Fandom: Roswell

Title: The Hidden Hurt

Author: Flounda

Category: M/L

Timeline: S2 EOTW- MTD

Spoilers: EOTW-MTD

Distribution: ff.net, if you want it take it, just let me know.

Disclaimer: I own none of the Roswell characters, places or plot. I also got the title idea from a book called "The Hidden Hand" by Emma Southworth.

Rating: Probably R mature themes.

Summery: Liz isn't coping as well as everyone suspects.

A.N: My first Roswell fic so please be kind! Also I will try to get the parts out as quickly as possible and hope to have this finished within the next 2 weeks, but due to the nature of the content and the fact that some of it is a little close to home. It's not the easiest to write, so please bear with me.

Feedback: Please! Please! Please! Suggestions, praise, critique, anything!

Maria watched Liz sadly as she sat in homeroom. Something was definitely up. She sat with her head down staring dejectedly at her hands and their chewed fingernails. Her unwashed and unbrushed hair hung down past her chest surrounding her head in a curtain of darkness so her face was barely visible. She was surprised no one else had noticed especially Isobel, for Liz's attire clearly broke all the rules for acceptable dress. She wore a green long sleeved shirt and purple overalls, with blue sneakers and one red and one black sock. Now Maria was all for expressing one's individuality through unique clothing but this was a bit much, especially considering it was Liz! Liz always paid great care to how she looked, she laid her clothes out the night before each day and always made sure to factor in things like the weather, phys ed, or whatever was planned for after school. Now here it was at 60 degrees outside and she was covered from head to toe, it just didn't make sense!

The bell rang for class and she watched as the movement around took awhile to register to the usually observant Liz. Then she picked up her books, hugging them to her chest and scurried off without even acknowledging Maria. Something was definitely up.

Maria heaved a sigh of relief as she finished washing up the dishes after the Crashdown closing. Michael hadn't showed up as usual typical she groaned. "Hi Maria" Liz said quietly "Here let me help" she picked up the tub of dirty bowls and headed to the sink. "Geezes Liz, how can you wear that in this weather?" she indicated to the long sleeved white singlet Liz wore under her uniform. Liz shrugged "I don't know I guess I've just been feeling the cold more lately." She glanced downwards. "Are you sure your feeling ok, chica?" Maria put her palm on Liz's forehead. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine!" Liz blurted out enthusiastically, then as if noticing how that sounded, added "I guess I'm just a little stressed."

Maria gave her a knowing smile. "Well hey, you might wanna roll up those sleeves since your going to be shoving your hands into this … disgusting liquid that resembles water"

"NO!" Liz grabbed the cuffs of her sleeves.

Maria looked at her strangely "I-it's just I-it doesn't matter if this top gets ruined it's old." She laughed.

Maria looked at her for a second before shaking her head "Whatever babe."

They continued working on the bowls and when they were done Liz went to grab the large tub of dirty plates. She was halfway across the kitchen when Maria heard a crash behind her, she turned around to find Liz out cold on the floor. "OH MY GOD LIZ! OH MY GOD! LIZ CHICA YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP!" Maria began to shake Liz.

Liz moaned and slowly opened her eyes "Maria?" she asked weakly her eyes swerved to take in her surroundings until she realized what had happened. "Oh Maria I'm sorry" she began to get up

"NO! Liz just lay there a sec and rest, you just fainted!"

"Really it's ok it's been happening a lot" Liz gasped realizing her mistake.

"What did you just say?" Liz knew that voice, it was the quiet before the storm, and it was Maria's last shed of sanity before went off yelling on an unstoppable tirade. She had to reassure her now but how?

"Nothing! Probably just a little delirious" she let out a fake laugh. She could tell by the look in Maria's eyes that she hadn't bought it. She gulped in fear of what as about to come.

Maria took a deep ready to drill Liz on her last comment when she noticed the look in her friend's eyes fear Since when was Liz afraid of her? Since when was Liz afraid of anything? Something was defiantly up.

TBC What did you think? Please let me know?