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Michael wasn't sure he actually believed Maria would leave. Part of him had expected, or rather hoped, that he would find her at their apartment when he returned. Her scent still lingered, but she was gone. So was their wedding picture that sat by the door. In its place, her wedding ring. Michael suddenly felt the anger welling up inside of him when he found it. It wasn't long before the entire apartment was trashed.
Not only had she left him, she gave back the ring. She didn't love him anymore. She wanted nothing to do with him, nothing to remind her of him. Michael knew that things weren't good, but he hadn't realized how bad they were. He still loved Maria, with everything inside of him. She was the only girl for him, he knew that since the day in the alley. She was the one that would make him happy for always.
But now she was gone. He couldn't make her happy. He knew she was tired of running, and he was tired too. It was exhausting, picking up and moving every few months. He wasn't sure what his name was from day to day either anymore. Jacob. That was his current name. But they were leaving in the morning, and it would change again. He would be someone else, he'd find another job. Cooking, working a security guard. Those were the two jobs he'd pretty much stuck with over the years. Maria always was waiting tables. She liked it. Even when she complained about bad tippers, she liked working with people.
He walked into the bedroom they had shared for the last six months, in their small apartment. She was everywhere. A hair clip sitting on the nightstand. A forgotten bottle of perfume laying on its side on the dresser. He grabbed his suitcase and started packing. Clothes in the suitcase, his art supplies in the case next to it. Maria didn't realize he was still drawing. When he'd come home when she was sleeping he'd sketch her. He had notepads and notepads full of her. Some of them were his imagination, what she would be like in ten years. As the mother of his children.
And now he would never really know.
He knew that Maria was tired, he was tired too. He wanted to be able to stop, but he didn't want to stop for fear that the FBI would finally catch up. That the other aliens would find them. Maybe it was better this way. Maria would be safe this way. She was gone now, they wouldn't harm her. They wouldn't come after her. She'd be safe.
Michael finished packing and sat on the couch and stared at the black TV. His wife was gone. And he was alone. Hours passed. The sun came up, there was a knock on the door. Michael got up and yanked open the door. Max stood on the other side. “Maria tell you we are leaving?”
“Yeah.” Michael said simply and stepped away from the door.
“Are you guys all packed up? We need to go.” Max glanced around the apartment, it was in shambles.
“Maria already left.” Michael said grabbing his suitcase and his jacket. “Let's go.”
“What?” Max asked perplexed. He didn't understand.
“Where are we going now?” Michael asked walking out the door, a moment later a stunned Max followed.
“Florida.” Max told him, and Michael resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “The other side of the country?”
“Yeah. Liz's aunt lives there, she wants to see her.” Michael felt angry. They were driving across the country to see Liz's aunt, just because. Even after claiming it was so unsafe for them, they were going to see Liz's family. Because Liz wanted it.
Michael tossed his suitcase in the back of the van and headed for his bike. “Michael.” Max called after him, but he just ignored him and sped away.
Michael started driving, for hours, for days. He drove on and didn't think. He couldn't think. It hurt too much to. Maria. She filled his mind and it hurt. To think about having lost the one person that meant everything to him. When he stopped driving, he was tired. He didn't really know where he was, he hadn't been paying attention, just driving. He got a hotel room, and didn't get out of bed for a few days. He just wanted to wallow in self misery.
Finally he climbed out of bed, and decided he wasn't going to Florida, though, he was pretty sure he had decided that before he even left Salem. Now he was in Chicago, and he planed to stay there. Isabel had dream walked him, to be sure he was okay. He reassured her that he was, and then asked her not to do it again. He'd seen the hurt on her face. Their group had fallen apart. And there was nothing she could do about it.
Months went by. Michael had found a job as an architect. He'd simply fallen into it one day, and he liked it. He could be creative, and design things. Plus it paid a lot better than cooking, or working the night shift as a guard.
“So, what's her name?” Michael looked up from his pad of paper, at Andrew, the owner of Motive Blueprints, the company Michael was working for.
“Who?” He asked, turning his eyes back to the paper.
“The one that broke your heart.” Michael just shook his head.
“I don't know what you are talking about.”
“Then tell me why you've been ignoring Carrie” Michael looked at the girl sitting at the front desk, the secretary. She was young, still in college. She had curly jet black hair, soft blue eyes, and a nice smile. She'd always been friendly towards him. But he'd never really paid any attention to her. “She's been making eyes at you since you were first hired.”
“She's not my type.”
“Man, she's a pretty young woman, and she likes you. How can she not be your type? That is why there has to be another woman.”
Michael shrugged a little and tossed the notepad on the desk. “She left me. Married two and a half years, one day she left me.”
“That's harsh.”
“It's true.”
“Then, by all means, Carrie is just the girl to help you with that.” Andrew chuckled.
“No.” Michael shook his head. “It isn't going to happen, Andy, just give it up.”
“Hell no, now I'm only more determined. We need to get your mind off this other chick that broke your heart, and what better way than with lots of sex.” Andy tilted his head to the side as he eyed Carrie, she was chatting on the phone, scheduling an appointment. “And you know... she's probably into the kinky stuff.” Andy smirked.
“You're a sick man.” Michael shook his head and got up from his desk. “I'm going to lunch.” As he walked away from his desk he felt eyes on him, glancing over his shoulder he saw her watching him with a smile on her face. Once he was outside he took a deep breath. No. It couldn't be.
When Michael came back from lunch Carrie had already left for hers. “So we're going out tonight, getting a couple of beers, you comin?” Andrew asked
“Nah.” Michael said picking up his notepad again.
“Come on man, you've been working here for months, and you never come out with us.”
“It's not my thing Andy.”
“Then don't drink. Just come out with us. Just the guys. Come on Michael.”
“Fine.” Michael shook his head. “If it'll get you off my back.” He smirked a little. He missed his friends from Metachem. He liked the guys he worked with.
Later that evening, Michael arrived at the bar Andrew, and a few of the other guys were already there, crowded around a table drinking and laughing. “Guerin!” Andrew yelled, laughing. “You came, man!”
“Yeah.” Michael chuckled and grabbed a chair and pulled it up to the table. He easily was able to relax and laugh with them.
“Hey Andrew.” A voice came from behind Michael and he looked up.
“Carrie!” Andrew smiled. “What a surprise.” He grabbed a chair and pulled it up next to Michael. “Join us.”
Michael shot a glare in Andrews direction. “Hi Michael.” Carrie smiled as she sat down, her short skirt showing off an expanse of smooth pale flesh.
“Hey.” He grunted and rubbed his hands across his jeans. He was being ambushed, he knew it. Andrew winked at him and took a gulp of his beer.
Hours later, Michael had Carrie pinned against the wall in the small bathroom of the bar. Her hands were in his hair, and his mouth was latched onto her throat. She was moaning softly against his ear. He knew even as he was kissing his way along her throat back to her mouth that he couldn't do it.
All he could think about was Maria. The way her soft hair fell in curls around her shoulders. The way she would smile at him when she wanted him. With that come-hither look in her eyes. She was the most beautiful woman. They fit each other perfectly. They were made for each other and he knew it. And knowing that, only made kissing another woman so much worse.
“I'm sorry.” He told her and she looked at him confused. “I can't do this.”
“You do still love her.” Carrie asked and Michael's brow furrowed. “Andy told me there was another woman... that I didn't have a chance in hell with you, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyways.” She smiled sadly at him and rubbed her smudged lipstick off his cheek. “That's okay.”
Michael sighed and took a step back from her. “You and Andrew are close?”
“He's a nice guy.”
“You might have better luck with him.” Her smiled disappeared from her face for a moment.
“You think so?” Suddenly she was smiling brightly again.
“I'll buy you a drink.” Michael said and headed for the door again, clothes straightened out, hair smoothed down. They walked back out to the table, their friends were trying not to stare, but Andrew couldn't take his eyes off of Carrie. She just smiled and sat down next to him.
The next day at work, Michael was sitting at his desk, working on another sketch when Andrew walked past him. “We're going to lunch, be back later.” He grinned and walked over to Carrie's desk, grabbed her hand and yanked her out the door laughing.
Michael just shook his head a little. At least someone was happy. Because he sure as hell wasn't. He missed her. The beautiful woman that was meant to be his. Was she okay, was she happy? Was she alive? Had the FBI somehow managed to track her down? Were they torturing her right now, while he sat in his cushy chair. Did she even remember who he was? Was Maria as miserable as he was? Or had she simply moved on, met someone that could give her everything that she wanted?