Michelle was perplexed about Danny's behavior that night. He knew that with the hectic play schedule for the following week, this was one of the only times that she would get to see him. It didn't make any sense that he hadn't bothered to show.

"Hi there," her father said as she shut the front door, "You got in so late last night," Michelle braced herself for yet another lecture she didn't need, "I didn't get a chance to tell you how wonderful Aunt Meta and I thought you were. I was completely mesmerized by your performance."

"Thank you," she tried to hide her shock. This wasn't at all what she expected. Michelle couldn't help waiting for the other shoe to drop though.

"Howard and I were talking this morning and we were both saying how good you and Parker looked together." Okay here comes the other shoe Michelle thought to herself. "I was wondering if it was Parker who kept you out so late last night."

"No," Michelle remarked with more disdain then she had hoped for.

"Oh," Ed was noticeably disappointed, "I was hoping that this play would help you two find your way back to one another."

"Sorry dad. Parker and I are just starting to be friends again after a lousy breakup. I think we should just leave well enough alone."

"Michelle, I just worry about you. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Daddy, I promise you I'm not going to get hurt. For once in my life I know exactly what I want and surprisingly enough how to get it," she stated firmly.

"But…….."

"Can we please not do this again?" she pleaded, "I don't want to fight. Can't you please just trust me to know what I'm doing?"

"Honey, you don't understand what it means to be a parent…………"

"Sorry to say but neither do you," with that acid comment Michelle left the room.

Meta stood to the sidelines observing the exchange between father and daughter. For one brief moment she thought that the two were making strides to finding each other again, yet Michelle dashed that in one cold harsh sentence. She watched her nephew quietly turn and walk back into his study shutting the door like he had done every night since his dinner party. There was nothing she could say to make this right and the fear that Michelle had a great deal more to get off her chest before her and her father would be able to ever meet in the middle loomed large in Meta's mind.

Michelle sat on the edge of her bed debating what to do next. She wanted to phone Danny at home yet she couldn't stop herself from rethinking his repeated words to her time and time again. She had tried the center again only to have Jeff inform her that Danny still wasn't there. The wild thoughts that ran through her mind forced her to pick up the phone and dial his number. What if he and Thomas had had another fight or worse yet Darcie Jenkins decided to tempt him again. That idea forced a shiver down Michelle's spine.

The phone rang a dozen times in her ear. Just as she was about to hang up a female voice answered.

"Hi, I'm looking for Danny. Is he there?" Michelle asked.

"Danny?"

"Danny Santos. Is he home?" Michelle said again.

"No, I don't think so," the voice was barely above a whisper.

"Do you know where I could find him?"

"Hell no!" the voice now belonged to Thomas who had whipped the phone from the hand of his latest bed partner. "Don't care where the low life is…….."

"WAIT PLEASE!!!!" Michelle begged as she heard the dial tone resounding in her ear.

Michelle paced her room torn on what to do next. If Danny knew what she was contemplating he would have her ass for it yet she didn't know what else to do. Heading to CONNECTION VILLAGE would be her first avenue. She only hoped that he had showed up there. If that didn't work then she wouldn't have any other choice but to hunt up his friends JT and Dean. Michelle slipped into her jeans and sweatshirt and crept down the stairs. Just as she reached the last step her father emerged from his study.

"You're up awfully late," he remarked.

"Having trouble sleeping," which wasn't a complete lie. "I thought I'd make myself some chamomile tea. Can I get you one?"

"No thanks. I'm just in here to get some more ice."

Her father's gait was a good indication that he had had one too many scotch and waters, minus the water, that evening. Without so much as another word to her he was gone.

She felt a tug at her heart. Her desperation to reach out to him was so great, yet she didn't know how to do that and still be the person she was becoming. Yes she could easily slip back into the role of good little daddy's girl but if she did indeed do that the biggest and best part of herself would die in the process. Michelle stood in the doorway of the kitchen for a long time not sure what to do. In the worst way she wanted to find Danny and make sure he was safe and all right but sneaking out of the house at the moment was far too risky. The was no doubt that her father intended on making a might of it in his study.

"Please mom, " Michelle looked up to the sky, "watch over Danny tonight," she whispered to herself.

A home cooked meal and a good nights sleep had helped Danny physically but mentally he was still a wreck. He kept playing his conversations with Darcie and JT over and over again in his mind like a record skipping in the same spot. Even with the proof he now had, Danny didn't want to believe it. What was he supposed to do now? He had fallen head over heels in love with a person who wasn't who he thought she was. He couldn't let himself forget that she had been lying to him all this time; keeping things from him. Being made to feel foolish was something that Danny couldn't ignore. The good points that Dean had illustrated about Michelle bounced around his head as well but they weren't able to slide past the fact that she had lied to him all along.

Quietly Danny dressed as not to wake Dean. Danny headed in the direction of CONNECTION VILLAGE if she had fooled him then it was safe to assume that she had taken Malcolm in as well. He couldn't wait to see his reaction when he delivered the news about Miss Michelle Bauer.

"Hi Danny," Stacey said in a chipper voice, "There's about a dozen messages her for you from Michelle. She seems pretty upset. Said you never showed up last night and she was worried."

"Great," he returned sarcastically, "Is Malcolm in yet?" totally ignoring Stacey's comments about Michelle. It had been wrong of him not to let her know he was all right but at that second he didn't really give a damn.

"He went across the street to grab some bagels, why?"

"I need to talk to him."

"What about Michelle? Aren't you going to call her?"

"MIND YOUR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS!!!!" he spat at her.

Stacey was stunned. It had been some time since she had come face to face with this Danny Santos. It gave her every indication that something was gravely wrong.

"What should I tell her if she calls again?"

"TELL HER RICH ASS TO DROP DEAD!!!"

"Danny!!?!?!?" Stacey gasped unable to say more. Danny walked into Malcolm's office slamming the door behind him.

"I think we need to talk," he blurted out jumping up the minute Malcolm entered the room.

"Take it easy man. At least let me get my coat off," Malcolm half laughed until he saw the determination in Danny's eyes. "What is it?" He settled behind the desk and waited for Danny to begin.

"What do you know about Michelle?"

"What do you mean?" Malcolm suddenly had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"I mean do you really know who she is or where she comes from?" Danny's voice cracked.

"Why don't you start by telling me what you know?" he had no intention of letting the cat out of the bag if he didn't need to.

Danny placed the newspaper picture that he had been carrying around with him on the desktop. He read the caption just as Danny had done the evening before. He knew the jig was up.

"Did you know she was some rich bitch from the hill? Hell the richest fucking one of them?"

"Yes…..yes I did," Malcolm said directly.

Danny fell back against the chair startled into silence. The certainly wasn't what he had thought he was going to hear. He had been sure that Michelle had fooled him as well. Now it truly looked like he was the only one not to know.

"YOU'RE KIDDING RIGHT!?!" Danny said laughing yet there was no humor to it's sound.

"I'm sorry Danny. No joke."

"How come you didn't tell anyone? We had a right to know!" he shouted, "Besides what's someone from that side of the tracks doing here anyway?" If Danny had stopped to listen to his words he would have heard how absurd they truly sounded.

"Danny, please sit down. Let me try to explain," Malcolm walked around to the front of his desk sitting on its edge. "She originally came here looking to do some research for a school project."

"Tell me something I don't already know!" he shot back.

"Well it's a pretty lengthy story…….."

"I've got all the time in the world."

"Michelle's mother, she was a friend of mine. Actually we were colleagues at a rehab center before I came here. Maureen was an exceptional lady. Michelle is a great deal like her. So when she asked if she could stay on and help out well I just couldn't refuse her. You have to understand that she's looking to fill the void left by her mother's death. This place was good for her and it was good for you too."

"What do you mean good for me too?" Danny's black eyes hardened with each passing second.

"I asked Michelle to help me with you.

Danny suddenly looked as though someone had shot him through the chest. Horrified that all this time he had been nothing more to Michelle then some pet project. The thought of it all left him reeling and breathless. Danny got up and headed for the door. He wasn't about to sit there and hear more of how he had been made a fool of. He had had enough of Malcolm, enough of this damn center and most importantly enough of Michelle Bauer and her lies. He didn't give a damn if he ended up in jail. Nothing much mattered to him.

"DANNY WAIT!!!!!" Malcolm pushed the door closed again with his hand before Danny had been able to exit, "Hear me out."

"Do I have a choice?"

"No, not really. Come on sit down." Danny dropped his lifeless body down on the sofa. "I wasn't having any luck with you. You have to admit you were a pretty tough one. Nothing I did was working and Liza was little if any help."

"SO!?!?!" Danny was indigent.

"Well when Michelle came to tell me about her first encounter with you and how you kissed her," he paused looking for a way to explain away actions that he had known all along could prove to be his downfall. "……well I thought that I would take advantage of a good thing. It was obvious that you found her attractive and I used that to my advantage," he said again, "It was wrong I know, but man you had me pushed to the wall. I was left with little options." Malcolm paused trying to gauge Danny's reaction. Knowing his next statement would most definitely send Danny over the edge but it was too late to stop now. "I asked Michelle to be your friend. To talk to you just like she had that first time. Danny, you have to know that Michelle is nothing like the person you are labeling her to be."

"So you're telling me that she has been doing this the whole time? She's being my friend hell my fucking girlfriend because you told her to!?!?!" the thought brought total devastation to Danny's world. "THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!!!!" he punched the wall before him. "BOTH OF YOU MADE FUCKING FOOLS OF ME!!! WHAT AN ASS I HAVE BEEN ALL THIS TIME!!!!" Danny threw the door open and was gone before he even heard Malcolm's final words.

Michelle set her books on one of the tables in the main room and headed down the hall towards Malcolm's office. Stacey told her of his wicked mood and couldn't help but wonder if that was the reason for his not showing up the previous evening. Just as she rounded the corner she came face to face with an openly angry Danny.

"Hey I was worried…………" she began

"SAVE IT!!!!" he growled grabbing her by the arm pulling her into one of the side rooms, "WE NEED TO TALK!!!!"

"Danny, you're hurting me," tears sprung forth in her milky brown eyes.

"YEAH SO!?!?!" his voice took on a sardonic tone.

"What the hell's going on with you?" she questioned rubbing her arm when he had finally let go.

"Why don't you tell me Miss Michelle Bauer? You know of Bauer Industries!"

"What are you talking about?" she countered still more then a little confused.

"Don't give me that fucking innocent look. You've been lying to me this whole time. I can't believe that I let you suck me in…..that I was sucked in my the likes of one of you……."

"One of you?" Michelle echoed his words, "What are you talking about?" she repeated.

"STOP WITH THE GAMES ALREADY!! I talked to Malcolm. I know everything!"

"You know everything? Mind clueing me in please?"

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!?!?!" he yelled.

"Tell you what?" she heard herself shouting back.

"That you were some rich bitch from the hill?"

"What?" Michelle's voice quieted, "Rich bitch?" she repeated, "What does it matter where I live?"

"What does it matter? It matters. Shit I told everyone that would listen that I would never so much as spit on one of you!" there were those words again.

"One of you?" Michelle couldn't disguise the hurt that filled her, "What the hell does that mean?"

"Me…..Danny Santos……rough and tough street wise guy let some PRINCESS," he chose Darcie's word carefully, "make a fool of him. How the hell am I ever supposed to save face now? How can I explain letting myself being made a fool of?" Danny heard his hurtful words but much like their first encounter he couldn't stop them from coming.

"A FOOL OF YOU! You have got to be kidding right?" Michelle was stunned and searching for a way to make this all stop. She never once imagined that who her father was or wasn't would present such a problem for them. She had wondered herself in the beginning what impact their separate worlds would have one another yet she never figured on such a collision course.

It had been nothing for her to look past Danny's many problems once she was no longer able to deny the love that she felt coursing through her veins. She never once thought that it would be money that would be the downfall. Money that really wasn't hers in the true sense of the word. The entire situation flabbergasted her.

"FUCK NO I'M NOT KIDDING!!!" he growled, "It's not bad enough to know that you are rich but now I know that you took me on as some fucking charity case. You felt bad for me. Felt bad that Malcolm was having a tough time with me," he spat, "So everything that I told you about you ran back to him with? Talk about twice the fool!" Without thinking Michelle reached out to touch him sensing the pain that overpowered him. "DON'T!!" he yelled pulling back, "Don't touch me. This is finished, " he said walking away from her.

"DANNY…..DANNY , WAIT!" she cried until her sobs covered her voice. This was unreal for her. In the blink of an eye everything had fallen apart without her even sure what had truly taken place. The only thing that glaringly stood out was that she had lost Danny and underneath it all she couldn't help feeling that it had been Malcolm's fault.

"Malcolm, I need to talk to you," Michelle said closing the door behind her. He wasn't at all surprised to be seeing her. He knew that this was coming. He hated to admit it but Liza had been right. This entire thing was blowing up in his face.

"I expected you sooner," he said solemnly.

"Would you please tell me what the hell's going on with Danny? He just basically ripped me up one side and down the other for trying to help him. What's going on here?" Michelle was exasperated.

"I think part of this whole thing is my fault."

"How?"

"I have mislead you. I let you believe that Danny knew you were helping me. But he didn't know. He didn't have any idea. I never told him. I knew him well enough to know that it wouldn't help him knowing. I was wrong, so wrong."

"DAMN RIGHT YOU WERE!" she raged, "I trusted you Malcolm. I wanted this to be above reproach. I wanted to start out on the right foot with Danny. Now that's all been trashed. He won't even talk to me!" she held back the tears that threatened to burst forth at any moment.

"Michelle," Malcolm began delicately, "You have to take some of the responsibility too."

"How so? You told me not to worry, that you had taken care of everything." Michelle couldn't help wondering if there would ever be a man alive who would ever own up to his own misdeeds without somehow trying to place part of the blame on a woman.

"Danny came in here this morning totally blindsided by the fact that you were wealthy. You never told him? I mean your father is Ed Bauer of god sakes."

"I didn't think it was necessary. I mean listen to how you just now said my dad's name. I just assumed that everyone knew. I thought it would be common knowledge. Hell I didn't think it even mattered," she gasped still confused as to why it did.

"Michelle do you know how much you sound like your mother right now? I am sorry about all of this. Give him some time. He'll come around," Malcolm pulled her in for a hug. His only wish was that he believed his last words. Danny Santos was a tough one and Malcolm knew that this wasn't going to be easy on either of them.

"Sharon have you seen Danny anywhere?"

"Yeah he's out back with the little kids in the sandbox."

"Thanks," Michelle stopped by the window. She saw Danny's image through the sheer liners. He was helping Agnes build a sandcastle. Gone was the angry person who confronted her before. She was almost afraid to go and speak to him.

"Danny we need to talk."

"I don't have anything to say to you!" he returned without even so much as a look in her direction. He knew if he looked at her he would be forced to recall how much he loved her. And right now he couldn't let that happen.

"Well then at least listen to what I have to say," he remained silent as she continued, "I finally figured out what you were talking about. I am sorry. I thought that Malcolm told you about my helping him. Danny, he actually told me that he had talked to you about it. Iwanted you to know from the very beginning. I thought that us being up front about everything from the start was the best way to go," she said with an anguished filled voice. "I am sorry that you found out the way you did but I was just as surprised as you."

"So much for being up front about everything. Didn't you think telling me who you really were and where you were from classified as being up front. Or what would it have ruined the blissful feeling you got whenever you thought how good helping this poor pathetic street scum made you feel? I don't need your fucking pity. JUST STAY OUT OF MY LIFE!!!!!" The old Danny Santos had returned with full force.

"I didn't think it was necessary to tell you. Hell my name should have said it all. This is totally ridiculous. I shouldn't have to justify my feeling for you against my father's bank accounts. I've never pitied you either Danny. I've done everything but that. I'm in love with you…..you dope. If you don't chose to believe me fine, but I never thought of I was making a fool of you."

"SAVE YOUR BULLSHIT FOR SOMEONE WHO GIVES A DAMN!!!"

She wouldn't let him see her cry. Before the tears could fall past her lashes she exited without a word to anyone.

Michelle took every chance she got to attempt to talk to Danny. But he had always been too busy or just flatly refused to be anywhere around her. She ached inside. She longed for him to hold her, kiss her again. She wasn't complete without him.

"You ready for tonight's performance?" Parker asked coming up behind her.

"I guess," she returned in a noncommittal tone.

"You okay?"

It wasn't hard to tell that in the last few days Michelle had lost her newfound spark and even though she was still performing the part of Maria perfectly something was missing. Mike called them to the stage again before she had a chance to answer his question.

That evening's performance was as spectacular as the all the previous nights. Michelle and Parker received a standing ovation. There were only two shows remaining before the play was to come to an end. On one hand Michelle was overjoyed to see it all coming to an end. Doing the play night after night only served to intensify her longing for Danny. She saw his eyes in every scene. Yet on the other with this done there would be an even bigger gapping hole in her life.

"You need a ride home tonight?" Parker asked Michelle as she sat in front of the dressing room mirror.

"No I have my own car. Besides I have somewhere I need to be."

"Michelle, are you sure everything's okay?" Parker was losing his patience. This plan of his was wearing thin on his already raw nerves. He needed to wrap it up soon.

"Yeah…yeah I am fine," she said with a distant voice.

Michelle walked into CONNECTION VILLAGE with a heavy heart. She had to try to talk to Danny one last time. She couldn't continue going on like this.

"Stacey, hi."

"He's in there," Stacey pointed to the main room before Michelle had even finished her question.

"How is he?"

"I think you still have a battle on your hands."

"DAMN!" Michelle commented under her breath, "Stacey I need to ask you something."

"Okay."

"When you found out my last name was Bauer, why didn't that send you running too?"

"Why?"

"Well that seems to be what Danny is so hung up on. He thinks I'm one them, whatever the hell he means by that," she cried.

"Michelle, I watched you from the very first day you came here. I knew that you were you. I really didn't care who your dad was. Hell, I never even met the man. Michelle, if Danny is what you want then fight for him. Make him remember the person he met and fell for, not the person he thinks that you are."

"That's good advice, but will it work? Better yet you think you could just tell him for me?"

"I already did. I don't think he listened though. Good luck," she patted Michelle on the shoulder as she headed in to face Danny.

"Danny, please wait," she pleaded as he tried to walk away, "Please, talk to me. I feel awful about all of this. I understand that you think I betrayed you. I didn't do it intentionally. I really thought that Malcolm had talked to you about me. I would never hurt you on purpose. And about the rich thing……well I don't even know what to say about that. I can't change that just as much as you can't change who you are. I really thought you knew. I'm sorry."

Danny was rendered speechless in an attempt to digest what he had heard. It made sense in his heart but still just not enough to his head.

"I told you before but I guess you forgot. Save your bullshit for someone who is going to believe it."

"Danny, please I want to be with you. Why do you insist on punishing me for something that is beyond my control? Can't you remember that I'm Michelle just Michelle? The girl you gave this beautiful necklace to not much more than days ago?" she brought forth the golden charm from beneath her sweater.

"You knew that you were keeping things from me! You knew you were doing it but kept right on doing it. How do you expect me to trust you again?" she heard his voice waver, "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!"

"But Danny….."

"JUST GO!!!!!!!!!" he bellowed throwing his hands up in the air.

Michelle didn't hesitate. She turned and ran for the door tears streaming down her cheeks. Danny watched her retreating form swallowing hard around the lump forming his throat.

What had possessed him to be so cruel? She didn't deserve his hatred. All Michelle was doing her best to explain but all he could do was throw it all back in her face.

He couldn't deny the connection that there was between the two of them. It ate away at him to think that he was losing the one person he was the closest to. Michelle had given him purpose. A thing that he hadn't had in ages. He had a reason now to be the person that Dean always said he knew was inside his friend. No matter all the logic that Danny was using he still wasn't able to let himself get past this. He just wasn't able to let himself forget. Secrets and lies were such a big deal for him. He thought that she understood that. He had been lied to most of his entire life after his father's death. He had just never expected Michelle to do it too. There was no way he could forgive her, he just couldn't.

Danny leaned against the cold brick of the center still wrestling with what he saw as betrayal. It wasn't fair. He had put so much faith in her. As much as he couldn't forgive her but he couldn't forget her either. Without realizing it tears fell on his face for all that he had lost with her. "Why….why…why?" he whispered drying his face.

With the touch on his shoulder he looked up to see Dean standing above him, "Hey, I wanted to know what happened to you this morning. Mom had breakfast all ready but you were gone."

"Sorry. I had to talk to Malcolm. I had to let him know what I found out about Michelle."

"Well how'd that all go?" Dean questioned leaning against the building next to Danny.

"He knew. All the time he knew. And the worse part is that she was helping him with my case. God this is such a mess," Danny covered his face with his hands again. He didn't need Dean to see the tears that he knew were on the verge of spilling again.

"Okay so she was helping him. What does that really matter?"

"Why can't I make you understand?" Danny questioned bewildered.

"No, it's you that needs to understand. She was the best thing to happen to you. You know it, I know it and no doubt that Malcolm knew it or he wouldn't have asked her to help. So get off your high horse about the money and think about the girl."

"I wish it was that simple."

"It is! You're just too damn stubborn for your own good."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. The girl you introduced me to was genuine. She adored you and as far as I could see she didn't act like some rich bitch to me."

"I know," Danny returned softly his head finally relenting a bit.

"So then what's the problem. She doesn't give a hoot where you came from. Why are you giving her such a hard time about where she's from?"

"Dean, I know that we have been friends forever, but in case you haven't noticed you and I aren't really running in the same circles that often anymore. This thing with Michelle is only going to come back to haunt me over and over again. They're just not gonna accept her."

"Well then buddy if you ask me you need to find some new friends. Because the way I see it you're the only one that loses here besides Michelle." Dean started to walk away. He couldn't get through to him no matter what words he used and he could no longer take the conversation. "You know you're always welcome in my house," he said just as he rounded the side of the building.

Again Danny buried his face in his hands trying desperately to make sense of it all.