"You know I never thought about jumping into another one like me, I mean why would I, I always thought I was the only one left. But now!" he yelled excited. "There's three of you! I actually have a choice. Of course if I where to want one of the others the choice is gone now. You three and your little humans have managed to find a way to kill me"

"With pleasure." Michael growled out. Of course he was hardly in the position to be having an attitude. This one was more powerful. Most likely because it came more easily yo him because of his anger. He wasn't that much older from what the man had said. He was probably in his late 20's. But Michael couldn't seem to even be able to free himself from something as simple as some rope.

"But in the end I chose you. You would be the least missed." he stated. It was true. The other boy and the girl had more friends a family, this one had them and the other two humans. To him there was no comparison.

The comment struck Michael deep at his heart. He knew it was true And he did seem like the most logical choice he had to admit. "Don't you think they'll know something is wrong when my body disappears?"

He laughed. "Yea they will. They'll think you killed me and ran. For what reason youd run I don't know, there are a dozen, let them choose one. Look I've had enough of this. The poison you so lovingly put in my drink is kicking in." the man stood up and walked towards Michael. "I think it's time to switch."

Michael tried to resist with every power in his body, but after a while he wore down and he felt his spirit being moved. It flowed through him into that other body. Then everything went black.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dammit." Maria cursed. Michael had her promise her not to tell anyone. And the only reason she knew was because she saw him take the poison and she had confronted him. But she had not promised him she wouldn't follow. So after sitting outside for what seemed like forever she had decided to go in. She saw the bottle of poison laying on the floor of the empty room and she bent down. A hand snaked out around her arms.

"Maria." he gasped.

Maria jumped back. It was that man. That evil evil man.

"No Maria!" he yelled out, although he sounded week. "It me, Michael."

Maria shook her head quickly. "No, your not Michael"

"Maria....he took...my body."

Maria couldn't believe it. And she wasn't sure what it was she couldn't believe. "No, no, no." she said and shook her head with each word.

Michael knew he couldn't hold on for much longer. She would need convincing. "The kiss."

"What?" Marias head shut up.

"Remember 'That was to calm you down?'" he asked her, trying to make her believe him.

"Yea." she said softly. She couldn't forget it.

"And during that heat wave. The Crashdown." she had to remember that. It was impossible to forget that. He took in a deep breath. "And the rave. What I told you. I lied."

"What?" Maria asked confused.

"I liked more about you then just kissing you." he admitted.

"NONONONONONONO!" she screamed and brought her hands to her ears. She couldn't think. "You," she started, "Michael," she corrected herself, "would never say that! I don't know how you know what happened, but he didn't like me!" she screamed through the tears running down her face.

If he ever got his body back or at least got out of this body into another he would take time to review the reasons why she refused to believe that. But for right now she was pissing him off. "Dammit Maria! For once just shut up and believe me!" Something must have cut through to her because she stop her hysteria and looked pointedly at him and started inching closer.

"Michael?" she asked unsure.

"Yes Maria." Later he would also review why she only recognized him when he was pissed at her. "I need you."

"What?" she asked and kneeled down next to him.

"Your body... I need one....we share." he gasped out."Please Maria."

Marias thoughts swam. From what she understood she would be sharing her body with Michael. But from the urgency of his voice she guessed that he needed one now. Little thought went into the decision. She couldn't let him die. "All right."

Michael wasted no time. He reached out and touched Maria.

Memories, feelings, swam in front of Marias eyes. All unknown to her. All Michael. Then she passed out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Maria get up!* Michael annoyed voice echoed through her head.

Maria groaned and pushed herself up. "Michael?"

*Yea I'm in here.* he grumbled. *Now come on! We have to go get my body!*

"Michael-" Maria started but soon she found her arms and legs moving against her will. "Stop it!" she screamed and pushed him away. "Lets get one thing strait! My body! You are just a guest."

*Well then get up and lets go find my body if you don't want me stuck in here.*

"Alright." she said and pushed herself off the ground. *Bossy the cow*

*I heard that.*

"What?!?!" she screamed. "Now you can hear my thoughts? Oh no mister you can just jump back into that dead body."

*Maria stop being ridiculous. The more time you waste the farther he gets.* he scolded her. Sometimes she seemed like she would rather bitch that actually do something.

"Fine." she grumbled and stared moving. *I hate you.*

"Ditto.*

*So can you hear all my thoughts then? Because if you do then when we do get your body I'm going to run away from embarassment.* she said. She caught site of her car and hurried to it.

*No. Only what you want me to hear. You have to speak it in your mind directly to me.*

*Good. I don't want you knowing what I really think about you." she thought snottily.

*It always seemed obvious to me.* he said.

Maria wasn't sure what he meant by that. His tone wasn't has harsh and it almost sounded a little gentle. *Well considering earlier, I'm judging a lot of things aren't obvious.*

Michael didn't respond to that. He didn't know how. But now wasn't the time to get into that discussion. Why on earth he had to get stuck in her mind of all people he would never know. *South.*

*How do you know?* Maria asked.

*He's in my body. He's not going north back through Roswell.* Michael explained.

"Michael, shouldn't we go back and get help from the others?" she found the silence unbearable. Even if it was her own voice speaking out loud it made her feel better.

*No that wastes time. We'll never find him if we do. We'll call them when we need to stop for gas.*

Maria let out a defeated sigh. She started her engine and drove south.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Max what's going on?" Liz asked as she jumped into the jeep that had just stopped in front of her house.

"Michael is missing." Max said firmly and gripped the steering wheel.

"Oh god. Did he take the-" Liz started but Max nodded. "Oh no."

"Where's Maria?" Isabelle asked as she turned her head.

"I don't know. I called her house. Her mom said she had been gone for at least five hours." Liz told them.

"Something is wrong." Max said lowly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Michael I can't drive anymore.*

*You have to, Maria. You stop and he gets further away. Do you want me to lose my body?* he didn't want to lay a guilt trip on her but he wanted his body back.

"Michael if I fall asleep at the wheel I die, meaning you die, and we get no where." she said, her voiced strained.

Michael knew it was the truth. They had been driving for hours. And it was night when they left. *Alright Maria only for a few hours.* he relented. *But here in the car.* he told her firmly.

Maria sighed. *Can I call now?* After about an hour of driving she had discovered she had her cell phone. But Michael refused to let her call until they where farther from Roswell. She noted how he paused. She had noticed a lot. She didn't hear the anger in his voice she felt it. And now she could feel him debating.

*Fine.*

Maria grabbed her phone and plugged it into the cigarette lighter.

*Call Max.*

*Alright.* Although she wanted to talk to Liz she knew that Max was the most logical choice. The phone rang only once then it was picked up.

"Hello?" Maxs voice asked quickly.

"Max."

"Maria where are you?" Max asked her quickly. He grabbed his jacket and his keys.

"I-I" she didn't know where to begin.

*Maria jeez just tell him.*

*You shut up.*

"Maria?" Max asked worried.

"Sorry. Something happened Max. He took Michaels body." Maria said.

"Maria what are you talking about?" Max asked confused.

"He jumped into Michaels body cause he was dying from the poison. And he pushed Michael into his body." Maria said.

"But if his body was dying that would mean Michael is-" Max said as the world came down around him.

"No." Maria said quickly. "He's not dead."

"Then where is he?"

"In me." Maria pushed out.

"What!?!?" Max yelled. Moments later Isabelle came running into his room.

*Never heard that kind of reaction out of him before. But I'm not switching bodies to get it out of him again.*

Maria let out a little laugh.

"What?" Max asked confused.

"Oh um not you. Michael. He uh made a funny." she said.

*Nice.*

*Shut up! You're driving me crazy!*

"Now you know how I feel.*

"Maria! Say something!" Max yelled into the phone.

"Oh sorry." she said and grimaced.

"What where you doing?" Max asked.

"Talking to Michael." she said.

"But I didn't hear-"

"No. In my head." she explained.

Max sighed. "Maria where are you?"

"We're going south." she told him. "We're going to get his body back."

"Maria come back here." Max said softly.

*Maria, no.* Michael said.

"I can't." They did have to find Michaels body. And if she turned back now they would never find it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Maria I'm going to dreamwalk.*

"How can you do that? This isn't your body." she asked as she jumped into the back.

*How do you think he switched? That wasn't his original body. I can still do it. I'm going to find where he is.* At least he hoped it would work.

*Well don't you need an object to touch or something?* she inquired. This whole thing was confusing.

*Mairs he is in my body. I think it'll work.*

*Okay.* she said and curled up.

Michael paused for a moment. *You cold?* It was a dumb question. He could feel what she felt. And right now she was cold, tired, and scared.

*Yea.* she admitted.

*I'm sorry.*

Maria sighed. *Go ahead Michael.*

It wasn't the response he was hoping for but her tone held no contempt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael found himself back in Maria. He knew what he needed to know. There was silence though. He thought that since she was asleep that he should be.

"Michael?"

Michael found himself turning around. In a body.

"What's going on?" Maria asked confused, unsure, she wasn't sure of anything anymore.

"I think I'm still dreamwalking. I'm just in your dream now." he explained to her.

Maria nodded. "Did you find what you needed?"

"Yea." he said simply. But she didn't respond, only nod. After a moment he spoke. "I'm going to go now Maria."

"No." she said quickly. She didn't want him to go. This was the only way she could see him and she wanted him to stay. She wanted to see him. The way he really was.

"No?" he asked. Why she would want him to stay he didn't know.

"No. I want you to stay. This is the only way I can see you now." she said sadly.

Michael closed the distance between them slowly. "Maria we'll get my body back."

"Yea." Maria nodded. Maria knew she was telling herself that, not him.

"I'm sorry Maria. For putting you through this." he told her, he hoped this time she actually forgave him.

"It isn't your fault. It's his." Maria told him kindly.

Michael wasn't sure of what to say. He really had nothing more to say. So he took a bold move. Every part of him screamed at him to stop. Michael wrapped his arms around her waste and pulled her close. He needed to feel her. In her mind it seemed more like he was touching himself. Like he was her. But him touching her was different.

Maria threw her arms around Michaels neck and refused to let go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Max how can they even get his body back? I mean it was obvious that he was

stronger then Michael. Hell he was stronger then Michael when he was dying."

Isabelle stated. Of course, as always, it did nothing to comfort anyone.

Max gripped the steering wheel tighter. Those thoughts had already run through his

head. But he hadn't voiced them aloud. Now he actually had to deal with them. But

he didn't know how. "I don't know Izzy. Hopefully we'll be able to help them. If

not I don't know what they'll do."

"He pushed Michael into his body right?" Liz questioned. She wanted to know the

specifics before she drew a conclusion about the thoughts haunting her head.

"Right." Max said and looked at her softly.

"Okay. If Michael and Liz find him first, lets say they do go at it. Not only is

Michael in danger but so is Maria. Is there a chance Maria could get pushed out of

her own body? There are only two of them to go around and three people. Someone is

going to die in the end." Liz drew her conclusion.

Max didn't respond. He grounded his teeth together and pushed harder on the gas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Maria, I'm sorry. * Michael said truthfully. He was in no position to be making

her mad at this point.

"You're sorry! No you're not! You knew in the beginning that you had no way of

getting your body back. Yet you jumped into mine!" she yelled as she drove. She

wanted to cry. But if she did she knew he would feel her emotions and she would

not do that.

*All we have to do is distract him somehow. Then I can jump back in my body and

push him out of mine. * Michael paused but she didn't respond. He could feel her

anger. And he knew that if he were standing right in front of her she would have

slapped him. But if he were standing right in front of her they wouldn't be in

this position. * So you would have just left me their to die

Maria?!?!* He knew it wasn't true. But he was getting tired of her blaming it on

him. *I didn't want this to happen! I didn't choose this. If it was up to me I

would be in my own body and you would be in yours. Alone. But as it seems fate

doesn't allow things to go my way. So this is the position we are in now whether

you like it or not. * He told her flatly. Michael would have cringed just then as

a wave of hurt flooded through her. Him. What she felt he felt. And until now he

didn't realize he could cause so much pain in one person.

*You better find some way of distracting him then. * Maria thought.

*I know. * He agreed softly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*There. * Michael told her positively.

"Michael are you sure?" Maria asked. She detected a fearful tone in her voice. But

she had a right to be scared. She hadn't been prepared for this.

*I'm sure. Look we'll wait out here until he-. Maria what are you doing.

Maria? *

Maria opened the door and she walked in the direction of the diner. She knew what

she had to do. And she was going to do it. And no one was going to stop her. Not

even Michael. How could he? He didn't even know what she was doing.

*Maria answer me. * He ordered her angrily. But she didn't respond to him. He

could feel the emotions rolling off of her. And it was obvious she had decided on

something. He just didn't know what it was. He stopped and waited as she continued

her walk towards the roadside diner. He waited as she opened the door. And he

waited when he caught site of his own body standing a few feet away. And he waited

up to the point where she finally spoke to him.

*I'm sorry Michael. * She said sadly.

He felt pure fear coming from her. All that he felt from himself was confusion.

Until the point where she advanced to his body. *Maria no.* But

Even as he released the words and they flooded through Maria head he felt himself

being pushed back. By Maria. And it was to the point where he had lost all ability

to even try to control her. He tried to talk to her but he knew he was to far away

for her to hear. But he was still there. And he could see, and he could feel.

Maria did her best to pretend that was Michael facing away from her. And she found

it was a little easier it being his body. A body that she had touched.

That had touched her. But she knew the truth. And that just made it worse.

"Michael!" she exclaimed and ran up to him. She threw her arms around

Michael's neck, their enemy, and she kissed him.

He pulled away from the girl and stared at her. "M-Maria?" he asked.

Hopefully that was her name.

"Well yea! Why did you leave! We where so worried. But when we found his body we

figured you had ran. The others went the other way and I was supposed to stay in

town till you came back. But I just knew you came this way." she said and smiled.

"Well yea. I had to leave for a while." he would have to play along for now.

He couldn't get rid of her in a public place. But he hadn't known that the boy had

been intimate with the girl. He had thought him alone.

"Come on let’s go outside. All these people are staring." Maria told him and

smiled. She grabbed him hand and pulled him along. And for one-second she felt it.

A push. And she almost faltered. *No.* she said to him firmly and pushed him back.

*Maria! * Michael yelled and pushed on the barrier she was keeping up. But it was

no use. This was her body and she had more control over it then he did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So where are you held up at?" Maria asked casually. Of course this man had

to be the worst actor ever. If Maria didn't already know that this wasn't

Michael she would have known by now.

"Just a few rooms down. "Why?" He asked suspiciously.

Maria pushed forth all her courage and tried to tell herself that this was

Michael and that he wasn't in a little box in her head. She advanced towards his

body and slid her hands up his chest. "Because I was hoping we could greet each

other the right way." She said in a softly.

"The right way?" he asked a little surprised. There were obviously a lot of things

he hadn't known about the body he jumped into.

"Oh come on don't tell me you forgot." Maria whined like a little schoolgirl. "If

you did I could make you remember." she whispered in his ear and pushed herself

against him.

He gave little thought to it. She seemed easy. Why not take advantage of it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the door closed Maria pulled her shirt over her head and grabbed the hem of

his and pulled it roughly over his head. "Sorry." she said and smiled.

"It's been too long." But that wasn't it. She just wanted to get it over with.

"Well we won't make you wait any longer."

Maria wanted to cry. Her first time was going to be with a stranger. An evil

stranger. And not only that he was in Michael body. And when she thought back on

that later, if there were a later, that would make it worse. Because she had

wanted it to be with him. But not like this. Not at all like this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anger overtook Michael. He was touching her. All over. It didn't matter if it was

his body. It wasn't him. And that privilege was reserved only for him.

And when he broke free of this cage Maria had him in he was going to knock the

bastard into oblivion. But his feelings took a turn for the worst when he heard

Maria's voice directed only to him. It wasn't the same sound. He knew that she

was forcing past his lips as the man continued his assault on her body. This one

floated through her head. She called out his name. And it was said in such a

pitiful whimper his heart broke. *Maria let me out! * He screamed and pushed on

the barriers. But they did not yield. Although Maria called out his name she was

not releasing him. *Dammit Maria. * He cursed. He did his best to concentrate on

the anger. Because if he didn't he would be consumed by the feelings of fear and

despair she was releasing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria squeezed her eyes shut as he pounded into her. She couldn't watch. She

forced noises of pleasure to escape her lips. But unwanted feelings of pleasure

overtook her as she came. And she screamed. A scream of frustration. She dug her

nails into Michael's back hoping to hurt the man invading Michael's perfect body.

A groan passed the man's lips and in an instant she forgot everything and she knew

that he was distracted. *Michael! * She screamed out for him and let him go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael heard the scream. It almost seemed to bounce of unseen walls. But there

where no walls he realized. None at all. And he was met with a flood of pain and

suffering that he had been unaware of. He was furious. Thoughts and feelings

flooded through him. All belonging to Maria. How she felt what she saw. But he

realized, all at once, that Maria was leaving herself open to him. Fully. He knew

her plan now. It was to distract him. And unfortunately it had been perfect.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He felt it. And unnatural push all throughout his body. It was him. The boy.

He was in the girl’s body. And they had tricked him. He fought. But he was already

to far out before he had even realized what was going on. And not only that the

boy fought more strongly this time. And he knew that he time was up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As reality came back to Michael the first thing he realized was that he was in his

body. After that he opened his eyes. And he realized another thing.

Maria was lying under him, with no close on. But she was out. He pushed himself

off of her. "Maria?" No response. He took her wrist in his hand and relief flooded

him when he felt her pulse. He moved off the bed and began dressing himself. If

Maria woke up with them both undressed she would freak.

He would freak. How would Maria even be able to look at him now. After he-After

what his body did to her. She had sacrificed everything for him and there was no

way he could ever repay her for it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Maria was pulled away from the darkness she called out to Michael. But there

was no response. None at all. She forced her eyes open and found herself in the

same motel room, in a bed, naked. But alone. So she cried.

"Michael." she sobbed.

"Maria."

Maria's eyes flew to the just opened bathroom door. But was it him? She

couldn't tell. She held the sheet to her chest and backed up until her back

hit the headboard.

"Maria." Michael repeated painfully and advanced but he quickly stopped as

Maria screamed.

"No!" she yelled. How would she know? She had seen Michael's memories when he

jumped into her body. Couldn't he have seen Michael?

"Maria it's me. I promise. It worked." he told her. But her face told him that she

didn't believe it.

"That doesn't make any difference." she told him firmly but her chin began to

quiver.

Michael ground his teeth together. He walked towards her and before she could

jump off the bed he grabbed her arms and pulled her to him so that she was

kneeling on the bed but still close enough.

Maria cried out and tried to get out of his grip. She had hoped. But now...

"Maria!" he yelled firmly causing her fit to stop, most likely from fear.

He brought one hand up to her face as the other held her against him. He wiped the

tear away. "Why did you have to do that?" he asked softly.

"What?" she sobbed.

"You pushed me away. But I felt it all. They way he touched you and the fear that

you felt. You sacrificed yourself for me. Why?" He asked her, and he wanted to

know. He had to know.

Maria tilted her head up and looked him strait in the eyes. He looked sincere. Not

fake like before. "Because I wanted you back. I needed you back."

The site of her broke him. He hadn't been able to see her being inside of her

body. But now that he could he almost wished he couldn't. Just looked pitiful.

"Maria it wasn't worth you giving that up."

Maria couldn't believe him. For a moment she wanted to be mad. Just for the fact

that he wasn't grateful. But she soon realized that wasn't the case. She knew how

he felt. She had felt it. He didn't think his life was worth it.

"You where worth it. I couldn't stand it if I lost you."

"I'm sorry." He said softly.

Maria's whole body began to shake as she felt herself began to fall apart.

Michael seemed to be the only thing holding her up. She wrapped her arm

tightly around his neck and pressed herself against him as sobs began to wrack her

body.

"It was your body. But it wasn't you. And it hurt so much." she admitted to him.

Michael rocked her back and forth and did his best to comfort. But he found no

words to help her. How could he even try to comfort her or thank her?

There was no way he could come up with anything to compare to what she gave up for

him. "I know Maria. But I promise you, he won't hurt you ever again."

And that was all he could do to comfort her.

"You won't leave right?" Maria looked up at him and whispered.

Michael shook his head. "No." he told her. He debated on whether or not to remind

her that she was wrapped in only a sheet. But she seemed content where she was.

And considering the firm grip she had on him he didn't think she would let go

anytime soon. His attention was drawn away from the frightened object

in his hands by the opening of the door. "Max?"

"Michael?" Max asked fearfully. He wasn't sure if that was his friend at first.

But after the longest few seconds of his life he knew it. He turned to Isabelle

who was standing at his side. She knew it to. Liz walked in from behind him.

"Maria?" she asked gently.

Michael looked down at Maria. He expected her to pull herself together. To jump up

and run to Liz. Out of his arms. But she didn't. Her cries, which had halted at

the opening of the door, continued. She pushed herself closer to him and buried

her face into his chest. She was so close to him she barely made out when she

sobbed his name. He stood up holding her in his arms and walked into the bathroom,

shutting the door behind him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria waited patiently outside the darkened restauraunt. Liz had pestered her for

a few minutes trying to persuade Maria to let her walk her home. But

Maria told her she would be okay. Of course Liz still worried. Maybe she had a

right to be worried. But in Maria’s opinion she was doing just fine. It had been

hard in the beginning. And she even found it lonely not having Michael physically

in her mind. But after a couple of weeks she had began to recover.

But they all still treat her like she'd brake at any moment.

"Hey." a voice whispered and hands slid around her waste to her stomach.

Maria let out a content sigh and leaned back. The breath tickling her ear sent

shivers down her back. "Hey." she replied and closed her eyes.

"Are you okay?" he asked her softly.

Maria frowned slightly. He treated her like she would brake to. But even

though she should get mad, just for the fact that she is Maria and needs no one,

she couldn't. She liked having him there holding her up. Coddling her.

She didn't mind. It made her feel better. "I'm fine." she told him.

"You always say that." he responded.

His voice wasn't scolding though. She knew he wanted the truth. "I'm doing

better." She admitted.

"You read?" he asked her but still didn't pull away.

Maria sighed. "Yea." She reluctantly pulled out of his comforting arms and began

the walk to her house with him by her side. She couldn't drive anymore.

Ever sense that night she had become paranoid. She couldn't walk home on her own

either. Well at least not at night. She discovered that soon after they returned

and she was out late one night driving. She had begun crying so much from fear,

she had to call Liz and have her come pick her up. But like she told Michael, she

was getting better. She was able to stand outside on her own this time. It was a

small task that she was proud of. Max says the paranoia is from the stress factor

of having two aliens switch so fast. So she was stressed. Although she didn't feel

it. She felt scared. Even sometimes at work or at school. Some unknown person

walking into work would scare her.

Just a look would frighten her. A man had walked in looking only slightly like

'him'. But she ran to the back. Liz had followed her and found her crouched in a

corner with her arms wrapped around her knees crying. But Liz couldn't help. So

Liz called Max. Maria remembered vaguely the fear in Liz's voice. She hadn't known

the problem. Max understood it more. He called Michael. Michael acted in

un-Michael like behavior and rushed over there. He was the only one now that she

felt safe around now. The only one that she felt that could protect her. And he

did that. He rushed over whenever she felt herself begin to lose it and every

night he walked her home from work.

Just like tonight.

"Are you going to be okay tonight?" Michael asked her in a concerned voice.

Maria shook her head. Just like every other night for the past couple of weeks.

"Okay." he agreed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another unfortunate repercussion was the lack of sleep. It took her hours to fall

asleep. But she didn't mind it too much. After all Michael was there with her. He

had stayed at her house every night since they had returned. Nothing happened. He

just held her. And that's the way she liked it. Sometimes she would get scared

lying there in his arms. Scared that one day he would stop caring. Or even find

his real home. She never told him. She would never tell him that she wanted him to

stay here and not get home. She wouldn't know what to do without him now. The only

way for her to exist now was to coexist with him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The End