Name: Lori R 9/01 Email: Gussywussy55@yahoo.com Title:"Reality" Category/Rating:Cliffhangers /'R' Disclaimer: These characters are owned by UPN and Jason Katims, I have no claim on them. I write about them for my enjoyment. Feedback: Yes please, good or bad, it helps me to grow. Summery: Michael comforts Isabel when things go wrong.
Michael stopped his motorcycle on the rocky dirt path and turned off the headlight. He stared at the young woman sitting alone on the edge of the quarry and sighed. Getting off his bike and placing his helmet on the seat, he slowly approached her, unsure as to what he would say to her. His emotions were running rampant as they had been since he had learned the news. She never turned or acknowledged his presence, but continued to stare out into space as if the world had come to an end. Michael squatted down next to her and quietly asked, "Isabel, what are you doing out here? Max is going crazy trying to find you." "Are you going to yell at me too, Michael?" Isabel asked without turning to him. Michael looked out over the quarry and shook his head as he picked up a rock and turned it over in his hands. "Naw, I'm not here to yell at you Isabel, I'm just trying to figure out why?" Isabel gave a humorless laugh as she answered, "Why indeed Michael, I've been asking myself that very question and I have no answers to give myself much less anyone else." Michael threw the rock into the pit below and sat down next to Isabel. "So uh, you know what you're going to do?" he asked her as he glanced up at the stars. "Well," she sighed brokenly, "I think I will go away. I wanted to get out of Roswell, and now would be just as good a time as any." "You don't have to you know," said Michael as he swallowed to alieve the burning in his throat that threatened to bring tears. "I can't stay here Michael, you know that. Roswell is too small, and the talk too great," said Isabel looking his way. Michael nodded his head and then looked at her. "I'll go with you," he said as if that settled it. Isabel smiled sadly and shook her head as she looked away, tears springing to her eyes at his offer. "No Michael, you stayed to be with Maria and to have a normal life. I'm going alone...well you know what I mean," she told him as she glanced down uncomfortabely. Michael moved to put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. Isabel laid her head on his shoulder and began to cry softly as Michael rubbed her arm gently, his own eyes full of tears and anger at himself. "It should have been me! It was supposed to be me!" he said angrily. Isabel lifted her head and shook it as she reminded him, "We went seperate ways Michael. You chose Maria, and I ...well I made my choice as well." "I don't care Isabel, things change and people change. I know I made two mistakes where you and I are concerened and I'm not going to make another now! We belong together, we were before and we should be now!" said Michael trying to convince her. "We don't know what our feelings were for each other on Antar Michael. From all we have heard I betrayed you and my family...maybe we disliked each other," said Isabel stubbornly. "I KNOW! I know that we loved each other and that if you betrayed us it was because Kivar forced you too. The girl I know and love would not do that now!" Michael said fiercely, his gut feeling would not let him believe otherwise and he wanted her to believe it as well. "I love you too, Michael. You are the one who seemed to understand me when Max didn't," said Isabel as she again lay her head on Michael's shoulder. Michael shook his head adamently as he clarified, "I 'love' you Isabel...I'm 'in love' with you." Isabel scrambled to her feet and said, "Michael no..." "Yes!" Michael told her as he got up to face her. He grasped her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "I love you Isabel! When Max told me what was going on, I realized I was losing you! I'm not going to do that again Isabel! You and I belong together. Accept it, we are!" "You don't know what you area saying Michael!" She pulled away as she struggled not to cry, her hands shaking as she rubbed the tears that began to flow against her wishes. "I'm carrying someone else's baby! How can you love me knowing that?" she cried out brokenly as she realized he was serious. He loved her. "Do you love him?" he asked already knowing the answer. "Yes...I mean no...I...not in the way you mean, no. It was a moment of need for both of us Michael, but that doesn't change things for him or for me." "Maybe not, but I meant what I said Isabel, I love you and I think somewhere deep inside of you, you know that you love me too," Michael told her. She turned away and whispered, "Not so deep." He turned her back to him and held her face in his hands as he kissed her softly on the lips. Isabel moaned as she returned his kiss, the aching need of wanting him for so long finally being quenched. Breaking from her lips he told her, "We stay together or we go together, but I'm not losing you again Isabel. Never again." "What about Maria?" she asked as he looked into his eyes searching for the truth. "Maria said she doesn't want someone who worries over another woman all the time. She always seemed to know that you and I were meant to be together, and I just didn't want to be rejected by you so I went with her." "Reject you? I would never have rejected you Michael. We were just young and I was scared and unsure, but I've always loved you," Isabel said passionately, her heart soaring in her dispare as she realized he loved her as she loved him. Pulling her into his arms, his breath warm against her short brown hair, Michael asked, "So are we staying or going?" "If I stay he may figure it out Michael. What do I tell him?" asked Isabel,her fist clutched against his shoulder. "It doesn't matter if we stay or go Isabel, but you have to tell him. He deserves to know," said Michael remembering how he felt when they thought she was pregnant before from the dreams. He had wanted that kid. But he was also afraid that this baby's father would want it too, and then what would happen? "Do you think Kyle will freak out? You know, his baby being half alien?" she asked uncertainly. "Valenti? Who knows. I'll go with you to tell him," Michael said as he walked her to her car. "No, I need to do this alone Michael. I have to do this alone," Isabel said as she tried to find the words to tell Kyle. ***** "So what is so important that you had to wake me up?" asked Kyle yawning as he wiped at his sleep filled eyes. Isabel swallowed and paced slowly around the room twisting her hands. Kyle immediately knew something was wrong and was at once wide awake. "Hey, what's wrong? You're pacing around here like a caged animal. Oh gawd, their back aren't they? The evil aliens!" said Kyle tensing as if they would attack any moment. "No, it's nothing like that Kyle, but it is not good. um, why don't we sit down," said Isabel as she continued to pace and ignored the chairs. "Thanks I'll stand. So what's up?" asked Kyle curiously. "Kyle...Kyle...I," Isabel tried and tried to tell him, but it was not working out. "Yeah, we know who I am, now tell me what is going on here Isabel. You are scaring the hell out of me," said Kyle feeling his palms sweat. "I'm pregnant," blurted Isabel. "What? No way!" said Kyle stunned. "I felt like you had a right to know, so there I've told you and I just want you to know that I will be okay," said Isabel as she sat down on the couch. "Wow...yeah thanks for telling me. I'm honored. So what did the baby's father say when you told him?" asked Kyle as he sat down beside her, still in shock at her news. Isabel felt a coldness grow around her heart at his words. "What did my baby's father say? That's not funny Kyle," said Isabel angrily. "Whoa! Why are you getting all mad at me? All I did was ask what the guy said, I can't help it if he wasn't happy. Don't take it out on me!" said Kyle surprised by the anger directed towards him. Isabel felt her anger deepen as she said, "You know you are the father of this baby Kyle, and I don't know why you are denying it." Kyle jumped up and shook his hands at her before running them threw his hair, "I don't know where you got an idea like that Isabel Evans, but there is no way I'm that baby's father! We've never even slept together!" Then he froze and said, "Oh gawd, there must be some freak alien way to conceive and I did it with you! Oh shit!" Isabel sat in stunned silence as Kyle's words registered in her brain. "Kyle, we did sleep together. In this very house, in your room. We were both sober so I don't know why you are denying this. I don't want you support or anything , but I thought you should know about the baby. Thanks for being the ass you once were Kyle!" said Isabel in hurt anger as she started for the door. "Isabel wait!" said "I'm serious, I do not remember us sleeping together. When did this happen?" Isabel felt chills and dread crawl over her skin as she realized he was serious. He didn't remember. "When we all got together to remember Alex's birthday. You and I came here after to just continue reminising and one thing led to another and well..." Isabel trailed off. "Isabel,I went out and got drunk in Fraizer Woods by the hive sight. I didn't make it back here until the next day. My dad canned my ass for that. I don't know who you were here with, but it wasn't me," said Kyle disturbed. "Kyle, you went to the restroom and then I went outside. You came out and we took my car to your house because yours was being fixed," said Isabel trying to understand what was going on. "I went to the restroom and came out and got in my car and went to Fraizer Woods...alone," insisted Kyle. Isabel felt her knees go weak and if Kyle had not been there to catch her, she would have hit the floor. "Oh gawd...it was a shape shifter! My baby's father is a shape shifter!" she choked out before all went dark. ****** Max, and Kyle stood over Isabel as she opened her eyes and Michael knelt on the floor by her side holding a rag to her head. Seeing them looking concerned brought her back to the present and why she was lying down. "Oh gawd no!" she gasped as she closed her eyes and covered them with her hand. "Isabel, Kyle told us what happened. You have to tell us everything about that night," said Max as he sat beside her and took her hand in his. "I thought it was Kyle. We came here in my car because he said his was in the shop being repared. We talked about Alex and then we were crying and then one thing led to another and we ended up in his room. I thought it was Kyle!" she cried. "That's what Kyle told us, but Isabel there must be something else? Anything?" said Max as he touched her face. "Leave her alone Max, she doesn't know," said Michael as he ran his fingers along her hand. Max watched as Michael caressed Isabel's hand and asked, "How are we to find out about what fathered her child if we don't know what type of being shape shifted her?" "Can't you connect with it or something?" asked Kyle from behind Max. "I can try," said Max as he raised Isabel's top a bit and touched her belly. His concentration was intense as he connected with the child inside of her, and when he broke away he had fear in his eyes as he gasped from the experience. "Max?" Isabel asked seeing the fear he had, and adding it with her own. Max shifted his gaze from her to Michael and back. "Isabel we are going to do everything to keep you safe," said Max as he stoked her arm absently while his mind swirled with worry. "Max! What the hell did you see?" asked Michael as he felt Isabel's pulse accelerate with her fear. Looking to Isabel, Max said gently, "Your baby is a boy...a healthy boy as far as I can tell. None of the problems that my son had." The last was said with sadness as he remembered his own son that was lost to him. "You saw something that wasn't right Max, what was it?" demanded Isabel. Knowing he had to tell her, Max said, "Your baby can connect to my thoughts Isabel...speak to me in a way. He knows what we are saying and what you are thinking...feeling." He paused before he went on saying, "He told me that his father will come for him and his mother shortly and they will go home to his father's planet...his father Kivar." "No!" Isabel cried out. "Not Kivar! It can't be Kivar's , it can't!" But deep down she knew it was. Michael felt like someone had kicked him in the gut. It was not the best thing when they thought Kyle was the father, but to know that Kivar had again had Isabel and this time gotten her pregnant, it was almost too much to take. "Son of a bitch," said Kyle in a true understatement of the moment. "Isabel, you do you want to have this baby?" asked Max, knowing how he had felt when Tess carried his son. Isabel may be different knowing that Kivar was the father of her child. She may not want the child. Isabel looked to Michael which again was not lost on Max. Something was going on here, but now was not the time to ask about it. Michael's eye's connected with Isabel's in support of whatever she decided. "I can't not have it Max. But I'm scared to death. What if Kivar shape shifts into someone else I trust and I don't know it is him? What if he takes me to Antar? What if..." she said becoming upset all over again. "We won't let that happen!" said Michael as he gathered her to him and patted the back of her head. Kyle looked on with interest as did Max at the tender touch between the other two. "So, anything else going on here we should know about? asked Kyle flat out. Pulling apart and looking guilty, Isabel and Michael just looked at the other two before Michael said, "Okay we are going to be together, so get used to it. Questions after we get rid of Kivar." ****** Isabel climbed into Michael's bed and lay down, Michael pulling her to him and holding her tight. It had been decided that everyone would be told that the baby was Michael's and that Isabel had gone to live with him. Her parent's were not happy, but knew she was old enough to make her own decisions. All around it was safer this way. "I'm sorry Michael," she breathed against his chest. "For what?" he asked her as he held on afraid to let go. "For betraying you all over again with Kivar," she whispered. He leaned over her and said, "You didn't betray me. Kivar tricked you into thinking it was Kyle. We didn't know how the other felt so I don't see any betrayal here Isabel." He kissed her and needing to help her forget everything, he made love to her for the first time. Afterwards they held each other and Michael vowed to her, "I will raise this baby to love Isabel, not hate or be a killer like Kivar. He will be my son, not Kivar's." She cried as she knew he meant it, and couldn't understand how Michael could feel this way about another man's child, especially Kivar. "I love you Michael," she said as she fell into an exhausted sleep. "I love you to Isabel," he said as he lay awake and worried if he could keep her safe from Kivar and actually keep his vow to her. ****** Isabel sat down at the table and waited for Michael to show up. They were meeting at the Crashdown and going to the cave sight with Max to sift threw the rubble to find out if anything was savageable from when Tess left. Michael entered the Crashdown and sat next to Isabel. "We need to go! Someone was following me here," he said. Isabel felt fear as she hurridly got up to follow Michael out the door and to the alley. Seeing no car or the motorcycle, Isabel turned around and was hit full on with a charge and knocked unconscious. The form of Michael shifted and Kivar stood looking down at Isabel before he smiled and picked her up, carrying her to a waiting car on the edge of the alley. Michael entered the Crashdown and searched for Isabel before asking Liz if she had seen her. "She left with you just a few minutes ago Michael. I saw you two leave." "Oh shit!" said Michael as he told her to find Max and tell him that Kivar had Isabel and that he was going after them. ****** "It is about time that you woke up," said Kivar as he leaned over Isabel and lay his hand on her belly. "My son tells me you have been busy. It won't do for you to be with Rath. I won't stand for it." He painfully grabbed at her head as he searched her memories for anything that would help him in his fight to overthrow and destroy Max and Michael. He backed off when he realized that the two lovers were going to try and keep his child from him. "You think to keep my child away from me Vilandra? You should know better by now. No one keeps me from what I want...no one!" Isabel lay in pain and nausea as Kivar got up and left the room. She would never be able to fight him alone. She wasn't strong enough. Then she felt the first flutterings in her belly and heard what amounted to a small voice in her head. The thoughts of her son. "Why is he hurting you?" asked the small voice curiously. "He wants to hurt everyone...he kills everyone," answered Isabel. "I felt your pain...it hurt me too," he told her. "You felt that?" she asked fearfully. Her mothering instinct kicked in. "He hates you. Why?" asked her son. "Because he wants to control people...because I don't love him...I don't know why," she told him. "Are you in pain little one?" she asked him as she placed her hand over her belly as if to protect her child. "Not anymore. But I didn't like it," came the voice. "I will try not to anger him so he won't hurt you again," said Isabel knowing that meant giving Kivar what he wanted. It was that or risk losing her son. "It is what he wants," her son said reading her thoughts. "Yes, it is what he wants." ***** Michael realized as he searched the alley that he had no idea where to look for Isabel so he did the only thing he knew to do, he tried to reach her with his mind. Going upstairs to Liz's room, Michael lay on the bed and concentrated on Isabel and sent her thoughts that hopefully would connect with her. Isabel was dreaming of Michael when she realized that her dream had taken on reality and was not just a dream. "Michael?" she asked uncertainly as she reached out for him. "I'm here babe. I need you tell me where you are? Do you know where Kivar has taken you?" he asked as he held her to him and kissed her brow. "The motel. He raped my memories Michael. He hurt the baby doing it! He can't hurt the baby! Michael!" she cried as she felt herself began to wake from the dream. "I'll be there Isabel...just hang on!" called Michael as he woke and groggily left a note for Max before making his way to his bike. He just hoped he reached them before Kivar realized what was going on. ****** Kivar entered the room and tossed a bag of food at Isabel. "Eat so my son doesn't starve," he said. "You hurt him when you went inside my head you bastard!" she yelled at him. "He will learn to deal with the pain. He is my son and must learn to be brave and strong!" said Kivar harshly. "He is a baby! He can't understand why you want to hurt me!" she ground out. "Did you tell him you were responsible for the people of our planet dying? That you were a traitor to your family to be with me?" he sneered at her. "No, I thought not." Kivar started to leave the room when they heard a motorcycle. "How did he know where to look?" he cried as he hastened to her and reached out. "No! You might kill the baby!" said Isabel as she fought Kivar and tried to use her powers against him to no avail. Kivar overpowered her quickly and placed his hands on her head where he savagely read her dream. Slapping her away for telling Michael where she was, Kivar headed out the door to wait for the new comer. Isabel gasped and began to moan as her son began to kick furiously and the screaming in her head grew. "Hold on baby, don't give up!" she cried as her son cried out in pain from the warp. Pain shot threw her belly as the child fought to stay alive. His cries of pain more than she could handle. Outside the room Kivar greeted Michael with a bolt of energy that knocked him back in pain. Struggling to his feet, Michael was just about to retaliate when Max showed up in the jeep. "Wonderful, I have you both. This is better than I expected," grinned Kivar evily as he sent a shower of power lines down towards the two aliens. "Michael watch out!" called Max as he dove behind the building. Michael made it behind a car and raised his hand to Kivar sending a burst of energy towards him that knocked the older alien to his feet in surprise. "So, you have developed some of your powers. Well they are still not strong enough to fight me. You have long been reminders of my failure to completely control Antar, but after today I will rule without that failure. My son and wife will rule at my side and we will be indestructable!" bellowed Kivar as he again sent out his powers at Michael. Michael raged inside as Kivar spoke of Isabel and the baby. Releasing his anger in a hail of fury, Michael sent a dumpster flying threw the air at Kivar who easily deflected it. "Such anger will cause you to fall again Rath. I thought you would have learned that by now," Kivar taunted. "He won't fail Kivar, but you will," said Max as he approached the older alien from behind and sent him flying. "Michael! Find Isabel and get her out of here!" yelled Max as he threw up a shield against Kivar. "I can't leave you Max! We need to work together to kill Kivar!" argued Michael. "No! Isabel needs one of us and right now I can hold Kivar for a minute with the shield while you get her out. Now go!" ordered Max. Nodding at Max, Michael hurried to find Isabel. Then heard the screams. Isabel's screams sounded as if her life was being torn from her. Or someone's life. The baby! Racing into the room where the scream came from, Michael found Isabel writhing in agony as she struggeled to keep her child inside. "Isabel!" he called as he ran to her side, but looked on helplessly not knowing what to do. "He's dying Michael! Kivar's rape of my mind hurt the baby too much and now he is dying! My baby is dying!" she cried as she clutched her belly and talked to her child. "I'm here little one, mommma is here. Please hang on! Hang on..." she crooned even as the voice in her head began to get weaker. "Isabel?" Michael asked uncertainly threw his own tears as he watched her agonizing over the child she had not wanted, but had come to love. He wiped her brow with a cool cloth he fetched from the bathroom and held her as she cried. "Let him go Isabel, he is hanging on for you and all it is doing is hurting him. Letting him go," said Michael sadly. "I know, but I never got to hold him or anything," said Isabel as she began to sob harder. "He knows you love him Isabel. Let him go...if you really do love him don't put him through this." "Little one...it's time to let go...time to go to sleep," said Isabel as she sent thoughts to her baby. "You...need me," came the weak voice. "I will be okay. It is time for you to sleep now...no more pain for you," said Isabel as her stomach began to cramp harder. "Help me Michael," she gasped threw the pain as she struggled to rid herself of her clothes. Michael helped her undress, and then went to get towels from the bathroom, returning to hold her as she struggled to deliver a child she would never watch grow up. With a scream of agony, Isabel delivered her tiny son. ****** Outside Max could no longer hold the shield and just as he let it down Kivar gave out an anguished cry and fell to the ground,"NOOOOO!" Seizing the opportunity given to him, Max focused on Kivar and sent all of his energy to the grieving alien. Kivar struggled to no avail as Max gained control of now weakened man. Turning shades of red and purple, Kivar burst into flames, his ashes floating on the wind as Max watched. Racing inside the room he stopped short at seeing Michael hand Isabel a towel wrapped bundle. Blood was all over the bed. "Michael?" asked Max already knowing what must have happened. Michael looked at Max, his face contorted with pain at watching what Isabel had gone through...was still going through. "Sleep now little one...momma is here and no one will hurt you ever again," said Isabel in a small voice as she held her son's tiny body. Max approached the bed and watched Isabel as she cried over her son, his own tears joining those of her and Michael's. "Kivar must have known when it happened. He let his guard down and I overcame him easily," said Max as he went to Isabel and touched her hair. "I'm sorry Iz. I wish I could have been here to help him," said Max sadly. Isabel shook her head as she looked at her son. "It's okay Max, He knew I loved him. He doesn't hurt anymore." ***** Michael sat with Isabel on the rock at the base of what had once been the pod chamber. "You think anyone up there knows that Kivar is dead?" asked Isabel. "I don't know," replied Michael as he stroked her arm and looked up too. "You think any of them would care what he did to our son?" she asked as a small sob broke threw. Michael kissed her head as he said, "I think they would care because it was your son, not because it was his." "I was the traitor," she reminded him. "I think they knew Kivar well enough to know that you would not easily be swayed, that he held a power over you. They wouldn't blame you Isabel. If I don't, they wouldn't," said Michael as he wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Ready to go?" he asked her. Isabel looked at the area they had covered so one would come looking. Her son lay buried here in the rocks near where she herself had been born. "I'm ready," she said as he helped her to her feet. Looking back once more, she took the hand Michael offered her and together they went home. End