As the jeep speeds down the deserted highway, all the occupants were quiet. All of them, with the exception of Tess, were thinking about the betrayal they were experiencing. The dark desert was empty to them all, especially Michael who was lost in thought.

Michael sits next to Isabel in the backseat of the jeep. He could feel the fear mixed with anger flowing off of her body. He understood her anger; someone they trusted just broke that trust and is doing god knows what to their friend. He couldn't help but be angry about this situation. Things were spiraling out of control, especially now since it involved the Sherriff, the FBI, and innocent Liz. Liz's life and their secret were in danger. Out of all the people Nasedo had to kidnap, it had to be the one person he trusted the most.

It's funny how that happened, how Liz became the one person he trusted more than anyone, but yet it made sense. Liz Parker was an amazing person. You just look at her and you know you can trust her. She was simply pure. She was similar to him to. They were both protectors and constantly looked out for the others, even if the others didn't notice. Did Max realize how lucky he was to have this girl love him? How could he betray Liz's trust? Michael never would. Trust meant everything to him and she proved it to him several times. God he envied Max.

Suddenly the dark desert began to blur as memories of the day his trust in Liz began. . .

Seven Months ago

Sitting alone in the trailer, Michael stares at his bare walls. It was a regular night. He had gotten home from school to find Hank gone, thank god. The place was a mess of course because barring a miracle, Hank would never clean. To avoid a confrontation with his warden of this hell hole, he did all his chores and even prepared a dinner for the monster. He really wasn't in the mood for that jack ass. Why he stayed here confused him, but he could never make himself leave. If he did, he could risk being taken away again.

So here he was in his tin cell waiting for the inevitable arrival of the drunken one. He was alone again. He enjoyed this time, it allowed him to just think and he definitely had a lot on his mind tonight. Something was happening to him, something that terrified him.

"Thanks for giving me one more reason to envy Max Evans."

What the hell was he thinking? He basically admitted his feelings to a girl he'd always watched but never talked to. It didn't make sense these feelings he was having. He was letting someone through his very meticulously constructed wall. He never allowed it to happen before, not even his own family. He couldn't allow people to actually see him. To see his demons . . . his pain.

He couldn't handle the disgusted look that would cross their faces or worse, the pity. He didn't need or want pity. Yeah his life is shitty, but it was his life and he's accepted it. He couldn't allow anyone in, yet here he was rethinking what Max had told him about who Liz said took her journal.

"A good friend," he whispers aloud. A large smile grows over his face and his eyes light up.

Suddenly the whole trailer began shaking as the front door slammed open. "BOY!!" comes Hank's hair raising command, breaking Michael of his thoughts. His whole body goes rigid with fear for a split second before he's on his feet preparing for the coming storm.

The whole trailer shakes more as the very drunken man slams the front door. "God Damn it you good for nothin' orphan trash, get your scrawny ass out here!"

Michael's eyes widen as he slowly steps towards the door. He sounded more pissed than usual. What did he do? He hadn't forgotten to do anything, unless of course this was just one of those nights where Hank decides that Michael hadn't had a good beating in awhile. Those nights were the worst. Hank truly let out his furry on those nights.

As he slowly reaches for the door, it explodes open. The edge of the door slams into Michaels face, tearing away the flesh above his right eye. The impact causes him to fall back. Once he hits the floor her covers his eye to stop the bleeding. His head was spinning now from what was definitely a concussion.

"When I say git, you git boy! I won't stand for no disrespect in my home!" Hank drunkenly shouts as he staggers forward towards Michael. Michael removes his hands from his face and tries to move out of the way of his abuser. Before he can get to his knees however, Hanks leg swings forward and slams into Michaels gut. The impact of the larger man's leg causes him to see spots for a second as all the air is forced from his lungs by the impact.

Hank grabs Michael's shirt and lifts him to his feet. Michael staggers as he continually coughs as he struggles for breath. Blood from his cut was beginning to spill into his eye causing his eyes to burn and blur his vision as it slowly ran down his face. It hurt like hell. Hank was breathing hard as he squinted his eyes at Michael, the stench of Jack Daniels radiating off his breath.

"Your nothin but trouble. I told you to have dinner ready for me when I got home!" This time Michael was the one who was angry. "I did Hank! It's in the oven staying warm!" he shouted. He was getting beat for something he did right?

Hanks eyes went wild with rage which made Michael gulp in fear. Suddenly, he was flying through the air before slamming into the wall, cracking the plastic coating on the thin walls. The back of his head landing on the floor seconds later. "You gettin smart with me? You disrespecting me?!"

"Uh Oh, bad idea Michael," he thinks to himself as he tries to regain his bearings. He had to get out of this. Moving quickly he jumps to his feet as Hank swings at him. The punch hits only air causing Hank to stumble onto the bed. Taking advantage of the situation Michael rushes out of the room.

This only infuriated Hank more. "You son of a bitch! Git back here!" Hank's feet become tied up in the bed sheets during his drunken struggle causing him to fall to the floor.

This sudden noise of the drunken man's body hitting the floor causes Michael to look over his shoulder. The slight turn of his body and the empty Jack Daniel's bottle under his feet causes Michael to lose his balance. He falls onto one of the balsa wood dining room chairs, smashing it into small pieces. The chair splinters on impact ripping through his clothes and skin like a knife. Intense pain shoots through his body.

"Shit!" he screams out as he tries to climb to his feet. The sound of Hanks staggering feet fills his ears. Michael turns his head to see Hank stop at the hall closet. Michael's eyes widen in fear of the realization of what Hank was getting. "Oh Shit! Oh Shit!"

Michael scrambles to his feet and rushes for the door. Only to be tripped up by the pieces of the chair. He stumbles and crashes through the screen door, as he lands face first in the gravel path. The rocks tear at his face, hands and arms. No time to be scared he had to get away.

"I'm tired of you breakin everythin', you break my door, my chairs, and you constantly reckin shit! Your good for nothin, you do nothin but cause everyone problems. It's no wonder no one loves you, you're a fuck up!" Hank screams as he stumbles down the steps clutching his shotgun. "I'm gonna teach you some respect!" He cocks the shotgun.

"Shit Hank calm down! Don't do this man!" Michael screams as he rolls onto his back. Using his hands he crawls backwards slowly, never taking his gaze off of Hank. Hank raises the gun and aims it at Michael. Michael raises his hand to defend himself only to find his powers out of commission. Figures that now they won't show. Hanks finger slowly begins to squeeze the trigger. "Hank please no. . . " Michael pleads as his turns his head to the side. Not barring to watch his coming death he closes his eyes waiting for it to end.

After a few seconds he hears a loud metallic crack and then a thud right next to him. Opening his eyes he sees an unconscious Hank laying face down in the dirt. Turning his head to see who saved him his eyes widen in surprise. Standing in front of him is a terrified Liz, clutching a shovel. "Liz?"

She tosses the shovel to the ground and rushes to Michael's side. . .

The jeep screeches to a halt jarring Michael from his thoughts.

"Let's split up and find Valenti. He'll lead us to Liz," Max says with worry laced in his voiced.

Michael only nods, not really listening to what he had to say. All he cared about was finding Liz. It was his job to protect her and he failed. Jumping out of the back of the jeep he sees Max take off towards the merry go round. Instead of following him, he decided to check out the alien light.