izzyalienqueen | Roswell, late Wednesday night

It was late when Isabel was finally able to get away from her parents and pull out her phone. It was even later on the East Coast, but she needed to talk and there was only one person that would listen.

	Parker checked the Caller ID, and smiled. "Hey, Isabel. What's up?"
	She took a breath and tried to organize her thoughts so that she could explain things to Parker in a calm, rational manner. "Larek made contact." Calm and rational lasted for one sentence, then the tears started again. "They won't let me come back."
	"They won't let you come back here? Or to Antar?" Because Parker could see reasons for Isabel to be upset either way. Even if she knew what she was hoping the answer was.
	"Antar," Isabel said. "After I contacted Larek the other day, He was able to make contact with Max. He wants me to stay here. On earth. Where it's safe." She folded her pillow and fell back onto the bed. "He has no right to make that decision for me."
	Parker let out a slow breath, and took a second to think before answering that. "Maybe. Maybe not." Yay for Max doing the right thing this time. "Did he say exactly why? Was it just to protect you?"
	"No. It's all falling apart. As near as I can tell? The rift stuff? That brought me back? It's still happening." She sighed and covered her eyes with her arms. "So they'll stay there, and I'm supposed to just sit here and worry about them."
	"Which does suck. I get that. I'm so sorry they're not back yet." Parker shook her head, and settled down in the window seat of her room. "But honestly, Isabel, if that time rift is still happening, you know that going back might not help them at all. There's no way to guarantee you'd get to do anything. Maybe they'll reconsider later." Oh, please let them not. "Although... you know I want you to stay here."
	"I don't even know if they're going to come back," Isabel said. "They're trying to get people off planet, still dealing with Kivar." "I wanted to stay. And now I feel guilty."
	"I know. You want to be there for them all the way through. But Isabel, you did your tour of duty. You got captured, even. They're right. You don't have to give anything else; you were willing to try." Parker shook her head. "And you'd be a target, if things are heating up with Kivar. You know that."
	That's about what her parents had told her. And they didn't even know about what had happened with Kivar. "I know. I know. It's just hard to imagine going back and pretending everything is just fine."
	"Don't pretend. You don't have to. You're in a bad, worrisome place," Parker said. "And it is okay to be relieved that you're not the one in the line of fire. Okay? I know it's not really over until they're back here, or Kivar is dead. But your part-- it's done."
	"What if they don't come back?" Isabel asked. "What if they wind up dead there? I'll never know."
	Parker closed her eyes, wincing for Isabel, and reminded of other people she worried about like that. "I know. It isn't fair." She was quiet a moment, then said, "Did they make any plans to contact you again, sometime soon? Is there any way you can at least keep track?"
	Isabel shook her head then realized Parker couldn't see it. "I doubt it. Brody almost died because we used him like this. I don't think we want to take the risk."
	"I'm so sorry," Parker said. "I really am. I wish I could be there with you. Or I wish you were here."
	"Thanks," she said quietly. "It means a lot."
	Parker shook her head. "When do you leave to go back to Fandom? I'm in Delaware again for a couple days next week. I can see you then, if you're not busy."
	"I'm not sure yet," Isabel told her. "Probably this weekend. Everyone here is pretty upset. I want to stick around for a few days. But yeah, definitely. If I'm back, I'll be there."
	"Good. We'll catch up again, and talk, and hopefully it won't look quite so hopeless." Parker frowned a little, and said, "I'm sorry this is so rough on you. But give it time."
	"Looks like I'm going to have plenty of that." She sighed again and rubbed her eyes. "I think I'm going to go get ready for bed now." Not that she would sleep. "I'll call you once my plans are set."
	"Okay. And if you need a break, or want to visit later-- we can work something out." Parker smiled into the phone. "Welcome back, Isabel. To stay. Get some rest. And good night."
	"Night Parker."