Disclaimers: I don't own the F4 characters, so don't sue.

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It was almost evening before the two friends were on their way home in cab.

Maria had been assessed, and was declared perfectly sane, which in a way was terrific news, but it did not give reason behind her behaviour.

Redfern had come to the conclusion that it was he subconscious yearning to a part of the team, fooling herself into believing that she had powers of her own.

Maria nodded to this, but she already knew it wasn't true. She and Johnny had thanked him for all his help, and then left-but not before Johnny parted with the keys to 'Torch-3'.

"You wanna order pizza for dinner?" Johnny asked Maria, he'd calmed down form his ordeal.

Maria shrugged, "If you want, I'm, not hungry…" she said down heartedly.

"Hey, cheer up, it's not all bad," he said playfully punching her arm.

Maria gave no reaction, "It's easy for you to say…" she said sadly and quietly for the driver wouldn't hear, "You're not the one going crazy…" She glared at him briefly, then turned to look out the window.

It had started to rain, Maria felt nature was being kind for a change.

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When the two had arrived back at the Baxter building, they found Ben, Alicia, Reed and Sue sitting in the kitchen eating pizza.

"Great minds think alike!" Johnny observed, reaching for some peperoni.

"We got a spicy chicken one for you sweetie," Ben said to his daughter who was standing in the door way.

"Maybe later…" she said. "Can I borrow you?" she asked him, ignoring the confused look on Johnny's face.

"Sure," came the reply, and Ben excused himself to follow his daughter. She shut the door to her room, and gestured to the bed for him to sit. The springs groaned under his weight, but they both ignored it, and she sat down beside him. "What do you want to talk about?" he asked.

She was silent for a while, "Is…" she stuttered a little, "Is… there… a history… Mental Illness in the family?" she asked slowly.

Ben looked surprised, he was certain she was going to mention the accident, but she didn't. Instead, she asked a question that sent fear into him. He coughed, "Why do you ask?"

"No fair answering a question with a question," she said a little annoyed.

Ben smiled, his brother-Maria's real father-used to get so wound up when he did it to him. "No sweetie, there isn't…" he said.

Maria nodded, "Not even Mom's?" he asked, her voice came out weak.

Ben shook his head, "No…" it wasn't a total lie, it wasn't even a bit of a lie. There wasn't any, but still he knew more than he was letting on, but he need to know more about what Maria knew. "Maria," he said seriously, "What's this about?" he asked.

Maria was silent, she hadn't told a single person what was going on with her. He'd kept it a secret for the longest of times, been would make three in total, and in the same day. She took a deep breath and recited the whole thing to him.

Ben was silent throughout the narration of her tale, it sounded familiar, painfully familiar. He looked up when she mentioned she'd told Johnny, and tears sprang to his eyes when she accounted the hospital visit the two made. He felt a jealousy towards Johnny as he was the one she chose to confide in, and he was the one who took her to the hospital. Ben was her father, he should have been the one to help her though her bad times, he should have the shoulder that soaked up her tears, not Johnny.

Silence followed her explanation, "So, he says it's your subconscious?" Ben asked finally.

Maria nodded, still she held off telling him she knew he was wrong. The look of sadness on his face was to much for her, he'd be more upset if she told him the truth. What she'd told him would do for now.

Ben pulled Maria towards him, and held her tightly, or as tightly as he could without crushing her. She'd hurt her ribs the first time he hugged her after the DNA alteration, he'd learnt not to do it so hard now.

They stayed like that for a while, before Ben's stomach rumbled, "I could use some more pizza," he said to her, taking her hand and leading her back to the kitchen.

Maria smiled, but restrained herself from saying 'typical,' instead she just said "Me too."

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End of Chapter

A/n no-one has ghuessed who the tribute is too. It is really staring you in the face (and no, it's not Sam from Supernatural to the person who e-mail me, he's a pathetic excuse for a man... this guy is a real 'hero'!) no more clues. :)