Authors notes: Just a short part, because a reason I can't explain until the next part, which will be longer. Also, rewiew if you want me to continue. It's funnier to write if you know that someone likes it!

Max didn't really know what to do. He didn't know what was wrong with Maria. With Liz it had been a wound, but now he couldn't see anything like that. He remembered when he'd tried to heal Alex. He hadn't had any luck then, but maybe he would now.

He concentrated on Maria and soon he started to get flashes from her:

Maria as a little girl.

Maria meeting Liz for the first time.

Maria seeing Michael and thinking he was hot.

Maria making out with Michael at The Crashdown.

Maria bonding with Max over the summer.

Maria crying right after Alex died.

Maria singing at Alex's funeral, tears in her eyes.

Michael comforting Maria.

Maria being tortured.

Maria dying...

End of flashes

What? Max thought. Maria dying? She couldn't die, he was healing her.

He concentrated on Maria again. But no more flashes came. Max could only see blackness and darkness...death.

He opened his eyes again and saw the others staring at him.

"It's not working" he said. "She's gone."

"No!" Liz screamed. "No! You have to try harder, Max! She's not dead!"

Liz grabbed a hold of Maria and started to hysterically cry onto her shoulder.

Max gently touched Liz's arm.

The others gathered around Maria in a protective circle.

Max looked at Michael. He didn't move. He looked terrible, like his life just ended.

And in a way it probably did. Maria was the safe point in Michael's life, Max realised. And now that she was gone, things would never be the same again...for anyone...

TBC...   please rewiew if you like it!