Michael knew that Maria needed her sleep, and he had told her that he wouldn't leave her; so he laid awake in bed, stretched out next to her, trying no to think about anything but her presence, not analyzing the reason for her being there. He glanced at the clock. It was almost noon. To pass the time until she awoke, Michael decided to think about the fact that she had come to him for help. It still baffled him every time he thought about it. She felt safe enough with him to ask for his help, and she knew she would receive it. She trusted him. As Michael lay contemplating this idea, the phone rang, startling him out of his thoughts. He leaned over to answer it, silently hoping that it hadn't woken her.

"Hello?"

"Hey Michael, it's me." Michael breathed a sigh of relief at the familiar voice on the other end.

"Hey Maxwell, listen, thanks for everything last night, I really appreciate it and I'm sure Maria does too."

"No problem man, how is she?"

"She's ok, it took her a long time to get to sleep last night, but physically she's fine. She doesn't like to be left alone though, so she's sleeping here next to me right now."

"Good Michael, just be there for her right now, I know she needs you."

"Yeah, Max, I know...I feel so damn helpless though. It's her mother who did this to her!" After he had said it out loud, Michael realized what that meant, it made him sick. He kept his voice to a whisper so that he wouldn't disturb Maria. "Her own damn mother! Holy shit, it's times like these I'm glad I got away from Hank- and he wasn't even my real father. I can't imagine how I'd be taking it if Hank had been related to me!"

"Yeah, she must be going through hell right now. Michael, I told Liz." Max had been waiting for a chance to tell him, but he realized that it wouldn't come, so he decided to just say it.

"I figured you would," Michael nodded. "That's ok Max, she needs Liz right now. Do you think I should tell her?"

"Well, I felt kinda bad about telling anyone without her permission, but I felt like Liz had a right to know. She's gonna drive back today, she should be here around 3 or so."

"Wow, well, maybe I won't tell her, and you should just send Liz over to my place when she gets here."

"Sounds good, Liz is anxious to see her, though I assured her that she's fine."

"Yeah well, in a manner of speaking..." Michael let his voice trail off, not exactly sure how to tell Max that he didn't think Maria would be 'fine' again for a long time.

"I know Michael, I know, but there's nothing you can do about it right now except be there for her."

"And it infuriates me," Michael added between clenched teeth.

"I know."

"Maxwell, thanks for all your help. Send Liz over here as soon as you can, though I know you guys will probably have some business to attend to."

"Ha ha...very funny Michael, will do. Talk to you later."

Michael hung up the phone and glanced over his shoulder at Maria. She had one eye cracked open and was smiling up at him sleepily.

"Hey Blondie," he whispered, noticing that some of the pain he had seen in her eyes earlier was gone.

"Morning Spaceboy." She smiled as he ran his fingers up her cheek tenderly.

"Feel like breakfast?"

"Sure, but can I take a shower first? I feel nasty."

"No problem."

Maria threw the sheets back and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Almost immediately, a wave of dizziness overcame her as the blood rushed from her head and she had to put her head between her knees.

"Ok?" Michael asked as he rubbed her back. She nodded.

"Yeah, just got up too fast."

"Let me know when it passes and I'll help you up."

After a few minutes, she decided to try her legs, and with Michael's help, made it to the bathroom. "Are you sure you can stand in the shower?" Michael asked, concerned with the fact that she could barely walk to the bathroom, let alone stand up by herself.

"I'm fine," she assured him. "Can you just...um...well, I don't have any clothes here..." Michael laughed.

"I'll find something." He left her sitting on the toilet seat and shut the door behind him. "Call if you need me, I'll be here," he shouted. Maria slumped back on the toilet seat and prepared herself for the task of standing long enough to take a shower. When she felt confident that her legs would not come out from under her, she leaned over to turn on the hot spray of water and stepped over the tub, ignoring the slight wave of dizziness that assaulted her. Within seconds it was gone. Exhausted, but still adamant that she would do this on her own, Maria made herself relax. She felt the hot water run over her body, soothing her fatigued muscles. Soon, the queasy feelings passed altogether, and she was able to concentrate on washing herself and enjoying the effect of the heated water on her body.

Fifteen minutes later, Maria emerged from the bathroom, feeling still tired, but clean and relaxed. Michael had left another t shirt and a pair of gym shorts on the bed for her. Gratefully, she slipped the shirt on, luxuriating again in the scent of Michael. Her stomach growled suddenly, reminding her that she was hungry. Tentatively, she made her way down the short hall to the kitchen. Michael stood with his back to her, scrambling eggs in a frying pan. He turned as he felt her approach him.

"Hey, feeling better?"

"Yeah, that hot shower felt wonderful." Michael bit his lip to keep from betraying exactly what the thought of her in the shower did to him. He felt her arms come up around his waist, and turned around to face her; running his fingers up and down her arms. "Thank you for being there Michael," she whispered hesitantly. "I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't come here."

"We'll make it right Maria, I swear on all that is holy; I won't let anything like that happen to you ever again."

"I'm scared."

"I know you are." He held her tighter. "Eat now Maria, you need food in your system." Maria nodded against his chest and stepped away. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten, and whatever she had eaten had ended up on the grass in front of her house anyway. She devoured the eggs and drank the orange juice Michael poured for her, all the while staring at him with awe. What had she done to deserve this wonderful person in her life? She thought about it for a split second before deciding that it didn't matter. He was here, now, and she thanked God. Michael leaned into the refrigerator looking for more food. "Damnit, we're out of milk." Maria smiled in spite of herself.

"Go to the store Spaceboy."

"I don't want to leave you alone."

"I'm a big girl, I'll be fine." She laughed, waving her hand in front of her face.

"I know you are, but humor me. I'd shoot myself if anything happened while I was gone. Let me call Max to come stay with you."

"I don't need a babysitter Michael."

"Wouldn't you feel better having someone here with you? Your mother's bound to figure out where you are and come looking for you."

"She won't come looking for me, she never wants to see me again, remember?" At this statement, Maria's eyes teared and Michael reached for her hand, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

"She was drunk, Maria, she's not gonna remember half of what she did last night," he said softly. "If someone comes looking for you, I just want you to have back up."

Maria relented. Once again, she realized that Michael wouldn't budge on the subject of her safety, and some small part of her felt truly cherished by his insistence on the topic. "OK, ok, I guess you're right. Call Max."

"I know you can take care of yourself- you did it last night, just by coming here. I would just feel better if I knew someone was with you." Michael reached for the phone and dialed Max's number.

Max, being the Max they all knew and loved, and almost as protective of Maria as Michael was, readily agreed to stay with Maria while Michael went to the store. Within minutes he was knocking at the door.

Michael grabbed his cell phone as he walked out the door. "If anything weird happens, you guys have my number. I don't want you to wait one minute to call." He retraced his steps briefly to give Maria a gentle kiss on the forehead, and peg Max with a "take care of her" look, which he readily accepted and nodded in agreement. The door shut and locked behind Michael, and Max and Maria were alone.

Max had noticed that Maria had scooted herself into the farthest corner of the couch- as far away from him as she could possibly get; and she wouldn't look him in the eye.

"Maria, you OK?" Max asked, renewed concern evident in his voice.

"Geez Max, I don't know," she said haltingly. "Everything is weird now." Max picked up on her meaning instantly. It was obvious in the way she refused to look at him.

"You mean between you and me." It was a statement. She nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Thank you for healing me," she whispered, her face turning ten different shades of red.

"Hey, it's OK Maria," he said reassuringly. He crossed the room slowly, his eyes intent on her reaction to him. When she didn't move away, he sat next to her, gently taking her hand in his. "I'd do it again any time." She looked up at him, shocked. He laughed before continuing. "You're my girlfriend's best friend and my best friend's girlfriend, which makes you pretty important in my life." He continued, "I am also your best friend's boyfriend and your boyfriend's best friend... and I care about you like a sister. I'd never let anyone or anything hurt you. Just like you and I both know that Michael would never let anything happen to Liz." She finally looked up and smiled and Max felt a weight the size of the Empire State Building being lifted off of his chest.

"God, that sounds a lot more complicated than it is." She laughed. Max rewarded her with a rare chuckle and a smile. Maria privately felt elated that she was one of only two girls in history that she knew who could make Max Evans smile.

They were interrupted by an obnoxious knocking at the door. They exchanged worried glances before Max rose slowly, his eyes intent on Maria the whole time.

"Stay here," Max commanded her gently. She nodded and watched with apprehension as Max opened the door. The couch was thankfully placed out of the direct line of sight of a person standing in the doorway. Maria stiffened and began to shake when she heard an all too familiar voice.

"Hello, you're Michael's friend?"

"Yes, hello Mrs. Deluca." Max's voice sounded strained, like he was trying really hard not to hit her.

"Have you seen Maria? She and I had a fight last night and she left, I figured she might come here to Michael, though I can't really understand what she sees in him." Maria stiffened at her mother's condescending tone and listened to Max as he apparently did the same.

"No, I haven't seen her," Max replied curtly, obviously trying to keep his rising anger in check.

"Fine, well, I guess I'll check back later." Maria heard her mother's sharp heels turn on the front step before she turned to stare at Max. "I know somebody here knows something, it's just a matter of time, I'll be back when Michael's home." Max didn't bother to reply. It was obvious that Mrs. Deluca was trying to scare him, and she didn't really expect an answer. Maria heard the door slam and lock. She let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding and she began to shake uncontrollably. Max found her huddled in the corner of the kitchen, her teeth chattering, shaking so hard that her edges blurred.

"It's OK, she's gone," Max soothed her, kneeling down to pull her stiff body into his arms. She toppled against him, unable to keep herself upright due to her sudden complete lack of muscle control. "You're OK, you're OK, it's all right," Max continued to speak gently, running his fingers up and down her spine in an attempt to calm her down. He gathered the trembling girl in his arms and moved slowly towards the bedroom. She had her arms around his neck in a vice like grip and her face turned into his chest. "I'm going to call Michael, I'll be right back," Max promised as he untangled himself from her death grip and lay her gently on the bed, pulling the sheets up to her shoulders. He tucked them in around her and found another blanket in the closet which he put over her for extra warmth to try to lessen her shivering. Maria nodded slightly, then shut her eyes in an attempt to brace herself against the tremors. Max squeezed her hand gently and ran down the hall to call Michael's cell.

Max had to struggle to keep his raging anger under control as he waited one...two...three...four...finally on the fifth ring, Michael picked up.

"Max?"

"That bitch came Michael, she needs you."

"I'm on my way."