| Michael stayed pressed against her, his heavy breathing and uncontrolled emotions plastering into her. "That was�" He shook his head and caught his breath. "I can't believe�" "I know," Maria grinned and kissed his cheek. "Trust me, I know." He smiled while his hands slid down her slick sides. "I guess we should get going, huh? Sooner we get there the sooner we get back?" "Yeah," Maria broke completely away from him and pulled her shorts up, careful to avoid the sticky mess currently running down her thigh. She folded that side of her shorts up while Michael dressed. He handed her the tank shirt and watched her put it on in awe of her body. Her full breasts were covered and he was somewhat relieved, the temptation to touch her again was momentarily subsiding. "I can't wait to get back," Michael murmured as he slid his T-shirt over his head. "I'm going to go," she blushed as she motioned to her leg then pointed to the restrooms, "clean myself up." Michael bit his bottom lip and watched her walk away; new feelings of completeness filled him. He watched her figure brighten underneath a light, the night giving way to the approaching sun cast her shadows dimly and Michael Guerin knew without a doubt that he'd be with her forever. He ran his hands through his hair and shook his head. "Un-fucking-believable." * * * Maria stood in the empty restroom and wiped her leg off with a wet paper towel. She caught her reflection in the mirror and noticed the difference. She no longer carried the image of being an alone bad ass bounty hunter. Now she was a bad ass bounty hunter in love. She was barely able to admit that to herself; she knew it'd take some time before she could say it out loud. She shook her head as a smile appeared. "Un-fucking-believable." She splashed some cold water on her face and washed her hands before leaving the restroom. Michael was waiting outside of the door for her, an icy can of something caffeinated in his hand. "Did you get me one?" She asked and cocked her head to one side. He shook his head slowly and took another swallow. "I thought I'd let you pick out what you wanted." She grinned, he had answered correctly. They walked hand in hand to the vending machines and poured in enough quarters and dollar bills to get drinks and snacks for everyone. "They have to wake up sometime, right?" Maria motioned towards the car. They got in the car quietly and held hands as Michael left the rest stop and pulled back onto the highway. Max Evans couldn't stop the sweet smile from gracing his lips. * * * Not too far outside of Flagstaff, they switched drivers and Maria took the wheel. She turned the radio up a little and rolled her window down as they were greeted with a beautiful morning. "You know, we're only about seven hundred and fifty miles away from San Fran?" She slid her sunglasses on and looked over to Michael who was slowly giving way to exhaustion. "That sounds like an awfully long time," he yawned. "Nope, barely a little jump. We stay at seventy and we'll be there in about ten hours." She smiled thinking about getting back to San Francisco. About seeing her fish again. "Ten hours," Michael slid his sunglasses on and reclined the seat a few inches. "How about you wake me up in a few hours? I really need to get some sleep." "Sure thing," she looked over at him and grinned, "Babe." Michael chuckled and folded his arms over his chest. Within minutes he was snoring lightly. Maria turned the radio down a little and relaxed in her seat, ready for a long drive. "I can drive if you need me to," Max Evans leaned over the seat and placed his hand on a canned soda sitting in-between the front seats. "Can I have this?" "Sure," Maria cast a glance over her shoulder at him. "And no, you can't drive." "I was just offering." "Is your girlfriend still asleep?" "She's not my girlfriend, and yes she is. She's exhausted." "Yeah, I bet, all that running from the law and kidnapping." "She told me what happened in Las Vegas," Max said quietly. "Were you really going to help her?" Maria let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. "I was going to listen to her and she fucked me." "She didn't know if she could trust you or not-" "I took off her handcuffs!" Maria retorted feeling all of the anger she had in Vegas. "God! Why did you ever get mixed up with her again?" Max shook his head and looked at the sleeping felon next to him. "Have you ever had such a strong feeling to help someone?" He waited for Maria to answer, when she didn't, he continued. "She called me up out of the blue and asked for my help. I was so in love with her in high school and I never told her. We were good friends, but that was all. I couldn't not help her, it didn't matter if it was right or wrong, I had to help her." "Well, I won't pretend to understand because I don't," Maria tucked her hair behind her ears and rolled her window up halfway. "You've never had anyone that you cared so much about you would do anything, no matter how stupid or insane, to help them?" Maria thought his question through before answering. Until she had met Michael Guerin, she never thought she was capable of that feeling. Suddenly everything had changed. "Okay, I can kind of see what you're saying, but I'm an officer of the courts, I can't condone felonious behavior." Max smiled that brilliant smile. "You're going to be good for him." Maria opened her mouth to respond with a smart-ass remark, but decided against it. Instead, she glanced over at the sleeping man next to her, still snoring and slightly drooling over parted lips, and smiled. "Seriously, " Max nodded. "You're going to be really good for him." "Why? Why would you say that?" "Because, it's only natural," Max shrugged. "You two met because you were supposed to, fate, if you believe in that kind of thing. And now instead of two lonely souls, you'll have each other. No one wants to be alone," his voice held a deep sadness. "That's human nature, everyone wants somebody to love and to have them love you back." Maria nodded and hated that she heard the truth in his words. It was all true but she had never realized it before. She'd been living her life alone; unaware that underneath her independence there was that want of companionship. It always boiled down to human nature. "Where are we?" Liz's whiny voice rang out from the backseat. "Oh hell," Maria sighed. "Dumb's up." TBC |
| Part 33 |