Title: Consequences
Author: Kathryn C
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Category: Mainly Michael/Maria, maybe bit of other
couples, not much.
Spoilers: Same as before.
Disclaimer: I don't own, although I wish I did.
Feedback:Send. Can't emphasize that enough. No
matter whether it's good or bad.
Besides, I got a lot this time, and a part is comig
out the very next day!
Notes: Always remember, I like happy endings, in some
form.
*************
Michael watched as Maria just stared at them together on the couch. When nobody said anything, she turned and fled from the room.
"Maria!" Michael called. "Wait." But, she didn't come back, didn't even pause in her flight.
He leapt from the couch, from Isabel and began to run after her. She shouldn't have found out like this, shouldn't have had to find out at all. Now, all he wanted was for her to understand.
Michael caught up to her as she was frantically pushing the buttons for the elevator.
"Listen to me Maria," he said, she didn't even look up. Never the less, he saw the tears dripping from her face. "It's not what you think."
"Not what I think?" she exclaimed in a nearly hysterical voice. "Tell me Michael, what exactly do I think? That my boyfriend is the father of another girl's baby? Okay, explain to me why I shouldn't think that."
"Isabel is pregnant....." Michael began, but was cut off by Maria.
"See what I mean?" she said in a voice full of tears, defeatedly resting her finger on the down button, "What more is there to say?"
"It's those dreams," Michael explained, just wanting her to believe. "Those ones I told you about. We had....were intimate....in those dreams. Now, it turns out she's pregnant."
"Don't insult my intelligence," Maria said, shaking her head angrily. "Don't lie to me Michael. You've obviously been doing that for a long time."
"I haven't," Michael said insistently. "I just never told you about the full extent of those dreams because there was no need. They were just disturbing, and you didn't need to know."
"She's pregnant for God's sake," Maria exclaimed. "With your baby. Don't tell me I didn't need to know about the dreams. Don't tell me that Michael."
He shook his head, "They didn't mean anything!"
Maria gave a shaky laugh, "Well, obviously they did Michael. Obviously they did."
"Not emotionally, not in any way that mattered. They just happened. We think that it's some sort of 'betrothal' thing from out home planet." Michael told her, trying to get her to look at him.
"Convenient excuse," Maria said, looking everywhere but at him. "Let's pretend for a moment that she really did get pregnant from a dream. You can't tell me you had no control in that dream."
"We didn't," Michael insisted, "The dreams meant nothing to either of us. We never would have done anything like that on our own. I don't love her Maria."
"And you love me then?" she asked sarcastically, "Is that it Michael?"
When he didn't answer she nodded, "I see Michael. I understand perfectly. Well, I hope you make good parents."
The elevator doors slid open slowly, and she made a move to get on.
Michael grabbed her arm, trying to delay her departure at the very least, "Wait Maria, please. Don't go."
She flung off his arm violently. She finally turned her tear-stained face up to him. Her mascara had run, and her eyes were red. "Don't touch me," she said. It wasn't an angry voice. It was just a tired and defeated one. "Just don't touch me Michael. Don't ask me to stay. Do not ask it of me. I have to go. I know that if I stick around a minute longer, I won't be able to leave. I can't stay Michael."
Michael reluctantly let her go, and watched as she stepped into the elevator. He watched as the door slowly closed in front of her, separating them. He wanted to drag her off, wanted to force her to stay and understand. Wanted her to forgive him for not being strong enough to overpower his dreams.
Isabel had walked out of the apartment to see Michael leaning against the elevator door on one hand.
"She's gone," he said in response to her unanswered question, "She's gone."
Isabel just nodded. She walked over to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Right now she would be there for him, later it would be her turn.
Michael didn't say anything more, just pushed himself till he was standing straight. He cleared his throat. "Have you told anyone else?" he asked, his voice breaking the absolute silence in the hall.
Isabel shook her head. "Nobody. You were the first."
Michael stared at the elevator that had carried Maria away. "Everyone will know soon enough," he said softly.
Maria stared at the buttons on the inside of the elevator. They were all blurry from the tears in her eyes. She wiped her eyes roughly with the back of her hand, determining not to cry.
She should have known, should have known the pain he would cause her. Should have known that this relationship wouldn't stick around. It wasn't the first time she had been hurt, and it wouldn't be the last.
Maria slid to the floor, her back along the wall as she collapsed to the floor. The tears were coming faster, no matter how hard she tried to stop them. She was still sitting, curled up in a ball when the elevator doors opened. Thankfully, nobody was there.
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