The Hunter or the Hunted 1/1

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They belong to the WB and the other people.

Summary: Michael tells Maria he only likes to kiss her. And then the aftermath.

Spoilers: Heat Wave

Rating: PG-13

Notes: You may not like the end. It isn't bad but I don't explain a lot. And there will be no sequel.

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She had heard him. Why she had said 'what' she didn't know. But his tone changed to one of scorn after that. Like she should have known better. "I-I can't believe you." she stuttered. She tried to be strong. She usually was strong. Queen of witty remarks in a intense situation. But this wasn't just intense. This was hurtful. She felt used cheap. And as he had said the words he ended it by stating that this was her own fault. She got attached he didn't. So what to do in a bad situation there is no out of? Well one of two things. Regroup and attack to the death. Or run. And since she lacked the courage to attack right now she ran. Ran past the loud music, ran through the dancing people, ran out into the night, and just ran.

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Confusion came over Michael as her face crumbled. And he soon realized that unlike him she had formed an attachment. Stupid girl. Getting attached wouldn't get them anywhere. So when she ran he let her go. He was through with her now. He was free again. Free to pick up and leave if he had to. And that was the way he liked it.

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As Maria dressed herself that next morning she tried to mold herself into those women in the movies. A women scorned. Not the ones he laid at home in real life crying. But the ones they wanted to be. The ones who dressed there best the next morning. Left any kind of humanity at there door and as they where face with the one causing them pain they did not falter. Would she falter though? Most likely. But she wouldn't stay at home. Maybe she couldn't play the part of the bitch from hell. But she could hide her feelings. She could at least do that.

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It had been two days from that night. He had not seen her, and surprisingly she had not sought him out. He had also not heard a thing about it from Max or Isabelle. Either they chose to ignore what he did or they didn't know. How they didn't know was his question. Maria had the biggest mouth in the world. So as he followed Max and Isabelle into the Crashdown he looked for her. And he found her. She didn't see him due to the fact she was taking orders. And as they sat down he continued to watch her. And when she turned around and found them sitting there he turned to.

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"Liz, you take table six." Maria said as she clipped up an order.

"Huh?" Liz said and looked over. "But it just Max and them."

"Yea I know. But I might catch something." Maria mumbled.

"What?" Liz asked as she picked up her pad.

"Nothing. Nevermind." she said and went to another table.

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Ignoring. Michael had never taken Maria as the type of person to ignore people when upset. He had actually expected her to come over there make some snotty remark to him and take there order. So when she didn't he was a little confused. And up to the time they left she hadn't come over. Hadn't even made eye contact with any of them. Isabelle made a comment about Marias attitude, wondering what was wrong with her. But that was all.

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As they left Maria kept her eyes away from them. She ha managed to do it the whole time. And as they walked out she felt proud of herself. But not any better. She thought she should feel better for being able to keep her mouth shut. She didn't tell of there argument or what had been going on. She didn't tell Liz either. But she found the more she held it in the more it hurt. But the longer she held it in she also found the more persistent she was to keep it to herself.

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Maria sat silently in a chair separate from the booth. Sure if you really needed to the booth could fit 3 people on each side. But that required you sat close to someone. And she didn't want to be near anyone. So Max and Liz sat on one side and Isabelle and Michael sat on the other. She didn't even pull her chair up by the table she remained the two person table. Listening. Not giving input. The plan was to wait a while. Then two people leave and lose there stalkers. The discussion was becoming a little faster and angrier with Michaels usually little pissy attitude about having to be left behind. Of course she reveled in the fact that he was unhappy. But she found herself unable to listen to it any longer. She stood up and walked to the back. When she passed through the doors she heard a bang. Her eyes flew in the direction it had come in and she saw one of them. Those idiots in there suits. His face became alarmed but he hurried out. She ran back by the others. "One of them was in here."

"What?" Max said drawing his attention away from Michael.

"On of those guys. He was in the back." she said hurriedly.

Michael was the first to run to the back. But he was already gone. When he walked into the main area Maria was the only one in there. She hadn't moved. "He's already gone. Why didn't you just yell for us instead of running back here." he said angrily.

Marias face held surprised at his accusation. But she soon matched his own anger. "Maybe if you for once weren't bitching we would have heard him." she shot back with venom in her voice.

"Me? I don't think I'm the one that can never keep there mouth shut." he said. He heard Max in the background telling him to stop but he ignored him.

"Oh really? As I remember you had come up with a solution to that problem. But I forgot that's the only thing you liked about me was the solution right?" she challenged him. The other three looked on in confusion. But he knew what she was referring to.

"I didn't here you complaining. Well except for a few moans here and there." he spat out.

Maria caught the surprised looks from the other three. She hadn't said a work. And with just one sentence he made her sound like the loser slut girl. "I hate you!" she screamed.

"I don't see how considering the look on your face that night. It's your own damn fault. I didn't get attached you did." he yelled back.

Maria tensed up her muscles and grounded her jaw together. Run or attack. Run or attack. Be the hunter or be the hunted. Why would someone choose to be the prey she wondered. So she chose.

Michael found himself knocked backwards by her fist. He would have regained his balance except for the fact that there was a chair behind him. So he went down. But something inside of him said Maria was coming down with him. So he grabbed her.

Maria barely registered the fall. She kept beating on him. She hit him as hard as she could. Her anger from the past few days was thrown at him. And she threw it as hard as she could.

Michael grabbed her wrists and held them together. He stood up and brought her with him.

Maria winced at the painful grip Michael had on her wrists. And when they stood up he was staring down at her, making her feel like a bad child. She cried, but at the same time her face still held the anger she ad felt from him since that night.

In one moment he felt his heart begin to crack. Her tear streaked face looked up at him stubbornly. Somehow she managed to look weak and strong at the same time. His observation didn't last long. Because she kicked him in his leg and yanked her wrists away.

Maria ran out the door as soon as she was freed from his grasp.

"Dammit she can't leave here." Isabelle said before the others could recover from the shock.

"I-I'l go after her." Liz said and started. But she found herself pushed back by Michael. And she didn't even have time to respond. He was already out the door.

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