The hallway of the hospital was busy, with people walking swiftly this way and that. Maria sat with her hands folded in her lap. She looked blankly at the wall in front of her, taking no notice of Michael's arm around her back.

"Shouldn't they tell us something?" Kyle asked, leaning against the wall. "It's been awhile."

Maria nodded absently. "It's been forever," she whispered. Michael wasn't sure if she was referring to the amount of time they had been waiting to find out about her grandmother or the time she had spent without knowing her grandmother, but it didn't matter.

"Maybe you should ask?" he suggested, looking at Kyle.

Maria shook her head firmly. "Don't bug them," she said. "Let them save – let them work on her."

Kyle sighed and sat down by her side. "Of course," he told her, attempting a reassuring smile. "They're probably fixing her right up."

Michael nodded holding back a sarcastic remark. "They're good doctors," he said, wishing the words sounded less empty. It was hard for him not to growl protectively as Maria's eyes filled with tears.

If there was one thing Michael Guerin was horrible at, it was watching her cry. He wanted to punch the wall, he wanted to call Max and demand he come with his healing powers, he wanted to rush into the hospital room and somehow save the frail old woman himself.

As Maria opened her mouth, the door to the hospital room swung open and the three teenagers leapt up. Two female doctors walked out with grim faces, followed by a male nurse. Last to exit the room was an aged man, tall and strongly built, shaking his head and looking grave.

Kyle shot a quick look at Maria, whose mouth was still open and eyes frozen. She seemed unable to speak and Michael seemed as lost as she did. Kyle looked back at the doctor, "what happened?"

The doctor seemed surprised to see the expectant faces. The patient hadn't received visitors in any of the time she was there, and he had never seen these kids before. "Who are you?" he asked tiredly. "Did you know Mrs. Deluca?"

The exhausted, yet kind, voice of the doctor wasn't reassuring enough to snap Maria into action. "Maria here is her granddaughter," Kyle explained as Michael reached out and gently shake Maria's arm.

Feeling Michael's warm touch sent a jolt through Maria's arm. It seemed like she had been standing there for hours, unable to move. Now, though, she nodded and spoke. "I just found out she was here," she whispered. "We just arrived. I didn't even get to tell her why… what happened? Is she okay?"

"She was an old woman and her heart was weak. We've been keeping her on a machine, but tonight, it just gave out," the doctor said. "I'm sorry."

Michael caught Maria before he realized she was falling. From the look on her face, she had no idea that her legs had stopped holding her up, or that she was now in his arms. All he could see was despair.

He held her while she cried. He hugged Maria tight to his chest and cursed the world for being so unfair to her.

Kyle said something to the doctor, something dismissive that Michael didn't bother to catch, and the frowning man disappeared, closing the door behind him.

"We just got here," Maria mumbled into Michael's chest, and he nodded.

"I know, I know," he said, as she cried. There was nothing else to say, he supposed. It was true. They had driven all the way to Texas to reunite Maria with her grandmother and now the woman was dead.

They stood in silence there, right in the middle of the hospital
hallway, until Kyle cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Maria," he said. But his tone said more, Michael knew. It said, 'Come to me, let me comfort you.' It said, 'don't let him get so close'.

Kyle and Michael stood, glaring at each other above Maria's head. Kyle hated Michael for being an alien and for all of his mistakes. Michael hated Kyle for not allowing him a chance to prove his worth and his love for Maria.

~

The road sign read "50 miles" and Amy felt her heart begin to race as they zoomed past the deserted highway.

They had been driving for hours and no one was in the mood for talking. Sean was never talkative to begin with, and it was no surprise that he just sat at the back, looking out the window.

Jim had taken Amy's news seriously. He decided that they would drive to Texas as soon as possible after they had finished discussing it over dinner. He even volunteered to drive there himself, insisting that it was okay.

Amy was surprised at the extent of his concern, then again, she reasoned, her daughter had somehow managed to get his son involved in it as well.

She sneaked a glance at his profile and wondered what he was thinking. He must have a lot of questions in his mind right now. But, he had largely kept to himself the whole time, like he had done so often in the past. She knew that he knew more about things that concerned her daughter and her friends than she did but somehow it never felt like she had been excluded. Well, not until recently.

Jim had known that she and Maria had a close relationship with each other. He even once told her he admired their openness and closeness to one another. This must seem completely uncharacteristic of Maria, and of her. She had told him scant details of her relationship with her mother-in-law, enough to give rough details, but nothing more than that. She desperately wished she could tell him more, to explain a bit
more about herself and what had happened.

"Come on, out with it," Jim said as he drove the car.

"Huh?" she asked, surprised as his voice brought her out of her thoughts.

"What's wrong?" he asked her, taking his eyes off the road to glance at her.

"Nothing. I'd just like to thank you for doing this for us, I mean, you didn't have to--" she started, and she had the horrible feeling that if she didn't stop soon, she'd start wringing her hands and babbling.

Jim looked at her and stifled a laugh.

"What? What are you laughing at? Do you think this is funny?" she started to ask, getting irrationally irked at the smile that was forming at the corners of his mouth.

"I'm sorry. It's just...it's kind of funny how you look when you're stressed but trying to pretend to be calm...I guess it must be a woman thing, or maybe it's a family trait, I think I remember Maria with that exact same expression at one point..."

Amy bit her lip and tried not to think about the expression on Maria's face when she saw her grandma. She sighed involuntarily and Jim looked at her and smiled.

"The kids can take care of themselves, Amy," Jim said, reassuring her.

She sighed desperately. "They're just eighteen, Jim. What the heck does she know, driving off to Texas like this?"

Jim looked back at the road and responded with only a little conviction. "I'm sure they can explain themselves. And she said she wanted to meet her grandmother."

"Yes, but--"

"Amy, they'll be fine. Trust me."

"Personally, I think it's incredibly stupid," Sean murmured from the back

"Sean, do you know something we don't?" she asked, turning in her seat to look at her nephew.

Taking his eyes off the window, he looked at her. "Aunt Amy, I can't believe you're not working yourself up to give her the third degree on this. You're the one who's always telling Maria to take care of me, to look out for me. She's never been this crazy, right?"

"Sean, Maria has always been able to take care of herself. And she always had her reasons for doing the things she does." Amy paused collecting her thoughts. "But yes, she will have a lot to answer for when we get ahold of her." Amy said slowly, defending her daughter, even if she was having doubts about half of what she told him.

"I mean, it's irresponsible to just run off in the first place, but the fact that she couldn't even call? I mean, it wouldn't have killed her to make one lousy call," he said, backing down and looking back at the window, slumping in his seat.

"We're used to them going off on trips on their own, Sean. They did it all the time last year," Jim said from the wheel.

"Yeah, well. I guess it's okay then, as long as they did it all the time last year." Sean shot back.

"Jim didn't mean that it was okay, Sean. It's just... Maria's... Maria's smart, she wouldn't do anything stupid..." Amy said as she looked at Sean and tried to sound convincing.

Sean looked at her and sighed before turning back to the window and muttering. "Yeah, 'course she wouldn't."

Amy sighed as she turned back to her seat and closed her eyes worriedly.

"They'll be okay, Amy," Jim said again.

She fervently hoped so. But, she couldn't help the sneaking feeling that Jim's calm and Sean's suspiciousness went far more than face value.

~

Max sat alone in the Crashdown and sighed as he took a long drink from the straw. Lot's of thoughts ran through his head and unfortunately, he sighed, most of those thoughts involved the memories of a certain Crashdown waitress.

"Hi, you're Max Evans, right? Isabel's brother?" a soft voice said, and Max looked up from the counter at the girl standing there. He vaguely remembered her as a friend of Isabel's from college as she had been to the house a few times.

"Yeah. Hey, Serena, right?" he said.

"Yeah, that's me. Is this seat taken? It's just that Isabel has said she spends an obscene amount of time in here so I thought I would check it out, but I'm kind of stuck on my own..." she said brightly, and sat down when he shrugged his approval.

"Coffee, please?" She asked a passing waitress, the waitress nodded in reply. "Thanks," she whispered as she turned her attention back to Max.

Max turned to her and forced himself to smile. He took a deep breath. He would have rather be by himself, but he wanted to make the effort, for Isabel.

"What's up?" he asked. "How's your family? Isabel said that your grandad died? I'm really sorry."

Serena smiled sadly as she looked at him. "We're doing as to be expected. Things are coming back to normal as you can get after something alters your life. It's normal, but it's not. I know this may sound strange, but it's the truth."

"Yeah, it does sound strange, but I understand. Life kinda goes on when you lose someone close to you but at certain point, you realize that they should be there." Max said sadly as he avoided looking at her.

She looked at him for a while, then sighed. "I miss him. I really do. Max? If you don't mind me asking, but you seem to know what it feels like...did you lose a grandparent?"

"Umm, no. I've, I mean, Isabel and I have both been really lucky in that both sets of our grandparents are still alive and kicking." Max smiled as he looked at her.

"Oh, you just sounded like you knew what it was like to lose someone," she said.

Max smiled bitterly as he avoided her gaze. Take your pick, Alex? My child? The only way home to our real parents? Liz...? Max instinctively ran a hand through his hair as he turned back to Serena and sighed.

"I lost a friend this year, he died..."

Serena looked at him sadly and bit her lip. "I'm so sorry...I had no idea, Isabel didn't mention it..."

Max shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "Yeah, well...it was hard for her, it was hard for us all..."

"But it get's easier?" Serena asked.

"Yeah, it gets easier..." eventually.. Max looked back and his eyes fell on Liz as she talked to another waitress happily.

Serena turned her attention fully at Max. "You know, you've been looking at her the whole time we have been talking, Max," she chided gently, indicating Liz. He felt the blush creeping warmly at his neck, and didn't try to deny it. He had been sneaking glances at her the whole time he was supposedly listening to Serena.

"I'm sorry," he said sheepishly.

Serena grinned at him and asked gently. "So? What's bothering you? Come on, I'm not majoring in psychology for nothing."

Max sighed and spoke quietly without taking his eyes off Liz. "From the moment I met her, I was sure. I was absolutely sure of who I wanted. That was her."

"What happened? Aren't you still together?"

Max sighed and turned away. "It's just been a lot more complicated than that. Just that.. there have been things - last year - that brought us apart. Life got crazy, and.. I think it may be too late for anything," he muttered in despair.

And I'm still here, where she works, because I can't stop myself. Call it your sadistic streak Max, or as Michael would say, your need to be tortured.

Serena's eyes had been roving the restaurant while Max was talking. She looked at Liz surreptitiously, taking orders, delivering food, making her table rounds. And sneaking glances at Max.

"You know Max, life is too short. It's a cliche, I know. But you don’t really get to realize what it means until you encounter death. And its not a great feeling to have, when there are so many things you want to say and do to the person you lost." she paused, willing him to look at her. When he did, she looked him squarely in the eye, and said, exasperated "God, Max. How old are you? Seize the day. Carpe diem! I know you don’t want to tell me the nitty gritty of your story with the girl. I understand that it's complicated. But for whatever it may help you two have to talk. Life's too short."

Max looked at her and nodded his head. Life was short...did he really want things like they were with Liz? He looked at her and sighed. Life was too short for regrets.

~

Maria, Michael, and Kyle sat in the hospital waiting room. Maria leaned her head against Michael's shoulder while Kyle sat with his head against the wall. Michael's hand slowly massaged Maria's back.

"Are you okay?" He asked gently.

Maria didn't answer but nodded her head sadly. Kyle looked at the two of them and stood up awkwardly. "Can I get you anything, Maria?"

Maria forced herself to smile as she looked at him sadly. "No, I don't want anything. Thanks."

Kyle smiled gently before he turned to Michael. "Guerin? You want anything?"

Michael looked at Kyle. "Sure, why not. I'll have some coffee."

Kyle nodded his head and walked over to the machine to allow Michael and Maria a minute to themselves. As much as he hated the thought of it, he knew that Maria needed Michael at that point in time and he wasn't helping her by staying there.

Michael looked over at Kyle, making sure that he was out of earshot before turning back to Maria. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Maria lifted her head up and looked at him sadly as her eyes watered. "I can't believe she's gone. Why didn't my mom tell me?"

Michael shook his head sadly and took a deep breath. He looked towards the waiting room door to see Amy, Jim, and Sean walk in. He touched her hand and nudged her. "Maybe you should ask her."

Maria looked up and looked at him as he nodded his head towards the others.

Amy stopped and looked at Maria and immediately rushed over to her. "Maria, what happened? Why didn't you call?"

Michael looked up at Amy. "This might not be the best time Ms. Deluca."

Amy looked at Maria and then turned to Michael sharply and shook her head. "I know something is wrong, so now is the right time. Maria?"

Maria looked at her and began to laugh bitterly. "The right time? She's dead. She died, she's gone..."

Amy looked at her and made an attempt to move forward to hug her. "Oh, Maria..."

Maria held her hand out to stop Amy. Her eyes filled with tears and she spoke quietly. "No, Mom. No! You don't get to act sad here! You kept her from me..." Tears fell from her eyes and her voice grew pained as Amy began to cry. "You should have told me, Mom. You should have told me..."

Amy looked at her little girl as she began to cry and felt her own tears stream down her face as she took another step towards her. "Maria, I'm sorry."

Maria looked at her mom and made no attempt to hide her tears as she whispered. "I didn't have enough time with her."

Amy lifted her arm and touched Maria's arm gently. "Baby, I'm so sorry."

"I should have been here sooner..." Maria said sadly. "I should have had more time with her! You should have let me have more time with her..."

Amy walked over to her daughter and embraced her in a hug as she whispered in her ear. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry... please, let me help you."

Maria made an attempt to pull away but as her mother kept her arms around her she began to cry and stopped struggling as she allowed herself to be comforted. As Maria cried Amy lifted her hand and stroked her hair as she whispered to her daughter. How could I explain why I had done what I had? How could I justify it now? How could I tell my heartbroken daughter that she had done it for the best? Amy let her own tears fall as she shook her head gently.

The truth was at this point, she couldn't explain. It was too hard for her at this point, to remember why she had done it. It was hard to know that she had done this to the most important thing in her life.

Michael had walked away from Amy and Maria and stood beside Sean. He wanted to allow the two women a chance to clear the air.

Kyle stood at the pop machine and watched what was happening as his dad walked over towards him with a stern look on his face.

"Kyle?"

Kyle took a deep breath and turned to face his dad. "Dad, hi. What are you doing here?"

Jim looked at his son with an expectant look on his face. "That's a very good question, but I think it's one that you should be answering. Don't you think?"

Kyle shrugged his shoulders and looked away from his dad as he took a drink from the plastic cup. "Don't I think what?"

Jim looked at Kyle and took a deep breath as he tried to control his voice from sounding irritated. "You know what I am talking about. What the hell did you think you were doing driving out of state without even so much as a note?"

Kyle turned to his dad and shook his head. "Do you really think now is the best time to talk about this? Fine, I'm sorry, I didn't leave a note..."

Jim rolled his head back as he looked at Kyle clearly exasperated. "This isn't about a note. I want to know why my son traipsed out of state without a word to anyone. You didn't know Maria's grandmother, why are you here?"

Kyle sighed and sat the cup on the machine. "I don't want to talk about this. I'm going to get some air before we head back. See you later dad."

Jim looked at Kyle and shook his head. "You can't keep this up forever you know, you can't keep shutting everyone out and acting pig-headed."

Kyle shook his head and sighed as he replied. "I'm not being
pig-headed. I just don't see what the big deal is."

"The big deal is that you haven't been yourself in months, and I want to know what you're feeling."

Kyle looked at his dad and shook his head as he walked towards the exit. "I'm fine. Trust me."

Jim watched his son disappear and thought about following him. He knew for a fact that something was wrong the same way he knew that Kyle wouldn't jump in a car and drive to Texas for no good reason. He looked at the exit and
leaned against the wall and sighed. Unfortunately, he also knew that he had no idea how to help him. What is going on with you Kyle? Why won't you let me help you?

~

Isabel was sitting on the sofa flicking through a magazine. She looked down as she closed the page over and sighed as she reached over for the remote control to the TV. Everyone was out of the house and she was alone, and, unfortunately, all of her friends were still at school. The disadvantages of graduating early, Isabel. You knew what you were getting yourself into when you did it.

She sighed as she thought and flicked through the channels.
"C'mon, be something on...anything on...how does mom handle this crap?"

As she skipped through the channels she heard a knock at the door. She sighed loudly as she hit the off button on the remote and stood up. She went to the front door and opened it. "Hello?"

As she opened the door she saw a guy standing at the door. He smiled softly when he saw her. "Hi. Isabel?"

Isabel smiled as she nodded her head in recognition as she remembered him from her psych course. "Christian?"

He nodded his head and grinned at her. "Yeah, that's right. We also have Stats and Analysis together, which I kinda noticed you weren't at today, so I thought I would come and see if you were all right and to give you the notes from the class..."

Isabel's hand went to her face as he spoke as she looked at him in shock. She had completely forgotten about class. "Oh god, I can't believe I forgot about class!"

Christian looked at her and gingerly put a hand on her arm to reassure her. "Hey, don't worry about it. If truth be told it was kinda dull...you know what Kason's like..." He ran a hand through his blond hair as he looked at her. "So, I wouldn't worry about it. Look on the bright side, you didn't have to waste an hour of your life on that today." He laughed gently as he looked at her.

She smiled and nodded her head, "I guess when you put it like that..."

He nodded his head and smiled. "Exactly, and you can return the favor when I decide to feel desperately ill next week. But, until then...here." He extended his arm and handed her a folder. "At least now you'll know what you missed."

Isabel looked at him gratefully as she took the folder. "Thank you, you didn't have to come all the way over here..." She thought for a second before she continued. "How did you know I lived here?"

He shrugged his shoulders and blushed slightly. "It's not a problem, um, truth be told I asked Serena and she told me where you live."

Isabel nodded her head. "Ah, Serena. Well, thank you both. I honestly can't believe that I forgot about class..."

Christian nodded. "Well, we'll all do it eventually." He looked at her awkwardly as they stood in silence. "Well, I guess I better go then..."

He began to walk away when Isabel looked after him and sighed as she thought. C'mon Isabel, he came all the way over here. At least act like your grateful. "Christian? Do you want to come in for something to drink?"

He turned and grinned at her and nodded his head. "Sure."

She smiled and opened the door more fully to let him in. "It's the least I can do..."

Christian walked in and Isabel led him to the kitchen. "What would you like? Coffee, pop, water?"

Christian sat down at the table. "Pop, would be fine."

Isabel walked to the refrigerator and opened the door and pulled out a bottle of water and a bottle of pop as Christian began to talk.

"You got a real nice place here..."

"My mom and dad really get all the credit for that. My mom loves doing this place up..."

Christian nodded his head as Isabel handed him a bottle and a glass. "Thanks, you thinking about leaving home?"

Isabel looked at him and thought back to the previous summer. She had been so desperate to leave home after everything that had happened, but that was before she found out the truth... she shook her head and forced herself
to smile. "I don't think I could leave my family, that's why I went to a local college..."

Christian sighed. "I go home in the holidays, it just takes way too long if I were to go home everyday. I make it home some weekends...but that's about it. So, are you liking your classes?"

Isabel looked at him and nodded her head as she tried to force her mind to concentrate on what he was saying. "Um, sure. Psych is something I'm really interested in..."

Christian smiled as he took a drink. "Yeah, me too. I would really like to go into sports psychology. What about you?"
Isabel looked at him and he smiled. "What field of psychology would you like to go into?"

Isabel sighed and took a drink. "I have no idea yet...I guess I'll know eventually."

Christian smiled and nodded his head. "Yeah, I hear you there. But I did a lot of sports at school, in fact I still do them. So, I would really like to do something like that."

Isabel smiled and nodded her head as she stood up and walked over to the refrigerator again. "You want something else to drink?"

Christian smiled and shook his head. "Nah, I'm fine. Thanks."

She smiled before turning to open the door and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before pulling out another bottle of water as Christian continued to talk in the background. She sighed and forced herself to smile before walking over to the table and sitting down as she began to respond to his small talk.

~

There.

Everything was perfect. Homework was done, the room was clean, and soon she could go to sleep.

She gazed at herself in the mirror.

Liz Parker. Elizabeth Parker.

When she was little, she always used to gaze at herself in this mirror. She'd imagine herself when she was older. Standing in front of the mirror before her first date, her prom, her graduation, and her wedding.

Last fall, Future Max came when she was gazing at her self in the mirror.

Liz didn't like the mirror too much after that.

She heard a sound on the balcony. She spun around quickly, trying to catch a glimpse of the intruder.

"Max." She said breathlessly. This was Current Max- not the Past Max who had serenaded her outside the balcony, or Future Max, who had given her a dance. This was Max Evans, the one who had broken her heart.

The one she still loved.

"Can I come in?" He sounded like he did right after the shooting, right after he saved her. So unsure, so shy, so inherently...loveable.

"Sure." She said, pulling her robe over her nightgown. "What's up?"

"I'm sorry." He said, his brown eyes gleaming at her.

"For what?"

He laughed. "Take your pick. I've let you down Liz, I've let you down. We're apart and it's my fault. The way I treated you recently, after Alex died... I don't know what was wrong with me. You're better than that. Our relationship was better than that. I betrayed your trust, I slept with Tess... this list goes on and on."

"Max..."

"Listen to me, Liz." He grabbed her hand and ran his fingers over the smooth surface. "I did something terrible. I stopped believing in you. And that's when things went wrong. And if I could travel back in time and take it all back, I would."

She squeezed his hand, not knowing exactly what to say.

"And I had to tell you this, I had to let you know- before you decide to move on with Sean. Which you should, move forward, I mean."

She was flustered. "Max... there's nothing going on between Sean and I. We're just friends. And I couldn't move on with him, it wouldn't be fair. Because there isn't anybody in my heart but you. There hasn't been. My heart belongs to you."

He drew closer to her, gathering her in his arms. "I love you."

A feeling of euphoria raced through her whole body. "I love you, too."

Liz looked up at him, realizing just how close they had grown. She took a step back.

"So where do we go from here, Max?"

They both stood silently, looking at each other. Max's gaze drifted. On her nightstand Liz had a string of pictures- they'd taken them one day at a fair. Back when they were going out.

"It's been a year." He said, gazing at the pictures.

"Yes, it has." She responded. "Max, despite our intentions and feelings, we've hurt each other. It's been a hard year, and it will take us both some time, to get over this, to get back to normal."

"Is there a way to return to normal?" He scoffed.

"Normal depends on how you define it."

"So..."

She took her hand and captured it, squeezing it. "For now, for now Max, we are just friends. We need time to get over things, but we can't do it on our own. We are so much stronger together than apart."

"And...is there a chance for us? Again?" He said breathlessly.

Liz gazed up at the stars. "The future's still being written. As long as the world goes on that way, there will always be a chance for us."

Max smiled, the warm feeling filling his entire body.

~

They had finally come out of the hospital after the appropriate paperwork had been signed. No one had had a real opportunity to talk and Maria had decided, much to Amy's disapproval, that she would travel back with Michael and Kyle.

Amy, for her part she had gone along with it with minimal fuss, she desperately hoped to make things easier on her daughter. She wanted to try and make amends for the pain she had put her through.

Kyle was driving the Jetta and Michael and Maria were in the back seat. Michael's eyes narrowed as he surveyed Maria, silent beside him. She hadn't talked much since they left for home, which worried him. When they had decided to go back to Roswell, Kyle insisted on driving, and Maria had only nodded, which worried him more. She was very possessive about her car, he could attest to that. So, the moment Kyle opened the doors, he went in with Maria in the back seat and left Kyle in the front, alone.

They had been driving in the convoy and they had followed Jim's car up front for about an hour. Maria sat numbly, quietly, in the back seat, with her head on Michael's shoulder.

To break the silence, Kyle had turned the radio on to some radio station. Soft classical music lingered in the air and Michael didn't bother to nag him about it. He was more concerned with Maria than he was in continuing some petty duel with Kyle.

Beside him, she sighed, and his arm tightened involuntarily around her. He frowned, wishing he could help her in some way, racking his mind for something to say.

"Maria," he murmured, looking at her.

She made an almost imperceptible motion of her head, indicating that she was listening.

"I know I've said this before, but I'm really sorry for what happened to your grandmother."

"I know," she whispered, and burrowed into his shoulder.

"I mean, I don't know how it is to lose someone you love. I can't imagine what you're going through," he started, and cleared his throat. "I'm trying to say, that I'm here, okay," he said gruffly, embracing her again and kissing her forehead.

She leaned into him and wrapped her arms around him as they embraced. She pulled away gently and placed her hands on both sides of his face. Her eyes were wet with unshed tears and she gave him a watery smile.

"Don't you know that I know that?" she whispered and smiled. "Thanks," she said simply, and sniffled, blinking back sudden tears.

"Here," he whispered as he adjusted his sitting position to pull her head toward his shoulder. "You're tired. You have to get some sleep."

She nodded and closed her eyes. She fell asleep almost immediately, and her soft hiccuping eventually became the breathing of slumber. He smoothed her hair and held her hand as she slept, his eyes looking past the window to the street outside.

He hated seeing her hurt, in pain. Maria crying was almost more than he could bear and he resolved that he was going to be there for her no matter what.

He adjusted a little, his free hand moving toward his neck to massage it. He turned his head, swinging it a little from side to side to take out the crick in his neck and he caught sight of Kyle in the rearview mirror.

His and Kyle's eyes met in the rearview mirror and neither of them wanted to look away first. As a car horn beeped loudly as it passed them Kyle turned his attention back to the road and Michael sighed as he leaned back against the back seat and pulled Maria closer to him. To hell with you Valenti, I don't care what your problem is...just don't bring Maria into it.

End Episode 4

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