Danny drove away from Laurel Falls thoughts of Michelle and Jimmy's words dancing in his head. He was unable to rid himself of the nagging feeling that if he didn't take control and take it soon things were about to spiral downward. Spiral to a place he was afraid to visit.

He watched as the iron gates closed behind him. He missed the freedom that he had just felt with Michelle. The freedom to be Danny. Not Danny Santos, Carmen Santos' son, not the future of the Santos Crime Family. Just plain Danny. A guy who love a girl and wasn't afraid to show it.

He pulled his sedan into the garage steeling himself for his inevitable run in with Theresa. On went the mask of the happy fiancé. If he was ever to get back to his true love he had to pull this off.

Theresa sat alone in the darkened living room. She saw the lights from Danny's car as they came up the drive. It was almost one in the morning now. She wanted to believe Jimmy's story. Yet she couldn't help thinking that Danny had somehow had found his way back to Michelle. The time alone gave her the opportunity to think. Time to form a plan. A way she was sure that she would keep Danny on the hook. She only hoped that it didn't become necessary to actually use it. She hoped that Carmen had been right about Danny's devotion of Michelle. That he wouldn't do anything to endanger her life. As hard as it was to stomach, she needed Michelle. She needed her alive and well. Theresa was certain that she would certainly lose Danny if Michelle ended up dead. So she had to do her best to be sure she didn't.

If Danny followed through as they had arranged, she could keep her plan quiet, but if it so happened to not go her way she knew what she would do.

"Theresa, you're still awake?" he said coming through the doorway.

"Danny, I was getting worried about you," she cooed as she placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Sorry, things ran longer then expected. I know you were looking forward to a nice evening together."

"That's okay. Jimmy explained everything to me."

"Damn!"

"What?" her suspicions peaked by his tone.

"I didn't want you to know about this deal. It's something I wanted to surprise you with. Think it will be really good for us when we get back to Chicago." Danny embellished upon the story that Jimmy had planted earlier.

"Really sounds interesting,' she returned cautiously.

"It is. I'm thinking it will impress Bernard as well. I'm sure you all are weary of my intentions here. I wanted to show you, your father and mama that I am serious. That I intend on finishing what I start," Danny planted a slow soft kiss on her lips.

Theresa wasn't sure what to believe now. This was strange for Danny. He was never one to be that forward with her. She had to be the aggressor more times then not, yet she let her defenses down. Reveling in his display of affection.

"Danny," she pulled away trying to read his expression, "What's this all about?" Reality stalked her again. "Keep your wits about you, Theresa," she thought to herself.

"I know I promised you a romantic evening when we got back to Chicago, but I thought maybe we could start tonight." He pulled a bottle of wine from behind his back. As much as he hated what he was about to do, he knew it was the quickest and easiest way to throw Theresa off the trail.

"Sounds perfect." she returned seductively all prior thoughts leaving her mind. No matter what had brought this on she was going to make the most of it.

Danny felt his stomach churn as the climbed the stairs to his room. He forced himself to remember why he was about to do this. Forced himself to think about Michelle and how exquisite she had looked laying there naked in the moonlight. How soft her skin was under his touch, how she moaned as he caresses her body. That's what would get him through this. He had to make Theresa believe that he was coming around to this marriage. If she was happy then Bernard would be as well. That's what Danny's main concern was. Keeping Bernard happy enabling himself to get what he needed and get out.

Danny looked on as Theresa did a striptease before him. Shedding each piece of clothing dropping it to a heap on the floor until she was completely naked. All Danny could think was how Michelle's rendition had stoked his fire and this one had left him feeling empty.

She now began undressing Danny. He did his best to play the willing partner but was failing miserably. He had been glad for the darkness of the room. She would be unable to see the disgust in his eyes as they went on to have sex.

Now that he had experienced what making love truly was, this was far from that mark.

Theresa snuggled against his body as she drifted off to sleep thinking about her wedding. Maybe she wouldn't need to use her plan after all. Finally it seemed like Danny might be coming around. Perhaps she wouldn't need her scheme after all, but it would be there just in case.

For the second time that night Danny was searching for his phone in the darkness. "Hello?" he questioned in a whisper. Well aware that Theresa lay sleeping next to him.

"Danny," Jimmy's voice caused Danny to sit up.

"Jimmy...what's going on? What happened?" the concern thick in his voice. Carefully he got out of bed heading for the bathroom.

"Danny, I think you better step up this plan of yours."

"Jimmy, what the fuck are you talking about?" Danny said in a controlled whisper.

"I think we've got bigger problems then just Dietz."

"Jimmy," he swallowed hard around the lump in his throat, "Tell me she's okay."

"Yeah fine for now."

"I'll meet in ten minutes," he said tossing his pajama bottoms aside searching for his jeans.

"Danny, I don't think you leaving at this hour of the morning is such a great idea. It's only going to raise more suspicions. Stay put!" Jimmy again had to be the voice of reason.

"I can't just sit here not knowing anything."

"Danny, sit tight. I didn't mean to spook you. Michelle is fine. I think the warning was for you. I promise you that she's okay. I just want to keep it that way."

"You think I don't?" Danny spat at him.

"Easy man, I didn't mean anything by that. I know her safety is the most important thing to you....but right now I'm not so sure you can see your way clear to doing what needs to be done to ensure it." Jimmy said pulling no punches.

"I know," Danny returned calmer this time. "Jimmy, if anything happens to her........" his voice trailed both knowing the unspoken words.

"So, we'll talk in the morning.....Danny hang on I've got another call coming in...."

Danny sat listening to the silence. A foreboding feeling filled him. Jimmy's voice played again and again, 'Warning was for you, Warning was for you'.

"Danny," Jimmy's words broke his thoughts, "I have to deal with something. Hang tight. Everything will be okay. I'll talk to you in the morning. And don't worry." Jimmy wasn't sure if that was more for himself or Danny.

Easier said then done Danny thought to himself as he hung up the phone.

Michelle waved as Jimmy drove off into the distance. She was flooded with so many emotions that she wasn't able to think clearly. She trusted Danny, really she did but she wished that she had a clue what had happened with them.

One minute they were as close as two people could be but then she felt him pulling away again. She had told him that she would trust him. And she did trust Danny, with her life. Yet right now all she wanted was to be in his arms. She wanted to be his friend, lover, his everything. The way they had been back at Laurel Falls. It had been incredible. She had been completely swept away. It was the moment in time she had dreamed about since their wedding night. Her fingers reached for the gold chain. It was gone. At first there was panic then relief when she remembered taking it off at Company earlier. She had slipped it into her purse. It was time that she put it back in it's rightful place.

Michelle turned to go inside. It was then that she noticed every light in the house was on. Her mouth went dry. She felt the fear filling her. Jake, what it something was wrong with the baby? What if there had been an accident? She raced inside stopping dead in her tracks at the sight she encountered.

"RICK! ABBY!" she screamed. Her eyes darted about the kitchen. It was a complete disaster. Table and chairs overturned, sliver scattered about everything was in total disarray. "RICK, ABBY," again she yelled.

Michelle tore through the living room. It was the same sight in there as well. Furniture upside down, drawers emptied on the floor, bookcase toppled. Michelle navigated her way through the confusion, "RICK, ABBY!" panic filled her voice this time.

"Michelle?" she finally heard a voice calling her from upstairs. Thoughts running wild as she took the stairs two at a time.

"Abby," she called out again.

"In here Michelle," the voice was faint.

To Michelle's relief Abby was sitting on the bed cradling Jake tightly in her arms, looking at the disaster around them.

"What happened?" Michelle whispered kneeling in front of the two. "You're not hurt are you? Jake's okay right?"

"Yes...yes we're fine."

Michelle wrapped her arms around her sister-in-law. "Well that's all that matters. That you two are okay. Where's Rick?"

"At the hospital," Abby returned.

"What's going on here?" Michelle asked again.

"It was like this when we got back. Rick took us out for ice cream after dinner then he got paged and I dropped him off at the hospital since you had my car. When I walked into the living room it looked like something exploded in there. Every room in the house looks like this," Abby said holding back the tears.

"Is there anything missing?" Michelle said trying to be the voice of reason yet her mind was playing tricks on her. She couldn't stop thinking what would have happened if Abby and Jake had been home when this happened. She shuddered at the thought.

"I really didn't even look. I was in shock."

"I think we should call Frank," Michelle said grabbing for the phone.

"I don't even know what to do with Jake....there's no place......." tears spilled passed Abby's lashes onto her face.

Michelle put the phone down and went to her. Holding her while she cried. Funny but Michelle wasn't as shook up as she expected herself to be. Just knowing that Abby and Jake were all right had been enough for her.

"Are you okay? Do you want me to call Rick?"

"No..no, I don't want him to worry."

"Okay well let me call Frank now. Don't touch anything kay? At least not until the police get here."

Michelle and Abby were sitting at the kitchen table when Frank Cooper and David Grant arrived. Jake was sound asleep in his mother's arms. Abby hadn't let go of him since she had walked into this mess.

"Abby," Frank began, "Can you tell me exactly what happened." Abby recounted the events of the evening, "You didn't notice anything strange at all. Anyone in the neighborhood that didn't belong here?"

"No, Frank. It was just like any other night."

"Michelle, how about you? Did you see anything?"

"I haven't been home in hours Frank. This is what I found when I got here."

"Is there anything missing. I mean anything obvious that is?"

"We haven't touched anything. We were waiting on you guys," Michelle offered.

"Well, I'll have the guys dust for prints while you check out things. Make sure that nothing is missing."

Abby and Michelle walked about the rubble looking for anything that could possibly be missing. It was then that she thought about her wedding ring, where was her purse? She had dropped it on the bench in the kitchen and it wasn't there now. She sifted through the debris desperately looking for the only tie she had to Danny right now. It had to be there. It was simple gold band. It wasn't even worth all that much, but to her it was everything.

Michelle had a feeling that she just wasn't able to shake. Nothing had come up missing in the entire house but her purse, more importantly her wedding band. Part of her wanted to tell Frank but she didn't. Something held her back. She walked the stairs to her room leaving the chaos behind her. Her room was in shambles as well. She kick her way past the obstacles on the floor. She felt empty, like a lost soul out of place. She reached beneath the bed for her memories. She wanted to be transported back to that time that place. She felt around, nothing. The box wasn't there. Michelle crouched on the floor peering into the empty space where the box had been just days before.

She was sick to her stomach. This hadn't been some random act it had been cold and calculating. It had purpose. To let her know her place. A place that was devoid of Danny Santos. Telling Frank about it wouldn't do her any good. He couldn't help her now.

Michelle picked up the phone and dialed Jimmy's all too familiar number.

Michelle sat down as the phone rang in her ear. "Jimmy," she said quickly.

"Michelle?" he questioned, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Danny told me to call you if I ever needed anything. I think I need your help."

"What...what is it? What's going on?" Jimmy knew that Danny was still hanging on the other line. What was he going to tell him now? He already had his suspicions that Michelle was in danger. They had just been heightened.

"My house was ransacked tonight."

"Was anyone hurt?" Jimmy did his best to stay calm.

"No thank god."

"Michelle, can you hold on a minute? I have to get rid of another call."

"Yeah sure." she returned.

"Danny, I have to go."

"What? What do you mean you have to go?" he bellowed.

"I have something I have to take care of."

"Jimmy, you work for me remember?" Danny spat regretting it the moment he said it.

"I understand that. I have to do this right now. Don't worry. I will take care of everything." Jimmy tried not to get his back up. This was the first time that Danny had ever thrown his weight around where he was concerned. He knew the reason for it. He was afraid for Michelle and it looked like with good reason.

"Hey I'm sorry man," Danny said again.

"No offense taken. Danny let me do my job. We'll talk in the morning okay?"

"Yeah fine." Morning wasn't too far off, he could wait or could he?

"Michelle, you still there?" Jimmy asked clicking back to her.

"Yeah. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah fine. Something I had to finish up. I'm coming over right now. You stay put you here me?"

"Jimmy the police are still here. Is that going to be a problem for you?"

"No not at all," It worked to his advantage. He knew at least Michelle would be safe until he was able to get there. "I'll see you in a few."

Michelle sat there hugging the phone. This was the first time in quite awhile that she had felt afraid. Afraid of what being with Danny again meant. She was certain that Carmen would never except her. That she would never let her forget that she had cost her her sons. Danny had promised her that she would always be safe no matter what. Yet right now she felt anything but that.

She went downstairs to wait for Jimmy to arrive. It wasn't until she saw Rick walk through the door that she was sorry that she called him. Rick would be beside himself knowing that she had involved him in this. Unfortunately she didn't feel as if she had any other choice. Next to Danny, Jimmy made her feel safe.

"Michelle, where were you all night?" Rick said in his own agitated way.

"Rick not now," Abby countered.

"She was supposed to be home with us......"

"Rick, please," Abby was too stressed right now to have to deal with his obsessive nature towards his sister.

"Who could that be?" Rick spouted as the doorbell rang throughout the house.

Michelle walked to the door steeling herself for the storm that was brewing. Jimmy walked in and the room fell silent.

"WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?!?!?" Rick's voice echoed off the walls.

"I asked him to come," Michelle whispered.

"Why? Why would you want any of those goons near you again?" Rick stared at her in disbelief.

"Rick, please calm down. I will try to explain."

"Calm down!!!!! You invited someone from the Santos operation into my house and you expect me to CALM DOWN!"

"YES!" Michelle raised her voice as well.

"I can't believe this. What were you thinking?"

"Rick please," Abby stressed again. "I don't want to do this tonight. This has been a bad enough night as it is. Please don't add to it."

"Sweetie, I'm sorry," Rick's voice softened as he embraced his wife. "I can only imagine what it felt like to walk in here to all of this."

"Yes, it was something that I would like to forget. Can we just go to bed, please?"

"Sure," Rick stared intently at Jimmy and Michelle. He didn't like this at all. He wanted Michelle to have nothing to do with the Santos Family ever again.

"He doesn't like me much, does he?" Jimmy laughed as Michelle poured him a cup of coffee.

"How'd you guess?"

"Sixth sense," he smiled as he took a drink.

"So what really happened here tonight?"

"I think this was a warning for me. A warning to stay away from Danny."

"What makes you say that?"

"Jimmy, the only things missing were things from our marriage." He stiffened as she spoke. "My wedding band is gone, a box that was under my bed."

"A box?"

"Yeah, it had pictures from our wedding and stupid little things that I saved from Danny. A rose he gave me once, stupid notes that he would leave for me. I mean it was nothing but memories for me. Now they are gone," she heard the anguish in her own voice. It was like losing Danny all over again.

"Nothing else was taken?" Jimmy questioned.

"Nothing. I mean Jimmy come on…there is so much that could have been taken if this had been a real robbery. It just doesn't make any sense."

"I agree. Michelle, I know you know how Carmen feels about you. She's made no attempt to conceal it."

"Yeah, so?"

"I think that maybe this was just a warning. But I need you to be careful. I will do everything in my power to protect you but…you have to watch your back. How much longer will you be in Springfield?"

"One more week. Drew's wedding is in a few days then I will be heading back to New York."

"Good."

"Jimmy, you're scaring me."

"I don't mean to. But you know as well as I do that Carmen is a danger to you." Jimmy wanted to tell her everything. He knew he wasn't able to do that without speaking with Danny first. She needed to understand the danger she could be in. Jimmy was certain that if these warnings hadn't done the trick then the next step would be more direct.

"Jimmy, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that until you go back to New York…..stay away from Danny."

"DANNY!?!?! What the hell's going on in here?" Rick's voice caused both Jimmy and Michelle to jump.

Michelle turned to see Rick standing in the kitchen doorway. She could see the anger brewing inside of him. God, she wished that he would give her the chance to explain. She knew him too well for that.

"Please tell that I just didn't hear the name Danny Santos."

"Yes, you did," Michelle stated.

"Why? Why Michelle...after all these years? Why would you put yourself in harms way once again?" Rick rubbed his hands across his face.

"Would you believe an unstoppable force?" she laughed half heartedly, however Rick didn't see the humor.

"Give me a break, Michelle," he returned exasperated.

"Rick, that's the best way for me to explain it. Try to understand. Understand that for whatever reason I am connected to him....."

"THE ONLY THING I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THIS OBSESSION IS GOING TO COST YOU YOUR LIFE!" Rick said through clenched teeth.

"Dr. Bauer," Jimmy started, "I assure you that Michelle will be safe. I will see to it."

"That's supposed to make me feel better? How do I know that Carmen isn't behind all of this? How do I know that you weren't sent here to finish us all off?!?!?!"

"RICK!" Michelle screeched. She looked at Jimmy her eyes imploring to understand.

"Dr. Bauer, I understand you're weariness of the Santos' as a whole. You have every right. But I guarantee you that I am not out to harm any of you. I may work for the Santos Family but I am accountable only to Danny. And no matter what you may think.....Michelle's continued well being is all he cares about."

"Rick, I called Jimmy. No one sent him."

"Again why him? Why would you call him?" Rick still wasn't fully understanding any of this.

"I just did okay?" she returned not ready to go forward with the explanation.

"NOT OKAY!! You exposed my family. My wife and son to the Santos' again. I think I have a right to know why."

"Dr. Bauer...."

"You know what?" Rick said pointing his finger in Jimmy's face. "You may have my little sister snowed but I'm not so easy. Let's let Michelle tell me shall we?" Rick countered sarcastically

"Rick, please....."

"Michelle, start talking."

"Rick, I can handle this. Really it's all taken care of."

"You're kidding right? If you can handle this...then what's he doing here?"

"He has a name, Rick. His name is Jimmy."

"Oh excuse me...what is Jimmy doing here?"

"Rick, please just let this go. It will all be over soon enough anyhow."

"How so."

"When I go the problem goes."

"Dr. Bauer, if you would just let me explain......"

"You know what I didn't ask you here....and this is STILL my house. I think you should go now."

"I'm sorry but I can't do that."

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT? Why the hell not?"

"My job is to protect Michelle."

"Protect her?!?!? Protect from what or should I say who?" Rick said as fear filled him.

"There is reason to believe that this incident tonight was a warning for both Danny and Michelle." Jimmy stated. "Everyone involved wants it to be clear that Danny and Michelle are to remain in the past."

"Jimmy, I don't think I can do that," Michelle interjected, "Not after tonight."

"Michelle you don't have a choice," Jimmy said knowing full well what she was speaking about.

"YOU ARE NUTS RIGHT?" Rick bellowed.

"Rick, please...try to understand. I love Danny. I can't just turn it off."

"This love is going to cost you your life," Rick said angst in his voice.

Rick had tried to reason with Michelle. Make her see that Danny letting her go was the best thing for her. That she was free from that life, that world. He wasn't going to have to worry about her ending up in a body bag anymore. The day that Danny Santos walked out his door for the last time was Rick's victory day. Now it seemed to be all in vain.

"Michelle," Rick whispered starring at his baby sister. He was at a loss for the words he needed to make her see the light.

"Rick, this is my life. You have to let me live it."

"What about Dylan? How are you going to explain this to him?"

"I'll find a way. It's not far to him. He deserves so much more then I can give him. Rick, I don't know what's going to happen with me and Danny. I don't know much right now, except that I love him."

"Michelle," Rick embraced her. "I can't let anything happen to you. You don't know how frightened I am for you. For all of us."

"Dr. Bauer, I promise that Michelle will be safe. Her life is in my hands. I intend on doing my job," Jimmy said matter of factly.

"Unfortunately, that doesn't help ease my fear."

"Rick, please I trust Jimmy. I know that he's on my side," Michelle's eye implored Rick to understand. To let her take care of this.

"Do I have any other option here?"

"No...no you don't," she whispered.

Rick walked away without another word. He couldn't stand there and listen to her. He was powerless to stop her from doing whatever it was she was about to embark on. He prayed for her safety.