Parker's eyes darted from Michelle's father back to his own doing his best to gauge the exchange between the two men. What he saw looked less then promising. In all the years that he had know Mr. Bauer, Parker had never seen him conduct himself in such a manner. Ed and Howard had a long reaching history. They had first been prep school roommates and then college fraternity brothers. In the business world both men had taken their separate paths but however when Ed Bauer started his own firm Howard Simms was his first contact when he set up shop. Always there had been an incredible kinship between the two, but currently Parker saw none of that. It appeared as if there were suddenly a wall that divided the two men.

Malcolm and Dean stood to the sidelines watching father and son dance around one another neither sure of how to even begin.

"Let's give them some space," Malcolm whispered.

"NO ON YOUR LIFE!" Dean countered adamantly.

"Really Dean, let's go. I think they have the right to do this in private."

"NO WAY!!!!" Dean spat no intention of going anywhere. He owed it to Danny and to Michelle as well, to make sure beyond a shadow of a doubt Parker didn't weasel out of a single thing that he had done to them.

"Dean," Malcolm sighed heavily, "This isn't helping."

"You know how this is gonna work," Dean sounded stressed running his fingers through his hair, "He's gonna get off fucking scott free," Dean was speaking the only truth he ever seen. A truth that was a way of life on the streets where he came from. On many issues Dean and Danny didn't see eye to eye but he knew all too well that rich kids never paid for their crimes.

"Dean," Malcolm angrily pulled him away from the pair. "I know how you're feeling right now. I understand it and I understand how badly you want him to pay for what he's done. He will believe me when I say he will. I have already put a call into a detective friend of mine. I told him all there is to tell. He expressly assured me that this wouldn't be swept under the rug." Malcolm made his best attempt to allay his fears.

"What if Michelle's father wants it swept under the rug?" Dean countered.

"It's highly unlikely that that's going to happen."

"You can't be sure though," Dean offered losing his patience again.

"All I can tell you is the police are going to do an investigation. They need to talk to you, Michelle and Danny when and if......" the remainder of his words couldn't push passed the lump in his throat.

"Malcolm, do you something more about Danny's condition? Something more then you are telling me? I mean if you know something you have to tell me." Dean's voice an octave higher with the thoughts his mind played in the cavity of his brain.

"I don't know anything more then before. I can just appreciate how bad things truly are. Let's face it Danny's in critical condition. You have to understand the gravity of that don't you?"

Dean looked away momentarily. The biting reality forced tears to spring from his tired eyes. The possibility of his losing his long time friend was a real one yet this was the first time that he had let himself think of that. His time since the accident had been so wrapped up in taking care of Michelle that it had left very little time for him to think of much else.

"Let's head back to the waiting room with the others," Malcolm suggested. For once Dean didn't hesitate, he let himself be led away from the two men.

The waiting area was jammed full of kids from the center. Every available space for sitting was occupied along with the floor and every noticeable windowsill.

Among the many faces Dean saw Darcie and JT. The idea that either of them had the audacity of showing their faces escaped him. Theywere as much to blame for this mess as Malcolm and Michelle had been.

Darcie exploited the weakness you knew Danny possessed, drove it home in fact. Dean knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if she had just left well enough alone none of this would have happened. They both saw Dean and made their way through the crowded room to him.

"What's the word on Danny?" JT was the first to speak.

"He's in surgery. That's all we really know at the moment. We're all just waiting and praying." His calm demeanor surprised him. All Dean's mind was screaming at the moment was how much he wanted to rip them to shreds but all he did was stand there. What did it really matter now? What was done was done and nothing...not his anger nor his want for revenge would make what happened to Danny or Michelle go away. Nothing was going to turn back the hands of time.

JT knew his friend well enough to sense by his posture that things were looking bad for Danny. In the past years JT and Danny had been closer then Danny and Dean but all along JT knew that Dean had always been Danny's true best friend and the straight laced one of the three. He himself had been the wild card of the bunch where as Dean had always been the one keeping the other two out of trouble, that was up until Danny's mother had married Thomas then everything changed.

Thomas' entry on the scene brought a different perspective to things. Danny began letting JT and the life he led be his escape from the horrors of his own existence. Dean had done best to pick of the pieces after each mistake that the pair made but at some point he had lost hope on the both of them.

"I'm sorry man," JT said resting his hand on Dean's shoulder.

JT had been regretful for the part he played in Darcie's scheme. As for him putting the moves on Michelle the first night Danny brought her around he was having his doubts about that as well. Too little too late he thought to himself.

Darcie had been so jacked off finding out that Danny was dating some rich girl from the hill. She practically lost it. The idea of it all disgusted her and she had JT talked into helping her before he even knew what hit him.

"What the hell were you trying to prove trashing Michelle?" Dean spoke calmly but the fury in the depths of his eyes gave his true angry away.

"We just were looking out for him man. We didn't want him to get hurt." JT suppressed a laugh at the words he had just spoken looking around at the hospital waiting room he now stood in.

"NO!" Dean pointed to Darcie, "I was talking to her. I ask you again what were you trying to prove with that stunt of yours?"

"It wasn't a stunt!" she countered, "Danny had a right to know who the hell he was dealing with!"

"How did you know he didn't know?"

"Isn't it obvious that he didn't?!?!" she retorted a smirk crossing her lips.

It took every fiber of his being not to reach out and slap the silly expression from her face.

"He didn't have a clue did you know that? So don't tell me I'm the one who did something wrong!" The point she was attempting to make was completely lost on Dean.

"DON'T TELL YOU YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG!?!?!" Dean echoed, "YOU BLEW APART HIS WHOLE GOD DAMNED WORLD!!!" his voice boomed off the walls of the small room. A hush fell over its occupants as the waited to see what was to come next. "WHAT DID YOU THINK THIS WAS ALL SOME SORT OF JOKE!?!?! He's in there fighting for his life and if you had just kept your fucking mouth shout.......I mean he would be okay.....Michelle wouldn't have been almost raped and beaten half to death......."

"What? What did you say about Michelle?" a strange girl asked him.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU???" he spat at her.

"Dean this is Hunter. She's a friend of Michelle's." Stacey easily came to the rescue.

Dean looked this girl from head to toe yet never really seeing her. He hadn't meant to blurt out that information about Michelle. It wasn't anyone's business but his anger at Darcie made him take leave of his senses. Before he could address Hunter's question, he saw Darcie walking away.

"HEY WAIT A MINUTE....I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU!!" he yelled.

JT grabbed his arm stopping him from running after her. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!?!?"

"Dean, let her go. She didn't mean for any of this to happen anymore then I did. I am as much to blame. I didn't have to agree to show Danny that picture. I could have denied everything when he asked. I didn't. I didn't cause I was pissed that he was ready to fight me over some chick. That never happened between us before. I thought that it would serve him right to be knocked down a peg or two."

Dean stared at him in disbelief not being able to comprehend his words. This couldn't have been the same guy he and Danny had grown up with. Dean couldn't wrap his mind around the thought that JT would take his friendship with Danny so lightly. Breaking free of JT's grip, Dean shook his head as he walked off in the opposite direction of Darcie.

"Is someone going to tell me what's going on?!?!?!" Hunter questioned searching the sea of faces around her. Malcolm went to her in an attempt to explain.

Parker and his father found their way to a pair of chairs in the corridor both sitting in silence for a long while. Howard Simms was the first to speak. "Son, could you please tell me what the hell's going on here? I mean I get this whacked out call from Ed. Something about you trying to rape his daughter.....and beating her up? Tell me that this is some kind of mistake. Then to make matters worse I now find out that you may have been responsible for a hit and run......" Howard was wringing his hands as he spoke. Doing his best to put order to all the disjointed information he had. "Please tell me that this is all just some incredible misunderstanding...tell me that Ed doesn't know what he's talking about." Mr. Simms voice was willing his last statement to be true. Parker hung his head low illustrating that all his father now knew was true. "Well son let's get one thing straight," he paused, "No son of mine is going to jail. Whatever we have to do to fix this we will."

Parker didn't know whether to be thankful or fearful of his father at that very moment. He was sure that the deck was stacked against him. He sat silently gathering his thoughts on how and what to tell his father.

"Dad," be began, "I really need to tell you what happened," his voice revealed the anguish he was feeling at the past events. His mind traveled a backwards path to the image of Danny Santos lying before him in his hospital bed; to Michelle's face as she fainted into Dean's arms. No matter what his father had in mind those pictures weren't about to disappear. "I did it. I did everything that you were told," he choked on his tears knowing they would only serve to further enrage his father. "I didn't mean for this to get so out of hand. Really I never meant to hurt Michelle or her boyfriend......."

"Boyfriend?" Howard Simms was puzzled, "You're telling me that that kid from Clayton...he's Michelle's boyfriend?" Parker nodded. "Well, seems like the Bauers all date outside their class," he commented under his breath. The statement confused Parker. He didn't understand what his father was getting at. "Don't worry about what you did. You aren't going to take the fall for some piece of trash." Howard Simms' plan was already taking shape in his mind.

Ed Bauer sat in silence beside his daughter's bed. It was deathly quiet in the room. The only sound resonating throughout was the faint beeping of the monitor which took Michelle's blood pressure every fifteen minutes.

Dr. Lathem had been in to discuss her condition with him. Ed was relieved to learn that ultimately she would come out of all of this unscathed. The broken ribs, concussion and bruises would heal; yet what concerned Dr. Lathem the most at the moment was the erratic way Michelle's BP was behaving. Keeping it in check was difficult at best. Presently it was running dangerously high and their best efforts to stabilize it hadn't yielded the results he had hoped for.

Ed's thoughts were swimming in his head. So many things to think about; so many things he wished he could go back and erase starting many years ago. There was Maureen's beautiful face before his eyes. She had been his everything yet somewhere along the way life had gotten in their way. The ambition in him had turned the qualities that he had fallen in love with her for into his weapons to be used against her. He had lost count how many times in the last years he had long for another chance, a chance to right so many wrongs. Rather then learning from his mistakes Ed had in turn started the same ritual with his daughter throwing himself into his business world and did what he thought was best protecting Michelle from everything that had stolen her mother from them.

"Michelle, I'm sorry," he choked stroking her hand, "Where did I go so wrong with you? I did everything in my power to keep you safe but it wasn't enough." Ed cried. "You don't know how much I wish Maureen was here right now. She'd know exactly what to say...exactly what to do for you. She was wonderful at things like this. She just instinctively knew what to do." Ed smiled tears glistening in his eyes. "I miss her Michelle. I miss her so much. I know that you think I forgot about her, thought that the moment she left us I wiped her from the world you knew. That's so untrue. I could never have forgotten the woman who gave me such a beautiful daughter. Michelle you are the very image of Maureen. I was such a fool putting so many vain things ahead of her, ahead of us. There were so many things that I never had the chance to tell her. I don't want that to be the case with you as well........" Michelle lifted her hand reaching out touching her father's cheek wet with tears. "Michelle?" he gasped, "Oh honey," Ed's voice quivered not knowing where to begin suddenly so self-conscious of his words.

"How's Danny?" she asked wetting her parched lips with her tongue. Ed reached for the pitcher of water pouring her a glass.

"I'm so glad that you are awake. Meta and I have been so worried about you," he returned ignoring her question as he lifted her head enabling her to take a needed drink of water.

"How's Danny?" she repeated trying to sit up. "I have to know how Danny is," Her eyes searched her father's looking for any sign as to the answer to her question. "PLEASE....PLEASE TELL ME!" her voice struggled against her tears. Instantly the alarm on the BP monitor sounded. A sound so shrill that it sent chills down Ed's spine. A whirlwind of activity encircled Michelle's room suddenly as he was ushered out the door. He stood helplessly watching through the thin strip of glass as the doctors and nurses went to work calming Michelle and to bring down her blood pressure. Ed dropped his head in his hands as Dean came upon him.

"Mr. Bauer?" Dean said pensively, "Is everything okay?"

"I don't know....."

"What do you mean? What's wrong with Michelle?"

Dean felt his own pulse quicken. The doctors had assured Malcolm and himself that Michelle's injuries were serious but no where near life threatening yet from the ghostly color of her father's face Dean couldn't help thinking all bets were off.

"Her blood pressure is extremely high. Dr. Lathem explained that the medication they have given so far has done nothing to bring it down. She woke up while I was sitting there and immediately started asking about Danny. She wanted to know how he was. I didn't know what to say so I just didn't answer her. Well that only upset her more. The monitor sounded and they sent me outside......."

Before Ed could say anything more Dr. Lathem addressed him. "Mr. Bauer."

"Yes?"

"We have given Michelle another sedative......"

"Why?" Dean questioned before Ed was able to speak.

"That's our only option at the moment. Michelle needs to remain calm and it's obvious that she's not going to do that at the moment."

"She was asking about Danny Santos. Is there any news about his condition?" Ed asked.

"I haven't heard anything more then that he's still in surgery," the doctor remarked nonchalantly as he continued on about Michelle's treatment, "I plan on trying a combination of two drugs to see if they will help bring her pressure down. Until then I plan on keeping her sedated. It's in her best interest."

"Is she still awake right now?" Dean asked.

"Yes...why?"

"I'd like to see her it that's okay?" his eyes implored both men.

"Visitors are the last thing she needs right now," Dr. Lathem spoke sternly looking in the direction of Michelle's father.

"Please....I won't do anything to upset her....I promise. I'm Danny's best friend and I have been with her through this from the beginning. I did my best to take care of her before she collapsed. I think I just might be able to help here," Dean pleaded with them. "She's scared as hell about Danny. She wants some answers...we all do. I know I can keep her calmer than you think."

Ed eyed the young man before him. For the first time in many years he surrendered his views of the dividing line he saw the world by knowing that this person in front of him was clearly right.

It was glaringly obvious that Michelle didn't trust him. Ed imagined all the thoughts his daughter must be entertaining about his ideas on Danny Santos. He was sure that Michelle would feel more secure with Danny's best friend along side of her.

"Please...yes, please go be with her." Ed said much to his own amazement. Meta smiled at her nephew knowing that he had just taken his first tiny step back into Michelle's life.

"Thank you," Dean shook his hand before turning and entering Michelle's room.

Dean positioned himself on the corner of her bed. She was fighting the effects of the sedative but it was getting the better of her.

"Hey," he smiled at her.

"Hi," she weakly smiled back, "How's Danny?" she immediately questioned.

"Easy now," Dean touched her gently, "I promised your dad and the doc out there that I wouldn't do anything to upset you. We haven't heard anything more about Danny. He's still in surgery. That's all we know for now." Michelle's expression showed she had hoped for better news. "Listen, things are going to be just fine. Right now all you need to worry about is yourself. Your blood pressure is through the roof. You have to relax and stay calm......."

"But......"

"No buts this is serious Michelle. If you can't do it for you then do it for Danny. Just think about all the times that lay ahead of you guys...." Dean saw what resembled a faint smile pass across Michelle's battered face.

She resisted the fluttering of her eye lids as the sedative was beginning to achieve it's desired effect. He sat there a while longer watching the easy rise and fall of her chest as she settled into a deep sleep. No matter the amount of bruises it wasn't hard for Dean to see how beautiful Michelle was or why Danny had fallen in love with her. It was so much more then just her outward beauty. Dean's silent pray was that Danny would be granted the chance to continue to do so.

"How is she?" Ed anxiously jumped to his feet upon Dean's exit of the room.

"Sleeping finally. I want to apologize for my being rude earlier. I just really needed to see her. I had to make sure that she was okay. I promised Danny that I would take care of her and I feel like I've done a lousy job so far."

"Who are you again?" Michelle's father questioned still so unsure of all the new players in his daughter's life.

"Sorry…the name is Dean Stewart. I'm Danny's friend. I just met Michelle a few weeks ago."

"You told Danny that you would take care of Michelle…why?" Confusion for Ed Bauer reigned supreme.

"I was there when that Simms kid hit him. He was completely hysterical about Michelle. He was going on and on that she wasn't safe and that he had to go to her. I finally had no choice but to tell him that I would be sure to keep her safe and that Simms couldn't hurt her anymore. I told Danny that he would have to go through me to get to her." Well that remark certainly explained the scene he and Howard had come upon earlier. "I hate to admit that I didn't do that great of a job. I wanted to get her to the hospital this morning but she wouldn't have it……."

"I think you are doing a fine job son," Ed returned placing his hand on Dean's shoulder. "How about telling me about Danny Santos and my daughter. I admit that I have been a little out of the loop these days."

"I don't really know that much," Dean admitted, "It would be better for you to talk to Malcolm."

"I would like to do that then. Let's go find him shall we?"

Ed Bauer and Dean entered the surgical waiting room. Ed was totally taken aback by the number of people waiting there for news of Danny and Michelle. It wasn't until that very second did he understand how many lives his daughter had touched with her own. He spied Meta and Hunter Wolffe tucked away in the far corner of the room.

"How is she?" Meta asked immediately.

"Sleeping, but the doctor is still having difficulty controlling her blood pressure. It's still so high. She woke up for a few minutes and was sick to death with worry about this Danny person………."

"Why should she care what happens to him?" Hunter demanded, "None of this would be happening if he had just stayed the hell out of her life! Everything would have been fine if she had just stayed with Parker!" Hunter was unwilling to believe all that Malcolm had alluded to with regards to Parker Simms.

"Dr. Lathem sedated her again," Ed continued his explanation without even acknowledging Hunter's words. "He feels that keeping her sedated for the time being is his best alternative. He was going on about some combination of drugs that he is going to try to stabilize her condition. I really honestly didn't catch it all," Ed sighed heavily.

"I'm certain as soon as there is some news on Danny's condition she will relax." Meta reached for her nephew's arm.

"I'm not so sure about that," he was wringing his hands again certain in the fact that if the news regarding Danny wasn't good it would more then likely send Michelle into a tail spin that by all rights could kill her.

Meta's eyes implored him to continue all the while knowing what he was about to say without hearing the words, "I let Danny's friend Dean into see her. He seemed to think she was doing better. He said she was relatively calm while he was in with her. I am sure it mainly was due to the sedative finally taking effect but I'm scared that if we don't get some news I should say good news about this Danny soon……well I don't think she can take much more."

As if on cue Danny's doctor entered the room still dressed in his surgical greens. He walked directly towards Malcolm stepping over the people scattered about the floor. It took only but a minute for the entire room to form a crowd around the pair.

"Easy guys…give the poor man some breathing room would you?" Malcolm said using his arms to push the crowd back, "I'm sorry. We all are just anxious for some news. How did everything go?" Malcolm held his breath waiting for the man before him to speak.

"All in all things went well. There was more swelling then we first thought, but we have gotten it under control. The next seventy-two hours will be crucial. We were also successful at reliving the pressure at the base of Mr. Santos brain. There should be spinal damage. In general it all went according to the plan. He's in recovery now. He should be there most of the night and into the morning……."

"Is he awake?" Dean asked needing to know.

"No………..."

"Why????" Stacey's voice broke the doctor's words.

"He's still under the anesthesia due to the surgery. That should wear off in a few hours. We will know more then. Mr. Farrell," he directed his words to Malcolm, "you can check with the nurses in the surgical ICU throughout the night. I have instructed them to give you progress reports on Danny's condition. May I make a suggestion?" Malcolm nodded. "Take these people home. You all look like you could use the rest."

Malcolm knew that rest wasn't something that would come easy to any of those in the room, yet he agreed to send everyone home after what had been the longest day of his life thus far.

He couldn't shake the feeling that they hadn't been told everything regarding Danny. On that note he quickened his gait to catch up with the doctor.

"Excuse me," he tapped the man on the shoulder, "Now that we are no longer surrounded by the masses….could you please tell me if you really believe if Danny will regain conciseness."

"To be quite frank with you Mr. Farrell, I just don't know. We intend on doing another CT scan and possibly an MRI sometime tomorrow to gauge just how much damage was done to the brain if any. I would say that it's really up to Mr. Santos whether he wakes up or not. I'm sorry that's really the best I have to offer." Danny's doctor knew that the man in front of him had hoped for a better scenario but he knew from past experiences that even under the best medical conditions the patience's will usually won out.

"Thank you."

As he walked back to the group gathered in the waiting area he did his best to hide the knowledge he had just acquired. Right now he wanted them all to hold on to good thoughts. He didn't want to tell them that there was still a chance that Danny might not wake up.

"Come on everyone, let's head back to CONNECTION VILLAGE. It looks like it could be a long night."

"Malcolm wait," Dean said, "Michelle's father would like to talk to you. He has questions about Danny and Michelle. I really don't know everything. I thought you might be the best person for him to talk to."

"Sure," he said softly, "I think that it would be good for you and Stacey to join us. Mr. Bauer deserves to hear the whole story." He turned to Liza and asked her to please take everyone back to the center and that he would be there as soon as he could.

For the third time that day Malcolm found himself sitting at the same table in the cafeteria. Stacey placed a tray full of steaming coffee in the center of it and took a seat beside Malcolm. The players at the table were silent. Each person digesting all that had transpired in the last twenty-four or more hours.

Stacey was the first to speak, "Mr. Bauer, we have never been formally introduced," she started, "I'm Stacey Edwards, a friend of Michelle's from CONNECTION VILLAGE." She reached across the table to shake his hand.

"Nice to meet you," he returned.

"I'm Michelle's Aunt Meta," Meta said offering her hand across the table.

"Dean said you were wondering about Danny and Michelle," Malcolm launched into the real reason that they were all sitting at the small table.

"Yes," Ed stated plainly, "My daughter and I haven't been seeing eye to eye for sometime now and I hate to admit it but all of you sitting around me know more about her life then I do," he choked on his words, "I would really just like some insight into her world. She certainly doesn't trust me at the moment and I would give anything to change that."

"First let me just say and I hope that you don't take it the wrong way," Malcolm said apprehensively, "I knew your wife, Mr. Bauer. Maureen and I worked together at the rehab center. She was an exceptional person. What happened to her was a true tragedy."

"Thank you."

"I can understand your concern about your daughter's having anything to so with that kind of life. I know that if I had to face what you have there would be no way that I could do what I do for a living day in and day out. But you know there is no denying that Michelle is so much like Maureen. Not only is she the perfect image of your wife she has the knack for this just like Maureen did. She brought Danny out of his shell in a way that I hadn't been able to. Michelle impressed the hell out of me. Impressed me so much that I asked her to stay and assist me with Danny's case. I know the idea of this all stresses you but your daughter has found her true calling. Maureen must be so proud of her."

"And I'm sure a bit disappointed in me," Ed countered under his breath.

Only Meta had heard his remark. She reached out to touch his arm again. It pained her to watch him go through such agony but there was no way for it to be helped.

Malcolm continued with the tale of events as to how Michelle had ended up at CONNECTION VILLAGE in search of research for a school paper; how she ended up spending a great deal more time there. Stacey interjected the night's events at Company and her first encounter with Parker Simms. She went on to tell them all that she had found out that night of Parker's abuse against Michelle.

Ed rubbed his hands over his face reliving all the times he had pushed Michelle and Parker together thinking they were a match made in heaven.

Stacey reiterated the day at the park when he had choked Michelle with such force that she wore the bruises for more then a week. Each new enlightenment sent Ed Bauer deeper and deeper into his own abyss. Each word further drained the color from his face until he was as white as the walls that surrounded him.

Malcolm picked up with how Danny and Michelle came to be a couple. He told Ed everything about Danny, even those things that should have been held in confidence. For this to work Malcolm couldn't hold anything back. For Ed Bauer to understand it was necessary for the brutal truth to be brought front and center.

Dean piped in with many things from Danny's childhood hoping to contrast all that Malcolm said. Danny's childhood had been picture perfect until his father died and his mother spiraled into her own oblivion. Thomas and his abuse was just the icing on the cake as far as Dean was concerned. He told of his first meeting with Michelle and what a great change he immediately saw in his childhood friend. Malcolm, Dean and Stacey made a valid attempt at making sense out of what caused it to all fall apart. Malcolm however took the brunt of the blame.

Ed sat in silence listening to how hard Michelle had fought to keep Danny in her life.

"I don't understand something. How did she end up with Parker then?" Ed questioned.

Stacey again lent the information she knew to the story again. She clarified that Michelle truly believed that Parker had changed for whatever reason. They had worked so closely during the production of WEST SIDE STORY Stacey felt that Michelle was just taken in by everything that was going on around her.

"I'm sorry but I'm still confused," Ed repeated.

"Mr. Bauer….."

"Please call me Ed," he corrected Malcolm.

"Ed, Michelle and I discussed Parker. Apparently the young man pulled the wool over her eyes fairly well. She thought for certain that he was coming around to the idea that they were no longer a couple. Even though he had hurt her in the past she was sure that part of it was finally over. I wish now I would have expressed my concerns at that time. Maybe some of this could have been stopped."

"Anyhow," Stacey went on, "My boyfriend and I went to see the final night of the play. Some information regarding Danny was brought to my attention and I informed Michelle of it too. It seems the idea of her accompanying Parker to the cast party had a deep effect on him. I told her that he definitely still had feelings for her even if he was too stubborn to admit them. You can't imagine how excited she was by that. I prayed that she would drop the idea of going to the party with Parker and go find Danny. Of course we all know that didn't happen."

"I got the information I am about to tell you directly from Michelle," Malcolm interrupted. "She had said that she knew it was a mistake to be with Parker when all she could do was think about Danny. She was completely shocked when Danny showed up at the party and Parker was less then please with his presence. Michelle was bit fuzzy on exactly how she ended up in Parker's car on some deserted road but that's when he finally clued her in on his true plan for her. His intention was to collect what was due him since she had ruined his reputation by dating Danny. When she tried to get away from him…well he beat her."

"Danny showed up at my house last night needing my help to find her," Dean added.

Ed Bauer was dizzy at the rate with which the story had been told to him. He was having difficulty keeping all the facts straight in his mind.

"We looked everywhere…hell he even called your house but nothing. He was completely freaking out. All he kept going on about what he knew Simms was capable of. Finally he just told me to go to CONNECTION VILLAGE. I don't know how he knew she would be there but sure enough there she was. She was in pretty bad shape. It was pretty obvious to the both of us what Parker tried to do to her. Luckily Malcolm and I found out later that it didn't happen."

Ed breathed a silent sigh of relief.

"Sir, please know that I did my best to get her to the hospital right then and there. I knew that she was in bad shape but she wouldn't hear of it. Finally I didn't have much choice but to relent and Danny had me take her home. I wish now that I would have forced him to come too. I have known Danny for a long time and I knew what was going on in that head of his. There was no doubt in my mind what he was capable of doing……" Dean stopped short no longer knowing what to say.

Finally Meta Bauer spoke up. "Please everyone," she stressed. "Can we stop playing this blame game? It's getting us nowhere. The would've, could've and should'ves aren't going to change the reality of what happened. Right now the most important thing here is Michelle and Danny. It's obvious that with time Michelle will be fine. Her wounds will heal with time however we are less sure about Danny. I think first and foremost is we have to tell Michelle what's going on. She has every right to know. It's glaringly apparent to me that's why her blood pressure is sky rocketing more times then not. She is stressed beyond all comprehension with worry for Danny…….."

"What if telling her sends her over the edge?" Ed questioned his aunt's wisdom.

"Not telling her is setting things up to be far worse. She's a smart girl Ed. Look she had us all fooled for how many months. She's going to know that we are keeping something from her. Michelle needs to know so that she can deal with whatever is to come."

"I think you may be right," Malcolm concurred, "Also I think that Michelle may be the one who can help save Danny." All eyes questioned his remark. "I spoke with the doctor about Danny after he had left the room. He informed me that they have done all they can medically now it's up to Danny. I don't believe that he can pull through this without her." Dean shook his head in total agreement.

"She's going to be out of it for most of the night," Ed said, "Don't you think that this can wait until morning?"

"Of course," Malcolm offered.

"I hope you are right about all of this," he said looking at Meta and Malcolm.

"I know we are!" she stated no intention of backing down.

"I'd like it if someone would stay with Michelle throughout the night," Ed said, "Dean would you mind? I know it's a great deal to ask of you but as much as I would like to be the one do it……." his voice faded.

"Sure no problem. It's exactly what I told Danny I would do," Dean answered without a moments hesitation.

"I think if she did wake up in the middle of the night you would be the one she would want to see anyhow."

There was a sadness to his voice for Ed knew that he had a long way to go in gaining his daughter back.