Chapter 57

"Hey Maria."
The drowsy voice made Maria look up from the magazine. She hadn't been reading; her mind unable to accept that simple distraction. The smile on her childhood friend's face caused Maria's whole body to relax with a sigh of relief.
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
Liz's smile was lingering, while desperately trying to keep her eyes open. "Fine," and seeing Maria's disbelief she corrected herself, "Better."
"And they call me the 'drama queen'," Maria said, seemingly out of the blue. The odd look from Liz prompted her to elaborate. "I mean, couldn't you for once have done something without adding so much drama to it?"
Liz clasped Maria's hand, which was resting on the edge of the bed. "Sorry, Maria. I didn't mean to steal your thunder."
Her voice was soft and coated with understanding. Maria shook her head, still amazed by how well they knew each other and how easily they could read the underlying meanings. Even before Maria had understood why she had said what she had just said, Liz had heard the hidden fear.
"Don't do it again," Maria mumbled and Liz squeezed her hand.
"I won't."
Silence lowered itself over them as Maria unconsciously let her thoughts wander, and Liz fell into a semi-slumber.
"You know, he's really a great guy."
Liz forced her eyes open and scanned Maria's face. "Who?"
"Max."
Warmth spread itself throughout Liz's body, adoring her cheeks with a blush. "Yeah..."
"I always knew there was someone better out there waiting for you. I mean, come on, Kevin?"
Liz laughed softly. "Yeah, I never believed Kevin was the one either."

Maria stroked some hair away from Liz's forehead, looking at her with motherly protectiveness. "You look pale. Are you sure you feel okay?"
"I'm just tired."
Maria nodded, wanting desperately to believe her. As Maria's concern grew thicker, weighing down on her, Liz decided to change the topic. "Maria, how is Max?"
Maria debated if she should tell Liz the truth or not. She didn't want to, unnecessarily, put an extra burden on Liz's already weakened shoulders.
"Maria, please…"
Maria mustered up a smile and stood up to tuck the blanket closer around Liz's body. "It's so typical you, Liz, to worry about someone else when you are the one that just had a run in with death."
Liz managed to grab Maria's restless hand, demanding Maria's attention with her tight hold. However, it was the trepidation in Liz's eyes that forced Maria to capitulate. "He's doing fine, Liz."
"You're lying," Liz said without hesitation. "I've seen Max. He's not doing fine."
"Then why are you asking me?"
"I want to hear it from your perspective. He's putting up a good front when he's with me, but I know that something's up."
"Liz," Maria sat down again. "You almost died. Of course he's not doing well."
Liz turned her face to the side, but not before Maria saw the tear slide down her cheek and she immediately regretted her wording. "It's not your fault, Lizzie. You couldn't prevent it."
"That's what Max said," Liz said bitterly.
"He's right. He doesn't blame you. No one blames you, Liz, so stop feeling guilty. Liz? Look at me!" Reluctantly, Liz looked into Maria's green eyes. "It. Was. Not. Your. Fault."

"I know that," Liz whispered and Maria almost huffed, not the slightest convinced.
"Knowing you, you will continue to blame yourself, so there's not much I can do about that. But know this, no one else thinks this was your fault. It was completely out of your hands, Liz. You can't affect nature. You should be happy that Miranda is alive. According to Max, she's doing really well."
"I know, I know," Liz said weakly. "I am happy. It's just…"
"What Liz?" Maria asked as Liz sighed.
"I just feel so hopeless…"
The tiredness combined with the trauma she had been through caused her emotions to run into overdrive and Liz was incapable of preventing the tears from running down her cheeks.
"Liz…" Maria said softly.
"I can't do anything. I just lay here."
She was sobbing now, not even having the strength to wipe the tears off her face.
Maria opened her purse and hauled up a package of tissues, pulling out three that she handed to Liz. But seeing the total weariness in the Liz's movements, Maria decided to wipe Liz's cheeks herself.
"You're here to get well so that you can take care of your baby."
Your baby. Those two simple words caused Liz's sobs to intensify and it was at this point, as Maria was dabbing Liz's face with tissues, that Max entered the room.
"Liz?"

Cursing softly under her breath, Maria turned her head and looked up at Max standing behind her. This was really nothing Max needed to witness at this point. Maria might not know Max very well, but she could recognize a person on the edge of a nervous breakdown when she saw it. She took a deep breath as she realized that she was the only collected person at that moment, maybe even the only sane person however weird that might sound, and she was the one that would have to divert the situation away from a possible catastrophe.
Keeping her voice light and casual, Maria addressed Max. "She's fine. She just needed to get something off her chest."
"Are you feeling worse?" Max asked, leaning over Liz.
Max's alarm was so tangible Maria could feel it physically weighing down on her. If she felt it, what was it then doing to Liz, who was already close to a breakdown? Maria decided she needed to stop this right now. Standing up, she took a hold of Max's upper arms and, with more force than she had anticipated, pulled Max away from Liz separating their hands.
"Maria, what…" But before Max had a chance to finish his protest, Maria cut in.
"I know that you are worried about Liz, but I was actually talking to my best friend here. We can handle it without you, Max. We were talking and she just got a little upset. But she will be fine. She just needs to cry it out. Right, Liz?"
Maria gave Liz a pointed look and Liz sniffle out a consensus. "Yes, Max. I'll be okay."
Max looked back and forth between the most important woman in his life and her childhood friend, finding it very difficult to listen to either when every fiber of his being was telling him to stay with Liz. Taking a closer look at Liz, he made up his mind and pulled out of Maria's grip. He cradled Liz's cheek, his thumb brushing against the dampness of her cheek and he was too engrossed in his concern for Liz to hear Maria's exasperated sigh behind him.

"Why are you crying?"
Liz leaned into his hand feeling comforted but simultaneously oddly agitated by his presence. Liz looked up at him and saw the dark circles under his eyes, the haunted look in his eyes and the ashen color of his skin. She swallowed, tormented by the dilemma of wanting him close and wanting to protect him. She realized that at the moment, having him close and simultaneously protecting him was not possible.
"I just need a few more minutes with Maria."
He blinked, surprise washing over his face. "Are you sure?"
She nodded bravely, fighting against the need to have him put his arms around her and pull her against his chest, where she felt safe.
He offered her a small encouraging smile. "Don't cry, okay?"
She nodded again, not trusting her voice enough to speak any longer. He leaned closer and brushed his lips against hers, tasting the saltiness of her tears on the soft skin. Before she had the chance to fall into his kiss he was gone, giving her a lingering look when he reached the doorway.
Maria decided to break the staring contest. "Okay, Max. Enough. Leave already."
The air changed around Liz and he was gone.

Determination quickly replaced the sobs as Liz turned towards Maria. "Maria, I need a favor."
"Anything, babe."
"Take care of Max for me, would you?"
It was not so much her request, but the way she said it that unnerved Maria. "Are you sure you want to leave that responsibility to me? I'm not really known for my expertise in looking after people."
"Maria, I know you better than anyone. And if there's anyone that would make sure that Max is sleeping and eating, it would be you. You're the smartest and kindest person I know."
Maria smiled softly at her words, a blush spreading over her fair skin.
"If you don't, I know where you live," Liz added.
Maria laughed, rolling her eyes. "You're such a dork. But that's why I love you. Of course, Liz. I'll look after your man for you. I think this is the best assignment I've ever received. He's not exactly hard on the eyes."
"Okay, don't get too excited now," Liz warned. "I still want Max back un-traumatized after being in your care."
"Dork," Maria repeated, but her being was tingling with happiness. The person in the bed in front of her was not just a pale, weak patient any longer. She was steadily materializing into Liz, and Maria couldn't have been happier.

----------------------------------------------

"Hello smelly!"
Max looked up at Maria as she sat down next to him on the fairly comfortable blue couch.
"Uhm…hi?"
"No, but seriously," Maria continued, scrunching her nose, "You smell pretty bad, Max."
"I don't," Max protested weakly, gazing over Maria's head towards Liz's room, his thoughts constantly on the person on the other side of that sky blue door.
Maria snapped her fingers in front of his face, causing him to divert his eyes to her face. "Hey, focus!"
Sighing tiredly, Max rubbed his hands over his face. His voice came out muffled hidden behind his hands. "What do you want, Maria?"
"When was the last time you took a shower?"
Max's rubbing movements stopped and he peered at the blonde pixie through his fingers. "Maria, what the hell are you talking about?"
Maria looked at him with understanding patience and repeated slowly. "You. Smelly. Shower."
"Is Liz still awake? Is she feeling better?"
"Nah-uh, don't think you can just change the topic. I think that we should get up, walk out to my car, drive to your place and you can take a shower, maybe even a nap. And maybe, just maybe, we can get you back into looking like a respectable young man again. Because, Max sweetie, this is starting to get embarrassing."
"I'm fine, Maria. I don't need to go home."
"My nose says differently."

Max stood up and Maria looked up at him expectantly. Was it really going to be that easy? But before she had a chance to stand up herself, Max had turned and was walking into the direction of Liz's room.
"Where are you going?" Maria whined. Why couldn't Max for once listen to what she was saying?
"To see Liz," Max answered simply.
"She's asleep," Maria said to his back in a futile attempt to make him turn around. But if she knew Max correctly, he would want to see for himself that Liz was really asleep. Sure enough, Max continued to walk as if Maria hadn't even opened her mouth. She was just about to start running to catch up with Max, when she saw the door open and a nurse come out. The nurse stopped Max in the doorway, shaking her head sympathetically.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Evans, but visiting hours are over."
"Oh…"
Maria couldn't help but feel bad for Max when she saw his body slump as hope of seeing Liz one more time tonight left him. She put her hand on his shoulder, lending him whatever support she could.
"How is she? She's alright?"
The nurse nodded. "Yes, she's getting much better. She's asleep now." The nurse took in Max's tired appearance and gave him an encouraging smile. "You should get some sleep too."
They watched the nurse walk off.
"Come on, Max, let's get you home."
"I can stay here," Max answered. The hospital had some visiting rooms where Max had been spending the last days.
"Max, you heard the nurse. Liz is doing better. There's nothing more you can do here tonight. You should go home, get something to eat, take a shower and get some sleep. Okay?"
Max considered it for a minute, before reluctantly nodding.

-------------------------------------------------------

Maria switched off the engine and looked over at Max. He was asleep, snoring with his head resting against the car window. Maria shook her head to herself.
"Not tired, huh?" she said quietly with a smile before grabbing a hold of Max's shirt-clad bicep and giving it a shake. "Max?"
She hadn't fully realized how tired he was until she had to wake him up. He wouldn't respond at all so she shook him harder, saying his name louder. It was not until she was basically yelling at him to wake up that his eyes sprung open, looking at Maria with such horror that she immediately regretted having woken him up.
"What's wrong?" he gasped.
"Nothing, nothing," Maria assured, her voice soft in order to try and calm him down. "We're home."
"Oh," Max said, blinking as he looked out the windscreen at the house. It was his house with Liz. Sadness captured him and he swallowed. She's not dead. She's not dead.
"Max?"
He closed his eyes, fighting the demons from his past and future. He took a deep breath. "Okay."
"Okay," Maria said. She watched him unfasten his seatbelt and open the car door, and the determination, close to desperation, in Liz's request took on a new meaning. As Max made his way out of the car, Maria could see what Liz saw. She could see the fear Max was harboring. The fear that Liz would die, just like his former wife had. She tore her eyes away from Max and opened her own door to get out.

As they were walking up the driveway, Maria remembered that she had forgotten her purse in the car.
"Uhm, I forgot something in the car. I'll catch up with you."
Max nodded and pulled out the house keys from his pocket. As he inserted the key into the lock and turned, he realized that it was already unlocked. He stared at the door, his breathing growing shallower as he tried to remember if he had forgotten to lock the door. Just as he had reconciled with the thought that he had probably forgotten to lock, a noise from inside the house echoed down the stairs, reaching his tired ears and sudden fear caused adrenaline to pump out in his veins. Someone was in the house.

TBC...