Title: Pieces Of Me

Author: Katie; Summary: After Michael spent the night in Independence Day, he did not get arrested or go talk to Mr. Evans. Instead he went back with Hank. This is what happened. A Michael/Maria Fan fiction.

Spoilers: Up to and including Independence Day/general season one. Starts before Sexual Healing.

Pairing: Michael and Maria

Authors Note: Feedback is appreciated.

Distribution: Please! Just let me know.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Roswell. I wish I did though.

Chapter One: Holding On

Maria was lying down on her bed, her hand holding her phone to her ear while she listened to Liz talk about how hard it was for her to stay away from Max. All she could do was offer "yeah"s and "I know"s when appropriate; she missed Michael even though she knew she shouldn't. She glanced across the room at her TV. It was on mute, she had this inability to watch TV and talk on the phone at the same time. She began to flip the channels looking for something she recognized; she would watch the TV show on mute while she talked and listened to Liz, she did that a lot. Maria sighed at the silence of her house, Maria had been alone at the house for about half a week now, and her mom was somewhere in Texas for some alien…something. She would be for the next two and a half weeks. Maria liked it that way.

"Have you even seen Michael since he spent the night at your house last week?" Liz asked over the phone feeling bad that she hadn't asked earlier. About a week ago Michael had shown up outside Maria's window, upset about something and Maria had let him stay with her, no questions asked, only to get in huge trouble with her mom the next morning. Amy almost canceled the trip she was on now due to Michael's unscheduled and unexplained visit, but had ultimately decided that this trip meant to much to them financially for her to not go.

"I haven't even heard from Michael since he stayed here…I still don't even know why he stayed here" Maria sighed. She didn't want to talk about that…she got sad when she thought about that. Maria sighed again and quickly changed the subject.

Maria's subject change worked, and she and Liz ended up talking on the phone much longer than either one of them intended. It was okay though, it wasn't like either one of them had other plans. Maria thought she heard something and sat up; she asked Liz to hold on for a sec and pulled the phone down for her ear. She thought she heard someone at the door. She pulled the phone back up to ear, "Liz, I think someone is at my door, I'll talk to you later okay?"

"Maria, its past one in the morning" Liz said, instantly worried about her best friend.

"That doesn't change the fact that I think there is someone at my door" Maria smiled as Liz said something about ax murders and then they both said good-bye and hung up.

Maria stood up and slowly walked toward her front door. She heard the fait knocking again and realized that it was at her back door. She turned on her heels muttering to herself about how dumb she would feel if this was an ax murder she was walking toward and as she reached the back door she sighed before swinging it open.

It was so dark out that for a split second she didn't recognize him as he stood before her. "Michael, what are you doing here…oh my god, what happened to you?" She asked her face and voice filling with concern as he she saw the blood covering his face and shirt. She held out her hand to him and he almost collapsed in to her. She helped him walk to the bathroom which now seemed to be to far away.

When they reached the bathroom Maria helped him to sit up in the counter next to the sink. He sat on the edge, never quite meeting her eyes with his. He took a deep breath and pain overtook him and leaned back against the wall behind him, still sitting on the edge of the counter.

Michael could hear Maria moving around but was never really aware of where she was until he felt a warm water covered washcloth against his cheek. She pulled it across his face, pulling away the blood that was there. He heard her sharp intake of breath a she saw the tiny scratches that covered his face.

"Maybe I should call Max" Maria whispered just load enough for Michael to hear.

"No" Michael said catching Maria's hand in his own, "Don't, please" Michael asked her releasing her hand and putting his own back down.

Maria just nodded, not sure that she could actually handle what was going on. She wanted to say something…anything but instead she just dipped the washcloth back in the warm water and pulled across his face again. She washed off his face and neck and arms as best she could, taking deep breaths when ever she came across a big scratch or cut or bruise.

Maria saw that his shirt was soaked in blood and reached for the button on top. She unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. She heard his moan softly in pain and when she saw his chest and torso she understood why. She pulled the bottom of his white tank top out of his jeans and as gently as she could she pulled it over his head and let it hit the floor. Her sharp intake of breath didn't go unnoticed by Michael who still hadn't really said anything since he got to Maria's house.

Michael just sat there as the only girl he had ever cared about took care of him. He felt helpless, like a child. He felt her wipe all the blood off his chest and torso. There wasn't as much blood there as there had been on his face, mostly just bruises. He heard Maria say something but the words themselves didn't quite register in his mind. A few moments later he felt her pull away from him, he realized that she was about to leave the room and he grabbed her hand lightly.

Maria spun around when she felt his hand on hers. She moved back so that she was in front of him. She lightly put her hand on his cheek, barley touching him, scared she would hurt him. "I'm just going to find a shirt you can wear, I'll be right back" she whispered to him. Concern flooded her features as she moved in between his legs, wanting to be close to him.

Michael didn't say anything; he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. He shut his eyes tightly; he shut out the entire world. He just held her to him, as tightly as he could.

Maria relaxed into his embrace. She pulled him to her as gently as she could and nuzzled her head in the crook of his neck. She closed her eyes hoping that she did the right thing by not calling Max and that Michael felt something approaching better.

When Michael loosened his hold on Maria she looked at him, "I'll be right back" she said and only left after he nodded. She returned with a white tank top almost exactly like the one Michael had been wearing, only clean. She slid it on him and closed her eyes when he winced in pain.

Michael caught her hand as it fell and they intertwined their fingers. Maria moved back in between his legs and rested one hand lightly on his knee while her other hand remained in his. Michael finally looked up, and looked Maria in the eyes. What he saw there amazed him, concern, worry, love. Michael leaned down and kissed her forehead softly.

Maria's smile caught in her throat as she tried to hold back her tears. She swallowed, hard and leaned up to hug him. When she finally pulled back she looked up at him and smiled, "So, I'll let you stay tonight, but I want to know what happened" Maria said knowing full and well that even if he didn't want to tell her what happened, she would let him stay anyway, all that really mattered was that he was okay. She just didn't want to feel like she didn't last time he showed up here and she tried to help him, and then didn't see him again until…well until now.

"What about your mom?" He asked, holding back a smile at how they were returning to there banter.

Maria smiled, "Out of town, three weeks". She walked a few steps away from him and held out her hand. He used it to steady himself as he got off the counter. "My room" She was not only telling him where they were going, but how far, and he was grateful for that. He leaned against her as they walked the hallway to her room.