A Life Had Been Saved - Teen - Part 5 6/2/10

[Ti88]

The banner is from dreamer19 hope you all love it.


Didn't think you would see me again. Hope you enjoy.

Title: A Life Had Been Saved

Author: Roselle aka Ti88

Rating: Teen

Pairing: Early Roswell no relationships have formed really. But CC anyway.

Disclaimer: I do not own Roswell. I do not get any money from doing this. This is my way of paying homage to a show that inspired me and gave me the courage to finally put ideas on paper and try to answer questions that the show raised. All I get is the silence finally of the questions answered and the warm fuzzy feeling of a show I love and was a large part some hysterical moments living on. NO infringement is intended on.

Summary: If the Sheriff had actually done the job he was sworn to do how might the events right after the shooting have occurred and what paths would that have put our Pod Squad on.
Author’s note: I have not seen the 1st couple of eppies in ages. So be kind and bear with me. Time puts a certain spin on events in our mind. This started out short by hand and as I sit here to type to get ready to post it seems to have taken on a mind of its own. Who am I kidding it had taken on a mind of its own by hand. Now I have to break it into parts. No fear. I have this mostly finished. I’m working on Unraveling. Arrg.

Part 1

Sherriff James Valenti was the sheriff of Roswell, New Mexico – home to all things alien. For the most part Friday night drunken brawls (if you called senior citizens after Bingo night arguing over whether or not Ms. Ethel had bingo before Mr. Matthews a brawl, then again they were armed with walkers) and kids breaking curfew was the most action he had seen in years. He had followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming sheriff and chasing aliens. They also thought he was crazy as well. That was a legacy he did not need to keep up. But he couldn’t seem to help himself.

“Sheriff man I’m telling you she was shot. Then them kids ran out. After the boy leaned over and did something to her. You didn’t get the bullet did ya?”

Valenti played that conversation over and over again in his head. The witness was adamant and was right about one thing to boot. No bullet and no bullet hole. Maybe mass hysteria hallucination. Yeah right. It wasn’t the first time that that weirdness had happened. No one was killed and they had the bad guys. He was not tearing up the Crashdown for a bullet in an open and shut case. In all the commotion people probably mixed up the direction the noise of the gun came from – happened all the time.

“Dad are you sure Liz is fine?”

“Why Kyle?”

“Well she has this weird silver handprint over her belly button and when I asked about it she showed me out the door.”

“I’m sure she’s fine. You probably saw a tattoo or body paint. She’s a shy girl and probably didn’t want you getting the wrong ideas or think she’s silly. She’s been through a traumatic experience. We had to arrest someone during her shift. Things happen here but not like they do elsewhere and you kids are sheltered.”

Valenti opened his drawer and took out files he had not seen in years. But remembered every detail. Silver handprints burned in the bodies of several men. He had lost so much behind those prints and what they meant. His dad. His wife. His reputation. And for what? To prove aliens were real. He flipped through each picture and the notes that accompanied it. Those people were dead and it appeared to be because a silver handprint had burned them to death.

But Liz was alive. And if what Kyle saw was correct and what the eyewitness saw was correct, then that silver handprint may be the reason. Could it be the same person? NO! He would bet it all the prints in the photo and the possible print on Ms. Parker were from two different people. Could the first set have been done in self-defense? Before the events in the Crashdown he would have said no, no way. Now – well anything’s possible.

He flipped opened the folder for the Crashdown shooting. All accounts put Max at Liz’s side right after the shot went off. So he would have to be responsible for the silver handprint on here – therefore saving her life. What if it saved her first and then kill… NO. One thing he knew for sure was Max Evans was in love with Liz Parker and everyone except for Liz knew. Even Kyle, going through his ‘stupid-jock-I can get any girl I want - phase knew Evans was stuck on Parker. So unless Max planned to kill her for dating Kyle and that was just to much for Valenti to take, Liz would be fine. But would Max. And if Max was an alien were his sister and best friend? Probably.

Sheriff Valenti closed the folder and rubbed his eyes. His little quiet town of UFO sightings just got noisy. Grabbing his hat and checking the time, he left. He was going to do what he had sworn to do - Protect.

[Ti88]

Here is the next part. I have maybe 2 more and thats it.
Part 2

Valenti stopped in front of the Evans’ residence and got out. Only the Jeep there good. Hopefully that meant only Max and Isabel but this would be easier with just Max at first. He really did not want to do this with his parents there especially if they weren’t in the know. Valenti raised his hand, knocked and waited.

Max opened the door and wanted to run. Michael was right. Isabelle was going to kill him. He had ruined everything. But a life had been saved. A life had been saved. And it made it all worthwhile.

“Yes Sheriff. What do you want?”

“Are your parents home?”

Max went on high alert. This was it. He would never see them again. Never. But he would protect them all at whatever cost he had to. “No.”

Valenti took a deep breath and knowing there was no going back. “I need to speak with, can I come in?”

Everything in Max wanted to run, say no; but the leader whispered ‘Know your enemy’ so he answered with as much calm as he did not feel. “Yes come in.”

Valenti walked through and closed the door. “I won’t be long, but I have to give you something and tell you something.”

Max braced himself. He had options. Blast and run. Let himself be taken. Or try to bluff his way out. He was a leader, an unknown ruler even; he wouldn’t let them get Isabel or Michael. Straightening his spine he stopped in the living room and decided to play calm. “Have a seat sheriff.”

Valenti looked up from the folder and saw a boy become a man and mourned the loss of something that would have occurred anyway. “Um, I’m not here to hurt you. I want you to know that I don’t know everything and can’t explain everything, but I know you, your sister, and your best friend are not responsible for what is in this folder.

Max looked at the Sheriff like he was crazy. “You lost me. What do you know we aren’t responsible for? And why are you telling me you won’t hurt me?”

Valenti thought and couldn’t find an easy way to say this. So he figured he’d start with good news and move forward. “I know you have been in love with Liz Parker forever.”

Max blushed. “Wh…”

“I know since you love her you couldn’t hurt her. I also know since you love her you would do anything in your power to protect her. And since I know this, I know a gun went off and no bullet was found and a silver handprint was spotted that leaves me only one conclusion.”

Max had gone completely pale. “And what is that?”

“You Max Evans are an alien who healed the dying girl he loves of a fatal gunshot wound. My guess is Isabelle and Michael are aliens to.”

Max went from pale to terrified. Thoughts raced through his head. He didn’t know what to do. He was trapped. “Sheriff you must be mistaken. We are just normal kids. I saw the gun waving around and ran to protect Liz. You’re right I do love her. But that’s all. No special magic healing. As for aliens, I think you’ve lived in Roswell too long.”

Valenti looked at Max and smiled, his explanation made sense. If he didn’t have the photos in the envelope he would have left it alone. But he did so he couldn’t. “Max I think that is a wonderful description of events. In fact I’m going to put that in my official report. Unofficially I have to give you these. I don’t know all that they mean. I believe they mean you aren’t alone. And they mean you are in danger.”

Max was still processing. Valenti was keeping him off balance. Michael was better at this secret covert stuff. “Um…” Max stopped as he watched Valenti open the folder, take out an envelope and let photos fall to cover the table. They looked like dead bodies. He wanted to be a doctor. He had seen photos of cadavers before. But it wasn’t the bodies that brought him up short. It was a silver handprint that appeared on each body. “What is this?” Max whispered.

[Ti88]

Part 3

Valenti mourned for a second time. “Max I really don’t know. These are photos that were taken before you were born. My dad was sheriff. He was convinced that the crash of ’47 was real. There were and are aliens. This was proof. This and the stories from his army buddies. He spent his life, lost his wife, his sons, and grandson chasing aliens. Especially the one responsible for these photos. I hated him and envied him. I loved him and pitied him. And in my desire to prove him right and get back his reputation I have followed in his footsteps. My wife left. I’m a bit of joke in law enforcement and my son wanders where he falls as a priority for me.

Max just stared at him. He truly was dining with his enemy.

“That day in the Crashdown happened and every-thing fell into place. I knew in my gut what the truth was. I was prepared to pursue you to the ends of the earth to be right and to prove to the world the Valenti’s aren’t crazy. I went over the events and I thought about the print Kyle saw and what is really meant.”

Max ventured a question. “What did it mean?”

“It meant the same power that killed these people could save a life on the brink of death. That means choice. That means these were done on purpose. What I don’t know is if the person thought they were defending or if it was calculated and the kill intended. Until the day in the Crashdown, I never thought about that.”

At some point in the conversation Isabel and Michael had come into the kitchen, stopping when they heard voices. Michael motioned for them to b quiet. He needed to know if there was danger, he needed to know if he needed to defend. Did he take Isabel and run and come back of r Max, these all questions he was trying to sort through as he tried to keep track of the conversation.
Max just looked at the sheriff. Two days ago he was being interrogated and now well he didn’t know.” And now that you have thought about it what are you going to do?”
Valenti looked at Max and remembered a silent child he had to take to child services he watched as that child entered into school with his son. A young girl who grew into who helped people and organized Christmas for orphans. And another young man who despite the hardships had the loyalty of his two friends to the end.

“You’ve been healing him haven’t you? We have to do something about that situation. Maybe your parents?”

Max interrupted the sheriff. “No he won’t. Iz and offered him that and he said no. And if Isabel Evans couldn’t get him to change his mind… you aren’t either.”

Valenti smiled at that. “No you’re right. Miss Evans has a way of getting her way…and somehow I do not believe it has anything to do with her powers…she would think it’s cheating. Well we’ll come up with something.”

Isabel placed a hand on Michael’s arm to keep him still. She did not know what was happening but this was the most information they had. Maybe her brother being in love did some good. And maybe this would be the leverage she needed to finally tell her parents.

Michael looked at Isabel and nodded to stay and they crept closer to the door. Neither knew what would happen now. The silence was starting to drive Michal crazy. So far sleepy wasn’t a power they had come across and he wanted it now. Max and the Sherriff still hadn’t made any firm decisions and the Evans’ wouldn’t be gone forever. ‘Come on Maxwell’

Max knew the question he wanted an answer to…but its answer would just cause more problems…he just knew. Isabel would want the people who raised them to know…Michael would probably run for real this time. But maybe not…ok definite on the Isabel front, but maybe Michael would stay and they could explore this new angle.

“Well Sherriff, I ask the same question again. Now that you have thought about all of these things, what will you do? Not the report you are going to file or that fact you aren’t investigating us anymore. Now that you have all of your most sought after answers…What are you going to do with the information? Because you can’t unknow it. And I can’t not tell Michael, Isabel, and Liz and probably Maria, which eventually will mean Alex that you know it. No matter what you do your life is changed. And you have a son to think about. And decisions to make there. So for the last time Sheriff James Valenti what will you do?”

[Ti88]

Ok guys here is the next part. I am so sorry it took forever to get it up. I hope you all enjoyed the banner.

This fic is posted on 3 sites so the shout outs cover all three sites. Thank you to all my feed backers and lurkers for sticking this out. This part goes out to you all.

Cjsl8ne – I hope Jim says the right things as well. It’s like being at a crossroads. Its makes for either a really dark fic or a very unpredictable one. Hmmm FBI files wander what can of worms that will open? Sorry the update took so long.

Keepsmiling7 – That’s the million-dollar question. Do I avenge my father’s legacy and memory? Do I do my job and report it? Do I do my job and serve and protect? What oh what will I Sheriff Valenti do?

Natalie36 – Yikes! That’s the best way to put it. Think first ask latter Michael. Optimistic we can make Earth work Isabel. And on the spot not so quick Max. Yikes and many other expressions have gone through their head. Wander what the Sherriff is thinking?

PML- It is interesting isn’t it? Thanks I hope he makes the right one as well. Yes this is the proof Jim has been waiting for his whole life. It’s so tempting. The pain, the shame, the anguish, the failings, the loss – they would be justified and vindicated. He gets to say ‘Hey look. I was right and you were wrong.’

Timelord31 – Sorry I confused you. Sleep was supposed to say telepathy. I think I was sleep when I was posting it. Isabel is thinking in her head. She wants to tell mom and dad. She’s making a connection between Max loving and healing Liz with having what she has always wanted – a normal life. If you have other questions drop me a line? Hope this helps.

Begonia9508 – Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed the last few parts. I won’t forget about the date changes. Yes he does and I figure they all need friends.

Dreamer19 – Thank you!!!!! Thank you!!!! The banner rocks. It has inspired me. I’m glad you found it to.

Earth2Mama -: lol Keep his trap shut. I hope so. Although one trap for another trap. Cause Max is right. Once in the alien abyss there is no going back. Its what everyone is waiting to find out. Kyle isn’t dying this time. Will he make a different choice? What will do to make it right? What will he sacrifice? Or is it to late? Has the ball started rolling and the trap sprung? Can he really shut it? Or will be lost?

Mt Gazer – Rhonda. Hey girl I am so glad you are reading my fic and enjoying it. Yep that’s the plan for the sheriff of Roswell. Isabel is going to push for it alright. And Roswell is a beloved story isn’t it.

Part 4

There was a silence that hung over the living room and the kitchen. It was driving Michael crazy. Well not the silence, but the silently bouncing girl next to him. Maria was the only person he knew who had this much energy and Isabel was giving her a run for her money. Leave it Isabel to be the best even in that. He wandered if Whitman knew what he was trying to get involved with. Michael needed all his powers to handle Maria and he wasn’t even sure he liked her. Alex had been sold on Isabel since he discovered girls were not just best friends. Max on Liz was the only thing sappier.
Valenti was lost in his own parade of thoughts. ‘What will you do Sheriff James Valenti? What will you do Sheriff James Valenti? What will you do Sheriff James Valenti?’ It repeated in his head over and over. His own mantra. ‘What will I do? What will I as Sheriff of Roswell New Mexico do? What will I do? What can I do? What should I do?’

Then it changed. The what turned to how? ‘How will the effect me? How will this effect Kyle? How will it effect my relationship with Kyle? How will it effect my relationship with my dad? How will it effect my work?’ He never believed in “ignorance is bliss” He had always felt “knowledge was power” But in this instance, he knew he wanted the one thing he couldn’t have as Max Evans had pointed out – once you had this knowledge you couldn’t unknow it. Once this ‘Pandora’s Box’ was unhinged there was no going back. And Max was right it wouldn’t just be him. Max had set into motion something big. Liz, Maria, and Alex had no secrets, they shared everything. No one could expect Liz to carry this secret and responsibility alone. Because that’s what it was – a responsibility. And that was all that really mattered. Besides after all the bad things fled ‘Pandora’s Box’ Hope came out as well. Hope gave mankind the tools needed to deal with the bad.

But that didn’t answer Max’s question. Or the questions that had come up since then. He wanted to take time and think. A couple of weeks and ponder the pros and cons. Get some advice. Sleep on it. None of those things he could do. Part of putting on this uniform was making on the spot spilt second decisions. Being able to choose right from wrong. Life and death choices even. Some with a gun and some without.

As the man fought for his right to choose, his right to take his time and make a well informed decision, his right to make sure the ‘t’s’ were crossed and the ‘I’s’I dotted and his right for a binding contract. The sheriff reminded the man of his oath and his responsibility. And he had a flash of memory. It was of the arrest he made of Amy Deluca during her protest. He answer would be simple. They are kids. They need help. And that’s what we do. It’s not their fault they’re different. You can’t discriminate because they’re different. Even if their whole planet was evil – these kids aren’t. And therefore have to be protected.

Amy Deluca wasn’t a man or a sheriff. In fact finding out aliens exist would be great business for her. But as Amy only sold Native things from the artist themselves, taking only a 5% cut she would think twice if not completely redo her store if she found out aliens exist. And Amy raised Maria, so once the shock wore off she was going to be an unshakeable ally the younger of the Deluca women. Wander if what Kyle complained about was true – Deluca and Guerin sending off weird vibes around each other in remedial science.

Valenti shook his head, clearing the thoughts that had jumbled up in there during his thinking. He smiled and faced Max. “Alright Max. I have an answer to your question.”

Max raised his head to look at the Sheriff who had been deep in thought for some time. The time had allowed Max to figure out Michael and Isabel were in the house – kitchen probably. He hoped they would remain hidden until he had a better idea where they stood with the sheriff. “ And what Sheriff James Valenti is you decision?”

Michael has his eyes closed. He was concentrating on not giving anything away. Isabel had her hand over her month and was shaking. The moment of truth was here.

Jim took a deep breath and decided first things first. “Before I give you my answer, I would like you to either call me Jim or when around other people just sheriff. The whole ‘Sheriff James Valenti’ is a mouthful and sounds like my dad.”

Max just looked at him like he was crazy. “Um. OK. I guess.”

Jim smiled. “Well good. Now that we have that out of the way, I only have one answer to give. It’s the only answer there is to give. You three are kids who were abandoned 10 years ago in a desert. Traumatized. Not talking. Scared. Tow of you got a great deal, but don’t worry we’ll figure out the Hank/Michael situation. We did our best to protect you then. And I’ll do my best to protect you know. That’s the oath and responsibility I took on behind this uniform. As a human being I’m here for you – talk with you, your parents. Because they need to know. At some point. But most importantly I’m not your enemy. And I don’t want harm to come to you."

Isabel couldn’t help it. She let out a cry and would have run into the room had Michael not had a grip on her. As it was she released a low-level energy pulse. He growled released her and watched as she Isabel Evans walked into the living room. Michael just shook her head and followed her. She had pinned Max and the sheriff with her trademark glare only marred by the tears swimming in her eyes and in her best Queen of Roswell voice asked the questions she cared the most about. “Do you really think we can tell our parents? What are your plans for the Michael/Hank situation, cause that boy won’t listen to me? And What are you going to do about Kyle?”

Michael smirked behind her. Yep Whitman was in for the time of his life.

[Ti88]

Part 5


“Philip why is the Sheriff of Roswell parked in our driveway?”

“What?” Phillip had just turned the corner and managed to miss a stray cat when his wife’s question cleared his mind. “Sheriff James Valenti’s truck is in our driveway?”

“Well what other Sheriff would it be?” Diane rolled her eyes. “So were we supposed to be meeting him for any reason? Do you have any open cases that you guys are consulting on?”
Philip was quiet. “No. There is no reason I can think of for him to be here. Last time…”

“Last time it was about whatever happened at the Crashdown. I thought we answered all of those questions. And I thought I made it clear if there were any more questions I or you would be contacted.”

Philip pulled the car along side the Sheriff’s truck and looked at his wife. She was in ‘Mom Mode’ It was so much more frightening than her ‘Lawyer Mode’ He hadn’t seen ‘Mom Mode’ since they first got the kids and it was unclear if the state was going to let them keep them. “Lets go Diane and see what the problem is before we get worked up.”

Philip got out and rounded the car to open the door for his wife. Reaching in he took her purse and her hand assisting her out the car. As they passed the truck each of them touched the hood and finding it
cold they picked up their pace.

Swinging open the front door Diane beat her husband to the living room and stopped to stand in front of the Sheriff. “Sheriff James Valenti – what are you doing in my home, talking with my children, without an adult present?”

Philip had come in right behind his wife and took in the scene before him. Isabel was standing with her back to the door and had half turned when her mother had entered and begin speaking. There was a look of panic and then the Isabel mask was back in place. He looked to his son and the couch and realized Max wasn’t as fast as Isabel and the panic look was still there. The Sheriff for his part looked the least frazzled. He had this apperence of being at one with well whatever was about to happen.

“Yes Sheriff James Valenti, please do tell my wife and I what you are doing here. I know this isn’t an interogration.” Philip glanced down at the table. “Are those crime scence photo’s? Are you crazy? Those are dead people. DEAD PEOPLE. And you show them to my 16-year old daughter and son without us present? Maybe you really are as crazy as your dad.”

“Max. Isabel. Go to your room now. Your father and I need to have a nice long chat with the lawman here about what is permitted and what isn’t. It appears he needs a refresher course in proper police procedure as pertaining to minors.”

Michael heard the front door open, but by then it was to late. He couldn’t leave without drawing attention to himself and he couldn’t stay in the kitchen forever. Even if no one came into the kitchen, he really couldn’t stay in past another hour or so. ‘Oh man we are all so screwed.’

Max took a deep breath and wandered why he even tried to keep some sort semblance of normal in his life. He had lost track of time and even though they had…well Jim (too weird) and Isabel decided to tell our parents this isn’t how he wanted to do it nor did he want to do it before Michael was prepared. He didn’t need conspicory theory man as a lose cannon.

“Mom. Dad. The Sheriff isn’t here to interrogate us.” He looked at Isabel with a help me look.

“Max is right Mom. Dad. We were just having a conversation. He wanted to check up on us.” Isabel glanced at her brother in hopes he knew where to go from here.

Philip looked and Diane and gave her a yeah right look. “Max. Isabel. Lets say we buy what you are saying.” He pointed to the table. “Dead people.”

Max looked at Isabel. She sighed. Why did she have to be the one to come up with the plausible story, “Crash Festival.”

“Crash Festival” Was echoed by Diane, Philip, Max, and in the kitchen Michael.
Isabel rolled her and leveled each of them with a look and dared them to contradict her. “Yes Crash Festival. They were donated to the Sheriff’s office for the Crash Festival and since everyone knows we go every year the Sheriff dropped by to get our opinon on whether or not they were to gruesome.”

Isabel got a mischievious twinkle in her eye before going on. “In fact we had just decided they were too gruesome and was helping the Sheriff put them away when Michael started to feel light headed and went to the kitchen to get some water. I should go and check on him, you know Hank doesn’t treat him right.” She watched her parents lock on her last few words. Gotcha. Two birds with one stone. She got the pictures excused and Michael fast tracked from under Hank’s thumb. She just rolled her eyes at the look Max was giving her. If it was up to him it would take a diaster and half the season before anything was done. She had to help the Sheriff out as best as she could.

Michael was going to blast Isabel. He was still trying to figure out a way to get out the kitchen and there she goes and tells them he’s there. Light Headed. Please that’s some prissy girl or wimpy guy reaction. She couldn’t think of something more macho for him to be in the kitchen for. She couldn’t just say ‘Michael is spending the night, there’s a game on and he went to the kitchen to get something to eat so he wouldn’t be inturuppted during the game.’ No she had to come up LIGHT HEADED. And then to top it off she brought up the whole Hank situation. Great, just great. There were going to be questions. He heard what her and the Sheriff had said a few minutes ago, but he figured he had a few days and then things would just blow over. But oh no!

Of course as he filled a glass up with water and made his way out of the kitchen, it did get the parentals off their backs for the moment about dead body pictures, proper police whatever, and they didn’t stray to far from the truth. But he knew it was only slight repreieve. Max and Isabel maybe adopted, but after listening Ma and Pa Evans he knew he never really stood a chance against Max or Isabel.