Liza did a double take as she glanced out the back door of the center. She didn't believe what she saw storming into Malcolm's office without so much as a knock.

"I THOUGHT WE WERE ON THE SAME PAGE HERE MALCOLM!!!!!" Liza fumed, "We decided that Santos and that Bauer girl were no longer part of this center!"

"Excuse me," Malcolm said into the receiver. In her tirade Liza hadn't taken notice of his being on the phone. "Give me a second and I'll be right with you," he turned away not really even looking at her.

Liza paced in front of his large desk. Each minute longer his conversation continued the more the fury inside her built. She hadn't expected him to go back on his word to her.

"Now what seems to be the problem Liza?" he asked placing the phone in its cradle.

"YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHAT THE PROBLEM IS!! And it's out back playing with the little kids. I can't believe that he's still here!! I understood that you were going to take care of him and that girl," Liza spat.

"Would you please slow down. I understand your displeasure at what you walked in on last night but I don't think it would help anyone by cutting Danny and Michelle loose. That's not the solution."

"AND JUST WHY NOT!?!?!" she interrupted.

"Liza, what's the real problem here?" he asked cutting to the chase.

"What???? What do you mean real problem?"

"I want to understand what you have against those two."

"Nothing!" she said less then believable. "I just don't think that having Michelle here is a good idea. I think that you are asking for trouble."

"So you have said before. So should I assume from your remarks the other day that you are going to turn me in for it?" he pointedly asked.

A look of horror filled her face, "NO!!!!!"

"Then why don't you just back off and let me do my job? I have a master plan for all of this. And besides if you hadn't noticed Michelle has been good for Danny. Hell for a lot of kids here," he added. "Why can't you cut her a break for god sakes?"

"How do you see her as being good for him? You think when she drops him like yesterday's news that you're not going to have to pick up the pieces?" Liza was trying beyond all hope to get Malcolm to see reason.

"Why do you think that's going to happen?"

"Malcolm, do you have a clue who this girl even is or where it is she comes from? I mean her father is the CEO of one of the largest Mergers & Acquisitions firms in the state. What the hell does some rich girl like that want with a guy like Danny Santos? Except maybe to shock daddy with."

"You needn't tell me who Michelle is or where she comes from. None of that means anything to me. What does mean something to me is how she has gotten Danny to be more open and at least now he's trying to help himself. That's what is the most important thing here. Besides Liza," he paused, "I'm in charge here. I make the call and Michelle and Danny stay. If you don't like it there's the door!"

Michelle frantically flew around her room doing her best to be sure she hadn't forgotten anything. Opening night had finally arrived and she was frazzled to say the least. The practices had come to a close and the real test was about to begin. She was beyond scared, petrified was a better term to describe her anxiety. What if the words weren't there when she opened her mouth to speak them? What if she forgot her marks or tripped and fell during the dance numbers? At the moment she was seriously questioning why she had even done this in the first place. In all of her jumbled thoughts her father had entered the room without her even noticing.

He smiled watching her totally lost in a world all her own. "Good luck tonight or should I have said break a leg?" he said keeping things on the lighter side. It had been so long since they had spoken to one another. Ed Bauer spent the last weeks replaying his wife's final day over and over in his mind. He didn't want to make the same mistakes with Michelle; didn't want to have the similar regrets with her.

"Thanks," she replied absently.

"I hope you got me good seats. I wouldn't want to miss my baby's starring performance."

Michelle stopped to stare at him. She had only just given his ticket to Danny yesterday. "I'm sorry dad, I didn't get you a ticket. I didn't think that you would be able to come."

"NO……I wouldn't miss this for anything."

"That's a surprise. You've missed almost everything else," Michelle said under her breath.

"Michelle, please don't do that. I am trying."

"Too little too late," Michelle was sorry she said that the minute the words dropped from her lips. The gaze that fell over Ed's face showed how wounded he was by her remark. He turned to leave her room without saying another word. "NO WAIT," she said touching his arm, "I'm sure that I could get you a seat next to Aunt Meta. I'll talk to Miss James and see what I can do. Check the box office before you go in."

He was shocked by her sudden change of heart, but decided it was better left unquestioned.

"Thank you and good luck sweetie," he leaned in to kiss her cheek, but Michelle turned away before he was able to finish the action. She wasn't ready to make amends just yet.

The theater was a beehive of activity everyone running a mile a minute in an attempt to have all things in their proper place. Miss James was the calming force for them all. After all the weeks of preparation, she was certain that everything would go off without a hitch. Miss James had more then enough confidence in her leading actors. Parker and Michelle had amazed her as to how well they had come together to make the pairing of Tony and Maria shine.

Michelle had been able to secure one more ticket for her father. She hated to admit it but having her father see her performance that night was something she wanted more then anything in this world. Her reason for never broaching the subject was she had just been too afraid of him disappointing her again to go out on the limb and ask him.

Michelle found herself pacing before the stage door in a desperate attempt at recalling her first line. She was drawing a complete blank when there was a light tap on her shoulder half expecting to see Parker motioning her inside but instead there was Danny's handsome face before her.

"Hi," he smiled.

"Oh my god I am glad to see you. I can't do this," she stammered, "I can't get up on the stage. I don't remember any of my lines……." her words came forth in rapid succession.

Danny fought against the laugh that was forming in the back of his throat. She was so cute at the moment like a child that was afraid of going into school alone for the first time.

"WHAT!?!?!" she cried as he grinned at her.

"Nothing, you are just so damned cute."

"NO I'M NUTS! I was nuts to think that I could go through with this. I think I'm gonna be sick," she leaned her head against his shoulder trying not to cry.

"Hey easy," he spoke as he ran his hand along her back, "You'll be wonderful!" She shook her head with a negative response. "Michelle, you look at me. Baby please look at me," he said again as she kept her eyes averted towards the ground finally complying with his third plea. "If you are half as good tonight as you were when we read those scenes together you will knock this place on its ear."

"You think?" still so unsure of herself.

"DEFINITELY!" Danny pulled her body next to his as reassurance. "I have something for you," he pulled out a tiny box from his jacket pocket.

"You didn't have to," she said.

"I know. I wanted to. I've never had a girlfriend that was a stage star. I thought that I should do something special for you."

Michelle couldn't stop from kissing him. "Well what is it?" she asked always excited by presents. As a child her mother could never hide her Christmas presents well enough. Michelle always found them.

"Open it," he smiled.

She lifted the lid of the small box revealing a gold chain holding a golden charm of the theater masks. "OH DANNY," she gasped, "It's…it's beautiful. I love it. Thank you," she threw her arms around his neck hugging him tightly. "Could you put it on me?"

"Sure." Michelle pulled up her hair as he fastened the clasp.

"MICHELLE……MICHELLE where are you?" the voice belonged to the stage hand Mike.

"Out here."

"Come on and get in here. James is about ready to go over the last direction before you go on."

"Be right there," she called, "I have to go now."

"Okay."

"Meet me after?" she asked him.

"You bet. Hey Michelle," he pulled her to him for one last kiss, "You'll be great!!"

Michelle was in complete awe of just how fast the production went. One minute it was beginning and the following it was ending. She and Parker were on stage for their third round of applause. Absently her fingers grazed the charm at her neck. She couldn't wait to be in Danny's arms. They walked off stage hand in hand knowing they had done it and done it well.

"Wonderful you two. I told you that you would sell out the show. Wait the next few performances will be standing room only," Miss James said confidently.

"Can you believe this? I can't believe this!" Parker was literally bouncing off the walls. "Did you hear that applause? They loved us."

"I know…I know," she was laughing, "I was so scared at first. Then it was like Maria took me over."

"You make the perfect Maria," Parker agreed his hand still wound through hers. He couldn't stop himself. Everything about this evening had overtaken him. Having Michelle so close to him all night on stage brought about so many emotions that he couldn't control himself. Parker pulled her to him kissing her softly. Michelle pulled away as Danny came to stand behind them.

Danny wondered what was stopping him from walking over and ripping this guy's throat out. It took all that he had in him to stay where he was and let Michelle handle things. She really believed that Parker was a changed man and even though he wasn't buying it he thought better of making an issue out of Parker at every turn.

"You were wonderful," Danny said as he drew closer to them. Michelle tried to pull away from Parker yet he wasn't willingly letting her go. "You both were really good," Danny took Michelle by the hand leading her to him sensing Parker's great displeasure at his arrival.

"Yeah thanks," gone was the excitement from Parker's voice. He detested the fact that Michelle fell so easily into this guys arms. The mere thought of it made his skin crawl but watching it made him nauseous.

"You ready to go grab a bite to eat?" Danny asked Michelle.

"That's be great. Just let me change my clothes. You think maybe we could swing past and pick up Stacey and Rick?" she questioned walking towards the girls changing area.

Before he had a chance to respond Parker was speaking, "Hey Michelle wait. Don't you remember we have the cast party?" Both Danny and Michelle looked strangely at him. Parker knew he was reaching but he would have done anything to keep Michelle with him and away from her new found love.

"Parker, the party is after the final show. Did you forget that?"

"Yeah oh yeah that's right. In all the excitement I must have forgotten." Parker refrained from looking in Danny's direction. He could feel the cold hard stare that Danny's eyes were throwing his way. He just wanted to get Michelle alone. This game of cat and mouse was getting a bit old even for him.

"So can we pick them up or not?" Michelle said awaiting Danny's answer.

"Yeah sure no problem. I borrowed Dean's car tonight so it should be fine."

Borrowed a car, Parker thought to himself. What a loser. Michelle needed some waking up and quick. She deserved so much better then the piece of trash standing before him.

"I promised Stacey I would try to get her tickets. She says she's dying to say she knew me when," Michelle laughed kissing Danny's cheek, "I'll only be a minute. I promise."

Standing back stage it was now Danny's turn at feeling uncomfortable. Clayton by far didn't have the funds to put on a full scale production such as the one he had just witnesses. He was pretty much invisible to all those that ran about him tending to their own business. Looking up Danny noticed Parker Simms standing to the corner eyes burning holes through him.

Danny toyed with the idea of going over to him or staying put. He was fighting his deep seeded reaction of taking him down fast and hard finally the calm voice in his head reasoned with him to stay where he was. Danny wished he could get a better handle on him because there was something about Parker Simms that just wasn't right.

Michelle emerged from the dressing area minutes later. Kissing Danny she went on her search for tickets for Stacey. Again Danny was alone on the stage. This time Parker took it upon himself to come forward and join him.

"Let's get something straight!" he snarled knocking shoulders with Danny. "You may be the man of the hour but I'm the one Michelle wants…needs. Hell it's only a matter of time until I make her understand that."

"I think you've showed her enough. You have showed her what kind of guy she DOESN'T need. And for the record," Danny said as the fire within him grew, "YOU EVER PUT YOUR HANDS ON HER AGAIN!!"

"What? You worried about that little kiss you saw earlier?" Parker couldn't resist twisting the knife again.

"YOU KNOW DAMN WELL THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!! I don't know who the hell you think you are fooling with this act of yours but it sure as fuck ain't me!" Danny growled. "I know for a fact that Michelle has been you punching bag when the mood took you and I know up until this damn play started she was scared to death of you! So let's just say this serves as warning to you. I don't trust you and until this is all over I don't plan on letting Michelle out of my sight!"

"Hey," Michelle hesitated, "Everything okay?" The scene she had come upon was beyond intense. For the first time in weeks she saw that look she knew all too well on Parker's face. One that meant he was angry, very angry. His hands were clenched in tight fists beside him as his blue eyes blazed a trail of fire at Danny.

"Yeah," Danny said ignoring Parker, "Did you get the tickets?"

"Un-huh, but not until the final show. Stacey will have to wait until then. I hope that's okay with her."

"I think it will be fine. See ya Simms," Danny said leading Michelle out the door not even looking back.

"Danny, what was going on back there?" she asked as he closed the driver's door of Dean's '68 Camero.

"Nothing why?" He did his best to sound nonchalant.

"I know that Parker looked pretty pissed. I know something is going on, please tell me what happened between the two of you. I have told you that there is nothing to be worried about. Parker and I are only friends." Michelle said to reassure him.

"I don't know about that," Danny countered.

"What are you talking about?" Michelle questioned, "I'm sorry that you saw him kiss me, it took me by surprise too. I am sure he was just caught up in the thrill of opening night. It certainly didn't mean anything."

"Michelle, that's not what worries me. I mean shit I had to watch you kiss him on stage all night. That's not it at all. I just think that you need to keep your guard up when it comes to him. I don't think he's as done with you as you think I just don't trust the guy!"

"So what happened between you two?" she asked wondering what had made Danny feel this way.

"Nothing specific, just promise me," he said taking her hands in his for emphasis, "that you will be careful when it comes to him."

"I still think you are crazy," Danny arched his brow at her comment, "But I promise," she relented still not understanding.

On the drive to pick up Stacey and Rick, Danny couldn't shake the nagging feeling that ate at him regarding Parker. The way he looked when he eluded to making Michelle understand shook him to his very core and Danny wasn't easily scared but this was different. If this had only involved him Danny knew he could handle whatever Parker threw his way, but he was sure that Parker was too much of a coward to do anything man to man. His targets were always someone he could over power.

Danny stole a sideways glance at Michelle. She was busy singing along with the radio completely lost in her own world. He couldn't imagine that anyone would ever want to hurt her, yet he knew the facts Parker Simms had done it before and Danny certainly knew that he wouldn't hesitate to do it again if he felt it was necessary no matter what Michelle believed.

"Here," Michelle handed Stacey the tickets as she settled in the back seat with Rick, "Sorry they are for the final show but Miss James said we sold out all the other nights."

"Great thanks," she put them in her purse for safe keeping, "So Danny, what was it like to see your best girl up on stage?"

"Huh?" Danny was still caught up in his own worries.

"I said did you like the play? How was Michelle?"

"She was great….wonderful." Danny absently patted Michelle's hand as the continued down the road.

Danny may have been sitting next to her in the booth yet Michelle could tell he was miles away in his thoughts. There was more to what had happened between him and Parker she knew it in her gut. That worried her. Trouble was the last thing she wanted or needed. Michelle felt safe finally again and it was something she hadn't felt in a very long time. The play was almost over and she and Parker would part company, leaving Danny with nothing to be concerned about Michelle repeated to herself silently.

Danny wound Dean's camero into the back lot of Springfield High bringing it to rest along side of Michelle's black MG. Cutting the engine he turned and looked at her. Her beauty held him captive for a moment. He got lost in all the unfamiliar feelings that she brought out in him. Gently he caressed her cheek.

"What?" she said realizing how intent his gaze was.

"Nothing, I was just thinking about you. How really great you were tonight. You made me totally believe that you were Maria."

"Thank you. I'll let you in on a little secret," she giggled.

"What?"

"You want to know how I do it? Play Maria so well that is?"

"How?"

"I pretend that you're the one on stage with me not Parker. I say my lines to this image of your face that I hold in my memory."

There was no containing the smile that filled Danny's face. The idea that she was thinking about him the whole time elated him.

"That's interesting," he said trying to hide his pleasure, "I was wondering why those kisses looked so intense up there," he teased.

"Danny, no matter what you think about Parker," she paused, "You are the only one in my life. I am totally happy right here with you. I don't need anything or anyone else. Don't EVER forget that okay? Parker Simms is my past but you are my present and future. That is if you'll have me," she hesitated with those last words.

"I wouldn't have it any other way!" He pulled her in for a passion filled kiss hands traveling down to the small of her back. She moaned softly in his ear. Danny ran his lips softly across her neck and shoulders until Michelle thought she would explode. A set of bright headlines caught their attention. It was campus security.

"I guess that's our cue," she laughed.

"What you don't want a repeat performance of last time?" Danny said mockingly.

"I can only imagine what old daddy dearest would think about getting a call like that."

"Hey how are things with you dad? You haven't said much about him lately."

"Actually I think they are getting better. He came to see the play tonight. Can you believe that? I thought for sure he would be too busy to come."

"See, I told you he would come around. "

"I guess. I just hope this means that maybe we can straighten things out. I'm pretty tired of the silent treatment.

"Maybe he is too," Danny added cautiously.

"You're probably right," she said thinking to the many times Aunt Meta had said the very same thing. "Hey I better be going."

"Hang on I'll walk you to your car."

"Danny," she looked at him in a odd fashion, "My car's right there," she pointed to the vehicle that was no more then two feet from them.

"I know…..but how else am I going to get one more kiss?" he laughed.

Danny had another reason for his actions, Michelle's safety. He wasn't about to take any chance with her. He waited until even the faintest lights from Michelle's car could no longer be seen before he returned to his own starting it again. It mattered very little to him what Michelle's ideas were about Parker Simms. Danny intended on standing his ground and making sure that she took no chances where he was concerned.

"DAMN!!!!!!!!" Parker growled slamming his fists hard against his steering wheel. He had sat in the parking lot all night waiting for Michelle to return to retrieve her car. It was time that he made his move. Parker by far had had enough of Danny Santos. It was time that it came to an end, yet now he was forced again to come up with his next strategic move.

Darcie climbed the staircase to Danny's apartment. Unlike Michelle the surroundings didn't phase her. What was all around her was common place in her world. She beat hard on the door until she got a response.

"Michelle, I thought I told you never to come here again, Thomas is too………" Danny said pulling a tee-shirt over his head as he opened the door to a person who wasn't Michelle. He had just spent the last twenty minutes doing battle with her as to why she shouldn't come and pick him up. "Ah…hey Darcie. I thought you were someone else."

"So I noticed," she countered entering the apartment without an invitation from him. Darcie walked to the sofa and made herself comfortable. "Where's old Tom? I haven't seen him in a while."

"Out I guess. What do you want Darcie? I've got somewhere to be."

"So where'd you pick up the little PRINCESS?" she hissed, "She looks to precious to be from this neck of the woods. Want a 'lude?" she asked holding out a plastic baggie full of one pill or another.

"NO."

"What the hell's with you lately?" she spat, "Since when do you turn down a joint much less a 'lude?"

"I told you the other night. I'm not into that anymore. Is there anything else you want?" he asked growing more and more impatient. He knew that if he was late in meeting Michelle she would take it upon herself to come get him herself. He didn't want that in the least.

"Why?" she asked.

"Why?" Danny echoed not understanding what she was getting at. Her response had nothing to do with the question that had been asked.

"Why would you quit?"

"I made a deal with Michel……" Danny hadn't stopped himself from talking soon enough. He was pissed at himself for letting Darcie have anymore information then she needed.

"So that's the PRINCESS' name. Michelle….Michelle…..Michelle," Darcie said sarcastically as she made her way around the room.

"ENOUGH!"

"You want to know what I dug up on your girlfriend?" Darcie's tone was sardonic.

"Nope. Can't say as I do," he countered. Darcie Jenkins would have been the last person he would have put his trust in. He definitely wasn't about to take her word on Michelle.

"I think you'll find it interesting. Your precious new girlfriend….she's a rich bitch from the hill." Darcie watched the expression on Danny's face instantly change. He now wore a cold hard mask. She knew she had his full attention now. "So what do you think of that Danny boy?"

"I THINK YOU'RE FULL OF SHIT! You didn't even know her fucking name until a few minutes ago……" Danny was noticeably unsettled by Darcie's comments.

"So good old Danny boy is hooked up with a rich bitch from the hill. Wonder what the guys will say when they get a load of this one?" she enjoyed cutting him deeper.

"DARCIE YOU ARE SO FULL OF SHIT!!!"

"You think so? I did some checking around there Danny. What I found out would shock the fuck out of you."

"There's nothing to find. Michelle's a senior at Springfield High. She's helping out at the center. Nothing more nothing less."

"Who are you trying to convince Danny? Me or you? Besides JT did some digging on his own……."

"So What is this some scheme you and JT cooked up so he could get his hooks in Michelle?!?!" Danny growled all the while the things that Darcie said rolling end over end in his head. "That's never going to happen. You might as well forget about that!" Danny had regained a few of his senses. He knew that Darcie was here to stir up trouble and nothing more. That's what she did best.

"What's her name?" Darcie pressed

"You already know that, Michelle."

"Michelle what?"

"Michelle Bauer, why?" Danny hadn't a clue what she was getting at.

"Bauer……Danny, Bauer. Can't you even put two and two together?" Darcie was frustrated by his dense behavior. "You're telling me that you have never heard of the Bauer Building downtown?"

"Yeah so?" Danny said not wanting to see the facts that had been laid out before him.

"Yeah so?" she mocked him. "So that's her Danny. She's that Bauer. She lives on the hill, hell the highest part of the damn hill."

"YOU'RE WRONG!! THIS IS SOME BIG MISTAKE!! YOU'RE WRONG DARC, DEAD WRONG!!!!" Danny couldn't think straight at the moment. As hard as he tried to deny the words he heard his head wasn't letting that happen.

"Sorry to burst your perfect little bubble, but I got the bitch dead to rights!"

"You have to be wrong. If she's that fucking rich what the fuck is doing working at the center and driving some beat up old MG? Shit she wouldn't have any reason to even set foot in a place like that. People like that barely come across the tracks much less speak to us. You are wrong Darcie," he repeated as he rambled on.

"So you really didn't know?" she asked.

"You're only here to start trouble. I know that's what this is all about! It's not true. What you said about Michelle…..it's not true,"he stammered.

"Have you ever been to her house; ever been introduced to her family or friends?" Darcie's barrage at him was an attempt in getting him to see what a fool he had been and that Michelle Bauer had been lying to him from the word go.

"GET OUT!!!!" Danny's voice shook the walls.

"Why? Cause you know I right? Is that it?" she cackled.

"GET OUT DARCIE!!!!"

"Tell Tom I said hi and I miss my back rubs," Danny slammed the door on her in disgust. A smirk slid across Darcie's face. "Score one point for me, zero for the little PRINCESS!" she hissed.

"This has to be a mistake. Darcie has to be wrong. She has to be," Danny whispered.

Danny should have met Michelle hours ago, but he couldn't bring himself to face her. All she had ever talked about was honesty and well if what he had just learned was indeed true….well then to hell with her.

The coincidence of his Michelle being the Michelle Bauer, well that was just too surreal not to be true. Yet a force inside of Danny wouldn't believe it still. None of it made any sense. If indeed Michelle's father was one of the richest men in the county why was she driving that beat up MG? Why had she stuck around at CONNECTION VILLAGE? Rich kids didn't do stuff like that. The absurdity of it all baffled him. Michelle never once acted like the other rich bitches he had run across in his time. She was more one of them, him, Stacey, Dean, then some rich kid. Hell Stacey had taken to Michelle from the very start. None of this added up he thought to himself. Danny brought his fingers to his temples. His head aching from all his rambling thoughts beating inside his brain.

Danny caught sight of JT as he rounded the corner next to the drug store. I have to get to the bottom of this, he thought quickening his pace to reach his friend, "HEY! JT wait up," he called.

"Hey Danny, how's it going?" he said as if he didn't already know. Darcie had made a beeline for him the moment she had left Danny's apartment. She took great pleasure in replaying how badly Danny had taken her news.

"Been better," Danny offered running his hands through his thick curls, "I need to ask you something man."

"What?"

"Did Darcie come to you with some cock and bull story about Michelle being from the hill?" Danny prayed to god that this was some elaborate joke enacted by Darcie to get his goat as he waited for his friend's response.

"Yeah, she did why?"

"I need to know exactly what you told her about Michelle," Danny's voice was hoarse with his impending anger.

"Why? What's wrong?" JT said playing dumb.

"Nothing……I just need to know what the fuck Darcie is up to now!" Danny forced his building rage deep within him.

"You know Jenkins…..she was full of snide remarks. She wanted to know everything about your latest conquest."

Danny's hairs bristled at that terminology. Michelle was the furthest thing from a conquest to him.

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her name was Michelle Bauer and that you stopped me before I could find out anything else good," JT joked with regards to his attempt at making a move on Michelle.

"I OUGHTA DROP YOUR ASS RIGHT NOW!!!!" Danny bellowed at him.

"For what?" JT countered with as much force, "You must have forgotten Danny boy everyone's fair game around here. If she was supposed to be off limits then man you should have kept her hidden away. Hell I'm surprised you didn't considering where the hell she comes from," JT added slyly.

"WHAT!?!!? What the hell are you talking about? Where she comes from?"

JT pulled from the inside pocket of his jean jacket a newspaper picture of Michelle and her father at a charity benefit just about a year ago. Darcie had been sure to give the vital piece of information. She knew damn well that Danny would head straight to JT looking for some answers. She wanted to deck to be stacked against Danny's PRINCESS.

"Here look for yourself," JT shoved the paper into Danny's hands. The image that starred back at him stunned Danny silent. There she was.

The caption for the photo read, Mr. Edward Bauer and daughter attended the opening of the new ER Trauma Center for which Bauer Industries was a major contributor.

Danny stood speechless. There was no denying it now. No matter what his heart wanted to believe his head wasn't allowing it. Not with the cold hard facts right in front of him. Danny couldn't do anything more then crumple the thin paper in his hand as if by doing so it would somehow magically make it all go away.

"Sorry man," JT said watching Danny's face drain of all color. He hadn't realized just how much this was going to effect him. He hadn't understood the depths of feelings that Danny had acquired for Michelle in such a short period of time. If he had known JT would have never agreed to help Darcie in the first place.

"It's not your problem. It's mine now. I'll deal with it." Danny's walls were higher then they had ever been before and closing in on him fast. He walked the streets of Clayton in a vain attempt to make sense of the senseless. All of this was plain crazy. The first girl that he had let get close to him ever turned out to be lying to him and making a fool of him all along.

Here all this time he had been worried her and her and her friends had been laughing about him behind his back. What an ass he had been. He could have kicked himself for letting her get so close. He wouldn't be making that mistake again anytime soon.

Danny felt the overwhelming urge of a joint, some blow anything that would make this all vanish. To hell with his deal with her, he thought. Just as he turned to head back to JT he ran head long into Dean.

"Hey," Dean said trying to high five his friend.

"Yeah," he grumbled.

There was no mistaking the look on Danny's face. Dean had seen it all too often. He knew his friend was about to embark down that dangerous road once again. The change he had noticed in Danny since meeting Michelle had been remarkable. He didn't like to see that it looked as if Danny was sliding backwards again.

"What's up man?" All Danny could do was push forward the crumpled newspaper picture of Michelle in Dean's direction. He took a long hard look before realizing that the girl in the picture was Michelle. "Yeah so?" Dean didn't see what the problem was.

"SHE'S RICH!!! Her father owns a multi-million dollar company!" Danny said exasperated.

"I still think I am missing something."

"Dean she never even mentioned it!" Danny just about screamed.

"I still don't get it. You told me yourself how great she is. That you had never found anyone else like her before. What's changed that?" Dean was making his best attempt at talking some sense into his friend.

"I can't be with someone like that! She lied to me. She played me for a god damned fool, Dean!"

"That doesn't sound like the girl I met the other day. She was sweet and open and not to mention the fact that the girl has it bad for you Danny," Dean said with a smile as he slapped Danny in the shoulder.

"You don't get it," he returned with a voice full of anger and angst at Dean's last words. "She's all into honesty and us telling each other everything. How could she forget to tell me she was the daughter of Ed Bauer? For god sakes he's one of the richest men in the county." Danny still couldn't fathom that thought.

"I think you are making way too much of this. Have you even talked to her about it?" Danny shook his head. "I think you both deserve to at least talk about it before you throw it away. Danny," Dean rested his hand on his friend's shoulder tentitativly, "I know you don't want to throw this away. At least talk to her, man."

"I CAN'T!!" he returned adamantly.

"Yes….yes you can. You have to!"

"Not tonight. I think right now I just need to head home."

Dean saw the look in Danny's eyes that he knew all too well. Danny wasn't going home. Home was the last place on his mine. Danny was looking for a way to score anything that would enable him to forget everything that had just taken place tonight.

"Why don't you come home with me? Mom's making a hell of a dinner. She'd love to see you."

Danny hesitated weighing this option and what his needs were screaming for. Something was different about that voice in his head this time. It was duller then it once had been. Danny looked at his friend, "Yeah that sounds good."

Meanwhile Michelle had been sitting at CONNECTION VILLAGE for the past three hours waiting and wondering if Danny was alright.