| Maria couldn't believe she was laughing with Liz Parker. She stopped abruptly and turned her head to the window. She wasn't supposed to be laughing with the felons. She didn't like Liz Parker or what she had done and to now be sitting there in the car laughing with her was too much for Maria. "You okay?" Michael asked and touched her bare thigh. "I'm good," she nodded. "Nervous?" "About dropping off Dumb?" She turned back to him with raised eyebrows. "Hardly." "No, about the other stuff. About the 'later'?" Michael rolled his eyes. "I'm not really nervous," she glanced in the backseat relieved that Max and Liz were having their own hushed conversation and wouldn't intrude on theirs, again. "I guess I'm just a little shocked that I'm doing something so compulsively, I mean, shit, I've lived in San Francisco since I was little. And now, on the drop of a dime I'm moving to Roswell New Mexico, the home of the little green men. I have no idea what I'm thinking!" "You're thinking that you finally found someone that you couldn't bear not to be with." "Well," Maria's eyes twinkled. "I really like Isabel, but I'm sure I could bear not to be with her." "Smartass," Michael grumbled while shaking his head. "Better than being a dumbass." "Or a jackass, right?" "Yeah Guerin," she laughed and realized why it was so easy to make the decision to move. "Better than being a jackass." * * * Dusk turned to dark and Michael wondered if he was ever going to get out of the car again. Although the ride had been relatively smooth, he was anxious now. He was getting ready to start something new and he was excited, something he wasn't used to being. Not over a woman. But Maria DeLuca wasn't just any woman. He stole a glance at her; her eyes wide with excitement as the miles closed between them and San Francisco. Her home. A sudden bolt of realization hit him, she was giving up her life to move to Roswell. A place she swore she hated, just to be with him. Michael Guerin was humbled. He noticed the swell of her breasts underneath her shirt, the way her shorts seemed almost glued to her long, slim legs. He wanted to feel those legs wrapped around his waist. Maria knew Michael was looking at her she could almost feel the heat from him. Or maybe it was her own heat, she wasn't sure. As they passed a mile marker telling her it was only thirty-one more miles to San Francisco, she used Michael's phone to call Marco again. As the lights and sounds of San Francisco welcomed Maria DeLuca home, the others in the car were a little bit more apprehensive. Liz Parker for obvious reasons, her reign of freedom was almost over. Max Evans was sure he was going to go back to the lonely life he had before Liz called. Michael Guerin was nervous that once Maria got home that she wouldn't want to leave with him again. Maria rattled off directions to Michael and then called Marco again with a change in plans. "Where are we going?" Liz asked. "It looks like we're headed towards the water." "You're not going to drown her are you?" Michael asked looking over at Maria. She rolled her eyes before answering. "No, we're going to my apartment. Marco and two Marshal's will be there soon to meet us." "Your apartment?" Michael heard his voice catch and it pissed him off. "Why there?" "Safer for her," Maria motioned with her thumb to the back seat. "Since she's wanted dead, and we don't work on the dead or alive factor, I thought we should get her there in one piece." "Your concern for me is overwhelming," Liz muttered form the backseat. "That's it!" Maria unlatched her seatbelt and knelt on her seat facing the back of the car. "I'm doing everything I can for you Dumb! I don't feel the need to listen to your condescending remarks! I'm taking you to my apartment, my home, so the big bad guys won't get you, so either be grateful or shut the fuck up!" Liz looked at the blond with narrowed eyes. "Thank you." Maria nodded once and turned back around. Her chest flush with anger that was quickly subsiding into pity. She was getting ready to embark on a new journey with the man seated beside her while Liz Parker was looking at either hard time or dropping off the face of the planet. She cursed human nature. "Turn left at the light and go straight until it looks like you're going to hit the water. There's a parking lot before the footpath." Maria pointed, her stomach nervous being so close to home. Her loins ached being so close to a parking lot. Michael drove slowly and rolled down his window completely. The salt air hit his nose and the sounds of the ocean hit his ears. "You can really leave here? For the desert?" Maria didn't answer him right away. She could leave the ocean, but it wasn't for the desert, it was for bigger and better things. "Yeah Guerin, I can leave here." "Well," he whistled as he pulled into the parking lot, "I've only been here for a few minutes in the dark and I'm not sure if I can leave here or not!" Maria directed him to her empty parking spot outside of a modest two story stone building. "I'm on the second floor," she pointed up to a dark balcony overlooking the beach before she turned around to face Liz. "If you try to run I'll catch you and beat the crap out of you, got it?" "I won't run," Liz shook her head. "If nothing else comes of this, I'm happy some sea turtles will be taken care of." Maria couldn't respond civilly. She got out of the car and inhaled the smells of home. She waited until the others were out of the car before she started walking towards the building. She knew her neighbor would still be up watching late night talk shows and could use her key to get in. She couldn't wait to see her fish again. TBC |
| Part 36 |
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