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xtremeroswelliaAuthor: X_tremeroswellian
Email: faithboscorelli1@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue.
Rating: R for language, violence and content
Author's Note: After watching "Tess, Lies and Videotape," I realized that this story falls into place with that plot. Here's the rundown. Let's just say that in T,L and V, Max and Tess kissed but Max didn't get any visions. Liz still saw them kiss. Max went to Michael's apartment and he and Michael still fought but didn't end up finding a video camera, although for this story we'll say that Michael went ahead and kicked Max out of his apartment. Shortly afterwords, Max and Liz break up and Max starts dating Tess. This story picks up about two weeks after the M/L break up, and there is much tension among the six of them...
Spoilers: Up through Tess, Lies and Videotape, the rest is just my guess of what could have happened in the season finale, but didn't.
Dedication: To Sarah, Majik Karma, Mel, Linda and Abs for all the feedback! :)
Special Thanks to: Majik Karma, who helped me work out the entire plot of this story by listening to me ramble on about it for three hours straight over the phone one night. :)
Feedback: Please...and be critical if you feel the need...I can take it.
One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen | Seventeen | Eighteen | Nineteen | Twenty | Twenty-One | Twenty-two | Twenty Three | Twenty Four | Conclusion
"Things are getting worse, but I feel a lot better..."
-Counting Crows
You Were Meant For Me (Part 21)
"If I could make it rain today..."
Max was staring up at his ceiling, his thoughts swirling in his mind. Swirling with thoughts of Liz and of all that had happened in the past few weeks. He was trying to put together the puzzle, but he felt like he could only see half the pieces. The other half was too fuzzy to see what pieces went where.
"...And wash away this sunny day
Down to the gutter..."
This was his song...the theme song of his miserable life. The one he listened to every time things got like this. When everything stopped making sense, he always came back to this song.
"...I would
Just to get a change of pace..."
"Max?" Isabel's voice interrupted his thoughts.
He looked up to see her standing in the doorway, hesitating. It was weird to see her hesitate coming into his room. A while ago she used to just march in without knocking or asking permission. It was just how she was. Now...he didn't like how frail and tired she looked. "Come on in, Izzy."
Isabel stepped into the room and sat down in his desk chair, rather than the edge of his bed.
"...Things are getting worse
But I feel a lot better..."
"Max, did you...notice anything...strange about Liz today?" she asked tentatively, staring at his bedspread.
Max sat up in bed and looked at her. "She was upset, yeah."
"No, not that..." Isabel shook her head and waved her hand in the air. "I mean...different."
"No," Max said slowly. "Why?"
"Because when I hugged her...I felt this...weird vibe," she said vaguely.
"What kind of weird vibe?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
"This is going to sound crazy, but...I felt this presence--like the feeling I get when I hug you or Michael."
Max stared at her. "You must have been mistaken. I'm sure you just picked up on how upset she was or something."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Isabel said, biting her lip.
"...There has to be a change I'm sure
Today was just a day fading into another
And that can't be what a life is for..."
The telephone rang a second later, and Max quickly scooped up the receiver and pressed it to his ear. "Hello?"
"Hello, Sweetie."
Max froze, and Isabel sat forward in his desk chair. "What do you want?"
"I have something you might want...or rather, someone. And if you want her back, I'd suggest you meet me at the cave on the Mescalero Reservation in one hour...or things might not turn out so well for your beloved Liz."
"Don't hurt her, Tess," Max warned her fiercely.
"Then you better be here in one hour."
The line went dead.
Max leapt to his feet, and ran to the door. "She has Liz!"
Isabel jumped to her feet and followed him.
"...Things are getting worse
But I feel a lot better..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael was thinking about Max and Liz, and how in a few months, they'd be having a child together. Somehow he just couldn't imagine himself ever being a father...though he could easily imagine Maria being a mother. The thought startled him, but before he had time to debate it further, a weird sensation washed over him.
*Michael!*
He blinked and sat up. He could have sworn he'd just heard Maria's voice. He looked around but didn't see anyone.
*I need your help! Michael!*
It was definitely Maria's voice he was hearing, but she wasn't there.
Fear gripped him.
She was in trouble.
She needed him.
How was he supposed to find her?
*Michael, please!*
He closed his eyes and forced himself to concentrate. *Maria! Where are you?*
*The cave...*
*I'm on my way!* he thought, hoping she'd heard the message. He rolled off the hood of his car, and slid inside the driver's side, starting the engine before he'd even gotten the door shut. Michael threw the car into reverse and did a doughnut in the middle of the road. He was so caught up in his actions that he didn't notice that he was being followed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maria struggled against the ropes binding her hands behind her back, but the more she moved, the more the cords sliced into her skin, burning it and bringing tears to her eyes. That combined with the killer headache she had from Tess slamming the barrel of the gun into her head was starting to make her nauseous.
She watched as Tess paced around the cave, the gun in her hand. Every now and then Tess would throw a glare her way, but so far she hadn't spoken to her.
If she could just get the damn knot undone.
Yeah, then what, genius? Gonna throw yourself at the psychopathic FBI agent with a gun? Brilliant, really.
She wondered if Michael had heard her. God, she hoped so. She hoped that he'd heard her and that he got there before Liz did. What if this insane woman hurt Liz and her baby? Maria would never be able to forgive herself.
"This is all your fault, you know," Tess said suddenly, turning to glare at her. "You had to stick your nose in where it didn't belong and screw everything up!"
Maria kept still, watching Tess with careful eyes.
"Do you know how long I've been waiting for this day to come?" she demanded, waving the gun around. "It feels like forever! This is my big break!" She turned her back to Maria, who promptly went back to trying to get herself loose from the ropes, but kept her eyes on Tess the whole time.
"Everything in my life...everything I've done, everything I've worked for...it all comes down to this one day...to this one moment!" Tess ranted. She spun around to look at Maria again. "Be glad that you'll be one of the ones to witness it!"
"What are you planning to do?" Maria ventured tentatively.
"Oh, now that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it? But just a hint...you won't like the outcome. None of you will!"
"Are you going to kill me?"
Tess smiled. "Why would I kill you? You're nothing to me...completely insignificant. But if I have to make an example or prove a point, you are expendable. The task at hand is much more important than your pitiful, pathetic life."
"Why are you doing this? What do you want from us?" Maria demanded, her fear turning into anger.
"I told you. I don't want anything from you. You're the bait."
"This is just...a game to you," Maria said, shaking her head and feeling even more sick to her stomach.
"All of life is but a game. Oh, poor Maria," Tess said, sighing. "First you lie to your friends to learn my secret, but it only ends up costing you their lives. What bad luck you are." She clucked her tongue.
"You're psychotic," she whispered.
Tess smiled widely. "And the pot calls the kettle black. Interesting how this works. You see, I'm not the one befriending someone of a different species...let alone falling in love with one of them."
Maria's breath caught in her throat.
Oh god.
She knows.
"Guess your weakness was also your downfall. But don't worry. I'll be sure to kill Michael quickly. As long as he doesn't put up much of a fight."
"What are you talking about? A different species?" Maria said, shaking her head in feigned disbelief.
"How stupid do you think I am?" Tess moved closer to her. "I know everything about you...about all of you! I was sent here because I am the best at what I do! Don't try and lie your way out of something when I already know the truth. That always pisses me off!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
Tess slapped Maria across the face so hard she fell back against the wall of the cave. "I know the little games you've been playing. You and Michael. Thought you'd pretend to have a fight so you could get close to me and Michael could keep Liz and Alex out of the way. It was clever, I'll give you that, but I'm smarter than you'll ever be. I've watched you the past week...I've seen every move the two of you have made. Trying to find out who I was so you could scare me into leaving town. It didn't happen. I don't get scared."
Maria stared at her, trying to control her trembling.
Tess smiled again and turned towards the mouth of the cave. "And any minute now it's going to begin. I've been waiting for this for a long time. And nothing is going to stop me from getting what I want."
Email: faithboscorelli1@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue.
Rating: R for language, violence and content
Author's Note: After watching "Tess, Lies and Videotape," I realized that this story falls into place with that plot. Here's the rundown. Let's just say that in T,L and V, Max and Tess kissed but Max didn't get any visions. Liz still saw them kiss. Max went to Michael's apartment and he and Michael still fought but didn't end up finding a video camera, although for this story we'll say that Michael went ahead and kicked Max out of his apartment. Shortly afterwords, Max and Liz break up and Max starts dating Tess. This story picks up about two weeks after the M/L break up, and there is much tension among the six of them...
Spoilers: Up through Tess, Lies and Videotape, the rest is just my guess of what could have happened in the season finale, but didn't.
Dedication: To Sarah, Majik Karma, Mel, Linda and Abs for all the feedback! :)
Special Thanks to: Majik Karma, who helped me work out the entire plot of this story by listening to me ramble on about it for three hours straight over the phone one night. :)
Feedback: Please...and be critical if you feel the need...I can take it.
One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen | Seventeen | Eighteen | Nineteen | Twenty | Twenty-One | Twenty-two | Twenty Three | Twenty Four | Conclusion
"Things are getting worse, but I feel a lot better..."
-Counting Crows
You Were Meant For Me (Part 21)
"If I could make it rain today..."
Max was staring up at his ceiling, his thoughts swirling in his mind. Swirling with thoughts of Liz and of all that had happened in the past few weeks. He was trying to put together the puzzle, but he felt like he could only see half the pieces. The other half was too fuzzy to see what pieces went where.
"...And wash away this sunny day
Down to the gutter..."
This was his song...the theme song of his miserable life. The one he listened to every time things got like this. When everything stopped making sense, he always came back to this song.
"...I would
Just to get a change of pace..."
"Max?" Isabel's voice interrupted his thoughts.
He looked up to see her standing in the doorway, hesitating. It was weird to see her hesitate coming into his room. A while ago she used to just march in without knocking or asking permission. It was just how she was. Now...he didn't like how frail and tired she looked. "Come on in, Izzy."
Isabel stepped into the room and sat down in his desk chair, rather than the edge of his bed.
"...Things are getting worse
But I feel a lot better..."
"Max, did you...notice anything...strange about Liz today?" she asked tentatively, staring at his bedspread.
Max sat up in bed and looked at her. "She was upset, yeah."
"No, not that..." Isabel shook her head and waved her hand in the air. "I mean...different."
"No," Max said slowly. "Why?"
"Because when I hugged her...I felt this...weird vibe," she said vaguely.
"What kind of weird vibe?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
"This is going to sound crazy, but...I felt this presence--like the feeling I get when I hug you or Michael."
Max stared at her. "You must have been mistaken. I'm sure you just picked up on how upset she was or something."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Isabel said, biting her lip.
"...There has to be a change I'm sure
Today was just a day fading into another
And that can't be what a life is for..."
The telephone rang a second later, and Max quickly scooped up the receiver and pressed it to his ear. "Hello?"
"Hello, Sweetie."
Max froze, and Isabel sat forward in his desk chair. "What do you want?"
"I have something you might want...or rather, someone. And if you want her back, I'd suggest you meet me at the cave on the Mescalero Reservation in one hour...or things might not turn out so well for your beloved Liz."
"Don't hurt her, Tess," Max warned her fiercely.
"Then you better be here in one hour."
The line went dead.
Max leapt to his feet, and ran to the door. "She has Liz!"
Isabel jumped to her feet and followed him.
"...Things are getting worse
But I feel a lot better..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael was thinking about Max and Liz, and how in a few months, they'd be having a child together. Somehow he just couldn't imagine himself ever being a father...though he could easily imagine Maria being a mother. The thought startled him, but before he had time to debate it further, a weird sensation washed over him.
*Michael!*
He blinked and sat up. He could have sworn he'd just heard Maria's voice. He looked around but didn't see anyone.
*I need your help! Michael!*
It was definitely Maria's voice he was hearing, but she wasn't there.
Fear gripped him.
She was in trouble.
She needed him.
How was he supposed to find her?
*Michael, please!*
He closed his eyes and forced himself to concentrate. *Maria! Where are you?*
*The cave...*
*I'm on my way!* he thought, hoping she'd heard the message. He rolled off the hood of his car, and slid inside the driver's side, starting the engine before he'd even gotten the door shut. Michael threw the car into reverse and did a doughnut in the middle of the road. He was so caught up in his actions that he didn't notice that he was being followed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maria struggled against the ropes binding her hands behind her back, but the more she moved, the more the cords sliced into her skin, burning it and bringing tears to her eyes. That combined with the killer headache she had from Tess slamming the barrel of the gun into her head was starting to make her nauseous.
She watched as Tess paced around the cave, the gun in her hand. Every now and then Tess would throw a glare her way, but so far she hadn't spoken to her.
If she could just get the damn knot undone.
Yeah, then what, genius? Gonna throw yourself at the psychopathic FBI agent with a gun? Brilliant, really.
She wondered if Michael had heard her. God, she hoped so. She hoped that he'd heard her and that he got there before Liz did. What if this insane woman hurt Liz and her baby? Maria would never be able to forgive herself.
"This is all your fault, you know," Tess said suddenly, turning to glare at her. "You had to stick your nose in where it didn't belong and screw everything up!"
Maria kept still, watching Tess with careful eyes.
"Do you know how long I've been waiting for this day to come?" she demanded, waving the gun around. "It feels like forever! This is my big break!" She turned her back to Maria, who promptly went back to trying to get herself loose from the ropes, but kept her eyes on Tess the whole time.
"Everything in my life...everything I've done, everything I've worked for...it all comes down to this one day...to this one moment!" Tess ranted. She spun around to look at Maria again. "Be glad that you'll be one of the ones to witness it!"
"What are you planning to do?" Maria ventured tentatively.
"Oh, now that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it? But just a hint...you won't like the outcome. None of you will!"
"Are you going to kill me?"
Tess smiled. "Why would I kill you? You're nothing to me...completely insignificant. But if I have to make an example or prove a point, you are expendable. The task at hand is much more important than your pitiful, pathetic life."
"Why are you doing this? What do you want from us?" Maria demanded, her fear turning into anger.
"I told you. I don't want anything from you. You're the bait."
"This is just...a game to you," Maria said, shaking her head and feeling even more sick to her stomach.
"All of life is but a game. Oh, poor Maria," Tess said, sighing. "First you lie to your friends to learn my secret, but it only ends up costing you their lives. What bad luck you are." She clucked her tongue.
"You're psychotic," she whispered.
Tess smiled widely. "And the pot calls the kettle black. Interesting how this works. You see, I'm not the one befriending someone of a different species...let alone falling in love with one of them."
Maria's breath caught in her throat.
Oh god.
She knows.
"Guess your weakness was also your downfall. But don't worry. I'll be sure to kill Michael quickly. As long as he doesn't put up much of a fight."
"What are you talking about? A different species?" Maria said, shaking her head in feigned disbelief.
"How stupid do you think I am?" Tess moved closer to her. "I know everything about you...about all of you! I was sent here because I am the best at what I do! Don't try and lie your way out of something when I already know the truth. That always pisses me off!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
Tess slapped Maria across the face so hard she fell back against the wall of the cave. "I know the little games you've been playing. You and Michael. Thought you'd pretend to have a fight so you could get close to me and Michael could keep Liz and Alex out of the way. It was clever, I'll give you that, but I'm smarter than you'll ever be. I've watched you the past week...I've seen every move the two of you have made. Trying to find out who I was so you could scare me into leaving town. It didn't happen. I don't get scared."
Maria stared at her, trying to control her trembling.
Tess smiled again and turned towards the mouth of the cave. "And any minute now it's going to begin. I've been waiting for this for a long time. And nothing is going to stop me from getting what I want."
