Rating:PG-13

Disclaimer: not mine do not sue

Category: M&M, takes place after Sexual Healing

Feedback: YES!!! I LOVE FEEDBACK!

***

You know one thing I have noticed about people, when they care about you, they have a tendency to repeat themselves. Like the way they say goodbye, it will always be the same. Mom, ever since I can remember, has always said goodbye the same way, "I love you. Don't break anything".

When I was younger it meant 'I love you. Don't break any dishes or lamps'. Now though the meaning has changed. 'I love you' still means 'I love you'. But 'Don't break anything' is no longer about a dish. 'Don't break my trust' and 'Don't break yourself' are what she means now.

In general I was always pretty good about following that. Granted. the night she caught Michael in my bed pushed the envelope of our trust. The frustrating thing about that night is we really didn't do anything. He was upset and I wanted to be a friend.

I remember the first time Michael showed he cared about me. It wasn't some huge admission of undying love or even a really sincere gesture. No, that wouldn't be the Michael way of approaching life. I remember that it was right as he was going to get us something to eat from the vending machines outside of the Sultan Hide-away Motel on 285 South. It wasn't the going to get the food that showed he sort-of cared, or was at least slightly concerned about me, because he had to eat too. He told me to 'Lock the door'.

It was comforting to me, like my mom saying 'don't break anything'. Michael was concerned. At that point it wasn't like he needed me for my car or that I was any big help in finding the dome. I was merely some ditz, a dumb blonde, who hopped in the car as he was stealing it. He didn't have to be concerned about me. It wasn't like I was Liz, his best friend's love, that he had to protect for Max. I was 'that other one that knows the secret'. Anyway, that was the first time he told me 'lock the door'.

It's funny now, in an ironic sort of way, that the way Michael and Mom say goodbye, the way they show they care, contradict one another. Mom doesn't want me to break our trust, but I do. She just doesn't know it. She may suspect that after the night she caught Michael in bed with me that it wouldn't be his last trip there. But we haven't been caught yet. Not by my mom.

Michael always tells me 'lock the door'. Well, he says it twice. Once when he comes over, meaning my bedroom door. And again before he leaves. As he leaves, always pausing midway out the window for another kiss, reminding me to lock the window behind him.

How funny is that. The one time he doesn't tell me to lock up because we had a fight and weren't speaking to each other. It was a stupid fight. I wish it hadn't happened. I don't even remember what it was about, probably his fault, but what does that matter now? It doesn't. I didn't even kiss him goodbye.

The one time I forget to lock the window behind him. The one time someone comes in. And now here I am, sitting in a stark, cold room with only a paper gown for clothes. Alone. I don't like being alone. I want to go home.

***

"Maria."

I hear the whisper of my name. It's strange when the sound of your own name scares you.

"Maria."

I bit my lip to try and stop the quivering. I don't want to cry. Not here. Not now.

"Maria."

I can feel the hot tears and taste them on my lips now. I just want to go home. I want Michael. It's my fault. I remember what the fight was about now. I remember why he left angry. I remember why he didn't tell me to lock the door and window.

"Maria."

The whisperer is standing at my shoulder. Standing beside me now. But there is no one. I should be screaming. I should be running away. I should be home. I should be with Michael.

"Maria."

"Who are you?" My voice echoes off the walls. I look around but no one is here. I am alone. I need my mom. I need Alex and Liz. I need Michael. I need anyone other than the figure stepping out of the shadows.

"Who are you?" I sound strong. Liar. I sound weak and desperate and alone. I wish I were alone now.

"I am you."

"You're not me." I'm me. No! This isn't right. It isn't real! Why is this happening to me?

"Why? You ask why?"

What? I didn't say that out loud! Please. Please just let me go home.

"Well, now. You can't go home because that would ruin everything. You asked for me. You said you didn't want to be alone, so I came."

"No! I didn't say that! I didn't say it! I thought it! Who are you? Where am I?" Oh God, please help me. Michael, I'm sorry about the fight. I'm so sorry now.

"Ah, there is a question I can answer. Because I am you. At least in here I am. I can be anyone. So I choose you! I am you for now! Because this is your head! You stupid, stupid girl! Everything is in your head! If you don't like it then wake up!"

Maria woke up shrieking in terror. Her short blonde hair was plastered with sweat to her forehead. She looked around in fear. Wherever she was it was nearly pitch black, the exact opposite of the harsh room of her mind.

Maria shivered as a faint light glowed from the wall. Her eyes widened in shock as she realized that it was the map in the cave. Michael's map!

Maria rubbed her head. She could feel the bump forming now. As she fingered the sore area slowly and carefully, her mind began to wander over the night's events, replaying in her groggy mind.

The last thing that Maria remembered was who took her. She knew who but she couldn't understand why. So she decided to ask him. "Riverdog. Why am I here?"

"Because I told him to." A figure stepped out of the shadow just as eerily as in her mind. Maria recognized the voice of the man closing in on her. "You're the perfect one for my plan. The other girl is too close. She would be noticed too easily, too quickly. The boy not close enough to begin the plan smoothly and rapidly. But you, you Goldilocks, are just right." Eddie smiled and stroked Maria's head.

She recoiled in fear from the cold touch of his hand and the purely blank eyes bearing down on her.

***

"Hey Michael." Max opened the door to Michael's apartment and walked in, closing it behind him.

"Hey Max. What are doing here?"

"Oh um, I thought that you might need a ride to school. 'Cause Liz said that um, she talked to Maria last night and..."

"She told you about the fight we had last night?" Michael was surprised. He knew that Maria told Liz a lot but the fight last night was different, was worse.

"What fight? No Liz said that Maria left a message about not being able to pick you up this morning. Liz could barely understand her message because of the static. What fight, Michael?"

Michael just shrugged and tried to blow off the question. "I dunno. Probably something I said or didn't say, did or didn't do, did do but didn't do right, forgot to do or was supposed to do but haven't done yet. Who knows?" But Michael knew, he just wasn't saying.

Max nodded his head in pretend understanding. "So, uh, you ready?"

"Yeah sure." Michael pulled on his jacket and a grabbed a notebook to draw in during the few classes he might take in that day. "Let's go."

Max followed Michael out of the apartment and down the stairs. He could tell when Michael was lying to him. And Michael was definitely lying to Max right now about the fight he had with Maria last night. Sure, the two of them bickered and yelled insults but they usually just pouted for a couple of hours or a couple of days and then kissed, a lot, and made up.

Michael wasn't pouting now. He just seemed...less angry and more hurt. Neither spoke for a couple of minutes in the Jeep on the way to school.

"So what exactly did Maria say to Liz?" Michael finally asked.

He couldn't help himself. He wanted to know Maria's thoughts after last night's fight and he had a bad feeling in his stomach all morning. He felt on edge and jumpy but he just didn't know why.

"They didn't actually talk. Liz just said that Maria left a message on her answering machine last night that she wouldn't be at school today. Liz had trouble understanding her because of the interference and static."

"Wait, why won't she be at school?"

Something about all this was bothering Michael but he couldn't quite place his finger on it. It reminded him of when he thought that he was being followed by the FBI but couldn't be sure. He had the same prickly hairs on the back of his neck raised in consciousness.

"She didn't say." Max looked over at Michael. "Why? What are you thinking, Michael?"

Michael was lost in thought and it took him a minute to realize that Max had been talking to him. "Huh? What? Oh, um nothing. I'm sure it's nothing."

"You sure, Michael? Because if you want we can go over to Maria's before school. I mean, we have time." Max could feel Michael's pangs of confusion mixing with his concern but he just attributed it to the fight with Maria the previous night.

"No. No, it's nothing, Maximilian. Don't worry about it." Michael tried to dismiss his paranoia as he turned away and pretended to watch the scenery pass by.

But his mind kept returning to last night. Something else was bothering him, and then he remembered it. He remembered what was giving him the guilty pangs; Michael didn't say goodbye. He didn't tell her to lock the window behind him. And the know in his stomach turned and tightened with that last thought.

***

"Why am I here? Eddie, what plan? Please just let me go." Maria looked back and forth from Eddie to Riverdog. She was so confused and her head ached from the bump.

"Don't worry. We'll let you go. For now. But you won't be gone forever. The plan is in motion. You are the key. The key to it all." Eddie smiled as he walked over to Maria and knelt in front of her. He raised his hands and blew a fine dust into her face.

Maria coughed and choked on the powder before her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep.

"I tried to warn the girl not to trust them. This one and the other boy, the visitor, will lead us to Nasedo. We will find him." Riverdog spoke quietly as Eddie picked up Maria and carried her out of the cave.

"Yes, the plan is beginning."

***

"Michael, I already told you exactly what the message said. Look, why don't we go over to her house and see if she's there?" Liz was exasperated with Michael. He had badgered her all day with questions about Maria's call last night. Max had told her that Michael and Maria had a fight last night but Michael refused to elaborate on it any.

"I already called. Her mom answered and I got the impression that she thought Maria was at school." Michael rubbed the back of his neck. He kept pushing the guilty feeling away but he couldn't stop the worry.

"Well, why don't we meet at the Crashdown after school? I am sure that Maria will show up for her shift," Alex spoke up, and Isabel, Max, and Liz nodded in agreement.

Michael just stood up and left the table. He couldn't place the feeling but something was wrong. There was a shift in the electrical balance of the air that sent shockwaves all the way through his toes.

Michael rubbed his eyes and went to the art room. He couldn't deal with any other class right now. Maybe if he could visualize this shift, then he could understand what was going on.

***

"The girl will lead us to the answers. She is perfect. They will not know until it is done."

Nodding in deep thought, Riverdog traced his hand over the cave paintings on the wall. He hated this cave and the paintings. He hated 'the man'.

"Riverdog, I'll return her at dusk. She won't remember but it is beginning. Within the week it will be noticeable but by then...it will be too late." Eddie placed his hand on Riverdog's shoulder before turning away and exiting the cave. Leaving the older man to stare at a wall that has taken control of his life since he was a young boy.

"Yes", the whisper of Riverdog's soft voice filled the silence of the cave, "she is the key. It is beginning. The change is upon them."

***

Michael worked furiously in the art room. The paint brush flew across the page in a rapid and jerky motion. He couldn't even see what he was doing, all he knew was that the energy in the air seemed to be sending him tiny electric shocks that worked the movements of his hand. The shape of the painting took on a life of its own as Michael became entranced in his work.

Then the brush fell from his hands as he stood back to survey his 'vision'. "What the hell?"

Michael scanned the room and when he saw that no one was watching he dried the paint and rolled up the paper, taking it with him. He couldn't let anyone see what he had drawn. Michael didn't even know if he would show Max and Isabel.

***

"Hey Michael." Max called over to Michael as school let out for the day. "We're gonna go to the Crashdown now. You know, to wait for Maria. Are you working tonight?"

"No. I'll go with you guys. I just have to stop by my apartment first, okay?"

"Sure, man. No problem. Hey, you do another drawing?" Max tilted his head in reference to the rolled paper in Michael's possession.

"Oh, sort-of. It's a class project."

Before Max could question the validity of Michael actually doing a class project they were joined by Liz and Alex. "Hi Max. Hey Michael. Listen, do you guys mind if we get going? I'm really worried about Maria now. She missed a French test today and I overheard Madam Dannis talking with Principal Hoffman. They called her mother when she didn't show up but Amy had no clue where Maria went."

Max pulled his worried girlfriend into his chest as Alex rubbed her back gently. Michael's chest constricted as the electric shocks of the air zapped his toes and the guilt pangs from last night returned.

"Why don't you guys go on and I'll wait for Isabel? I can give her a ride. We'll meet up with you at the Crashdown," Alex spoke up.

He could tell that everyone was trying to remain calm about all this because as of yet Maria wasn't really missing, because she had left them a message before hand. But that didn't stop the worry from appearing on all their faces, even Stonewall Guerin.

They split up as Alex waited for Isabel and the other three left for the restaurant with a quick stop-over at Michael's apartment. He ran in and dropped the painting off, hiding it behind the couch. He didn't know what it meant for sure, but Michael didn't want to give anyone else the chance of discovery.

As the three walked into the Crashdown, they stopped dead in their tracks as they saw that Maria was not only already there. But she had already started her shift. Liz ran over and grabbed Maria by her arm, dragging her into the back of the Crashdown. Max and Michael followed closely behind.

"Maria, where were you today?" Liz was frantic as she spoke to her best friend in a hushed whisper.

"I d- Out. I was out."

"Out where?" Max looked at Maria with the question in his eyes.

Maria paused and it looked like she was searching for the answer. "Close the door. No! I was out at the park. I needed to...think. I needed to think."

"Maria, are you okay?" Liz touched Maria's shoulder and gasped as the electric charge hit her briefly.

Maria blinked her eyes rapidly at this. "Hey! What? Oh, yeah, Lizzie, I'm fine. Don't worry. I'm just tired. I need to go to bed early after work."

"Oh, okay. I mean, actually you can go now if you want..." Liz glanced at Max and then at Michael, who hadn't spoken once yet. Maria seemed 'off' somehow but no one them could really place it.

"Michael." Maria stopped and looked at him with curiosity and then before she could realize what she was saying, "Will you come over? Walk me back home?"

Michael studied the small blond in front of him. She looked all right, and even though she seemed a little distracted she seemed to be basically all right. Which was why he couldn't understand that same prickly feeling on the back of his neck and the churning in his stomach as she turned and addressed him.

"Yeah, okay."

Maria smiled and turned without another word. Michael exchanged looks with Liz and Max as he walked out the back to follow Maria.

***

Michael stood awkwardly outside the threshold of the DeLuca house. Maria walked into the kitchen and set her coat down on the chair. She turned and watched Michael with expectations in her eyes.

"Aren't you coming inside?"

"Maria, what is going on? Last night-"

"Forget about last night. I have. Now will you come inside? Don't worry my mom is at some convention for a week. Close the door." Maria turned and walked down the hallway to her room, not bothering to see if Michael was following her.

As he stepped into her house Michael felt the subtle shift and change in the electric currents in the air. Bringing his arm up to his face he could see the tiny hairs all raised in shock. Rubbing his forearms vigorously, Michael went afer Maria to her bedroom.

She was standing at the window with one hand raised and pressed tightly to the glass. Her fingertips were vibrating and shaking against the glass. She never even looked at Michael or acknowledged his presence in the room.

Walking to her slowly, Michael pressed his own larger hand to cover her on the window.

"Stay with me tonight. I don't you to leave." Maria's fingers stilled as she spoke.

"I won't leave tonight. Maria..." Michael couldn't find the strength to question her. It was if his energy was being drained.

"Michael, I'm tired. So tired."

Maria turned and walked to the bed, leaving him standing next to the window. The same window that he left from last night. Looking at it now he could see the latch still unlocked. The guilt returned and clenched his stomach and chest.

As he locked the window and turned to Maria he could see her already asleep on top of the covers, curled tightly in a ball. "Where were you today, Maria?" He felt better voicing the question even if she couldn't answer in her sleep.

Michael took off her shoes and covered her up with a blanket. Sitting by her on the bed he stroked her soft hair out of her eyes, which were already twitching from her dreams.

"...the key...the door's opening..." Maria whispered quietly and Michael smiled softly at her nonsense rambling from dreams.

***

Oh God! I'm back here. I thought I left this place. Where am I? Why am I here?

"Maria."

The voice, I need to remember what the voice is saying.

"Maria you are the key. The key to it all. You will open the door."

I don't like these dreams. I know that I need to remember. But I don't know what or why. I want to get out of here. I don't like the voice. I'd rather be alone. I'd rather be with Michael.

Oh my God, what are they doing to me? Please stop! Please! It hurts! It hurts me! My back is on fire from the shocks. Please stop, I don't want to be here anymore. Stop doing this to me! Leave me alone!

"It's the sign. The sign to let them know."

But why do I have to be the sign? I just want to go home. "Let me go home!"

"Don't you see, girl? You are the key. We cannot let you go now. We need you."

I don't want to be the key. But I have to, I need to remember. I need to know what the voice is saying. But I can't because of the pain. Please stop hurting me! Stop! "Stop it! God it hurts! Why won't it stop? Please I don't want to do this!"

I don't want to be here. I don't want this.

"Too late. It's all too late."

***

Maria woke up with a start. Her breathing was heavy and she sat up shaking in her bed, holding her knees to her chest. Michael lay next to her with his arm loosely draped over her legs. Maria knew that she needed to remember for Michael. But not yet, if he knew then they might try to stop it.

They can't stop it. The change is beginning.

Maria shook her head as her own thoughts confused her. She couldn't remember what happened yesterday or in her dreams. It was if some dark had hung over her the past two nights and she didn't know why.

Slowly, Maria crept out from under Michael's arm to the bathroom. She could feel the static electricity under her feet as she shuffled along the carpet. Her back felt all tingly, like when your feet fall asleep. The pins and needles feeling was driving her insane. The tingles became stronger the farther she walked away from Michael down the hall.

Maria could barely make it to the bathroom because of the sharp pain running up and down her spine. Quickly flipping on the light and discarding her shirt, Maria angled on of the cabinet mirrors so she could see her back. There in the mirror, glowing on her skin, were five raised bumps. The five stars of the aliens' planet. The map to home marked on Maria.

The light from the bathroom hurt her eyes and she flipped it out. The faint glow of the raised tattoo on her back hummed in the darkness to Maria. It comforted her.

"Yes, I know. In six days. I won't forget. Open the door."

Meanwhile, in Max's room, under his bed, the orb found in the desert began to glow faintly and a slight hum could be heard.

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