Close Your Eyes - Part 2

Author: Sunnycouger (foolofatook_@hotmail.com)

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: You all don't honestly think that I own any of this do you? Roswell and all its characters are property of Melinda Metz and Jason Katims..I just take them out to play sometimes...

Category: Angst

Summary: Two lovers say goodbye as they make the sacrifice to save the world.

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It was still raining. The pounding droplets battered the window of the car making it practically impossible to see the dark skies outside. The dull amber lights were the only distinguishing features on the landscape. She didn’t care; her own tears mirrored the weather outside. She had never felt this much pain in her life and she wasn’t equipped to deal with it now. The girl sitting beside her protectively rubbed her back, while the two men in the front seat looked straight ahead…not even daring to look behind them at her heartbroken figure. They looked straight ahead at the road, remembering the pain they had felt when they had said goodbye to their own lovers. It had killed them, and they hated themselves for making her do it…but they knew deep down that it was the only way. They all had to somehow move on. Somehow they had to let them go. The dark haired man couldn’t help but look in the rear-view mirror out of concern at the broken woman behind him. As their eyes met she looked at him with accusation and hurt…and as he felt her loathing he quickly looked back to the road. He already hated himself enough.

He had stopped running eventually. His legs could no longer support the rest of him and his lungs had finally been unable to provide him with enough oxygen to breath and run at the same time. So he stopped running and went into the bar…hoping to drink enough to forget about the pain…but not enough to forget her. He had went in and had a drink and had began to feel less hurt. Then he had another and had begun to feel numb. As he looked at the half empty glass in front of him he thought about the others…they must all have felt this way. Yet they had given up without a fight…they hadn’t made them understand how much it was killing them to be separated from them. They had just let them do it…even if it was for the right reasons. He stood up and looked at the door, it would be so easy to run away and leave it like it was. To try and forget her…always impossible but it would be easier to try, at least he wouldn’t have to say goodbye again. He paid for his drinks and walked to the door…he had to try. Even if it didn’t work…he would never forgive himself if he didn’t make sure that this was what she wanted. So he ran…with a little bit of hope. He ran to find her.

She couldn’t help but feel that she had made the wrong choice. She was sat in the car surrounded with broken hearts yet she felt alone. She was the only one that hadn’t fully accepted the group decision. As she sat and looked at the road she remembered the look on his face as he ran of, and the touch of his lips on her own as he kissed her. She remembered the feel of his hands in her hair, and the way he looked when they danced, she remembered the way she felt when he said he loved her for the first time. She remembered the pain at losing him. And as these thoughts forced their way to the front she was finding it harder and harder to justify why she had done it. Why they all had done it. She opened her mouth as a gentle sob escaped and the man in front of the wheel stopped the car. Three faces turned towards her…each with equally sad and sympathetic eyes. As she looked from face to face she forced a whisper through her lips.

“I’m sorry…I can’t. I know we agreed…but I can’t do it. I have to go back…we all have to go back…please…”

He hadn’t found her. She wasn’t at their apartment or at any of the others. She had disappeared, they all had. They had decided to make it easy on them…so they had left. They must have planned it for days…break their hearts and then leave to try and forget. Staring at the empty room he suddenly felt the breaths leave his body…he had been too late and now…now he was alone. Completely. With no hope left. He leaned against the wall and sank to the ground…unable to stop the tears that came flooding forward again.

His friends had arrived at his apartment to find him alone in the dark, they knew that he wanted to be alone…but they also knew that he needed them. More than he knew, there was just the four of them now…four out of eight. They had to stick together. They had to be each other’s support…no matter where they went…no matter what happened. They were all they had now. He looked up at the blonde woman who was standing above him with a sad, knowing expression on her face…they all had been his friend for years. They had shared secrets with each other and they had all fallen in love with a different species…and now? Now they were all sharing the same pain. They were left like empty shells. He almost laughed…they were like “husks”: walking, talking, and breathing husks. He looked at the other girl and the man standing beside her. The girl’s eyes were bloodshot with crying and the man’s shoulders were slumped…the only visible and silent indication of his vulnerability. He asked them leave…he couldn’t be with anyone just now…he needed some time. Time to forget her…time to heal. Time to wake up from this horrible nightmare.

Time.

A loud clap of thunder echoed in her ears as a brilliant flash of lightning momentarily dazzled her. It was beautiful but so destructive…like all of their relationships. Perfect for a moment but could destroy by only a touch…it could destroy two planets. Yet here she was, hair stuck to her head with the rain, tear stained eyes looking at the door…ready to beg him to forgive her…ready to think of them for once… ready to say “to hell” with the consequences.

As she entered the building she lifted her hand to knock the door…as it hovered she took a step back and ran out the door.

The others had finally left- he had made them go. He needed to think about what had happened. As he stood next to the window he saw a loud flash of lightning that illuminated the entire area…a golden haze of light washed over everything for a second before disappearing into nothingness…and in that second he was sure he had seen her…she was running away. He closed his eyes and opened them again to make sure it wasn’t his own imagination playing a cruel trick on him…and sure enough she was still there. In that second he ran out the room and down the stairs into the street. The streets were almost empty and he called her name...and ran looking for her. He called her name again and stopped, looking around for any sign of her.

She heard him and stopped running. As she turned around she saw him…and in that instant their eyes met and all her doubts faded away…she couldn’t leave him again. For once she had to trust her instincts. They could make it work…they had to make it work…life was too long for them to live without each other…she couldn’t do it. None of them could do it.

He looked at her, the raindrops made his vision hazy but he didn’t need it to see her…she was like a beacon. She was all he could see. He tentatively took a step towards her and she did the same. In that instant the chemistry was palatable…the air sizzled between them and suddenly she ran towards him…unable to force the words from her lips…so he kissed them. He knew what she wanted to say…he knew it all. As their lips met he felt the pain and the uncertainty and the loneliness disappear…instead longing and love and regret replaced it. If he ever needed clarification of his feelings all he had to do was relive the last seven hours in his head.

She pulled away as a sob escaped her lips…she had to apologise and as she began to talk he put a finger to her lips and shook his head. She didn’t need to apologise…it was over with…she couldn’t let herself hurt because she did what she thought was the right thing. As he said that she launched herself into his arms again and hugged him tightly. It felt right to be here…It felt safe to be here.

As they both stood in the street a group of three people looked on from a car across the street. She had done it, and she was happy. They had no excuses now…if one of them stayed the four of them were as well staying. With a look at the girl behind them who was in tears of joy and apprehension the two men in the front began to smile as they began to drive at speed to find their respective partners…and prepare to beg them to forgive them.

~ End ~