Of Mice and Men
Part 4

By Prestor John

Disclaimer: All of the standard: Don't own 'em, just borrowing 'em.
Summary: Sequel to “Best Laid Plans”. My AU diverges when Max kisses Tess in Heart of Mine. Tess Left town, Liz told everyone about Future Max to explain why they have to find her, Liz and Max start reconciliation, and Isabelle dream walks Tess, but then can’t contact her causing the group to think Tess is dead.
Category: Other
Rating: R
Authors Note: The continuation of my first fiction. Today is 5/23/01. I started Best Laid Plans right after CYN. I started Of Mice and Men after OTM. Now that Departures has come and gone I’m rethinking the entire direction of this story. I’m going to try and tie the revelation from Departures into the story. Hope you like the way it flows. Many thanks to Fadre for reading and correcting my numerous grammatical mistakes.

Max awoke to an unexpected but comfortable weight on his chest, and realized he was holding someone in his arms. He opened his eyes and felt a burst of joy as he looked down on Liz’s smiling face. “Hey.” Max said.

“Hey.” Liz replied softly smiling, “Feeling better?” she asked.

“Feeling wonderful.” He replied. Then was slightly surprised when she raised herself up and gently kissed him. Pulling back she reached up and began playing with his hair and said, “Max, I have something I want to say. I know I’ve been… distant lately, and you’ve been unsure of how to act around me sometimes lately. Well, I’ve been thinking – a lot – and I need to say this to you.” She could feel him tense up beneath her and his face set in a mask as he nodded for her to continue. “I love you.” Max instantly relaxed and his mask broke into a huge grin as he said, “I love you too, Liz.” He then pulled her willing head down into a kiss that lasted for quite some time.

A knock at the door finally broke their embrace. They were busy rearranging clothing when Michael’s voice came through the door. “Alex is awake. You all better come down.”

When they were presentable, Max and Liz looked at each other and grinned. “I guess that we should be grateful that Maria didn’t come up. She would have barged right in.” said Liz.

“I never thought I’d say this, but I’m grateful for Michael tact.” Replied Max, pulling Liz into his embrace. “Come on. We take much longer and Maria might come up anyway.” He said with a grin.

Downstairs they found everyone seated around the back room. Isabelle was on the couch holding Alex, gently rocking back and forth whispering soothing things to him. Alex looked like he had been crying hard. His eyes were red and he clutched Isabelle like she was his lifeline.

“Alex,” Max said gently “you had a stroke.”

“A stroke?” Alex asked weakly, “How bad?”

Max paused for a few seconds before replying. “You stopped breathing Alex. Michael and I healed you. Don’t worry. Your completely healthy now.”

Smiling weakly, Alex said “Thanks. I owe you one now.”

Returning his smile Max said, “No charge.” His expression sobering, Max continued, “When Michael and I healed you, Alex, we saw through the connection what happened. Everyone should know, but we” indicating him and Michael “won’t say anything if you don’t want us to.”

Alex closed his eyes for a solid minute, and took several deep breaths. Then slowly he pulled up from Isabelle’s embrace. Taking a death grip on her hand with both of his, he looked at Max and said, “You are the Royal four. Zan is the King. Ava the Queen. Vilandra his sister. Rath his councilor. You were created from the genetic material of your alien predecessors and human subjects. You were given human form so that you could live safely on the planet undetected until the time comes for your return. You have been given the Granlith…” He trailed off and looked down at his hands holding Isabelle’s. Everyone was silent as Alex looked up and around and continued. “That’s what your book says. I never went to Sweden. I was at the University of New Mexico at Las Cruces. Tess…” he looked up and nodded at Max unable to continue.

“Tess mind warped him into going and translating the book.” Stated Max, anger creeping into his voice. “She kept mind warping him, the entire time he was there, and since he got back. Seeing the book, triggered memories and sent him into shock and triggered the stroke. Tess” he bit the name off with growing hatred “had mind warped him so often his mind was suffering massive damage. Michael and I did manage to heal all of it Alex.” Max said his voice naturally loosing his hard edge. “You’ll be alright.”

Kyle looked like he was in shock. “How could she… I gotta go.” He said abruptly and left by the door leading on to the alley.

“Well, no matter what Future Max said, I say screw Tess.” Stated Maria, anger at how Tess had treated one of her best friends filling her voice. “She does this to Alex, and leaves, I say good riddenes!”

Looking around at everyone Max said, “I think we all agree, Maria. However, she’s proven how dangerous she is. Should we just forget about her, and risk her coming back and doing this again to someone else?” He looked at Liz and a murderous rage threatened to overtake him when he thought of Tess doing to Liz’s mind what she had done to Alex.

“I think,” Max continued when he got his feeling under control “that it might not be a bad idea to see if Michael or I can detect any signs of Tess abuse in all of your minds.” Looking at Liz and Maria. “Just to be on the safe side.”

“There is something else.” Said Alex. “I need to go to Las Cruces and get the Granlith key and the full translation of the book. SHE may have made me do it, but it’s done and I want you to have it.”

After a brief scan of Maria and Liz, and a briefer discussion it was decided that Alex, Isabelle, Michael and Maria would head to Las Cruces that afternoon to retrieve the translation and the key Alex mentioned. Max and Liz would find the Sheriff and Kyle, fill them in and check for signs of Tess’s mind tampering.