Michael rushed out of his office building with such haste that he nearly bumped into someone.

A long legged someone to be exact. "Cassandra!" he exclaimed surprised.  That was what he had forgotten to do, call Cassandra and tell her that whatever they had was over, he was now officially taken.

"Michael," she smiled sexily.  Michael glanced at his watch, it was rush hour and he needed to get home and change before he took out Maria.

"I have something for you," she said.

Michael finally focused on her, "Oh yeah, what?"

Before he could move back, her arms were around his neck and her lips were coming towards his.

 

Maria practically jumped out of the car as Ray parked across the street from Hartley&Co's offices. 

"Careful!" shouted Ray as she crossed over.

"Relax," she called over her shoulder, "traffic is practically at a standstill"

 

Ray laughed after her.  It was good to see her smile, a real smile.  These days they were coming every day and Ray had to admit that the reason was Michael.  He had tried to hate him, find something to dislike about him but all in all, he was a good guy.  It wasn't like he didn't date other women, it was just that none were Maria, Ray had just thought that after a while there might be a chance with Maria, but he had to let that go because her heart belonged to someone else.  And he loved her enough to be happy for her.

 

Maria stopped dead as she approached the entrance.  Every emotion of joy of anticipation evaporated from her, the only thing left was ice shattered by the scene before her.  Michael his lips kissing not hers but some long-legged, from the box blondie.

 

Michael managed to disentangle himself away from Cassandra and froze.

No.

No way.

It couldn't be.

Maria was standing a few feet from them, mouth open, her eyes registering anger, shock and most of all hurt.  No, not again, Michael had promised himself that he would never cause that look to cross her face again, that look of pain, betrayal.

Pushing past Cassandra he ran towards her, "Maria," he had to make her understand, but she was already backing off.

"Wait, I can explain"

 

Maria didn't want him to explain, a picture said a thousand words.  Blinded by tears she raced across the road ignoring his calls.

 

Ray was surprised to see Maria practically running across the road with Michael after her.  Something was wrong.  Maria wasn't even looking where she was going.

"Maria!" he shouted.

 

"Maria!".  That last call sounded like surround sound.  Maria stopped, heard the screeching tires and something hit into her.

 

Michael's eyes grew wide as the car failed to stop.  He watched as if in slow motion, Maria fall to the ground, her head smacking against the concrete.  Forgetting everything he rushed towards her.

 

Ray heard the scream, it wasn't Maria's he realised as he reached her it belonged to a bystander.  No Maria wasn't moving.  Michael reached her at the same time he did. 

 

Michael flicked back her hair from her forehead, "Maria"

She looked at him.  Good she was alive.  She had to stop doing this to him or him to her.

"Is she okay?" he heard a concerned voice ask.  Ray.

Michael looked back at her, "Michael," she said weakly. 

Ray felt for her pulse and looked up at him, "we need an ambulance".  Michael nodded as he removed his cell phone from his pocket.  The whispers on the streets and the fact that there was a crowd gathering pierced through his Maria centred bubble and brought him back to reality.  Maria was hit, it was rush hour, she wasn't doing too good, her eyes, that light was fading.

 

"Hey!" Ray exclaimed as Michael grabbed the phone from him and ended the call.

"Forget the ambulance," he replied, "they won't get here in time."

"So what do we do?" he asked.  They couldn't let Maria die.

Michael paused, the sands in the hour glass emptying, the invisible clock counted down. 

What the heck!

Ray looked up surprised as he began lifting Maria to carry her, grabbing Michael's shoulder as he advanced to their car, he said "What do you think you're doing, you're not supposed to move her."

"Open the car door," Michael ordered instead, Ray stood still.

"Look, I'll explain on the way just help me get her into the car".

Ray relented and opened the back door as Michael placed Maria gently on the back seat. 

"Now what?" he asked as Michael opened the driver's seat.

"Get in" he ordered.  Ray got into the passenger side and fastened his seatbelt as Michael revved up the car.

"Are driving her to the hospital?" he asked as they rounded a corner into an alleyway.

"In this traffic, no"

"Then what?" he asked.

 

"Press two on your car phone speed dial," he replied as he parked and surveyed the alley. 

Good, it was empty.

"Hello"

"Max, it's Michael"

"Mich-"
"where are you?"

"At home,"

"Alone?"

"no liz and Jacob are here, why?"

"you're garage empty?"

"yes, Michael what is it?"

"Maria's hurt, we'll be there in a second" he replied and hung up.