|
|
|
Faith
in the Future PART 7 “No! I want to go back to daddy!” Ellie cried. “No sweetie, you have to wait here.” Diane insisted holding the little girl close. They were waiting in the corridor, Diane had taken Ellie out of the room as soon as she knew something was wrong. She didn’t want Ellie to see her brother in trouble. Watching Max head out of the room, with his head bowed, Diane knew something was wrong. Falling into a nearby seat, Max laid his head back and waited for news on his son. “Mr Evans?” The doctor said, as he walked out to the corridor. “Yes! Is he ok?” Max jumped up. “Yes he is ok. Why don’t you sit down and I’ll explain what happened.” The doctor replied. “Your son suffered an intraventricular haemorrhage.” “A what?” “In
simple terms, a small blood vessel in his brain started to bleed.” “I
know it sounds serious, and there is a possibility it could be, but there is
also a good chance he will make a complete recovery.
Intraventricular haemorrhaging in premature babies is quite common.” “There is a chance your son could suffer brain damage …………. To what extent, I’m not sure.” The doctor admitted. “Bra …………. Brain damage?” Max choked in disbelief. “It is a possibility Mr Evans.” The doctor replied as his pager went off. “I’m sorry ………… I have to go.” He said before disappearing down the corridor and leaving Max to take in what had just happened. Placing his head in his hands, Max tried to control his emotions that were threatening to spill over. Not ten minutes previously Christian was perfectly fine, and now he was fighting for his life. No matter what Max did, two words kept swimming around his mind …………….. Brain Damage. “Max? Son? …………… Are you ok?” Philip asked, placing a supporting arm around his shoulders. “N ………….. No.” Max stumbled, tears streaming down his cheeks. “It’s ok.” Philip replied, pulling his son into an embrace to try and comfort him. Max felt completely helpless. He’d promised Liz he would take care of their son, do anything to protect him. How could he tell her Christian could be brain damaged?
“It’s ok sweetie.” Diane said, trying to comfort the distraught little girl. “No! Mummy!” She wailed. “Mummy’s asleep Ellie. I know what happened was awful, but we need to let her rest darling, so she’ll get better soon.” Diane replied. “We need her.” Ellie announced through her tears. “She
needs to sleep Ellie. There’s
nothing mummy can do.” Diane
replied.
Through his own grief and despair, he could hear Ellie’s anxious cries for Liz. Breaking away from his father’s grasp, Max turned to his daughter, crouched down and opened his arms up. Wriggling free from her grandmother, Ellie ran straight to Max. Once her head was safely resting on his shoulder, Max spoke quietly to her. “Why
do we need mummy Ellie?” He asked, trying to compose himself. “How? Can’t I help him?” Max suggested, hoping his small daughter would know. “No, has to be mummy. I just know ok. Please …………… we need her.” Ellie insisted. Despite the potentially ludicrousness of Ellie’s admission, Max knew he wholeheartedly trusted his special little girl. He knew her powers were different to his, and very strong. Ellie could sense things, and she was rarely wrong. There was no way he was going to distrust her now. Max knew there was the potential his parents would get suspicious, they didn’t know about his ‘otherworldliness’ after all, but his son’s life was too important. “Well if mummy can help Christian, then we’d better go wake her.” Max replied, standing up and carrying his daughter towards Liz’s room. As he entered her room, Max couldn’t help but wish there was another way. Liz looked so peaceful, sleeping on her side, her legs curled up and one arm covering her eyes. The last thing Max wanted to do was wake her up and disturb Liz from the peacefulness she’d found. Quietly walking over to Liz’s bed, Max gently placed Ellie on the edge of the bed. Taking one last look at her restful form, Max gently placed his hand on her cheek and caressed her soft skin. A sigh erupted from her lips, an indication that in her subconsciousness she was enjoying his touch. “Liz baby.” He whispered, wanting her to wake up gently, and not to worry her. “Mmm.” She responded, still in a deep sleep. “Liz, sweetheart. I need you to wake up baby.” He said slightly louder. “Mmm ……….. Max?” She mumbled as she slowly started to wake up. “It’s
me Liz.” “I ………… it’s Christian.” He replied quietly, knowing that no matter what he said, once their son’s name was mentioned she’d be fully awake and panicking. “What? What’s wrong? Is he ok?” She practically screamed, her eyes wide open and her body suddenly very alert. “Hey, stay calm.” He said, trying to reassure her. “Just spill it Max! What’s going on?” Whatever it is it must be important for you to wake me up.” She insisted. “You
need to make Christian better.” Ellie
announced innocently. “Christian had a problem. Something to do with a blood vessel in his brain.” Max admitted. “Oh my god!” She cried, “Is ……… is he ……… ok?” She stumbled, afraid of the answer. She couldn’t loose her son, she just couldn’t, she thought. “He’s alive Liz, but ………. but he may suffer br ………… brain damage.” Max replied, watching Liz’s face change as he forced the words out. Tears filled in her eyes as his words sunk in. “Brain damage?” She echoed. The room went completely silent at that moment, neither Max or Liz knowing what to say to the other. A solitary tear descended down Liz’s cheek, and Max stretched his finger up to catch it. Brushing his finger over her bottom lip, Max looked into her eyes and saw images that were mirrored in his own eyes. It was their worst nightmare, and they both needed to believe there was a ‘quick fix’. “But you can stop it mummy.” Ellie piped up, breaking the thick silence in the room. “Me? But how Ellie.” Liz queried, not knowing what her young daughter was implying. “You can connect with Christian and mend the headache in his head.” She replied, as Max and Liz couldn’t help but smile at her terminology. A ‘headache’ didn’t quite adequately describe their son’s condition, yet they knew she meant well. “Sweetie, I know you mean well, but I can’t help Christian. I’m not special, I can’t connect with people Ellie. I can’t heal either, only your daddy can do that.” She said gently, not wanting to upset the little girl. “No! You can do it Mummy.” Ellie insisted. “Why can’t I do it Ellie?” Max enquired, wondering why his daughter was adamant that it had to be Liz. “Just has to be mummy.” The little girl replied simply. “Well, if I have to do it then you’d better help me up.” Liz instructed to her husband. Liz knew she may not understand why Ellie insisted it had to be her, and that she could heal Christian, but Liz knew she couldn’t ignore it. Their young son was too precious to risk not doing what Ellie was instructing, and Liz knew she’d never forgive herself if Christian was brain damaged and she didn’t try to help him. “Oh, and we need the round silvery things too.” Ellie added, as the three of them walked out of Liz’s room. “Round silvery things?” Max enquired, unsure what the little girl meant. “Yeah, look.” Ellie instructed, pulling on Max’s hand so that he stopped walking and crouched down to her level. Placing her hands either side of her father’s face, Ellie relaxed her mind like she had practised so many times, and calmly opened up a connection and allowed the images in her head to transfer to Max. The images bombarded Max’s brain as he tried to use his strength to slow them down and make sense of them. *
Flash * An image of Liz and Ellie surrounding Christian, both holding a hand each and both deep in concentration to maintain the connection. Maria, Michael, Isabelle and Max stood around the incubator, each holding a silver healing stone in their hand, the stones generating some sort of power as they gave off a soft blue glow. * Flash * Slowly dropping her hands, Ellie looked at her father, his eyes wide with surprise and amazement at what he had seen. “How did you see that?” He asked tentatively. “Don’t know, just can.” She replied simply. “What did you see Max?” Liz questioned, anxious to know. “We need Michael, Maria, Isabelle and the healing stones.” He announced, standing up and reaching for the cell phone in his pocket. “What?” Liz queried. “The healing stones, you know the ones we used to bring Nacedo back. They’re in the pod chamber.” “What will the healing stones do?” “They’ll restore the balance.” He replied, punching in Michael’s number and pressing the ‘call’ button. Inside half an hour Christian’s small room was heavily populated. Although he’d wanted her to stay at home and look after their girls, Michael hadn’t succeeded in persuading Maria not to come. Liz would need her, Maria knew that, and Amy was more than happy to baby-sit her new granddaughters. “Isabelle, are you sure you should be here? Didn’t the doctor say you needed rest?” Diane asked as her daughter walked into the room. “I’m fine, really mum.” Isabelle assured the older woman, her hand resting on her large bump. With all the new babies around them, Isabelle couldn’t help but wish she could hold her baby too. Although she’d been apprehensive at the start of her pregnancy, she was very excited now. “What do you need us to do?” Michael asked, looking at Max for instructions. Even with the crisis surrounding his son, Max was still the leader he was born to be, and his friends still looked at him to form the plan. “Max? What’s going on? Why is everyone here?” Philip enquired, knowing something was going on that he didn’t know about. “Dad, mum, I need you to do me a big favour.” Max started. “Go on.” His mother instructed. “I need you to go outside with Alex and make sure no one comes in here until I say it’s ok.” “Why son?” Philip asked. “That’s
the other thing I need you to do ……………… I need you to ask no
questions for now.” “Max ………..” Philip started to protest, he didn’t like secrets, he wanted to know what was going on. “We’ll do it Max.” Diane said simply, placing her hand on her husband’s arm to cease his words and silence his concern. “Thank you.” Max replied quietly, knowing his mother was doing exactly what he’d asked, trusting him. She knew he wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. Watching the trio head out of the room, Max caught Alex’s arm as he walked past. “Do whatever it takes Alex. No one can come in here until we’ve finished.” Max insisted, impressing the importance on his friend. “No problem Max. If you get found out my wife and child would be in danger too. I’ll put my own life on the line before anyone crosses that doorway.” Alex assured him, trying to elevate his friend’s fears. Once the door was firmly closed behind them, Max turned to find five pairs of eyes looking at him, waiting for his instructions. “So what do we need to do?” Michael asked, breaking the silence in the room. PART 8
“Have you got the healing stones?” Max asked, jumping into his ‘leader’ role. “Yeah.” Michael replied, taking the backpack from his shoulder and opening the zip to expose the contents. “Ok, Is, Maria, Michael, we all need one.” Max instructed, as Michael handed a stone out to each person. Slipping his stone into the pocket of his jacket, Max crossed the room and picked up a stool. Bringing it back to Christian’s crib, he placed it the opposite side to the one Liz was sitting on. Taking Ellie from his wife’s arms, Max placed the little girl on the vacant stool. “Max?” Isabelle queried, unsure what her brother was doing. She, Michael and Maria were totally clueless as to what was going on. Although she would never distrust her brother, she was eager to know what they were going to do. “Ok, Maria, Michael, Is, we need to stand at each corner of the incubator.” Max said, as his friends did what he said. “Now, we’re gonna make a connection. Christian is, in effect, lost. Just like Michael was that time in the reservoir. We need to show him the way back to us, lead him home.” “And
Liz?” Maria asked. “Ok, well let’s get going then.” Michael said, answering for the others. “Alex, do you know what they’re doing in there?” Philip asked. “No.” Alex replied truthfully. “You must know something.” Philip probed. “Really Philip, I am as much in the dark as you are.” Alex replied. He was grateful he was telling his father-in-law the truth; he didn’t relish lying to a lawyer. Had Philip asked if Alex knew whether there was something different about Max and Isabelle ………….. well that was a different matter altogether! Opening the small window to the incubator, Liz slipped her finger around her son’s hand, before placing her arm over the incubator and reaching for her daughter’s hand. She was scared, she couldn’t deny it. Not necessarily the healing part, more the feeling of being alone. She’d had connections and flashes with Max many times before, but this was different. She was going to be alone with her most precious gifts in life, her children. She wouldn’t have Max to guide her this time, she would have to rely on herself and her inner strength. Just the thought of it made her shudder. “It’ll be ok Liz, just trust in yourself. I’ll always be with you in your heart.” Max whispered, before taking up the fourth position by his son’s crib. Taking a deep breath, Liz pushed her fears to the back of her mind and thought of nothing, only her determination to help her son. Suddenly everything went dark around her, the hospital room fading too, leaving her alone in the black emptiness. Liz panicked, her breathing became erratic, her pulse racing, no matter what she did she couldn’t relax her body. “I’m here mummy.” A familiar voice broke through the blackness. “Ellie? Where are you? What do I need to do?” Liz cried out, starting to panic. “Relax. You need to go inside Christian’s head. You have to be calm though.” Ellie informed her, sounding much wiser than her six years. “Ok.” Liz replied, taking deep breaths to install some calm inside her shaking body. As she became relaxed, a red blinding light descended upon her, filling her whole existence until she finally realised where she was ………. inside her son’s brain. A silvery blue glow surrounded the group of friends as the healing stones started to activate. The surroundings Max found himself in were familiar, he’d been to the same desert to bring Michael back to them. He could see his friend, Maria and his sister with him too. Hearing a sound, Max turned to see a toddler in the distance ambling in the sand dune. Knowing instinctively it was an older version of his baby son, Max tried to lift his feet to run to him. Yet he couldn’t, he couldn’t lift his feet from the ground, it was as if they were glued in place. Rushing blood around her, Liz found it like nothing she’d ever experience before. The brain was an amazing organ, and Liz wasn’t sure where to start or what she needed to do. “Trust your instincts.” Ellie called to her. “Mr Whitman? Mr and Mrs Evans? Is everything ok?” Doctor Jones enquired as he walked along the corridor. “Fine!” Alex replied, jumping up and standing in front of the door to the room. “Ok, well I’ll just go and check on the baby while I’m here.” Doctor Jones started. “Erm, no!” Alex replied hastily. “What?” “I understand that, and that’s exactly why I need to make sure he his doing ok at the moment.” The doctor insisted, starting to move towards Alex as if to push him out of the way. “I can’t let you ………….” Alex started, putting his hands up to stop the doctor and push him back slightly. She couldn’t explain what she was feeling. To Liz it was as if she was inside Christian’s brain, at the same time as sitting by his crib. It was the strangest feeling she’d ever experienced. Manoeuvring her eyes around, she tried to do what Ellie had suggested, trusting her instincts. As she moved round, she suddenly found the problem, the small blood vessel that was causing the pressure on his tiny brain. Taking another deep breath, she concentrated hard, unsure what she was doing, but watching the damaged blood vessel start to glow around her. “Christian baby, come to daddy.” Max called, crouching down and opening his arms up towards the baby. Looking up, his big brown eyes stared back at his father, the grin spread across his face looking so much like Liz. The young toddler ambled over slowly, wobbling slightly as he got closer. Slipping just before he got within Max’s reach, the young boy fell down onto the sand. Staring back up to his father, his big brown eyes suddenly filled with tears and his bottom lip began to tremble before his quiet wailing filled every fibre of Max’s being. “Diane?” Philip called out looking at his wife. “I don’t …………… feel so ……………. good.” She stumbled, wobbling slightly on her feet. Stepping close to her, Philip put his arms around his wife before she had the chance to faint. “Doctor!” He called out, tearing Doctor Jones’ attention away from Alex and back to his job. “Mrs Evans? What’s the problem?” He queried, seeing she looked pale. “Feel dizzy, sick, hot, cold.” Diane acted out. “Ok, let’s get you looked at.” The doctor instructed, helping the older lady into a nearby wheelchair before pushing her down the corridor. “Is she ok?” Alex asked concerned. “She’s fine, buying you some time. You’re on your own now.” Philip replied, before following the doctor. Although she didn’t know what she was doing, it didn’t take long for Liz to mend the damage to her son’s brain. During the period, images rushed through Liz’s mind. Images of her little boy as a toddler, as a young lad, images of Christian playing with Ellie, of Max lifting him high in the air. So many images she could hardly take them in, but she knew at that moment it was going to be ok, there son wouldn’t be taken away from them. Feeling very drained, physically and emotionally, she hardly noticed the connection with her son evaporate and return her to the sanctuary of the hospital room. Dropping her hand away from Ellie, Liz leant forward and slumped her head against the top of the incubator, unable to keep her body upright through sheer exhaustion. “Christian baby, it’s ok, daddy’s here. I’ll make it all better, come to me baby.” Max called out to his son. “That’s right, come to us Christian.” Maria added, as Michael and Isabelle added their own words of encouragement to the small boy. “Go on you can do it, stand up baby, stand up.” Isabelle encouraged, as Christian struggled to climb back to his feet. His tears evaporated as he stood up, his eyes big and wide with a smile across his face once more. Max held his arms out again, praying Christian would come to him, so he could scoop him up in his arms and hold him tight. The cheeky grin across his face quickly disappeared as Christian turned to run away. Fear shot through Max’s body, afraid it was who or more importantly, what he was that scared his son. What if Christian couldn’t cope with the fact his father was an Alien? “Come back baby, come to daddy.” Max pleaded once more. Slowly turning back round, the little boy looked up at his father, the smile returning to light up his face. His chubby feet took a few more paces forward, wobbling once more, but it was enough for his father. Max stretched out and took hold of his son’s hand, guiding the boy to them. Pulling him into his arms and hugging him tight, Max stood up and turned to his friends, he was safe now. Outside the room, Alex was anxious to know how long they were going to be. The doctor had been a close shave, and a few nurses had given him strange looks since then. He was sure someone else would query what he was doing before long, and then what would he do or say? With the balance restored, the hospital room began to come back, the little boy that was once in his arms, evaporating back into the baby in the crib. Blinking his eyes for a moment, Max stared at Liz slumped over the incubator. Finally moving his feet, Max took her in his arms. Placing his hands either side of her face, he tried to bring her round “Liz?” He called to her. “Yeah.” She replied quietly, unable to find the strength to open her eyes. “Did you? …………….. are you? ………… Is Christian?” He stared, unable to finish each sentence. “He’s ok.” She replied softly, two tears rolling down her face. Turning his head to stare at their son, Max was suddenly aware of something, their little boy had opened his eyes for the first time. The same large brown eyes he’d seen earlier stared back at him. “Liz, look!” He said, as she finally opened her eyes. “He’s awake.” She replied, finding the strength to allow a small smile to cross her face. “Yeah, and it’s all thanks to you.” He replied, kissing her forehead. “No …….. thanks to us.” She replied, thanking everyone in the room with her simple words. Watching in awe, Michael pulled Maria into an embrace, needing to feel her near, needing the security his wife gave him. Slipping quietly out, Isabelle headed for the corridor to her own husband, she needed him too. Hearing the door behind him opening, Alex turned to see his pregnant wife looking back at him. “Everything ok?” Alex queried when he saw her tired face. “Yes.” She replied simply, allowing his arms to envelope her and their unborn child. “The balance has been restored.” She added as he kissed the top of her head.
PART 9
Slowly walking up the stairs, Max quietly in walked in to the room. As soon as he stepped inside he was hit with memories of his youth. He remembered dreaming about Liz while lying on his bed, sitting at his desk while cramming for his finals, his small basketball hoop attached to the back of the door, yes there were certainly a lot of memories holed up in the room. Bringing himself back to reality, Max carefully pulled back the covers to his old bed and laid his sleeping daughter down onto the mattress. Pulling the covers back over her and tucking the sleeping girl in, he kissed Ellie’s forehead before slipping back out of the room. It was a little after 8.00pm, on a day that had seemed like it lasted forever. It had started with him and Liz naming their new son, and ended with them saving his life. It had been a draining day, physically and emotionally, and Max was only too aware that there was a way to go before he could crawl into his own bed for some much needed sleep. Taking a deep breath, Max headed back downstairs, back to the bear pit of his parent’s front room. It wasn’t that he didn’t like his parents, he was just well aware that his father was chomping at the bit for an explanation as to what they’d done earlier that day. He knew he couldn’t hide the fact that his son had been at death’s door when his parents had left Christian’s room, and now the little boy was perfectly well. “You ok?” Liz asked, as her husband walked into the lounge. “Yeah I’ll be fine. You on the other hand need to get some rest, why don’t you go and lie down with Ellie?” He suggested, rubbing her bare arms with his hands. She’d bee through so much, she needed to rest, he thought. “Not a chance Max.” She insisted. “You need me, now more than ever before. I am not going to allow you to pack me off to bed while you spill your guts out to your parents and wait for their response. I love you Max, you’re my husband, and I’m going to be right here by your side when you tell them your secret.” She added forcefully. “How do you do it Liz? How is it that you are so strong, even after what we’ve been through the last few days?” He queried, pulling her into an embrace. “We nearly lost out son, yet you continue to be strong, supportive and above all right here for me where I need you most. How do you do it Liz?” “Love Max, plain and simple. I know that whatever happens to us, happens for a reason, and I believe in my faith in you and us. No matter what we will always have each other, and our two wonderful children. Whenever things get tough I think about the immense love I have for you, and I find the strength deep inside to continue.” “You are amazing Mrs Evans.” He announced, cupping her face in his hands and bending in for a kiss. As soon as their lips met, Liz felt Max’s body begin to relax. Deepening the kiss, she attempted to pass some of her remaining strength through to him. She knew this was a moment Max had hoped he’d never have to face. To Max, telling his parents about his ‘secret’ was harder than anything he’d ever done before. Healing Liz, running from the FBI, surviving The White Room, these were easy tasks compared to confronting his parents. Nobody knew how Diane and Philip would react to the news that their children weren’t ‘from around here’. Liz could tell Max was scared, afraid his parents would be repulsed at the news and push them away. “Max?” His mother said softy, as she entered the room. She’d watched her son and daughter-in-law in their clinch, she could tell Max was having trouble with something, and she guessed it was his ‘secret’. Although she would never force Max to tell her anything, Diane couldn’t help but be intrigued as to what he’d kept from her for so long. “Oh, sorry mum, I didn’t hear you come in.” Max said, breaking contact with Liz. “Sit down son.” Philip added, as he led in Michael, Maria, Isabelle and Alex. Once everyone was sitting comfortably, Max felt the weight of his sister and friends placed upon him. It seemed an unwritten rule that he would spill the secret to his parents. Not for the first time since finding out about his destiny, Max couldn’t help but wish he wasn’t the leader of his people, the one everyone turned to when things got tough. How do you even begin to tell your parents you’re an alien? “I think it’s about time you started talking Max. It’s obvious that you’ve been keeping something from your mother and I, and I think it’s about time you started filling us in.” His father said calmly, as Max took a long, deep breath of air. “Ok.” Max started; looking round the room, hoping someone would jump in for him. The feel of Liz slipping her hand into his and squeezing it gently brought him back. Fuelling his body on her earlier words of ‘strength in love’, Max finally started talking. “Firstly what I’m going to tell you can’t leave this room ……. our lives depend on it. Secondly, you have to believe what I tell you, it is the truth, I would never lie to you.” “Go on Max, you know your father and I love you very much. No matter what you tell us that won’t change.” His mother assured him. “Ok, you know there was a crash in 1947.” “Yes.” “Well, it wasn’t a weather balloon that fell that night, no matter what the authorities tell you.” Max said pausing for a second. “It was a spaceship.” He blurted out. “A
spaceship?” His father
questioned. “Not from round here? So you’re saying you all came down in the crash? But that was nearly 54 years ago and you’re only 24 years old, how’s that possible Max?” His father asked. “We were in some kind of incubation pods, and we didn’t wake up until 1984. When we came out we were like six year old children, we were alone in the desert and we just started walking. We walked for hours and hours before we came across anyone. You were the only people who drove along that day that stopped. You saw Isabelle and I, you took us in and made us your own children, from then on you know the rest,” Max said, suddenly feeling very relieved that he’d got it off his chest. The room went strangely silent as Philip and Diane tried to comprehend what Max had told them. Their minds shouted out that it was a ludicrous idea; they’d of known if their children were aliens. But their hearts said something different, they both knew Max would never lie to them, never make up such a far-fetched story unless it was true. But how could it be true? They had to human ……….. didn’t they? Watching his mother and father, Max couldn’t help the sense of dread that drowned his body. Their silence wasn’t good he thought, the stunned expressions on their face evident that his words had hit them hard. Glancing at Liz, his eyes pleaded with hers, wishing he could run from the house and never have to face the reaction of Philip and Diane. Subconsciously, Isabelle let out a breath she’d been holding since Max started the story. She should have been happy, this was a moment she’d dreamt of for a long time, finally her mother knew who she really was. Yet inside she felt the same apprehension and trepidation that her brother was experiencing. For as long as she could remember she’d thought about how they’d react. She used to believe Diane would throw her arms around her children and tell them she’d love them no matter what, being ‘different’ wouldn’t change that. Yet now that moment was upon them, Isabelle wondered if she really did know her mother as well as she thought. She could see her mother holding tightly to her father’s hand. Diane’s knuckles turning white due to the excess pressure she was squeezing on his hand. For the first time, a thought popped into Isabelle’s head, “what if they rejected them”? Six sets of eyes stared directly at Philip and Diane, all anxious for their response. Taking a deep breath, Philip opened his mouth to allow the first words to filter out.
TBC ………………..?
Click here to jump to Parts 10 to 12
Click here to return to the story index page
If you liked this story, please let me know! Just a few words of encouragement can go a long way!!!!
E-mail me at : Kaznstu@btinternet.com
|