A Campground in New Mexico

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel had not spent three days hiking through the campground trying to find a spot with a decent cell phone signal.

Well, she did. But it was better then sitting at the camp site watching Max be stubborn and her parents be miserable.

She took a seat on a rock, double checked her signal and started to dial.

"Ring..."

Comments

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg totally didn't squee when he saw who was calling.

Okay, not loudly.

"Hi!"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

And Isabel did not cheer when the phone was answered. Well not out loud at least.

"Hi yourself. How are you? What's happening?" The girl's been cut off. She needs news.

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"We lost our voices this weekend because of some demons, and Anakin says I can't be a Jed's Eye. He's mean," Greg replied.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You what? And he what?" Isabel looked around for a nearby tree to bang her head against. "Is everyone okay?"

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Uh huh," Greg said cheerfully. "We just couldn't talk. I had a braid and everything and he still said no."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"So in addition to Cal looking to possibly kill you? Anakin is going to want to kill you as well? Please be alive when I come back. I need a hug."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Is camping going badly?" he asked, sounding worried.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"My brother is an idiot and is pretty much refusing to speak to my parents, and my parents are frustrated as hell. I'm stuck in the middle."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"What'd he do?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Armed robbery."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"...no, seriously."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Seriously. It's a long involved story that involves stuff I can't talk about over the phone. I can tell you when I get back. Which is not going to be soon enough."

"I miss you."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I miss you too," Greg said softly. "I would've tried calling but you told me not to, and plus...no voices."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Saturday will be here soon enough. And I said that now. If I hadn't heard from you, I'd have been worried. And I'm glad I warned you not to expect to hear from me. It's taken me three days of determined hiking to find this signal. We're in the middle of nowhere."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Well, I'm glad you finally found one. It's not the same here without you," Greg said.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'll try and get back here again. Because I do miss you guys a lot. But I'd better go. I want to make a quick call to Parker and then get back to make sure Max and my folks haven't killed one another."

"Bye..."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

After talking to Greg, Isabel made another phone call">

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Well, at least one thing was going right today.

"Hey, Isabel."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Parker what the hell is going on there? Greg said something about demons and losing voices and is everyone okay?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker closed her door, then sat down on her bed. "Mostly? No one died, at least." She rubbed her head. "Jarod got cut. So did Cedric. They're both going to be okay, though." She tried to smile. "Aren't you glad you're missing this?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

A little knot of tension dissolved. "Good. Tell them I was asking about them. And I'll bring them presents. And honestly? No. I'd reather be there. I love my family. But right now I want to kill them."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"What did Max do to get you so torqued? Should we send in the rescue party early? And if I told you more about these demons, believe me, you'd change your mind." Parker flopped backward. "Most frustrating weekend of my life, I swear."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Max and Liz decided armed robbery would be a great new hobby. The folks are pissed, so they thought some togetherness time would be the best way to work things out so Max would talk to them. And I'm stuck in the middle because the dumbass still won't tell them the truth. There's no need for a rescue. I'm just avoiding them all and doing lots of hiking."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"You're kidding me. He thinks a felony is better than 'hi, I'm part alien'? Jesus. Are you sure you're related? That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard." Parker shook her head in disbelief. "We are so taking you to a spa or out for a major ice-cream pig-out when you get back. Above and beyond the call of sibling-hood, I swear."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"At this point? Vodka shots might be on the agenda. I just want to forget this whole trip. Do you want to know why though? This is the best part, remember the possible baby? Well it contacted him. With some sort of mental telegram or something. To tell him it's in trouble. Nevermind we've been cut off from everyone for over fifty years. He gets a message. That's the whole reason they held up the store. It was supposed to be over some storage facility that had our ship in it. The dumbass was going to go on a rescue mission."

"Of course they got caught and our parents and Liz's parents are pissed. It would be so much easier if he would just tell them the truth. But he won't."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Holy...cow." Parker is nearly speechless. "And you won't tell them without his okay? Well, I supposed he can always claim you're off your rocker, or the only alien they adopted. But still. And his girlfriend went along with this? Sounds like he found a soulmate in stupidity." She took a breath. "Do you think the baby's real, though?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I can't. It's not worth the grief he'd give me. And yes, for someone who's supposed to be so smart. She's pretty stupid when it comes to Max. They're forbidden to see one another. So we'll see how long that lasts."

"Honestly? I don't know anymore."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"I can only shake my head, and again offer to kick his ass when I meet him. Jesus." She took a breath. "Anything you need, Isabel. If you're an aunt, you deserve all the back-up in the world. Let me know who to call, okay?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"There's a line. Michael's not to impressed with this manuever either. If I'm an aunt, we'll deal. But until I have more proof. I'm not going anywhere."

"Just have the ice cream and possibly vodka ready when I get back?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Brandy Alexander shakes, with ice cream and Napoleon brandy, and pedicures and air conditioning," Parker promised. "Your boyfriend is still alive despite his best efforts to the contrary. You may want to talk to Anakin when you get back. Stay cool until then, okay?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm there. With bells on. He mentioned something that sounds like he now potentially has Anakin as well as Cal looking to kill him. Can you try to keep him out of trouble until I get back?"

"I'd better go. See you Saturday!"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Do my best. But he's got a real talent for flirting with disaster."

"Take care, hold out as long as you can, and we'll see you then!"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I know. But he's a sweetie."

"Give Jack a hug for me and tell him I miss him."

"Bye!"

Isabel hung up her phone and sighed. Time to go deal with family again.