Dean was torn on whether to stay or to go. The strained silence between the father and daughter was deafening. He decided to remain for the moment especially since Michelle had yet to let go of his arm.

Michelle as at much of a loss as Dean was. Where to go from here eluded her. This reaction from her father wasn't expected or even understood. In light of all that had happened to her, Michelle was a little more then leery of his sudden change of demeanor recalling her last experience at trusting someone, father or not.

"Michelle?" Dean questioned, "Are you okay?"

The trembling of her hands was apparent to him. Her valid attempts at pushing the events of that awful night to the back of mind came crashing down on her without warning.

She couldn't see anything past Parker's body crushing her; his hands groping every inch of her skin, she shivered at the memory.

"HEY MICHELLE! Look at me," Dean was less then thrilled with the expression that looked back at him. She was so pale again and even cold to his touch. "I'm gonna go get a nurse!" He started to move away but her sobs froze him in his tracks.

Ed stood to the side completely helpless in what he was to do. He watched Dean cradling Michelle in his arms stroking her hair comforting her in a way that he never could have. Maybe all of this had been a mistake. Maybe what was broken between the two of them couldn't be fixed after all. He turned to himself leave the room.

"Daddy wait," Michelle hoarsely called to him. Pulling herself away from Dean wiping away her tears. "Please don't go." Dean gently squeezed her shoulders giving her the courage to continue. "I think you're right. We should talk." Dean kissed her forehead before walking for the door.

"No, Dean, please stay," Ed said more his benefit then Michelle's. His terror at being alone with his own daughter filled him.

Ed stood at the threshold to the room. He was nearly an entire room away from her. Ed willed his feet to bring him closer to her but nothing happened. "How are you feeling?" was his weak attempt at conversation.

"Better now….now that I know what's happening with Danny."

"I'm glad that you are feeling better," the small talk between them was agonizing.

"Daddy, come sit down, please." She motioned to the chair beside her.

Ed crossed the room easing himself into the seat. He was searching for the right words. "Do you think that maybe we could talk about this? I mean really talk?"

"How about you listening for once?" Michelle retorted.

At first Ed didn't know how to deal with her anger. It was so difficult not to slip back into his old habits. "I know that I deserved that and probably anything else you can come up with. I really want to fix this."

"I don't know if that's possible. Things….things are so damn confusing. I have so much……"

"Anger?" he asked finishing her thought. "I don't blame you. I have been a lousy father since your mother died. I hate to admit this but I really wasn't even one when she was alive. Maureen took care of everything…you…me…the house….hell half of the damn county. She didn't really need me. So I threw myself into the only thing that I was good at…business. I excelled at it while the most important things in my life slipped right through my fingers, " he choked on his last words.

Michelle had to fight back her own tears as he continued, "The more important I became the more ashamed I was of what your mother stood for. She still had her principals and mine somehow got buried as I climbed the corporate ladder."

"How could you have been ashamed of her?" Michelle couldn't believe what she had heard, "Mom was the best. Everyone loved her, I don't get it."

"I don't think that I do either. I sold out and she didn't. So fitting her lifestyle choices into my neat box of a life just kept getting more and more difficult."

"But she did wonderful work. She made such a difference in so many people's lives, Daddy!" she cried. "How could you feel anything but proud of your wife?!?!"

"It's so hard to explain."

"No it's not!" she cut him off, "You don't tell me that you are ashamed of the women you were supposed to love. Is that why it was so easy for you to drop her from your life when she died? I mean my god you erased her very existence!" the pain Michelle had been carrying around for so long burst forth.

"NO…..NO….it's not like that really. You don't understand. I have lived with your mother's ghost ever since I walked out the door that morning. I never got to say I was sorry. Never got to tell her how much I loved her. How I wish that I could take that day back and begin it again. It was so painful at first to even look at her picture, then it just became simpler to lock it all away."

"Simpler for you maybe, but I was dying inside! More and more so everyday. You were so busy that you couldn't even see it. You kept going on and on about how awful the world was….how some punk with a gun had taken your wife and all that time you never once asked me how I was." Michelle's voice cracked.

"I'm sorry," Ed offered.

"Daddy, I wish that was good enough. It's not. I don't know how to forgive you. I feel like I lost both my parents that night," Michelle was sobbing now. Each new wave of tears sent her chest heaving.

"I know I handled things completely wrong. I can't take away the pain that I caused you, but please at least try to understand. The last thing I said to your mother….the last thing that she ever heard from me was that I was sorry I ever married her………." The rest of his sentences was covered by tears.

"I would give anything for her to know that I said that in the heat of the moment. I would have never change anything about my life with her. She was the best thing to happen to me and I was too pigheaded to enjoy the life I had with her. I almost made the same mistake with you. I want another chance Michelle. I want to try….try to begin again. That's all I am asking for is a chance."

Digestion of what she had just heard wasn't easy for Michelle. The day her mother died Michelle had heard her parents arguing but Maureen had never told her exactly why.

It must have been like getting kicked in the chest for her mother. For her to hear such hateful words from the man that she loved. Michelle knew from the experiences with Danny how those hurtful words had the ability to cut deeper then the sharpest knife.

"Say something please," her father begged.

"I don't know what to say."

"Say that we can try to be a family again. That's all I want. I know that it won't be easy. I have so much to make amends for I don't even know really where to begin. I just know I want to try. I'd like to show you how serious I am about this. I want to make a fresh start….a fresh start that includes those people in your life now…all of them."

Michelle was caught off guard. She turned staring directly into his eyes, "Are you telling me what I think you are?" her voice was just above a whisper. She didn't dare take a breath for fear of breaking the magic spell the encircled the room.

"Yes, honey that's exactly what I am telling you. I know that it took the moving of heaven and earth to get through to me. Seeing my baby girl beaten and then finding out that you were almost raped by someone I was trying like hell to put you together with. I mean someone from our world well it threw me into quite a tailspin. To top it off finding out that you fell in love with the underdog…I just didn't know what to do."

"Daddy, I love Danny. I can't imagine my life without him."

"I intend to see that you don't have to. That you don't have to live through my nightmare, sweetie. I have had my eyes opened very wide these past few days. I watched as Danny's friend did his damnedest to take care of you. I heard how someone I didn't even know put his life on the line to protect you. Funny thing is that's all I ever thought that I was doing for you, protecting you. But really I was only trying to protect myself. I have listened as your friends told me who my own daughter really was. I don't want to be a bystander in your life. I want to be a part of it. A true part." His eyes glistened with the beginnings of new tears.

Without warning Michelle reached out to her father taking his hands in hers. Gently she brought them to her lips and kissed them. For the first time since she was a small child Michelle again felt connected to her father. There were no words necessary. She kissed his cheek and whispered softly 'I love you' in his ear before beginning her own set of tears.

They sat in silence again yet somehow it was different this time. It was a comforting silence not one fraught with tension as it had been. They had made it over the first of many more hurdles to come but for once Michelle saw the tiniest ray of hope welling up in the man her mother had fallen in love with.

Dean quietly slipped from the room secure in the fact that Michelle was in good hands with her father. He walked over to where Malcolm and Meta Bauer were sitting talking trying to pass the time.

"How did things go?" Meta questioned him knowing full well Dean would not have left Michelle without her niece accepting his departure.

"Good I think." Dean was a bit confused from all that he had been witness to. He had many questions upon leaving the room. Meta and Malcolm tried filling him in on the history of the Bauer family.

Dean had only his own family experiences to draw from and was having difficulty understanding Michelle's initial tension when her father approached her. His own father and mother meant the world to him. It had been them who had kept him on the straight and narrow all these years. And in the neighborhood he grew up in that hadn't been an easy task. He couldn't comprehend the strain between father and daughter.

Meta began the tale. She told of the obstacles that stood in the way of Ed and Maureen in the beginning. She explained Maureen's background and how she and Ed had come to meet. As the years of their marriage progressed, Meta watched as the loving couple she had come to know deteriorate into virtual strangers.

The more Maureen involved herself in the work she loved the more Ed stayed away. Yet when they did happen to be in the house together all they could do was fight with one another. Then when Maureen was killed, Ed completely shut down leaving Michelle lost in the wake of the disaster.

Malcolm continued with all he knew about Michelle's mother Maureen Bauer. Where she had come from, what she believed in, how they worked together and ultimately how she died.

The emotions Dean felt for Michelle overflowed within him. He couldn't imagine what it had been like for her as a fourteen year old girl to lose her mother. He imagined that it must have been very much the same for Danny losing his father. Suddenly all of the pieces fell into place. He knew now why Danny and Michelle had connected so perfectly. They had lost their support and were left with only a void that no one could fill until right now.

Dr. Maxwell approached them. Dean and Malcolm rose to their feet anxious to hear the latest on Danny. "Well," the doctor began, "The results are back and everything is progressing nicely. There is no permanent damage and he should recover fully if and when her regains conciseness."

"You are positive there is no medical reason for why he hasn't woken up yet?" Malcolm had to ask.

"Positive. I had every neurological test and examine possible run. They all showed things are in the normal range. So my best suggestion is that you get Michelle into see him. If she's unable to reach him I seriously have run out of options."

"Thank you." Malcolm answered not liking what the man had said. "We should really let Danny's family know what's going on here."

"His family already does know!" Dean countered.

"You know perfectly what I mean,"

"Yeah I do but so what? Carmen barely knows her son and Thomas would more then likely do the happy happy dance of joy with the thought that Danny was out of his hair for good. NO…..calling them is a mistake."

"But……"

"NO Malcolm. Danny's family is you, me and Michelle. That's all he needs right now."

Malcolm looked at the young man who was so adamant with his words. He thought better of arguing with him seeing as deep in his heart he knew Dean was right.

"Do you think that they have had enough time to talk?" Dean turned to Meta asking her opinion.

"I think so. If things had gone badly Ed would be out here with us by now."

"Can I come in?" Dean asked poking his head through a crack in the door. Michelle and Ed were still sitting there in their comfortable silence. She appeared so tranquil. Finally Dean thought to himself.

"Certainly," Ed offered.

"Dr. Maxwell said we could go up and see Danny now."

"GREAT! Let's go," Michelle said moving forward in her bed.

"Slow down there," her father started, "Just because your BP is almost back to normal doesn't mean that you can go running wild here. Remember your head and ribs still need time to heal."

"I'm fine really. I just want to see Danny, please."

"Just let me get a wheelchair okay?" Dean offered.

"I don't need one really," she protested.

"Humor me would ya?" Dean laughed.

Dean and Ed helped her from the bed to the chair. She would have never let on but Michelle was glad not to have to walk. The move from the bed alone had her head spinning a bit. She was certain that she would have never made it to Danny's room under her own power.

As they wound their way to Danny, Dean told her what the doctor had said. She was so relieved to hear that there would be no permanent damage. She couldn't squelch her fear though. She would have been much more at ease if Danny had woken up by now.

Dean pushed open the door and wheeled her to the edge of the bed. Her eyes were fixated on him. He was so pale. Gently she ran her fingers against his lips longing to kiss them yet she didn't feel strong enough to stand on her own. So she took Danny's hand squeezing it hard to let him know she was right there beside him.

"Hey there," she forced the words from her dry mouth.

"I'm going to leave you alone with him, " Dean said.

"No wait….please stay. I think it couldn't hurt to have both of us here. I'm pretty sure you are important to him too."

"Nah…right now you are what he needs. Work that magic Michelle," Dean smiled. "Just remember if it gets too much for you ring for the nurse. I mean it. Don't over do it."

Michelle watched as the door swung closed leaving her alone with Danny. She averted her attention back to him. He appeared so helpless lying there so different from the Danny she had grown accustomed to, had fallen in love with. To her he had been larger then life.

"Danny, I'm here for you baby. I'm not going anywhere. I promise you I will never leave you again. I want to see those eyes of yours…..so see I need you to wake up Danny. I need you to look at me. Can you understand?" Michelle pushed away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Nothing else matters do you get that. Nothing is your fault. I don't blame you for anything. I LOVE YOU!" she choked back the sobs, "I have loved you from the very first time I bumped into you at the center. You took my breath away that day."

She reached again for his hand stroking it as she continued speaking. "I want you to know that I finally had that talk you have been after me to have with my father. It was an honest to god real talk. Danny he told me things I never knew about him and my mom. Everything by far isn't fixed for us but he wants to try, really try. Things are finally falling into place so you can't blow this one. I can't get my dad back but lose you!" Michelle's voice quivered with the reality of that thought. "That's not how this is supposed to work. We were meant to be together. I NEED YOU TO WAKE UP!" she forced, "PLEASE WAKE UP…." she pleaded with him.

"We just found our way back to each other....I'm not giving up on you now. I can't imagine my life without you in it," she breathed in deeply in an attempt to stave off the tears that threatened to overtake her. "No matter how hard you tried to push me away I kept coming back for more. Shouldn't that tell you something?" she smiled stroking his arm. "Dean says I am twice as stubborn as you and god knows he has had first hand experience. I gave him a run for his money these last few days. He hung in there though fighting for the both of us. We can't let him down now can we?" With her words Michelle willed Danny's eyes to open. She would have given up almost anything at that moment if he had even opened them for but an instant.

"PLEASE...PLEASE WAKE UP! I LOVE YOU!" She gathered all the strength she could muster leaning in to kiss him. The odd feeling of his not returning her kiss was haunting. As a small child she believed that a kiss from a prince would awaken a fair maiden, and even though this was in reverse Michelle wanted to believe that her prince would reappear to her like magic.

She sat back down disappointment filling her. Her gentle kiss had elicited no response, nothing to acknowledge that Danny even knew she was in the room.

Endless hours Michelle sat by his side, touching his hands, arms, face any part of him she could. Finally all she could do was lay her head beside him and pray. Pray to God that he would bring her back to him.

Dean returned to Danny's room later that evening shocked to find Michelle asleep with her head against Danny's chest. For a moment he stood silent looking at the two of them. His only thought was how lucky Danny had been in finding such a wonderful girl in Michelle Bauer. He then was forced to think of reality; Michelle had been in Danny's room for nearly six hours. There was no doubt in his mind that she needed to go back to her own room. She still had her own recovery to think of.

"Michelle," he whispered touching her blonde curls.

"Danny?"

"No, it's Dean. Honey, you're exhausted. We need to get you back to your room. I should have checked back on you hours ago."

"I can't go," she returned sitting up rubbing the sleep from her eyes, "He doesn't even know that I'm here. He never once responded. Dean," Michelle choked back a sob, "I think we're losing him. I'm sorry....I don't know if I'm doing any good here."

"Hey don't cry. It's okay we have to keep trying. Keep letting him know that we need him here. That's all we can do." Dean pulled her close as she continued crying, "We really should get you back to your room though. You need your rest. I'm sure that they will want to check your BP and you should eat something."

"I can't.....I can't think of anything but Danny. WHY?!?! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!?!?! I'm so sorry Danny. None of this would be happening to you if I had just never met you. You would be safe if I had never pulled you into my crazy life," her voice cracked once again, "This is all my fault. If you never wake up it's my fault. I don't think that I can live with that." The torrents of tears were falling faster then Dean knew what to do. Michelle's body shook with each new wave of sobs. He did his best to comfort her but nothing was working. She needed Danny to wake up.

"Come on, I'm taking you back to your room," he kissed the top of her head as he started to wheel her out of Danny's room.

"I LOVE YOU SANTOS! Please come back to me. I'm not complete without you." she stressed wanting to leave Danny with that solemn thought.

Dean helped Michelle get settled back in her own hospital bed. He was elated to find out that her blood pressure was still at a controlled level. The time she had spent with Danny had not physically done her any harm. Yet mentally he wasn't so sure. He could see the experience weighed heavy on her mind.

He had been glad to see Stacey walking through the door. He hadn't wanted to leave Michelle alone but was anxious to see if Danny's monitors had showed any activity during Michelle's visit.

"How's she doing?" Stacey asked him.

"Better."

"What about Danny?"

"No change really. She was just with him. I have to go check on something.....are you going to be here for a little while?"

"Yeah, I'll stay with her."

"Thanks."

Dean questioned the nurse on duty; she looked over the paper trail connected to Danny's monitors for the time period when Michelle had been with him. There had been a significant change in his heart rate and she noted higher levels of brain wave activity. So even though he had not woken up he did know that Michelle was there.

"I need to know something," Dean asked the woman in front of him.

"Yes?"

"Do you really think he will wake up?"

"Well, all I can say is that the responses we got this time were stronger then the ones from earlier today. That's a good indication that things are on the up swing. All we can do now is wait."

"I know visiting hours are just about over, but do you think that....."

"Go ahead but just for a minute."

"Danny, buddy," Dean's voice was loud in comparison to the stillness of the room, "Michelle's being so strong for you right now, but I don't know how much more she can take. She'll never admit it but she's pretty fragile right now. I want you to know something....Malcolm and I found out that Parker didn't do what we first thought. I mean he did beat the hell out of her but she got away before he was able to do anything worse. She's got a couple broken ribs and pretty bad concussion, but she's holding her own. It's going to take her some time to heal. Danny, she needs you to wake up man! I need you to wake up. I just got my friend back I don't want to lose him again, okay?"

Just as Dean turned to go he felt a light tug at his shirttail, "Tell her I won't leave her."

Dean couldn't believe his eyes. Danny was talking to him....really talking to him. Quickly he rang for the nurse afraid to move.

"Yes?" she asked entering the room.

"HE'S AWAKE!!!!!!!!!!!" Dean couldn't contain his excitement. He couldn't wait to get back and tell Michelle.

The nurse did a once over of all the monitors copying all the information to his chart. It was then that Dean noticed Danny had closed his eyes again.

"Hey buddy, welcome back," he said in an attempt to grab Danny's attention again, "Hey...hey why isn't he answering me? What happened? He was awake a second ago."

"Don't worry that's very normal. He will more then likely be in and out of it for a while yet. This is a great sign though. I have to go and let Dr. Maxwell know what's going on here. Don't worry really," she did her best to assure him.

By the time Dean had made his way back to Michelle's room, she was sound asleep. Stacey told him that she had dozed off in mid-sentence she was that weary. He hesitated on saying anything about Danny's brief bout with consciousness. The last thing he wanted to do was get everyone's hopes up.

Mr. Bauer entered the room just as Stacey was getting up to go.

"She's wiped," Dean motioned to Michelle's sleeping frame.

"How did things go with Danny? Did he wake up?" Ed asked.

"Well...no but yes....," Dean stumbled over his words in search of the right way to go about explaining things.

"What are you talking about? Did he or didn't he wake up?"

"Not with Michelle. After I brought her back here I went up to check on him. You know talk to the nurses to see what they thought was really going on. She said that he was making progress and that all we could do was wait. You know me I had to see him myself. I don't even remember what I said but when I was leaving the room he grabbed me by the shirt. He told me to tell Michelle that he wouldn't leave her."

"That's wonderful!!!" Ed was relieved by those words.

"I thought so too, but then he was out again. Like he never even woke up. The nurse told me that was normal....but hell I just don't know what to think anymore. I don't want to give Michelle false hope but how can I not tell her?" Dean's voice was filled with angst.

"Well from the looks of it she should be out for most of the night. Maybe things will look brighter in the morning." Ed rested his hand on Dean's shoulder in an effort to comfort him.

"I hope so, sir. I don't know how much more of this she can take."

"Actually Dean, she looks more peaceful sleeping now then she has since this all started. Seeing him was the best thing for her. She'll be fine," Ed didn't know how he was trying to convince more Dean or himself.

"I wish I believed that."

"Why don't you head home yourself and get some rest as well. I appreciate all that you have done for her, but I think I will stay the night myself. You go home."

"Maybe I'll head up in sit with Danny for awhile."

"If there's any change with him, please let me know."

"I'll be sure to do that."

Dean spent the remainder of the night at Danny's bedside. He talked so much his voice had almost given out before the nurses sent him home. Through all the words and stories, Danny never once stirred again. Dean left the room with his head hung low wishing for a miracle.

Michelle awoke to see her father awkwardly sleeping in a chair. It was still so hard for her to believe that he had done a complete one hundred and eighty-degree turn around. She actually was starting to see the man she knew her father to be from her childhood. The feeling in and of itself was extraordinary.

Dr. Lathem walked into the room startling Ed, "Good morning," he said, "How's the patient this beautiful day?"

"I feel great."

"Well all the nighttime reports look good. Your BP has normalized and I feel that a few weeks of medication you should be fine. How's the lightheadedness?"

"Mostly it's okay. It really only bothers me when I move too fast."

"That's to be expected. It should subside within a day or two. Just rest as much as possible. And those ribs how are they feeling?"

"Super sore."

"Unfortunately they will take longer to heal. I would like to have you back in a week for another x-ray. We need to be sure that they are healing and also to be sure that pneumonia isn't setting in."

"So are you saying that we can take her home?" Ed asked coming to stand alongside his daughter.

"Yes...there's no real reason to keep her. As long as she promises to rest and do as she's told," Dr. Lathem said with a smile.

"She will....." Dean said laughing as he entered the room.

"Dean, hi...any word on Danny yet?" she asked anxiously.

"No not yet. Nothing's really changed. He'll be glad to hear that your are well enough to go home though."

"I'm not going anywhere except up to see him," she stated firmly.

"What?" her father countered.

"You heard me. I got a clean bill of health so I need to make sure that Danny gets one too."

"Michelle," Dr. Lathem interrupted, "I said you were on the road to recovery. That's a far cry from a clean bill of health. Besides you still need a great deal of rest."

"I understand that. I promise to do everything I am told....I just want to be with him, please?" she begged.

"I'll make you a deal," Ed began, "You go home with me now and I will make sure that you get back here to be with Danny before lunch."

"I'll swing past and pick you up," Dean added.

"Thank you," Ed turned to him. "So do we have a deal?"

"Yes," she relented knowing that was the best she was going to get.

"Just remember Michelle....REST," Dr. Lathem said handing her release papers to her father.

Michelle was in utter amazement at the vases and baskets of flowers that filled their foyer, living room, even her own bedroom. There were flowers as far as the eye could see.

Meta gently hugged her helping Michelle navigate the stairs to her room. Once there she began reading each note or card that accompanied its arrangement. She was shocked at finding a bouquet from Liza Brooks along with a note of apology saying how wrong she had been about her and her motives. Michelle couldn't help but smile.

Cautiously she lowered her body against her bed. Sore didn't come anywhere close to describing the pain that torn at her rib cage. After a few attempts at catching her breath, Michelle started to read the cards that Meta had left for her. She had lost count after the first dozen or so.

The one card that stood out was that from the Simms family. Michelle couldn't bring herself to open it. She set it aside and went about opening the others only imagining what it would say. Through the opening of all the remaining cards Michelle never once completely averted her gaze from the soft pink envelope that sported Mrs. Simms sprawling script. Finally she was left with no other choice but to open it. Hands shaking she fumbled with the envelope.

Michelle dear,

We were so sorry to hear about your

illness. Get well soon.

Love,

Howard, Marsha and Parker Simms.

Just seeing his name in print made Michelle shiver. She doubted that she would ever be able to put that night behind her; ever forget what Parker had actually done to her.

There was a nagging voice in the back of her head pushing for her to talk about it; forcing her to obtain closure on the horrifying experience, but she couldn't even think that far in advance right now. The only thought that took up space in her brain was that of Danny and her being at his side.

"Aunt Meta," Michelle called as she ripped up the Simms' card.

"What is it dear?" her aunt asked walking back into the room.

"I'd like to take a shower....but I think I might need a little help."

"Sure sweetie."

Michelle relished in the warmth of the water. It was soothing to her sore muscles. Washing her body and hair was a difficult task at best. Moving was hard and raising her arms to lather her hair sent ripples of pain through her ribs, but somehow she managed to finish what she started.

Patiently she waited for Dean to arrive. Meta did her best to persuade Michelle to eat something but wasn't successful in the least. Michelle wouldn't think of anything except getting back to Danny.

"Honey, Dean's here," her father said breaking her thoughts, "I have to go into the office for a couple of hours. I promise to come by the hospital and pick you up."

"Fine," Michelle absently returned.

"I could go with you if you want. I mean the office can wait." Michelle was stunned. He had meant what he had said before about really trying. He had never once put her before business.

"No..no it's okay. Dean will be with me. He can bring me home. It's not a problem really."

"I know but I would like to be the one to." Ed was trying so hard with her it was difficult when he knew that she was a bit hesitant to believe in his change. Not that he could blame her. He had spent the better part of her life absent from most of it. Her apprehension was understandable.

"Sure, daddy that would be fine. I have to go Dean's waiting for me."

"Remember what Dr. Lathem said. You need to rest still. Please don't over exert yourself."

"I'll see that she doesn't," Dean said coming to the door.

Dean stopped at the nurse's desk while Michelle continued on into Danny's room. He found out that there still had been no change. Since last night Danny had not again woken up.

Michelle took her place beside Danny's bed nothing being any different from the last time she had been there.

He was still attached to the monitors and even though she felt stronger this afternoon, there was no way to hug and touch him the way she truly wanted to.

She didn't even know where to begin to start. Her gut instinct told her to do the unthinkable. She wanted more then anything to shake him, scream at him, anything that would get his attention, snap him back into the person she remembered.

She thought back to all those hateful words he had spoken weeks before, but right now she would have relived the pain all over again if that just meant that Danny would wake up. Once more Michelle took his hands in her own. She searched the depths of her soul as to where to begin explaining how much she truly loved him.

"Danny, you are the most incredible person I have met in a long time. You showed me what it meant to live again. Comforted me in ways that no one has been able to do. Revealed to me what a relationship was supposed to be. God, all I can remember is that your touch set me on fire. How close we were and how badly I want that again. I can't make this happen on my own," she gasped, "I need for you to wake up; for you to come back to me. We need to finish what we started. I can't have you checking out on me now. We have come too far for that to happen. PLEASE, DANNY, PLEASE WAKE UP!" Michelle pressed her lips against his cheek leaving aperfect maroon impression there.

Dean joined her; both sitting in silence neither really sure of what to say. Finally he spoke. Dean started telling her about how he and Danny had met as little boys. He found himself running down every scheme and scam that he and Danny had ever pulled. Michelle laughed as much as her ribs would allow finally ending up crying. Dean didn't know if it was due to how amusing the stories had been or if she was in real pain.

"Hey, easy there. Are you okay?" he asked placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah..just sore still. That's all."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you laugh so much."

"No really it's fine. Actually it's better then fine. It's great to learn all this stuff about him. Thank you." Michelle's smile lit up her entire face.

"It's nice to see you smiling again," Dean reached out gently touching her hands.

"I agree," Ed said as he entered the room, "Any change?"

"Afraid not," Dean answered.

"Michelle, you about ready to head home?"

"I'd really like to stay a little longer. I don't want to leave him just yet."

"You still need your rest too," her father stated with a sigh.

"Daddy, I know but I'm not really doing anything. I just really think that I need to stay. Please....please try to understand," she pleaded.

"I'm not going to win this argument, am I?"

"No."

"Please, just remember to take it easy."

"Mr. Bauer, I promise one more hour. Then I'll bring her home. No matter what she says," Dean said as he glanced in Michelle's direction.

"Thank you again. You have been a god send."

"I'm only doing what I know he would want," Dean motioned in the direction of Danny.

"Well thank you anyhow."

Michelle and Dean went back to telling stories. She was drinking in everything that he said about Danny. She listened to what a trouble maker Danny had become when his father died; how he just wanted to self destruct any way he could.

Michelle found herself recounting her losses to Dean. How her reaction had been the complete opposite of Danny's. She retreated into a corner hoping to wake from the awful nightmare that was her life.

Dean looked down at his watch and she knew it was time for them to go. Michelle hesitated at Danny's bed.

"I hope you know just how much you are loved, buddy," she said stroking his cheek, "I need you, please come back to us."