AU FIC: Belong to Me Mi&M 

Author: becky  rttavi@aol.com

Rating: R

Distribution: ask first.

Paring: Mi & M primary

Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Roswell or La Femme Nikita. I don't profit from anything. Original story and new characters are solely mine.

Feedback: send it to: rttavi@aol.com

Notes/Summary: This is an AU with Roswell and La Femme Nikita. None of the actual characters from Nikita are in this, just the idea of 'Section'. It takes place sometime after high school, maybe five years. Max, Liz and Isabel are in Roswell. It won't be long, but I need a slight break from the "Story of Lines". I won't post here if it's not wanted, let me know. I don't know if there are any Nikita watchers on this list. Actually, it's not all that Nikita.  

Chapter One 

When I woke up and looked around I had no idea what to do except scream, so I did. I screamed and screamed until someone came in the sterile white room I was trapped in. He was tall, dressed in solid black and I hated him the moment I saw him. What the fuck was this place?

My hands were strapped to the bed along with my legs. How the fuck did I get here? The last thing I remembered was being sentenced to death for a crime I didn't commit. The crime? Murder. I didn't do it, but no one seemed to care. I was nothing to anyone anymore. Now I wished I were back home, back to where my life was before that day. Back to the drugs and men.

"You're awake," the stranger said quietly while running his hands through his hair. "That's good."

"Who the fuck are you and where the fuck am I?"

"I'm Michael," he smiled but I didn't buy it. "You're in your new home."

"New home?" I snorted at him. "Am I dead?" That's what I had thought. This was my hell and he was the devil.

"No, you're not dead although you would be soon if we hadn't gotten to you."

"Who are you?"

"I told you, I'm Michael. You're Maria DeLuca and you were sentenced to die. We saw something in you. You have potential and we're going to mold you. Make you into something."

I stared at him. "What are you talking about?"

"This is Section." He waved his arm in the air. "You're here to help your country. You're going to be an alien hunter."

I fought back a smile. Was this guy for real? "Alien, huh?" I laughed. "There's no such things as aliens."

"Yeah, there are and you're going to hunt them and bring them here for analysis."

I shook my head; he had to be lying. This was a dream. If I could, I would pinch myself. "Aliens?"

"Aliens, Maria." He smiled at me again and I'm not sure if I still hate him. "You'll be trained to detect them and how to bring them here. After your courses, you'll be given a new life."

"Okay," I nodded. I can do this. It's obvious the man's insane I'll just play along.

"Good," he grinned and I felt my heart flutter. That was bad. "You probably want to get out of those restraints, don't you?"

I nodded. Perfect. He undid my legs first and then my wrists. Without hesitation, I jumped and tried to run towards the door. Before I knew what happened, he had me against him. My breasts crushed against his chest with only thin fabric between us. I was out of breath. He grabbed me by the shoulders and led me back to the bed. "You escape, you die."

I slumped down and noticed I was wearing white drawstring pants and a white tank top. Whose clothes were these? I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn't find the words. After a minute, I found my nerve again. "What now?"

"You learn."

I saw a glimmer in his eye, something foreign. Something alien? I almost laughed. "Then what?"

"Then you go to Roswell, New Mexico."

"Roswell," I laughed. "You're serious aren't you?"

"Dead serious Maria." He opened a door I hadn't noticed before. "Your shower." He motioned to me and then the small room.

I walked past him and stepped inside. It was sterile, like everything else. I stripped in front of him and stepped into the tiled cubicle not bothering to close the shower door. This was fun. I washed my hair and then my body while I watched Michael watching me.

As I turned off the water and stepped out of the shower my nipples hardened to sharpened points. I brushed by him and walked back to the bed. I lay down on and spread my legs. He watched, an amused smile played on his face.

"Don't you want me?" I asked.

He picked my clothes up from the floor and tossed them on me. "Get dressed."

So that was how I met Michael Guerin. Me, Maria DeLuca, a thief, a burglar, an addict and convicted felon was working for something called 'Section'. An alien hunter. Just when I thought it couldn't get any stranger, it did.

Chapter Two

So, here I am in this clinical sterile room, still. Michael's been here to see me a few times over the last few days, but I haven't met anyone else. Some woman brings me in food, but she won't talk to me. I tried everything from being polite to screaming obscenities at her. Nothing. I guess its some type of 'Section' rule, don't talk to the new girl.

It's been about four days since I woke up here and if it's possible, I know less than before. Mr. Michael Guerin doesn't tell me shit. He strolls in my room and tells me I'm going to start all this big bad alien hunter training, but do I? Hell no, not yet any way. He's got my curiosity though. All this talk about aliens. Yeah, like they're real. I've seen a lot in my young life, but little white men with almond-shaped eyes, never. A few of the men I've been with have resembled aliens, but that's a whole other story and one I don't want to relive again, not right now. As I sit here in these stupid white clothes all I want is my leather jacket and boots back. I know they were at the prison, my only personal affects. I wonder if these government morons were bright enough to bring me my shit. It's not much, but it's all I have.

The door opens and surprise, it's mystery Michael. He's smiling and holding a large canvas bag in his hand. Doesn't he ever wear anything but black? God, he looks good in black. "What do you want?"

"I thought you might like some real clothes to wear, your training begins tonight." He handed me the bag and I tore through it. Designer names, some I don't recognize; something that I've never had before. They're all my sizes, right down to underwear and bras, which by the way, I haven't worn in years. Near the bottom of the bag is my jacket. Thank God! I bring it to my face and inhale the rich smell of old leather. "Miss the jacket?"

"It was my father's," I told him before I could stop myself. Damn, he didn't need to know that. He doesn't need to know anything more about me. But I bet he already knows more than he's letting on.

"I know," he smiled as if he's reading my mind.

Shit, I hope he can't do that. That would be a bad. He does not look good in black. He does not look good in black. "So, what do we do tonight?"

"You learn how to fit in."

"Fit into what? Like a box?" I fought back a smile and got a slight one in return from him.

"How to fit into society. The real society. Not the filth and lewdness you were accustomed to." His brows knit together. "You came from a bad place."

"It wasn't that bad," I lied. Men, drugs, men, liquor, more men, more drugs. I wanted to cry in happiness thinking that I'd never have to go back to that again. But I couldn't remember ever crying in joy. Or ever really crying much at all. When I was arrested I cried; but I was so strung out I don't know if I was crying because I was being arrested or crying because I watched a cat get hit by the cop car as he slammed into the curb to get me. Either way, Maria DeLuca was so not a crier.

"It was bad," he shook his head. "But that's over now. You're going to be doing a good thing here, the sooner you get started, the better."

"Afraid of a Martian attack?" I quipped.

"Don't take this lightly Maria, it's nothing to joke around about. We're spending time and money on you to make sure you are as prepared as you can be. It's a dangerous job and I can't guarantee you'll come out alive."

"So you rescued me from a death sentence to put me into," I laughed, "an alien death sentence?"

"You didn't deserve to die in prison," he walked closer to me and sat on the edge of the bed amid my new clothes and jacket. "You've done a lot of bad things, but you've never killed anyone. The charge was bogus."

"How do you know?" I hear my breath catch. Damn.

"Don't you know by now? We're Section, we know everything." He smiled again. He's got a great smile.

"Okay then, Michael." I stood and put my hand on my hip noticing the way he watched me move. "Do you teach me how to fit in?"

He shook his head. "No, I'll teach you other things."

Woo-hoo! I wanted to shout, but of course being the cool chick that I am, didn't. There were still things I didn't understand, a lot of things. After him telling me I was going to be an alien hunter the other day I hadn't asked any other questions during our short visits. God knows I'm brimming over with them, but for some reason I trust Michael. It may be my newfound freedom and the first person I saw or it could just be him.  "Who teaches me tonight?"

"Her name is Rena and she's waiting."

I nodded and picked out a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt from the pile. I stripped off the horrid tank top first and looked to Michael. He seemed to be trying not to watch, so I stepped in front of him. I picked up the T-shirt and slowly slid it over my head.

"There are bras in this pile, Maria." He said. Wait, did I hear a hesitation in his voice?

"Yeah, haven't worn one in a while." I smiled and untied the drawstrings letting the pants drop to the floor. I smiled as he checked me out. Pulling the jeans up my legs I looked to him and he held up a pair of black panties. I shrugged and he set them back down. I tucked in my shirt and slid on a pair of black leather mules that had been on the bottom of the bag with my boots. Thank God I still had my boots. "Ready Michael?"

"Ready," he stood and led me from the room where I had been held captive for at least the last four days. Without the benefit of a clock or window I wasn't really sure of the day or time or anything else, actually.

He led me down a long steel gray corridor. As we neared the end I could hear something. Holy shit, they were voices! "What the hell is this place?" I slowed my pace down as electronic beeps filtered through to my ears.

"This Maria, is Section." He extended his hand in front of him and led me into what looked like a converted warehouse.

 It was all gray, glass and mirrors. It looked so professional. I saw people at huge computers tapping away with headsets on. There was a glass window that had maps on it. Wait, they were in the glass. What the fuck? I looked up and saw what I would call an observation deck. A few men in suits were staring down behind more glass at all the people down here, me included. I waved and heard Michael sigh. "Who's up there?"

"People you don't want to piss off," he took my elbow and I felt the heat from his palm. "Come on."

He led me up some stairs and into a room. At one end was a big screen TV. Rock on! At the other end I saw magazines, books, laptop computers and clothes all on top of a huge conference table. I didn't see the woman at first standing on the other side of the table. Must be Rena.

"Maria," she walked around the table to me and extended her hand and I shook it.

She was my age or close to it, slim but not skinny. Her hair was red, not auburn, but fire-engine red. I liked her immediately. She looked me over and smiled. "She's not so bad Michael."

I turned to him and saw the flush on his neck. "I know Rena. She just needs some work." He smiled at her and I wondered if they were an item. Damn it!

"She's got the look down, I think she'll blend easily."

"She does have a look." Michael nodded and took a step back. He raised an eyebrow at me and then turned away and walked out of the room. I watched him walk away. God, look at that ass!

"Maria?" Rena was watching me. "We have some work to do. Michael has told you that you're being trained as an alien hunter, correct?"

I nodded and ran my hand through my long dirty blond hair. "Yeah. The big heap alien hunter."

"Good," her smile wasn't as nice this time. "This isn't a joke, Maria. This is a business that we do. If you can't take this seriously then I'll refer you to the extermination team."

"Extermination?" I know the color drained from my face. What the hell was I getting in to? Rena was beginning to scare me and I don't scare all that easily. "I'm sorry."

"Good," her smile this time was back to pleasant and I take back the part about liking her. I don't like her at all.

She led me to the table and we looked through magazines, fashion magazines and women's issues. Oh joy, I thought, but I'd never say it out loud. Not with the threat of extermination so close to the surface.

When Michael reappeared I was happy to see him. It was hours later and I was beat. Everything new and hip was ground into my memory. I think if they asked me to name the top ten on the billboard hits, I could, or the bestseller list or any current event, I was so the girl. I thought a few years in lock-up watching nothing but soap operas might have melted my brain. I was wrong, thank you very much.

Maria DeLuca was back among the living and had the last four years of events, fashion, music, books, and history engraved on the brain. God I missed a lot. For a minute I felt sorry for myself. I never graduated from high school. I was smart enough to, but I didn't have the time for it. It was only a year after I should have graduated that I got arrested.

"How'd she do?" Michael asked pursing his lips together.

"She's very intelligent, you were right." Rena smiled after applying fresh lipstick.

Damn, she wants him.

"I'm always right."

"Then try to convince her to wear a bra." Rena nodded towards my breasts.

I stood straighter and Michael smiled. Yeah! Score one for DeLuca.

He led me from the room and back through the labyrinth of Section. "So, everyone here hunts aliens, huh?"

"No," he said and looked around. The area was nearly empty now. Only a handful of people sat tapping away; the observation deck was dark. It must be late, or early, damn, I need a watch. "You're it in the alien hunter department."

"Me?" I pointed to myself and instantly felt stupid. Of course you, dumbass. I rolled my eyes. "What about you?"

"I'm in charge of you. You belong to me," he said and stopped walking. "This is a new division of Section. You'll report directly to me, no one else."

"What about everyone else?" I asked waving my arms in the air. "All the people that were here today?"

"Section is an anti-terrorist group. We are covert and no one who's not supposed to knows we exist. We send in teams to thwart terrorist attacks against this country and our allies."

"Okay," I nod slowly. This is too much; it sounds like a movie; maybe something with Harrison Ford in it. "You worked here long?"

"I was raised here," he looked away as he talked. "But that's enough about me. Get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow we start the physical training."

"With you?" I ask and keep my fingers crossed. I can totally see myself getting physical with Michael Guerin.

"Yeah, with me."

He opens the door to my sterile little room and I walk in. First I see the TV, then a dresser with toiletries on it. All the clothes are gone from the bed and I'm betting they're in my new dresser. An alarm clock is next to the bed and the restraints are gone. The clock tells me it's after two. I step closer and see the AM lit up. Damn it's late. Lights out in lock-up was nine PM sharp.

"Sleep tight Maria," he steps closer to me and I swear he's going to kiss me, but he doesn't. He leaves the room and I strip down to nothing and crawl under the cool sheets thinking about this new life I've been given.

Chapter Three

I got dressed in black sweatpants and T-shirt the next morning and waited for Michael to come and get me. Physical training? Sounded like fun. I laid on the bed and watched TV, constantly changing the channel. God, there was so much on! I didn't hear him open the door, but I sensed him. I looked and there he was in all his blackness. Black sweatpants and T-shirt, God, we could have been twins.

"Ready Maria?"

Damn straight I was ready. I think I was born ready. I stood up and he looked at me shaking his head. "What?"

"The shirt," he pointed to the black baby T that came to my navel. "Do you think that's really good to work out in?"

"I think so," I shrugged and jumped off the bed and followed him out of the room. "Hey, am I going to have to live in there forever? I feel like a fucking hamster."

"No," he smiled leading me past the hustle and bustle of Section. "Just until your done training then you're going to Roswell."

"Right, alien capital of the world. That's where they had the alien crash in the sixties, right?"

"The forties," his smile hidden behind his hand. I could get him, I was sure. Big mystery man Michael Guerin was no match for me.

We walked through yet another corridor the same steely gray as the rest, less people down this way, though. Always a good. I walked in back of him and watched him. Damn, that man looked good in sweats. I actually pried my eyes away from his ass long enough to notice the few people in different glass enclosed rooms staring at us. "Why are they staring?" I asked and stuck my tongue out at an overtly obvious woman who was gawking.

He shrugged. A man of few words.

"I'm serious," I caught up next to him. "Every room we walk by, people stare. Is it you or me?"

"It’s probably you, Maria," he said and I know there was the hint of a smile. Yes!

We stopped in front of huge glass doors and he leaned in for something, a retinal scan? You have got to be kidding me. The lights on the doorknob changed from red to green and we went inside. The gym. A retinal scan to get into a gym?

"So are there top secret barbells in here or something?" I asked walking around on the floor mat. I saw him roll his eyes. "Then why the big security issue?"

"Everything in Section is high security."

As I was nodding total acceptance he sucker punched me in the stomach. I keeled over. "You mother fucker!"

"Get up," he stood there watching me struggle. Bastard!

I got up as fast as I could and went after him, of course, he easily ducked and I went flying into the padded wall. Now my confidence was shot and I was pissed. I turned to him with my hair hanging in my face, sweating. I bit back any sign of pain and walked calmly to him. He was watching me, waiting for me to do something. I knew that look from others. I paced in front of him and then kneed him in the groin. When he doubled over, I smiled.

"Don't ever try that shit with me again," I put my hands on my hips and waited for him to regain his composure. "Asshole."

I watched as he stood and then looked at me, his eyes watering. Good. He stepped closer to me and I thought I'd feel heat coming off of him, but I didn't. It was cold.

"The next time you-"

"Do that?" I finished for him. "What Michael, what are you going to do?"

He nodded. "Maybe you're not as good as I thought you'd be."

I don't know if he meant it or if he was just saying it to get me worked up. I assumed the latter because before I knew it we were doing some type of hand to hand combat. I don't know where I learned how to do this! As he came at me I warded him off. It was very cool. I was holding my own against an obviously well trained fighting machine.

"See," he croaked as I held his neck in the crook of my elbow. "I'm always right. I knew you were the one."

The one? Did I win? Was I Charlie and just won a chocolate factory? A Michael dipped in chocolate? Damn it, as I'm wondering what the hell he means I feel myself flying over his shoulder and landing on my back. The wind clearly knocked out of me. "Shit."

He straddles me and I notice my baby-T has ridden up, I can feel the cool air on the bottom of my breasts against my sweaty skin. He glances down and I know he wants me. That's it, plain and simple. He wants me. I licked my lips still thinking about a chocolate-coated Michael.  "You still need work."

"Yeah? I thought I did pretty good against you," I smile but he doesn't smile back. Sweat from his forehead drips onto mine as he hovers.

"You did okay, Maria." He doesn't budge. "But I could have killed you six different times."

"Good thing you didn't, huh?"

He raised an eyebrow and then got off me. This was so not working out the way I'd hoped. We trained more and eventually I'd tuned in on some key things. I had to be strong for this. I had to be prepared for anything. Expect the unexpected. Without words, I was beginning to understand that this could be a very dangerous thing. Fuck!

Out of breath and ready to pass out from exhaustion I sat on the mat with my knees raised, arms resting on them. I felt him sit next to me and was delighted to hear his breathing was slightly shallower than normal.

"So these aliens? They're big and bad, huh?"

"I don't know," he looked at me and I totally saw the concern in his eyes. Concern for me? I don't know yet. "We don't know all that much about them."

"What do you know?"

"That there was a crash in Roswell in 1947. We have the documentation from the FBI, the Air Force and NTSB. No one has found anything to do with wreckage, so I'm assuming whatever they crashed in is still intact."

"So there's a big spaceship just laying around in the desert, huh?" I wanted to laugh but for some reason I didn't think Michael would appreciate it. Maybe later. "What exactly am I doing here for you?" That's it. I need to know some answers and I need to know them now. Patience has never been a virtue for Maria DeLuca and I don't think now is the time to start. "I've been taught how to act like a normal member of society and how to get my ass kicked. Why? I want to know what the fuck I'm doing here!"

"We've been over it Maria," he sighed and I felt the urge to deck him. I could knock those teeth perfectly straight if I wanted to!

"This is shit," I stood up and walked in a circle behind him. "Why me? Why am I 'the one'?"

"I've been searching for the right one for this job for a long time." He sighed. I walked back and stood in front of him. "You weren't all that easy to find."

"Again, why me?" I stood with my hands on my hips. I don't think I was doing it to be aggressive, I think I was doing it to keep my arms from shaking. "Why couldn't you use one of  the Section flunkies to do it. I'm sure there are so many others here that would be more qualified to hunt aliens than me."

"No," he stood up and faced me, our faces inches apart. Yum. "It had to be someone I could train, someone I could mold."

"I ain't Jell-O, buddy," I shook my head and broke away from his intense stare.

"I picked you, Maria. From an ocean of people, I picked you." He grabbed my forearms until I met his eyes again. "You're the only one I believe in that can do this."

I wanted to ask a thousand questions, but instead I sank into his eyes.

"You're strong, physically and mentally. You have no family, no friends, no one at all. You're intelligent, quick on your feet." He ran his tongue over his lower lip and I think I might have actually swooned. "You're capable and I didn't want you to die in prison."

"So…" Damn it DeLuca, get it together! "You were checking out the local pokey and came across little old me, huh?" Better.

"You could say that. Or you could say I was looking for you anywhere and everywhere."

"Me?" Good thing I'm already sweaty.

"Someone like you." He let go of my arms. "This is a big deal, Maria. I asked for this division and I got it. I have to make it worthwhile or…"

"Extermination team?" I offered earning a surprised look from him.

"Rena?" He smiled crookedly as I nodded. "She's a pain, isn't she?" He almost laughed.

A pain? Yes! "Yeah, do I have to see her again?"

"I don't know. Her review will come out tomorrow." Michael looked to the clock on the wall. "We better get you back to your room, I have a meeting."

"How much longer?" I looked to the ground. "How much longer before you decide if your keeping me or not?"

He was smiling when I faced him. "I'm keeping you Maria, I can promise you that."

Excellent. I followed him back down the corridor to my hamster cage and stripped off my shirt. His casual glances were not unnoticed. "Sweaty."

"I can see that." He spared a long glance at my chest before taking a step back. "We're back in the gym in the morning."

"Where are you going tonight?" I asked willing him to stay with me.

"I may stop back by later," he only looked in my eyes.

"Thanks," I weakened. Damn. "It gets kind of lonely in here."

Michael nodded and walked away leaving me feeling embarrassed and lonely. I didn't believe him when he said he might be back. I ate dinner with Pat Sajak and Vanna. A knock at the door sent me flying off the bed. The door opened and basic black came in. He looked at my outfit and frowned.

"I know those were not in the bag," he pointed to my cut-off denim shorts.

"They were," I smiled, "they were just a little long."

Michael stepped closer to me then walked to the bed and sat down. I joined him and turned down the volume on the TV.

"I have to know something from you, Maria." He took a deep breath. "This isn't part of training and it's not a trick question."

"Shoot." Every nerve in my body began to twitch.

"Can I trust you?"

Trust? I had to think about it for a minute. I didn't know the last time anyone had trusted me. Was it in high school? Doubtful. Prison? Yeah, right. My dad? It was my dad. "Yeah, Michael, you can trust me. You're all I got right now, so I have to trust you."

"Good," he leaned closer to me and moved in for the kill, woo-hoo! Shafted. His lips met my cheek and whispered in my ear. "Because I trust you. Like I told you before, you're the one."

He stayed with me for awhile, I don't know how long really because I feel asleep. When I woke up, he was gone. I couldn't remember the last time I had fallen asleep unafraid.  

Chapter Four

It's official, training sucks. I thought it would be all tumble around on the 
mat with Michael, but no, I have to work. And it's hard work. It's been 
almost two weeks and I can see the difference in my biceps and thighs. I try 
to show Michael my thigh muscles all the time; he just smiles at me. Maybe I 
was wrong and he doesn't want me. I don't know yet, hell, lately I've almost 
been too tired to care. Almost.

Sleep is easier for me now. I think it's because I'm so damn tired at the end 
of the day all I want to do is take a shower and go to bed. I sleep through 
the night, too. There's something I haven't done in, God, I don't even know 
how long. We'll just say a long time. I feel like I barely have time to think 
about anything anymore, which is a good, maybe it's better this way.

I can't help but to think about Michael, but I see him everyday and he's 
really the only person here in Section that I've talked to. He won't let me 
out to run around by myself and that pisses me off. I tell him I'm not five 
and he just smiles. If I wasn't in love with his smile it would really piss 
me off.

I have to wear a sports bra now to train in, too. I didn't want to, but one 
too many days of getting my ass kicked was all I needed to convince me 
otherwise. I swear, as much as I try I'm still getting nothing back from 
Michael. I wonder if he's gay? 

A knock at the door scared the crap out of me. I'm not used to people 
knocking on anything. I look and guess who? Oh yeah, the man in black.

"What do you want?" I rolled over on the bed knowing my shirt was riding 
high. "Don't you ever wear anything but black? You remind me of that one guy…"

"Johnny Cash?" He offers.

"I was leaning more towards The Crow," my turn to roll my eyes. Johnny Cash? 
Whatever. "So, what do you want?"

"I thought you might want to go out tonight." He said and looked to the floor 
before meeting my surprised eyes.

"Out? Like in out out? Out of Section?" I sat up hoping my excitement wasn't 
entirely too obvious.

"Yes Maria, out of Section. You've been here for over two weeks and I think 
it's time to give you a treat for all your hard work." His eyes flicker with 
amusement. "What do you think?"

"Hell yeah!" I jumped off the bed. "Let's go."

He looked at the T-shirt and panties I was wearing. "Do you want to change 
first?"

"So this isn't appropriate?" I asked slipping the T-shirt over my head and 
standing in front of him. "Better?"

His eyes followed every curve of my body and I thought about jumping him 
right there. Finally he met my eyes and raised one eyebrow. "Not tonight, 
Maria."

I turned around and shrugged with butterflies in my stomach so big I could 
have sworn they were bats. Not gay, woo-hoo! I rummaged in the dresser 
through my entirely too small wardrobe and held up black pants and shirt to 
him. "Better?"

He nodded and watched me dress. The pants were tight and were tailored cut to 
my body. The shirt was tight as well and had a neckline that dipped so far 
down I was going to have to watch that my boobs didn't pop out. Or maybe…I 
put on my boots and leather jacket, ran a hand through my hair and turned to 
face him again. "So tall, dark and mysterious, where are we going?"

He offered his hand to me as an answer and I took it. Hell yeah, I took it. 
We walked through Section getting stares from those working. I fought the 
urge to flip them off. We walked through a freaking maze before finally 
retinal scanning out of the building. 

We stepped out into the cool dark night and I inhaled deeply. It was the 
first time in over four years I had been outside without fences and armed 
guards; it didn't even seem to matter that I was in hell and my date was the 
devil, because I felt great! I looked around the unfamiliar street and then 
to Michael. "Where in the hell are we?"

"Washington D.C." He said nonchalantly and escorted me by the hand to the 
curb. He hailed a cab and let me get in first. 

I was in awe as we drove around the city, my face up against the window like 
a kid. D.C. was a long way off from Fulton County Jail in Georgia. Our ride 
came to a stop in front of a restaurant. Real food? I almost wet myself in 
anticipation. We got out of the cab and Michael led me inside the building. 
We sat at a table and Michael ordered wine for us. Wine? The last thing I 
drank close to wine that I remember was MadDog 20/20 and I don't remember 
much after that.

"Maria, tell me about him." Michael rested his elbows on the table and slowly 
scanned the room eventually landing on my questioning face. "Your father."

I stared at him. My dad? Why the hell does he want to know about my dad? 
"Why?"

"Maybe I want to know more about you Maria." His eyes met mine and once 
again, I think I swooned.

"My dad was a great guy," I smiled when I talked about my dad. "He was the 
best actually. He raised me, wait, do you know this already?" I had almost 
forgotten I was sitting across from the omniscient one.

"I know the basics, not the emotions."

I nodded, sounds reasonable. "My mom split when I was little and dear old dad 
took over. He was my everything. I used to be a good girl. Little Maria 
DeLuca did good in school, had friends, had everything. Then one day my dad 
didn't wake up. I was sophomore in high school. He had a brain aneurysm and 
died." I bit back tears. Damn it! "Then everything fell apart and I fell in 
the downward spiral to jail."

"You loved him."

"Yeah I loved him! He was my everything! Weren't you listening?" As I get 
agitated I think I see where Michael is going with this. "I told you that you 
can trust me. I won't bail on you and I won't fuck up."

"I hope not," the corners of his mouth twitched. "I need to make sure that 
you won't try to run away, Maria. That's why I'm asking. When your dad died 
you fell apart. I need you to be strong."

"You don't think I've been strong for the last few years? I had to be strong 
or they would have eaten me alive." The bitter memories of my first few weeks 
in prison resurface and I want to scream. I want to scream at Michael for 
drudging all this up. "When I tell you I won't run, believe me."

"You're going to be alone in a strange town on a dangerous mission and the 
temptation to run will be there, so will the opportunity. I just want you to 
remember one thing, Section will find you and they will kill you."

"I won't run." All of my bravado is gone, for now. All I want to do is curl 
up on my dad's lap and let him tell me stories. "I promise."

He nodded as the waiter appeared with our wine. Michael ordered dinner for us 
both and I don't even bitch, score one polite point for DeLuca!

"What do they look like?" 

"Who?" Michael's scanning the room again.

"Aliens? I mean are they like they way they're always depicted?"

"No, that I'm sure of. If they were, don't you think someone would have 
noticed by now?"

"Okay, smart ass." I grinned and it was honest. "Then what?"

"I think they'll look just like you or me. Human."

"So, I'm suppose to track down some almost sixty-year old aliens who look 
human?" I almost laughed. If anyone else was listening to this conversation…

"They won't look that old, they won't be that old." He pauses and I think he 
wants to say more, but doesn't. 

"Okay," I nodded as our dinner arrived. I don't know what the hell it is, but 
it is damn good. Some kind of chicken and something. I devoured dinner and 
ordered desert. I wasn't paying the bill. "Hey, do I get paid for this alien 
hunter thing?"

"Of course," Michael watched me lick chocolate syrup off my fork and once 
again I was envisioning the chocolate-dipped Michael.

When we left the restaurant Michael walked me by the hand down the street. I 
noticed my breasts were close to poppage and then I noticed Michael noticing 
too. He grinned crookedly. I wasn't really all that ready to get back to my 
hamster cage so the walk along the city streets was welcomed with big fucking 
open arms.

I felt the hand on my shoulder first. I spun around and faced a stranger; 
pantyhose pulled over his head. I looked to the place Michael had been a 
minute ago and he was gone. Oh shit.

Chapter Five

Oh shit was right! Michael was gone. He split. Tiniest sign of trouble and he 
bales. Typical man. I looked back at the pantyhose man; he had a knife in his 
hand. At first I was going to scream and run like hell, then I wised up. 
Right, like this wasn't entirely too convenient? Mr. Attacker raised the 
knife to me and I laughed. He looked around and stepped closer to me.

"I'm not scared of you, asshole. I know you're supposed to test me, right?" I 
asked with the suddenly sinking feeling I might be wrong. "I think I passed 
by seeing the plan, go away." Please let me be right, please let me right.

Oh yeah, definitely a planned attack. I could see the awareness through the 
hose. He lowered the knife and met my eyes. "You pass Maria." His voice was 
low; he looked over his shoulder. "Michael!"

Michael Guerin reappeared and walked up behind him, he was grinning. "So 
Maria, you passed with flying colors apparently, because I can see you 
haven't even broken a sweat."

"This was stupid," I pointed to Mr. Attacker. 

"It wasn't meant to be a physical attack, it was a mental test," he stepped 
closer to me as Mr. Attacker stepped back and then out of my view. He leaned 
down closer to me so our mouths were mere inches apart. "I knew you would 
pass Maria. I know you'll always do the right thing."

I licked my lips and waited for him to kiss me.

"I've put all my faith in you Maria, and you haven't let me down."

"I won't ever let you down," before I realized the words were coming out of 
my mouth, there they were! All those years of watching soaps in the pokey 
must have had some effect on my brain. I closed my eyes and shook my head. 
When I looked back to him, he was smiling that crooked smile. Damn. 

"I know you won't," he grabbed my forearms and held tightly. "That's why it 
had to be you Maria. No one else could do it. Just you."

"What happens if I fail?"

"You won't fail," he shook his head slightly. "I searched for you because you 
are the only one. Right now, you're one of the few I trust."

Whoa. This was getting weird. Mr. Michael Guerin, Man of Mystery was telling 
me I was one of the few he trusted? This is big and I think it goes a hell of 
a lot deeper than he's letting on.

"I told you that you could trust me," I stumbled over the words.

He licked his lips and I wanted to faint. He leaned in closer to me and 
pecked the corner of my mouth. Wait a second, was that it? I looked at him 
expectantly. I tried to raise my arms, but he held them down at my sides. 
Damn! This is going nowhere real fast.

"You're leaving soon." He didn't meet my eyes with this new revelation. 

"I'm not ready." Didn't I say a couple of weeks ago that I was born ready? 

"You will be Maria." The look in his eyes was so severe. "You have to be."

"Or…?"

"Or nothing. You got a new life from this. A clean record and a clean you; 
you don't want to fail. I told you-"

"I know, I know. Section will find me yadda, yadda, yadda." I rolled my eyes 
and slipped out of his grip. "When do I go?" I bit back my attraction to him, 
I think it might be the only way I could talk about leaving him. 

"Within two weeks, I don't know for sure yet." He sighed. Wait, was that 
disappointment in his sigh? "Rena changed her initial review of you. She 
wants to work with you some more."

"Jesus," I rolled my eyes. Great, now I have to think about leaving Michael 
and spending more time with Rena. Life sucks.

"I'm sure it won't be anything much," he nodded and tried to hide a smile. 
"However, Rena's not exactly your biggest fan."

"No shit," I grinned in spite of the frenzy I was in. "So, what now?" Was I 
actually trying to salvage any part of this night? It was obviously a test 
from the time we stepped out of Section.

"Now? Like in right now?" He seemed surprised. Good. Always keep them on 
their toes.

"Yeah. Michael." I grabbed his hand and started walking down the street 
pulling him along. "Let's go get ice-cream! Do you know the last time I had 
ice-cream?" Oh my God, I was suddenly eight again. I saw the hesitation. 
"What? Does Section have a curfew?"

He looked down before speaking. "They'll be expecting my report soon." He met 
my eyes. "I guess we could go for an ice-cream cone." He squeezed my hand I 
swear I felt something electrical. 

We walked hand in hand down the street like any other couple in the world. 
Too bad we weren't any other couple. We weren't even a couple. Too much had 
happened to me since I woke up screaming in Section. Suddenly I had a new 
outlook on life and it didn't involve liquor, drugs or men. Well, one man, 
but I think I might have to wear him down some more. Now my new life was 
starting. A fresh start. How many people can actually get a fresh start and 
put all of the ugliness behind them? 

The city streetlights reflect puddles on the street. It must have rained at 
some point today, but you can't tell shit about the weather from inside 
Section. Section. What kind of name was that? A section of what? Every time 
Michael said it I thought of grapefruit. We stopped walking and Michael led 
me through a glass door into a little kid's dream. 

The ice cream parlor looked like they did in old pictures. Cotton candy 
colored stools lined a counter and the young boy behind them was actually 
wearing a striped shirt and a paper hat. As soon as the freezing air inside 
hit me I felt my nipples tighten. I glanced down nicely pleased with the 
effect through my thin shirt. Michael was looking too, a sly smirk creeping 
across his face. Woo-hoo!

Michael ordered a strawberry concoction in a bowl and I ordered a chocolate 
cone still not being to suppress the images of Michael and chocolate. We ate 
our ice cream at a little table in the corner. His eyes swept the parlor and 
the doorways countless times. I guess I was going to have to get used to 
that. 

By the time we were done I knew we had to get back to Section. I sighed and 
Michael smiled. He reached across the table and touched his finger to my lip. 
"Chocolate." Oh yeah, I was done now.

I nodded and felt new desires running rampant through me. At first I just 
wanted to play around and see how far I could go, or maybe I just wanted to 
get laid, I don't know. Everything seemed to change tonight. The attraction 
had been there, but after tonight, there was more. Holy shit, was I actually 
falling for Michael Guerin? I closed my eyes and counted to five, I never did 
have the patience for ten. When I opened them back up Michael was staring at 
me. All of his attention was on my face, my eyes. 

"What?" I was nervous now; the way he was looking at me was so intense I 
wanted to scream. However, this time I didn't.

"You're very pretty Maria."

Oh God. Now what was I supposed to say? Any smart-ass comment would be so 
inappropriate right now, but I don't remember ever hearing those words from 
anyone since my dad died. So I took the easy way out. "Thank you."

He reached for my hand and we stood up strolling back out into the night air. 
I was quiet on the cab ride back to Section, first for everything, right? He 
walked me to my hamster cage and stood at the doorway.

"Do you want to come in?" I asked with the urge to rip my shirt off and throw 
myself at him.

He shook his head. "I can't, Maria, I'm sorry." I saw his eyes travel down my 
body and then meet my face again. "You don't have to try so hard."

I couldn't even come up with a response before he walked away. Damn. What a 
night. I turned around and noticed a slip of paper on my unmade bed. I picked 
it up and immediately frowned. 

I read it out loud and felt my blood begin to boil. "Maria DeLuca, although 
Michael thinks you are perfectly ready to go out into the world and fulfill 
your obligation to Section, I'm not so sure. After reviewing your file, I 
made it a priority to have psychological testing performed immediately. I 
don't want to see any mistakes made by you. The confidence Michael has in you 
may not be justified. Please report to my office at 0500. Rena."

I read it again and again and wanted to knock the shit out of her. Way to 
ruin a good night, Rena, thanks! And that 0500, that's like five in the 
morning, right? Damn!

"Bitch!" I slapped the wall. This was bullshit. Unjustified confidence? What 
kind of crap was that? Jealousy that was all there was to it. Rena was 
jealous that Michael and I were…Whatever we were doing and it wasn't her. 
Fantastic. 

I stripped down to nothing and then dug out a pair of underwear and 
nightgown. It wouldn't have been my first choice for nightwear. The cotton 
gown hit me mid-calf. It was light yellow with eyelet trim. I brushed my hair 
and looked in the mirror. I wasn't seeing the old Maria DeLuca anymore. I was 
seeing a brand new person with a purpose in life besides throwing it away. 

Chapter Six

Okay, I don't think I've ever actually gotten up at four in the morning. I've 
fallen asleep then or passed out. But to voluntarily wake up and get moving 
at four in the freakin' morning is insane. I know Rena scheduled this little 
meeting so damn early because she knew I was out with Michael. God, what a 
bitch!

I rolled of bed and almost tripped on the nightgown. I rolled my eyes and 
took it off as I stepped into the bathroom. I had woken up with my pillow 
clutched to my chest and dreams of my dad weighing heavily. It had been a 
long time since I dreamt of him. Happened a lot right after he died. Right 
before the first time I got high.

"Daddy, I miss you." Tears rolled down my cheeks before I could stop them as 
IU stepped under the streaming shower water. Again, Maria DeLuca is so not a 
crier! I know what it was, though. It was Michael telling me I was pretty. No 
man had told me I was pretty for a long time. Most of the men I had been with 
weren't exactly interested in my face. As long as I was a party-girl, I'm 
sure I could have had four eyes and they wouldn't have cared. I closed my 
eyes and tried to push the images away. I couldn't tell their faces apart 
anymore, they just blended into a generic man. A mean, vulgar, sadistic 
son-of-a-bitch. I was done with them now, thank God. 

Michael. As I scrubbed my hair the only thing I could think of was Michael. 
No one had ever had this kind of effect on me before. I hardly knew anything 
about him except he was raised at Section, or maybe he was just being 
facetious, and that he liked strawberry ice cream. Okay, the ice cream part I 
can handle, never trust a man who doesn't eat ice cream. I know he's a man of 
secrets, but that's okay; everyone has to have a few. I wanted to know more 
about him, God; I wanted to know everything about him. I guess I'll take the 
scraps he throws me. Wait, did I just turn into some sort of sniveling little 
girl with a crush? Taking scraps? Okay, I looked in the mirror as I stepped 
out of the shower; will the real Maria DeLuca please stand up?

I dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt, with a bra no less. 'You don't have 
to try so hard', that's what he said to me. I guess I had been overly 
obvious, huh? Well, when that's all you know how to do…Thing's are changing 
for me and I think they're for the better. 

I smiled as I blow dried my hair thinking that I was never going to have to 
sleep with someone for a place to stay or drugs ever again. It was a 
refreshing thought and one I wanted to savor. Apparently getting a death 
sentence was the best thing that ever happened me. Funny how things turn out 
like that, huh?

A death sentence. I thought about that for a minute letting it sink in. I had 
only been given the sentence a couple of days before I woke up in Section, I 
think. That whole time was kind of blurry, really. I didn't deserve a death 
sentence, but then again, who does? But I really didn't. I didn't kill 
anyone; I shook my head as I felt the heat from the drier soaking into my 
scalp. This was the first time I thought about it since I'd been here. 

That whole night had been blurry. Four years ago, God, it seems like 
yesterday. I was high, oh was I high. I don't know on what. I smoked some 
weed and then popped some pills washing them down with something alcoholic 
I'm sure. I don't remember the name of the man I was with; yeah, that hurt 
during the trial. The state made me look a big drug addict whore. I was never…

I turned off the blow drier and reached for the brush. I brushed my wild hair 
smooth thinking about that night. The night that changed everything. It was 
late and I was high and I was with a guy. Okay, so far that sounds like a lot 
of my life after my dad died. We were at a party in some warehouse, I can 
remember going there with him. It was somewhere in downtown Atlanta and it 
was hot. Jesus it was hot. We went and we partied, then we left. I can 
remember leaving.

Everything became a blur then. I can remember it in flashes; we were at a 
quick stop beer and food store, I remember stuffing packs of cigarettes in my 
pocket. Whoa, cigarettes? I haven't even thought about smoking since I've 
been here. Once again, a change for the better. The next thing I know I have 
a gun in my hand, money in my pocket and a dead guy in front of me. Did not 
look good when the cops came.

I remember I ran. I kept that stupid gun in my hand and I ran down the 
street. That's where they got me, on the street. The stupid cop hitting a cat 
before slamming into the curb to come and get me.

I shuddered. It had been a long time since I relived what I remember of that 
night. I guess jail was almost a good thing after that. I had to get clean 
overnight. I got to read and watch TV and I even made friends. More enemies 
than friends, though. Imagine that, not everyone enjoyed my smart mouth. 

I tucked my shirt in and tried to push away the memories; I had to be in top 
form for Rena and her psychological review or whatever the hell it was. I 
pulled my hair back and locked a ponytail in place at the nape of my neck 
with a rubberband. One more look in the mirror and I was ready to go. I let 
myself out of the hamster cage and tried to retrace the steps Michael and I 
had taken for my first trip to Rena's.

I knocked on the door, after only getting lost once, at exactly five in the 
freaking morning. I heard someone say to come in and so I went. Rena was 
sitting at the large table where I had learned all the news last time. Today 
it was empty except for a briefcase at her side. She looked me over and 
smiled, although I don't think it was a very nice one. I smiled back, a big 
toothy one. She motioned to the chair across the table from her and I sat 
down.

"So nice to see you looking more like a respectable person, Maria." She 
nodded so I nodded back at her. "Are you ready to begin your testing?"

I nodded again and winced when I saw her take papers out of her briefcase. Oh 
shit, an actual test? Like a written test? Jesus, I hadn't taken a test in…I 
don't even know how long. She slid the papers to me and then rolled a pencil 
across the table.

"How long do I have?" I asked thinking this was like a timed thing. The less 
time with Rena, the better.

"You have as long as it takes," she glanced at her watch. "Like I said in my 
note, I don't know if Michael is only seeing what he wants to see or if you 
are indeed ready to fulfill your commitment to Section."

"Okay, what is all this talk about commitment to Section?" I didn't 
understand it before in the note and I didn't understand it now.

"I see our dear Michael didn't explain everything to you, did he?" She made a 
horrible clucking noise with her tongue and I wanted to scream at her. "You 
see dear, let's just say you're on loan. You work for Section and Section 
works for you. You don't fulfill your part of the agreement and Section, 
well, Section exterminates you."

Oh shit, here we go with the extermination talk again. "So I'm on loan? Like 
a movie rental?" I can't help but to roll my eyes.

"Not exactly like a movie, Maria." I was really beginning to hate the way she 
said my name. She made it sound choppy and cheap. Not at all the way Michael 
let it roll of his tongue. Damn. Almost had a half-hour without any Michael 
thoughts. "More like a whore. You do us a favor and we pay you."

Okay, this made me want to fly over the table and knock the shit out of her. 
I think the old Maria would have done it, but this new improved version 
wouldn't. No, the new Maria DeLuca was going to wait until she didn't see it 
coming, then get her. Ha! "Can I take the test now?" I asked picking up the 
pencil and rolling it in-between my fingers. She waved her hand and me and I 
flipped open the pages. I read the first few questions and nearly laughed.


I'd taken this test in prison, trying to get into another job. I had hated 
the laundry room and I wanted to help out in the therapy classes; I excelled 
there. Today just may be my lucky day. I cruised through the test and then 
watched with utter glee as Rena graded it, not once, but twice.

She set the test down and met my stare. "Why do you think you'll make a good 
alien hunter?"

I shrugged; she had me there. "I guess because this is my second chance at 
life and I'm not going to mess it up."

"You've messed up everything else in your life, why would this be any 
different?"

"It is," I was beginning to feel ill now. Not good.

"You can't give me a real answer can you, Maria?"

I hated her. Oh yeah, really hated her. She was making me feel like I was 
fucking five years old again. "I can do it," I said and fought back the rage 
that was taking over. I will not sink to her level. Oh fuck it, maybe I will. 
"Listen, you jealous bitch. I know you want Michael and I'm sorry if you 
think I'm moving in on your territory but don't use that as an excuse about 
me not being able to do my damn job!"

She grinned and I wanted to slap that smile right off her face. "Very well," 
she leaned forward. "I recommend that you are too unstable to do this for 
Section."

I stood up, all the demureness I thought I had leaked away. "No! I can do 
this! I will be the best fucking alien hunter since Predator. I will find 
them and I will destroy them."

She looked me over and began to clap. If this was another test…

"Very nice," she rose and met my eyes. "I am still recommending that you're 
not stable enough to do this. I know the loss of your father played an 
important part in your downfall. And I'm sure hearing about your mother's 
death last year-"

Oh God, I didn't hear anything else after that. Mom was dead? I fell back in 
my chair thinking about a woman that I hadn't seen since I was a baby. My mom 
was gone.

"Oh, I guess you didn't know that, huh?" Rena sat back down and watched me. 
I shook my head and tucked a few stray strands of hair behind my ears. "No, I 
didn't know that."

"I'm sorry, if Michael would have been doing his job and not fawning over 
you, you would have known." I heard no sympathy in her voice.

"I am doing my job Rena." Michael?

I spun in my seat to see my knight in black leather pants striding towards 
me. He offered his hand to me and I took it without hesitation.

"The next time you have a problem with the way I train someone, come to me. 
Not the new operative, got it Rena?" 

Rena glared at him. "I am doing my job, Michael. Maybe you're just getting in 
too deep with that one." She pointed and me and I really though about 
strangling her with the red hair of hers.

"No!" He raised his voice and I got shivers. "I am and always will be your 
superior, got it? You question my tactics, then do so in private. Never, 
Rena, never go behind my back and question my authority!"

"I wasn't questioning your authority, Michael," She changed her tone. "I was 
questioning the validity of her being able to accomplish her job. I don't 
know if you can see everything as clearly while you're fucking her."

Michael looked to me; my eyes were wide. "Go wait outside." Didn't have to 
ask me twice. I walked straight out of the room and shut the door behind me. 

I sat down against one of those steel gray walls on the carpeted floor and 
crossed my legs. This was turning out to be a very bad day. I heard the rise 
and fall of muffled voices from behind the door, but I couldn't understand a 
damn thing they were saying. It was only a few minutes before Michael stormed 
out of the room slamming the door behind him. I stood up and looked at him.

His hair was slightly off, like he had been running his hands through it. His 
face reflected something I hadn't seen before, pure anger. Whew! Glad that 
wasn't directed at me. When he noticed I was looking at him his face relaxed 
and wait, is that a smile? I think it is.

"I'm sorry," he shook his head and took my hand leading me away from the 
closed door. "Rena's not exactly a very nice person. I woke up this morning 
with the feeling she was going to ambush you."

"Yeah," I watched the ground as we walked.

"I didn't know how ugly she was going to get." He sighed and I wanted him to 
hug me and tell me everything was going to be okay. "It's not going to good 
here with her, so I want you to leave sooner."

Say what? I looked at him and stopped walking. "When?"

"In the morning," he closed his eyes. "I don't know if you're ready or not, 
but I can't risk you staying here with Rena hell-bent on ruining you."

"Can she hurt me?" 

"Yes Maria, she can. You'll actually be safer going after aliens than you 
will be here with her," he smiled that cute crooked smile and licked his 
lips. He leaned in closer to me and I thought he was going to kiss me. 
Shafted again. He was going for my ear. "I told you I trust you, now you have 
to trust me. I want you out of Section before she does something to you."

His breath lingered in my ear and I felt the gooseflesh on my arms before I 
could see it. "Will you go with me?"

"I will move you to Roswell, then I have to come back to Section." He backed 
away and escorted me back to my room. He closed the door behind us and sat on 
my unmade bed. 

"What do I do if, I mean, when I find the aliens?" I asked sitting next to 
him. 

"You call me and we'll go from there. I don't want you to tackle this by 
yourself. Maria. I'll be there to help once you locate them."

"Are you sure there's more than one?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure." I watched as the distance filtered in his eyes and 
knew this was important to him. I didn't know his reasons; but like I said, I 
trusted him. 

"So I leave in the morning?" I looked down and smiled when he picked up my 
hand. I met his eyes and saw my reflection in the deep pools. "Man…"

"Pack up tonight. You'll have more things delivered to Roswell. A car is 
waiting for you and an apartment has been leased in your name. You won't have 
to worry about bills while you're there. You're there for one reason, find 
the aliens." He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckle. "You look 
very nice today."

"Oh yeah?" I shrugged. "Funny, I wasn't trying that hard."

* * *

Chapter Seven

I packed up all these things that didn't seem like mine. They were clothes I 
hadn't picked out; some things I wouldn't be caught dead in. They yellow 
nightgown got folded on top; I wouldn't sleep in it tonight. I looked at it 
as like a symbol of my new life. Okay, no, I didn't know at that point if I 
would ever wear it again.

It had been hours since my "meeting" with Rena. What a bitch! Michael had 
promised to come back tonight, I was hoping that he really would. He had 
seemed so distracted when he left my room earlier. I don't know what to think 
anymore. He's going to move me down to Roswell, but then I'm alone. 

I put the suitcase on the floor and curled up on the bed. Damn it! I didn't 
want to be alone! I wanted to be with Michael. There, I said it. It's 
Michael, in some ways I think it's always been Michael. Man of mystery and 
here I am, totally falling for him. Maybe he's like this with all his new 
'operatives', wasn't that what Rena had called me?

Maybe all the things I think I'm reading into his casual glances, overt 
stares and touching are nothing to him. Maybe he really is just a 
touchy-feely kind of guy. Hmm, for some reason I don't think Michael Guerin 
is very touchy-feely with anyone. 

Okay, see, that leads to a whole other round of questions. Why me? Maria 
DeLuca, I'm no one special. I haven't been in a long time. Why me? As many 
times as he tells me that I was the only one who could do it, I still ask why.

"This is crazy," I sighed pulling my knees up under my chin. I jumped when I 
felt a hand on my thigh. I'm sorry, did I say jumped? I mean jumped and 
screamed. I leapt off the bed and saw Michael standing there with an amused 
smile playing across his lips.

"What's crazy?" He asked folding his arms over his chest.

"It's crazy that you can just freaking sneak in my room and scare the shit 
out of me!" I snapped feeling my heart pound. I'm not sure if it was from the 
scare or from Michael. Damn! And now I leave town. "What do you want?" There 
you go DeLuca, be a bitch, I'm sure that's attractive.

"I came to see if you needed any help with anything," He raised his eyebrows 
expectantly.

"Help with what?" I pointed to the bag on the ground. "Everything pretty much 
went in the way it came out. I don't have anything Michael, in case you 
forgot. You can't pack what you don't have."

He smiled and once again, I melted. Damn! He unfolded his arms and I saw he 
held a small red box in his hand. The red looked so out of place even being 
near him. He extended his hand to me across the bed. I raised my eyebrows and 
took it from him. He nodded and I opened it up and smiled. A silver chain 
with a charm on the end. I picked it up and looked closer at the charm; it 
was a locket. I looked to him and slipped it over my head.

"Aren't you going to look inside?" He asked with that same smile.


I opened the locket and felt my knees go weak. How? "Oh God, how?" I was 
looking into my father's eyes. A tiny picture of my dad was embedded on one 
side of the locket; the other side was empty. "Michael? Where…?" I recognized 
the picture immediately; I had a copy of the same one in my wallet. My 
wallet, of course.

"I put it back where I found it," he smiled once again as if reading my mind. 
"Do you like it?"

I nodded afraid to speak. The crier that I was so not, I think I was turning 
into. Shit! I cleared my throat and blinked back invisible tears. "Thank you."

"You don't have much to remember him by," he stepped around the bed and stood 
inches away from me. "I thought you could keep this close to your heart." He 
took the chain out of my hands and closed the locket, dropping in my shirt. 
It fell between my breasts. 

I nodded again and looked up into his eyes. He leaned in closer to me and 
whispered in my ear. "We're leaving after two. Will you be ready?"

"Why so early?" I whispered back.

"Because Rena is on the warpath and I'm number one on her list today, well, 
after you that is." He smiled a little bigger and I caught a glimpse of 
teeth. Nice. "Any way, I think it'll be better if we sneak out of here before 
she realizes you're gone."

"Sneak?" For some reason I was so not digging the way this was going!

"It's all cleared Maria," he said when he pulled back and met my eyes. "No 
one is getting into any trouble. I just want to avoid a confrontation before 
we go."

I nodded and watched as he walked a few feet away. "Be ready, Maria. I'll be 
back to get you in a few hours." I saw his face coming at mine and waited for 
the obligatory peck on the corner of my mouth. I was not disappointed. He 
left as quietly as he had arrived.

It took me a whopping five minutes to clear out the rest of my, and I use 
that term loosely, stuff and cram it into the bag. I went back to the bed and 
lay down. I didn't even know how we were getting to the creepy little town of 
Roswell. 

When he awoke me this time, I didn't freak; maybe I had been expecting it. I 
rolled over and yawned. "Time to go?"

He nodded and offered me his hand, I accepted, of course and hopped off the 
bed. He grabbed my bag and I grabbed my jacket and I was finally moving out 
of the fucking hamster cage! Woo-hoo!

Section looked pretty much the same no matter what time it was. There were 
always people sitting in front of computers and looking smart. I felt super 
inadequate around them, the only computers I had ever been good at were video 
games. I hope he didn't have a lot of techno-shit for me to do, because I 
didn't have a clue and I doubt I could fake it.

He retinal scanned us out of Section the same way he had the night before. I 
was so full of questions, but being in the cool night air seemed to ease my 
quest for answers. He led me to a waiting limo. Limo? We got in after Michael 
handed the chauffeur my bag. I slid across the leather seat to the opposite 
side and looked at Michael expectantly.

"What?" He asked.

"What?" I repeated. Was he serious? I took a deep breath. "How are we getting 
there? What do I do when I get there? How do I get in touch with you? How 
long are you staying with me? Will the aliens know I'm looking for them? Will 
they try to hurt me? Do I have an Official Alien Hunter badge or anything?" I 
looked at him and got the amused stare back. Great. "Damn it Michael! Answer 
me!"

"You don't get a badge." I could tell he was trying to fight back a big 
smile. "They won't know you specifically are looking for them and I don't 
think they'll try to hurt you unless provoked."

"Like a dog?"

"Something like that. I don't know what they're capable of, so I want you to 
be on the lookout for anything. Anything strange, I mean anything at all, I 
want you to call me a.s.a.p."

"Like just dial out to Section?"

"We'll take care of all of that once we're in Roswell." He leaned back 
against the leather and seemed to relax. He caught me staring at him. "I 
don't like to fly."

I nodded, I didn't either. After a few more minutes of driving around the 
empty city, we arrived at the airport and Michael took my bag and another one 
from the trunk and whisked me into the airport. I followed him holding my own 
bag so my other hand could hold his. We walked for what seemed like miles and 
eventually boarded our plane. We were in first class. I sank into the seat 
and next thing I knew I woke up with Michael's arm around my shoulder and my 
head on his chest. I could feel his deep breaths and I never wanted to move 
from where I was. I stayed there and eventually fell back asleep.

"Maria." Was I dreaming? "Maria, wake up."

I opened groggy eyes and looked at Michael. "What?"

"We're in New Mexico," he whispered as I felt the rumble of the wheels 
hitting the ground. 

I pried my eyes open and felt the urge to go scrub my teeth. I looked out the 
window to see a beautiful sunrise over the desert. The desert. Never seen one 
before. It looked hot. Michael led me through de-boarding and everything 
else. I felt like a foreigner who didn't speak the language. Michael was so 
aware, so knowledgeable. I held on tight to his hand and eventually we were 
in a rental car speeding towards Roswell. 

I was right about the desert on the plane; it was hot. Very hot. I slipped 
off my leather jacket and turned the a/c vents towards me. I was still 
wearing what I had been yesterday morning and I wanted a shower. I watched 
out the window as we passed sand, cacti, more sand and as we neared Roswell, 
alien theme shops and restaurants.

"Is this place for real?" I asked looking back at Michael. I noticed he had 
pushed up the sleeves of his black shirt and I knew those leather pants must 
be hot as hell. I don't know if he answered me or not because suddenly I was 
sucked into mind-bending images of hot sweaty legs wrapped around me.

"Maria?"

Oh yeah. I licked my lips and focused back on the clothed Michael, I felt a 
blush rise up my face. Damn! "Yeah. What?"

He slowed the car and pointed to a brick building. It had a door in the 
center, but it looked like it was divided into quads. I guess this was home 
sweet home. He parked and I got out of the car and wanted to gag on the heat. 
I was so not ready for the heat. He told me the average in October was in the 
upper seventies, they were just having a heat wave. Woo-hoo, lucky me! I 
stretched feeling the T-shirt ride up my abdomen; did I look to see if 
Michael was watching? Of course. Was he? You betcha! He took our bags out of 
the trunk and I followed him inside the building, which he had a key for. 
These Section guys are so well organized, I thought. We walked upstairs and 
turned left. I was staying on the second floor on the left. He opened the 
door and I followed him in and my breath was actually taken away. 

I spun around the room and saw all kinds of things I'd never thought I'd 
have. There was furniture, a TV, Stereo, a computer, yikes, and so much more. 
It was like I fell asleep and woke up in my own selfish heaven. I flew from 
room to room and it was all there. Everything a girl needed to feel at home. 
Home. Cool, I was actually home. Although it may be temporary, it was a home. 
Also, it was a hell of a lot better than the fucking hamster cage! I threw 
myself on the queen-sized bed and smiled when I saw Michael in the doorway. 
His arms crossed over his chest.

"I guess you like it?"

I jumped off the bed and threw my arms around his neck. "I love it! This is 
amazing!" I kissed him on the lips. There, I did it. I didn't mean to, it 
just seemed like the right thing to do. At least until I felt the hesitation, 
shit! I backed away and met his eyes noticing that he was still holding me 
tight against him, a plus. 

"I have to show you a few things," he nodded towards the window and I bounded 
away from him towards it. I looked out and felt him heavy in back of me; his 
lips less than an inch away from my ear. I saw a Mustang convertible outside 
and knew it was mine. It was black and old, a '65 I'm sure. "You'll have 
everything you need. Ask and you'll get it."

I turned around and forced him to look in my eyes. "You really have faith in 
me, don't you Michael?" I whispered.

He nodded and I felt his lips touch mine, no hesitation coming from either 
party this time. Before I could stop them, my arms snaked their way around 
his neck and I opened my mouth against his letting my tongue slide inside. 
Uh-oh, hesitation. Wait…Gone, aww…

He broke away from me first. "I can't do this Maria, not now. Too much is at 
stake. Things you don't…" He ran his hands through his hair and met my eyes. 

I nodded and felt the weight of the world crumble on top of me. Stupid! 
"Sorry."

"Don't be sorry," he smiled. "I don't…" Was he at a loss for words? "I don't 
think this is the right time for anything. You're here for a job and I'm your 
superior. That's it. There can't be anything more." He shook his head and I 
knew he didn't want to be saying that. Score! 

He walked from the room and I followed like an obedient puppy. Puppy? Maybe I 
could get a dog! He walked to the computer and pulled a notebook out of the 
desk drawer. He handed it to me. "This is how you start it up and everything 
that you need to do. I want you to memorize this and then destroy it. You'll 
be able to reach me at all times through here."

"When are you leaving?" I asked biting my lower lip still heavy with the 
Michael-taste on it.

"Tomorrow."

"You're staying the night here?" Oh boy. "Here with me?"

He nodded slowly and looked at me. I swear I could see the hunger in his 
eyes. He licked his lips and I wanted to jump him. I felt urges in me I 
haven't felt for a long time rushing to the surface. I calculated the flat in 
my head to make sure I was right. One bed. Woo-hoo!

"You're not like anyone else Maria," he said quietly. "You're a diamond in 
the rough. A ray of light on an otherwise gloomy day." He reached to me and 
touched my cheek. "You make me crazy," he smiled, "and at the same time you 
make me feel alive again; something I haven't felt for a long time."

I smiled not knowing what else to do. "How long will I be here?"

"As long as it takes."

"Than what?" 

"Then you have a life back."

"At Section?" With you? Please be with you, please be with you. He met my 
eyes and he didn't have an answer. This was not looking good. "Michael?"

"I don't know Maria." He answered and I felt sick. I saw the distance back in 
his eyes and wondered what the hell my future was going to like. It couldn't 
be worse than death, right? My daydreams of a future with Michael Guerin were 
slipping through my fingers like sand. Not a good. 
* * * * 

Chapter Eight

I didn't want to look at him anymore. I just wanted to go back to that 
queen-sized bed and curl up under the blankets with…Well, him. Damn! I 
sighed; what else was I supposed to do? I looked back at him and was relieved 
to find his eyes no longer on me, but on the computer instead. I stood next 
to him and looked over his shoulder. Oh shit! A screen full of numbers, 
letters and symbols stared back at me. This was so not good. I watched his 
fingers fly over the keyboard and all I could think about was what else those 
lithe fingers were capable of. I think I swayed into him because when I pried 
my eyes away from his hands, he was watching me and I was closer to him.

"Are you okay?" He asked with a smirk close to the surface.

I nodded. Damn! "What are you doing?"

"Making sure that the others did their job correctly." He raised his eyebrows 
and went back to the finger flying. I had to look away or I was going to need 
a cold shower. Hell, I think I needed one of those anyway!

After a few minutes he motioned me over to him. Gone were the insane amounts 
of garbage on the screen and its place were four pictures. A flower, a car, a 
globe and a picture of Michael. I looked at him to meet his smile. "What is 
this?"

"This is national security at its finest," he waved his hand to the screen. 
"I know you don't know anything about computers, so I made this as easy as I 
could for you. Everything is password protected; I'll let you pick your own 
password. The flower is you. Everything you need to know about your new 
history. You're no longer the Maria DeLuca plucked out of jail, you have a 
new past; the car is for any reports you make, which by the way you will have 
to do daily and send to me. The globe is the Internet, I thought you might 
like to play around a little. The picture of me is how you get in touch with 
me, day or night."

I was stunned. The thoughtfulness that went into making this 
DeLuca-accessible was amazing. I grinned. He walked me through everything I 
would need to know how to use and I picked my password: hamstercage. A 
flicker of amusement flashed across his face. We spent the rest of the 
afternoon into the early evening going over my job. Needless to say, it was a 
long day. 

Basically what he told me was I was going to have to immerse myself into the 
creepy little town known as Roswell. I would have to meet the locals and make 
friends. Watch the interaction between every single citizen and report back 
any little discrepancy in 'normal human relations'. 

"What isn't normal?" I finally asked leaning back on the couch watching the 
creases in his leather pants as he sat in a chair across from me. 

"You'll know it when you see it." That was it. 

"I need more than that," I yawned and heard my stomach rumbling. Damn, when 
was the last time I ate?

"I can't give you more Maria, I wish I could. Do you want to go get something 
to eat?" He raised his eyebrow at me and I knew then that I wasn't the only 
one listening to my stomach bitching. 

"Can I take a shower first? I've been in these same clothes for over a day 
now." 

Michael nodded and I know he watched me walk from the living room to the 
bathroom down the hall. I found the bathroom after trying to get into two 
different closets first. 

I stripped off my clothes and got underneath the water trying to figure out 
what the hell I was doing here. I wasn't an alien hunter; I was an ex-con! 
Whatever Michael saw in me I hoped I'd see the same thing soon. Right now I 
was feeling that this big bad known as Section was going to end up calling 
out the extermination team on me. And I bet I know who would be the first one 
here with the can of Raid!

I washed my hair and my body and when I was done I smelled like a fat 
sun-ripened raspberry. I wiped away the condensation from the mirror and 
stared at my reflection.

"Okay, I'm here in Roswell to find aliens. I have no idea what to do but I 
will work my hardest to make Michael proud of me." What? I blinked and shook 
my head. Why was this man invading every part of me? Why did I want to make 
him proud of me and not let him down? Why was he the single most important 
person in the world to me? Great DeLuca, you're really handling this like the 
bad-ass you thought you were!

I wrapped a towel around me under my arms and combed my hair. I didn't bring 
any clothes in with me, so I walked out of the bathroom in my towel. Michael 
raised his eyebrows when he saw me coming down the hall towards him. "I'll be 
ready in a minute," I picked up the bag of clothes. "I just have to dry my 
hair."

He nodded and leaned in closer to me and inhaled at the nape of my neck. "You 
smell good."

All I could do was nod. If I would have looked at him, I would have dropped 
the towel and attacked him. I was trying very hard to stray away from the 
slutiness I had pursued him with during our earlier meetings. I grabbed a 
pair of black pants and a red V-neck short sleeve shirt and a bra from the 
bag before I felt his hands on my bare shoulders. I felt his breath in my ear 
and the gooseflesh broke out on me, everywhere. In my mind I stepped away and 
went to get dressed; in reality, I stepped back into him and closed my eyes. 
His hands moved from my shoulders down underneath my towel-clad breasts and 
pulled me tight into him. I'm pretty sure if he wasn't holding on to me my 
knees would have given out and I would have landed on the floor. 

"You're the one I've always looked for," he whispered in my ear and then I 
felt his lips on my neck. 

I nodded totally not knowing what to do next. He removed his hands and I 
stepped away to my new bedroom and didn't look back. I pulled the pants on 
and then my boots. I looked at the bra on the bed and really thought about 
it, nah. I slipped the shirt over my head and tucked it in. Nice. The V-neck 
was low enough to keep Michael looking, but not too low so I wouldn't be 
giving a free show to everyone. I blow dried my hair and went back to 
Michael. 

His eyes traveled my body. "I'll be back in a minute." He took the small bag 
he had brought with him and breezed by me down the hall. I heard the bathroom 
door shut and the shower turn on. All I could think of was wet, naked 
Michael. Almost as good as chocolate-dipped Michael, but not quite. I waited 
and played with the computer. I found my history and that kept me interested 
until Michael reappeared looking as dapper as always. Black dress pants and a 
tight black T-shirt. Damn, he looked good.

He took me by the hand and led me out of the building to the Mustang in back. 
He drove, almost expertly through a town he said he'd never been to before. 
We arrived at a little Italian restaurant called Rizzo's and he held my hand 
as we walked inside. We took a corner booth and I ordered a lot. 

I glanced to a TV behind the bar; it was a baseball game. The Braves against 
the Phillies. The Braves were winning! Woo-hoo! I maneuvered myself in the 
booth until I could see the full screen. I didn't catch Michael looking at me 
until I knew I had one of those big toothy grins on my face. 

"Baseball fan?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah, well, I used to be." I smiled and touched the locket underneath my 
shirt. 
"When I was little my dad and I used to go to Braves games all the time; we 
had season tickets." Why did I feel like I could talk about my dad with him? 
Why was it so damn easy? "So, every time I see a baseball game or even a 
Braves hat I think of my dad. It was a big father/daughter-bonding thing for 
us. The past time of America, right? Apple pie, Chevrolet and baseball."

"You don't strike me as a baseball fan."

"I love the game. And I love the memories of me and my dad going to the 
games." I sighed hating the fact that I could divulge so much about myself to 
someone who hasn't told me shit about himself. "What about you? Baseball fan?"

"I never went to a game." Here we go, finally getting to learn a little about 
the mystery man in black.

"Never wanted to or just never did?" I leaned forward hoping my eyes weren't 
completely prying.

"Never did," he shrugged. I don't know if 'did' was really the word he wanted 
to use; I think it might have been 'could' instead.

"Maybe we could go sometime," I looked around. "Well, maybe if we're ever in 
a city that has a team."

"That's be nice Maria," his smile was not happy, but sad. He looked relieved 
when the food came and he didn't have to talk about himself anymore. Yeah, 
like he really gave a lot of info.

We ate in near silence and only when I leaned back with a full belly did I 
notice Michael had quit eating awhile ago and was watching me. "What?"

"Are you going to be okay?"

"I'm full, but I'll survive." Wait a minute, that's probably not what he was 
talking about. "Yeah Michael. I'll be okay. I'm smart, right? That's why you 
picked me to do this, because you thought I could do it."

"I know you can," a wave of ease washed over him. He reached across the table 
and took my hand. "You're going to be alone-"

"I've been alone for a long time."

"Let me finish," he smiled. "You're going to be alone here but never forget, 
I'm just a click or a phone call away. I can actually be at your door in less 
than two hours. I want to hear from you everyday, several times a day no 
matter what."

"I promise," I wanted to hear from him everyday too. I wanted to hear his 
voice everyday. Damn! I was going to actually miss the man I once thought of 
as the devil.

We left the restaurant and went back to my place. My place, cool, I actually 
had a place! We sat at the kitchen table and Michael began explaining 
everything to me again. What to look for, what to do if something goes wrong 
and so on. By the time he was done I was half-asleep.

"Am I boring you?" He mused resting his elbows on the table.

"No, I'm just tired."

He nodded and stood. I followed and we walked back to the bedroom. The 
bedroom with one bed. "I'm staying in here with you tonight." He stated and I 
nodded. "For some reason I feel the need to be close to you."

"I hope it's not because you think you'll never see me again," I kicked at 
imaginary things on the carpet. 

He grinned, an honest to God full-fledged grin! "I know I'll see you again 
Maria. If there's one thing I can count on it's that I'll see you again."

I shifted away from his intense stare. "Do you mind?" I asked feeling 
slightly uncomfortable with the way he was looking at me. I unbuttoned my 
pants and began to unzip them.

He turned away and faced the window as I took off the pants and then the 
shirt. I stood there buck naked with him only a few feet in front of me and I 
felt completely under duress. The old Maria DeLuca would have probably 
actually thrown herself at him; not this new one though. I shook my head and 
reached into the bag and got out that yellow nightgown. I slid it over my 
head and turned back to look at Michael's back. I smiled when I saw my 
reflection in the window he was looking out of. Damn! 

He reached for me and I fell into his arms. The strength and support of 
Michael rushed through me. I couldn't remember ever feeling safer.

He laid me on the bed and then slid off his loafers and took off his belt 
before lying down next to me. He pulled me against his hard body and held me 
tight. I felt safe. I don't think I can remember if I had ever felt safe with 
a man in my bed before. I closed my eyes and smiled as he whispered in my 
ear. "You belong to me."
* * * *

Chapter Nine


"Maria?"

I heard my name and my eyes flew open; I sat up in a cold sweat. I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped.

"Maria, it's Michael."

Michael. I leaned back and felt his arms close in around me. Safe. He held me from behind and I sank into him. His strong hands gripped my shaking arms. I bit back the fear of the nightmares, steadying my nerves on his. I'm okay. "I'm okay," my voice was shaky and I hated that.

"You were having a nightmare," he whispered in my ear. I nodded and he kissed the back of my neck. "You're safe with me."

I wanted to scream 'but you're leaving!' at him, I bit my tongue instead and nodded. His hands moved down my arms. They were so soft, well, maybe a little callused, but that was okay, I liked the friction. I shook my head almost disappointed in myself for feeling those little cravings for chocolate-coated Michael while he was trying to comfort me in my time of nightmarish hell.

"Do you want to…" He asked as one hand swept the hair out of my face and tucked it behind my ear.

"Just bad dreams," I croaked and cleared my throat. "I'm fine."

"You were shaking so bad." Yeah, definite concern in his voice, no doubt about it. He wrapped his arms around my chest and pulled me back to him again. Sigh.

Wait a second, did Mr. Guerin decide to remove his T-shirt at some point in the night? I chanced a peek over my shoulder and I was so right! Naked Michael-chest against my yellow nightgown clad back, hmm, something was so wrong with this picture. I think it might have actually helped having him now half-naked and so close, it did take away the nightmares. For tonight anyway.

"I'm okay, really," I fought the shakiness and won.

"Are you going to be okay here alone?"

I nodded. "I'm fine, Michael." Although I said it, I wasn't really sure. "I'll do everything I can to-"

"Don't talk about that now," he hushed me. "I have to know if you're going to be okay."

"I told you that you could count on me and you can!" The indignation in my statement was overbearing; but I couldn't help it. Visions of Rena and a giant can of Raid were rapidly creeping over my consciousness.

"I'm not talking about work," he said and I could visualize his set jaw. "I'm talking about you."

"I'm sorry," I turned around to face him and also to take a look at that bare chest. Yum. Muscles one can get only from working out seemed to shine in the pale moonlight drifting in from the window. Every ounce of self-control I've ever had was put to the test right then. Before I could stop myself, still wondering exactly how hard I tried; I reached to him and placed my hand on his chest. He looked down at it like it was a foreign object and if his chest hadn't felt so damn good I would have moved it.

Finally, I saw the worry lines relax and an almost smile graced his lips. I pried my eyes away from that chest and met his. This was one of those times when neither of us knew what to do. I mean, I knew what I wanted to do, but that was a whole other story. He leaned closer to me, our mouths barely an inch apart. I heard a short intake of his breath and I parted my lips.

"No…" He shook his head so slightly I barely saw it.

No? I tilted my head to the side and had the realization that I probably looked like a confused dog. That wasn't entirely inaccurate though, I was confused. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head a little more and I heard his breath become heavier. "We can't…We can't do this Maria. There's too much on the line."

"Like what?" I felt the deep arousal in me surge forward. Damn! How could he do this to me?

"This is a job." He spoke in a normal tone and I knew my Michael-cravings were about to end. I nodded. "It doesn't matter what either of us feel."

"Damn it!" I shouted and jumped off the bed, my legs tangling in the god-awful nightgown causing me to teeter and get more pissed off. "Why the hell are you leading me on like this then? How can you do that to me?"

"Maria…"

"Saying my name with your sexy as hell voice is not a fix!" I started to pace. "You kiss my neck, you hug me, you hold my hand and tell me I'm the one. Last night you had to sleep in my bed with me and you told me that I belonged to you! Now, all I want a freaking kiss and you turn all mysterious man again. What the fuck is going on?" I looked at him and saw that smile. Oh yeah, that same amused smile that I wanted to knock off his face on more than one occasion. "What the hell are you smiling at?"

"You're even more beautiful when you're angry."

I closed my eyes trying to decide if I should laugh or scream at him. Wait, a new part of me was wondering why the hell my eyes were shut when naked Michael-chest was staring at me. I opened my eyes and saw the sadness in his own. Shit! Against my better judgement, I actually shut up and sat back down next to him suddenly feeling the urge to comfort him; my nightmares were all but forgotten.

I wrapped my arms around him and a new feeling went through me; not being comforted, but being the comforter. Damn! All this newness and I was so inexperienced with it all. He rested his head on my shoulder and I ran one hand through his hair; my other made a circular motion on his bare back.

Maybe we were good for each other. I smiled and kissed the top of his head. Maybe everything in my life had happened for a reason and that reason was in my arms letting me comfort him. Comfort him about what, I have no idea. Michael Guerin was definitely a man of secrets. We laid down together and I never wanted to move. Our two bodies pressed together as one. Our faces were so close when he finally kissed me. It was different from the short one earlier; this one was for real. I felt more in this one kiss than in all the others I'd had in my life combined.

It didn't go further than the kiss; maybe that was all it took. Michael had been right, I did belong to him. We fell asleep in each other's arms keeping the nightmares away.

When I woke up Michael was gone. I felt the other side of the bed and it was empty and cold. I tucked my knees up close to my chin with this stupid yellow nightgown that was so freaking tight I wanted to die! After feeling sorry for myself for a few minutes I got out of bed and looked around the new digs. Not bad, I thought nodding at the coolness of it all.

My attention turned back to the bed and the side where Michael had been; suddenly I felt so alone and scared. More alone that I ever imagined. After fending for myself for so long, just that one night of having him hold me seemed to be all I needed. I was going to be okay. I will always be okay. Michael didn't just run away and I'll never hear from him again, he's my boss. My superior. He wants to hear from me everyday and I can't think of a single reason why he won't. This is a job, when it's over…I didn't really want to think about it being over. Not yet.

I stumbled into the living room and yawned. Something caught my attention sitting on top of the computer. Oh my God, it was a stuffed animal. A bear with a note taped to his belly. I reached for the bear and ripped the note off the fur:

Maria- I didn't want to wake you, you looked so peaceful, and I thought it might be too hard to say good-bye. You'll be fine here, I know you will. You know what you have to do and then…Then I don't know. The choice may be up to you. Remember, all you have to do is call and I'll be there, for any reason. Never hesitate to call me. I'll miss you Maria, probably more than I should. Michael.

So that was it? I re-read the note a few more times before grabbing the bear and holding it tight against me. The tears I loathed ran down my face. Damn! I set the bear down and turned on the computer just so I could look at that little picture of Michael on the screen. I had fallen for him, hard. The picture, I mean icon, came up and I touched it with my finger. "I miss you too."

After a few more minutes of feeling sorry for myself, I thought things over. Who the hell was I to feel sorry for myself? I was taken out of prison, off death row, and given a new start. Doing something for my country, I think, although I never knew the alien population posed such a threat. I had a job to do and I was going to do the best I could at it! I wouldn't let anyone down ever again, least of all, myself. I set Mr. Bear down and went back in the bedroom to get dressed. I dressed in jeans, boots and a gray T-shirt. Did I wear a bra? Hell, no! I looked in my wallet and was surprised to find it chock full of cash and credit cards in my name.

That was all I needed to get started in Roswell? Clothes that I look awesome in and money to burn. Now all I had to do was rustle me up a couple aliens and I can call Michael and we can live happily ever after…Riiiight.

I cruised through the building and wondered if I would ever meet any of the other tenants. Didn't matter, I wasn't there to make friends. I got in the Mustang and the engine came to life. I cruised through town and took in my new surroundings. I drove past gift shops that all seemed to specialize in alien-related crap.

My stomach began growling, again, and I parked in front of a theme restaurant. The Crashdown Café. This should be great. I walked in and laughed out-loud. This place was ridiculous! I turned around slowly making sure I caught all of the tacky alien decor before sitting down in a booth. I smiled at the menu and when the waitress came to take my order it took every bit of self-control I had not to laugh in her face at the gaudy uniform she had on. I ordered something with eggs and pancakes with a freaky name and waited watching the other patrons of this cheesy restaurant.

Someone caught my eye standing behind the counter, so I focussed on her for a few minutes. She was probably around my age; long plain brown hair and big brown eyes. She was pretty, in a girl next door kind of way. Nothing special. She wasn't wearing a hideous uniform so I guessed she was the manager or something. She was barking out orders to the cook and I smiled when he rolled his eyes at her.

I watched her look agitated for a few more minutes then my eyes wandered onto a table not too far away from me. A man and woman were sitting across from each other, but they were both looking at me. Great. I attempted a smile and got nothing in return so I stared back until the male finally looked away. The blond continued to stare and I had the feeling she thought I had been looking at her husband or whatever. Wonderful way to blend in DeLuca!

The brown-haired girl from behind the counter joined the couple and they huddled together in whispers occasionally looking in my direction. They were nothing. That's what I told myself over and over. Nothing at all. I was here to hunt aliens not make friends so it didn't matter what they were talking about; even if it was me. Damn! I hated it.

My order came am I forgot about the freaky trio and ate. When I was completely full I noticed the brown haired woman was looking at me again. I laid money on the table and stood up. Before I hit the door I walked back and rested my hands on the freaky trio's table. "Can I help you with something?"

"No," the blond shook her head.

"Then why all the staring? Do I have something on me?" I looked down at my chest and was pleased to see the adrenaline of my first confrontation had settled in my nipples. I looked to the man and was equally pleased to see him stare.

"Sorry," brown haired chick said and took the man's hand. Ah, so that's how the coupling here worked!

I raised my eyebrows at them and eventually, I smiled. "I'm new in town here, anything I should know about the city? About aliens?" I laughed.

"Welcome to Roswell," the Ms. Dark Hair extended her hand to me. "I'm Liz Parker. This is my fiancé Max Evans and his sister Isabel."

"Maria. Maria DeLuca." I shook her hand and then the other two. I don't think I liked any of them.

*         *           *
Chapter Ten

I stood there for a few seconds looking at the first real Roswellian's I met and wanted to hang myself. If this was what I was going to have to put up with while I was here I just might rather face Rena with Raid.

"So, why did you move here?" Isabel asked me. I think her name was Isabel, but maybe I'll just call her Barbie instead.

"I…" was stumped. Damn! I knew I should have read over my history a little bit better. Think DeLuca. Think!

The waiting on their faces was forcing me to seriously think about getting a brain check-up. How could I have already fucked-up on my first trip outside alone? Michael would be so disappointed in me. That's the part that upset me the most.

"Hey guys."

I turned around and saw this little curly haired blond standing almost directly in back of me. Great, I rolled my eyes, I can't remember my own history and now people are sneaking up on me. This is so not the way it's supposed to be. I wish Michael were here.

"This is Mary." The one called Liz pointed to me. "She just moved here."

"Maria," I said slowly and looked at the newcomer.

"Hi, I'm Tess," she smiled and I think it might have been legitimate. She slid in the booth next to Barbie and they all looked at me. "So, what brings you to Roswell?"

Oh shit. I looked at the imaginary watch on my wrist and nodded. "God, it was so nice to meet you guys, but I'm late for an appointment. I'll catch you later." I breezed out of there and into my car. I raced home and clicked on the flower to learn all about myself. Stupid, DeLuca. I shook my head as I read.  

I was born in North Carolina. Both my parents died when I was little and I lived with my aunt in Raleigh. I went to high school there and then two years at the Junior College. I'm in Roswell because my aunt died and left me some land outside of town and I have to be here until it sells. Sounds good and it's now engraved on the brain. Both my parents were dead. Boy, that sure wasn't fiction was it?

As sad as it sounds, I had almost forgotten about Rena telling me my mom was dead. I guess if I would have cared more, it would have had more an effect on me. But I didn't know her. She split when I was a baby. I don't give her credit for anything except squeezing me out. I don't think she ever did anything else right.

I glanced at the corner of the screen. I had mail! I clicked and waited. Woo-hoo! It was from Michael. Like who else would it be from?

Maria, I hope your first day is going good. I hope you remember how to read your mail! I'm sorry I didn't say good-bye. I thought it would be too hard, but now I think leaving without saying it was harder. Always remember that I'm not that far away. Even if you just want to talk, call me. Rena's on the warpath around here so I'm glad you're gone for this. Don't forget to send it your report tonight. Good luck. Michael.

"Rena," I spat the name out and then shivered. What a bitch! I somehow managed to figure out how to get out of this mail and went to the car icon. The form seemed easy enough to fill out but I didn't have anything to report except I was a total fucking idiot. I clicked on the Michael icon and sent him a quick note; at least I think I did:

Michael. I may have messed up a little today, already. I forgot to read my history before I went out and I met some townies, freaked and ran away. I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again. Thanks for Mr. Bear; he can keep me company tonight since you're so far away. Maria.

Short and sweet and to the point. I was proud that the screen actually told me I had sent it. Alrighty then, I stood up and looked outside at the crappy parking job I had done. Rolling my eyes, I decided to venture back out into Roswell and see if I couldn't scare up a few aliens. Even just thinking about finding aliens was beginning to sound stupid to me.

At Section I had been all into it; 'big alien huntress'. Now I felt like an idiot. I had no freaking idea what to look for. I stepped out of the front door and slammed it shut. Without looking where I was going I ran into a body. "Hey!"

"Hey what?" The person I ran into asked. "You ran into me, lady."

I looked to him and thought about kicking his ass; then I remembered I was no longer that Maria. "I'm sorry."

He smiled and outstretched his hand to me. "I guess you're my new neighbor. I'm Kyle, I live across the hall."

"Nice to meet you," I shook his hand and actually felt like he wasn't a threat. That was a big good.

"You too. So where are you from?"

"North Carolina." I swear I sounded like a freaking robot. I was so going to have to work on my acting skills.

"Okay," he said slowly and I think he looked at me like I wasn't mentally all there. Great. The nice guy across the hall thinks I'm slow.

"I'm sorry," I batted my eyelashes at him. "I just moved in last night and I'm still tired from unpacking."

"Unpacking?" He asked and I knew my fate was sealed. All that confidence Michael had in me was slipping away with every second I was around people. "There were a couple of guys here a few days ago, when they brought your car, I could have sworn they said they were unpacking for you. A cousin? I think?"

A cousin? No one said anything about a cousin. "Right, I forgot. They left before I got here."

"You forgot you had a cousin or you forgot you didn't unpack?"

I looked at my new neighbor and wanted to grin. I liked him. Something about him made me smile. Not smile in the way I did when I was with Michael, but smile none the less. "I don't know," I shook my head and tried out a girlish laugh. It made me sick, but guy across the hall seemed to buy it. "So…"

"So…" he dug his hands in his pockets. Shit! I wasn't making him nervous, was I? "What brings you to the alien capital of the world?"

"My aunt. She left me some land outside of town and I have to stay here until it sells." I shrugged. "I didn't really have any plans so I thought I'd rent a place and hang out here for awhile. You're from around here?"

He nodded. "Born and raised. My dad's the Sheriff, so if you have any problems with anything, let me know."

"Thanks Kyle, it was nice to meet you."

"Ditto. What's your name, anyway?"

"Maria."

He nodded and retreated into his apartment. I took a deep breath and ventured back outside. I got in my car and cruised through town. I passed by the Crashdown and figured I'd never step foot in there again; not after the display of incompetence I had put on earlier. Okay, new realization, Roswell sucked.

How the hell was I suppose to just 'find aliens'? I mean, I don't see any standing on the street with a 'hello my name is Mr. Alien' sticker on them. Immerse myself in the town, that's what Michael had told me to do. Damn! I wish he were here with me to hold my hand and help me. Sometimes I can't believe this is even happening to me. Death row to alien huntress. Amazing.

Drifting into the dream world I called my own I didn't see anyone step off the curb. I swerved as I saw shades of brown and screeched the pony to a halt. Shit! I slammed my hand into the steering wheel and looked over my shoulder. You have got to be kidding me! It was that Liz and her guy from earlier. I took a deep breath and got out of the car. "Are you okay?" I called as that Liz was helped up.

"Might be nice if you actually paid attention to the crosswalks in Roswell!" She shouted and I wanted to kick her ass on the spot. "I assume they have them from wherever you came from!"

"Liz," her guy put his arm around her shoulder. "I'm sure it was an accident."

"It was, I'm sorry." I said and rolled my eyes thankful that dark glasses covered them. "I wasn't paying attention, I'm sorry."

"Maria, right?" The guy said and I fought my memory trying to come up with his name. Damn! I nodded. "It's forgotten, Liz is fine."

"Man, like I said I wasn't paying attention. I just got here yesterday and I was trying to look around town, see what there was to do around here…" If I sounded half as lame I as thought I did I might as well run now. I was getting 'the look' from that Liz and her guy, I think, was checking me out. Nice.

"We understand," he said and looked to that Liz who did nod, eventually. "There's a town party-like celebration tonight in front of city hall. It's kind of a food and crafty thing, but you might want to check it out and see who your neighbors are."

I nodded and wanted to hug him. "That sounds great, thanks." I looked at that Liz. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine."

Alrighty then. I said I was sorry about three more times and got back into my car. Maybe tonight I could pick out the aliens and call Michael and… Well, you know what I want to do with Michael. Visions of Michael in various stages of undress and sugarcoated were the things keeping me going today. Maybe I didn't fuck up as bad as I had thought. Or maybe Mr. That Liz just wanted to see my tits again! Tonight I would meet the town and the town would meet Maria DeLuca!

I drove around, without even coming close to hitting anyone else and went back to my apartment. I checked my mail and felt all giddy when I saw a new message from Michael:

Maria. I'm sure you'll do just fine and I don't think you messed up too bad. Just blend. You don't have to make real friends, just do what you were trained to. There some bad things going on around here at Section, Rena is behind them all. I think my visit to you may be a lot sooner than anticipated. Watch your back Maria, I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you. When I tell you to be careful, I mean it. Be careful from all sides. I'm missing you when I know I shouldn't. How could you have affected me this way? Always, Michael.

Always? That was a big good. He's missing me like crazy! I knew it! He's coming back soon! Man, even with the crap Rena was doing, this was the best message I ever could have gotten. Michael's coming back to see me! Michael's coming back to see me! If I knew how, I would have danced. Instead I made myself a late lunch.

It was strange; after four years of being told when I could eat, now I just walk into my own kitchen and make myself a sandwich whenever I feel like it. I ate in front of the TV with the remote control in one hand. After I ate I felt seriously bad. Without Michael there I somehow forgot to work out. And I bet I'd need my strength to fight the big bad aliens, if I ever found them. It was late afternoon by the time I dressed in spandex running shorts and a halter. I stepped out of my a-apartment and into neighbor Kyle and no…That Liz!

"Hi." I looked at them both.

"Hi Maria, " Kyle grinned. "This is-"

"Yeah, we've met." Liz looked at me with daggers in her eyes. "She's the one who tried to run me over."

"I did not try to run you over," I closed my eyes and counted to five. "If I would have tried, then I would have done it. It was a freaking accident!"

I saw neighbor Kyle smirk; see, I knew I liked him for a reason. Liz walked past him and into his apartment. "She's a little high-strung sometimes."

"You think?" I waved and set off on my run. I'd have plenty of time to run, shower and dress before the Roswell jamboree. Yee-haw!

*        *         *

Michael paced in his apartment. An overnight bag was packed and ready to go sitting on his bed. He ran his hands through his hair and looked back at the computer screen in front of him. The last memo from Rena was insulting. She had been questioning his motives with their newest operative since he'd arrived back at Section. The memos she was sending out were unbelievable. Michael had been in conferences with the men in suits all day. They were worried about his involvement with such a new operative. As much as he had tried to deny everything, he was still put on observation.

Michael Guerin was never put on observation. He put people on observation. He was the golden boy of Section, not some new guy of the street. He tried to explain to his superiors that Rena was acting on a personal issue and she had ignored the potential in Maria DeLuca. The Suits were not as convinced as Michael wished they had been. His newest operative was on the line for extermination if she failed.

1792 miles. That was how far Washington D.C. was from Roswell New Mexico. Michael took another look around his apartment and walked out the door with his bag in hand.
*          *          *

Chapter Eleven

Okay, I stood with my back in front of the mirror and turned around checking out my butt. Nice. Dressed in boots, jeans and a long-sleeve, semi-deep neckline black shirt, I looked good. Always try to look nice when you're about to meet the town. I pulled my hair up into a high ponytail banded by a strip of black suede. I put on some eye make-up for effect only. I've never been a big fan of make-up, but for special occasions it's okay.

I sat on the edge of my new bed and picked up Mr. Bear bringing him close to my chest and hugging him. Michael. So sweet, so mysterious, but so sweet at the same time. I thought about all the things he's done for me and how he made this whole transition easier to comprehend. I don't think it would have gone near as smooth if it weren't for Michael. God, here I am mind rambling about him like I have a schoolgirl's crush! I put Mr. Bear aside and remembered that Michael said he'd visit me sooner than expected. Woo-hoo!

I stood up ready to face the creepy little town of Roswell and then threw myself on the bed; my face buried in the pillow Michael had used last night. It smelled like him and every naughty vision of Michael I ever had raced towards me like a bullet train. With every breath I took I saw him dipped, coated, sticky or slippery and I knew I had to get up and go or I'd lay here and daydream all night. Too much is going on in my head.

One last deep inhale and I was up. I was up and ready to take on the world; or at least that Liz. I wonder what nice neighbor Kyle was doing with her anyway! I stepped out of the apartment and saw Kyle's door opening. I waited for the sight of that Liz with yet another torrid tale of me trying to run her over; but I was let down. Kyle was alone.

"Where's your friend?" I asked as I leaned against the banister.

"Liz?" He smirked and I liked him even more. "She was just here picking something up for work."

"Right, she works at the alien greasy spoon, right?"

"No, her parents own it. She manages it when they're busy or out of town." Kyle walked closer to me and I caught a whiff of the after shave. Nice. Not Michael nice, but still nice. "She works at City Hall; assistant to someone, she's in law school."

A brainiac, I should have known. "So, is she always that uptight? I mean, I didn't intentionally try to hit her or anything."

"I know, she knows. Like I said before, she can be a little high strung." Kyle laughed and I laughed with him. It felt good. It felt normal. "So, where are you off to tonight? I hope you don't think Roswell has much of a nightlife."

"Actually, that…I mean, Liz, her boyfriend told me about some type of hoe-down in front of City Hall. I thought I might check that out."

"Max?" I saw a glimmer of something that I couldn't quite place. "Cool, that's where I'm headed. We could go together if you'd like. I can point out the townies and tell you who to avoid." Damn! I knew I liked him for a reason.

"Excellent. Shall I drive or you?" I looped my arm through his as we walked down the stairs.

"I guess I will, I wouldn't want you running down any more citizens tonight." That little remark earned him a jab in the gut. "Sorry. But, we can take your car. It's much cooler than mine. What's it got in it? A 351?"

"351, 352, whatever it takes." I smiled earning a laugh from my new best friend Kyle Something.

I got to take in a little more of my new temporary home as Kyle drove my car. He was right; it was much cooler than the little foreign jobbie he drove. I thought about the way Michael had navigated the streets the night before and wondered how he was doing. I hated the fact that Rena was being such a bitch because of me. What's that phrase, something abut 'hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'? Thank God, Michael was her superior; but still, I hoped he wasn't getting into trouble because of me. I know trouble at Section was bad. Very bad.

Always, Michael. Damn! I wish I could get the man off my brain, but I couldn't. I could almost repeat that last email verbatim. I was so glad now that I decided to drop the slut-routine. Well, not entirely, but close…

"Maria?"

I looked over to my escort for the evening. "What?"

"I've been saying your name for like the last two miles. Are you sure that's really your name?"

"Believe it or not, I promise." I focused my attention back on the town and Kyle and tried to push Michael out of my psyche, which by the way, was not an easy thing to do. "So, what should I expect from this little social gathering?"

"A lot of staring," he smirked.

"Staring? At what?"

"At you," he looked over at me and rolled his eyes. Damn! I thought I had the market cornered on eye rolling. "Seriously. You show up out of nowhere and you've already pissed off the town sweetheart. You're gorgeous and mysterious. I'm sure Liz has already talked about you half the day to anyone who would listen."

"Wow," I laughed. Gorgeous and mysterious? Hmm, I'm pretty sure that was what I was thinking about Michael. God, I missed him. "So, Liz is the town sweetheart, huh?"

He laughed. "Some people think so, like her." He laughed again. "Seriously, we used to date in High School and let's just say, although I love her to death, she can be a real pain in the ass."

I nodded, and then my attention was turned towards the park in front of City Hall. Hanging lights and tents and the sweet smells of a cookout were in my face. I couldn't remember the last time I had gone to anything like this. I know it had to have been when my dad was still alive. I can't remember…

"Ready?" Kyle looked to me and handed me my keys. He had parked the car and I hadn't even noticed. I nodded and got out and walked closer to him.

It was a strange feeling I got from him. There was not an ounce of sexual strain between us and I liked that part. I felt comfortable with him, another thing I didn't think I'd ever be able to do. Be comfortable around a man without having anything sexual present. I mean Michael was a whole other ballgame. What we had going on between us was more than just a sexual need. At least it was on my part and I would be on my knees praying tonight that it was more on his end too. Always, Michael.

Kyle escorted me into the thick of town and I met his dad and instantly loved him. There was something about him that made me want to trust him. I think that maybe it was because he reminded me of my own dad.

"Do you like baseball?" I blurted it out before my brain could stop my mouth. Damn! That seems to happen more and more often. I hope I'm not losing my edge.

"Yeah, I love it. Why? We don't get baseball here too often." The Sheriff looked at his son and I could see what he was asking in silence. 'What kind of nutcase did you pick up now?'

"Sorry, you just remind me of an old baseball fan I used to know," I smiled. Kyle led me away from his dad and looped his arm through mine. "So, what now?"

"Well," Kyle scanned the crowd and pointed to a vacant bench with a view of the festivities. He led me over to it and we sat. He pointed to my left. "There's Liz and Max. I'm sure Max's sister will be tagging along behind them somewhere."

"Barbie?"

"Barbie…?" Kyle closed his eyes and laughed out loud causing several bystanders to stare. "Yeah, Isabel. She's not so bad once you get to know her. She's lonely because her boyfriend, Alex, is spending a semester in England."

I nodded and looked around desperately for an alien of the non-blow-up variety. I swear if I was sent here on a wild-alien chase…What DeLuca? I asked myself, what were you going to do?

Kyle went through the motions pointing out various townsfolk, always with a comment on each of them. Sometimes he had me laughing so hard my stomach ached. We ate and drank, probably more than I should have, but this was fun. This was the kind of fun I had missed out on for so long. Th old me would already be crawling all over Kyle and we'd end up in bed. Not this time. I was a new person and I think my heart belonged to another. Michael. Damn! I missed him.

"Here comes Liz and Max," Kyle giggled and pointed to the approaching pair. "Hey guys."

"Hi," Max smiled and I decided he wasn't all that bad. He shook Kyle's hand and once again I felt his eyes on my chest. I saw Liz hold on to his arm so apparently I wasn't the only one noticing where his attention lay. "So Maria, you met Kyle. Liz said you live across the hall from each other."

"Yeah," I smiled at Kyle and we both laughed. That was when I was sure we had too much to drink. This was not exactly the alien fact-finding mission that I thought it would be tonight.

"Having a good time? Looks like it," Max grinned and motioned to the stack of empty beer cups between us.

"I'm having a great time," I smiled and I meant it. For a brief minute there I felt normal. Then I caught something out of the corner of my eye that made each tiny hair on my body stand on end. A flash of red hair. That was it. But it was so red, fire engine red to be exact. I shook my head. No, it couldn't be Rena! Michael would have warned me. If he could…

"Are you okay?" Kyle was holding my arm and Max and even that Liz looked concerned. "Maria?"

"Yeah," I forced a smile. "I'm fine. I just…I don't think I'm feeling so good. Maybe I should go."

"Sure," Kyle stood and held my arm. "C'mon."

I didn't say good-bye to the couple; I just walked away keeping my eyes peeled for another flash of red. I had the uncontrollable knowledge that I was being watched and now, for the first time, I was scared.

We arrived back at the flat and Kyle led me upstairs. He opened my apartment door for me and I invited him. He sat me on the couch and went to the kitchen. He returned with a bottled water and handed it to me. "You okay? You look like you saw a ghost."

I nodded and sipped the water. "Just too much to drink I think. Thanks for tonight Kyle, I had a great time."

"Me too," he grinned and walked towards the door. "I told you there would be a lot of staring." He laughed and let himself out leaving me alone smiling on the couch.

I walked to the computer and prayed there was something from Michael. Nothing. I began to pace the apartment as I stripped down to nothing. I knew the window was open, but unless you were in the back parking lot, no one could see. I don't know if I even  cared. Was it Rena or was I being stupid? She wasn't the only one in the world with red hair.

I went to the bathroom and brushed away the alcohol flavoring from my teeth. I saw Mr. Bear waiting for me on the bed and went to him, hugging him close against my bare breasts. I curled up on the bed with my head on the Michael pillow and waited for sleep to take me away.

*        *         *

Michael watched as his newest operative and her neighbor laughed drunkenly while walking inside the flat. He looked at the laptop on the seat next to him.

"Kyle Valenti." He said out loud and felt his blood boil.

*        *         *

I knew I was having the nightmares again, damn! Wouldn't they ever go away? I felt a hand on my naked thigh and I cried out in fear. I scurried to the head of the bed and curled myself into a ball; Mr. Bear still clutched in my hand. I was shaking when I felt the hand again. Wait. Soft and callousy. Michael? I lifted my head and saw a shadow. It was Michael. I outstretched my arms to him and he held all my nakedness.

"Michael." I buried my head in his neck and felt his arms hold me against him. He laid me down and spooned my body. I sighed as I felt one hand slide underneath my breasts; the other to my thigh. Safe.
*           *         *

Chapter Twelve

I've suffered from the nightmares for a long time now, how could they go away so easily when Michael was here with me? How did he have the power to take them away? Nobody could understand where the nightmares came from until they've lived it. I actually considered myself lucky if all I took with me were a few mind-shattering nightmares.

I snuggled in closer to the warmth that was Michael. Even though he had only been gone less than a day, it had felt like years. Damn! I hated feeling this way. I hated needing anyone but myself. Maybe it was the alcohol still in my system, or maybe it was just Michael.

Feeling his hands on my bare body would have sent me into sexual overdrive had it not been for the fact that I was still trembling from my nighttime horrors. His hands were so warm, so comforting. I looked over my shoulder and into his eyes.

"Hi." Yes, that was actually all I could come up with. He nodded. "Thank you for coming back." I felt so vulnerable in all my nakedness and I actually wished that I had on that stupid yellow nightgown!

"I had to make sure you were safe," he whispered in my ear and my muscles contracted. Wait, I'm sorry, not my muscles, my nipples.

"Am I in danger here?"

"I don't know," he kissed the back of my neck. "I have no idea."

"Is Rena here?" I felt his body tense. Damn!

"Not yet. She's still at Section, but she is out to beat you. There's been a lot of meetings and memos when I was back at Section."

Not yet? So I didn't see her and any flash of red hair is going to send me into fits? I knew there was more so I waited for him to finish. When he didn't say anything else, I knew it was seriously bad. "Tell me."

"They put me on observation," he laughed and it was bitter. "Because of Rena and her lies, they made up their minds that I may be too involved with my newest operative."

Gee, I thought laying here naked next to him, what makes them think that? Although I hated being called an operative…

"I received a message on my way here. You fail in any way-"

"Extermination." I didn't have to ask. Damned if I do and damned if I don't.

"Did you learn anything tonight?" I heard the plea in his question and I felt my heart twinge when I gave him the disappointing news.

"No. Nothing of importance." I didn't think telling him how I thought I saw Rena was necessary right now. Maybe later though. "How long do I have?"

"A while," he sighed and I melted. "I'm going back to Section tomorrow night."

"No!" I sat up and faced him totally oblivious to my bare chest. I saw his eyes linger on my chest before meeting mine and for some reason that pissed me off right now. Not exactly pissed me off, but I did deem it inappropriate.

"I have to try to correct some of this before it goes any further."

"I don't want you to leave." There, I was officially whining and I think I might have actually heard the whipping noise. I might be missing the old me now…

"Maria, I will come back but first I have to straighten this out. Tonight, I had to see you and tell you…" He paused. Oh shit. "Tell you that I was going to take care of you. I won't let anything happen to you, Maria, ever."

If he had told me anything else I don't think I could have been as happy. Someone was going to take care of me. Michael was going to take care of me. Hearing those words and believing them purged all feelings of fear about the nightmares and Rena. All thoughts of not being good enough or screwing up royally: gone. He really cared about me and that made everything all right. So he was leaving to go back to Section tomorrow, I could deal with that. I did have a job to do and as soon as I got it done-

"Maria?"

Damn! Stupid daydreaming and I totally missed what he said. Plus I was still naked. "Yeah."

"Lay back down with me." He kicked his shoes off and pulled his shirt over his head. I momentarily thought about reaching to my chin to see if I was drooling. He undid his belt and I swear if he would have reached for the zipper on his pants it would have been all over, but he didn't. Damn! I lay back down next to him and he spooned me again.

"Michael…?" I wasn't sure what I was going to ask him, but I was always so full of questions.

"Not tonight, Maria," he whispered in my ear and I knew he wasn't talking about me asking too many questions. "Not like this."

I nodded and closed my eyes. I felt his arm underneath me, his forearm closing in on my stomach. His over arm was over me crossing in-between my breasts. Nice. Sleep came for me and I slept soundly in the arms of a man I thought I was falling in love with. Never being in love before I wasn't exactly sure, but I figured if I was willing to die for him, then it must be love. Either that or a very sick clause in the lust factor.

I woke up before dawn and I felt like my head was going to explode. Michael was still sleeping next to me and I watched him. All the times he'd watched me sleep, now it was my turn. I slipped on that yellow nightgown and sat cross-legged on the bed. His chest rose and fell with each breath; the worry in his demeanor last night was overshadowed by deep sleep. Damn he was handsome! Handsome? I don't recall ever using that word to describe any man.

I touched his face and screamed when he grabbed my wrist. "Michael!" I shouted and he let go of me. I jerked my hand back; all semblance of a normal morning went straight to hell. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry," he sat up and I watched those abs. Okay, forgiven. No, not yet.

"You damn near scared the shit out of me!" I rubbed my wrist although I think it was more for effect because it didn't hurt.

"You scared me too," he admitted and I saw him not for the big bad Section guy, but for the man. Sigh. "I'm not used to…" I watched as flush crept up that lickable neck. "I'm not used to sharing a bed with someone."

Wow. I know that took a lot for him to say. "It's okay." I smiled and leaned over to kiss him almost feeling like a normal couple. Well, at least until he turned away from me. "Alrighty then."

"Maria-"

"I know already," I stood up full of frustration. "You give me thousand and one mixed signals and then when I try to act on one of them, any of them, you do a 180 and I feel like a fool. Tell me Michael, tell me what you want!" I paced in front of the bed and did everything I could not to look at him. That was my downfall.

"It doesn't matter what I want right now Maria. All that matters is that you do your job and we keep Section and Rena off your back," he ran his hands through his hair. Yeah, so I was peeking. He stood and before I could move away, he caught me. He pulled me tight against him. "You know the signals I want you to pick up on; but I have to keep my distance to be safe. Okay?"

Oh yeah, I knew the signals. I could feel one digging into my hip as he talked. "Fine." I looked at him and crammed my mouth against his before he had a chance to react. No hesitation. Woo-hoo! A knock at the door sent my mind reeling. "Damn!"

"Get it," he released me and shook my head as I walked form the bedroom to the front door.

I swung open the door ready to beat who was on the other side for interrupting us. It was neighbor Kyle. "Kyle. Hi."

"Hi, did I wake you?" He smirked looking at the nightgown. Oh yeah, I think I was going to have to burn it.

"No, what's up?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay; you seemed a little out of it when I left last night." He stepped into the apartment and I looked nervously over my shoulder towards the bedroom. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, fine. Just a little hung over I think," I laughed that girlish laugh.

"Great," he dug his hands in his pockets. "I'm on my way to work, but I was wondering if you didn't have any other plans tonight if you'd care to join me for dinner?"

Dinner? Oh shit. Technically I knew I should go, he was the Sheriff's kid and the Sheriff usually knew everything that was going on in a town. Alien activity? I bet Jim Valenti would know something about it. On the other hand Michael was here; but he was leaving tonight, I just didn't know what time. Decisions. Michael would tell me to go. "Sure, that sounds great."
R>"Cool," he smiled and I hoped I wouldn't have to break his heart. "Wait, I hope you don't think I'm hitting on you because you're the new gorgeous mysterious girl in town. I'm not. I mean I'm not hitting on you, I just know how hard it can be to be new in town."

"Perfect!" I beamed. "Because I'm really not ready to get involved with anyone right now. You know?"

He nodded and I sensed he knew exactly what I was talking about. He told me he'd pick me up at eight and we laughed about him driving my car again. I shut the door and walked back to the bedroom; Michael was waiting expectantly sitting on the bed.

"Kyle Valenti." He said not asked.

"Yeah," I said slowly not liking the look on his face. Wait, maybe I was liking it if it was jealousy. "Why?"

"Dinner?"

"You said you were going back to Section."

"I am," he relaxed. "His father is the Sheriff."

"I know, hence the me going to dinner. I'll pump him for info." I sat next to Michael and picked up his hand. "I know you won't say anything, but I'm not going on a date with him. I don't want anyone else…"

He nodded. "I'm going to take a shower. Then we can go over some things today before I go back to DC, okay?"

I nodded and watched him walk away. Damn! I wished he'd not walk away so much. The morning and afternoon blurred together as Michael let me in on a little more information about Section and Rena.

"We did go out a few times when she was a new operative," Michael finally admitted late in the afternoon.

"You dated her?" I was shocked and somewhat let down.

"Not really, I said we went out a few times. It wasn't anything serious and it was a long time ago." He looked embarrassed to be talking about it. Oh well. "She wasn't the way she is now, I don't know if you can believe it or not."

"Does she treat all the new female operatives like she does me? Or does she just have the hard-on for me?" I had changed into shorts and a halter and I'll be damned if the a/c wasn't kicking out enough cool because I was boiling.

"It's just you Maria," he sighed. He sat next to me and took my hand. "I think she saw in you what I saw and it scared her."

"What a bitch!" I sighed. "Can we stop her?"

"We'll try. For now, do your job and let me handle Section. I have a few markers to call in and I've been there long enough to rack up quite a few."

"How long?"

"Since I was four." He looked out the window and I knew that was the end of that conversation. I was right.

It was after five when Michael said he had to leave. I walked him to the door and waited for the peck good-bye. He cupped my chin and raised my face to meet his. He leaned into me and I think I was melting as he kissed me. It was a kiss that said he'd be back soon and he'd be wanting more than just a kiss. Woo-hoo!

*           *             *
Chapter Thirteen


I dressed in black pants and a black shirt and, wait, a bra. Un-freaking-believable! I didn't want young Mr. Valenti to get any wrong ideas about me. I let my hair hang loose and used the eye make-up sparingly. When I was ready to go I checked my mail and it made me smile.

Maria. I didn't want to leave you, just so you know that. Sometimes I'm not the most eloquent with words, especially when it comes to you. I'm en route to Section now and I fear what lies ahead of me. It's going to be a long night, but thoughts of keeping you safe are my motivation. Remember what I said: be careful. If something happens, call me. I'll take care of you. Always, Michael.

It was the 'always' part that got me. Damn! We could have consummated our relationship, and I'm using that term very loosely, last night; but there's something holding him back. Something he's not telling me and I hope it doesn't end up getting us both killed.

I walked across the hall and knocked on Kyle's door. He answered with a towel around his waist. Damn! I must be early.

"Give me two minutes," he darted down the hall and I made myself at home by looking around. Okay, I was snooping.

Nothing too exciting, just a regular guy's home. Sports memorabilia was spread out sporadically and I had to smile at high school pictures of the football stud. I sat on the couch and noticed a photo album on the bottom shelf of the coffee table. I looked around the room stealthily and grabbed the album. I flipped through the pages and smiled back at all the smiling faces. I watched my neighbor age in front of the camera and then I started to see familiar faces. Of course, it was that Liz.

Liz, Max, Barbie and the curly blond, Tess? A tall lanky guy with Barbie, must be the overseas beau. So they've been friends since high school. I frowned. I don't even remember who I went to high school with.

"See anything interesting?" Kyle was leaning over my shoulder. Damn! I have to be more alert.

"Sorry," I set the book down. "Just being nosy."

"I can see that," he laughed. "Ready?"

I stood and we left the flat. I followed him to my car and tossed him the keys. He drove through town and I think we were nearing the next town when he pulled into a parking lot. I looked at him and he smiled at my questioning stare.

"Where are we?"

"You like burgers?" He asked getting out of the Mustang.

I nodded and tried to remember the last time I had an real hamburger. "Yeah."

"This place has got the best ones in the world." He nodded towards the building as we walked side by side.

I noticed a clothes boutique on the other side of the hole in the wall restaurant and pointed to it. "Do you think we could stop in there after we eat?"

We were seated in a booth and we talked about everything except me; which was so good. We ordered burgers and beer and Kyle was right, best burger I've ever had. I learned he had worked at an accounting firm but was now laid off. He told me about Roswell and some of the history of it and I hung on every word. Maybe Kyle Valenti was an alien. Hmm…

We finished dinner and after I insisted on paying went next door to the clothes store. I felt like a kid in a candy store going from rack to rack pulling clothes off and layering them on my arm. I got jeans, pants, a skirt, shirts and a new nightgown. If I was going to wear one, I think the yellow one had outworn it's welcome. Besides. I really wanted Michael to see me in something sexy besides just my skin!

I looked for Kyle and saw him leaning on the counter talking to the salesclerk. Tess? Yeah, it was Tess. I laid my purchases down and smiled. "Hi."

"Maria. Hi," she smiled and began to ring me up. "I didn't know you knew Kyle!"

"We live across the hall from each other," I said knowing that Kyle had already filled her in.

"Right," she nodded as I watched the register total.

Damn, I'd never been able to spend this much money on clothes before, ever! I'd never had this much money before. Tess held up the slinky nightgown and gave a knowing nod in Kyle's direction. Great.

"I'm closing up here in a minute. I'm meeting Max and the others at Juno's, wanna come?"

Kyle raised his eyebrows to me and I shrugged. Juno's? Sounded like a bar. A few more cocktails and I might be able to sleep through the night without Michael. I nodded. "Sure. If you want?"

Kyle agreed and I think he nearly choked at my bill. I paid in cash and we promised Tess we'd see her soon. Kyle put my bags in my trunk. "Okay, what do you do for a living? Most people don't carry that much cash."

Living? "Oh, I have a trust fund. My dead aunt." I didn't go further than that because I didn't have any more history to give him.

We drove for awhile passing by the Crashdown and eventually ended up at Juno's. Oh yeah, it was a bar. We went in and I saw Max jump up from a table and wave us over. He shook Kyle's hand and smiled at me. "What are you two doing here?"

"We saw Tess and she said you all were here." Kyle looked down at the table where Liz sat, alone.

"Yeah, Alex got back today and him and Iz will be here shortly." Max pulled out a chair for me and I sat down in between him and Kyle. "So, how do you like Roswell?"

"It's intoxicating," I looked to Liz and grinned. "Isn't it?"

She looked at me and I think I could feel the total dislike oozing off of her. Whatever. I turned to Max. "So, you lived here all your life?" I touched his hand that was resting on the table just to be a bitch.

"Yeah," he nodded. He asked where I was from and I gave him the spiel about North Carolina while tapping his hand off and on. I couldn't look at that Liz or I know I would have laughed out loud thus ruining my fun.

"Look at what the cat dragged it!" A voice from in back of us boomed and I stood up. "I'm sorry," a tall lanky guy holding Barbie's hand was smiling at me. "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm Alex Whitman and you must be Maria. I've already heard so much about you!" He glanced at that Liz. "Welcome to Roswell!"

I smiled and I liked him. Not as much as Kyle, but he was a good. Barbie smiled warmly at me and I found myself willing my brain to call her Isabel, not Barbie. Damn! "Thanks," I sat back down and Tess joined us a few minutes later.

I wasn't sure if this was the way that it was supposed to be happening or not. I think I was making friends. I don't know if when Michael told me I didn't have to make friends if that really meant don't make friends. It was actually kind of nice hanging out in the bar with normal people. Men and women, neither Section nor convicts; well, at least not that I knew of anyway.

I looked around and noticed that the pitcher of beer I was sharing with Kyle was almost gone. Alex and that Liz were each nursing their mixed drinks, but the other three were contentedly sipping on soft drinks. Why go to a bar and drink soda?
"So," I pointed to Max, Isabel and Tess. "What's with the soda?"

"They can't drink," Kyle nodded to me and I saw the reaction of the three in question. They weren't happy. I met Kyle's face and I saw his expression tense. "I mean, they can, but they don't."

"We're not drinkers," Isabel bat her eyelashes at me and I nodded. "Max and I have a few alcoholics in our family so we tend to stay away from alcohol altogether." Max nodded along with her. "Tess just doesn't drink."

"Nope," she chirped. "I'm usually the designated driver!"

Okay, that makes sense. Kind of. Conversation erupted again and I was drawn into their stories of high school and beyond. I laughed along with them and felt like one of them. So this was what happened to normal people when they grew up, huh? I tried not to let my mind wander to Michael and Section and what the hell was going on there.

Michael. Damn! All I had to do was think his name and there he was front and center in my subconscious. Standing in front of me with open, waiting arms. Those black leather pants with the button undone, so tight I can see the outline of what was digging into my hip last night. In my version, he doesn't have a shirt on and sweat is glistening off that steely chest. No, not sweat, I think I'm going back to the chocolate fetish. Syrup. Oh yeah, chocolate syrup.  

"Hello?" A hand was waving in front of me. It wasn't Michael's hand. I looked to the person attached to the hand. Alex.

"Spacing out, sorry." I glanced at the clock; stunned to see it was after midnight. Where the hell did the night go? "I better get going." I looked at Kyle who stood up on wobbly legs. "Alex, it was nice to meet you and to see the rest of you again."

We said our good-byes and I took the keys from Kyle. Hey, it was my car and if someone was going to wreck it, it should be me. Besides, I could actually walk a straight line. I swung the door open and stepped into a light rain. I darted to the car and put the top up, then stood there letting the rain hit my face.

I knew Kyle was staring at me, but I didn't care. The rain on my face gave me a new sense of freedom. I was actually free! I was a free woman standing in a parking lot in the rain and I felt good! I felt alive!

*        *         *

The light was intense. Michael shifted uneasily in the straight-backed chair. He hated the chairs across the desk from Intel. The men in suits, he'd called them to Maria. Well that's essentially what they were: men in suits. They never got their hands dirty, they had the rest of Section to do that for them.

"I don't understand any of this." Michael crossed his leg resting his ankle on his knee. "What exactly is the problem, gentlemen?"

"Mr. Smith and I, " the older of the two looked to his partner then to Michael. "We have reason to believe that you are not performing to Section protocol."

"That's bullshit." Michael hissed.

"No, I'm afraid it's not. Your newest recruit, Maria DeLuca, is in question." The younger suit, Mr. Smith, replied.

"I know who we're talking about," Michael was losing his patience and it was obvious. He took a deep breath and counted to five; never had the patience for ten. "You're taking second-hand information and trying to use it against her. Against us."

"Michael, Mr. Smythe and I have seen documentation that states otherwise." Mr. Smith cocked his head to one side.

Michael laughed bitterly.

"An operative stays in training for no less than six months, recruit DeLuca was only in training for a few weeks. Not nearly enough time-" Mr. Smith was cut off.

"It was plenty of time!" Michael knew they could sense the anger radiating off of him. "My father-"

"Is dead and has been for over a year, Michael." Mr. Smythe folded his arms over his chest. "The way you were used to things when he ran Section have changed. You work for us now. You do things our way or you leave."

Michael closed his eyes. "My father ran Section more efficiently than the both of you together ever will! This is all bullshit. Get Rena in here and we'll end this right now!"

"I'm sorry, Michael, Rena is on assignment."

Michael felt the color drain from his face.

*   ;     *         *

I pulled up in front of the flat and noticed Kyle had slightly sobered up since we left the bar. I grabbed my bags from the trunk and he carried half of them for me. We walked up the stairs to our apartments and I felt so comfortable. The sexual tension that was not there before, still wasn't.  

He hugged me and I realized it was the first intimate gesture I'd had with a man in a very long time that meant nothing more than friendship.

"I'm glad you came to Roswell, Maria." He shook his head and met my eyes. "I finally have someone to hang out with and who'll drink with me and not be a…a freak."

I smiled and he waved goodnight. Now all I wanted to do was get in my apartment and check my mail for a Michael-message. I kicked the door open with my hands full of bags and walked in. My eyes flew to the couch.

"Hello Maria." It was Rena.

Shit!
*        *         *
Chapter Fourteen


Have you ever had one of those moments where time seems to stand still? I felt like I was standing on the beach, right at the tide line, and watching the tide move back in to the ocean; dizzying. I sobered up entirely too fast and my head began to throb. I didn't know which way to look. I saw both her hands on her lap so I know she wasn't hiding a can of Raid in back of her. I set the bags on the floor and stared at my unwanted visitor. Damn! Where was Michael?

"Why don't you come in and sit down?" She smiled at me and I felt the bile rise in the back of my throat.

I took a deep breath. No way was I going to let this little red-haired bitch try to make me feel inferior. I'd been in that position before I sure as hell wasn't going back to it. I'm still climbing the walls out of that hole. "Why don't you tell me what the fuck you're doing here?"

"Such language, I thought we talked about that." She sneered and I wanted to jack her in the head. She nodded towards the bags on the floor. "I know you didn't get much money from Section for this mission, so how did you afford all those new toys?"

I thought about the wallet full of cash. Oh shit, Michael. "I don't know if that is any of your business."

She was off the couch before I had time to react. She grabbed a handful of my hair and slammed my face into the front door. "Everything that you do is my business!" She hissed wetly in my ear. "You don't know who you're fucking with Maria DeLuca. You have no idea."

I closed my eyes and willed back tears. No, not tears of defeat. Tears of pain because she was really pulling my hair and it hurt! "Let go of me." I said it as calmly as I could while my face was smashed against the door. "Please." It must have been the 'please' because she released my hair. "Thank you." I stepped away from the door and met her gaze; I could actually see the hate in her eyes. "Are you here for me? Is it my time? I mean, if it is, just get it over with and cut out the dramatics."

She laughed and I got the chills. "I wish it was your time, you have no idea. But I have to listen to Intel and they say wait and maybe you can salvage something out of this cluster fuck of an adventure. I have no idea what Michael was thinking when he signed you on for this. You're nothing but a waste."

I bit my lip and counted to five. "Thank you for the words of encouragement."

"Don't take me so lightly, Maria." She stepped closer to me and I stood my ground. She smirked at my defiance and once again I wanted to hit her. "I hope you do fail and I hope I'm the one to lead the extermination team right to you."

"Jealous much?" I felt the corner of my mouth turn up into a wicked grin. I saw her hand coming this time and I blocked her open palm inches away from my face. "You caught me off guard once, it won't happen again." I really hoped she couldn't hear my heart beating otherwise my tough-girl act was totally ineffectual.

She pulled her hand back and I saw a flicker of, could it be surprise, flash across her face. "Michael trained you well."

"You have no idea how well." Ahh, now I see jealousy.

"I'll be waiting for you to fail, and when you do, I'll come down on you so hard you won't even realize what happened." She took a step back. "What potential he sees in you is beyond comprehension. He's on the list now too, because of you."

"You know what Rena, you're really beginning to sound like a whiny high school girl. Wake up and get over it. Michael doesn't want you, he never did. Move on." I think I might have stepped over the line with my accusation when I saw the flush creeping up her neck. Bulls-eye!

"You know nothing about Michael," she steamed. Well, she kind of had me there. "He should be in control of Section right now! It was owed to him for everything he's done and now, he's throwing his future away for a absurd cause and a worthless piece of used white trash."

Okay. Not white trash. "Back off and get the fuck out of my home!"

"Your home?" She laughed. "Do you really think this is your home? No, Maria, you don't have a home. This place doesn't belong to you; this all belongs to Section. Nothing belongs to you and you don't belong to anything."

"Oh yeah," I nodded and grinned. "I belong to something. I belong to Michael."

I stood straight and waited for the next round of cruelty and meanness and was surprised when she walked back to the couch and picked a briefcase up off the floor. "You don't know anything Maria. You're just a stupid uneducated girl who thinks fucking the boss is going to get you places. Well, I have news for you darling. It won't get you anywhere."

Before I could even come up with words she walked out of my apartment and closed the door behind her. Damn! I looked out the front window and saw her get in a white sedan. With a flourish of screeching tires, she was gone. Good.

I didn't realize my hands were trembling until I sat down in front of the computer. After a few deep breaths, I clicked and typed in my password. I had mail.

Maria. Rena may be in Roswell and I don't think she's there for a good reason. Intel won't tell me anything and I'm losing my mind worrying about you. They won't let me leave tonight; but I promise I'll be there as soon as I can. You're more important to me than Section. I used to think it was all there was to live for; then I met you. Please, let me know you're okay as soon as you can. I'll be waiting by the computer and the phone. Always, Michael.

I reached for the phone and though better of it. I didn't want to hear his voice; that would make the distance seem even further. Damn! Since when did I pine away for anyone?

Michael. Ding. Ding. Ding! Give the man a cigar! Yes, Rena is here and she was waiting for me in my apartment when I got home. We had some words and some violence and now she's gone. I'm sure you'll get a full report. I haven't learned anything yet, but I did make friends. I think I might be starting to like it here a little. I mean, I would like it more if you were here…Anyway, I'm still on the hunt and I won't give up. If there are aliens in Roswell, damn it, I'm going to find them. I miss you Michael. Always, Maria.

I hit send and everything else I wanted to say to Michael flashed across my mind. I wanted to tell him that I loved him. Damn! I wasn't supposed to fall in love with anyone. I'm Maria DeLuca and I don't need anyone but myself; but the person who can take away my nightmares is the one worth keeping.

I fought the urge to write him and tell him all of this because, as much as I hate to say it, Rena was right. I knew nothing about Michael. I had no idea what she was talking about when she said Michael should be in charge of Section. I know I've let my hard shell down for him, but I was going to have to put it back up a little until I knew he really wasn't going to let me fall.

With Rena's visit all but a distant, and vile, memory, I began to sift through the bags of clothes and fell in love with them over again. I couldn't wait for Michael to see me in some of them! Or out of them…

I showered off all the bar smells and put on my new nightgown. The silkiness of it sent my nipples into spasms. Damn! Why wasn't Michael here? I grabbed Mr. Bear and crawled under the blankets with Michael weighing heavily on my mind. I'm pretty sure I was thinking about him covered in cotton candy and nothing else when I finally fell asleep.

*        *         ;*        

Always, Maria. Michael smiled and reread the email again. Always, Maria.  He closed his eyes and wondered if she was really okay. She talked tough, but there was so much gentility underneath that gritty image.

He swiveled in his chair and looked at a monitor above him. The picture was grainy; but he knew exactly what he was looking at. He had watched the muted video so many times over the last year.

She was there, her hair over her face, her body shaking violently. He knew she was hysterical, she was sobbing. Her hands clawed along the floor, her knees bloody and bare. Alone in a desolate room with no human contact for five months.

That was when he knew it was Maria. He also thought he knew where the nightmares came from. So desperate, so unsure. Her prison shirt was ripped as were her pants. The shirt hung open on her, every once in awhile, there was a flash of breast. There was nothing sexual about this video, though. No. Michael's heart broke watching the tape made three years before. This was a recorded history of one woman's fall into darkness.

He hoped he had saved her from it, not thrust her in deeper. He slammed the monitors power button and turned to the computer on his desk. His fingers flew across the keyboard and within seconds, he was looking at the dossier on Maria DeLuca.

The picture was so unflattering; she was much more beautiful. The photo had been taken after her arrest. Her hair was matted to her head, greasy. Vacant eyes stared back at him. Not the ones he saw when he looked at her; the eyes so full of life and questions. Eyes he could fall into and never come up for air.

Damn Smith and Smythe! Michael stood and walked around his apartment. He wanted to leave but knew he couldn't and still live. He almost laughed remembering how Intel had told him that if he didn't like working for them he could leave Section. Right. No one ever just leaves Section. Either you die or…You die. This was not working out the way he had hoped; the way he had dreamed.

Maria was perfect. She was everything he had hoped for and more. She was going to be the one to be there for him. She was a challenge at first, but now…Now she was his.

*        *         *     

When I woke up I didn't know where I was. I looked around and focused on the window. I was in Roswell and this was my apartment. I began to rock back and forth clutched Mr. Bear tightly. I looked around desperately for Michael hoping that maybe he had shown up in the night like last time. No. I was really alone. I tucked my hair behind my ears and sat on the edge of the bed.

I was shaking and scared. Damn! I hated when I got like this; this was a bad one. Should I call him? No, what was I going to do then hug the phone? I got off the bed and took a step forward with Mr. Bear tight in my grip.

I walked through the seemingly familiarity of my new home to the front door. It took me a few minutes before I could turn the doorknob. I stepped into the hall and took a deep breath; sweat trickled down my back as I walked across to the hall to the one person in the near vicinity I thought I could trust.

I banged on the door and hoped Kyle had recovered enough to open the door and let me in. I didn't want to be alone. I banged my fist on the door again and heard movement. Kyle answered the door in pajama bottoms and looked at me through sleepy bloodshot eyes.

"Maria?"

"Can I come in?" I stepped towards him as he opened the door wider. He looked to Mr. Bear then back at my terrified face. "I have nightmares."

"Oh God," he rubbed his eyes. "Come in, please!"

I stepped around him and into the apartment. I headed for the couch and curled up on it feeling stupid. He sat next to me and took my hand. "I'm sorry Kyle, I don't know anyone…"

"It's okay." He placed a hand on my sweaty back. He sat with me in my pretty new nightgown on the couch until I fell back asleep.

*        *         *
Chapter Fifteen


When I woke up in the morning I was curled up next to an unfamiliar body. I looked next to me and saw Kyle sitting up, asleep. He was holding onto Mr. Bear. I smiled at the sight and then said a small prayer of thanks for Kyle being there last night.

I sighed. God, how was I ever going to live completely alone? I'd been alone a million times before, but I've never really lived alone except… I had my dad until he passed away, then I wandered. It all seemed like so long ago now. I didn't have a home I didn't have anything that mattered to me except for a few possessions I wouldn't let go of. The picture of my dad; I absently touched the locket around my neck, his leather jacket and my boots. Of my life, that's all I had acquired. Unbelievable.

After my dad died I didn't care where I spent the night or with who. I tried doing the relative thing, but it didn't work out. They didn't like me and I didn't like them. Then I left. I left part of myself behind and went with the flow. I did drugs, I drank and I had sex with near strangers. I didn't care where I was at night, as long as I had somewhere to go; if it cost me an hour in bed with some guy, then so be it. I did what I had to do to survive. Even when I hit my lowest points, I knew I had to try to survive. Maybe I knew even back then that my knight in black leather would come for me someday.

I had roommates in jail; they tend to not give out too many private rooms. My first one moved in after I had been in the pokey for a little over six months; she lasted a few months before she got transferred to another prison. The other one I had was the closest thing I had to a friend in a really long time. She was a few years older than I was and she was going to spend the rest of her life behind bars. When you maliciously butcher your husband with a meat cleaver; you get life. Why I was going to be electrocuted and she was going to stay alive, I don't know. I'll never understand the death penalty.

Kyle snorted in his sleep and I think I giggled. Wow. Maria DeLuca giggling. Will wonders never cease? I looked at his sleeping body and wanted to hug him. It didn't matter if he stayed on the couch because he passed out or if he stayed for me. Either way, he was there when I needed someone. He wasn't Michael and I think he was the one I truly needed; but as a friend, Kyle was the best one I had right now.

I sat down next to him and touched his cheek. He opened one sleepy eye and focussed in on me. I smiled and he smiled back with both eyes open looking down at Mr. Bear on his lap.

"You better?" He asked and I wanted to pass out from the alcohol breath. I think he noticed my reaction and quickly excused himself. He came back minty fresh. "I'm better, are you?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "Thank you. I get really bad nightmares sometimes and I can't be alone. Being with someone doesn't make them go away; but it makes them not quite as scary." I thought about Michael and his magical way of making them disappear.

"They're really bad, aren't they?" He touched my arm and I wanted to cry. I nodded instead. "If you ever need to talk…"

"Thanks, but something's are just too private." I put my hand on top of his. "I'll never be able to thank you enough. I don't know anyone else here." I kissed his cheek.

"Anytime Maria, anytime." He yawned and I stood.

"I'm going to go back across the hall. Go to bed and try to get a few more hours sleep, Kyle. You have bags." I grabbed Mr. Bear and let myself out. I walked across the hall to my unlocked apartment and went inside.

I looked around and hated Rena. I hated her more than anything for telling me this wasn't my home, that I didn't belong. This was my home, for now, and I loved it! I put Mr. Bear down on the computer monitor and had to check my mail. I mean I had to. Woo-hoo!

Sweet Maria. I've been waiting for a reply from you all night and I'm worried. I've called you and either you're not answering the phone or can't. Please, put my mind at ease and call me or email me. I won't leave the phone or computer until I hear from you. All I can do is sit here and think positive thoughts while the darkness swirls all around me. Maria, please. I can't leave to come back yet and I have to hear from you. Always, Michael.

Sweet Maria? I smiled and I think I blushed. I thought the 'always, Michael' had been special but knowing I was now Sweet Maria was… Wow! It made me think of my dad. When I was little he always said the same thing to me when he tucked me in at night: 'good night sweet girl.' Damn! Why was everything getting too hard to manage? Why was Michael invading every pore of my being? I couldn't even concentrate on finding the fucking aliens because Michael-thoughts were the prominent ones on the brain. Even though I was now Sweet Maria, I was going to have to force myself away from Michael. Wean myself off of him. God, I was a junkie again! But this time, I was a Michael junkie. When I got this job done then things were going to change!

Michael. I'm fine. I'm sorry I worried you. I had nightmares again and I got scared so I went across the hall to Kyle's. I couldn't be alone, Michael, and you weren't here. I was so scared. You've seen me like that, so I went over there. I finally fell asleep on his couch. In case you're worried, nothing happened. I just couldn't be alone. Is Rena still here? When can you come back? Tell me what's going on, please! I have to know what I'm really up against. Is it just aliens and Rena or is it Section too? I can't beat Section. Always, Maria.

I hit send and within a minute the phone was ringing. It was Michael.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked and I could hear the concern over the phone.

"I'm fine, really. I think the run in with Rena freaked me out a little and brought on the nightmares in full force." I sighed. "When are you coming back?"

"I have another meeting at Section this afternoon, I'll try to be there tonight, but I can't promise."

I smiled thinking I wouldn't have to spend a night alone. "I have to ask you something. Something Rena said." Silence, okay. "She said you should be the head of Section right now. Why?" Silence. "Michael?"

"My father used to control Section. Before he died he never put in a formal request for his successor." His tone was shallow and I knew he didn't want to be discussing this either with me or on the phone; I was hoping it was the phone thing.

"Oh." I wish I understood the politics of this more than I did. "Okay."

"I can explain it more when I see you." Man, I freaking heard the smile through the phone. Damn! "Be careful and…"

"I know, find the aliens!" I smiled and looked down at the wrinkled nightgown and remembered something else Rena said. "Where did the money come from? The money in my wallet."

He sighed. "Most of it is from me," he admitted. "I didn't want you to want for anything."

"Michael-"

"I have to go Maria. I'll try to be there tonight." With that he was gone.

I looked at the phone and thought about screaming. Why was he doing this for me? Why was he helping me while apparently his own life with Section was falling apart? What did he know about me that I didn't know about myself?

I stripped off my pretty new nightgown and handed to the bathroom where I hand-washed it in the sink. I wanted to look nice tonight for Michael when he came back. After a hot shower and a tiny breakfast of fresh fruit I put my running spandex on and stepped out of my apartment. I was surprised to see Kyle awake and stretching with Isabel right beside him; both in running shorts and Isabel in a halter.

"Hi," I smiled.

The both greeted me and after some small talk, we decided to run together. They knew the area and I didn't, so I followed. My short run around the block several times the other day wasn't that great.

We took off and I felt like one of the gang. Wow. One of the gang. I knew I was already bonded with Kyle and now Isabel and I found out we actually had a lot in common. We liked clothes and some of the same music. It was nice to talk to a woman who didn't a) want me dead or b) want to talk about how many people she'd killed before ending up in the pokey. Isabel Evans was a nice, normal all-American woman and I liked her.

I kept my eyes peeled for non-human activities and came up short. We traveled through a dusty and sandy park and I was amazed. The parks I remember from growing up were nothing like this. I wasn't really watching where I was running, just following the two locals while I took in my surroundings.

"Maria!" Kyle shouted and I looked down almost in time to see a three-foot drop into a gully. I tried to change my direction, but it was too late. I closed my eyes and hoped for the best.

I felt a slight bump as I landed on my ass and that was it. I opened my eyes to Kyle and Isabel peering down at me. I looked over my shoulder to where the gully was and holy shit! It was gone. I jumped to my feet and pointed at the suddenly flat ground. "Where the fuck did it go?" They looked at each other then back at me. "What the fuck is going on?" I looked at Kyle who seemed a hell of a lot more nervous than Isabel.

"I…Uh…" He stammered.

"Snake. It was a snake Maria." Isabel stepped closer to me and I could smell her perfume. "He yelled at you because there was a snake in your path and you tripped."

"Like fuck I did!" I backed away from her, the hair on my arms bristling. "There was a fucking dip in the ground and now it's gone! There was no fucking snake!"

We argued over this for a few more minutes until Isabel almost had me convinced that there really hadn't been a dip. Almost. Something strange was going on and apparently it included Mr. Kyle Valenti and his cohort Isabel Evans.  We walked the rest of the way back to the apartment and I went in alone trying to make sense of what happened.

I decided after sunset I would go back to the park and see what was really there. Maybe I was right, maybe it was Kyle. Hmm…The plot thickens.

*        *         *

The partners of Smith and Smythe sat across from Michael, again. Michael was back in the hardback chair. His comfort zone was hitting about minus ten. He knew they liked it like that; it was something his father had mastered.

"We know you've communicated with Maria DeLuca, so you know the gravity of this situation. Rena was indeed in Roswell New Mexico and is now back here at Section." Smith crossed his arms over his chest. "Now Michael, I hope you've had time to rethink your issues. We understand this is a important mission for you; extraterrestrial life-forms was always a hobby of your fathers as well."

Michael took a deep breath and released it slowly. "It's not a hobby. Section would have never allocated the funds for a hobby."

"We understand that Michael." Smythe sighed. "It's a relevant operation and we think you would have headed it quite professionally if you had not let your personal feelings for Ms. DeLuca get in the way."

"Okay, once again," Michael fought the urge to stand. "This is bullshit! I have not let anything get in my way! I took Maria from here to get away from Rena and her witch-hunt. She's doing a flawless job in Roswell and I want to keep it like that. Sending Rena there was a big mistake. Do you want this cover blown?"

"Michael-" Smythe started.

"Keep Rena away from Maria and I promise a result. Stay off her back and we'll get answers. In time, Maria will be an asset to Section. Have I ever been wrong before?"

Smith and Smythe looked at each other and conceded. "No Michael, you've never been wrong before." Smith shrugged. "Your father would be proud."

Michael nodded and stood. "May I presume we are done here?"

"Almost," Smith answered. "Although you have made your points brazenly, we are not lifting the sanction to exterminate on Maria DeLuca if she fails. Keep an eye on your operative Michael. A close eye. She fails, there will be severe repercussions for you as well."

"Fine," Michael felt the knot in his stomach. "I'll be leaving tonight then to keep an eye on my operative." He bit back the sarcasm as much as possible while still leaving a trail of it behind.

Smith and Smythe nodded as Michael walked from the office. Michael fought the urge to pick up the first heavy object he saw and chuck it through one of the many glass partitions. He took deep breaths as he walked through Section. He paused at the room where he had first met Maria DeLuca, the hamster cage, and smiled.

"Reminiscing?" A voice from behind him brought anger back to the surface.

"Rena." He said slowly turning around. "What brings you here? I thought you might be out beating up little kids or kicking dogs."

"You're funny Michael," she sashayed closer to him. "I was told to pay your operative a visit. I can't help it that Intel doesn't think any more of her than I do."

"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into Rena," Michael's smile was cruel. "You'll never be at a higher level than you are right now. It didn't work on my father. And I never gave in. It won't work on anyone." He relished watching the color drain from her face. "See Rena, it doesn't matter who you're screwing because the only one to get fucked in the end, will be you." He stepped past her as she grabbed his arm.

"You'll go down for this Michael," the anger leaked from her. "I'll be the one to do it and I'll start with your whore!"

Michael laughed which infuriated her even further. "This is your downfall Rena, I've told you that for years. You think you deserve everything. You don't." He whipped his arm out of her grasp. "And if I ever hear of you laying a hand on Maria again, I'll kill you myself!"

He walked away and retinal-scanned out of Section. He looked over his shoulder at the clandestine building and wondered if he'd ever step foot in there again. That part of life was slowly trickling away making room for a new one full of surprises.

He smiled as he got into a waiting cab and headed back to his apartment. His life had been spent at Section; concise, organized, planned, caculated, no surprises. He grinned as he thought about a life with Maria DeLuca; there he was sure to find a lot of surprises.

He packed a suitcase this time and made flight reservations for New Mexico. He packed more than he had before; he was planning on spending as much time down there as he could. Almost as an afterthought, he slipped the dossier and videotape of Maria in his bag. He called for a private car and driver; the flight wasn't scheduled to leave for a few hours, but he had a stop to make on the way there. Surprises.

*        *         *
Chapter Sixteen

I paced my apartment all freaking day until I heard Kyle leave again. I ran outside and drove straight to the park. I followed the path we were running on and imagine that, a dip! A really big freaking dip right where my ass fell! Damn! Kyle Valenti displaying very non-human like actions, I think, although I couldn't exactly say for sure what the hell happened here this morning. Michael said the aliens wouldn't be old, they'd be younger. Is that why he sent me? Because he knew they'd be around my age?

I walked around the park for a little while until it was getting just too damn dark to see. I could have sworn someone was watching me and it was beginning to creep me out. I kept looking over my shoulder as I jogged back to the pony. I looked around for the flash of red hair and screeching voice, but there was nothing.

I drove out of the park and decided to play detective. I mean, if Kyle Valenti was indeed an alien, maybe the others might know something, right? I drove by Juno's bar and after noticing only one car in the lot, I kept going. I pulled up in front of the Crashdown, took a deep breath and went inside. I didn't see anyone familiar at first while I took a seat in a booth. Then I saw him as he slid in across from me. That Liz's boyfriend, Max. No, I think I'll call him Isabel's brother instead. I really liked Isabel.

"Max," I smiled and scanned my menu. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, just hanging around waiting for Liz," he motioned towards the back of the café. "Her parents are out of town for a couple days and she's playing manager."

"Don't you have anywhere else to be?" I asked with a smirk.

"Not really. So, Isabel told me you had a scare with a snake this morning. Everything okay?"

I nodded but I didn't really like the way he was asking. I almost felt guilty. Hmm… "Yeah, I never actually saw the snake, though."

"Well, you have to be careful around here. We have six different kinds of rattlesnakes in New Mexico." He nodded and I thought he would make a great teacher. "Just be on the lookout and I wouldn't go out there alone until you can identify them."

"I won't." I promised as the waitress came to take my order. Once again, I ordered something with a ridiculous name and was surprised when Max ordered dinner too.

"I haven't had dinner yet, do you mind if I join you?"

"Not at all." Cool, maybe I could pump him for information about Kyle. He seems like an okay guy when that Liz isn't around. "So, what do you do Max?"

"I work at my dad's law firm."

"Oh, you're going to be a lawyer too? Just like Liz?" Now I wanted to throw up.

"No, not exactly. I'm a research guy and I do some investigating for him."

Uh-oh. This could be bad depending on how much of an investigator Max Evans really is. "Really." I swallowed hard and hoped he didn't notice. Wait a second, why was I worried? I worked for Section and as far as I could tell, Section pretty much ruled the world. "You like it?"

"I love it," he smiled and I think I might be beginning to like him a little bit more. He did have a great smile. I caught that Liz watching from in back of the counter and actually fought the urge to lean over and french kiss him just for fun. What was it about her that made me like this?

Max began to ramble on about his job and my thoughts instinctively flew to Michael. Michael would be here tonight, woo-hoo! I couldn't wait to see him, to curl up with him, to smell him, to feel those soft and callousy hands on my skin. I noticed I had chocolate syrup in the fridge at the apartment; almost like someone had been reading my mind. I nodded along with whatever Max was saying and continued on my journey into Michaeldom. I knew he'd be there tonight; sure, he said he'd try, but I knew. I could feel it in my bones, among other places.

"Do you mind if I smoke?"

I looked at Max and almost laughed as he held a cigarette to his lips. He looked like a choirboy committing a sin. I shrugged and caught myself leaning forward to catch a whiff of smoke. Sometimes I really missed those things. I used to smoke a lot, but I quit when I went to prison. Strange, I think most people started once they got there, but I quit. Sure a drag here and there every once in awhile, but not a full cigarette in over four years.

"Ex-smoker?" He asked.

I nodded suddenly embarrassed. "I quit a long time ago but every once in awhile they smell so good." I closed my eyes and inhaled his smoke. Damn! I opened my eyes as his sister was at the edge of the table. She smiled and slid in next to Max. I watched her and the way she looked at him and felt very uncomfortable. I could tell she had something to tell him and she wouldn't because I was there. I excused myself to the restroom and turned around as their heads went together in deep conversation. Damn! Why didn't Section give me one of those little microphone thingys?

I walked a few steps towards the restroom and then ducked all ninja-like behind a wall. I peeked around the corner and watched the interaction between the Evans siblings. Max was pointing at her and Isabel looked like she was trying to defend herself with her hands up in front of her. She kept shaking her head and Max seemed to be getting more and more pissed off. I glanced around and saw that Liz watching me watch them, damn! I met her eyes and saw not jealousy or confusion, but fear. Fear?

Okay, this was turning into a whole new game now. Why fear? Was she one too, like Kyle? Or maybe I just stepped into some strange American Gothic type town where incest is best and the whole damn group is related and…Okay, take a deep breath DeLuca, chill out. I turned and walked into the bathroom and washed my hands. I tucked my hair behind my ears and adjusted my shirt to get maximum cleavage. I didn't want to flirt with Max Evans, but if need be to get some answers, then so be it. I was, after all, a professional.

I stepped back out of the bathroom, avoided that Liz, and went back to my table. Max and Isabel had ended their heated discussion and our dinner was on the table.

"Join us?" I asked Isabel.

"I can't, I'm just killing time. Alex's band's playing tonight and I don't like to show up too early." She explained and stole a fry off her brother's plate. "You should come, they're really good."

I thought about Michael coming in tonight and there was no way I was going to risk not being there when he got there. "I can't. I have some stuff to do at home." Oh yeah, that sounded believable. And did I just call Michael 'stuff'?

"Kyle said he was coming," Isabel winked and I blushed. Damn!

"Sorry, maybe next time. Let me know?"

"Of course," Isabel smiled and dug around in her purse. She pulled out paper and a pen and handed it to me. "Give me your number and we'll go shopping this week, cool?"

"Very," I scribbled a number thinking it was the right one and handed her the paper back. "Thanks."

"For what?" She asked as she stood up.

I shrugged and felt like I was in an after-school special. "For inviting me."

Isabel laughed and I noticed she had a beautiful smile. "You're very welcome! I'm glad you moved here Maria, it gets boring with the same old people all the time." She motioned towards the back of the café and leaned in closer to Max. "Be careful my brother, your keeper is watching!" She laughed haughtily and was gone in a blur of black, red and blond.

Max blushed and I ate my dinner. I watched as he poured, and I mean poured, Tabasco sauce all over his cheeseburger. He caught me staring. "I like things hot."

"So I see," I said in-between bites of a chicken salad sandwich.

"So, are you and Kyle, like, dating?" He asked with his eyebrows raised.

Nosy, much? "Uh…No, we're friends. He's really the first friend I've made here." I nodded and suddenly felt like I was under a microscope.

"Cool, he's a great guy." Max nodded and took a bite of his burger spilling red sauce down his chin. "If you decide to date him, you won't regret it. Like I said he's a great guy."

"And you're his cheerleader, why?"

"No reason," he smiled. "Just trying to make you feel at home in Roswell. Are you staying here for awhile?"

"I might, I don't have any family so I don't have anywhere else I need to be." Whoa, I see an opening. "So you and Isabel have always lived here, right?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Since we were adopted. I'm a little fuzzy on things before that."

Adopted? Didn't Isabel say they didn't drink because of alcoholism in the family? Strange things are afoot in Roswell. "Really." I finished my dinner and pushed my plate away. "I better go, I really do have stuff to do at home; but thanks for having dinner with me." I pulled money out of my purse and threw it on the table. "Bye Max." Okay, no flirting and a little information. Things were not adding up.

I left the Crashdown with one last look over my shoulder just in time to see that Liz taking my place at the table. I shook my head and got in my car and drove home to the flat. I didn't even look and see if Kyle was home. I didn't want to know. If he was  an alien, then I was getting ready to turn him over to Section and God only knows what they were going to do to him. That was something I didn't want to think about.
R>When I got inside I stripped off my clothes and hopped in the shower, I wanted to smell raspberry fresh for Michael. It was almost eight by the time I got out. I grabbed my pretty nightgown from the back of the door and slid it on. I smoothed out the wrinkles and looked in the mirror while combing my hair. Maybe I was pretty, I smiled at my reflection, maybe I was good enough.

I walked into the bedroom and made up the bed placing Mr. Bear on my pillow. Fingers crossed, I hoped I wouldn't need him tonight. I stood in front of the full-length mirror and looked at my reflection. I knew I wasn't ugly, but I never considered myself beautiful. Tonight, I looked beautiful.

I walked back into the living room and turned on the TV after checking my mail, nothing. I flipped channels while trying not to look at the clock every few seconds. Maybe he couldn't come back tonight. Maybe he was stuck at Section. A deep over-analytical depression washed over me taking me to a place I didn't like. A place of self-loathing.

Michael. After all the men I'd been with for various reasons or no reason at all, why would Michael want me? I know what he says and I know his concern, but I'm used merchandise. He researched me well enough to know I hadn't been a virgin in a long, long time. He seemed to know me better than I knew myself and he still cared. I was his Sweet Maria.

Fuck my past! I slammed my fist down on the couch and got angry. I was angry with myself for the thoughts. I had fought those thoughts for years in the pokey, I sure as shit wasn't going to slide back into them now. When I woke up in Section I was granted a fresh start. A new Maria DeLuca was born. One who didn't think she was worthless, one who had a purpose in this world!

Feeling better I got myself a bottled water and waited. I'll admit, patience? Not a virtue. It was almost ten when I heard a light tapping on the front door. I jumped off the couch and skipped to the door. Please be Michael! Please be Michael!

It was. He stood in my doorway, a suitcase at his side and an Atlanta Braves baseball hat on his head. Aww…He smiled and stepped inside dropping the suitcase on the floor and stepped into my waiting arms. He kissed my neck and I was actually melting. My knees felt like butter. His hands ran down my silky sides and pulled me tight against his body. He met my eyes and then he kissed me with no inhibitions. I think he was ready for me. Woo-hoo!

He kicked the front door shut and walked me backwards into the bedroom. "Sweet Maria."

*        *         *

Chapter Seventeen


I tried so hard not to stumble over my own feet as Michael walked me into the bedroom. His kiss was so sweet and I knew this was the night. It had to be the night. I ran my hands through his hair knocking that sentimental hat to the floor. He kissed my neck again and I froze. Whoa! What the hell was I doing now? It had been so long since I was with somebody; and now for the first time it was going to be with someone I think I'm in love with. Man, why does everything have to be so freaking complicated?

He must have sensed my statue stature and quit kissing me. No! No! No! Not good. He looked into my eyes and I saw something I hadn't before. The self-confidence was slipping away revealing a man of emotion and vulnerability. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. My hormones were racing out of control and I could feel, literally, his were too. We looked in each other's eyes and I bit my lip. I wanted to talk but I couldn't find the words. Damn! I hated that. I touched his cheek and he smiled.

"Michael," I whispered and realized it was the first thing I'd said since he'd been there.

"Sweet Maria." He nuzzled his face on my neck and I wanted to cry.

God, I can't ever remember ever wanting or needing anything or anyone in my life before. The warmth I felt through the thinness of my pretty nightgown nearly sent me into spasms. I never thought I'd have this feeling with a man; I didn't really think it was possible. I'd read the stories and saw the shows, but I thought it was just a fairytale. Never did I believe that any of this could ever happen to me.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and nudged his face with my chin until he faced me again. Standing on my toes, I kissed him and it was complete. I felt complete. Ever little bit of self-loathing was gone. I was on top of the world looking down and yes, I think it's true, me, Maria DeLuca, was in love with Michael Guerin. But was I going to tell him that? Hell no!

I could feel his smile under our kiss and I smiled back. If this was true love, I don't think I ever wanted to come back from it. I tensed when his hands slid under my nightgown and then I relaxed feeling the soft and callousy feel of familiar hands. I smiled to myself thinking about the way I had thrown myself at him when we first met. Looking back on it, I know I didn't care about him either way for awhile, remember, I thought he was the devil. That was just all I knew to do.

Sex was not only a weapon, it was answer and a question and everything I ever needed it to be. A bed, a room, a meal, a drink or a fix. Now it was going to mean something different. It was going to mean what I always thought never existed between a man and a woman: love. I could read something in his eyes and if that's what love and adoration looked like; I was all over it.

Before I could rationalize another thought, I felt my pretty nightgown getting raised up my body and over my head. He let it slide through his fingers to the floor and stepped back from me. Although I had made sure he had seen me naked on more than one occasion, I felt exposed as his eyes traveled the length of my body taking in every line and curve. I looked down until I felt his hand on my chin. He lifted my head and I faced him.

"You're beautiful," he whispered and I think I felt a tremor in him.

I smiled totally embarrassed. Okay, embarrassed, but not as much to keep my hands from un-tucking his black T-shirt. He let me pull it over his head and I stared at naked Michael chest. Damn! What else was I supposed to do? I took a deep breath as he slid off his black loafers and then I reached for his belt. Black on black. The buckle looked funny to me and as much as I didn't want to talk, I had to. "Is this electrical tape over the buckle?"

He smiled, so glad I amused him so much. "Yes, it covers the silver that could reflect light and give me away."

I nodded totally satisfied with that answer and undid that bastard. I bit my lower lip as I trailed a finger along the waist of his pants and I finally just used both hands and unbuttoned and unzipped and let them fall. Black boxers were in my way now and I don't think it took me more than one second to get them off. Woo-hoo! Now it was my turn to step back and admire. I forced my eyes up to meet his and I went to him. I'll always go to him.

He took my hands and kissed each knuckle. He made me feel special and I savored every second of it. He led me to the bed and grinned as he put Mr. Bear on the nightstand. He looked at the stuffed animal again and turned him around to face the wall.

"Are you sure?" He asked as he stepped towards me.

Was I sure? I think I was sure. I mean I've been sure that I wanted to jump his bones for quite some time now and now here it was upon me and I was actually questioning myself? Whatever. I nodded, I was so fucking sure!

Without warning, he scooped me up in his arms and lowered me to the bed and in one fluid movement was lying with half his naked body on top of mine. I felt him tremble and then realized it was me doing the trembling. Damn! I may be a born again virgin, but this was silly. I knew what I was doing so why was I so damn nervous?

He brushed loose tendrils of my hair off my face and just stared at me with that quirky little smile. It might have been the same one I had wanted to knock off his face awhile back; now all I wanted to do was get lost in it.

"You don't even realize how truly spectacular you are, do you?" He asked as one hand stayed on my face, the other rested on my ribs.

I didn't know how to answer that. I mean, spectacular? That wasn't the kind of compliment an ex-con gets all the time. I shook my head and he laughed. I smiled back at him and reached to his face. I ran my fingers over his full lips and waited. I sure as hell didn't want to make the next move. And I didn't have to. I felt his hand on my side making a trail to my breasts. I sighed when they made contact. My nipples were at attention when he lowered his mouth to them. I ran my hands through his hair while his full attention was on the task at hand. Never deviate from a plan of action. He must have learned that at Section. All hail Section!

I hadn't been with a man for…God, so long. Four years in a women's prison was not the ideal place to meet boys. And now, here I was with Michael. Okay, amidst my daydreams of born again virginity, Michael had moved on top of me. He was trembling now; not me. I mean really trembling. His breath was shallow and I didn't know what to do. He was making me incredibly nervous.

"Michael?" I whispered. "What's wrong?"

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

Was this a trick question? I swear I already made it more than obvious it was exactly what I wanted. Wait, maybe… "Are you sure?" I watched his face and got scared.

"I have to tell you something first."

Great. He lay down next to me, his hot body against mine and he wanted to talk? This could only happen to me. "Okay." He traced the outline of my breast and didn't meet my eyes. Wonderful, dripping with sarcasm.

"I…Um…I've never…"

A virgin? You have got to be shitting me! Of all the things I thought he was going to say I never, I mean ever, expected it to be this. A virgin! Wow. A hot one like Michael Guerin was a virgin and I don't even know the number of the people I've been with. A twisted hand of fate. He wasn't looking at me and I could see redness creeping up his neck. Michael was blushing and embarrassed. Oh God!

I touched his cheek with the back of my hand. "I don't care." And I didn't.

He nodded and slowly met my eyes. Oh yeah, official time, I loved Michael. His nervousness made me love him even more. He reached towards my nightstand and got out a wrapped condom. Okay, have they been in there the whole time? I don't know if I wanted to know or maybe I just didn't care. He ripped that baby open and rolled it on. His hands still shuddered. So afraid to touch; he lay down on top of me and I guided him into me.

The first thrust and Michael looked like it might be the last. He smiled and then laughed. God, he had a great laugh.

"Why me?" I asked.

"Because it's always been you, Maria." His voice was heavy with passion. "My sweet Maria."

I closed my eyes as Michael made love to me. We didn't have sex, we made love and it was breathtaking. I felt things stir in me I didn't even know existed. His eyes were so clear and I could see Michael for who he was. A man with deep feelings and emotions so well hidden behind the Section image they were almost lost forever. I could relate to that; I had my own secrets to contend with.

I couldn't help it, I took control. In a move that should be added into the Kama Sutra, we ended up with him on his back and me on top. Maria DeLuca was officially in charge now. And as much as I wanted to, I didn't get up and get the chocolate syrup. Tonight was special; it was so much more than sex and I didn't want to cheapen the moment by adding condiments. Besides, there would always be time for the syrup later if everything went well tonight.

I rode him with his hands first on my hips then on my breasts. His gaze was so intent and I almost screamed how much I loved him. Not this time DeLuca, let him come to you. Let him tell you. I waited and heard nothing. That was okay, I could wait.
Apparently I've been waiting a lifetime already.

When Michael came, my body shook. Good God and sweet Jesus! I think I might have squealed at this point in time. I waited a beat before getting off of him. Within seconds his hand was between my legs and I was floored.

"You didn't…" He blushed and covered my nipple with his mouth. Oh yeah, within seconds I did.

I lay back on the bed and sighed really wishing I had a cigarette, God knows I could use one right about now. Something happened then that was better than a cigarette. He curled up next to the length of my body and rested his head on my chest.
"Maria." That was all it took, just my name. I heard my name like I had never heard it before. There was so much in him saying that one little name I didn't need to hear anything else from him.

"I'll always belong to you," I whispered and ran my hands through his hair. He kissed my stomach and I think I fell asleep soon after that. Content, safe and nightmare free.

As morning light shown through the curtains I expected Michael to be gone. I was surprised when I felt him next to me, his chest rising and falling with each breath. So last night was not a dream? It was all real. I guess that sometime after I fell asleep Michael had covered us up with the comforter, sweet. I curled up next to his naked body and kissed his chest half expecting an extreme reaction like the last time I woke him up. Instead, I got a murmur and a hand on the small of my back.

I sighed and seemed to forget about everything else in the world. As far as I was concerned, my world started and ended in this bedroom in this bed. However, the phone had a different idea all together when it started ringing it sent me airborne. Michael smiled and watched me scramble for the stupid phone. It was Isabel and she wanted to go shopping. I repeated the conversation back to her so Michael could hear and then told her I'd be ready in half an hour. Damn! That was so not enough time!

I attempted to crawl back under the covers, but Michael caught my arm. "You better get ready, Maria."

I nodded and retreated to the bathroom where I showered and dried my hair. Michael was sitting up in bed when I came back in looking entirely too comfortable when I came back in. Wait, comfortable and hot!

"Isabel Evans," he read from his laptop that was sitting on his lap, as where it should I guess. "You like her?"

I nodded and then relayed the story of the disappearing dip at the park. I don't think I liked the look I was getting from Michael when I was done.

"And you're just now telling me this?" Authoritative voice was back. Damn!

"I just found out last night and then you got here and well…" I trailed off knowing I really did fuck-up. Didn't I just tell myself the other day that I was going to concentrate on work and put Michael on the back burner? Damn! But after his arrival last night I couldn't concentrate on anything except Michaelness. "I'm sorry."

"Damn it!" Definitely didn't like the way that sounded. "Don't forget why you're here Maria. I told you we're both on the line for this. You should have said something last night."

I wanted to cry. This was so not like the morning after was supposed to be. "I know." I started out of the room until I felt his hand on my wrist. I turned to face a naked Michael.

"I'm sorry," he pulled me into him and I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. "I'm just worried about us both. I didn't mean to snap at you."

"You were right, I should have told you."

"Well, yeah, but last night was…" He laughed. "Surreal."

I nodded and felt that wave of relief wash over me. Thank God. Everything was going to be okay.

"We'll talk when you get back, okay?"

I nodded and left the room to wait for Isabel. A knock at the door signaled her arrival and I let her in. She was stunning in jeans and T-shirt. I didn't think I looked too shabby in my jeans either, but Isabel was pretty in a supermodel kind of way.

"Ready?" She asked looking around. I had forgotten; she'd never been here before. "Nice place. You pick out the furniture? It's great!"

I nodded nervously.

"No, she had help." Holy shit! Michael walked in the living room wearing his black pants from last night and that's it. I looked at Isabel and oh yeah, she was gawking at naked Michael chest. He extended his hand to her. "Hi, I'm Michael. Maria's brother."

Brother? Oh. My. God.

"Brother?" Isabel smiled and looked at me. "You didn't say you had a brother!"

"Yeah, look, there he is." I looked at Michael and hoped he caught aggravated-Maria stare.

"I just dropped in on her last night and surprised her," he pulled me close and hugged me. I know this looked awkward. "Thought I might crash here for a few days and see why the hell my sister wants to stay here!"

I laughed and began writing Michael's Oscar acceptance speech for Best Actor in my head. "Yeah, Michael here is the brother I don't like to talk about. When I say I have no family, I mean it. I don't count him because you never know when he's going to pop up somewhere." And yes, Best Supporting Actress goes to Maria DeLuca. "He's crazy like that."

"Okay," Isabel blushed and I wanted to beat Michael for standing there shirtless. "I guess we'll go. Michael, nice meeting you."

"Ditto." He grinned.

Ditto? Oh shit. This was getting bad. We left and I shot an evil glare over my shoulder before I shut the door. It turned into a smile when he blew me a kiss.  
*          *            *

Chapter Eighteen

So Isabel and I spent a fun-filled morning shopping. I didn't buy much, that whole guilt thing about it being Michael's money put a damper on my quest for new things. We decided on an early lunch and I was drawn back into investigator mode. Don't get me wrong my thoughts were still totally on the night with Michael; but Michael was right, we were here to do a job. My brother Michael. God, that was so wrong!

Isabel took me to a little sidewalk café, far away from the Crashdown, thank God! We sat in a booth and I started right in. I questioned her about Alex Whitman and how long they've been together and when they were getting married and things like that. It was so cute they way she talked about Alex. I hoped someday that I'd be able to talk about Michael like that, all happy and carefree.

So Isabel and Alex had been together since they were seniors in high school. Sweet. She rambled on a bit about not having a date set yet, they were waiting for the 'show of the century' to be over with first: the wedding of her brother to that Liz Parker.

"I take it they're going to have a big wedding?"

"Oh my God, you have no idea. I think Liz has been planning this for years," Isabel laughed. "They've been sweethearts since like sophomore year and I'll admit, it wasn't always easy for them, but God! Sometimes that girl drives me absolutely nuts!"

"I don't think she cares for me all that much," I admitted.

"Probably not," Isabel smirked and I liked her even more. "She can be a tad jealous sometimes. I don't think she likes the way Max looks at you."

"Max looks at me?" I tried to sound surprised. Like I never noticed him staring at my tits before.

"Of course, you're the new woman in town." Isabel shook her head. "Why wouldn't he? I mean you are very pretty and you just kind of befriended us, or we befriended you, and so yeah, of course he's going to look. Everyone is going to look. Even Alex said there was something about you. Something mysterious."

"Really?"

"Yeah and Kyle, well, Kyle adores you." Isabel winked and I'll be damned I blushed. Must stop the incessant blushing. "I really think you two need to go out."

"Oh…I don't know."

"Think about it, okay?"

I nodded. "So, what kind of snake was it?"

"Excuse me?"

"At the park, I never saw it. The snake in front of me." I noticed a subtle surprise and then alarm flash across her face. "Isabel?"

"Oh, I don't know," she tried to laugh carelessly and nearly succeeded. "Maybe a big bad one, maybe not. Better safe than sorry, right?"

"Right," I took a deep breath. "So I went back to the park last night." I read her expression and she wasn't surprised. Hmmm… "So, I went to the place that I fell on my ass and you know what was there? A really big fucking dip in the ground. Can you explain that to me?"

It was one of those moments where no one knew what to say. I was waiting for an answer and I think Isabel was trying to come up with a believable one. Why would she protect Kyle so much? What the fuck was really going on in this creepy little town?

"Maybe you were at the wrong place," she smiled and I wanted to believe her. God, did I ever want to believe her! "I mean, you were only there that one time, right?"

I nodded and if I hadn't been at least semi-aware that I was in Roswell for a mission, the explanation would have made perfect sense. Damn! "I'm pretty sure I was in the right place."

"Oh well, I don't know. Strange things happen in Roswell all the time." She brushed her hair off her shoulders. "So, why didn't you mention you had a brother?"

Damn! "Well, like I said, he just kind of shows up here and there so…" Think DeLuca, think! "I never really mention him until he shows up."

"He's cute," Isabel blushed. Great. "Alex's band is playing tonight again, why don't you both come? You can introduce your brother around. Will he be in town long?"

Oh God. "I have no idea," at least that was an honest answer. "Sure, we'll try to make it." See, all this talk about my 'brother' and I lose my train of thought on the other important stuff. Damn!

We went to a few more stores and Isabel bought me a T-shirt. It was black and had a picture of a flying saucer hitting the ground. It said 'Roswell New Mexico A Great Place to Crash.' I smiled and promised I'd wear it. Guilty? Oh yeah.

By the time she dropped me off it was late afternoon and I couldn't wait to see Michael again. I was hoping he'd still be wearing just pants, or better yet nothing at all. Maybe cotton candy…

I went upstairs and noticed Kyle's door ajar. I tried to find my key quickly and then I heard my name coming from Kyle's apartment; but it wasn't Kyle. Damn! It was Michael. I set my bags at the door and took a deep breath before walking across the hall and pushing the door open. There it was, an awkward position at its finest. Michael Guerin and Kyle Valenti were sitting on the couch watching TV, well, the TV was on but they were both looking at me.

"Hi." I waved. They both waved back and I wanted to scream. "So what's going on?"

"You never told me you had a brother," Kyle pointed to Michael. "We met today."

"Yeah." Michael grinned and he was wearing more than pants. Damn! He was wearing those too, but also a shirt. A black shirt that contoured to his every muscle. Yum. "Why didn't you tell anyone about me? You're not embarrassed are you?"

"No, of course not." I smiled as sweetly as I could with the anger of being put on the spot very near the surface. "You're just so damn unreliable that I didn't want to mention you."

"Ouch!" Kyle laughed. "We're watching ESPN Classic, wanna join us?"

"Oh God. No. I can't. I have to get dressed. I'm going to go see Alex's band tonight." I looked at Michael as he raised his eyebrows.

"Cool, that's where I'm going." Kyle nodded. "Michael?"

"Oh yeah, I can do that." He stood up and walked towards me. "Well, I guess my sister and I will see you there." He followed me out of the apartment and we didn't speak until safely behind the closed door. I spun on him and he held up his hands. "I know. I should have told you-"

"Should have told me that you were going to pretend to be my fucking brother?" I shouted and we took our argument into the bedroom. You can never have too many closed doors. "That was very uncool Michael."

"I'm sorry." He smiled and almost won with me over with it. Almost. "I didn't really know I was. I saw the opening with Isabel and I had to take it."

"How am I suppose to act like your sister when all I want to do is…" I blushed. I must stop blushing. "You know. This is so not fair."

"Maria," he stepped closer to me and put his hands on my waist. "Sweet Maria, there's a lot of things that aren't very fair. This is a job, don't ever forget that. We're here for a reason. Not to make friends or take up residence, but to find aliens."

"And then what Michael? What happens if we find them?" I closed my eyes thinking of Kyle on a dissecting table.

"Then we work with Section." Okay, that was less than vague.

I nodded and felt like the ultimate betrayer. "Fine, Brother Michael. I guess you'll be getting ready to meet the rest of the gang, huh? Can I give you my feelings on them or do you want to form your own opinion?" Please let me tell! Please!

"Go ahead," he let go of me and sat on the bed. I sat next to him cross-legged.

"Okay, you know I already really like Kyle and Isabel. There's definitely something strange going on with those two though. She tried to tell me I must have gotten the wrong spot in the park when I went back there-"

"You told her you went back there?" Brow furrowed. Damn!

"Yeah, I did. I thought maybe if I just sprung it on her that she'd…Shit, I don't know. Anyway, she didn't seem that surprised either." I cocked my head to one side and struck the curious dog look. "Did I tell you I though someone was watching me? At the time I thought about Rena, but I guess it could have been Isabel. I did run into her not too long after that at the Crashdown and she was in a heated argument with her brother." I felt the wheels turning. "What is going on around here?"

"I don't know Maria," he took a deep breath and I knew he was agitated with me. I would be if I were him. "This is a strange town and we're here to find aliens. You manage to hook up with this little clique of friends and now you're one of them."

"I think its Kyle." Damn. I didn't mean to blurt it out like that. Kyle was my friend. Holy shit, I had a friend and I think I just turned him over to Section. Damn! "Maybe."

"Kyle Valenti." Michael shrugged. "I guess anything is possible. Let's just wait and see what develops, okay? Now tell me about the rest."

I nodded. "Okay, Isabel's fiancé is Alex, that's who we're going to go see. He seems nice. Tess is a little blond number, I don't know much about her but she's been nothing but nice to me. So I can't bitch about her. Max, Isabel's brother, very nice, but very whipped." I made the whipping motion with my hand earning a smile from Michael.

"Nice Maria," the smile was turning into a grin and I knew he wanted to kiss me. See, this was going to be just as hard for him as it was for me. Good.

"He's getting married to that Liz Parker." I shuddered. "She hates me and I might take advantage of that every once in awhile." If I hadn't berated myself for the incessant blushing earlier, I think I might have been doing it again. "She just makes me do things…I can't explain it."

He was shaking his head at me. "Like what, Maria? What does she make you do?"

"Flirt with her fiancé," I grinned and unbuttoned the first button I had buttoned on my shirt. Then I undid the next. "I don't know why, but if she's around," the next one, "I just have this uncontrollable urge," one more, "to mess with her." Last button and shirt sliding off my shoulders.

"Well," he reached for my breasts and I smiled with the touch. "I guess you'll have to watch that."

"Yeah…I guess I will." I leaned into him and kissed him. Sigh.

He pushed me back on the bed, his weight on top of me. Rock hardliness grinding into my pelvis. His hands framed my face and he pulled away and looked at me.

"Last night…" He shook his head slightly and sighed. Aww…"Last night was, I don't even think I know the right words to explain it. You made me feel so alive. So wanted. So needed." He kissed my forehead as he took the words from my own mind. "You didn't judge…I never thought that I could feel this way, I didn't think it was possible and then you, Maria, you came into my world and tossed everything by the wayside."

"I'm good like that." I reached for his pants. It took me a few seconds, but I got them down. A little maneuvering and those pants were by the wayside. I helped him get my jeans off and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He got a look on his face and I nodded. I reached to the nightstand and got out one of those mysteriously appearing condoms. I put it on him this time and we were back in position within seconds.

He slid inside of me so easily; everything felt so right. I wrapped my legs around his waist and felt him tense. Not a bad tense, an 'I can't hold off much longer' tense. We slowed things down and I gently rocked against him. I looked at his face and saw purity. Well, somewhat tarnished purity. I think Michael Guerin, Section Man, had never seen real life before. If I was his real life, then more power to me. I wasn't letting him go.

The sweat on his face dripped onto mine and I instinctively darted my tongue out to catch it. He smiled at me the way only Michael can and I felt on fire.  The last thing I wanted to do was go hang out in a bar watching a band I didn't care about and sit with a bunch of people I barely knew, however I did like Kyle and Isabel. What I wanted to do was stay right here with Michael inside of me all night long until it felt like I'd never walk normal again.

He came and I soared. Now was time for my favorite part, him curling next to me and running his hand along my ribs. Mmmm…Heaven. He kissed the side of my breast and then flicked his tongue across my nipple. I swear, for a virgin, he was a very passionate man. Hell, he was a passionate man. Period. And he was mine. But could I keep him?

Great. A new thing to worry about. Sure he's told me I belong to him and all that other good stuff, but never with a plan for the future. He did say I was more important to him than Section, but not to my face. Some of the sweetest things have come via email and it sure is a hell of a lot easier to say things like that when the person's not in front of you. Perfect. Now I had to convince him to fall in love with me.

"We better go soon?" He asked resting on his elbow leaning over me. He kissed the corner of my mouth and then down my neck. "Right?"

"I don't care if we ever move form this bed," I said it quietly and wasn't quite sure if it had been out loud or not. From his raised eyebrows, I'm opting for out loud. "Sorry."

"Don't be," he kissed the fleshy part of my breast and I think I whimpered.

When did I become this woman? The one who giggles, blushes and whimpers at a touch? The one who cares about someone besides herself? Thank God I found her…

"Yeah, we better go. My brother," I cringed. "You do realize how wrong this is, don't you?"

"I know, but me showing up as your boyfriend wouldn't quite cut it." He kissed me again, this time on my lips. Those full sensual lips sent shocks through my body.

"So," I took a deep breath. He set me up and I had to follow through. "Are you my boyfriend?"

His eyes danced with the immaturity of the question and I felt stupid. "I'm everything you want me to be." He kissed the tip of my nose and got off the bed.

What kind of crap answer was that? I thought about jumping up and demanded a better one from secret agent man, but then rethought it. Technically, it was an answer and a truthful one. He was everything I wanted. I stood and embraced him. On my tippy-toes, I rested my head on his shoulder and mouthed the words that I was too scared to say out loud: I love you.

After a few more minutes of nuzzling, we finally broke away and got dressed. I noticed Michael had hung up his clothes in the closet and I was keeping my fingers crossed that meant a long-term stay. He dressed in, oh wait, surprise, black pants and a short-sleeve black shirt. I don't know if he had those shirts tailor cut because the way it hugged his biceps…Damn! I dressed in short black shorts and black sandals. The white button-down shirt I bought that day looked like a man's dress shirt. But by the time I only buttoned one button and tied the shirttails together underneath my chest, you'd never know. I rolled up the sleeves and looked at Michael. He whistled and my nipples hardened. Bra? Whatever.

TBC- And *big* thanks for all the great feedback!! Y'all are simply the best *giggles* really!



becky

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