Rating: R for sexual situations, violence, and language

Category: Everyone, but a lot of M&M.

Spoilers: None, takes place right after Blind Date

Summary: One night changes the six and the relationships

Disclaimer: not mine do not sue

A.N.: Sheli is the greatest! I bow to thee for tagging another long long story of mine! Thank you little sis!

~*~ Fall From Grace

Michael stood at the doors to the gym. Watching. He is always watching, watching her. Her smooth skin and hair just as weird as his and her eyes. He hated the way her eyes stared at him with expectations. Expectations that he just couldn't fill, wouldn't let himself fill. And every time he failed them he let her down, and every time her eyes turned as she walked away. But he loved her eyes and regretted that his skulking in the shadows didn't allow him to see her eyes anymore.

Maria stood at the top of the ladder in the middle of the gym hanging streamers and balloons for the "Not Quite Spring Fling". Maria grumbled as she hung the blue and yellow streamers from the rafters.

"I can't believe that Liz talked me into doing this." She wasn't talking about the decorating because Maria didn't mind that. Maria was nervous about the dance on Saturday. Alex's band "The Whit's" and Maria were performing and even though Maria had semi-conquered her newfound fear of crowds, playing for her entire school sent a panic attack through her body and mind. *Of course, at least I have an excuse now as to why I don't have a date. Not that I expected Michael "I-don't-even-notice-your-new-aqua-bra" Guerin to ask.*

But Michael noticed. He noticed that every guy in school would stare not at Maria, not at the eyes that haunt him at night, but at her body, not even her body! Because Michael knew Maria, he had studied that body and what these guys were staring at was not his Maria. His Maria. Even now he couldn't stop thinking of her as his. *Even though I never really had her.* Michael was relieved beyond words that these horny guys with their roving hands hadn't asked Maria to the dance. Michael silently thanked Liz for talking Maria into performing with Alex's dweeb band at the dance.

The doors opened to the gym and Kyle and one of his jock friends came running in. Kyle threw the basketball to Rick who was running backwards while laughing. Michael saw Rick running towards the ladder Maria was standing on. But before he could say anything Rick reached up with his hands to catch the basketball and ran directly into the ladder. Michael watched the whole scene lay out before him in a slow motion panic before gathering himself to run out into the middle of the gym floor. But Michael, Kyle, and Rick could only watch as Maria fell from the high ceiling onto the hard, wood floor. Michael reached her milliseconds after he heard the painful crack and snap of her leg, which now twisted out at an odd angle from under her body.

"Maria!" Michael felt the bile rise up in his throat as he was looking down at the painful position Maria was laying on the floor. Michael dropped to his knees beside her. Without taking his eyes off of her Michael ordered Rick and Kyle, "Call an ambulance and go wait for them outside".

The two boys hesitated in shock for a moment before Michael whipped his head around and barked, "NOW!" Rick and Kyle took off at full speed through the double doors of the gym.

Once they left Michael reached his hands out to Maria's leg.

"No, Michael don't." Maria weakly forced the words past her lips. The pain was almost unbearable and her head had a warm sticky feeling surrounding it.

"What? No I can at least help a little, take away some pain before the ambulance comes." Michael didn't understand why she was refusing his help.

"Get away, Michael." Maria closed her eyes as her head turned away from Michael. It was then that Michael saw the trickle of blood on the floor. Before Michael could try and convince Maria to let him help her, Kyle came running back into the gym.

"The ambulance and my dad are on their way. He said that he would call Maria's mom. Shit! Maria, I am so sorry." Kyle looked at Maria with worry and guilt in his eyes.

Maria's eyes were glazed over and she turned to look at Michael. Her eyes locked onto his as she said, "Don't help me," and closed her eyes, her body finally granting her the reprieve of passing out from the pain.

~*~ Who Has the Patience to be a Patient?

"Oh my God! Is Maria alright?" Liz came running into the emergency room. *God, this is too much. My grandmother, Max, and now Maria. Please let Maria be alright.*

"What happened?" Alex stood next to Liz questioning Kyle, Michael, Rick, and Sheriff Valenti. Max and Isabel ran around Alex and Liz to flank Michael on either side. Of course they were concerned about Maria but this close proximity to Valenti made them want to stick close to Michael, especially at a time when his emotions might not be kept in check.

"Liz, Mr. Whitman, we don't know yet. The doctor promised to let us know anything as soon as any information became available. Now if you will excuse me I am going to wait for Amy outside." Valenti picked his hat off of the chair and walked outside. He wanted to be as close to Amy as he could to comfort her.

"Oh Alex," Liz sobbed into Alex's arms as the two sat down in the waiting room. Alex threw his arms around Liz and didn't bother to wipe away his own tears.

Isabel and Max pulled Michael into a sitting position on the waiting room couch. He sat down, never taking his eyes off the door to the emergency room. Isabel linked her arm through Michael's and placed her head on his shoulder. Glancing at Liz and Alex, Isabel gave a jerk of her eyes mentally telling Max to help comfort the two of them. Max nodded in understanding and went over to sit by Liz on the other couch. Max sat there next to Liz and Alex as they cried their fears for their best friend. Gently extending his arms, Max enveloped both of them for a hug. Kyle and Rick just looked on with guilt-ridden looks on their faces. Kyle thought to himself, *How much more pain can I cause one person? Liz will never forgive me if anything happens to Maria.*

"Where's my baby? I want some answers and I want them now!" The human whirlwind known as Amy DeLuca flew into the ER with Valenti hot on her heels. Amy ran over to the nurse's desk banging on it with her fist until a nurse came out to see who was wreaking this havoc in the waiting room.

"Yes, I am here about my daughter Maria DeLuca. Can someone please tell me how she is?"

"The doctors are back with her now but it appears as if her leg is broken in three places and she has a concussion. I don't know if her skull was fractured or not." Just then the women's beeper went off, glancing down quickly she turned to apologize to Amy before running back into the emergency room.

"Oh, my baby!" Amy moaned as Jim Valenti took her to sit next to the kids in the waiting room. "How did this happen?"

"Umm, we were kinda playing ball and accidentally ran into the ladder she was on and it, um, tipped over." Kyle felt a sinking feeling in his chest as he saw the faces of Maria's friends and family listening to his explanation.

"How far?" Amy asked in a quiet whisper.

Kyle looked down at the ground and his dad eventually answered for him. "About fifty feet."

Liz's sobs now deepened and even Max could no longer comfort her. Isabel felt Michael's muscles tense at the memory and she couldn't stop the connection formed. His emotions were so strong that she couldn't help but feel them and see the accident as Michael saw it.

*Flash*
Michael standing in the background watching Maria. Jealousy, want, desire, and above all need.

*Flash*
Kyle and Rick coming in. The slow motion of the ladder fall.

*Flash*
Michael alone with Maria. He wants to help her, he needs to help her.

*Flash*
Pain. Not Maria's pain but Michael's pain. It is only clouded by his confusion of her refusal.

"Oh, Michael. Why?" Isabel asked Michael in a low murmur that only he could hear. Michael shook his head and stood up. All of the teenage eyes turned to watch him. Kyle and Rick were sure that this was the pounding coming that they both felt they deserved. Max and Isabel feared that Michael would lose control and do something stupid in front of the sheriff. But he turned and walked to the exit. And Liz and Alex only saw him walking away from their best friend once again.

"Michael?" Isabel asked, running up to follow him. Michael shook off her grip, pausing at the door.

"I just, need some air."

~*~Twenty Four Hours In a Life

Michael sat out on the wooden bench, allowing the wind to burn his cheeks. He ran his hands through his spiky hair until they clutched at the back of his neck. His entire body and mannerisms were laden with intensity. Michael's every pore in the body ached and he couldn't figure out why. *What is my problem? I mean, I told her to basically stay away and now that she is doing that I find a way to get close every time. Damn it! Is this what I asked her for? NO! I didn't want help but, oh God, Maria, I wanted to help you. Why would you rather pass out in pain than accept my help? Do you want me not to touch you? Do I disgust you now?* "Fuck!" Michael screamed a release from his internal prison.

"Michael?" Isabel stood just at the edge of the electronic door to the hospital, keeping the doors open. She looked at Michael in fright and worry, fright for Maria and her friends and family and worry for Michael. What would Michael do if something was serious with Maria and he didn't help her? "Michael, the doctor is on his way out to talk to Mrs. DeLuca. Do you want to come in?" Isabel's eyes peered unflinchingly at Michael's back. She heard his sigh and he turned to walk back into the ER.

Alex had composed himself slightly and even though his face conveyed all of his torture, he no longer cried. Liz still sobbed uncontrollably in both Alex's and Max's arms. Amy DeLuca sat shaking on the couch, shredding a tissue in her hands. Jim Valenti slowly rubbed circles with his hand on her back. Kyle and Rick sat in the corner furthest from everyone, muttering under their breaths, self-loathing disgust no doubt.

Michael stood on the edge of the room leaning on the wall for support. He shoved his hands in his pockets and hunched his shoulders. Isabel followed behind him but knew better than to touch Michael at a time like this. Any push too much and too far and Michael would retreat more. While a deeper emotional retreat at this time might not be possible, Isabel feared Michael would run further than just outside of the hospital. The confusion still rolled like waves from Michael's body. It was a physical force that both Isabel and Max could feel. The only description could be 'intense'.

Amy jumped up at the sound of the doors opening. The doctor in green scrubs walked out to meet her halfway. Amy stood there in anticipation, quiet for the first time in her life. Liz and Alex ran up to stand next to Amy. All eyes in the room watched and waited for the news of Maria. Everyone prayed for her safety.

"Well, Mrs. DeLuca, the first thing is that she did not fracture her skull and there does not appear to be any internal bleeding or hemorrhaging. But the break was very serious in her left leg. The tibia broke in three places. And she fractured her wrist. We wrapped a fiberglass cast on her wrist and stabilized her leg. Her head did require five stitches but we were careful and did not have to shave her head." Amy breathed a sigh of relief at the news. Despite the seriousness of the break in her leg, Maria was going to be just fine.

"So is she going to be okay?" Liz spoke up, her breathing starting to calm a little at the news of Maria's condition. Max squeezed her shoulder in support. Alex waited for the answer before he could release the breath he didn't know he had been holding.

"Well, I think she is going to be alright. I am concerned about the concussion. She needs to be kept awake for the next 24 hours. We can keep her here in the hospital but when we told her that she doesn't seem to be very happy about that thought." Dr. Martin looked around for the first time at the group of expectant friends.

"Um, Dr. Martin, I, excuse me kids, I need to speak to the doctor alone." Amy nodded to the other side of the room and the doctor followed her. "I cannot afford to keep her here overnight because I, well, it's been a tough year and the health insurance was just so much," Amy's voice trailed off in embarrassment as her eyes filled, once again, with tears.

Dr. Martin sighed before answering Amy's non-verbal question. Nodding she said, "Okay, you can take her home. She doesn't want to stay here anyway. But keep her awake and talking. And call me tomorrow, alright?"

Amy agreed and went to see Maria while the others waited in the hallway. After about an hour of paperwork and forms, an orderly wheeled her out in a wheelchair. Michael's heart sank as he saw her defeated look and broken, literally, body. Her sweaty hair lay flat against her head covering the stitches. Her wrist and leg were both covered in fiberglass casts.

"Oh Maria! I am so glad that you are okay! We were so worried!" Liz ran up to Maria but stopped short of actually hugging her. Liz didn't want to injure Maria any more.

Alex smiled down at his tiny blonde friend. "So, Superwoman!" Maria shook with slight laughter but tried not to jar her aching body.

"Yeah, well, I think from now on I'm going to stick closer to the ground. Now can we please get out of here and go home!" Maria smiled at her friends, trying to assure them that she would be fine.

"Yeah, let's go, Maria honey. We need to get you home. Liz, Alex, we can drop you guys off at the Crashdown." Amy paused, suddenly noticing that dear boy who saved her and Maria at the UFO Festival. Amy smiled at him, "Do you need a ride too? Michael, isn't it?"

Michael didn't meet Mrs. DeLuca's gaze. Max spoke up for him. "No, that's okay, we can give him ride. We'll meet everyone at the Crashdown." Max looked at Liz and smiled sweetly at her. Liz met his gaze and felt her cool resolve towards him collapsing.

"Yeah, we can give Alex, and Liz, a ride to the Crashdown so you can get Maria straight home." Isabel felt bad about blowing off Alex before. She didn't really think that he was suffocating her, she just was, well, Isabel had to admit that she felt nervous around him. Isabel Evans actually felt nervous around Alex Whitman. Will wonders never cease?

Alex and Liz looked at each other and then back at Maria. "Um, no we're gonna go with Maria," Alex spoke, noticing the look of, was that disappointment he saw, cross Iz's eyes he quickly added, "But after we help get her settled we will meet you at the Crashdown. Okay?"

Isabel noticeably perked, turning to Max, "Let's go, guys. I'm sure Maria just wants to get home."

Michael hadn't spoken a word in hours. He didn't know what to say. What was there for him to say? Maria obviously hated him; that had to be the only explanation. She didn't even look at him. Now Michael couldn't talk to her, and if she wouldn't look at him then he couldn't speak with his eyes either.

***

After Alex and Liz helped Amy get Maria settled back in her home, they went back to the Crashdown. Max, Isabel, and Michael were already there, waiting. Michael still remained silent at the constant barrage of questions from Max and Isabel. He hoped that if he didn't speak about it, he could forget the pain. The pain in his chest and the pain in her eyes.

"Hey, Liz. How's Maria?" Max asked as Alex and Liz came back into the Crashdown.

"She's okay. But we are going to go there later to relieve Mrs. DeLuca for a couple hours so she can sleep while we keep Maria awake." Liz and Alex were so much more like themselves now that Maria was at home. Max and Isabel understood their relief. It was the same emotions they had felt after Michael's cocooning in the cave.

Suddenly the phone rang and a few minutes later Mr. Parker ran through the door. "Liz, you and Alex need to get over to Maria's right away."

"Why? Is Maria okay?" Liz felt the panic rising in her chest again.

"Yes Liz, Maria is fine but Amy's sister was in a car accident and she needs to go to Dallas tonight. I told her that you and Alex would go over and keep Maria awake tonight and take care of her this weekend. I need to stay here because I have some salesmen coming. Now you guys go and call me if you need anything." Mr. Parker turned and went back into the back of the restaurant.

"Let's go, Alex." Liz and Alex turned to walk to Maria's.

"Hey, wait." Michael spoke up for the first time in what seemed like forever to Max and Isabel. "Max can drive you...and we can come help you guys keep her awake. I mean, you guys did help me."

Liz's face registered her shock and Alex raised his eyebrows at Michael's almost nice display towards them.

"Okay, let's go."

Max, Isabel, and Michael followed the two humans out of the Crashdown. *What am I doing?* Michael thought about what he had done. All he knew was that he just couldn't let them walk away, he had to get to Maria. Michael had to know why.

Isabel was also thinking that there was a lot that she wanted to know, and maybe she had a way to heal the pain all six were experiencing. *We need to know the truth and share the truth. I think that tonight I have the perfect plan to achieve this, for everyone.*

~*~ The Waiting Game

Amy DeLuca ran out of her apartment in a hurry. She carried a large duffel bag and her purse. Her eyes were bloodshot and her hands shook with an uncontrollable tremor. She ran past Maria's five friends without so much as a glance at them. Throwing her bags into the Jetta, Amy slammed the trunk shut and finally turned her attention to Maria's friends.

"Okay, now the number is on the table and she has to stay awake until tomorrow evening and call me if you need to but Liz's dad said that he would check up on her if you need anything now go make sure she is still awake and I will call you in the morning thanks Liz, Alex, everyone. Bye!" And with that Amy jumped into car and sped off like a bat out of hell.

The five of them stood there in shock until Max spoke up. "Maybe we should go and check on Maria. You know, make sure she isn't sleeping."

Everyone nodded and walked into the DeLuca residence. Liz led everyone into the living room where they heard the television on in the background. "Hey, Maria! We're here to check on you--" Liz abruptly ended that thought as she saw Maria with her eyes closed on the couch and her mouth dropped open. "Oh no, Maria, wake up!" Liz ran over to the couch and reached over to shake Maria awake.

"Hey, Lizzie, just kidding with ya babe!" Maria's eyes popped open and a huge grin spread across her face. She seemed so much more relaxed than she had earlier.

"Hey, Maria? Did they give you any painkillers?" Alex asked, knowing the answer anyway.

"Yeah, but I only took one so don't worry."

Michael, Max, and Isabel stood awkwardly in the background. Michael maintained his focus on Maria, just seeing her smile lifted a little bit of the weight from the tightness around his chest, even if it might have something to do with painkillers. Maria had her leg propped up on the couch and gingerly held her wrist on her lap. Michael noticed that each movement was done with deliberate gentle motions that would not bring her any more pain than necessary.

As if sensing his intense focus Maria turned her slightly drugged gaze towards the alien trio standing in the doorway. "Well, what are you waiting for, a royal invitation? Come on in." Even a Maria on painkillers had to maintain her biting edge.

Isabel took the initiative and walked into the living room. Alex had sat down on the love seat across from the couch Maria was on. Isabel walked directly over to him, until she stood imposingly over Alex. Smiling her flashy smile, "Is this seat taken?" Isabel hoped that Alex wouldn't blow her off, but she knew that she would deserve it if he did. Alex looked up at Is briefly before averting his gaze and then he shook his head silently. Isabel could tell from his reaction that he was still hurt about the things she said. Sighing, Isabel sat next to Alex on the love seat.

Liz sat down on the floor next to Maria and was softly running her fingers through Maria's hair, careful not to touch the sensitive area of the stitches. Max went and sat down in the chair next to the couch. His legs were so long that his knees brushed Liz's back from where she sat. The slightest contact sent a tingle through both of their bodies like an electric current. Max loved to watch Liz, and seeing her delicate care of Maria just made him remember more why he loved her and less of why he left her.

Michael surveyed the room and its sitting capacity. It was a tiny room with just the couch, love seat, and Lazy-Boy, and with Liz on the floor the only space available for him was to either stand in the corner as he was doing now or to go sit next to Maria on the couch. Michael chose the corner. He did not want to disturb Maria and he was afraid that his presence would bother her if he was closer to her. *Damn it! Maybe this wasn't such a hot idea.*

Just as Michael considered momentarily running again, Maria caught his eyes in hers. They both stopped all movement and for a moment it seemed that their breathing had halted as well. All Michael could see was the swirling green and gold in her eyes. He watched in slow motion as she took a deep breath inward, the words that came with the exhale were some of the most beautiful in his life.

"You can sit on the couch."

"But your leg--"

"Well, the doctor said I had to keep it elevated, I'll just use you for that." Maria then grinned widely at Michael. He strode over to the couch and placed both his hands under her cast. In one fluid motion, he raised her leg and slid underneath it. Even with the cast on her leg, Michael loved the feel of having Maria touching him. Unsure of where to rest his arms, he dropped one on the arm of the couch and let the other rest near the top of Maria's knee on her bare skin. Her skin felt like satin under his fingertips and he lightly drew figure eight’s on her. Maria was aware of each and every cell of hers that was touching his, and it seemed that Michael was doing a better job than the painkiller.

The six of them sat in silence for twenty minutes until Liz noticed that Maria's eyes were drooping and her head starting to tilt forward. "Okay, guys!" Liz announced in a loud voice, "We need to be a little more exciting here or we're going to lose our patient."

"Well, I have an idea." Isabel's voice commanded the attention of the group and under all that scrutiny she was suddenly aware of just how important this night could be to the six of them. All her life she has had Michael and Max but now she, no they, needed to accept that the six of them had something. The problem was no one knew exactly what *it* was or what to do about it. And this is what had been causing so many of the problems between them. By acting like nothing had changed and that their previous friendships were the same, everything was getting all thrown out of whack.

"Why don't we play a sort of game?"

"What kind of game?" Max asked his sister warily, he knew that determined look on her face and it scared him.

"Well, has anyone seen Road Rules or Real World?" Isabel looked around at the five faces as they all nodded yes with their faces still confused by her question.

"Good. Because I got this idea from there. What we do is write down questions that we want to ask certain people or the group and then we all answer them. You know, kinda of like truth or dare but only without the dare." Isabel paused to look around. "So everybody in?"

She hoped that they would all agree because truth be told, Liz was right, they were all a part of this now and there was no turning back.

Continued next page...

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