Intervention
Name: Lori R 10/01 Email: Gussywussy55@y... Title:"Intervention" Category/Rating: Cliffhangers/'PG13-R' Disclaimer: Owned by UPN and Jason Katims. I write about these characters for my own enjoyment. Feedback: Yes please, good or bad. Summery: Things don't always go as planned.
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Isabel bit down against the pain that grabbed hold of her, threatening to push her over the edge as it had for the past several hours. Tears fell as the excrusiating vise like grip twisted her insides until she thought she would pass out from the pain. "Oh God...!" she wimpered as her distented body writhed and she fought to keep the nausea at bay. Shaking, she rose to her feet, her hands gripping the side of the cave wall so hard her fingers bled as she slowly made her way to the small pool of water in the back. Falling to her knees Isabel bent to place her parched lips at the cool water when another pain gripped her causing her to cry out. Rocking on her knees threw the contraction, Isabel lay on her side near the waters edge as the pain subsided. Lowering her hand to the water, she brought a handful to her lips and drank gratefully. Another pain immediately took hold of her, this one sharper than any of the ones that had come before. Screaming until her throat felt raw, Isabel rolled to her side and threw up as the pain began to take over. "Isabel! Isabel answer me if you're here!" called a voice from the front of the cave. Isabel moaned from the continuous rolling pain that threatened to never end, unable to respond to the one voice she both wanted and dreaded hearing. "Isabel, I know you are in here so you might as well tell me where you are! I'm not leaving until you talk to me, so no more running!" the voice called out again as it drew near. "Michael..." Isabel called out weakly, gasping as the raw pain consumed her.
Michael burst through the opening to the area where Isabel was at, and stopped for a split second as he looked upon her in shock and realization. "Oh my God, Isabel!" he choked out as he sped forward and fell to his knees beside her, brushing the wet tangled hair from her face as he bent to kiss her. "Isabel, what the hell!" he managed to get out as he stroked her face and helplessly watched as she moaned in pain. "Michael!" she moaned as the pain became a constant. "How long have you been here like this Isabel?" asked Michael fearfully, trying to calm down for her. "Hmmm?" Isabel moaned. "ISABEL! How long?" asked Michael taking hold of her face to get her to focus. He was scared for the woman before him that he had known all his life and longer. "Um...it started yesterday, but... it got worse... early this ...morning...I came here...I didn't know... what else... to do," she panted weakly. "We need Max!" said Michael. "I'm going to call him Isabel, but I have to go to the entrance to do that. I will be right back. Do you understand that? I will be right back!" Isabel nodded in understanding as Michael stood and pulled a cell phone from his back pocket, and ran to the front of the cave. "Answer the damn phone Maxwell!" yelled Michael as his heart pounded. "Hello?" said a voice at the other end. "Max! Oh God, man you've got to get to the cave now and help Isabel!" said Michael , the panic evident in his voice. "Michael what are you talking about? The cave is gone and so is...Isabel! Michael, what has happened to Isabel?" asked Max, his own voice gaining an urgency as Michael's words registered. Michael swallowed and closing his eyes said, "Just get to the cave Max. Isabel's...Isabel's having a baby Max, and she is in a hell of a lot of pain! I think something may be wrong!" Max was silent on the other end of the phone as he sat stunned. Isabel was pregnant? Then the fear hit him just as it was Michael. Isabel was pregnant! No! An alien pregnancy that was not going to end well as evidenced by Tess's pregnancy with Max's son. "I'm on my way!" said Max as he hung up and began to pray to a God he had never believed in before.
Michael placed his phone in his pocket, and rubbed his shaking hands over his face, pushing them back into his hair. Who was the father and why the hell had Isabel taken the risk? The father. That hurt Michael, and he knew he had no right to feel that way. They had pushed their destinies away and pursued other relationships, but in the back of his mind Michael always knew that Isabel was the one he was meant to be with. Why had he taken so long to tell her?
The quiet of the moment was broken when a scream split the air. Rushing back inside, Michael found Isabel on her knees and rocking, her hands grasping hands full sand and rock. Kneeling by her, he hesitantly placed his hands on her back and began to rub. "Lower..." panted Isabel as she breathed through the pain. Michael moved his hands lower and rubbed until Isabel collapsed on the cave floor in exhaustion. "Isabel...who's baby is this?" asked Michael as he sat beside her and let her lay her head on his lap. Isabel shook her head as tears fell. "I don't know," she managed to get out. Michael's blood ran cold at her words. "What do you mean you don't know? Isn't that why you ran? You didn't want Max and I to know what you had done!" he asked not meaning for it to come out the way it did. "I mean I never ...slept with anyone. I've...I've never ...been with anyone...and I ran because I was scared," she cried as the pain enveloped her again.
Michael immediately felt ashamed of his questioning when she was in so much pain. He had to help her some way. In frustration, Michael placed his hands on her belly and concentrated on her pain. He had never attempted this with Isabel or Max before, but he had helped River Dog and himself on several occasions when Hank had beat him, so he didn't know if he could help Isabel now. Michael could see flashes of Isabel's life fly threw his mind as he connected with her, and it all had to do with him...
...coming out of the pods and not wanting to leave Michael behind...being afraid until Michael was found...anger at Hank for beating Michael and at Michael for being too stubborn to take help. She had been proud of him when he had taken responsibility for his own life...and incredibly hurt when he had taken up with Maria...then devestation when she had not been pregnant from the dreams...and then...what?!
...Michael frowned as he heard her breathing ease and looked down at her. The last images he had seen disturbed, confused, and shocked him. His own breathing became short and labored as he tried to understand what he had seen in Isabel's images that were sent to him as he tired to ease her pain. What he saw last couldn't have been right. How could it have been possible and if it was then what were they to do? Michael rested his hand on Isabel's hair and gently stroked it as he tried to quell the fear that rose in him.
Closing her eyes as the pain eased up, Isabel let her mind drift and she again wondered how she had come to be in her present circumstances.
******
A month earlier...
"Isabel! I need in there! Come on!" called Max as he banged on the door for the upteenth time. Rolling his head on the door, he finally gave up and went to lay back down on his bed making a mental note to get up before Isabel from now to get ready for work. Sharing an apartment with Isabel solved the rent situation, but it still left them with one bathroom to share and that situation could not be changed.
Isabel knelt on the bathroom floor and hugging the toilet as she tried to throw up as quietly as she could, the shower running to hide whatever noise she made. Finally Isabel flushed the toilet and stepped into the shower, the water running on her shaking her form. Isabel had never been sick a day her life and she was scared to death. What was wrong with her? Should she tell Max? Bathing quickly as she realized how long she had monopolized the bathroom, Isabel hurried out of the shower, wrapped herself in a huge robe, and to her room. "I hope you left me hot water!" called Max as he went into the bathroom and shut the door. "You can always heat it up if it's not!" called out Isabel because she knew he would expect a response from her. Dressing and fixing her make up as if in a daze, Isabel made her way to the kitchen where she took out eggs, bread, and juice to prepare breakfast for her and Max. Cracking open the eggs, Isabel looked down and suddenly knew she was going to lose it again. Running outside, she threw up in the bushes by the trash cans. Just the tought of those little yellow eyes looking up at her made her queasy all over again. When she felt like she could return to the kitchen, she made her way slowly back. Isabel returned to find Max gulping juice and grabbing his jacket as he headed for the door. "No breakfast for me...gotta run! Someone took too long in the shower and now I'm late," he said as he gave her a pointed look before heading out the door. Relieved, Isabel used her powers to discard the eggs and put away the other items, her queasy stomach rebelling at the sight of that type of food. Grabbing some crackers and juice which she heard helped sick stomachs, Isabel went to her room and lay down. What was wrong with her? Laying her hand on her tummy, she placed her arm over her eyes and took deep breaths before she finally felt well enough to get up and go on to work.
******
Michael stopped his bike in front of the pizza shop and got off. Placing his helmut on the seat and shaking his hair back, he headed into the restraunt to meet his friends. Max and Liz were already there and Maria was with them. He hadn't seen her in a few months, not since she had left to make a demo or her music. They had parted okay, but it still seemed strange to see her like this after all the time they had dated and everything they had been through. Looking around he wondered where Isabel was. Michael was about to go join his friends when he noticed Isabel standing by the restrooms and she didn't look good. She was leaning against the wall with her eyes closed and her hand to her mouth. Glancing over to see if Max had noticed Isabel and seeing he hadn't, Michael made his way over to her and said, "Hey Isabel are you okay? You're looking kinda green...no pun intended," he added with a slight laugh. Isabel shook her head paled even more when a waitress walked by with a fresh pizza. "I'm just tired Michael," lied Isabel as she struggled to keep the contents of her stomach from coming up. "But you look ...sick," said Michael as he felt of her damp forehead. "I'm not sick, Michael! I'm just tired. I stayed up most of the last two nights doing reports for work and now I'm exhausted. I should have stayed home and gone to bed instead of coming to eat with everyone," Isabel said as she prayed Michael would just leave it alone and go on. It was bad enough she was sick and didn't know why, she didn't need Max and Michael smothering her, especially Michael. "Want me to get Max?" asked Michael concerned about her. She looked really bad and he didn't like it. "No Michael, I will be fine, I just need to go home and and rest," said Isabel as she entered the now empty ladies room and closed the door. Michael watched her go into the ladies room and leaned against the wall to wait. He didn't care what she said, she was sick and he was not leaving her alone. Several minutes went by and Michael began to get more worried as he knocked on the door. "Isabel, you okay?" Michael asked as he knocked discretly on the ladies room door, returning a woman's stare as he did so. When no answer was forth coming he used his powers to unlock the door and entered, only to find the room empty. "What the hell?" he said confused as he looked at the open window that Isabel had apparently crawled out.
*****
Isabel walked though the park on her way home and just hoped that Michael wasn't too mad at her for ditching him. When Maria left to further her career months ago, Isabel had begun to have stirrings again for Michael that she swore to herself that she would not act on. They had put their past lives and the destinies behind them long ago and she was not going to jeopordize their friendship by telling him she had feelings for him that went beyond that friendship. Seeing the gazebo ahead, Isabel went inside and sat down. The air was peaceful and the stars were out in full tonight. Sighing, Isabel leaned her head back and took a deep breath, her stomach having finally settled down...then she gasped and her hand went hesitantly to her stomach. What was that? That light fluttery feeling. Thinking she had felt her empty stomach begin to rebel, Isabel sighed again and leaned back., making a mental note to eat something when she got home. But she sat up quickly and gasped as she felt what seemed like butterfly wings tickling inside of her. This was not hunger, but something else entirely. She unconsciously gathered her shirt in her hand and with the other touched her abdomen as if afraid of it. She waited and then it happened again only stronger. That's when she noticed that her belly had an almost invisible pooch to it beneath her hand. Fear ran through Isabel getting stronger as she began to realize what was happening to her. "Oh my God...I'm pregnant."
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Present, the cave...
Michael gently ran his finger over Isabel's forehead and sighed. He wondered if she even realized what had happened? She didn't seem too. He wiped at the tears that filled his eyes as he wondered how he was going to tell her. What ever sick beings created them, had taken it all too far this time and if he ever got his hands on them he would make them pay for what they were putting Isabel through. He leaned back against the cave wall and wondered how much longer until Max arrived. It seemed like hourshad gone by, when in reality only a short time had passed. Isabel wimpered in her fitful sleep and Michael again tried to concentrate on her to ease her pain, but then the images would begin and he had to fight to stay focused...fight to not hate himself and those who had created them and sent them to Earth.
******
One month and a few days earlier...
Michael collapsed on his bed, his body so tired he didn't think he could move. He had never felt so tired in his life and he hadn't done anything out of the ordinary to feel this way. He had come home and showered and had dinner, but a sudden weariness had overcome him and now he fell into a dreamless sleep.
Isabel closed her eyes and immediately fell into a sleep without dreams. She had come home and showered, her eyes heavy and her body exhausted, and fell into bed. Little did she know sleep was not in store for her for long.
Michael rose mindlessly from his bed and went outside, getting on his bike and heading out to the cliff, his bike not under his control as he had no will of his own. He moved as if in a sleep walkers state, his destination the only thing spurring him on.
Isabel stepped out of her car and walked slowly to the cliff above the now destroyed cave. Approaching the edge, she relaxed against the figure that came up behind her and began to caress her shoulders with light kisses, as she turned in his arms. Michael took her mouth with his and kissed Isabel's own eager one as he caressed her, their love for one another filling their hearts and souls. His heart beat excelerated as his hands searched her body gently, familiar and yet alien to his touch as he sought out her secrets. Isabel gasped and then sighed as Michael made her his on the cliff. Their lives that had been joined in one life were now joined again in this new one. And as one they created new life.
*******
Isabel opened her eyes as she became aware of how and why she came to be here. Looking up at Michael's worried face, she lifted her hand to his face as she croaked out, "Michael..." He took her hand in his and kissed it as he quickly wiped at his tears. "God, Isabel, I'm so sorry...I had no idea. I'm so sorry," he whispered. "Michael, it's okay, I'm ..." and then she screamed as the baby again fought to be born. Michael tried to soothe her, but only succeeded in keeping her from focusing on breathing.
"Isabel! Michael!" Max called out as he entered the cave with Liz right behind him. Michael turned his head towards his friend and begged, "Max, you've got to help her! She can't take much more of this!" "How did you know where to find her Michael?" asked Liz as she went to wet rags they had brought in the supply bag. "It was the last place I looked actually. I just thought of it too late," he said as he stroked Isabel's cheek. Max knelt by Isabel's head and placed his hand on her brow, as he said, "I'm going to try and help you Isabel. I don't know if I can, but I will try, I promise." He then wairly placed his hands on Isabel's tight abdomen and focused his energy on the baby that was fighting to be born. "Did she say who the father is? I mean do we even know him?" asked Liz as she wet Isabel's lips. Watching Max work over Isabel, Michael responded quietly, "It's me. It's my baby." Liz looked up shocked just as Max broke his connection with the baby. Looking up at Michael's haggard face, Max said, "I know what happened Michael, this wasn't your fault. You two had no control over what happened. What we have to do now is save Isabel and maybe your child. I need your help to do that Michael, because I'm not sure of what I'm doing." Max looked nervously at Liz and then down at Isabel. "I'm going to have to take the baby," he said nervously. "What? You can't do that Max, you aren't a doctor, you don't know what you are doing!" exclaimed Liz as she watched Max search for and produce a knife. "Max, you can't do this!" said Liz appalled at what he was about to do. "I can't let them die, Liz! There is no one else to help her! I'm their only hope!" said Max as he pleaded for Liz to understand. Liz knew Max was right and though frightened, she nodded her head. "What do I need to do?" Letting out his breath, Max said, "Get the things we brought and get them ready. I don't know what will happen, but we can't wait any longer."
Isabel's eye's rolled back in her head as the pain she had fought for so long took over and she passed out.
******
One month earlier....
Isabel gathered her clothes, her money and pass book, and some other personal items and headed out to the waiting cab. Arriving at the bus station, Isabel boarded the bus just minutes before it was to leave. Sitting back in her seat, Isabel wondered again, just how she came to be pregnant and what would happen to her and her baby. Max and Tess's experience showed them that an alien baby was not destined to live once it was born on Earth, and with no way to Antar, then it was destined to die. Would she die too? She knew running away would worry Max and Michael since they had no idea what was wrong, but she didn't want them to watch her die if that is what was to happen. Closing her eyes, Isabel tried to hold down the fear that grew every moment at what was happening to her and how she had no control.
*****
Michael and Max searched everywhere for Isabel after Michael had found the ladies room empty. "I just don't get it Michael, why would Isabel leave like that? We've ruled out alien kidnapping and the FBI, so why would she leave? Did she say anything to you?" Michael shook his head as he slammed his fist into the wall. "Dammit! I should have known that something was not right with her. She looked awful Max, but she said she was tired. This is my fault." "You didn't know Michael, I just don't understand why she didn't come to us. Why don't you check the bus station and I will check the air port, meet back at my place in an hour," said Max.
*****
"So you did see her? Where was she going?" asked Michael to the man behind the counter. "I saw her, but I can't remember where she was going, only that she didn't look so good. I mean a looker like that and she seemed sick. Kinda sad," said the man. Michael frowned at his words and then said ,"Thanks."
He met up with Max and they went through Isabel's things trying to figure out just where she may have gone. All they came up with was missing clothes and personal items. This just reinforced to them that Isabel had chosen to leave on her own.
"This just isn't like her Michael. Something bad had to have happened to make her leave like that. Think, did she seem upset?" asked Max as he sat on her bed. Michael shook his head. "I've told you everything Max. I should have forced the issue about her looking sick and gotten you right away, then maybe she would still be here. You think she really is sick and just didn't want to worry us?" "Could be, Isabel tends to hide things to herself so as not to worry us. I think we may need to get Valenti to help us locate her. I'll speak to him," said Max as he went to call Valenti.
Michael sat down and picked up Isabel's pillow holding it to him. The smell of her lingered there and he breathed it in deeply. He should have told her his feelings for her had changed since Maria had gone. That he no longer wanted to just be friends with her, but now that seemed like it would never happen. Getting up he went in search of her again and hoped no harm came to her.
*******
Present....
"I'm going to try and block out her pain, but I don't know how long it will last. We can't risk drugs...we don't know what they will do to her or the baby. I'll be as quick as I can," said Max as he leaned over Isabel. Michael grabbed his arm. "Max, she can't die! You have to save her, even if it means losing the baby. I can't lose her!" said Michael knowing how selfish it sounded. "I know Michael, I can't lose her either," said Max as he concentrated on taking away all of Isabel's pain and to leave her in a numbed state.
Isabel was aware of what was going on, but could not respond. Max would take care of her, and Michael...Michael....
******
A few days earlier....
Isabel turned over as the baby kicked, it's foot poking in her ribs. She had not dared to look for a job or stay in the same place for more than two or three days because of her ever burgeoning belly. It shocked her to see how fast an alien baby grew. She was scared. No, she was terrified. She remembered Tess saying that alien babies took one month to be born and that month was drawing to an end. She would go to the pod chamber or what was left it to wait for the birth. If she and her baby were to die, then that is where she wanted it to be. Struggling to get up, Isabel carried her akward body to the dresser in the motel's dingy room and stared at herself. With the exception of her breasts and belly, she looked the same. Her full breasts were larger than ever, and her belly was a tight huge ball. Laying her hand on it , she wondered again whose child she carried and how. She would have given anything for it to have been Michael's, but that dream ended a long time ago. Sighing, Isabel dressed and gathering her things headed to Roswell and the cave.
*****
Isabel placed her hands to her back and stretched. She had been digging out rocks for two days and had finally reached the chamber. Using her powers to break the rocks, Isabel had been able to carry out the pieces, but it still was not work for a woman in her condition. She bent to pick up her water bottle, when the first pain hit her. It wasn't bad, but she knew that is what it was. Caressing her belly, she gathered her things and taking a breath went inside the cave to prepare.
*******
Present....
Max's hand shook as he placed the knife over Isabel's belly. "You can do this Max," said Liz reading his mind. Nodding, he made the incision and began to work to get the child out. The warmth of Isabel's blood and insides opened up to him, giving him a seconds pause.
Michael bit back the bile that rose in him as he watched Max cut Isabel open. She never moved even though her eyes were open and staring up at the ceiling. "Not much longer Isabel....hang in there," whispered Michael as he watched Max take the child from her body and hand it to Liz. Liz cleaned the child's mouth and body of the white substance that covered it, and soon the baby was giving out a strong cry.
Max used his powers to seal the wounds created by the knife after he lifted out the afterbirth. You would never know Isabel had been cut open. "She's going to be weak, but okay I think. I mean I'm not sure," said Max as he washed her blood from his hands.
Liz handed the baby to Michael, since Isabel was still in a dazed state. Michael looked down at the baby and was awed at how small he was and how normal he looked. "Max, why isn't he...dead?" asked Michael, afraid to love the child he feared would die. "I don't know. He seems healthy and able to handle the atmosphere. I don't understand why he okay, I'm just glad he is," said Max just as confused as Michael.
Liz stood over Michael and asked the question that was at the front of her mind, "How is it that Isabel had Michael's baby? I thought you two were just friends? And why would you risk it knowing what happened with Max's son?" Looking at Isabel and then at his son, Michael answered, "We didn't know we had been together. I would never put her in danger like this or my child. We just didn't know." Liz rolled her eyes and asked, "What do you mean you didn't know? We already know you can't get pregnant from dreams so you had to be together." "They were controlled subconciously through their dreams to meet and follow their hearts and their destinies," said Max as he wiped Isabel's face with a cool rag and offered her a drink. "They had no idea what was happening. Isabel must have been scared to death when she realized she was pregnant and had no idea how. That must have been why she left. She was afraid." "She should have told us Max. We should have been there for her...I should have been," said Michael as he kissed the baby's head when it started to cry. "You are now Michael," croaked Isabel as she looked tiredly at her son. "I'm sorry, I just didn't know what to do. I didn't want to make you two watch me die, so I left." "Isabel!" said Michael in relief as she spoke. "Don't ever just leave like that again! We tell each other everything from now on, no secrets, no matter how much we want to protect each other." "Okay," she agreed. "I want to hold him," she said as she looked longingly at her son. Michael handed her the baby and she asked Max fearfully, "Will he die?" Max checked the baby over, connecting with him and then shook his head. "He's perfectly fine. For some reason he is okay." "Max...thanks for helping us, for doing what you did," said Isabel greatfully. Max nodded and then took Liz by the arm and said, "We are going out for air. Give you guys some time alone."
Michael watched them go and then sat beside Isabel as she selfconsciously offered her son her breast. "Isabel, we have to talk," said Michael as he fingered her hair. "I know." "Do you remember anything?" he asked her. "I did once you connected with me the first time...we made this baby," she said quietly. "How do you feel about that?" he asked her, his stomach in knots as he waited for her answer. She looked up at him and said, "I wish I had been aware at the time...because what I remember now is telling me my heart wasn't wrong." He didn't think he heard her right. "Your heart?" "Yeah." "So it sounds like it is telling you the same thing mine is... that we've been fools to fight this destiny thing. We should have followed it to begin with," said Michael as he leaned down to take her mouth with his. Kissing him back, Isabel knew that whatever trials they had been put through on Earth, that at this moment they had all been worth it. "Michael," she breathed as he released his hold on her lips. "I love you Isabel," he said for the first time. "I never thought I would hear you say that," she said as she cried. "Yeah, well..." he said embarrassed. "I love you too," she said as she pulled him back to her and kissed him, their son asleep between them.
End