Title: Damaged
Category: mainly M/L but references to other couples as well, AU
Rating: Pg 13 (perhaps a little higher for violence and language)
Disclaimer: I own nothing (except for the story idea), all of the characters
belong to the UPN and Melinda Metz. I'm just borrowing them cause I'm not creative enough to think up my own characters. The song is "Damaged" by Plumb
Summary: Liz was kidnapped about 5 or 6 years ago (she is 25 now) and tortured by a serial killer called Nicholas but she was rescued by the police before he killed her. He was put in jail but she is still haunted by the memory. She hasn't met Max yet.

Dreaming comes so easily
'Cause it's all that I've ever know
True love is a fairy tale
I'm damaged, so how would I know

I'm scared and I'm alone
I'm ashamed
And I need for you to know

I didn't say all the things that I wanted to say
And you can't take back what you've
taken away
'Cause I feel you, I feel you near me

I didn't say all the things that I wanted to say
And you can't take back what you've
taken away
'Cause I feel you, I feel you near me

Healing comes so painfully
And it chills to the bone
Will anyone get close to me?
I'm damaged, as I'm sure you know

There's mending for my soul
An ending to this fear
Forgiveness for a man who was stronger
I was just a little girl, but I can't go back

Plumb

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Part 2

"So tell me Liz when did you first start having these dreams?"
"Well it's really only one dream. I've dreamt it ever since… ever since I was kidnapped but it faded and I hadn't dreamt about it for two years, until last week that is"
"Are you currently under a lot of pressure at work"
"No more than usual"
"Ok then, has anything happened to remind you of the kidnapping?"
Liz sat in silence
"Liz did you hear my question? Liz, Liz…?"
"My kidnapper is being reviewed for the death sentence"

"So Liz, how did the psychiatrist appointment go?" Maria asked her friend at lunch "What did he suggest?"
"He seems to think that the mention of Nicholas's name in the news brought out the dreams, that I was suppressing my fears. He suggested I take some sort of self defense course to overcome my fear"
"Well that sounds like fun, we can do it together, it will be like the time we took ballet together, only this time I'm allowed to beat any guys up that try and look up my skirt"
Liz laughed, Maria could always make her feel better.
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"Hello? Maria are you home?" Liz called out as she entered the dark apartment. After putting her bag down she entered the kitchen and turned on the light. On the table she saw a note:
Liz
I have class tonight so I might be home late so don't worry ok. However if for any reason whatsoever you feel uncomfortable or anything just call me ok?
Love Maria

Liz put the note down and went to the fridge to fix herself a sandwich. After watching some TV she decided to go to bed. 'Remember he can't hurt you there is nothing to afraid of' she coached to herself as she brushed her teeth. As she entered her room she heard a scuffling sound coming from her balcony. Grabbing the baseball bat by her bed she slowly approached to window. The floor creaked just as she reached it. She stood there silently, her heart pounding in her chest, when she heard nothing she cautiously peered out to see to pigeons settling down for the night.
Breathing a sigh of relief she turned around…
"Aughh!"
"Aughh! Don't hit me!" Maria responded.
"Maria you almost scared me to death!"
"Sorry but I didn't want to startle you…which didn't work well did it?"
"No but it's ok"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm going to bed now"
"Ok remember I'm just in the next room"
"Ok, night"
"Night"
Liz sighed again and fell onto her bed closing her eyes…

***The room was dark and menacing, she opened her eyes groggily adjusting her vision to the lack of light. As her senses awaked she could feel the cold hard floor beneath her. Her head ached, in fact her whole body ached, gingerly she touched the side of her head only to feel wetness. Bringing her hand back she saw blood. Suddenly she heard footsteps approaching her "I see you are awake now, hopefully now you will be more willing to cooperate…" She began to tremble as she recognized the voice; it was happening again.. "Leave me alone" she answered defiantly willing herself to keep the fear from her voice. "I'm sorry but I can't do that" the voice replied with mock sympathy "I enjoy your fear too much." Liz sat up straighter glaring into the direction of her faceless captor "What do you want?" she demanded.
"You"
And with that her captor became faceless no longer. She began to shiver involuntary as he approached her. He knelt down till his eyes met hers, smirking evilly at her. She forced herself to stop shivering and look in
their cold deliberate evil depths. "I know you are afraid of me, the question is how much?" he asked. With lack of a better response Liz did the only thing she could think of. She spat on him. His face transformed
itself to show his anger as he slapped her across the face. "You want to play dirty? Fine your wish is my command" he spat out as he disappeared. Liz picked herself up. Her face felt like it was burning but she breathed a sigh of relief that he was finally gone. The relief was short lived though when she heard him return, pushing a cart. She sat there alert, trying to locate were his was. Suddenly she felt someone grab her, she struggled to escape but the grip was too strong. She was then thrown on some sort of dentist chair and tied down. "Leave me alone you sick b******" she called out
"I can't, I'm having too much fun" he replied as he appeared next to her holding a scalpel.
"Leave her alone" another voice rang out authoritively, Liz blinked in surprise as her attacker paused and looked around the room "Who's there?"
"I said leave her alone!" The voice replied as heprotector stepped forward revealing himself. Liz gasped watching the exchange between the two. "And who are you?" Nicholas sneered
"Your worst nightmare" the stranger replied as he raised his arm. A white light burst from his hand throwing Nicholas against the wall where he disappeared. The cell then disappeared and Liz found herself in another room bathed in candlelight. She looked down to find herself free, the scars and bruises were also gone. When she looked back up she found herself face to face with her hero. She held in a breath as she looked at him. His beautiful amber eyes gazed at her, filled with concern and something else that she couldn't place. "Thank you for saving my life" she said
"It's alright, are you hurt?"
"Not anymore…what's your name?"
"Max and you?"
"Liz"
"Liz" he echoed with a smile "I promise never to let him hurt you again"
She smiled as he held out his hand
"Liz, Liz, Liz…"***

"Liz, Liz, Liz are you awake? You are going to be late"
Liz buried her face in her pillow before raising her head to look at Maria.
"I just had the most wonderful dream"
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Part 3

"So let me get this straight, some dream guy just popped in and saved you?" Maria asked as they walked to the subway. "Pretty much" Liz said smiling.
"So was he hot?" Liz looked at her friend for a second before answering
"Oh yeah"
"Well come on then what did he look like?"
"He was tall, nicely built, with dark hair and the most incredible soulful hazel eyes... oh and he had an amazing voice..." Liz responded dreamily
"Forget the voice, did you see him naked?" Maria asked waggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"Maria!!"
"What? It was dream right?"
"Yeah, too bad he wasn't real though" Liz responded
"Too bad who wasn't real?" a third voice interjected
"Hey Alex!" both girls chorused
"Hey, so who do you want to be real?"
"Liz's dream boy who rescued her in her dreams last night" Maria responded
"Really, if that is what it takes to be appreciated then maybe I should visit your dreams" Alex teased "
Why bother with dreams, we like you just the way you are Alex darling" both girls responded.
"Well I got to go, see you too later" Liz said before heading of in one direction "I'll see you at
lunch!" Maria called out
"Ok" Liz called back.
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"Hey Liz, did you get any results yesterday when I was gone?" Dr. Riverdog, Liz's supervisor called out when she entered the lab. "Nothing new...but I have some tables for you, I left them on your desk"
"Of course, carry on then" he said dismissing her "Oh before I forget, a patent lawyer is going to come around to review some information concerning the
patent"
"Do you know when?"
"You know, I forgot, I wrote it down somewhere but I completely forgot...oh well, just be prepared"
"Ok" Liz responded shaking her head as Dr Riverdog retreated into his office. He may be a really good scientist but he really was the most absent-minded person she knew. However he was like a second father to her so she ignored it. She went to her lab area and set everything up to try her experiment again.

"So then I told him to screw himself if he thought that I was going to change that verse in my song, just because it wasn't something Britney Spears would sing. I mean she can't even sing! It's a goddam freaking computer!" Maria ranted as they walked along the street
"Come on Maria, you know the guy doesn't know what he is talking about" Liz responded, "Just ignore him"
"I should, I will...no I can't where else am I going to find a manager?"
"I don't know but I promise to help you look, ok?"
"Ok, deal, now lets talk about more pleasant topics...oh he is fine"
"What? Who?" Liz asked
"Tall spiky haired guy across the street, and look he has a friend for you. Just what you need to forget about dream boy"
Liz glanced across the street at the two men in question. The tall spiky haired one wasn't bad looking but he looked too wild for her, definitely
more Maria's style. The other guy was facing away from her; all she saw was black hair and part of his profile. However she couldn't shake away the feeling that he looked familiar. It was then that he turned to look directly at her, his soulful hazel eyes boring holes into her. All she could do was stare in shock. Faintly in the
back of her mind she could hear Maria talking to her worriedly but she couldn't respond, it was like she was hypnotized. She could see that he was going through the same thing as his friend shook him, trying to get his
attention. Slowly she found her voice and whispered out his name.

"Max."

Then somehow he heard her across the din of the cars because she saw his lips form out her name.

"Liz"

It was then that she broke out of her trance and her eyes began to turn
fearful. She then did the only thing she could think of.

She turned and ran.

TBC