* * 3 * *


Michael saw a blur by his side, Max.

Max raced up the stairs, his heart pounding. He ran into the room, he stopped dead when he saw Maria's motionless body lying on the floor, blood framed around her head. The sound of feet coming up the stairs brought him round. He rushed to Maria's side, he knelt down beside her, he felt the warm blood seep into his jeans.

"Maria?"

He brushed the hair from the wound, when he touched it, she groaned.

"Maria baby, open your eyes. I need you to open your eyes. Come on Maria, please for me."

He felt a hand on his shoulder but he shrugged it off. He saw Maria's eyes flutter, she blinked a couple of times, her eyes opened but she couldn't focus.

"That's it Maria, look at me."

She winced when she tried to turn her head but Max's voice stopped her.

"No Maria, look at me. I need to heal you."

He turned her face, he placed his hand over her wound, he felt the rush go through him. The flashes came thick and fast.

He saw her as a child, he saw her as her heart broke when Amy told her 'daddy wasn't coming home'. He saw how she freaked when she found out that aliens really did exist. He saw how she cried when she and Michael broke up. He saw Liz hit her, his body jerked when she hit her head and fell. What he saw next almost made his breath stop.....he saw himself in her eyes, he felt her love for him.

He broke the connection to her and fell back.

Maria's eyes came into focus, Max scrambled over to her.

"Are you okay?"

Relief washed through him when he saw her sweet smile. He helped her up, when she stumbled a little he picked her up in his arms and held her to him.

"Is she alright?"

He looked over at Liz.

"Yeah, no thanks to you."

Michael stepped in front of Liz, shielding her from Max's anger.

"She didn't mean to hurt her."

Liz was crying behind him, Isabel pulled her to her side. She narrowed her eyes at Max.

"Max what is wrong with you?"

Max ignored her, he carried Maria towards the door. Isabel stood in front of them making them stop.

"Move Isabel, I'm taking her home."

"You can't."

"Are you going to stop me? Isabel don't, I'm warning you."

"I just want to clean her up. Max she's covered in blood and so are you."

Maria tightened her arms around Max's neck.

"It's okay Max, we should let her, my mom will have a fit if she sees me like this."

Max lowered her to the floor but kept hold of her hand.

"Okay Isabel. Do what you have to."

Isabel waved her hand over Maria a few times, the blood faded. She did the same to Max. When there was no more blood Max put his arm around Maria. He lead her from the room. As they passed Michael, he put his hand on Maria's arm. Max glared at his hand, then at his face. Michael's hand dropped to his side.

"Max, don't you think we should talk about this?"

Max pulled Maria closer to him.

"Talk about what Michael?"

"How this is effecting everyone?"

" THIS has nothing to do with anyone but Maria and I."

He moved away from Michael and the others.

"Max."

Max turned to Michael, he was having a hard time keeping it together he needed to get Maria away.

"Look I'm taking her home, you guys do whatever you want."

Michael stepped back letting them leave. Isabel went to follow but he stopped her shaking his head.

"Leave it till later."

TBC