A/N: Yes I know it's been a long time and incredibly short to boot. This chapter did NOT want to be written. The next chapter is already coming along though so hopefully there won't be such a dreadful lapse between updates. Please reveiw, PM, send smoke signals, whatever... I'm feeling a bit lost without my Roswell buddies living close by, and my lack of writing inspiration shows it! Maybe you readers can help?

Chapter 45

Kyle had never wanted to be part of the alien conspiracy. He'd seen what it had done to his father and grandfather. His grandfather was dead now, but the alien conspiracy was alive and very well, he mused as he hung up his cell phone. There was another development with Jeremy Highland, Maria had explained. They were meeting at her house to discuss it later that night.

Kyle sighed and flopped on the couch leather couch in the living room. When he'd left Roswell for college, he hadn't really thought of coming back, even to visit. Ironically enough, not only was he here, but so was the rest of the pod squad. He wondered if there was something more than a shared secret binding them together now. If he had to put a name to it, he'd say it was cosmic forces.

Shaking his head in disbelief at his own thoughts, he got up and headed outside. He needed to work on some lay-ups and footwork. His basketball coach would not be happy if he came back in the fall rusty.

Later that night all seven were gathered into Maria's small living room. It was obvious to Kyle that Max, Isabel, Maria and Liz knew what was happening. Michael was not happy that he didn't know, judging from the death rays that were practically shooting from his eyes. Kyle was privately grateful that killing someone with a look didn't appear to have become part of his repertoire. Kyle personally thought there had already been too much killing and death. He wondered briefly if the others ever felt the same. His revere was broken by Max clearing his throat.

"As you already know, Jeremy Highland was buried two days ago. What we hadn't realized was a possible motive the Secret Unit might have had for killing him. It appears that Jeremy stole some top secret documents and sent them to his parents."

Michael immediately began cursing and pacing. With his gut instinct to lighten a tense situation, Kyle joked., "I'm not sure if I should say he has balls or call him a stupid SOAAH."

Everyone looked at him oddly. "What does SOAAH, mean Kyle?" Isabel asked, the corners of her mouth twitching into an almost smile.

"Son Of An Alien Hunter," Kyle deadpanned.

Maria snorted. "So that makes you a GSOAA?"

"Huh?" Kyle frowned.

"Grand Son Of An Alien Hunter," Maria clarified.

Kyle shot a quick look at his dad, whose face had tightened even more. "Nah Gramps didn't do much hunting. He was more an obsessed nut. Kind of like Milton!" Every heaved a collective groan at the memory of Max's previous employer and alien nut.

Satisfied that the somber atmosphere had lifted slightly, Kyle turned his attention back to the matter at hand. "So what else do we know, oh royal ones?"

Kyle felt his dad give him a sharp nudge as Maria and Liz sent him warning looks. "Sorry," he said sheepishly and began fiddling with some sort of knick-knack from Maria's end table.

Max cleared his throat. "Linda Highland called Liz to ask if she knew what some of the papers were about. It appears some are files from the secret unit, and others are Jeremy's own notes. Some of which mention me."

"So the special unit killed him to try to retrieve the files?" Michael asked as he paused in his pacing.

Sheriff Valenti shrugged. "Its possible, we know they've killed rouge agents before. They certainly wouldn't want those files to get into the wrong hands either."

"Oh My God," Liz exclaimed softly. "Do you think they know Jeremy sent the Highlands the files? They could be in danger!"

Every one tensed at the thought of two more innocent people being dragged into their life. Kyle slumped into the sofa muttering a soft "crap." The room was silent. Liz's eyes were wide with worry and fear.

"We don't know if the Special Unit is even aware of where the files are, Liz." Max reasoned. "If we can get it from the Highlands, it might be okay."

Michael fidgeted in annoyance. "We underestimated them once, I don't think we should do it again, Maxwell."

Kyle exhaled slowly. It was never nice to watch Michael and Max go head to head. Max usually won the argument but ended up bailing Michael out of whatever he did on his own anyway. Here comes the Alien Smackdown, he mused as the two men squared off.

"I'm not underestimating them, Michael." Max voice was calm.

"That's exactly what you're doing, assuming that they don't know what files were stolen and where they are."

Kyle was surprised that before the verbal ping pong could continue, Liz spoke up. "It doesn't matter if the Special Unit knows where they are or not. We need to get them so they don't end up in the wrong hands."

"How are we going to do that?" Kyle asked sarcastically.

Michael grinned and wiggled his fingers.

"No, absolutely not! I am not condoning your penchant for breaking and entering!" Maria interjected as she glared at her boyfriend.

Before Michael could answer, Liz spoke. "I was thinking I could go down there and ask the Highlands for the files."

"You're not going by yourself, Liz," Max commanded.

Liz actually rolled her eyes at the former Antarian King. Kyle drew a fist over his mouth to hide his smile. "And you going with me and introducing yourself would make it better?"