END OF IT ALL (?)

by joli_camarillo, lila_luscious1

Summary:

[1] Hal Mason is concerned with his girlfriend's [Karen Adler] erratic behaviour - he's NOT aware that she's able
to communicate with the Espheni Overlord and plotting to assist the aliens in their quest to
eliminate the human race and take over the planet. Lourdes Delgado and Jamil Dexter have grown closer, and she
has some news that will change both of their lives forever.

[2] There's a time lapse between Robert Sullivan regaining his command position and his wife's attempted SA. They
haven't spoken much or seen one another much since their separation; he happens to be at '19' at the beginning
of one particular evening shift.

Notes:

• For dwalk1_2002, lulu_gee1, mindylachon42, uk_totty1, beckysue_bonner, beckibenhoffer, Alynnroe89, Gasnina, joli_camarillo, da_manelli, docmartin51, Bacner, LeesyLovesLove, Bulle22, CSW1420.

Chapter 1: FALLING SKIES/THE 2ND MASS

Chapter by lila_luscious1

Summary:

This chapter is mostly 'canon' (though of course not 100%), with themes of mild jealousy, worry, anxiety, betrayal, and love,
and awkwardness.

Karen has been acting WEIRDLY for at least a week, and Hal has had about enough...he finally found her in their assigned
living quarters in the afternoon, lying on their shared bed. "Hey."

"Hey."

"Are you OK?"

She shrugged. "I feel good. You?"

"Yeah...a few nicks and bruises, nothin' serious."

She yawned. "That's good. Come lie down with me."

"Let's talk first."

Karen yawned again. "Sure...(a third yawn)...'K...what's up?"

From a prone position, Hal chewed his bottom lip. Several possibilities crossed his mind: ask if there was someone else?,
ask if she's PREGNANT?... or simply DEMAND the truth. "Did I do somethin'...or somethin' I didn't do, or?...

"No, Babe. You're great: you've BEEN great. I'm worn down, is all."

"Nah. Uh-Uh. Something's off, and I wanna know what it is."

Exasperated, Karen blurted, "Fine. FINE! Yes or No: Are you still interested in Lourdes Delgado?"

"Lourdes...Delgado...? Ahhh...she had a little crush on me once upon a time, which I didn't reciprocate. Lu isn't my type, not
to say that she isn't pretty; hell, she is BEAUTIFUL, but I like blondes. Always have. Hey, look at me?" When she does, he continues,
"I'm with you, Karen Nadler. SHE'S with that engineer guy...ah...JAMIL. She's really happy with him."

Karen relaxed a bit. "Really?"

"Even if she and Engineer Guy aren't happy, my job is to make YOU as happy as I can." They kiss...

xxxxx

KAREN NADLER POV:

While her man slept, Karen crept outside to receive telepathic messages from her Espheni Overlords.

EO: "chkchkchk---tar axm PPa**&"

KN: "Yes, Lord. I understand. I can convince him. He has nearly convinced himself."

EO: "♍♊♒♒🉐💠🈂."

KN: "YES. It will be done, Lord."

xxxxxx

+LOURDES, ANN AND JAMIL+

Lourdes Delgado, newly minted Doctora , noticed her supervisor sneaking glances at her from time to time. Two hours into
the shift, she finally broached the subject: "Um, Anne...something's 'up'...what is it? And please don't say 'nothing's wrong."

"Oh...um...it's...it's not my business"...

"We're friends, right? I wanna know."

Anne Glass sighed. "Tom...um...has it in his mind that...his 17-year-old son might be...er...overly invested in whatever's going on
with you two."

"Huh. Welll...Tom has nothing to worry about, OK? The world's gone to hell, but even in this screwed up after-world, I'm no child
predator. Yes - I like Hal - he's been a god-send as someone to talk to and listen to. I never crossed the line with him and on top'a
that I'm seeing Jamil. I love him, Ann. I'm in love with him."

"I see," Anne replied. "I wasn't aware. Do you mind if I ask how long you've been with Jamil? Who's great, by the way."

"I don't mind," the younger woman replied. "We've been together since Upper Marlboro - in Maryland...that makes it, um...
almost 7 months, I guess."

Anne remarked that perhaps her information was faulty. "Just forget I mentioned it, OK, Lu?"

"Sure, Anne. All good. There's somethin' else, though."

"Wow: you've really gotten to know me!" the older woman laughed. "Alright...your glowy complexion, shinier hair, super-charged appetite...
I'd say you'll be joining the ranks of motherhood soon."

Speechless, Lourdes can only stare at her mentor until Anne hands her two pregnancy tests and steers her toward the Ladies' Room...

When she returned, her normally rosy complexion was more ashen and her dark eyes a bit red-rimmed. "In a low voice, she managed
"I-I have to tell Jamil. Do you mind if I"-

"No worries - go; scoot!"

xxxx

She was relaxing in their assigned flat, sitting up when 'Jamie' walked in; "Hey, you! I didn't expect to see you before tonight!"

Lourdes stood to accept his hug and kiss, then kissed his cheek, wiping the lipstick residue away with her thumb. When Jamil
pulls away, he frowns a bit. "Why are you hugging me so tight, Mamas? You OK?

"Yeah, of course, Cariño " - pulling the pair of plastic p-tests from her back pocket and handing them over.
They're POSITIVE - both of them," she added.

"Wow...Wow," Jamil managed.

Cautiously, Lourdes asked, "Is that a 'good' 'wow' or 'bad wow'?, and forced a laugh.

"As in GOOD, WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC, INCREIBLE!" he guffawed, lifting her off her feet.