Author: Sarah Y.
Title: The Return
Disclaimer: I don't own Roswell or any of the characters.
Rating: PG-13
Category: Michael and Maria
NOTE: AU, Michael and the other alien's left the planet. Alex is still alive. Tess was never pregnant. Michael and Maria still slept together before he left earth. Everything else is pretty much the same.
Summary: Michael, Tess, Max, and Isabel come back to earth after being away for two years.
*********Part 6*********
Maria slipped her hands into Michael's and Michael started receiving flashes from Maria.
****Flash****
Michael kissing Maria goodbye
****Flash****
Maria in her bedroom crying
****Flash****
Maria entering the bar and ordering a drink
****Flash****
Maria getting into the man's car, him pulling into a dark alley
****Flash****
Maria confused then scared as the man started to rip her shirt off.
Suddenly Maria pulled her hands away from Michael and the flashes stopped.
"No Michael! I don't want you to see that! You can't!"
"It's alright Maria. I got a good look at the man." Michael held Maria again as she sobbed. Michael had never felt so protective over anyone as he did her. He had to find the animal that did this to his Maria.
"I'm going to try and draw a picture of the guy I saw in the visions and we'll get the others to help find him."
"Michael I don't want the others to know."
"It's up to you but Maria they won't blame you."
"I guess we'll need there help."
"Max if I didn't leave Maria this never would have happened. It was my fault."
"Michael you couldn't have prevented this."
"Yes I could have but the point is know I have to find him and make him pay. Maxwell I want this guy dead."
******Part7******
(At the same time at the Evans house. Tess, Liz, Kyle, Alex, Isabel, Maria, and Dakota are all gathered downstairs. Maria had already explained to the others that she was raped.)
"Are you sure you're parents won't be back anytime soon?"
"I'm sure Alex. They're in Florida on their second honeymoon. Believe me they won't be coming back early."
"I hope you don't mind I brought Dakota my mom couldn't baby-sit."
"No it's fine. How old is he now?"
"Fourteen months."
"Kyle what are you doing to my child?" The others turned around to Kyle who was putting lipstick and other make-up he found out of Tess's purse.
"What? I didn't ever have a little brother to pick on when I was little so I'm making up for lost time."
"Kyle, grow up!" Tess said and moved to help wipe the lipstick and blue eye shadow off the kid.
"Dakota looks a lot like you Maria." Isabel said.
"Thanks. He is the only good thing to come out of this whole mess. I think I'll go find Michael now."
"He's upstairs with Max." Liz said.
Maria headed upstairs and started to knock on Max's bedroom door when she overheard Michael say she wanted the guy who raped her dead. She opened the door and looked at a shocked Michael and Max.
"Max can I talk to Michael alone?"
Max left them alone and closed the bedroom door to give them privacy. Maria set on the bed next to Michael and looked at him.
"Michael."
"Maria, I didn't want you to hear that."
"I'm glad I did. Michael you can't. Believe me I want him dead too. I want him to pay for what he did but I can't let you hurt yourself because of me. I remember when Pierce died you beat yourself over it. The regret and guilt almost ate you alive. You can't go through that. Not because of me."
"Let's go downstairs the others are waiting."
"Michael!"
Maria followed Michael downstairs where the others were waiting.
Dakota was now on the floor playing with a few of his toys.
"So he's a drawing of the man I did from Maria's flashes. Does anyone recognize him?" They all took turns carefully studying the picture of the man Michael drew.
"He looks kind of familiar but I can't remember where I've seen him before." Alex said.
"Yes he does look familiar. Wait I think I've seen him at school. But I don't know who he was." Isabel said.
"Max do you have all the yearbooks from school? We can go through each one and see if we can find his picture in there." Alex added.
"Yes, there upstairs in my room I'll go find them."
A few minutes later Max came back with the yearbooks and passed one out to each couple.
(An hour later)
Dakota started crying. "Michael I think he's hungry. I'm going to go get him something from the kitchen. Will you finish looking through the book for me."
"Yeah, go ahead." Michael looked at Maria with Dakota. He had never seen such a beautiful sight in his life. Maria was so happy with Dakota. He just wished it were his family. Michael started looking through the book again after Maria left the room. After a few more pages he finally stumbled upon a picture that looked like the drawing. He tried to remember the flash he got from Maria and realized it was him! The name under the photo was Austin Zoss. Michael looked around to make sure no one was watching and he tore the picture out of the book and put it in his pocket. He slammed the book shut. "Look there's no point in this. We're never going to find his photo in here. There must be another way."
"I think Michael's right. Maybe we should take the drawing to dad and see if he can find out who it is." Kyle added.
"I'm not sure if I want the police involved yet." Maria said returning from the kitchen.
"We'll my dads not the sheriff anymore and I'm sure he'll help no questions asked."
"O.K. that sounds fine."
"Michael can you drive me home?" Maria asked.
"Actually I have something I have to take care of."
Michael left leaving a confused Maria watching him leave.
******Part 8******
It didn't take long for Michael to find Austin's address in the phone book. He actually lived in a trailer near where he used to live with Hank. He never thought he would go back to that awful place again. Michael wasn't sure what he was going to do when he found Austin but he figured he would know when he saw him. Michael "borrowed" a car from a junkyard giving it a fake license plate number. He drove out to the trailer park. It was late a night and Michael parked across the street from the trailer. After watching the trailer for 20 minutes a man finally appeared. He started walking toward a truck. Michael recognized him as Austin so he started the car and followed him. They ended up at the same bar that Maria had gone to that night. Michael waited a few minutes after Austin went in the bar and then went in himself. Michael finally spotted Austin and he sat at a table next to him. Michael still unable to think of exactly how to proceed just observed him trying not to bring attention to himself. Michael was there for about an hour and had at least 10 different girls try to come on to him when Austin, obviously drunk, turned his attention to Michael.
"You seem to be quite the lady's man there. Why don't you pull up a chair next to me and share some of your secrets. I'll buy you a drink."
Michael didn't know what to do but he wasn't going to let this opportunity pass. He picked up his drink, non-alcoholic of course, and moved to Austin's table. Michael could feel bile rising to his throat just looking at the guy who had hurt Maria. It took every ounce of his being not to just kill the guy and leave but he knew he had to be smart and careful.
"The name's Leo and there's no need to buy me another drink I'm still not finished with this one." Michael said lying about his name.
"My name's Austin. So tell me Leo you had all those women falling all over you and you turned them down. What's the deal? You must be gay."
O.K. Michael defiantly hated this guy even more by the minute if possible. Austin actually looked like an average everyday guy. People might not even know what a vile revolting demon lived inside of him.
"No, I'm defiantly not gay."
"Then why don't you take one of those ladies back to your place."
"I already have someone. I just got her back and I'm not going to lose her again."
"Who says she has to know? Anyway I could never settle for just one woman. No, I would gladly take home any girl that came on to me no matter who I was with."
"So does that happen very often? I mean you leaving here with a beautiful women."
Austin took another slug of his drink. Michael knew he was taking a chance trying to get information about that night from this man but he had to know what was going on in his head.
"To tell you the truth I don't get to many women to come home with me but I've had a few."
"So where they blondes or do you go for brunettes?" Michael asked.
"I go for blondes."
____________
(At the same time from after Michael left Max and Isabel's.)
"Maria why don't you stay awhile and we'll order a pizza?" Isabel added.
"Okay. Liz I'm wonder why Michael left like that."
"I'm sure it's okay Maria. It's probably just hard for him to deal with. I mean he just learned you had a child with someone who hurt you. Give him time. He still loves you."
"I hope so. I never stopped loving him."
"I'll be right back I'm just going to take these yearbooks back upstairs." Max went back to his room and started to put the yearbooks back on his shelf. He accidentally dropped one. The book fell open and he thought it was odd that a picture was torn out. He walked downstairs.
"Hey Isabel did you tear a photo out of my yearbook."
"No, I didn't touch that yearbook."
"Wait, that was the book Michael and I were looking at. You don't think..." Maria mumbled.
"Max go get another yearbook and we'll see whose picture is missing."
"Good idea Tess."
Max got another yearbook and found it was Austin's picture.
"That's him!"
"Are you sure, Maria?"
"Yes and I bet Michael took that picture and went after him."
They found Austin's address in the phone book.
"Look Maria I'll drive by there and see if Michael's there. You can just stay here and we'll let you know what happens."
"No Max. He's there because of me and I want to be there."
They dropped Dakota off at Valenti's since Amy was away from town. He was apprehensive but they explained it was an emergency and he gladly helped.
The gang then drove to the trailer park. When they didn't see Michael they decided Kyle should go knock on the door and ask for Austin posing as a salesman. When a woman answered the door she said Austin wasn't there. Kyle told her he was an old friend and needed to find him. The women said he was at The Lucky Lady, a bar on the other side of town. They decided to drive to the bar.
____________________
Michael bought Austin another drink and they had been talking for a while. Michael wasn't sure how to get the truth out of Austin so he just figured he'd press him even farther.
"In the past I've learned that most of the girls I've met in bars are just teases. They come on to you and then you start to take them to your place, then they try and say no," Michael lied.
"I know what you mean. I remember this hot little number two years ago that came on to me really strong. After I bought her a few drinks she called me Michael, but I didn't give a damn what she called me as long as she put out."
Michael started turning red, he just needed one more push and this guy was dead. "So what did you do?"
"I drove the bitch home and she tried to tell me no. Well I knew she wanted it so I gave it to her."
*******Part 9*******
Austin didn't even see the fist that came hurling toward his face. The blow was so powerful that it knocked him backwards in his chair flipping him onto the floor. Michael then proceeded to lift him off the floor by his shirt and punched him again. Blood splattered onto Austin's face. Austin was stunned but he finally managed to stand up and get in a good punch even in his drunken stupor. The punch caused a cut in Michael's upper lip. Michael acted quickly and punched him again. Michael didn't say anything he just kept punching. Finally the guy fell to the floor with his eyes closed. Michael punched him again totally covering Austin's face in blood. He knew one more punch and he would be dead. Something made Michael think of Maria. She asked him not to do this. He reached down and checked Austin's pulse and discovered he was still breathing. "Your only alive because of her," Michael said to him before he proceeded to walk out of the bar.
"That's it! That's the bar the woman said Austin was at! Stop the car Max!" Maria yelled.
"Isn't that Michael at the front door?" Liz asked.
"Oh my god!" Alex said.
"Max almost didn't even get the jeep stopped before Maria had jumped out of the car running to Michael. The others soon followed.
"What happened Michael?" Maria asked noticing the cut on Michael's lip.
"I found Austin. He's the guy that hurt Maria." Michael couldn't bring himself to say raped. Even though Maria stopped the flashes before things got really ugly he couldn't get over it. It sickened him. He felt what Maria felt. He was perhaps the only man that could ever know how it felt to be raped. His alien powers had allowed him to get inside her head that night. He could feel her emotions as if it happened to him.
"We figured out that much Michael. Apparently you found him here." Kyle added.
"He's not dead is he?" Liz asked almost scared of his response.
"No, close but I stopped before it was to late."
"We have to get out of here the police might come," Isabel warned.
"Tess, can you mind warp Austin and the others into forgetting it was Michael who was in the bar?"
"I'll try Max. I don't know if my powers can work like that."
Tess walked inside the bar. There where only 3 people there. Thankfully it was a bad side of town and hardly anyone was there that time of day. She closed her eyes and tried to enter their minds. She changed Michael's appearance in their minds so they would give the wrong description to the police. She then walked back outside.
"Let's get out of here quick," Tess announced.
"Michael how did you get here?" Max questioned.
"I borrowed a car. I'll just change the license plate number. I got it from a junk yard."
"We'll talk about this later Michael. Right now I think we all need to get home."
After picking up Dakota and dropping off Liz, Kyle and Tess; Max pulled up in front of Maria and Alex's apartment.
"Michael can you come inside so we can talk? I'll drive you home later," Maria asked.
"It's probably best if I go home."
"Please."
Michael reluctantly went inside the house with Maria. Isabel and Max drove off. I'll just put Dakota in his room and then we can talk in my room.
A few minutes later Maria came back and showed Michael the way to her bedroom.
"Michael, why didn't you tell anyone you found his picture? Why did you go after him alone? You could have been hurt!"
"I didn't tell you because I figured I could take care of it myself."
"Take care of it yourself! Michael I never should have started this. We have to leave him alone. I don't want him to find out about Dakota."
"Maria you can't let him get away with it!"
"No Michael. I should have just let it go. I don't know what I was thinking getting everyone involved with this. I was drunk! I got in the car with him! It's my word against his. There's no proof he raped me!"
Maria walked over to Michael and gently took his hand in hers.
"Michael thank you for being there for me and trying to help. If we do anything now Austin will know it was you who beat him up and he will press charges. We can't let any attention be drawn to you. I can't let you go to jail for me."
"I guess I screwed things up."
"No, Michael. You made things better."
"Maria how can you say that?"
Title: The Return
Disclaimer: I don't own Roswell or any of the characters.
Rating: PG-13
Category: Michael and Maria
NOTE: AU, Michael and the other alien's left the planet. Alex is still alive. Tess was never pregnant. Michael and Maria still slept together before he left earth. Everything else is pretty much the same.
Summary: Michael, Tess, Max, and Isabel come back to earth after being away for two years.
*********Part 6*********
Maria slipped her hands into Michael's and Michael started receiving flashes from Maria.
****Flash****
Michael kissing Maria goodbye
****Flash****
Maria in her bedroom crying
****Flash****
Maria entering the bar and ordering a drink
****Flash****
Maria getting into the man's car, him pulling into a dark alley
****Flash****
Maria confused then scared as the man started to rip her shirt off.
Suddenly Maria pulled her hands away from Michael and the flashes stopped.
"No Michael! I don't want you to see that! You can't!"
"It's alright Maria. I got a good look at the man." Michael held Maria again as she sobbed. Michael had never felt so protective over anyone as he did her. He had to find the animal that did this to his Maria.
"I'm going to try and draw a picture of the guy I saw in the visions and we'll get the others to help find him."
"Michael I don't want the others to know."
"It's up to you but Maria they won't blame you."
"I guess we'll need there help."
"Max if I didn't leave Maria this never would have happened. It was my fault."
"Michael you couldn't have prevented this."
"Yes I could have but the point is know I have to find him and make him pay. Maxwell I want this guy dead."
******Part7******
(At the same time at the Evans house. Tess, Liz, Kyle, Alex, Isabel, Maria, and Dakota are all gathered downstairs. Maria had already explained to the others that she was raped.)
"Are you sure you're parents won't be back anytime soon?"
"I'm sure Alex. They're in Florida on their second honeymoon. Believe me they won't be coming back early."
"I hope you don't mind I brought Dakota my mom couldn't baby-sit."
"No it's fine. How old is he now?"
"Fourteen months."
"Kyle what are you doing to my child?" The others turned around to Kyle who was putting lipstick and other make-up he found out of Tess's purse.
"What? I didn't ever have a little brother to pick on when I was little so I'm making up for lost time."
"Kyle, grow up!" Tess said and moved to help wipe the lipstick and blue eye shadow off the kid.
"Dakota looks a lot like you Maria." Isabel said.
"Thanks. He is the only good thing to come out of this whole mess. I think I'll go find Michael now."
"He's upstairs with Max." Liz said.
Maria headed upstairs and started to knock on Max's bedroom door when she overheard Michael say she wanted the guy who raped her dead. She opened the door and looked at a shocked Michael and Max.
"Max can I talk to Michael alone?"
Max left them alone and closed the bedroom door to give them privacy. Maria set on the bed next to Michael and looked at him.
"Michael."
"Maria, I didn't want you to hear that."
"I'm glad I did. Michael you can't. Believe me I want him dead too. I want him to pay for what he did but I can't let you hurt yourself because of me. I remember when Pierce died you beat yourself over it. The regret and guilt almost ate you alive. You can't go through that. Not because of me."
"Let's go downstairs the others are waiting."
"Michael!"
Maria followed Michael downstairs where the others were waiting.
Dakota was now on the floor playing with a few of his toys.
"So he's a drawing of the man I did from Maria's flashes. Does anyone recognize him?" They all took turns carefully studying the picture of the man Michael drew.
"He looks kind of familiar but I can't remember where I've seen him before." Alex said.
"Yes he does look familiar. Wait I think I've seen him at school. But I don't know who he was." Isabel said.
"Max do you have all the yearbooks from school? We can go through each one and see if we can find his picture in there." Alex added.
"Yes, there upstairs in my room I'll go find them."
A few minutes later Max came back with the yearbooks and passed one out to each couple.
(An hour later)
Dakota started crying. "Michael I think he's hungry. I'm going to go get him something from the kitchen. Will you finish looking through the book for me."
"Yeah, go ahead." Michael looked at Maria with Dakota. He had never seen such a beautiful sight in his life. Maria was so happy with Dakota. He just wished it were his family. Michael started looking through the book again after Maria left the room. After a few more pages he finally stumbled upon a picture that looked like the drawing. He tried to remember the flash he got from Maria and realized it was him! The name under the photo was Austin Zoss. Michael looked around to make sure no one was watching and he tore the picture out of the book and put it in his pocket. He slammed the book shut. "Look there's no point in this. We're never going to find his photo in here. There must be another way."
"I think Michael's right. Maybe we should take the drawing to dad and see if he can find out who it is." Kyle added.
"I'm not sure if I want the police involved yet." Maria said returning from the kitchen.
"We'll my dads not the sheriff anymore and I'm sure he'll help no questions asked."
"O.K. that sounds fine."
"Michael can you drive me home?" Maria asked.
"Actually I have something I have to take care of."
Michael left leaving a confused Maria watching him leave.
******Part 8******
It didn't take long for Michael to find Austin's address in the phone book. He actually lived in a trailer near where he used to live with Hank. He never thought he would go back to that awful place again. Michael wasn't sure what he was going to do when he found Austin but he figured he would know when he saw him. Michael "borrowed" a car from a junkyard giving it a fake license plate number. He drove out to the trailer park. It was late a night and Michael parked across the street from the trailer. After watching the trailer for 20 minutes a man finally appeared. He started walking toward a truck. Michael recognized him as Austin so he started the car and followed him. They ended up at the same bar that Maria had gone to that night. Michael waited a few minutes after Austin went in the bar and then went in himself. Michael finally spotted Austin and he sat at a table next to him. Michael still unable to think of exactly how to proceed just observed him trying not to bring attention to himself. Michael was there for about an hour and had at least 10 different girls try to come on to him when Austin, obviously drunk, turned his attention to Michael.
"You seem to be quite the lady's man there. Why don't you pull up a chair next to me and share some of your secrets. I'll buy you a drink."
Michael didn't know what to do but he wasn't going to let this opportunity pass. He picked up his drink, non-alcoholic of course, and moved to Austin's table. Michael could feel bile rising to his throat just looking at the guy who had hurt Maria. It took every ounce of his being not to just kill the guy and leave but he knew he had to be smart and careful.
"The name's Leo and there's no need to buy me another drink I'm still not finished with this one." Michael said lying about his name.
"My name's Austin. So tell me Leo you had all those women falling all over you and you turned them down. What's the deal? You must be gay."
O.K. Michael defiantly hated this guy even more by the minute if possible. Austin actually looked like an average everyday guy. People might not even know what a vile revolting demon lived inside of him.
"No, I'm defiantly not gay."
"Then why don't you take one of those ladies back to your place."
"I already have someone. I just got her back and I'm not going to lose her again."
"Who says she has to know? Anyway I could never settle for just one woman. No, I would gladly take home any girl that came on to me no matter who I was with."
"So does that happen very often? I mean you leaving here with a beautiful women."
Austin took another slug of his drink. Michael knew he was taking a chance trying to get information about that night from this man but he had to know what was going on in his head.
"To tell you the truth I don't get to many women to come home with me but I've had a few."
"So where they blondes or do you go for brunettes?" Michael asked.
"I go for blondes."
____________
(At the same time from after Michael left Max and Isabel's.)
"Maria why don't you stay awhile and we'll order a pizza?" Isabel added.
"Okay. Liz I'm wonder why Michael left like that."
"I'm sure it's okay Maria. It's probably just hard for him to deal with. I mean he just learned you had a child with someone who hurt you. Give him time. He still loves you."
"I hope so. I never stopped loving him."
"I'll be right back I'm just going to take these yearbooks back upstairs." Max went back to his room and started to put the yearbooks back on his shelf. He accidentally dropped one. The book fell open and he thought it was odd that a picture was torn out. He walked downstairs.
"Hey Isabel did you tear a photo out of my yearbook."
"No, I didn't touch that yearbook."
"Wait, that was the book Michael and I were looking at. You don't think..." Maria mumbled.
"Max go get another yearbook and we'll see whose picture is missing."
"Good idea Tess."
Max got another yearbook and found it was Austin's picture.
"That's him!"
"Are you sure, Maria?"
"Yes and I bet Michael took that picture and went after him."
They found Austin's address in the phone book.
"Look Maria I'll drive by there and see if Michael's there. You can just stay here and we'll let you know what happens."
"No Max. He's there because of me and I want to be there."
They dropped Dakota off at Valenti's since Amy was away from town. He was apprehensive but they explained it was an emergency and he gladly helped.
The gang then drove to the trailer park. When they didn't see Michael they decided Kyle should go knock on the door and ask for Austin posing as a salesman. When a woman answered the door she said Austin wasn't there. Kyle told her he was an old friend and needed to find him. The women said he was at The Lucky Lady, a bar on the other side of town. They decided to drive to the bar.
____________________
Michael bought Austin another drink and they had been talking for a while. Michael wasn't sure how to get the truth out of Austin so he just figured he'd press him even farther.
"In the past I've learned that most of the girls I've met in bars are just teases. They come on to you and then you start to take them to your place, then they try and say no," Michael lied.
"I know what you mean. I remember this hot little number two years ago that came on to me really strong. After I bought her a few drinks she called me Michael, but I didn't give a damn what she called me as long as she put out."
Michael started turning red, he just needed one more push and this guy was dead. "So what did you do?"
"I drove the bitch home and she tried to tell me no. Well I knew she wanted it so I gave it to her."
*******Part 9*******
Austin didn't even see the fist that came hurling toward his face. The blow was so powerful that it knocked him backwards in his chair flipping him onto the floor. Michael then proceeded to lift him off the floor by his shirt and punched him again. Blood splattered onto Austin's face. Austin was stunned but he finally managed to stand up and get in a good punch even in his drunken stupor. The punch caused a cut in Michael's upper lip. Michael acted quickly and punched him again. Michael didn't say anything he just kept punching. Finally the guy fell to the floor with his eyes closed. Michael punched him again totally covering Austin's face in blood. He knew one more punch and he would be dead. Something made Michael think of Maria. She asked him not to do this. He reached down and checked Austin's pulse and discovered he was still breathing. "Your only alive because of her," Michael said to him before he proceeded to walk out of the bar.
"That's it! That's the bar the woman said Austin was at! Stop the car Max!" Maria yelled.
"Isn't that Michael at the front door?" Liz asked.
"Oh my god!" Alex said.
"Max almost didn't even get the jeep stopped before Maria had jumped out of the car running to Michael. The others soon followed.
"What happened Michael?" Maria asked noticing the cut on Michael's lip.
"I found Austin. He's the guy that hurt Maria." Michael couldn't bring himself to say raped. Even though Maria stopped the flashes before things got really ugly he couldn't get over it. It sickened him. He felt what Maria felt. He was perhaps the only man that could ever know how it felt to be raped. His alien powers had allowed him to get inside her head that night. He could feel her emotions as if it happened to him.
"We figured out that much Michael. Apparently you found him here." Kyle added.
"He's not dead is he?" Liz asked almost scared of his response.
"No, close but I stopped before it was to late."
"We have to get out of here the police might come," Isabel warned.
"Tess, can you mind warp Austin and the others into forgetting it was Michael who was in the bar?"
"I'll try Max. I don't know if my powers can work like that."
Tess walked inside the bar. There where only 3 people there. Thankfully it was a bad side of town and hardly anyone was there that time of day. She closed her eyes and tried to enter their minds. She changed Michael's appearance in their minds so they would give the wrong description to the police. She then walked back outside.
"Let's get out of here quick," Tess announced.
"Michael how did you get here?" Max questioned.
"I borrowed a car. I'll just change the license plate number. I got it from a junk yard."
"We'll talk about this later Michael. Right now I think we all need to get home."
After picking up Dakota and dropping off Liz, Kyle and Tess; Max pulled up in front of Maria and Alex's apartment.
"Michael can you come inside so we can talk? I'll drive you home later," Maria asked.
"It's probably best if I go home."
"Please."
Michael reluctantly went inside the house with Maria. Isabel and Max drove off. I'll just put Dakota in his room and then we can talk in my room.
A few minutes later Maria came back and showed Michael the way to her bedroom.
"Michael, why didn't you tell anyone you found his picture? Why did you go after him alone? You could have been hurt!"
"I didn't tell you because I figured I could take care of it myself."
"Take care of it yourself! Michael I never should have started this. We have to leave him alone. I don't want him to find out about Dakota."
"Maria you can't let him get away with it!"
"No Michael. I should have just let it go. I don't know what I was thinking getting everyone involved with this. I was drunk! I got in the car with him! It's my word against his. There's no proof he raped me!"
Maria walked over to Michael and gently took his hand in hers.
"Michael thank you for being there for me and trying to help. If we do anything now Austin will know it was you who beat him up and he will press charges. We can't let any attention be drawn to you. I can't let you go to jail for me."
"I guess I screwed things up."
"No, Michael. You made things better."
"Maria how can you say that?"