Sean made it back in time to join the others in the dark room looking in on Interrogation Room Three. Behind the one-way glass was Alex Whitman. The man looked trashed and totally out of it. Michael looked at Max and nodded for him to follow. Sean and Kyle stayed put and turned on the speaker.

Alex looked up when they walked in. His eyes were bloodshot and tired, and Michael watched as he lit another cigarette. Not even bothering to tell the man that there was no smoking in the rooms, Michael took a chair across from him.

The two men stared at each other unmoving, and it was Max moving and clearing his throat that finally broke the silence.

“I don’t like being called in, Detectives.” Alex drew heavily on his cigarette.

“It was necessary, Alex.” Michael didn’t offer Alex any condolences over his loss. There was no need. Nothing could bring Krystal back, and there was nothing left but justice.

“You find the person who did my cousin?”

“No. We’ve found a monster.” Michael motioned for Max who came forward and dropped a pile of folder in front of the two men. “Your cousin wasn’t the first, not even the second. So far we’ve got thirty-seven missing people all over the last two years. There might be even more if we dig back far enough. Seven were taken from your club. Three recently, and four other ones some seven months ago.”

Alex looked at Michael intently and nodded to the pile. “Show me.”

Michael passed him only the folders of the ones taken from his place. Alex quickly looked through the pile. One picture caught his eyes. Jennifer Quilter.

“This girl I knew. She was one of my people, a server in the club.” Michael just waited for Alex to tell him what he knew. It wasn’t really necessary since Michael already knew Alex was the one who filed that MP report as well. “She was a good kid, clean. Working my place at nights to make money for school. Her father threw her out when she was sixteen, but she lived with friends, finished High School, and was working on an Associates in Design. She was very talented.”

“Another was taken last night. A young Japanese man, early twenties, also a student. Jack Tso. He was a first generation Japanese. His family relocated to America with his father’s company, and he took a position in New Mexico because he wanted to see the great American West.”

Alex grounded out his smoke on the floor. Another, taken in his club, under his protection. “I’m closing my club.”

Alex stood to leave. “Don’t.” Michael said. He expected that reaction, it was the one he would have had. “We need it open.”

“I can’t. Above my doors are words, in French. ‘Entrez l'enfer, là êtes ici nulle part d'autre.’ It is a welcome to Hell, and the freedom to know that in Hell there is no other place to go. Rock bottom. It is a symbol of protection and a type of freedom.” Alex sat back down. “My place is tainted, soiled.”

“It’s his hunting ground.”

Alex was silent. “His pattern?”

“Two months, and then he moves. He rotates. Seven months ago he hunted in your place. He took four in two months. Today, he's taken three in less than two weeks. He's accelerated his pattern and come back to your place. It's prime to him, good pickings. I need that place open, so we can hunt the hunter.”

“Who protects my people, my innocents?”

“We do. I do.” Michael understood what Alex was asking, the commitment.

“The blood, it can stain.”

“It’ll be on my hands.”

Alex shook his head. Michael knew better. If Alex left the club open, let the cops come in and another child was lost, the blood would cover them all-especially Alex.

“My doors are open. We hunt the hunter, but no more die.”

“Thank you.” Michael said quietly. It was hard for a man like Alex to open the doors of his community to outsiders, cops.

“I don’t do it for you.” Alex looked down at all the files, his cousin’s included. “I do it for them.” Alex headed for the door of the room. Without looking back at either of them, “I do it for Krystal, and I do it for Isabel. At one time she could’ve been one of them.”

Neither Max nor Michael spoke a word as he left. He was right. Isabel lived in the hunting ground for years. It was stupid blind luck that sent her away a year ago, because the woman Alex reported missing seven months ago, Jennifer Quilter, resembled Isabel enough to be a sister.

~~~

Julia could feel her spine tickling. The smarmy Defense attorney was looking a tad too smug. Something was wrong. Very wrong. As the Judge entered the Courtroom from his chambers with all the "Hear ye! Hear ye! The Honorable Judge blah, blah, blah-heard it all before" she knew that it was over.

There it was. Before the trial was even begun and the docket read, the Defense requested to approach the bench. Expressionless, Julia waited along with her two assistants, hands folded on her papers. It was important to appear unaffected by the move, as the Jury would be watching all parties' reactions, curious at this sudden turn of events.

“Would the Counsel for the People please approach the bench.” Not losing contact with the Judge’s eyes, Julia felt the sinking in her stomach.

They Judge looked at her. “The Defense has entered a motion to suppress the confession entered in this case.”

“On what grounds?” No way. There was no way that the valid confession logged into the case during preliminaries could be turned.

“Defense maintains that the defendant was coerced to make the confession, and he was denied his right to have counsel present during his interrogation.”

“The confession was signed and validated by the arresting officer and numerous witnesses present. All affidavits and validations were disclosed months ago, as per Defense Counsel's request. No objection to them was made at any point during the preliminary hearings.”

“My client made the confession under duress and in fear of his life.”

She turned and nearly sneered at him. “That being the case, this information should have been brought to the Prosecution's attention prior to trial!!”

“What do you not understand about the words ‘duress’ and ‘afraid for his life’, Miss MacLeod? And given the nature of the coercion..."

As their voices rose, the Judge stood up and banged his gavel. “Counsel will continue this in my chambers.” The Judge looked at the Panel of Jurors. “The Jury is instructed to disregard this matter, and not discuss it with anyone. Court will be adjourned until further notice.”

~~~

She found him in the PD parking garage on his way home for the evening. Sean stopped and enjoyed the view of the lady ADA stalking towards him. He might have to cancel his dinner with Michael and Maria, if the chicken-eating ADA was free.

“Already finished with court, Counselor? You must be good.” Sean smiled.

“I should shove that plastic phony smile down your gullet, you chickensh-it, two bit, scruffy nerferder.” She stopped barely an inch from his nose, and she was hot. Hot to look at, hot under the collar and just hot. He could feel the heat peeling off her.

“Scruffy? Hey, it’s been a long day!”

“The Defense entered a motion to have the confession suppressed!”

“The confession was good. I was there. The little weasel sang his heart out, sweating bullets the whole time. He not only dropped a dime on Pierce, but he rolled in it.” Sean frowned at her rising color.

“According to the accused he was coerced. By you! He named names! Yours specifically, and being the arresting officer..."

“That little pipsqueak, I have a mind...”

“No you do not! ” Her voice rose even louder as passing officers and personnel watched the spectacle. “Did you do it? Just tell me truthfully, did you lean on the suspect?”

Sean went quiet. “Define ‘lean’.”

“You know what I mean, Detective. The accused said he requested counsel, and before he could lawyer up, you and he had a conversation. And the longer it took, the more threatened he felt. His lawyer said that he was detained downstairs in booking while the front desk tried to locate his client. He was kept waiting for forty-five minutes! Does any of this stink of coercion or 'leaning' to you? Search your pea-size brain, and string me together some words that make sense. Tell me what I want to hear.”

“We didn't...I didn’t work outside the law. I followed procedure to the letter. To the letter. I didn’t do what isn’t done every day. I brought in the bad guy.”

“I’ve seen standard operating procedures for a cop shop before, Detective. How close to the envelope did you walk?”

Sean lost it. “Didn’t you even read the case file? This was an ammo supply hub, a turnstile shop. They were peddling ‘Cop Killers’, armor piercing rounds. Not just for here, but to the boarders. Not just a few cases of live ammo, but hundreds. Every snitch, crank, every pimp, pusher, runner and gang banger was going to be covered to the hilt. It was loaded full metal jackets in smooth case with armor head piercing to the load. Have you seen the damage that does to everyday Kevlar? Do you know the magnitude of damage it could do, the river of blood to our own? So I leaned! I stayed within the legal. I made the bust, and I closed the shop. Pierce didn’t go down, but he felt it up his ass!”

Julia groaned and covered her ears. “You stupid, stupid F-uck. Didn’t I tell you I don’t like surprises? And you knew! You knew this was going down skewed. I told you. You looked me in the eye, and told me that it was clean. Clean!”

Sean rubbed his brow. “What happened?” he asked quietly.

“The case is adjourned, pending the outcome of a hearing tomorrow to determine whether or not the confession stands. If the court decides it was coerced, that confession is gone and so are all the materials and information gained from it and in any way connected to it.”

“What do you want from me?”

Julia snorted. “Besides what I can’t have? I want you in court, in your Sunday best, all polite and proper, and I want you to sell the Judge on your honesty and integrity. I want my case back! And you, Detective, are going to stand and deliver it. You will be there first thing in the morning, on time, and alert.”

“I can do that.”

“OH! Believe me, you will. If I lose this confession, my case is standing by a thread, and all the time, work, and the endless amount of manpower hours spent on this case alone, stands in jeopardy.” She stood shouting in his face in a cold hard voice. “You take yourself off, and you pray to God, your mother, and whatever deity you can find that my case isn’t going south because of your stretching of the proper procedures. Otherwise I will find you, and I will twist your balls off until you scream for mercy.” She stomped her foot in an act of pure fury. “I told you, I don’t like surprises!”

Sean watched as she turned on her heel and stalked off, the only real sounds being the angry beating of her stiletto heels on the concrete.

“That could take a lot of twisting, Counselor,” he said softly as he rubbed his hand over his face and down his body. The dark anger shuddered through his body as he tried to relax the tight fist he had plastered to his side. It took all his control not to reach out and take her down. Oh God, he really needed therapy because he was so aroused at this moment it was almost impossible to breathe.

~~~

Sean opened the loft door to Isabel. Sighing in great regret, he stood aside and let her enter. Maria could have warned him that she was the other dinner guest. What was it? Dial-a-Bitch day?

“Princess Bitch.”

“Elephant Man.” Isabel wiz past him, to take a seat at the kitchen bar. Looking over she noticed Michael and Maria having what could only be termed a fight. Turning to look at Sean again, her eyes narrowed. “You’re healing. Who knew that you would be uglier in your native form? Must be your age.”

“You should be so lucky to look as good when you’re my age.” Sean dug through the kitchen for food, and looking up at Isabel he smiled nastily. “Wait, you do look my age.”

“I don’t believe you’re twenty-nine.” Isabel looked him over critically.

“Thirty-four, and if you want me to believe you’re twenty-nine I’ll need to see some I.D.” Isabel just ignored him and nabbed the bag of chips out of his hand. Munching on a few she turned to watch the residents of the house still having it out.

“So what are they arguing over?”

“It doesn’t matter. Maria will win.” Sean said. The argument over rearranging and expanding the loft was an ongoing one. Michael hated change and thought the loft was plenty big, but Maria with her added nesting instincts was pushing for more space.

“I doubt it. That would require Michael backing down, and Michael never backs down. Not to no one, no how.” Sean sneered at the Ice Queen.

“Money?”

Isabel reached into her bag and pulled out a twenty. “I’ll go twenty.”

“Covered. Easiest money I ever made.”

“Oh, now you’re trying to convince me that bending over and taking it like a man is hard work.”

Sean just shrugged as he covered her twenty with his own. “Depends who I’m taking it from. Now if it was you...that amount of work is unimaginable, trying to come up with a convincing fake orgasm.”

Isabel just rolled her eyes at him. “Men can’t fake orgasms.”

“Sure they can. Just close your eyes and think of something else, anything else to get off. God, Country, the Queen, or even white cotton socks.” Sean looked over at Michael and Maria and reassessed the situation. “Uh oh, Michael is showing signs of caving. We might want to scram for a while.”

“Michael doesn’t cave.” Isabel insisted as she turned to look at the arguing couple. Frowning, and almost needing to rub her eyes, it did look like Michael was wavering. What the hell? Twenty bucks dammit! The man should try to show a little more self-respect. “I don’t believe it.”

Sean picked up the money and pocketed. It was a matter of time before the clothes started flying, maybe three minutes on the outside. “You would if you’d have been around the last year. Maria always wins.”

“How?” Isabel refused to believe Michael Guerin had changed that much.

“Oldest woman’s trick in the book.”

Isabel looked at Sean. “Sex.”

“Yeah, and no man, no matter how strong, passes up heated sex on top of a real passionate fight.” Isabel just rolled her eyes. She didn’t really lose. She just forgot to factor in the male 'thinking with their dick' syndrome.

“We better scram or we’re going to get an eyefull.” Isabel turned to find the couple plastered to each other kissing wildly and pushing at each other's clothes. “Normally they would be more conscious of company, but recently...? Best to get out while the going is good.”

Isabel agreed and quickly followed Sean out of the loft trying to sponge the sounds of moaning and kissing from her poor brain. “Guess dinner is a wash, and dammit, I’m hungry.”

“Me, too. Let’s go find some food.” Isabel looked at him and shrugged. Why the hell not.

“Okay, but you pay.” Isabel said remembering her lost twenty.

“Dutch. When I pay for dinner for a woman, I expect something out of her.”

“Projectile vomiting?”

~~~

“Maria, I don’t think this is such a good idea.” Michael said rubbing his brow above his right eye. They missed their dinner date with Isabel and Sean for other things, but after dinner Maria insisted they go to the gym.

“We’ve been doing it for months. I didn’t want to do it, but you made me. Remember the long winded list of reasons why I should let you teach me self defense?” Maria pulled her leg up behind her and stretched the hamstring tight. “So suddenly it’s different? What I’ve got a protective shield around me? Or do I no longer look tasty enough to abuse?”

“It’s not that. It just now that you’re...”

“So help me God, if you say pregnant, I’m so going to take down your ass.” Maria grabbed him by his t-shirt front. “Pregnant doesn’t mean fragile, and it doesn’t mean I’m helpless, copper. So be a good Pig, and teach me what you said you would teach me. I swear, if I knew letting you get me in a family way would turn you to mush, I’d...” Maria stopped herself. She’d still have done it.

“Okay, but nothing too rough, Maria? Okay?”

“Right. Gotcha. Don’t hurt the copper.” They finally got on the mats and started practicing the different holds that Michael had taught Maria to get out of.

"That's right Maria... right there." Michael urged her.

"Are you sure?" Maria's voice was uncertain but growing in confidence, "like this?" Times like these, she suddenly realized how large he was compared to her.

"Just like that, yeah," Michael said encouragingly, "Now harder." Maria groaned. Sure, she heard that before.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Maria needed to be sure.

"Just do it, Maria, and quit stalling." There was a note of impatience in his voice. Maria just shrugged.

"Alright, but remember, this was your idea." Maria took a firm grip on him, following the technique that they had practiced for the past few months. She didn’t want to hurt him, and yet she needed to impress on him at the same time that she was okay, that he didn’t need to guard her all the time.

Foot forward and weight back. No, that was weight forward and foot back, and pivot and turn on the inside pulling with follow through. Nope, nope it was foot forward and the weight to the back. She grunted and strained, every muscle in her body tense as the movement reached its completion, and the smacking ‘umf’ sound as Michael hit the mat hard.

Maria stood staring down at her lover, who was now on his back on the gym mat. "Hey, you okay, baby?"

Michael opened his eyes giving Maria a satisfied smile. "Not bad... for a beginner." He actually liked it when she called him ‘baby’ at times. It only slipped out when she was really concerned, otherwise it was 'Detective'.

Maria flushed slightly, brushing her hair off of her sweaty face. "Well, I don't have your old age years of practice to fall back on, or your muscled frame. But my family didn’t believe in leaving anyone defenseless."

Michael ignored the dig at his age, she was only a year younger than he was. “I know they taught you some things, Maria. But using a stiletto on someone and a few holds isn’t going to cut it.”

“Well, it’s helped me a few times in my past.” Maria watched his face darken, and sighed. That was the problem wasn’t it? This was all about the past, and his obsessive need to know she was safe when he wasn’t around. “Okay, we better go again, because I need the practice.”

"This time I don't want you to hesitate." He said as he picked himself up off the floor. "When you feel me grab you I just want you to do it." He was going to be sorry one night, coming home, sneaking up on her, grabbing her from behind, and ‘bam’ his ass was going to go down. Reflexes like a cat.

"You want to do that again?" Maria asked incredulously.

"Practice makes perfect, Maria. Besides I'd feel better knowing that you can hold your own against a larger opponent."

Maria sighed. Michael had finally decided that she needed to know more than basics in self defense, and Maria had capitulated, only to help alleviate some of his tension. So they started going to the PD gym late at night, at least twice a week. They didn't have time to do it otherwise. The gym was open twenty-four/seven, but rarely used at night. The two of them had been at it for about twenty minutes and they were both covered in sweat.

Michael set himself behind her again. He was teaching Maria how to get away from an attacker. His eyes wandered over the tight ass in front of him. It was beautiful like the rest of Maria, even through the baggy sweats. His lusty feelings were causing him another problem at the moment, but putting them aside for the sake of more important things, like attacking her from behind. Michael groaned. He could feel the heat of her body, smell the sweat mixed with the smell of patchouli and jasmine. His arms and hands could feel the movement of her muscles, finer and more delicate than his, as she immediately took to finishing the move. Her body pushed back deeper into his body, as her foot stepped into the inside to redistribute her weight and use his against him. She flipped him over.

Michael landed with a grunt onto his back. He knew he had startled her, he felt it in her body when he grabbed her, and reasoned that Maria had let her mind wander a bit. He was doing the same thing. With a grin he reached up and grabbed Maria's arm and pulled her down on him.

"Hey!" Maria groused as she landed on top of him.

"You weren't paying attention, Maria." Michael said trying to be serious, which was hard when he was chuckling. "You have to watch out for that you know, cause if someone pulls you down..." With lightening speed he rolled over and pinned her more supple body beneath his. "Your opponent can use his weight against you."

"You’re just upset because every time I smack you down on the mat I scream ‘take that, ya Pig’ !" Maria said, not struggling against the hold. Though her arms were free, Michael's larger body had her effectively pinned. Parts of her brain and body were enjoying the experience, especially the parts that could feel his fully erect penis rubbing against her. Nailed to the mat, she could totally handle that.

"Yeah, what’s with that?" Suddenly Maria’s breath hitched and a redness moved up her neck. Michael's expression darkened with concern. “You okay? Did I hurt you?”

"I’m fine, feeling real fine. I just wonder how I keep finding myself in this position." Maria's face showed arousal and interest in the body above her, then her face brightened suddenly, became full of mischief. "I did think of a way to get you off of me though, to take the top."

"Really?" Michael asked, pulling his head up to look in her face. He had moved his head into her neck and shoulder and was rubbing his face there. He tried to ignore how pleasant their bodies felt rubbing together. A warning in the back of his mind told him that moving might be a good idea, if he wanted to stay in control.

"I’m sure it will always work. Of course, I have to want to be on top, mind you."

"Every time? You think it’ll work every time? That’s impossible, because once your opponent can anticipate your move then it becomes worthless." Michael said still not moving off her, and willing his body not to start something. Seeing the gleam in her eye, he rolled his, and snorted. “Okay, what is it?”

"Just this..." Maria reached up clasping her hands around the back of Michael's head, pulling him down for a hard closed-mouth kiss, that quickly opened into a hard, deep sucking kiss with all of him crowding into her. What she got was totally expected and a whole lot more pleasant than smacking him around on the mat, though that had a lot to recommend it.

Michael realized Maria was going to kiss him a split second before she did it. His mind told him to stop it before it started, but his body had wanted to feel those lips, and taste that mouth since they started that he just couldn't. She was distracting him away from what they were supposed to be doing again, and he didn’t care.

As Maria's lips met his, Michael opened his mouth slightly and closed his eyes and let her have the lead. Or that was his intention, but with them it never always happened as intended. Pressing into the kiss Michael's tongue darted out to taste Maria's lips, her mouth opened under his, and Michael didn't hesitate in exploring the hot moist cavern. Tongues dueled briefly as the kiss increased in intensity. Michael wondered if it was possible to lose all sense of self in the taste of a person.

After what seemed like an eternity Maria broke the kiss, gasping for air. Her head falling back onto the mat. "Oh Michael." She whispered, seeing the passion unleashed in Michael's eyes. Suddenly all those casual touches turned to more, and she couldn’t stop her hands from moving over him, touching him gently and then not so gently. He made her hunger, and the warmth she always felt from them suddenly erupted into a fire that threatened to consume them. But they were in a public place! They had to pull back!

Michael saw the confusion and fierce determination on her face that was warring with a burning passion, and felt his raging hard-on that their brief wrestling and kiss had caused. Whatever it was about her, she knew how to stoke his fires. With a predatory gleam he swooped down and claimed those full lips for his own, sucking on Maria's tongue. His hands were busy as well, one was buried deep into the shiny golden hair feeling the silky strands move over his fingers, while the other snaked under Maria's shirt. He moved his thumb over her nipple as he explored the weight and fullness of her breasts. It had to be his imagination, but they already felt fuller despite it only being a good six weeks into the pregnancy. His sensitive fingers pinched and rolled Maria's nipples into points, causing her to writhe under him.

Remembering that breathing was a required function of life, Michael pulled away from the wonderful taste of Maria's mouth. Moving down to the jaw line he licked and scraped the flesh under his lips in a trail to the delicate earlobe sucking it lightly.

Maria was moaning softly, her hands running down Michael's back. She wrapped her legs around him pulling them even closer together. Michael growled into her neck, Maria shivered at the sensation, turning her head to give better access. She was rewarded by the feel of teeth on her neck as Michael bit down lightly, then sucked hard. "Ah... Michael. Don't stop." He could almost feel the rush of warm blood under the skin where his tongue licked, as the blood pooled in the sucking mark. Maria felt her body squirm from the multiple sensations assaulting her at once. She arched into the body above him, their lower bodies rubbing together through the layers of sweaty clothing. They kept being so aroused so quickly, and she wondered how things had escalated to this point.

Michael pulled back to look at her before going back to her neck and biting hard until he drew blood. Her whole body bucked and her moan pulled him back to look at her again. Never had he seen anyone look so beautiful as Maria did at that moment. Her eyes dark and wild, with a small smile pulling up the edge of her mouth. Within a few seconds he managed to divest Maria and himself of their sweats, pushing her shirt up over her head as his hands ran down her arms and to her sides. To his delight Maria was more than cooperative in the maneuver, whimpering with need when Michael's hand brushed against her breasts, and then continued downward to wrap around a long lean thigh, pulling her deeper into the cradle of his groin.

Maria's eyes widened and smiled at the fire she saw in Michael's eyes. There he was, that was who she was waiting for. She felt the well muscled body all over her, and licking her lips unconsciously in anticipation. Michael leaned back down, sliding their bodies together, needing to feel every inch of her on him. As their bodies aligned Maria took a firm hold of Michael's ass, bringing their groins into closer contact as she felt him thrust inside with one strong stroke.

"Oh f-uck... Michael don't stop, please...oh yes oh yes.”

They moved together in steady rhythm of hard violent thrusts, gasping as they rode the tide of passion that had so suddenly swept them away. Michael slid a hand to Maria's ass holding her tight to him as he made a place deep inside her, rearing back, he pulled her off the mat to practically sit in his lap. Pushing her face to his chest, he gazed at her, hot and hard.

“Bite me.”

Maria latched onto the skin of his chest, pulling the hardened masculine nipple into her mouth sucking it hard up against her top palate. Hearing his moans, and a demand for more, she felt the warmth of the blood rushing to the bruised flesh. Moving her hands around to his back to hold him close she bit down on his flesh feeling the skin tear and give away as the salty taste of rusty nails flooded her mouth, and Michael's whole body jerked into a frenzy as he f-ucked her harder and harder, moaning her name.

For a moment, he held her mouth against his body looking down at her feeding from his flesh, then moving his hand behind her neck he held her firmly in place as he felt the first rushes of an orgasm rushing down his spine. Pulling back, and wanting it to last longer, he pushed her mouth off him and looked at her, feeling his body jump again as he panted, his breath rushing in large gasps. Her eyes were darkened to that hard emerald green, hard as the precious stone, and bordering on black with a living green fire burning inside. Michael pulled her up into a kiss, tasting himself in her mouth as he sucked her tongue deep into his mouth and biting it.

Her nails scratched grooves on his back, as he moved away and suddenly in a rush, he slammed her hard, flat on the mat. His one hand raised her left arm high above her threading his fingers through hers, pinning the arm and their hands to the mat. Remaining in her, never stopping the pace, he moved his right leg to the outside of hers, and moving high up on her body to let his knee dig into the mat beside her left hip. His other hand came down to take her right leg under the knee, high on his shoulder as his other leg moved up higher and tighter into her practically lifting her off the mat with each succeeding thrust. Feeling him everywhere at once, the thought of Michael taking her like that was too much. Crying out his name Maria came hard as she felt him thicken even more and the sexual pounding became like a primitive beat in her blood.

The scent and feel of Maria's orgasm, combined with the sound of his name on Maria's lips was more than he could stand. With a growl torn from deep within his soul, he thrust into her convulsing body, and sank his teeth into the juncture between Maria's neck and shoulder. Marking her again, as he too came.

Maria returned to her body to find Michael laying on his side next to her. His fingers were carding through her long silky hair slowly as though memorizing its texture. There was a soft unfamiliar expression on Michael's face that she couldn't quite identify. Maria watched him through heavy lids, too sated and tired to move. His mouth moved to lovingly suck and lick the wounds he left on her, as one of his hands moved lower to stroke the flatness of her stomach. Maria eyes closed in a moan as he lowered his head to kiss her abdomen low where his child rested.

"I guess you never expected this to happen to you?" Michael asked softly, stroking his face lightly into her as she moved her hand down to stroke the long soft curls of his hair, playing with it, watching it wind around her fingers.

"Trust me, that was the last thing I ever expected to happen." Maria replied, leaning into the caress as he laid kisses on her flesh.

“I think I’m too rough.”

“I think you’re perfect. You’re you, I’m me, and,” lifting his head to force him to look at her, “this is us. Don’t make it more than it is, and don’t make it less either. And don't make it wrong.”

“Maria. I need...” Michael paused and shook his head against her. “I need...”

Bending down and kissing his head, she laid back and continued to soothe him. “I know.” Closing her eyes she sighed. She couldn’t give them to him, not yet. The words were in every touch and in every kiss, but he needed the spoken words. She couldn’t give them up, not yet. Not until it was time. Not until he was ready and complete...free. He wasn’t finished yet, but soon. “I know. Soon. I promise, real soon.”

They lay together for a long moment, then as though they had just remembered just where they were, both quickly moved as Michael stood up and pulled her up with him. Grabbing their discarded clothes, he took her into the men’s locker room, and they both stood under the hot pounding shower letting some of the soreness from before wash away.

“So do I’ve got the moves, Detective?” Maria asked as he washed her back.

Pulling her tight against his front, he wrapped his hands around her front and moved his hands over her skin, pushing the soap across the silky wetness. “All the right moves, Professor. All the right moves.” He whispered in her ear as he kissed her neck.

~~~

Sean made it to the Courthouse early. Determined to beat the ADA to court, he was disappointed to already find her there talking to two other 'Suits'. The courtroom was quiet as the hearing was in closed chambers. Julia barely looked his way, but she did note his cleaned-up look. Small favors.

Yawning, he tried to keep an attentive look on his face, but it was hard. He stayed up late reading through the old case file to prepare for his testimony. It was strange to see his writing from a year ago. It felt like a lifetime had passed since then. And it almost had.

The hearing began, and he sat behind the Prosecutor’s desk trying to follow the legal mumbo jumbo. No wonder no one in his family ever became lawyers. Talk, talk, and more talk. It was better to just kill them.
.

Sean listened as Julia began her argument by firmly asserting that any allegations in the matter of coercion should have been addressed during Arraignment, as it was an evidentiary matter. That to allow it to be admitted at this late stage in the proceedings would establish a dangerous precedent.

He heard the Judge dryly inform Counsel that, as she well knew, fundamental constitutional rights could never be entirely voided, irrespective of what stage of the criminal trial had reached, and that the 'lady ADA's' argument was overruled.

Sean watched a stain of red run up the back of her neck. She was fuming. Sean stifled a groan of appreciation. The woman looked good in red.

Sean was so busy watching her, that he almost missed his name being called. Yeah, he was still under oath. He was to tell the Court everything he knew in a truthful manner, so help him God.

The story he told was the same that he told during preliminaries, absolutely unchanged. No, he wasn’t aware that the defendant's counsel was detained on the premises that day. No, that was outside his area of operations. He was upstairs with the defendant when it occurred, but had he known he would have made sure the two hooked up. Sean ignored Julia’s warning glare.

No, he did not feel that he had coerced the witness. If he had, the witness would’ve had bruises and a doctor’s statement to prove it. Julia looked at him in shock and cleared her throat. No Sir, it is not the practice of the Roswell PD to beat confessions out of suspects, and that is why he could testify that allegations of coercion were false.

Sean was excused from the witness box, but was reminded that he was still under oath, should either side choose to recall him.

The suspect took the stand and told a sad tale of how Sean threatened to make his life a living hell, threatened to hound him relentlessly, and actually make him pay if the Detective found out he was lying. The man stressed how irritated Sean said he would be if he found the man was holding out on him, and that it was best that he just confess immediately and give evidence against his employer. Sean tried to keep awake during the sad story, but it was too much for him.

The ADA, continued to argue fiercely, stating that the factual scenario in the present case was almost identical to one that had been brought before the Supreme Court recently, where the Court had found that extreme actions taken to extract the confession to be both necessary and within reason, meaning the suspect's statement was admissible.

The Defense Counsel, looking smug and if possible even more smarmy, smoothly countered by explaining in condescending tones that, as the Supreme Court ruling concerned a Federal matter, it was of no relevance to a case concerning a state offence. Thus it was well within the rights of the presiding Judge to determine what was admissible and what was not.

The arguing went on too long for Sean, and he stopped paying attention until the Judge ordered a short recess to review the arguments made. While he was gone, Sean sleepily watched Julia confer with her colleagues. Soon the Judge returned. Having reviewed the case, all testimony and the police record of the arresting officer over the past year...Sean became alert at that. Oh sh-it! They were toast!

It was not outside the realm of possibility to believe that the arresting officer was capable of displaying the sort of extreme violence and pressure that would make a reasonable man in the position of the suspect apprehensive enough to confess to a crime against his will. Sean closed his eyes and cursed the damn trip to Hawaii and Guerin in all one breath. Dammit, he loved these pants, and when the hellion ADA finished trampling his body, kicking him up and down Main Street and squeezing his balls out of his throat, these pants were going to be a mess.

He listened as the Judge outlined events of the case, and the use of the words ‘extreme force’ kept coming up time and time again. Come on baby, object! Make him define what exactly ‘extreme force’ means. He drifted as he heard the Defense seek a motion to dismiss due to the lack of credible evidence. Julia ADA opposed this through gritted teeth, making mention of confiscated physical evidence found on the defendant’s premises. This led Defense Counsel to question the legality of the warrant and the subsequent search and seizure. Points were made about a witness who had provided information that allowed police to obtain the warrant in the first place. Mouthpieces, talk, talk and talk...Sean drifted off to sleep.

Julie listened as her solid case slowly dissolved. The final ruling of the Judge being that, since a witness existed there was still a possible case. But even that was looking doubtful. The motion to suppress the confession was granted, resulting in a large portion of the evidence automatically becoming inadmissible-fruits of the poisonous tree. A short evidentiary hearing was scheduled for Monday morning to determine whether the remaining evidence was enough to allow the case to continue.

Julia stood calmly in front of her table with hands clenched. She briefly nodded goodbye to her assistants and watched as the Defense and all others filtered out of the courtroom. All except Sean. She could still feel him behind her. Trying to gather some control, she turned and stood, shocked to see him sleeping. Her whole case, her life and her career stood in the balance, and he slept.

Sean came awake violently as a shoe hit him in the head. “Hey!” He quickly stood up facing the angry heaving woman, all flushed and red, excited… “You made me bleed!” He said gathering up her flung shoe.

“You were asleep! Did you hear any of this? Do you have any idea of what happened today?”

“I heard. It’s not my fault. There was this competition thing happening, and...” Sean wiped the small amount of blood off his forehead where the spike of her heel had nicked him. Keeping the shoe in his hand, he watched her letting his rage build inside.

“Save it! I don’t care! Just be here on Monday, bright, early, and AWAKE! Do not beat up, harass, or coerce any more suspects until then. Can you possibly do that?”

“Yes.” Sean said quietly trying to keep his own anger down.

“I swear, if you...” That did it. Sean moved so fast she barely noticed him moving at all until it was too late. Grabbing her pretty blouse in the front, he pulled her close, very close.

“First, you should know, I’m not a man you should make empty threats to. I take them all very seriously, and I like the heat. Second, if you want to get me off, just keep it up. I’ve no problem taking anything you can throw at me. I’ll be here. I’ll behave, but not if you keep tempting me.”

Sean let her go, grabbed his jacket and headed out of the courtroom. The touch of bravado in her eyes, the anger, the flash of heat...he gave his entire body a full shake. He even liked that touch of apprehension when he crowded her. Good, it’s not right that she not learn to see him, see that part of him that was scary. He didn’t want to mislead another woman.

“Dammit! Give me back my shoe!” She stood there on one foot almost too angry to move.

“Uh uh. Nope. You threw it at me, so now it’s mine.”

“Bastard!” Sean just laughed to himself. He could hear her moving behind him.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. If you hit me with the other one, I’ll have the matched pair, and I might not take it kindly. My mother said I’m not allowed to spank a woman until she’s my wife, and then only with her consent, so don’t make me break a promise to my sainted mother.” Sean kept walking as she put her arm down and screamed in irritation.

Letting the door swing behind him, Sean pulled out his cell phone and called dispatch. He arranged for the Counselor’s car to be watched and ticketed, if she drove, for improper footwear while operating a motor vehicle. Sean smiled as he hung up.

This damn therapy sh-it was really working. He felt better all ready.

~~~

Maria entered the bullpen and surveyed the utter chaos. All the phones were ringing and Detectives were taking statements left and right. She watched Detective Waters listening to a man confessing to a crime.

“I swear, I killed them.”

The Detective sighed, “Okay why did you kill them?”

“Because they wouldn’t dance with me, and they danced bad.” The man sniffed looking really contrite.

Another detective was taking to a man who looked like he crawled out of a storm drain. “Okay, maybe if you told me what you did exactly...”

“Why don’t you tell me, and I’ll tell you if it was what I did.” The Detective gave the man a look of irritation.

“How about I put you in general holding with the prison population, and you call me when you remember? This is your confession!”

Maria worked her way to Michael’s desk. Handcuffed to a chair, but by the ankle was a young girl who was stubbornly silent, only occasionally rattling the handcuffs on her ankle as her hands gripped the arms of the chair. Maria’s eyebrow raised as her head tipped to the side. Michael was ignoring his suspect, and happily working in oblivion.

“Detective?” Michael looked up and saw his mate. A nice change from the hellacious morning he was having. “What’s going on?” Maria gestured to the room in general.

Michael handed Maria the morning paper. In headlines was the front story about the murders and the possibility of a serial killer on the loose.

“That hit this morning,” Michael winced as more phone rang in the bullpen. “Every lunatic, crazy and goon from here to the eastern seaboard is calling up to confess. And if they don’t want to confess, then they want to give information about who they think it is. I’m positive that Elvis isn’t a contender, but I’ve got three confirmed sightings.”

“And the wee one’s story?” Maria asked inclining her head to his prisoner.

“Hardened criminal, and this one refuses to break.”

“Tragic. Plain tragic. So hard...so young.” Maria said as Michael looked at the girl and smiled a large vicious smile that even made Maria’s stomach queasy. He calmly picked up a raised donut, frosted and covered in sprinkles. Maria stood on her tiptoes to see what her chances were of getting one. Oh, his box was full! He noisily took a bite, one after another, and as he reached for the next donut the little songbird broke.

She rattled her handcuffs, shocking Maria. “I confess! I want to confess! I killed them! I killed them all!” The young face screwed up on contrition and remorse. “I just wanted to give them a bath!” The entire room broke into applauded and whistles as Michael undid the handcuffs, and with a small spank to her backside, pushed the girl towards Waters' desk.

Maria glared at the room in disgust. “You’re sick, all of you! You should be ashamed.”

“Waters, your felon broke. She confessed to the murder of thirteen unsuspecting goldfish.” Michael called the girl back and handed her a donut which she took with a big smile and a sloppy kiss on his cheek before running over to her daddy. Big man, no hardened criminal stood a chance against him, not even a four year old girl with a pixie smile.

Maria winced as Valenti’s voice boomed through the bullpen. “I don’t care, find the scumbag who leaked the information. I want them and I want them now! Did you see this nightmare?”

Michael quickly stood up and dragged Maria out of the room the other way and led her into the breakroom. He noticed that she had nabbed two of his donuts and was hurriedly devouring them.

“Hungry?” Maria just nodded as she headed straight for the coffee.

“No. No caffeine.”

Maria gulped down her donuts. “But, Michael...”

He went to the refrigerator in the corner and checked the milk in it. It smelt fresh, so he poured her a glass. Handing it to her, he spied a bag in her hand.

“What’s in the bag?”

“Your lunch.” Maria finished her milk and looked at him. “So what’s the kid’s story, Lydia isn’t it?”

Michael nodded. Yeah, Waters' youngest, Lydia Waters. “She emptied an entire bottle of Mr. Bubble Bath into her fish tank.”

“Oh my!” Maria tried not to laugh. “Were they all...?”

“Belly up. Plus the room was covered in bubbles because the tank’s oscillator sent bubbles spewing everywhere. Her distraught Grandmother ran her in.” Maria couldn’t help but laugh at the image. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Professor?”

“Besides your lunch?” Maria asked as Michael nodded. “Well I just wanted you to know that Sam called after you left this morning. The Mustang is ready to be picked up.” Maria smiled at the look of surprise crossing Michael’s face. It was done. Finally.

“Let's go now.”

“Nope, can’t. This detour is all I can afford today, and you look to be overwhelmed in your own problems.” Maria motioned to the bullpen. “I’ll pick you up after work, we can take the Jetta home, and catch a cab to Sam’s.”

Michael pulled her close to him where he leaned back against the table. “That sounds like a plan.” Michael moved in kissing her neck, and rubbing her against him. “You’ve got enough time to go find a bathroom or supply closet?”

Maria hooked her arm around his neck and kissed him passionately. God, he tasted so good! Sweet, and just like Michael. It was the sound of someone entering the room, and then quickly leaving that made her pull back.

“I have to go, so save it, and I’ll take care of you later, Detective.”

Michael just groaned as she waved a quick goodbye, and left. Looking into the bag she left him, he smiled. Philly beefsteak sandwich with extra grilled onions. He was definitely going to marry her. Philips moved past the breakroom and tossed a can into the garbage. What the hell?

“Philips! What the hell is wrong with you? Does this garbage look like the recycling bin? Doesn’t our children have enough garbage to wade through without you adding more?” The man quickly retrieved his empty can and tossed it in the proper recycling bin. Michael watched his with a dark gleam in his eye as he took out his sandwich and took a large bite. His car was done, the Professor brought him lunch, a hardened criminal snapped under his intense scrutiny, and he just struck a blow for the environment, all in all, not a bad day.

~~~

Michael made the final turn into Sam’s Paint Shop. They had the cab drop them off up the access alley. After all the work and labor, it was done. The Mustang was finished. The third coating of paint was finally heat-dried and primed. His calm exterior belied the nervous quaking of his stomach and the anticipation. His Mustang was finally completed, rebuilt. After all those years ago when Mikey first bought it for him, the dream of rebuilding the classic was realized. Michael looked over at the small golden woman next to him, practically bouncing in enthusiasm. She had changed his life, but how the hell did she learn to bounce like that?

“Hey, guys, I expected you hours ago.” Sam said coming out of the paint spotting room. The Mustang was parked in the lot with a dry cloth covering it. “I already worked up the bill and receipt.” Sam handed Michael the paperwork as he smiled at the excited Maria.

“Does it need any more layers or touchups?”

“No, this last coating should do her. I did include that two year warranty on the paint job, so if you notice any buckling or chipping just bring her back and I’ll fix it.” Sam led them to Michael's car. “You ever get tired of this Betty, just give me a call. I’ll meet any price.”

“Thanks, but it’s not going to happen.” Michael clenched his fist and shoved it in his pocket. His emotions were all over the place, and seeing his car restored for the first time was proving to be more emotional than he realized. It felt like Mikey was standing next to him waiting too, with his arm across his shoulder.

“Didn’t think so.” Sam pulled the cloth and left them alone to take their prize home.

The couple stood there in shock, frozen in place. It was beautiful--utterly beautiful! Michael hadn’t chosen any of the standard colors for the car. Instead he had picked out a dark green that bordered on black with a gold trim. The color reminded him of Maria’s eyes when she was excited and caught up in passion. The paint shone with a brilliance like her personality. Maria stood beside him, still with her hand over her mouth. He had finally found a way to strike her speechless.

“Oh God!” Maria voice spoke of reverence. “I love you!”

Michael looked at her sharply, staring at his car with a strange expression on her face. Great. She finally says those words, and it’s to his damn car. Too bad. The car was his. “Sorry Professor, love it all you want, but it belongs to me.”

“I wasn’t talking to the car, Detective.” Maria turned and looked at Michael in great earnest. “I said that I loved you , Michael.”

He couldn't breathe. His heart stopped dead in his chest and then took off at breakneck speed. Trying to talk, but unable to find the words as they stuck in his throat, he finally cleared it. “Dammit, Professor! I waited a year to hear you say that, and you wait until I have a decent car?”

“A man with a great ride gets me hot, what can I say?” Maria squeaked when he grabbed her in a hug and then kissed the life out of her.

He leaned his hot forehead against hers and whispered, “Why now? Why not last night?”

Maria stroked his face and then kissed him again softly licking his lips before joining her mouth to his and greedily sucking on his tongue. Why now? “It was time.” The completing of the car was the final step for him in healing, and for the first time it was just them, no baggage. For the first time, they were both free.

“Then marry me.” Michael stopped her before she could speak or give reasons to protest. “Marry me, not because you’re carrying my baby, or because you think I only want to marry you because of that reason, and don’t marry me just because I love you. Because I do love you, Maria.” Michael framed her face with his hands. “Marry me because it’s time.”

Maria opened her mouth to talk, then shut it again. Finally she simply said, “Okay.”

They'd barely settled in the car before Maria launched herself at Michael. She'd waited too long for this and didn't want to lose any more time. Pausing to tug Michael's shirt out of his jeans, she started stroking him through the denim. The moan her actions elicited from Michael were like manna from heaven, assuring him that everything was right with the world. Hell, everything was perfect!

“Maria, if you don't stop that we're never going to get home."

"Just drive, and keep your eyes on the road," Maria answered as she unfastened his pants, smiling at the fact that there was no underwear to hinder her. "I’m in love with a man that goes commando. Mother never warned me how attractive that could be."

"Mentioning your mother at this time can be classified as a buzzkill, baby. Anyway, these pants are too tight," Michael groaned. "Maria! Stop it! We're in public."

"We're in a car with tinted windows. Only buses and big rigs can see what I'm up to down here. You just get us home."

"How am I supposed to do that with you distracting me?"

"If you really want me to start distracting you, you'd better start driving, because soon you'll have to pull over and finish this." Maria punctuated her meaning with a series of licks along Michael's now freed c-ock.

"Oh GOD!" Michael moaned as he swerved to miss a truck that pulled out into traffic. “Maria, I’m going to kill us both and destroy my car.”

He tried not to think about the sensations that Maria was causing in him with that delicious mouth of hers. He tried to focus on his vision and on getting them home in one piece, but she had him squirming in his seat. His eyes nearly rolled back into his head as she draped across his lap and took his c-ock in her mouth so deep he felt it had to be half way down her throat. As he came to a stoplight, Michael dropped a hand onto Maria’s head. The silky hair wound around his fingers, and all he could see or hear was her as he held her tight against his groin. Someone behind him had to honk to let him know that the light had turned green. Once he'd crossed the intersection, Michael hit the gas and sped home, ignoring all speed limits and praying that they didn’t pick up a patrol car. He didn’t want to explain he was speeding because his pregnant fiancée was blowing and feeding on him while he was driving. They would be lucky to make it home.

As he pulled into the loft parking area, he hit the garage door opener to park his car in its regular spot and turned off the engine as the door closed behind them. Michael slumped back in the seat. He couldn't believe he'd been able to hold off during the ride home. When Maria pulled away, Michael gasped at the loss of sensation. She just smiled up at him and kissed him passionately while trying to help him back into his pants so they could go inside.

"Those are never gonna close around that." Maria chuckled.

"You are pure evil. You know that, don't you?"

"Who me? So am not." Maria said trying on her most innocent angelic look. Michael just grimaced. Fallen angel. “You love me evil.”

"How am I supposed to walk like this?" Michael griped.

"Who said anything about walking? Let’s finish this here. Sort of a christening of the Mustang." Maria hopped up on her knees and removed her top and unzipped her skirt. Michael reached down and pushed the seat back while she moved in front of him between his chest and the steering wheel straddling his hips.

“God, I love you.” Michael kissed her neck and pulled the skin between his teeth nipping it. It felt good to finally say it.

In deference to his swollen c-ock already pushed to the edge, Michael took it slower. But not by much. He caught Maria up to his chest in a crushing hold, enjoying her panting breath in his ear. Pushing her legs aside and farther apart, he slid inside, gently at first remembering her delicate condition. But Maria never settled for things that easily, she pushed him with just a look, a hot look all fire and violence. Michael grabbed her hips and slammed into her hard, making the next thrust deeper and longer. He dragged Maria's head from his shoulder while grinding his hips into her and she rode him as he ran his tongue along the contour of her ear. Laughter poured out of Michael as he felt Maria bucking against him and shivering in reaction.

"Like that huh, Professor?"

"Oh, yeah." Maria moaned aloud. “I love the way you f-uck, Detective.”

Michael swung Maria’s head to look at him, to see into his eyes. “And just when does f-ucking become lovemaking, Professor?”

“It always has been, Detective.” Maria said seriously. “Every touch, every kiss is me making love to you, and when I take you inside my body, that’s me loving you in a very intense f-ucking manner. Don’t confuse the two, Detective. They seem different, but not to me. Sometimes it’s all physical like an ache that I need now, but every time it's always about love.”

“Maria, I...” She kissed him and started removing his shirt while Michael flipped his shoes off on the floorboard. He reached past her and pushed his jeans down the rest of the way and kicked them off his legs without unseating her.

“I like it gentle and soft, sometimes. But most of the time, I need you hot and hard, with a touch of blood and violence. I need you to be just you .” Michael was shocked at her description of him. It was almost the image he saw of himself in his dreams, the warrior painted in blood, not quite human. A primitive spirit. “Something in you speaks to something in me, something pure. So when I'm f-ucking your brains out, either gently or with the touch of fire, it’s always been about loving you. Since the first moment I saw you. It just took me a while to untangle the two, and filter out the immediate lust.”

“How long?” Michael asked as he started moving in her again, loving the moan in her throat that seemed to echo in the car.

“About three days after the first time we made love, but definitely the interrogation room.” Michael knew he wasn’t going to forget that encounter anytime in his life. It was another time when she just seemed to know just what he needed, and how give it to him without him losing himself.

He stopped talking and took on the task of making love to her in earnest. It took almost no time at all before their naked bodies were clinging to one another in the confines of the space between the seat and the steering wheel. Michael, deciding turn about was fair play, began to tease his mate, his wife . Starting with small love bites on Maria's neck, Michael slowly moved lower and lower. He sucked the flesh over her collarbone into his mouth tonguing the hollow created by the bones. His hands tweaked nipples and rolled them between his fingers feeling her entire body bucking to the sensation as her internal muscles gripped him hard and she sped up her movement on him, taking more and more of his c-ock inside her almost frantically. Maria’s pregnant breasts were already sensitive, and they were becoming his favorite place to linger. By the time Michael took the swollen red nipple into his mouth, Maria was just one massive undulating pile of soft tissue moving over him.

"Michael! Please!" Her hand moved into his hair and held him hard against her flesh.

"Please what?"

"F-uck me! Make love to me!"

Michael blinked as what Maria said registered. She was using both phrases, to emphasize that it was all the same to her. After a year of living with her, and still he was learning about her, learning to understand her.

Michael seemed to realize how tight the space was, and groaning, how tight Maria was. He kept forgetting about the small life she carried inside. "Maria, I don't want to hurt you."

"NOW, Michael. I need you now. Please! I’m fine; we’re fine." She bit his shoulder hard drawing blood, and almost cried when the rusty nail taste hit her mouth. The taste of his life source was too much, reaching for him; she took his head and joined their mouths sharing the taste.

As always, Maria had found the one way to send him out of control to the point that he couldn't refuse her anything. He pushed, feeling the walls gripping him and then giving away to make room, as Maria adjusted to the feeling of being so full. So tight. He wanted to savor the moment, take things slow, but Maria kept wiggling like a livewire, spurring him on. He nearly lost it completely when she pulled her legs even farther apart to sink even deeper onto him.

"Oh God, Maria!"

"Let's hear it for yoga," Maria murmured. "YES! Oh yes! Michael! . . . Deeper . . . oh god . . . oh god, yeah."

Michael knew he couldn't last long, not after all the stimulation he'd gotten since sunrise that day Using one hand, he reached between them and began to stroke that nub of nerve endings that he always found so effortlessly. The last thing he wanted to do was leave Maria behind on this one. When Maria finally came, and her muscles involuntarily tightened around him, Michael couldn't hold back any longer. He slammed into her, over and over, until he came with a shout. The orgasm hit him in waves, and he was somewhere else with her, neither of them noticing the sounds of the horn that Maria was resting on.

"I vote we move this into the loft and up to our bed." Maria said some time later.

"Why is that?" Michael felt pretty comfortable where he was.

"No wet spots."

It took a few moments before the words registered. “Oh sh-it, my upholstery!”