She recognized the peaceful feeling and slowly let the memories drain away.

There were the trees, the lambs and the butterflies to focus on.

A lot of purple butterflies this time.

They floated jerkily to and fro, but stayed away from Liz.

For some reason, she was glad.

As she took a deep breath, the warmth from the golden sun above melted the leftover tension in her body.

Laying back down on the soft grass, she smiled gently.

She was so relieved to be here and away from...

Her mind drew a blank.

There was something back there... wasn't it?

Liz shook her head.

This was where she wanted to be.

The colors in the sunset were just as beautiful as last time... although the sun was definitely getting warmer.

Hotter, actually.

A little too hot.

The edges of the sky were beginning to...

What?

She sat up and stared.

Melting. The heat from the sun was turning the sky into liquid.

A drop fell on her upturned face.

Liz winced as she reached up to touch the hot liquid.

More drops followed, and Liz stood to her feet.

The purple butterflies were quickly becoming polka-dotted.

And where had the lambs gone?

Glancing around, Liz moved to the center of the field where the sky was still... solid.

At her feet, she saw a small rivulet of skywater forming and running down the hill, its golden-red color staining the chalky green ground.

******

Max walked down the hallway in a daze.

A door opening to the right startled him.

Isabel's face appeared in the darkness and he shook his head.

"Hey, Iz, what are you doing? It's the middle of the night."

She stared him, tucking her hands under her arms sleepily.

"I was going to ask you the same thing. It's 3:30 in the morning. Why are you up?"

Max looked down, embarassed.

"I had a dream and couldn't get back to sleep."

Isabel frowned, "A bad dream?"

"No, actually, it was wonderful dream. About Liz."

Isabel's head fell back in exasperation and she yawned sleepily.

"Please, no details. Go back to sleep."

"It wasn't that kind of dream, Iz," Max said with a sardonic look. "We were just married and happy. Two kids, a boy and a girl. The girl looked just like you, Izzy."

She looked at him in surprise, then smiled.

"That's nice."

"Yeah," Max trailed off. "I'm going to work on the Strain's case for a little while to help me settle back down. 'Night."

"Yeah," Isabel said, nodding. "That should do it. 'Night."

******

The chalky trickle had turned into a stream, and the stream into a river.

The river was a beautiful swirling golden color, with splashes of orange and red throughout.

But the sky was no longer beautiful.

Liz looked up at the blank darkness and shivered.

It looked very wrong.

Maybe this is supposed to happen, Liz thought hopefully. Maybe this is all part of the little chalk world ecosystem.

She gave a nervous little laugh.

She decided to focus on the butterflies, grass and trees still remaining around her. Where they had been touched by the falling sky their true colors had returned, almost as if her little world was healing itself.

Liz smiled and turned to watch the river flow beside her.

A gentle, insistent tugging on her mind made her pause.

A butterfly flitted over to her, bringing the feelings of doubt even stronger.

It was just a butterfly, she reminded herself, a chalky little... purple butterfly.

She held up her hand with a forced smile.

The butterfly wanted to land on her finger...

And it did, yanking her mind into the pain, screaming all the way.

******

When he awoke, Michael had a splitting headache.

He groaned before his eyes even opened, feeling the throbbing against his temples.

He sat up on the couch, trying to remember how he had gotten there.

It was bright morning, and the last thing he remembered was-

Michael cursed loudly.

Liz.

Raising a hand to his head, he pushed himself to stand.

He couldn't do anything until he got rid of this headache.

And if he felt this bad, he could only imagine how Liz felt.

Unless it had all been a really, really funky dream.

******

Maria couldn't believe it.

For the second time in a week, Liz was sick in bed with a migraine.

She glanced over at the clock.

Only five minutes to go until lunch break.

Then she'd go visit Liz and make sure everything was okay.

And to try to make herself believe it was just a coincidence that Michael was almost laid out with a headache himself.

She glanced over at the kitchen, where he stood hunched over the grill, looking completely miserable.

Maybe she should try and make him take something again.

Nah, if he wanted to suffer, let him.

******

Liz winced at the knock on the door.

"Hello," Maria whispered, "can I come in?"

"Hi," Liz managed, pulling her head out from under a pillow.

In the soft filtered light, Maria crossed quietly to the bed and sat down.

"Liz, can I get you anything," Maria asked. "How about your migraine medicine, did you take it yet?"

Liz frowned.

"I don't like it, it makes me feel weird."

Maria smiled.

"But does it take the migraine away?"

Liz relented.

"Yeah, it... it does."

Maria stood with a smile.

"I'll be right back."

Liz sighed as she disappeared into the bathroom.

Her head still felt as it someone were stabbing it with a needle.

She would do anything to take away the pain.

And the memory of what might have happened last night... the feel of someone's lips on hers that wasn't Max.

She winced at the rush of fear that came.

She'd think about it later, after the medicine worked.

Maria was there already, handing her a glass and two pills.

Liz took them meekly.

"Now, you try and get some sleep. You look like hell."

Liz rolled her eyes.

"Gee, thanks. Sorry, I'm not down there with you."

"No problem. Just get well."

Liz set the glass on her bedside table and watched Maria with a smile as she left.

It was only a matter of minutes before the medicine kicked in.

She felt so heavy and sleepy...

******

Nancy Parker picked up the phone on the first ring.

And Max silently cursed his luck.

"Mrs. Parker, itıs Max. Is Liz available?"

"No, Max, she's not. Actually, she's in bed with a bad migraine. I'll have to have her call you-"

"Wait, wait, another migraine," Max interupted her before she could hang up. "Is something wrong with her? I mean, she's never these before, has she?"

Long sigh on the other end.

"No, Max, she hasn't. But I assure you, I am completely capable of looking after my own daughter's welfare. Good night."

She had hung up before he could say another word.

******

Maria hesitated outside of Liz's door.

Nancy Parker walked out of her bedroom, fumbling with the back of her earring.

She paused when she saw Maria.

"Hi, Maria, Liz is still sleeping. Maybe she'll be up to talking to you later," she smiled stiffly.

"Yeah, okay, I'll check back after work. I'm going to run out and get some lunch. Bye," Maria added as she headed out the door.

Her answers would have to wait until later.