Author's Note: This part is a longer than the last two.
Summary: The events that transpired after Max and Tess left Earth.
Author's Note 2: I didn't really watch the end of Departure so I'm not sure what exactly happened. I'm improvising the details.
Disclaimer: If I really owned Roswell do you think I'd ever let "Departure" happen? C'mon give me some credit. NO, I don't own Roswell.

Part 3

*ON EARTH*

Isabel waited near the exit of the pod chamber for her brother. He was taking such a long time. She couldn't hear what was being said but she knew whatever was happening couldn't be good.

Her eyes wandered around the pod chamber, desperate not to think of the information she learned moments earlier. She couldn't believe Tess would kill Alex. It just did not register in her brain. There had to be a mistake, but with ever passing second hope of that grew thinner.

She looked up and spotted Max by the pods. She was taken aback by the look on his face. She had never seen such anger, confusion, betrayal and just complete pain on a person's face.

"Max," she called. He looked up at her. He didn't walk towards her. When she looked into his eyes she knew what he was about to do.

Tears welled up in her eyes. He had come to some decision. She knew it. She could tell by the change in his stance.

"Goodbye Isabel." She watched him walk away.

Would she ever see him again? What's going to happen now? Did Tess really kill Alex? What did he know that she didn't?

"Goodbye Max," she whispered. Moments later the entire place shook. The walls started to crumble.

"Good luck. I hope you find what you're looking for looking for," she silently wished him. She left out the exit. Michael was waiting outside.

"Isabel, c'mon!" He helped her away from the door. "Where's Max?" he asked.

A large rock crashed down near them.

"Let's go!" she said. They ascended down the rocks.

"Wait! What about Max?" Liz shouted above the noise.

"There's no time!" Isabel tried to yell. They all ran down the cliff to safer ground. They heard a loud explosion and turned to look at the sky.

Tears poured down Isabel's cheeks. He was really leaving.

"Isabel, what happened to Max?" Michael asked wearily with his eyes fixed on the object leaving the Earth's atmosphere. When she didn't answer and turned to look at her. "Isabel?"

She kept her eyes trained on the granolith. She nodded.

Everyone's eyes grew large.

"Oh my god," Maria said stressing each syllable.

"You're not serious!" Liz cried. After what she told him she was sure there was no way in his right mind Max would leave with Tess. She had to had mindwarped him!

Michael closed his eyes briefly. "You're telling me he left?" Michael said stunned. Isabel cried. "Answer me dammit!" he yelled.

Suddenly Isabel and Michael nearly collapsed.

"Michael!" Maria screamed.

Maria and Kyle helped them up.

"What happened?" Kyle asked them concerned.

"They left the Earth's orbit. I can't feel them anymore," Michael said quietly.

"What do you mean you can't feel them?" Liz asked. She was nearly hysterical. She couldn't believe Max was really gone.

"Every since we were little we could feel each other. We could sense each others presence. I don't know how to quite describe it. Anyway, I can't feel Max or Tess or their son anymore. It was a little bit overwhelming," Isabel explained.

"That bitch! I know she had something to do with this!" Liz ranted.

"Shut up!" Isabel told her. She didn't know why but she was boiling in anger.

Everyone seemed to pause.

"I can't believe your defending her! She killed Alex and she obviously manipulated Max into leaving. Max would NEVER leave with her!"

"Yes," Isabel said. "Yes he would."

Michael took note of the conviction in Isabel's voice. She knew something he didn't.

"Isabel, tell me what happened? Why don't we go for a walk?" he suggested. She nodded and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

* * *

"So what happened Izzy?" Michael asked.

She smiled when he used her childhood nickname. She rested on a boulder.

"I was waiting for Max at the exit. I couldn't hear what they were talking about. Suddenly I saw him near the pods. He was so devastated, Michael. I've never seen anyone look so hurt and angry but then I saw he came to some decision. I called his name and then I knew. I knew he wasn't staying. I don't think he believes what Liz and Kyle said about Tess," she explained. "I don't think I do either. We can always sense each other and what I'm sure of is that she wouldn't do something that evil. He felt it too. He just looked at me and said goodbye. I couldn't bring myself to say anything, Michael. I knew I wouldn't be able to talk him out of it and that this was something he had to do."

After a moment of silence Michael asked cautiously, "How do you know Max left on his own?"

"I could see it in his eyes. I just know," Isabel said. "And besides, if she mindwarped him we would have been able to feel that surge of power."

"True," Michael agreed.

* * *

Michael and Isabel walked back to the group.

"So what happened?" Kyle said.

"We're not exactly sure. But he left," Michael said, "On his own."

To Be Continued...