and the placement of the bodies, how they felt. The other person was alone as far as they knew. He was smaller in stature, yet able to take out two men taller than himself.

 

“He entered the alley first. They followed. Pursuing him. They were pursuing him. He paused, looked behind him and quickly ducked into the shadows.” Hanson pointed to a series of shadows that were fast fading. Even in the dark of night those shadows would’ve been small and slight because of the lighting coming off the surrounding buildings, but the third man could’ve hidden there to wait since his stature was small and slight. Michael and Simon remained quiet. “They entered thinking they lost him. They were following him to where he would lead, far enough back not to be noticed. But he noticed. Walking into an ambush, he came out behind them about there. They turned. The burnt one was knocked back hard into the wall, and he never stood again. As you said, he was hit mid-stomach. The other saw the third man; perhaps they talked. But whatever happened, he hit the ground where he stood. There was some bruising, but no sign of impact.”

 

Michael nodded. Good. “So he stood in the shadows along that wall. Have you searched it?”

 

Hanson shook his head. The three of them went to see what was once hidden in the shadow, but now given light by the approaching morning. Sam saw it first. He slowly crouched and picked it up by his fingers for Michael and Simon to see. A skin. It quickly disintegrated  into a fine film of dust and blew away before it could be bagged. Hanson stood, a sense of eeriness moving alone his spine. Michael did the same. Both men slowly turned, looking up at the walls around them.

 

“Sam, keep to your mark. Work the angles as long as you can and report to Max.” Hanson nodded and started to leave. “Sam, carefully. Be very careful. Your partner, the woman…um, Connie…”

 

“Courtney.”

 

“Right. Her. I don’t get much from her, but I know that she has a look in her eye. An agenda that is not known. You watch your back. How much have you told her?”

 

“Nothing.” Michael patted the man on his back and watched him walk away. Since four months ago, a small group of them were collecting duel reports, those not confiscated by the FBI personnel, who had become regular fixtures in their department. More cases than they could count had been taken by these guys with no explanation. Hanson was with them when the first silver handprint was discovered, and over thirteen other ones had followed in the last four months. His partner was not part of that group.

 

“How many does this make, Simon?”

 

“About thirty-seven that we know of. The skin we’re finding at the scenes is increasing.” Simon looked over the alley. “What is it, Michael?”

 

Michael stood up. “Tell your boys to take the body. I want a report sent to Max, as usual.” Simon nodded and gestured to one of his technicians to bag the remains. They had learned all they could for now. There was nothing left here. Just dust. “What's going on here? Wish I knew. If this were a different time or place, I’d say it was armies moving into a tight space, their borders not so defined on the fringes, bumping into each other in minor skirmishes.”

 

Simon rubbed his face and looked around slowly like both Hanson and Michael had done. “Damn. Strickland is a problem, Michael. He ordered all lab and tech reports to pass through his desk before the detective folders. He is holding things back, I’m certain.”

 

“You still up for a little two-play?”

 

Simon laughed. He’d been sending two sets of reports for months. It was becoming second nature. That was even before Captain Valenti was down. It seemed more imperative now then before, and somehow he suspected it would get worse.

 

“Sure, Commander. I’ll copy Max.” Simon patted Michael on the shoulder and took off to get his team moving.

 

Commander. Michael looked around one more time. Looked like he had a new name. Smiling slightly, he went to return home. He had had worse names. This one wasn’t that bad.

 

 

 

The loft was quiet when he entered. Mr. Booboo was patiently waiting for him with a dead mouse between his paws. His plaintive meowing alerted Michael to the fact that Maria was still sleeping.

 

“Where the hell do you find all these rodents and birds, buddy? Bet you had to expand your hunting grounds.” Michael reached for the tail of the dead mouse, but the cat’s fat paw came down smack dab in the center and held it in place. “So you want our lady to see it. Hmm. You realize that you can’t buy her affections; they already belong to me.”

 

Michael left the murderous feline to his guard duty and rushed up the stairs. Sunday morning. He might get a few more hours of sleep before that irritating Sean arrived to make breakfast. Maria was still fast asleep. The ringing of the phone hours ago didn’t even disturb her. Shedding his clothes, Michael climbed back into bed and pulled her back into his arms. The only sound she made was a slight protest at the coolness of his skin against hers, but she soon settled and he quickly was warmed by the bedding.

 

Maria was sleeping deeply again. It made a frown mar his face as he watched her. The coolness of her skin, even under the covers was worrisome. Michael closed his eyes and concentrated on sleep himself. Tired. He had never felt so tired. He’d wake up and feed her in a little while, but right now he needed to sleep.

 

~~~

 

“You don’t have to come.”

 

“You prefer that I didn’t?”

 

Max swallowed more of his coffee and shrugged. “Personally, I think you should come. Maria would love to see you. She spent this entire last week at the hospital with Amy and Jim. She could use some fun and some time off. Watching Michael all pissy around you would make her day.”

 

Jonathan looked over from where he was dressing. Max was drinking his coffee on the edge of the bed talking to him. Max. He was calm and relaxed. Early this morning he had gotten a call, and Jonathan was waiting to feel him leave the bed and go. Max stayed. He talked to two people, made a call and then came back to bed. When Jonathan asked him if everything was okay, Max just said that Michael would handle it. Max was learning to delegate his authority, to trust others to do their job. He was learning to let Michael handle some things while he covered others.

 

“What exactly are we going to do today?”

 

Max laughed. “We’re going to help Michael shovel out the pit Maria calls her home office, then do some painting and stuff to get ready to put in the nursery.”

 

“It’s about time. They only have a few more months before the baby…babies...arrive.”

 

Max stared into his coffee cup and frowned. Where the hell had the time gone? “Maybe. Then again, with the problems Maria’s been having I think neither of them is in much of a hurry.”

 

Jonathan went quiet. “She’s too thin. I noticed that the last time I saw her. Pregnant women tend to get rounder faces, put on weight in certain areas. Maria is like a stick with a small pregnant stomach.”

 

“It’s a problem. She can’t eat enough. Sleep enough. Michael is…” Max paused. Michael. All he could see was Michael in the hospital when they brought Maria in near death. His voice. His fear was a tangible thing. That fear was still there under the surface. Michael was still afraid he’d lose her - her and the babies. >

 

“Hardly in fitting shape himself. I noticed it when we played basketball yesterday. He’s thin. Real thin. And Guerin used to be like a powerhouse of energy. Silent, but you could feel it. Yesterday he was tired.”

 

“I know. It’s getting harder. He’s giving everything inside him to Maria and the babies.”

 

Jonathan stood still. He walked over to stand beside Max slowly buttoning up his shirt. “What do you mean? What aren’t you telling me, Max? Why is Maria sick, and now Michael?”

 

“Jonathan…”

 

“Secrets. I know you have them. I don’t like them, but I have my own. Know this, Max. We can only go so far with you not telling me everything.”

 

Max looked at his partner. Choices. He had made some, but he needed to make more. Caution was a word that seemed to echo in his mind. Take it slow. Be sure.

 

“I will when I can. That, I can promise you. Until then, can you live with this as it is?”

 

Jonathan looked down at where Max was sitting. Yeah. He could wait. As long as necessary. Putting his hands on Max’s face he tipped his head up and searched his eyes. It wasn’t hard to see the clear honest regard for what it was. He could wait. Leaning down he kissed Max. He had thought he was through with relationships with men. But then again, he had never counted on meeting Max Evans. The shocking thing was how easily he had rearranged his life, given way in areas he once thought he would not. His mind was full of ‘ifs’. If he could keep Max. If they could belong to each other. If…

 

His life. He’d give his life for some of those ifs.

 

~~~

 

“Sean, how many more?”

 

Looking at his cousin, Sean's mouth stretched in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Fuck. She was too thin. Her face. Her hands. Her arms. Only thing that looked healthy was her pregnant stomach.

 

“More coming up, M. I cook them, you eat them. Deal?”

 

Maria nodded as she shoved more of the sweet dough in her mouth. Starving. It felt like her insides were a hole that she couldn’t fill full. When was the last time she actually felt full? Sated?

 

For about four minutes after the last time she and Michael had had sex and she had drunk Michael’s blood. Glutted. Satisfied. But the feeling was fading faster and faster each time. She was taking more from him. The blood was just a few drops at first - a turn on, or so it seemed. Now she actually took enough that her mouth flooded with the taste of him.

 

“Did you make some for Michael too?”

 

Sean nodded. He had a biting retort, but any fool could see that Michael was losing ground in his battle to keep Maria strong and healthy at the risk of his own health.

 

“He ate about two dozen or so.”

 

“Make some peach ones next. And Sean, could you make potatoes?”

 

“What kind?”

 

“The ones that your mom’s mom makes. The ones with the beef in them.”

 

“Hash? You feel like some Irish hash?” Maria just nodded. “Okay, give me a few. In the meantime, keep yourself busy with these.” Sean passed over a plate of fresh beignets. Sean smiled and picked up the phone to call for some fresh eggs, corned beef, and other things.

 

Maria waved when Max and Jonathan let themselves into the loft. Jonathan beelined it for Maria as Max went to join his partner who was talking on his cell phone. Maria smiled when Jonathan kissed her forehead and passed her a box of fresh bagels and cream cheese spreads.

 

“Jonathan! Great. Glad you felt up to facing the dragon in his den.”

 

“Hmm. I suspected he was called out early this morning like Max? He must be tired. I thought his energy levels might be low enough for even me to survive.”

 

“Poor old shoe! I’m sure your every waking moment is crowded with thoughts of how to make my Detective adore you.”

 

“Hardly every one. I have to spare a few for you as well.” Maria laughed as Jonathan sat next to her and stole a beignet from her. “You make these, Sean?”

 

“With my own little hands. Busy hands and all that.”

 

Jonathan gulped in appreciation as he inhaled one practically whole. “Awesome. I’d hire you.”

 

“Hmm. What is the benefit package like? Seems I should be considering a life of ease and relaxation, since my current life is majorly sucking.”

 

Jonathan just laughed as Maria passed him another one, ignoring Michael’s sounds of indignation.

 

“Do you see that? Do you? She’s sharing her donut things with him!”

 

“Can it, Michael! You know that Maria and Jonathan have a special gourmet thing going. Eating is their panacea. What happened this morning?”

 

Michael just swore and tossed his phone on the table. “Nothing good. I’ll tell you later. Where the hell is Sweetpea?”

 

Max laughed at the patent and true Guerin sneer. Uh uh. Too much fun. “He and Tess are visiting the family. Seems Tess’s sister, mom and sisters-in-law are giving her a baby shower. I was invited, but found one of the perks of not being married to the expectant mother is letting her husband do the duty. It started with early mass and a nice long day of events.”

 

“You realize that the Valdez family are like a huge name around these parts. They own and operate over three Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in the region. You passed up their free food to help me do this?”

 

“Love you, man.”

 

Michael was impressed. His ever-loving partner was a gem. A real gem. “Keep your damn cootie kisses for the blighted one. Let's go start shoveling.” Michael went over and tipped Maria’s head up for a long possessive kiss. She blinked owlishly at him as he quickly kissed the tip of her nose. Patting her stomach softly his eyes narrowed as he looked over at Jonathan.

 

“You going to sit and eat all day, or did you come to work?”

 

Jonathan just smiled pleasantly, ignoring Michael’s possessive behavior. It wouldn’t matter. Michael would be pissing on his territory all day. If not Maria, then Max. The man didn’t know how to share.

 

“I’m game. Nothing I’d like more than helping you make a nursery.”

 

Michael’s eyes gleamed in anticipation. Yeah, so the man had not clue to what was coming. Taking in his light Henley shirt, Michael felt his spirits lifting. All righty then...

 

“Sean, let's go!”

 

“Without me, Brother. I’m waiting for a delivery, then making the pregnant lady some hash, and then I’ll be upstairs.”

 

Michael paused. “Corned beef?” Sean nodded. “Damn. Save me some.” Sean just nodded. Good thing he ordered extra beef. Michael was looking about fifteen pounds underweight.

 

“That’s nice of you.” Maria said watching the fellowship of three arm themselves for a gruesome battle. Max was already shedding his shirt, as was Michael. Time to get dirty.

 

“He looks small for Guerin.” Sean shook his head. Never thought he’d ever say anything like that. “A few fats and calories might not go too far amiss. The two of you are eating hounds, I can’t even comprehend how you can load up on the food and still stay so skinny.”

 

“Liz is testing my blood. She thinks that the babies need something special in Michael’s, something that Tess and the rest also have. They're eating all the food I can give them, and they're still hungry. I think Michael feeds them with his blood.”

 

“Vampirism. Never got into that too much, but it can be a real kink. Aphrodisiac.”

 

“It’s more than that. Sex. Lots of sex.”

 

“Awwww, M.... You sure you want to be telling me this? Cousin here. Closest thing to a brother.” Sean swore slightly when her eyes clouded over at the mention of brother. He quickly grabbed her hand to distract her. “But you know I love a good kinky tale, and from my observation, you and the pissy detective have quite the story to tell.”

 

“It’s…different. Like a rush of energy. Afterwards, I feel…better. Good. Real good. Like I could just take on anything and everything. The feeling fades, but for a moment it is like all the cells of my body are rushing fast and hard. Furious. And…” Maria paused for a moment. “And I feel like I’m going to win.”

 

Sean reached across and kissed his cousin on the cheek. “You will win. You wait and see. I’ve never seen Michael Guerin lose at anything, and I suspect he has no intention of starting now.” Sean heard the doorbell. “And lucky for you, food has arrived.”

 

“Oh great! I’m starving.”

 

~~~

 

Isabel snuggled even deeper into the sleeping bag, ignoring the annoying feathering along her neck. It continued, and despite her intentions to remain asleep, she finally gave up and peered up through her hair.

 

“Alex, go back to sleep.”

 

“Morning.”

 

“Huh uh. Nope. Night. Sleep.”

 

“Breakfast is ready, and we need to hike out to make it to my family's place in time for dinner.”

 

“No.” Isabel shut her eyes and convinced it was one long nightmare. Alex’s cousin was a demonic creature from the deep. He had forcibly marched them until almost sundown, in an outrageous ploy of military tactics, then forced them to set up camp, and then had her peel potatoes in cold water, despite her insistence that potatoes were overrated. Hate him.

 

“Eddie cooked. He already got breakfast ready, and has coffee on the campfire.”

 

“What? Breakfast? He wrestled a bear or something?”

 

“Fish. He caught fish and something from his trap.” Alex laughed softly, blowing at a piece of hair against her neck. “Umm, good. Nothing like wild jackrabbit.”

 

Isabel sat up in a great huff. “You’re sick! Real sick. You know that? I’m not eating no damn Thumper, or any of Peter’s relatives, so…” Her eyes narrowed at the look on his face, his mirth barely held in containment. Bastard!

 

Pushing him over, she pummeled him with the side of her hand. He fell back into the down of the bag taking her with him, laughing.

 

“I’ll kill you, Alex! I swear.”

 

“Aw, my lucky day!” They moved around in the bags finally dissolving in laughter when Eddie banged on their tent.

 

“C’mon, Cuz. Breakfast is getting cold. Liz already drank an entire pot of coffee.”

 

“Be there in a second.” Alex looked down at the dishevelled Isabel. Her usual perfect polish was gone and in its place was just Isabel. Young. Innocent. And bone-achingly beautiful. Rubbing his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes and enjoyed a moment of nothing in the world but them.

 

Isabel finally climbed out of the tent some thirty minutes later, trying to untangle the mess that was her hair. Camping had some things to recommend it. It was…well not that. Isabel thought about it for a moment. There had to be something. Thinking of the cramped tent and sharing the sleeping bag with Alex, finally something good was found. A whole night suddenly salvaged, Isabel looked over at Liz who was surprisingly animated and loud.

 

Liz was laughing and talking with Eddie. They were getting along famously, and strangely enough, they were bonded over the death of Diane over a year ago. Both remembered her fondly, and still held a tinge of sadness over her passing. Parker was strangely at home at the campfire, and Isabel hoped that there was some coffee left.

 

“Okay, let's see this deer meat, rabbit, or whatever the heck was slaughtered for breakfast.” Liz quickly served Isabel a huge breakfast of eggs and ham with a side of hashbrowns and campfire biscuits. Oh god, food! Isabel took the plate and coffee cup like a miser, and shot a nasty look at Alex for his tales of woe for wild bunnies of the forest. He just laughed and sat next to her with his own loaded plate.

 

“Hate you.”

 

“Hate you, too,” Kissing her noisily upside the head.

 

~~~

 

“Sean! Get your scrawny ass up here!” Michael’s bellowing voice boomed through the loft.

 

Maria laughed under her breath as she put away her third breakfast of the morning. First beignets, bagels with cream cheese, and now she was on her second plate of corned beef hash with eggs hollandaise.

 

“Thanks, Sean.” Maria said softly ignoring the shouts and voices upstairs. “Mom would be here cooking if she could, and I miss her.”

 

Sean came around, finally leaving the kitchen to sit next to his cousin taking her hands. “Thought you were seeing her every day.”

 

“I am. A few hours here and there, but she made me promise to only visit for a short period of time. Mom is worried about my health and the babies.”

 

“Dammit, it’s over there! No there! Max, get it!”

 

“Hell no!”

 

“Something bit me! I think something bit me,” came Jonathan’s voice.

 

Sean looked up at the loft area at the the sound of these voices. His face contorted and he asked his cousin in a soft voice. “M, you don’t still have that tarantula, do you?”

 

“No! I mean, I don’t think so. It stopped moving one day, so I thought it had died,” Maria said, deep in thought. Maria and Sean both winced at screaming voices and suddenly a barrage of gun fire. “Um, you know, maybe it wasn’t dead. It might have accidentally brushed up next to a curare dart, and since it’s a neurotoxin, it might have just been paralyzed. But that was over a year ago, so it should’ve worn off.”

 

Sean just cursed. Damn, he hated that furry spider. Sighing, he kissed Maria on the temple and went off to save the boys.

 

“C’mon! Put away the guns.” Sean walked into the room with both Max and Michael holding their drawn guns searching the room. Jonathan was over in one corner trying to stay out of the line of fire, and unconsciously jumping at every sound.

 

“Jonathan, you might want to back away from that wall.”

 

“What?” Jonathan jumped and looked behind him.

 

“Those darts have curare on the tips that's a few thousand years old, and it’s still active.” Michael looked over quickly, then turned and looked at his own ass. It was numb. He was sure it was numb.

 

“Damn.” Jonathan could feel the sweat draining down his back. His light shirt was covered in dust and stains, and he was sweating like a pig. Max raised his arm and wiped the sweat from his brow.

 

“Sean, we’re going to need some boxes. Lots of boxes to pack up all these books, papers and journals,” said Michael. Both Jonathan and Max immediately volunteered to go get the much needed cardboard. “Nope. Uh uh. You’ll never come back. First we find whatever is moving in this place, then we kill it.”

 

Sean reached over and swallowed a shudder. Damn spiders. Hated them. “Oscar, come on boy. Got a nice juicy fly for you. Oscar?”

 

All the men stepped back in fright as a large furry spider came out from under some stacked books. Sean felt fear clutch at his stomach. Damn. It had grown! A lot! That wasn’t a spider anymore, it was a Wes Craven nightmare.

 

“Oscar!” Maria stood in the door eating.

 

“Dammit, Maria. Stay out of here! There's curare in here, plus an eight-legged monster.”

 

“Don’t be silly. That’s just Oscar. He was a gift from this anthropologist I used to date who’s a specialist in early Aztec culture and the Yucatan Peninsula. I thought the poor guy bit the dust. Aw! Look how healthy he looks!” Maria made a humming noise in her throat, then she cleared it. “Wonder what he’s been eating?”

 

Max and Michael quickly drew their guns and began looking around them in circles. Jonathan discreetly stepped up on a low foot rest. Maria reached down a hand and the large spider climbed up her hand. All the men paled and stepped back. Michael’s face twisted in agony as Maria made soothing sounds to the large spider.

 

“Poor thing. Stuck in the house all this time. Did the big mean men try to shoot you? I’ve got a nice beautiful garden for you to roam around in and big bugs for you to catch, since Mr. Boo isn't into bugs.”

 

“Maria, put that down.”

 

Maria just made a phishing noise, and took Oscar away from the madness that was men. “I’ll call Zeke and have him bring over boxes.” Maria stopped in the doorway. “Anyone up for pizza? I’m starving.”

 

“Honey, just get rid of that damn thing and go feed your face.” Maria blew him a kiss on her way out.

 

“Damn,” said Sean. Michael agreed. This pregnancy was melting down Maria’s brain.

 

Max looked around at the damage they had caused with their guns. “Um, Michael? I think we’re going to need to fix the walls…and floor. I mean I know they’re your kids, but I don’t think you should decorate with holes from live rounds. It looks like Bosnia in here.”

 

Michael nodded seeing the damage as well. “Boys, we’ll need to redo the walls and floor once we remove all this stuff from in here. You  know what that means, right?”

 

The men were quiet in a hushed wave of expectation. Hardware stores and Home Improvement centers, namely Home Depot, the Mecca of true masculinity.

 

“We need to take Zeke with us.” Michael said as the others agreed.

 

~~~

 

When Isabel and Liz finally made it home, they collapsed on the sofa as Alex carted in all the stuff they had taken. Liz had her feet up, too tired and full to move. Alex’s family had been a surprise. They had a huge family meal, and the amount of children and neighbors that came by never seemed to end. With incredible smells of cooking food, the Sunday game on the television and voices rising in conversation, it was a vastly different world she was raised in with just her and her parents. When her sister, Rosa died, laughter went with her, and all that was left was the silence.

 

After she was shot at sixteen, it was as if her parents were afraid that a loud sound or a harsh word would break her, and in years to follow every sound was said in a hushing tone, even at school where people looked at her in wonder like she was some sort of freak to survive the accident. What friends she had, went on without her after she spent a year at home recovering from the incident. When she returned to school her friends were in the grade ahead of her, busy with their lives, and she no longer knew them. Her parents clung to her so desperately, that she soon only went to school as a quiet shadow of what she once was, and then quickly returned home to study and work in the restaurant.

 

Alex. She vaguely remembered Alex Whitman. He hung out with the computer geeks and a group of Mescalero Apaches from the Reservation. They had a sort of nodding friendship from childhood that somehow never took hold. And Kyle. Liz remembered Kyle, Tess and Jack. They were an inseparable trio that she noticed from afar. After her accident, they were a year ahead. Tess was younger than the others by two years, but she skipped a few grades early because of the surprising ability she had to learn. All of them were there with Max, Isabel and Michael in Albuquerque, and Maria and Sean in Florida. Somehow it seemed strange that they all came together, almost like they were meant to meet.

 

Roswell. By the time she left for college it was like a deep cold silence, and the shivering of her body started deep inside, along her bones. All she wanted was to feel warm, and through college that meant men. Lots of men. It didn’t take long to realize that it wasn’t working. That sex and empty relationships were more of the same she lived with all her life. Silence. Mutual silence. Four years later, she remained alone, dating here and there, but nothing serious. Her life was work, her parents and the restaurant. Then she met Maria DeLuca.

 

Maria DeLuca. A powerhouse of inertia. Things happened around her. Everything seemed to move, escalate and intensify. Next to her, it was hard not to feel the fire of living. Vitality. Sean had that too, much like Maria. He looked at a person like he was seeing only them, and they had his entire attention. Amy was the same. She looked with eyes that ripped through the layers of protection, the façades and she saw what was there. Maria appeared not to notice, but her gentle quiet voice in a nice alluring even tone would make a simple statement so true it hurt. DeLucas.

 

And now Alex.

 

Liz closed her eyes. He was something unexpected. A part of her wished she had made an effort long ago to make him more than a nodding acquaintance. His sense of loyalty to those he made his friends and family was so stark and obvious. She could’ve used a friend all those years ago. A good friend. Someone who’d make her feel the warmth, who’d care, and who’d given her a reason to be more than silent.

 

Alex’s mother was a Mescalero Apache from Roswell. He didn’t look it, except for the tall leanness, but his father was a thin tall man as well. His eyes were the dark brown seriousness of his cousins, and he was guarded at time, holding things inside, but feeling it deeply. He didn’t yield for many, but for his family she watched him smile, and play with the kids as they hung off him, and he and Eddie sat together laughing and joking about things she couldn’t understand.

 

His grandfather, River Dog, was an interesting man. Quiet. But there was a sense of strength and power to him. He watched the entire family with wise eyes, and more than once, Liz caught him staring at Isabel. When she first met him, he talked in classical parable Indian-speak, but quickly winked at her and told her he usually does that for the tourists. They love it.

 

Family. Connections. They all had them. Maria and the DeLucas made Michael one of their own, and that expanded to the Valentis, and then to Tess, who had her own adopted family, the Valdez clan that was too numerous to count. Isabel was being slowly incorporated into Alex’s family, and she was in an unbreakable unit with Max and Michael. Max was finding a place in the Valenti clan with Kyle and Tess, and his partnership with Michael drew him firmly into the DeLucas.

 

Liz closed her eyes and felt what it was to be alone. She had her parents, but they were still trapped in the past. It was very lonely out here alone.

 

“Parker!” Michael came through the glass door like a raging bull. He was a sight. Covered in dust, cobwebs, and dirt with plaster, something smelling of glue and what looked like wood shavings, the man was nothing but unkempt. Alex came through the loft door with the last load, and his amusement was obvious. “Where the hell have you been?”

 

“Camping, why?”

 

“I brought you Maria’s blood, and dammit, I’ve been needing your expertise.”

 

Liz sighed in tiredness. “What do you need analyzed now?”