Ed Bauer sat at the expansive conference table in a room in a building that had come to be his life. He looked around at the elaborate decor and finally saw his life through his daughter's eyes, through his dead wife's eyes. The very thought of it sickened him.

The events of the pervious few days had thrown his neatly planned existence into a tailspin.

The tumultuous nature of it all had Ed questioning all that he had once known about himself. It was sad how quickly the allure of money, lust and power eroded him into one of the men he vowed he would never become. He had given up his heart and soul for a few shiny pieces of silver.

Absently he glanced down at his watch shuffling the papers before him. Papers that would sever more then three decades of friendship. Howard Simms would actually do quite well for himself in taking Ed's deal. He would leave the company with all of his business contacts and Bauer Industries backing so long as he and Ed were never forced to work side by side again.

Ed was handing over a great deal of his holdings to Howard Simms but in the grand scheme of things he had his greatest asset, he had the love of his only daughter and to Ed that was finally worth more then all the prosperous deals that Howard Simms could have ever brought to this table.

"Where is everyone?" Howard's booming voice cut through Ed's private thoughts.

"I wanted to speak with you before the board meeting."

"About?" he asked pensively wondering just exactly how much of his daughter's version of events the man believed.

"A business deal of sorts," Ed spoke in the only terms he knew his friend understood.

"Great...you know I'm always up for a deal!" Howard smiled glad in the fact that he and Ed always had the same head for matters of business.

"I hope you still feel that way when we are finished," Ed said somberly. He knew he was doing the right thing but it was difficult to imagine that at a point not so long ago in his life that he and Howard could have been one in the same man.

"Why so glum?" Howard questioned noting the seriousness on his friend's face. Without a further word Ed handed over the legal papers abolishing their long-standing partnership.

"What...what the hell's this all about?" He shook the blue bound stack of papers in Ed's face, "This is some kind of joke right?"

"No joke."

"You can't be serious.....you can't mean you don't want me for a partner.....we have done great things you and me.....we are a team....." Howard ran on in utter disbelief.

"Not anymore. As you can see, you will be well compensated for all of your hard work over your years of service here," Ed's voice sounded detached even to himself. It had to be that way. He had to treat this as purely business for fear if he didn't what it had thepotential to escalate into.

"MY YEARS OF SERVICE?!?!?" Howard echoed, "WHAT IS THIS? YOU'RE TREATING ME LIKE SO FUCKING LACKEY!"

"Howard, please don't make this anymore difficult than it need be. I assure you this is best for all concerned."

"HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST YOUR MIND?!?!? I helped you build this business you think that I am just going to walk away with this pittance when I know the potential that lies here!?!?!"

Ed cautiously eyed the doorway as the remaining members of the board entered the room. He had hoped to have this ironed out long before they all had arrived. Yet Howard Simms had seen things on quite a different plane.

"Howard, please just sign the papers. This isn't the time nor the place......."

"It's exactly the place. I have a right to know why suddenly you are cutting me loose like someone who's usefulness has past." Howard's booming voice captured all in the rooms attention.

"Ed?" a gray haired gentleman spoke up with a questioning tone.

"It's nothing Jackson. Howard was just leaving."

"THE FUCK I AM!!!!!"

"Howard don't do this. Take what I have offered you and be gone. Don't turn this into some test of wills because frankly I am short on patience where the Simms family is concerned!" Ed heard his heavy breaths in and out....in and out as he did his best to remain calm, a sensation that wasn't about to remain for much longer.

"What's going on here?" another voice from the crowd asked.

"Oh, yes, Ed do tell them, tell these men what you have done to the company they hold stock in....tell them that you are letting their star negotiator go without so much as a reason why......" Howard continued baiting knowing just how important appearances were to Ed Bauer along with the better part of the men in the room. Howard Simms knew if he pushed the right buttons Ed would hang himself.

"YOU KNOW THE REASON!!!" Ed said through clenched teeth.

"Could that reason be that seeing me everyday now sickens you because you know what your daughter turned down in my son for some hood from the wrong side of the tracks?" Howard's words were deliberate.

The audacity of his words fueled the rage welling inside of Ed since the ensuing days after Parker's assault on both is daughter and Danny Santos. The smirk that Howard wore was more then Ed could stand to see.

"NO HOWARD....WHAT TRULY SICKENS ME IS THE FACT THAT YOUR SON IS ABUSIVE AT BEST AND AN ATTEMPTED RAPIST AT WORST!!"

With that accusation the room fell silent. This wasn't how Ed had wanted this to go but Howard left him with very little choice.

"I don't know how you made it in this business for as long as you have," Howard continued as if Ed hadn't even spoken, "You are soft Ed....you let that daughter, a girl who doesn't even know her god damned place mind you, run your life. She just picked up where Maureen left off!"

"YOU FUCKING BASTARD................" Ed lunged at him.

"What the truth hurts? Parker only did what was necessary to do, what you seemed unable to do. He was teaching Michelle her proper place in the natural order of things." Howard spoke matter of fact. Like the words were the truest thing.

"So what beating a woman into submission is now proper etiquette?" Ed countered in utter disbelief, "Taking what you think is yours even if she isn't a willing partner is all right with you? Well then Howard what sickens me more is the fact that you are far more warped then your own son. He was only learning the lessons that you were teaching!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"I taught him how to win. How to take advantage of weakness and how to be a man!!!!"

"If that's what you call a being a man then I think that I will take Danny Santos' version any day of the week."

Howard stared into the eyes of a man he no longer recognized. The way he had envisioned this playing out wasn't about to be. What he had thought to be a winning hand at poker now contained a wild card that could destroy all of his plans.

Fighting some hood would have been simple, while fighting Ed Bauer was a completely different picture all together. He knew that his friend welded enough power and influence to rip his fabrication to shreds.

"Gentlemen," Ed said straightening his tie, "This is not how I intended for this meeting to progress but as it stands now I have no choice but to move forward. As of today, Howard Simms is no longer a partner in this firm. Due to some obvious personal differences between Howard and myself that prevents us for working together, he has been relieved of his duties."

The announcement took all those around the table by surprise.

"Please escort Mr. Simms to his office," Ed said to the security personnel that had entered the room. "As for my original deal Howard...it's been revoked. And should you choose to challenge me....YOU WILL REGRET IT!"

Ed watched the door close behind them leaving him in a room full of men with many questions and him with too few answers.

Dean pounded his fist on the stone wall of the hospital as he watched Michelle get into a cab. There was nothing left for him to do but look on as the cab's red taillights moved further into the distance.

"DAMN!" he said aloud knowing full well where Michelle was headed.

He rode the elevator to Danny's floor trying to come up with something to tell his friend. Danny would hit the roof when he told him that Michelle was gone, gone for sure to confront Parker Simms no less.

The two officers were still stationed in the room like centuries when he returned. "Where's Michelle?!?!" Danny questioned darting his eyes over Dean's shoulder in an attempt to locate her.

"She's gone."

"GONE!?!?! What the fuck do you mean she's gone? I should have gone after her myself."

"Damn it Danny! She was in a cab and half way out of the god damned driveway before I even made it out the door."

"We have to find her!" desperation filled Danny's voice.

"Find who?" Ed Bauer asked upon entering the room.

"Michelle....she took off sir," Dean said hesitantly.

"Why on earth would she do that?" he questioned not ready for this next battle in the war. He had just barely survived the last.

"These two!" Danny said pointing to the two men now standing in the corner of the room.

Even though they had never been introduced, Danny knew who this man was. It was the same face in the picture that JT had showed him. It was Michelle's father.

"They think that I was the one who beat Michelle and that I was going after Simms that's why he ran me down."

"WHAT!?!?!" Ed's voice echoed off the walls. He knew the answer to the question he was about to ask but went right on asking it, "Where would they have gotten a crazy idea like that?" If Howard Simms wanted to play hard ball he certainly had chosen the wrong opponent.

"I'm sorry sir," Detective Speaks stepped forward, "I do believe that we have gotten some miscommunications. I need to go back to the station and begin retracing the steps of our investigation."

"DAMN RIGHT YOU DO!!!" Mr. Bauer asserted, "These young men you see here," he pointed to both Danny and Dean, "They had nothing to do with this. In fact if it hadn't been for them lord only knows what might have happened to my daughter."

"I completely agree Mr. Bauer. I have a clear picture of what really took place on the night in question. I want to apologize for this misunderstanding."

"Fuck your misunderstanding!" Danny raged, "I swear to god if anything happens to Michelle......."

"Easy son," Ed touched Danny's shoulder. "Just where may I ask did you come up with this information? Who led you to believe that Danny was responsible for the haneious acts against my daughter?" Ed needed to hear his suspicions as to the culprit confirmed.

"They have a sworn statement from Parker and his father......." Dean offered.

The realization as to just what Howard Simms was capable of left Ed's mind reeling. "What is this some sort of sick joke?"

"No, I'm afraid not sir." This was the first time Lieutenant Martin had spoken since slipping the confidential information.

"Well then you damn well better get to retracing those steps. And they should lead you right to The Simms front door." Ed said authoritatively, "Danny Santos had nothing....I repeat nothing to do with the attempted rape," that word forever stuck in his throat, "and beating of my daughter. On closer inspection I am positive that you will find the true culprit to be Parker Simms himself. So if you will excuse us....I think that you have a great deal of work ahead of you," Ed turned his back on the two men giving the Detectives a clear picture that they were no longer welcome guests.

Danny sat quietly during the exchange. His mind raced with thoughts of Michelle but also with the words he had heard from her father's mouth. The man had defended him. There was no questioning of his motives, no mention of his mile long record, nothing that Danny had expected to be faced with. The whole notion of it all set his head spinning.

"Where could she have gone?" Ed turned asking Dean.

"I don't know for sure but I have a damned good idea. By the time I got downstairs she was already in a cab and on her way out the driveway."

"So tell me where do you think she went?" Ed questioned again.

"She was furious. Madder then hell that Parker turned all of this around blaming Danny for everything. To be honest with you, I think she went to find Parker," Dean said quietly waiting for the eruption from Danny.

"WHAT!?!?!" and he didn't disappoint.

This time there was no stopping him for getting out of bed. The adrenaline was coursing so fast through his veins nothing or no one would have kept him down.

"Easy Danny...." Dean said reaching for his arm.

"Don't you think you should sit down for a minute?" Ed asked not knowing the true nature of Danny's condition.

"LIKE HELL!!! If you think I am going to let her within fifty feet of that monster you all are fucking nuts!!"

"Danny come on man.... your are in no shape to be running all over town."

"AND SHE IS???" Danny countered his friend.

"No....I know she isn't," Dean said with a sigh.

"Dean," Ed said voicing his own concerns, "I must agree with Danny. Michelle isn't up for the stress of taking on Parker right now," not to mention his father Ed thought to himself. "We need to find her right away!"

"YOU TWO AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE WITHOUT ME!!!!!!!" Danny argued.

"Danny, you aren't in any condition to be taking on Simms. Let us handle this okay?" Dean said looking Danny square in the eye.

"Don't you get it? Dean I have to do this. I didn't take care of her once already and I sure as hell don't plan on letting that happen ever again! So I can either go with you or I can go on my own. Whatever the case I am going!"

Dean couldn't help but smile amidst the chaos. He had heard those same words from Michelle as well. He knew he would lose this battle much in the same way he had the other. What was the use fighting the inevitable?

"Dean," Ed started, "You go locate Dr. Maxwell. We aren't taking you anywhere without his okay," he looked at Danny. "I am not going to be responsible for telling my daughter if something should happen to you," Ed smiled.

"I don't give a rats ass what that doctor says I am going with you!" Danny stated.

"I know that."

"Then why are we wasting time?" Danny questioned.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"NOW? Right now when we know that Michelle is walking smack into danger?"

"Yes, now. I wanted to thank you son. Thank you for being there for my daughter. What you have done for her means the world to me. Danny, she couldn't have asked for a better man if she had scripted him herself. I will be eternally grateful for how loyal both you and Dean have been to her. And I want you to know that Parker Simms won't be getting away with anything..............."

"I love her, Mr. Bauer."

"I know son, I know. Thank you for giving her something that I hadn't been able to in a very long time."

"Where the hell is that doctor? We are wasting too much time!"

As if on cue Dean and Dr. Maxwell entered the room, "What's this I hear about your wanting to leave us?"

While Danny made his angry pleas to Dr. Maxwell, across town the cab pulled up in front of the Simms home. Michelle hesitated a moment. The rage that had propelled her from the hospital without thinking had now turned to fear, fear at the thought of standing before Parker face to face.

"You need me to wait?" the taxi driver asked turning around to look at her.

"No….no thank you," she returned handing him the fair through the sliding window between the back and front of the cab. No matter how frightened she was about this, it had to be done. Michelle wasn't about to let Parker and his father think they commanded the upper hand.

She stood perched at the foot of the stoop for what could have been an eternity finally gathering the needed courage to step up to the door and ring its bell. The sight of Parker startled her. Michelle fully expected to be greeted by the Simms' maid giving herself one last reprieve before being forced to deal with him.

Michelle suddenly felt faint standing in front of him. The images of that night flooded all of her senses. It played again and again in her head like a video tape she had no control over stopping. She reached for the jam of the door to steady herself. It took all she had to remain upright, but Michelle knew that this wasn't the time nor the place to give Parker the upper hand. She had to stay strong for not just herself but Danny as well. He deserved at least that much from her after all he had endured.

"I think we need to talk," she said weakly.

Parker focused his eyes once more, completely taken aback by the fact that Michelle was standing before him. The sight of her full of massive bruises, cuts and scrapes sent a chill through his body. He was sick to his stomach once again at the realization that he had been responsible for all of it.

"Do you want to come in?" his voice was only a hoarse whisper.

"I would prefer if we talked out here," she countered stepping back to let Parker make his way outside. Michelle let herself believe that if they were outdoors she was somehow safer. It was an illusion that she needed to have to face this all.

Parker moved to the edge of the stoop pulling the heavy door closed behind him. "Want to sit?" he asked motioning to the step.

"This isn't a social call Parker," he voice had gained volume.

"Then why exactly are you here?' he questioned yet not really looking at her. It was far too painful for him to do so.

"I'm pretty sure you know why," she returned harshly, "Danny and I were paid a visit today by two detectives. They had this interesting twist to what happened between the three of us!" The calm nature of her demeanor surprised her.

"What….what are you talking about?" Parker's voice shook.

So much for his father's grand idea. He hadn't wanted to go along with him. He had actually wanted to take responsibility for his actions. After facing Michelle and Danny in the hospital he knew that he had crossed some imaginary line and that scared the hell out of him. But there was no dissuading Howard Simms. Once he had his mind set on something there was no stopping him. In fact his father had done most of the talking, saying that the whole experience had been too stressful for his son to handle. All Parker really had to do was sign the sworn statement. He recalled his hand shaking so badly that he could barely write his own name.

"I'm sure you know exactly what I am talking about!" she spat back.

"Michelle, what do you want me to say?"

"How about starting for the truth for once?!?! You know damn well that Danny wasn't responsible for any of this! IT WAS YOU….ALL OF IT WAS YOU!!!"

"Michelle……"

"Save it! All I want from you is the truth. I want you to go that the police station and tell them everything."

"I can't….I can't do that. You know my dad…..he'll go ballistic!" Parker looked at her with utter disbelief. What she was asking of him, if he had done it well he wouldn't have last ten minutes in his house afterwards.

"Sounds like a personal problem," she returned. "And why should I care about what you have to endure? Like you ever once thought about all of the agony you have inflicted on me and now Danny as well……"

"Michelle……." He interrupted her not wanting or needing to hear a run down of his misdeeds. He had spent the past few days reliving each one in his head. "I came to the hospital to see you and…..Danny," he added, "I know what I did…and I'm sorry…..You will never know how sorry I am. But I just can't go against my dad…..I just can't!" he cried turning his face away from hers.

Michelle gathered her strength no longer afraid of the person before her. She suddenly saw a small child fearful of his father's wrath instead of the monster she had thought Parker to be. Even with those thoughts Michelle was still not able to let him off the hook. No matter the circumstances to her nothing justified his behavior or reluctance to own up to the responsibility that was his. Her mixture of pity and anger for Parker set her a bit off balance.

"So you are telling me that I'm supposed to go along with this charade?" she found herself asking calmly, "I am supposed to make believe that Danny, not you held me down, ripped my clothes off, groped me; did his very best to take advantage of me?"

Michelle hated going over and over that night again but something inside of her told her she had to do it, needed to to make Parker see how truly bad things had been. By the look he wore, Michelle had her suspicions that he despised reliving it as much as she did.

"Then," she continued, "I am to try to make them all believe that Danny beat me nearly beyond recognition, he broke my ribs and knocked my head of the ground hard enough to give me a concussion. Hey Parker I am a good actress, but not even I could pull that one off," Michelle's voice dripped of sarcasm.

Parker dropped his face into his hands no longer able to look into Michelle's burning eyes. Her words carried far too much truth for him to bear. He had been responsible for each and every act that she had illustrated.

It had been so easy for him to let his father step in and take charge of it all. He had been doing it his whole life and changing in mid stream wasn't as easy as Michelle had made it sound. He had wanted to come clean about it all in hopes of righting his obvious wrong, yet Howard Simms wasn't about to let that happen. His words conned his son into believing that Danny Santos had trouble following him and the police would have no choice but to bring him in. Howard said that in the blink of an eye this whole unfortunate mess would all soon be swept under the rug without a question asked. But now looking at Michelle, Parker questioned his father's revelation.

"So you're telling me that I'm supposed to do all that? Pretend that the person that I love more then life itself inflicted all of this misery on me? Tell me Parker, how am I supposed to do that?" she yelled yanking at his face forcing his eyes to meet hers. She hadn't expected to see the tears in his eyes. They fell silent on to his cheeks. Her rapid succession of questions left him speechless yet she wasn't about to let up.

"You have done nothing for me except cause me suffering. You have abused me physically, mentally, anyway viable way you knew how…..I WAS A FOOL. I believed you…thought that you had finally changed…..thought that you were happy for me to have finally found someone!" Michelle's voice rose with each wave of new thought, "WHAT A MORON I WAS! TO ACTUALLY HAVE THOUGHT THAT YOU HAD ONE HUMAN BONE IN YOUR BODY!!!" Michelle's body shook as she continued to speak. Her many years of pent up anger for her mother's death, her father's absence and a myriad of so many things spilled forth Parker receiving the brunt of it all.

"I'm sorry," his words were barely audible.

"SORRY….YOU'RE SORRY!?!?! That's the best that you could come up with?" she said mocking him.

"I don't know what else to say, Michelle. Nothing I say can make up for what I did to you. Something inside of me that night just snapped."

"WHAT YOU DID TO ME!?!?! You almost KILLED my boyfriend. You ran him down and left him for dead." Why she had been surprised that Parker conveniently had removed Danny from the equation she would never know.

"I know…I know," Parker hung his head again, "I apologized to him," Even he knew how hollow his words sounded.

"You apologize…then turn around and place all the blame on him," she was yelling again, "Please do tell me how the hell that all worked."

"That wasn't my idea," he looked up tears flowing again, "You have to believe me Michelle, I wanted to come clean. I wanted to tell those detectives everything……"

"Then why didn't you?" she asked matter of fact.

"My dad…… he said that no son of his was going to jail. Especially for some hood and if the Bauers wanted to take up with the likes of that then there was nothing more we could do about it."

Michelle's ire grew as she listened to how little Howard Simms thought of the world outside the realm of Springfield. Angered her that he was able to ignore the obvious staring him in the face to keep up appearances. Where the strength came from Michelle didn't know, she was watching herself pull Parker to his feet by the collar of his expensive polo shirt. The only thought that ran rampant through her head was she wanted him to feel as much pain…agony as both she and Danny had felt. Parker was stunned by her display.

"MICHELLE!!" she heard a voice in the distance calling her. Turning she saw Danny, Dean and her father coming towards them just as Howard Simms pulled his car into the driveway. All four men converged on her and Parker simultaneously.

"What the hell's going on here?" Howard asked in his best superior tone.

"That's precisely what we are here to find out Howard!" Ed glared at him.

"I am calling the police! He's" he pointed at Danny, "wanted in attacking my son."

"OH PLEASE DO!!" Ed countered Howard's threat.

Danny stepped forward gently moving Michelle away from Parker. Easily she fell into him as he protectively wrapped his arms around her. Parker turned away not being able to watch their exchange.

Danny buried his face in the folds of her hair once again drinking in the smell of her. A smell that was uniquely Michelle. He let out a heavy sigh believing that there was a time when he thought he would never be able to do this again. Slowly she lifted her head from his chest and their eyes locked immediately. Hungrily they kissed when their lips met. Michelle ran her hands against his chest feeling the ripples of his muscular form beneath his shirt. The idea that he was alive, well and standing right in front of her well it was amazing.

"What are you doing here?" she asked breaking away from their embrace.

"I had to come. I couldn't let you face him alone…not this time."

"Shh," she said," I wasn't alone. You were right here the whole time," Michelle placed her hand over her heart, "All I could think about was you. There was no way that I was going to let Parker get away for pinning all of this on you. NO WAY! For once I was really going to stand up to him."

"See," Dean came forward, "She is just like you buddy….exactly like you." The threesome laughed as if they had been the only people there.

"Well now that I am all warm and fuzzy inside," Howard said sarcastically, "It's about time that this matter was handled by the police don't you agree?" he took out his cell phone and began to dial. He didn't care what it cost him, all Howard Simms knew was he wasn't about to go down without a fight.

"NO!" Parker's voice startled them, "NO….wait dad."

"WAIT….WAIT FOR WHAT? Some more sappy sentiments? You may be buying into all of this but I, I certainly am not!"

"ENOUGH ALREADY!!!" Parker continued, "I can't do this. Not anymore. I can't keep on hurting her." Parker moved forward to where Danny and Michelle were standing. On instinct both Danny and Dean stepped in front of her. "In the past year I have done so much to torment her….I won't do it anymore. There's no way you can force me. I DID IT DAD…..I DID IT ALL…..I TRIED TO RAPE HER; I BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF HER! And that wasn't the first time," he said quieter, "I RAN HIM DOWN WITH MY CAR DAD……" Parker pointed to Danny who was still shielding Michelle, "YOU CAN"T CHANGE THOSE FACTS….and I CAN'T LET HIM TAKE THE FALL FOR SOMETHING THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR!!"

"Parker, he's nothing in this world," Howard's arrogance burst forth at his son's defiance. "No one would even miss him! Why are you doing this?"

"I don't know," he said honestly, "I just know that I can't go on another day knowing that I almost raped someone that I thought I loved and even worse I could have killed Danny and I didn't even care. If you can live with that fine but I can't….just can't! I will take whatever punishment that I have coming……"

Parker lowered himself again to the stoop sobs consuming him.

Those were the words she had longed to hear the minute that she had decided to confront him. Now that she had, Michelle was filled with sympathy for Parker unable to imagine what it must have been like to have Howard Simms as a father for all these years.

She came out from behind Danny and Dean kneeling before Parker. Danny held back as he watched her reach out and touch Parker's tear soaked face.

"Thank you," she whispered, "Thank you Parker." She turned back and joined Danny who wasted no time in pulling her into his embrace again.

"I love you Michelle Bauer," he kissed her cheek.

"I love you, too. I'm so sorry for all of this."

"Don't be," Danny said, "A wise woman told me that everything happens for a reason or for a certain outcome to take place. I think that she was right. You got what you ultimately wanted and more important what you needed. That's all that really matters now, right?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"THIS ISN'T OVER ED!!" Howard said forcefully, "If you really think that I am going to let my son take the fall for this you are more stupid then I ever imagined!"

"That maybe so," Ed remarked, "But from where I sit stupid isn't all that bad. Look at yourself Howard. Look at your son. He's not taking the fall man….he's finally becoming a man….a man his father will never be! Come on son," Ed said turning to Parker, "I think that you have some explaining to do at the police station."

"That won't be necessary Mr. Bauer," Detective Speaks and his partner joined the group. "We are here to bring both of them," the officer eyed Howard Simms as well, "To the station. The Commissioner wishes to see them."

"WHAT?" Howard bellowed, "WHAT?"

"There are some obvious discrepancies in your previous statements. We only wish to clear them up."

Ed hid his smile. Knowing all the while that Howard understood what this all meant for him. Commissioner Reilly and Ed had worked on some projects together and thought highly of the Bauers, his wife included. Ed hadn't taken any chances that Danny's prior record would come into play at all where this whole matter was concerned. Both the young man and his daughter deserved a fresh start, so what did it matter if he stacked the deck in their favor.

Michelle, Danny and Dean watched as the officers led Parker and his father to the awaiting car. Ed had decided to tag along just in case he may have been needed.

Michelle suddenly felt as though her life had come full circle and was finally at peace. A peace that she never dreamed she would achieve. She rested her head on Danny's shoulder as he leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

"What do you say I take everyone home?" Dean asked.

"Don't you mean back to the hospital?" Michelle asked giving Danny a funny look.

"No, Dr. Maxwell cleared me to be released. I still have a few more tests in the next few weeks and getting this damn cast off would be great but I'm a free man and I'm all yours!"

Michelle hugged him tight. "I really like the sound of that!"

"So do I baby….so do I."

If someone would have told him six months ago that today he would be sitting along side Ed Bauer watching his daughter take the stage to give her valedictorian speech at her graduation, Danny would have laughed in their face. Yet that was indeed where he was at the moment.

He looked on as Michelle came to stand behind the podium. She looked spectacular in her white cap and gown. He still was unable to fathom at times what he had done to truly deserve an angel like her.

The last four months had brought about healing and growth for the both of them. Danny would be turning eighteen in a few days and would finally be free of the wrath that was Thomas. The thought of it seemed surreal to him. He had sustained so many years of torment by his hand, to think now that he was free…well Danny just couldn't believe it.

As happy as he was to be rid of the evil of Thomas that's just how sad he was to understand that his mother, the woman he had known during the years of his father's life, was gone to him now. She had locked herself away in world of her own making and he couldn't reach her any longer.

Malcolm had urged him to move past his anger and resentment towards Carmen but there was a part of Danny's soul that just couldn't let that happen. In his head he felt if he could truly do that then it would be like telling her that what she had let Thomas do to her son was acceptable and mother or no mother, Danny couldn't do it.

It amazed him how becoming the Danny he remembered being when his father was alive helped to heal his wounded spirit. Malcolm brought out the best in him and suddenly became the father figure he had been missing for so many years. Danny had forgiven him completely for what had taken place with Michelle all those months before. It was as though Michelle's love and acceptance showed him the path to love that had once been covered with thorns.

He heard her clear her throat before she began speaking. He smiled broadly at her as their eyes met. His loving gaze gave Michelle the much needed strength to go forward with her speech, a speech that was anything but typical.

"Good afternoon," she started, "I want to say what an honor and a privilege it is to stand before you all this afternoon. I would like to begin with a quote that has come to mean a great deal to me in the last months.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

I hope that each of my graduating class along with those of you in the audience takes heed to those words. Life is full of twists, turns and roads not taken and if we let our preconceived notions and prejudices guide our direction then we as a people and each as individuals are lost." Michelle gently reached up and took Danny's gold charm that hung around her neck in her fingers, "I realize that things we don't know or understand can be frightening, frightening so much so that rather then making an attempt to learn and grow we throw up walls in the hopes that what scares us cannot gain entry into our lives," Michelle's eyes met her fathers, "Yet in doing that you only serve to make your own prison. A prison that controls you and by no means protects. I have learned that control is an illusion we as a people choose to create in an effort to feel safe and when that control is ripped or contorted in such a way that it is no longer within our grasp we have the ability to transform into a person that is no longer recognizable to others not only ourselves. My hope for this graduating class is that we can see past what it is we know, what makes us comfortable and grow into a society that sees us as one people rather then segmented groups. Until such time that we can do this we all will lose. Thank you and I wish the very best for each member of my class in the path they choose for their life."

Michelle returned to her seat. It wasn't hard to feel the many pairs of eyes staring at her from behind. This was by far not the speech that them members of her class, or the audience had expected to hear but in good conscious she couldn't say anything but what she had.

What they had expected to hear was some power speech. Not one filled with thought provoking ideas. Ideas that Michelle was sure had fallen on deaf ears.

The serenity prayer had come to mean a great deal to her. She had finally come to terms with her mother's death and the events that followed it as things that she couldn't change.

She used her therapy with Malcolm as the courage to move forward in a life that she had longed for. A life that would be filled with many more tests and leaps of faith. She had already felt that she had taken the biggest leap of all. She had fallen in love with Danny Santos and despite all the odds they had come out on top.

The wisdom in knowing the difference was something that Michelle was still working on. There were times yet that she found herself slipping back into old ways of dealing with her father, yet it had been Ed and his persistence at having a better relationship with his daughter that grounded Michelle in the reality of the way things were now to be rather then what they once were. For that she was grateful.

"Michelle," she heard Danny's voice as her eyes searched the sea of faces for Parker Simms. It had been two weeks since they had given their depositions and she hadn't seen hide nor hair of him since. "You were great up there you know that?" he kissed her softly.

"I don't know about that," she offered.

"Nonsense," Meta added, "Your speech was wonderful. Exactly what should have been said."

"You ready to head to the country club for your celebratory dinner?" her father asked.

"Michelle," Hunter joined them, "I just want to tell you one thing," the tone to her former friend's voice was caustic, "You think that you are some role model for the members of this class?" she quipped, "Well you can just forget that. If you think slumming makes you so much better then I say you can have your hood of a boyfriend….Parker is more of a man then this creep will ever be!!!!!"

"Hunter, that's not true," the voice from behind belonged to Parker.

"You are kidding right?" Hunter countered in disbelief, "After all that this asshole," she pointed to Danny, "has done to you……you are defending him….why?"

"He didn't do anything except protect Michelle….he'll love her and treat her the way she deserved to be treated. I was the creep Hunter not Danny. Mr. Bauer," he turned to Ed, "I want to apologize to you for what my father is doing. I never wanted any of this to go to trial. I have put Michelle through so much already. I just wanted to take my punishment and be done with it." Each could hear the anguish in Parker's voice.

"It's not your fault son. I have known Howard for many many years. He's doing this to save what he thinks is face. Hell not so long ago I may have been doing the exact same thing he is, but not any more. I have lost far too much in my life already to lose anything else. We will let this play out Parker. I know that you stood up and did the right thing son. That's what's really important here. It is my sincere hope that you get some real help for the troubles you have. I know that what you have been taught will take a great deal of undoing but it will be well worth it."

"Detective Speaks put me in contact with a good counselor and I plan on working on making a better life for myself and eventually for the person I bring into it."

"Good for you son." Ed easily dropped his arm over Parker's shoulder.

"Michelle," Parker cleared his throat, "I know no amount of apologies will fix this for us. I would never expect you to forgive me. I just want you to know that I am sorry. That I did love you."

Danny felt his body tense at those words still so unsure of the chameleon in front of him.

"I know," Michelle said, "I know. Make a good life for yourself okay?" she questioned.

"I'm going to try," he answered knowing he had taken up enough of their time.

"So you are telling me all those rumors I heard…they were true?" Hunter asked dumbfounded.

"Hunter," Michelle began, "I don't know what you heard and frankly right now none of it makes a difference any longer. You haven't known me in a very long time and that's okay. I have come to accept the person that you are and even if you can't do the same for me that's fine. Because when I look in the mirror I like who I see. I wish you could say the same." Michelle linked arms with Danny and followed her father and aunt to the car leaving Hunter Wolffe standing with her mouth hung open.

"I thought we were here to have dinner?" Danny asked as Michelle led him down a darkened hallway, "Where's your dad?"

"He went to check on something. I just wanted to steal some time away with you in private," she smiled slyly as the bright lights of the room they now stood up came up.

"SURPRISE!!!!!!!!" a chorus of voice sang.

Danny turned around to see his friends standing before him. "What? What is this? I thought we were here for your graduation dinner?" he asked trying to catch his breath.

"Nope!" Michelle smiled broadly, "We are here for you Mr. Santos. You didn't think that I would let your eighteenth birthday go by unnoticed did you?"

"I can't believe this!"

"Believe it buddy," Dean said coming forward.

"You were in on this, too?" he gasped.

"You bet I was."

"Thank you," Danny whispered doing his best to hold back his tears.

"You deserve every minute of happiness you can get your hands on," Dean offered.

"My happiness is right here," Danny said drawing Michelle closer to him.

"Come on lets go check out your presents," Michelle said playfully.

"Presents?" he questioned.

"Just one really."

Danny looked up to see Malcolm wheeling his mother through the door.

"How?" he gasped.

"I pulled a few strings and had your mother moved from County a month or so ago. She has been making remarkable progress under the direction of her new physician," Ed Bauer said joining his daughter and Danny.

"Thomas?" Danny was only able to omit one word statements at the moment.

"Danny," Ed tentatively placed his hand on the young man's shoulder, "He hasn't been in control of your mother for some time now."

"What?" Danny felt as if he had just been kicked hard in the chest.

"Apparently Carmen as been a ward of the state for a little over a year. Before I was able to move her I had to speak with a social worker named Ms. Bennett. She's been in charge of your mother's care."

"This doesn't make any sense," Danny gasped.

"Ms. Bennett was assigned to your mother when the county hospital no longer felt that Thomas had you're mother's best interests at heart. You of all people know how warped the man is."

"But…..all this time he's been telling me he's in control of everything….." Danny couldn't wrap his mind around the very thought of it all.

"Yes son he has. He used you. I am sorry for that."

"But how did you get my mom moved then?" Danny was still confused.

"Between the help of Malcolm laying the ground work and the fact that Ms. Bennett knew my late wife I was able to make them understand that what was in your mother's best interests was getting well and being reunited with her only son."

"Thomas is going to freak when he finds her gone!" Danny stated what he knew to be obvious.

"I don't think that he's going to prove to be much of a problem for either of you. By all rights he hasn't had claim to your mother in over a year. And you son are days away from turning eighteen. It's my guess that Mr. Jameson will be moving on to his next victims. And should he present a problem…..well then we will handle that bridge if and when we need to cross it."

"How….how can I ever thank you?" Danny questioned.

"Thanks isn't necessary. It is I who should be thanking you Danny. You gave me my daughter back. You gave her love and the hope at a good life. This was just my thanks to you. Michelle knows how much you love your mother. She and I only wanted to help bring back to you the woman you remembered."

"This is unbelievable." Danny ultimately flabbergasted by the sudden revelation.

"Why don't you introduce me to your mother?" Michelle asked.

"Wait," Ed said, "I have one more gift for you Danny." He handed a thick white envelope to him.

"What's this?"

"Open it."

Danny tore at the seal on the envelope. The folded papers inside made little sense to him. "I don't think I understand."

"That's your juvenile record. It's been sealed. Between Malcolm and myself we thought that you deserved a fresh start. So from this point forward Danny Santos can be anything he so chooses."

"Oh, Daddy!" Michelle cried throwing her arms around her father's neck.

"I don't know what to say, sir."

"You don't need to say anything. Just make a good life for you and my daughter and that's all I need to know."

"I will sir…..I promise you Mr. Bauer I will do just that. How about we go meet my mother?" Danny asked looking to Michelle.

"I would like that."

Ed watched as the pair walked away from him hand and hand. "Maureen would be very proud of you Ed," Meta said coming to stand along side her nephew, "What you did for him, for both of them was a nice thing."

"It was long overdue," Ed returned, "Aunt Meta, may I have this dance?"

"Yes, I would like that."