Part 1

Michelle looked out her window and thought with disbelief about the events that had just taken place. Not long ago she was here, in this very room, with Danny, and he was promising her that he'd do whatever was necessary for them to be together. Her heart had been full of hope - hope that until that moment she'd not dared to feel. But that was before...

"I spent so much time and energy trying to forget about Danny, trying to convince myself that there was nothing there. He even tried to convince me that he felt nothing for me. And then, just when we were really being honest with each other, saying everything we felt for each other, that is the moment it all has to come crashing down. The moment I actually let myself believe there is a possibility for a future with Danny." Michelle felt as low as she had ever felt in her life. Even losing Maureen didn't compare to this. Of course, that was terribly painful, but even in the end, Maureen had loved her and been dedicated to her, and there were no outside forces conspiring to keep them apart.

This was like dying a slow death - every moment she was away from Danny she felt the life drain out of her, little by little.

"The only person who had anything to gain by this supposed 'hit' was Carmen," Michelle thought to herself. "This is just the type of thing that would suck Danny and Pilar back into that house, into that life, and Carmen knew that." Michelle was sure that Carmen would go to any lengths to keep Danny away from her. 

"What kind of mother is she? What kind of mother would lie and deceive so that she could control her children's lives? My mom wanted me to be happy. That was all she ever wanted for me. But not Carmen - NO WAY! She doesn't care if Danny is happy. If she did she wouldn't be trying to keep us apart. But she hates me so much that she'd rather keep him tangled up in a life that could get him killed than to let him be happy and let him lead the life he really wants."

"I never even told you I loved you, Danny," Michelle whispered to herself.

Michelle heard footsteps from down the hall, and assumed that it was Rick or Abby. "I have to pull it together. I can't let Rick and Abby see me this way. If they see my crying, they'll want to talk about it, and I just can't do that right now."

She wiped her eyes and quickly and looked in the mirror. The white tee shirt and pajama bottoms she was wearing were wrinklined, but that didn't matter. All she wanted to do was say hello to her brother, and then crawl in her bed and cry herself to sleep.

She went to the door of her bedroom to open it, and when she did she saw him standing there.

Part 2

He looked so sad - his eyes were heavy with fear. She wanted to hold him, to comfort him, to tell him that she loved him and she would never lie to him, but she couldn't find the words to tell him what was in her heart. She just stood there and looked at him, trying to convey to him, with her eyes, the love that she felt for him.

Danny stepped inside her bedroom and closed the door. He looked at her, and it was as if his eyes saw into her soul.

"Danny," Michelle said. Her voice broke as she said his name, and he put his arms around her. They stood in her bedroom for a long moment, holding each other, both of them crying, their hearts so full that neither knew where to begin.

Finally, Michelle looked up at him and, with her composure tentatively in place, said, "I'm so glad you're here."

Danny knew what she meant. She was not only glad to see him, but she was glad he was here and not in the Santos house. He had to admit to himself, he was glad too.

They sat down on the bed and Danny filled Michelle in on everything that had happened after the shooting. He told her that he hadn't been able to find anyone or any group that would have benefited from his mother's death or injury.

"Someone was trying to make a point with us, but I can't figure out who, or even what they were after," Danny said. 

But Michelle knew.

"Danny, I've been doing a lot of thinking about this to, and something has occured to me."

"What?"

"Well, I don't want you to get upset with me, because I'm only speculating. I have no proof, no evidence of this, but it is a feeling that I have, and I just couldn't keep it from you."

"Michelle, whatever it is, I'm not going to be upset. Tell me."

Michelle took a deep breath before she began speaking again.

"You've said yourself that you don't know who would have anything to gain from this hit on your mother. The thought that has been bugging me is that someone did benefit from this shooting. Someone got exactly what they wanted. But no one is looking in their direction, so no one has seen it."

"Who, Michelle? Who?" Danny's pulse was quickening. The sooner this was over, the sooner he and Michelle would be together. 

"Your mother, Danny," Michelle said, with a gravity in her voice that Danny had not heard before.

"Are you saying that you think my mother ordered a hit on herself? Why? Why would she do something like that?" Danny was obviously astounded at the suggestion, but so far, he did not seem angry that Michelle was suggesting such a thing.

"Think about it for a minute. What does your mother want more than anything else? She wants you back in that house, back in the family business. She wants me out of your life. She wants you and Pilar back under her control. What has happened since the shooting, Danny? You and Pilar are back in that house."

"This is crazy, Michelle. My mother is a lot of things, but she would never hurt us. And in case you've forgotten, Pilar was hurt during that shooting. Mama would've never hurt Pilar."

"I know that, and I believe that she would never intentionally hurt either of you, but your mother had no idea that Pilar and Bill were in the house. Bill said that Pilar went to great lengths to make sure that no one was home when they went in to get that dress. The servants were even gone. Carmen had given them the night off. As far as your mother knew, the house was empty. And think about this, doesn't it seem odd that your mother is discouraging you from trying to discover who ordered that hit? Any other time someone messed with the Santos family, Carmen would be moving heaven and earth to find them, especially if you or Pilar were involved. So why is she not this time? My guess is, that since you've been back in that house, your mother has tried to make you stop looking for the people who ordered the hit, and has instead been trying to get you back into the business. Am I right?"

"She has been pushing me to get involved in the business again. But I haven't. I've told her that I'm not staying. Once I find out who tried to hurt our family, I'm leaving to start a new life with you."

"And that's exactly what she doesn't want to hear. Why does she not want you to be happy, Danny? She wants you away from me so badly, that she would rather you spend your life in a family and a business that is so dangerous. She'd rather put your life at risk than to let you be happy. Danny, if anything happened to you, I wouldn't be able to live anymore."

Michelle touched his face as she spoke, and the feel of her flesh on his was more than he could stand. He lean toward her and kissed her, and she kissed him back. All he wanted to do was love her - forget about the rest of the world, and stay right here forever. She smelled so wonderful, and the feeling of her lips on his was one he knew he would never grow tired of. But he knew he couldn't stay here. He had to protect her, and it wasn't safe for them to be together right now. And if what Michelle had suggested was true, she was in even more danger than he had first thought. He knew it must be put to rest before they could be together.

Danny pulled away and looked into her eyes. "I have to find the truth Michelle. I have to know what really happened. We will never be free until I do. I will come back to you. I promise."

He embraced her one last time, and then stood to leave. Michelle wanted so badly to tell him that she loved him, but he was gone as quickly as he had appeared.

She felt completely empty without him.

Part 3

Setting: Millenium

Michelle stood at the door of Millenium, wanting to go inside, and yet not wanting to. Could this really be the end, or would it prove to be a beginning?

She stepped inside the club, and there was Bill, just like she'd hoped. And he was alone. Pilar was not around, which was good. It would give them an opportunity to talk.

She sat down at the table with Bill, and recounted everything that had happened. She told him that she had expressed her thoughts to Danny, concerning the shooting at the Santos house.

"How did he react?" Bill asked.

"I don't know, really. I mean, he wasn't angry, but I could tell he didn't really want to believe it. Who would want to believe something like that about their mother?"

"Do you think he's even considering it as a possibility?" 

"Maybe. The last thing he said to me before he left was that he had to find out the truth, whatever it was. He said we would never be free until he did. And he promised he'd come back to me."

"You know he meant that, Michelle. You know that he loves you."

"I don't doubt his feelings for me, Bill, but I don't trust Carmen. She would do anything to keep him under her control, and I can't stay here and watch that happen."

"What do you mean, you can't stay here? You can't leave. You can't give up. You don't know for sure that Carmen's going to win this round. Danny loves you, Michelle."

"You're right Bill, I don't know what's going to happen, which is why I've got to get away for a while. Staying here, living in limbo, wondering where he is and if he's safe - it's killing me. I know that I can't be sure that Danny will return to his old life, but I do know for sure that Carmen is going to pull out all the stops to make that happen. And if she succeeds, well, I just can't stay here and watch him get drawn back into all that."

"But he won't, Michelle. His love for you will keep that from happening."

"I hope you're right, but in the meantime, I've got to do some thinking, get a little perspective."

"You're scared, aren't you?" Bill asked. His perceptiveness startled Michelle. She had no choice but to tell him the truth. 

"I'm terrified, Bill. Not for myself. I'm not scared of what Carmen might do to me. I'm scared for Danny. She keeps putting him in situations that risk his life. I almost think she'd rather see him dead than with me. I keep wondering if one morning I'm going to wake up and hear about his death on the news." 

"You can't think like that, Michelle." 

"Look Bill, I've thought this over, and I know that the best thing for me to do is leave town for a while. Danny is totally involved in the investigation into the shooting. I can't just sit around the house waiting for him to call or come by. It's just too much. If there is any possibility that this will turn out bad - and you KNOW there is - I have to start preparing myself for it. Not because I want to, but because otherwise, I won't be able to go on." 

"You've made up your mind?"

"Yes."

"Well, the least you should do is tell Danny that you're leaving." 

"That's why I'm here. I want him to know that I'm leaving, and I want him to know why. So I wrote him a letter. I know it's pretty juvenile, but I said things to him on this piece of paper that I haven't been able to say before, face to face. Would you see that he gets it? Maybe give it to Pilar?"

"On one condition."

"What?"

"That you at least tell me where you're going. Someone's going to need to check on you, and make sure Carmen hasn't tried anything." 

"OK. I'm heading up to our cabin. It's quiet there, and very private. Please don't tell anyone where I am."

"You know you can trust me, Michelle."

Michelle stood up and and Bill watched her walk out of Millenium. Even then, he knew that once Danny finds out she's gone, he won't rest until he finds her.

Part 4

Setting: Millenium/Bauer Cabin

Michelle had been gone for close to an hour when Danny walked into Millenium. Bill didn't rush to give him the letter, he waited for Danny to come over to his table. He wanted to hear what Danny would say, before he delivered the letter that was in his jacket pocket. 

"Bill, have you seen Michelle?" Danny asked.

Bill answered, "She was in here earlier. But she left about an hour ago."

"Is she o.k.? Did she seem o.k. to you?"

"If you're asking me if Michelle feels good, the answer is no. She is scared to death that you're going to end up back in the Santos business. She misses you like crazy, Danny."

"God, I hate putting her through this, but I have to make sure she's safe. Did she tell you her suspicions about the shooting?" 

"Yes, she told me she was afraid that your mother ordered the hit so that you and Pilar would come running home. It was brilliant, I must admit."

"Listen, I don't like the idea that my mother did this, but more and more, what Michelle said is making sense. And if she's right, then my mother is more of a danger to her than any of us realized before. I have to be very careful. I can't risk her going after Michelle."

"I understand that, Danny, and now I want you to listen to me. I've known Michelle all my life. we grew up together. There was a time when I believed she and I should be together. Obviously I've gotten over those feelings, but still, I never belived that what she and Jesse had was the ultimate. Then I saw her with you. I saw what was in her heart before she would admit it, even to herself. I've never seen Michelle shine the was she does when you're standing next to her. But Danny, you have to know that eventually, you're going to have to make a choice here. You know what you have to do, if you want to be with her."

"I know that, and I'm willing to make that choice for her. But I can't just leave. If I do that I'll be putting Michelle's life in danger. I have to make sure that my family can't touch her before I do anything."

"So what are you going to do to make sure of that?"

"First, I need proof that Mama set up the shooting. Pilar would never belive it otherwise. The rest you don't need to know right now, but I'll find you, very soon, and I'll expect you to protect Pilar. Because once this is over, Michelle and I are going to have to leave town for a while, until things settle down."

"You don't have to worry about Pilar. I won't let anything happen to her. But Michelle has already left town, Danny. She left earlier tonigth."

"What? Why did she leave?"

"I would think you'd be glad she was out of harm's way."

"You're right, she's safer somewhere else. Where is she and why didn't she tell me she was leaving?"

Bill reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out the letter Michelle had given him. "She asked me to give you this," he said, "and that's all I can tell you. She loves you Danny, but you're the one who's going to have to make this work for the two of you."

"Thanks Bill," Danny said. His hands were trembling as he held the letter.

"Good luck." Bill stood up and walked to the bar. He knew Danny needed to be alone with Michelle's letter.

Danny looked down at the folded paper he held in his hand. On the front, in Michelle's delicate handwriting, was his name "Danny". He was desperate to find out what was in the letter, but part of him was afraid. What if she said she wanted nothing more to do with him? What if his mother had scared he away forever? There was only one way to find out.

He opened the letter, and again marveled at her handwriting. The purple ink was staring back at him, and he could hear her voice speaking the words as he read...

My Danny -

I'm writing this because I want you to know how I feel. I want you to understand what's in my heart. The chain-of-events that brought us together has been strange, to say the least. How I wish I hadn't been involved in your brother's death. How I wish that you and I could've just met on the street one day. But what's done is done, and we cannot change it. I cannot change the fact that Mick is dead because of me. Your mother cannot change that she hates me for it. You cannot change your family. And I cannot change myself in order to condone it. But I also cannot change the fact that I love you, Danny, so deeply that I ache for you. I'm sorry I never told you before now. I'm sorry I was so ungrateful to you for saving my life. I never stopped to think about the sacrifices you made for me. You've shown me the true Danny Santos, and that's why I fell in love with you. 

For these reasons, I must go away for awhile. I need to heal, and I need time to think, and remember you... But before I go, I want you to know that I don't fault you for being loyal to your family. I understand what you feel you must do. You wouldn't be the man that I love if you didn't want to protect your family. But I cannot stay here and watch this, Danny.

You have touched my soul like no one ever has or ever will. My heart beats for you, Danny.

All my heart, all my life, 
Michelle

"I have to find a way for us to be together," Danny thought as he folded Michelle's letter and put it in his shirt pocket, right next to his heart. "I can't live without her. I just can't."

Michelle arrived at the Bauer cabin and found the kitchen still stocked with canned goods and other non-perishables. "Good," she thought. "I didn't want to have to go out to the grocery store. Besides, I don't have much of an appetite."

She ate very small dinner, drank a glass of juice, and decided to unpack her things. She walked over to the bed, and lifted her suitcase up onto the bed.

She began taking out shirts and sweaters and placing them in the drawers of the dresser. Then she saw the night gown. She didn't even know why she packed it. It was a night gown she bought a few weeks ago, hoping to wear it for Danny. It was a white, knee length baby-doll style, with white mesh covering the entire gown. Simple, yet elegant. Uncomplicated, the way she hoped her relationship with Danny might be someday.

"Looks like I won't be needing this for any special occasion. Might as well just wear it." Her sarcasm surprised even her. 

She put the gown on, and climbed into bed. There wouldn't be much sleep, but at least she could let her mind wander, and manage to forget, maybe just a little.

Part 5

Setting: The Santos House/Millenium

Danny was quiet when he walked through the doors of the Santos. He didn't want anyone else aware of his presence. If his mother was guilty of setting up a phony hit on herself, he had to find proof. He had to get Pilar out of there, and find Michelle.

He walked down the hallway, and ran into Pilar.

"Quiet," he whispered. "Where are Mama and Dietz?"

"Making some phone calls," Pilar answered. "What's going on Danny?"

"I'm going to find a way to be with Michelle. But I need you to help me."

"What can I do?"

"Come with me and listen." 

Outside the door, Danny and Pilar could hear Carmen and Dietz talking. At first, their conversation was benign, centering around business transactions and incoming shipments. But then there talk turned to Ben Warren.

Dietz spoke of it first. "Your lawyer's plan worked out beautifully," he said in his obnoxious, raspy voice.

"Yes, it did," Carmen agreed.

Danny and Pilar looked at each other, puzzled.

Carmen spoke again. "We must throw Daniel off the track, though. He is too smart. I should've anticipated that he would get too close." 

Pilar grabbed Danny's arm and squeezed it tight.

"Yeah," Dietz said. "We're going to have to give that boy a bone to chew on. He's not going to be satisfied unless he has a lead." 

"We'll just have to manufacture one for him," Carmen continued.

"Daniel and Pilar can never know that I arranged that phony hit, so that they would come back into the family.

Pilar almost screamed, but then stopped herself. She and Danny stole quietly up the stairs to Danny's room.

"Danny, I can't believe Mama would do such a thing!" Pilar exclaimed.  "Why?"

"Because she wants to control us, Pilar, and she doesn't care what she has to do or who she has to hurt to get her way."

"Not me," Pilar said. "She will never control me again. I'm leaving this family for good."

"First, we have to make sure you'll be safe."

Danny went to his dresser drawer and pulled out a small leather wallet. Inside was a key. He handed it to Pilar. He explained to her that this was the key to a secret safety deposit box. He told her that in the box was the journal he'd taken from his mother's previous lawyer, as well as some receipts and documents that would incriminate his mother and Dietz.

"The only way we'll ever be free is if we turn them in, Pilar" 

"Danny, how can we do this to our own mother? I'm angry too, but there must be another way."

"There isn't, Pilar. Believe me, if there were, I would've left a long time ago. Are you willing to come with me." 

Pilar nodded. Danny knew how sad she was, but he also knew she was determined to live her own life.

Quietly the left the Santos house together. The rode in the car silently, neither one of them knowing what to say. 

At Millenium, Danny and Pilar found Bill. They told him everything that had just happened. Bill agreed to deliver the contents of the safety deposit box to the FBI office while Danny and Pilar went to pick up their cousin Ray. Danny had made sure not to include anything that would hurt himself, Pilar, or Ray's family, and he had included the names of people who would be willing to testify against Carmen and Dietz.

Forty-five minutes later, Danny, Pilar, and Bill were back at Millenium after performing their respective tasks. Ray was waiting in the car. Danny took Bill aside.

"Bill, I know that you know where Michelle is."

"You're right. She told me where she was going."

"Please Bill, tell me."

"Don't make me regret this."

"I won't."

"She's at the Bauer cabin. I can take you there."

"Great."

The four of them left Springfield, speeding toward the Bauer cabin.

Part 6

Setting: The Bauer Cabin

Michelle awoke to someone brushing her hair and kissing her forehead. She opened her eyes and saw Danny, kneeling beside the bed, looking at her so sweetly. She was sure she was dreaming.

"Danny, is that really you?" Michelle asked, in a voice that was still half asleep.

"It's me, baby," Danny whispered as he leaned down to kiss her lips.

Suddenly Michelle realized that Danny really was there! "What are you doing here? How did you get in? The door was locked." 

"You can't be surprised that I know how to pick a lock," Danny said with a chuckle.

Michelle sat up and turned her body toward Danny. She put her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. His familiar smell made her heart melt.

While Michelle was still clinging to him, he said, "I read your letter Michelle. But you should've know that I would find you. I can't live without you."

"I wanted you to find me, Danny. That's what I was hoping you would do. I just couldn't stay in my brother's house any longer, pacing the floors, waiting to hear from you."

"I understand. I need to tell you what has happened." 

Michelle looked up at him, worried about what he might be getting ready to tell her.

In great detail, he told her what had just transpired. He left nothing out, including the fact that Bill had been the one to deliver the incriminating evidence to the FBI. Michelle was thrilled that Danny had finally taken steps to free himself, but now she realized that her life was in danger.

"Danny, you and I aren't married anymore. Carmen will send someone to kill me. She'll blame me for this." 

"No, she won't. She won't harm family - it's part of the code." 

"But Danny, I'm not your family anymore."

Danny touched her face. She was so beautiful, and he felt totally undeserving of her love.

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small box. Michelle caught her breath.

Danny took her hand and spoke from his heart. "Michelle, I don't deserve your love. I was a terrible person before you came into my life. Somehow you saw something good in me, and it was your love that changed me. You are the missing part of me, the part I've longed for for so long. I love you with every breath I take, and I want to spend my life making you happy. Michelle, will you marry me, for real this time?"

Through tears and laughter, Michelle managed to say "Yes", and Danny slipped a beautiful diamond ring on her finger. 

"I've had this ring for a while now. I bought it for you, hoping that I'd be able to give it to you someday." 

"It's perfect," Michelle said, "because you're perfect." 

Danny brushed the tears from her cheeks and kissed her. Finally Michelle said the words she'd wanted to for so long, "I love you Danny."

He told her that Ray, Pilar, and Bill were waiting in the car. "Ray is here to marry us. I know it's not the ideal wedding, but we can have another ceremony later, with all your family and friends."

"Let's not worry about that now, Danny. Let's just get married!" 

Michelle reached for her robe and slipped it on, while Danny went to the door and motioned for Ray, Pilar, and Bill to come in. 

Though it was an impromtu ceremony, for Danny and Michelle it was very real, and they meant the words that they said to each other. 

"Michelle, you are my sunrise and the sunset. I promise to love you, cherish you, and protect you, all of my life. I give you my faithfulness, for the rest of my days, and your happiness will always be mine." 

Michelle said to Danny the words with which she had ended her letter to him. "You have touched my soul like no one ever has or ever will, Danny. My heart beats for you, Danny. All of my heart, all of my life."

Ray pronounced them husband and wife, as Bill and Pilar applauded. Danny and Michelle thanked them for everything they had done. 

"I think we'll leave now, and let you two celebrate on your own," Bill said.

"Thanks man," Danny said to Bill. "I made that choice." 

"I know you did, Danny. And I know that you and Michelle are going to be happy together."

With that, Ray, Pilar, and Bill headed back to Springfield. Pilar would be safe with Bill, and they would stay with Matt and Vanessa for a while. Ray went back to his Parrish to wait for the news of the Santos arrests. 

Danny turned to Michelle. "That's a nice gown you have on under that robe," he said with a grin.

"I bought this gown several weeks ago. I wanted to wear it for you, the first time... Well, anyway, when I packed my things to come up here, I had serious doubts if that would ever happen, so I packed it and decided to wear it."

"I'm glad you did. I'm glad that you were wearing it when I found you. Just goes to show that sometimes things can work out the way they're supposed to."

Michelle looked at Danny, in his black jeans, white tee shirt, and leather jacket. He was so gorgeous. And he was standing there with her - he had forsaken his family to be with her. She couldn't believe that this moment was finally happening.

She untied her robe and let it fall to the floor, as she walked over to Danny. She put her hands on his shoulders and slid his jacket to the floor. She felt his hands on the small of her back, and his mouth on her neck. He led her to the bed, never letting go of her. In a small whisper, just before they fell onto the bed, Danny said, "We've waited so long for this."

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