As much as Ben was enticed by Carmen's offer, more importantly the woman herself, that's just about how much he detested being summonsed at the drop of a hat.

It had been less then twelve hours since he left the Santos compound and again his car was rolling up to the heavy iron gates. The morning sun was making it's way across the horizon. Ben had barely time to peruse Danny's files much less delve headlong into their contents. He was sure that was something that wasn't about to make his new found associate happy.

"Ben Warren to see Carmen Santos," he said as the man at the gate eyed him suspiciously. He watched the man pick up the phone inside the elaborate guardhouse.

Ben absently thought about Carmen's instructions to Dietz the other day. She had been completely serious about not taking any chances. Keeping her back pressed to the wall would give her the opportunity to avoid a sneak attack.

"Your name again?" the burly man said poking his head out of the door.

"Ben Warren. I am here to see Carmen Santos, by her request I might add," he quipped.

After what seemed like hours, the gates finally swung open and allowed his car to pass through. Ben wondered what he might encounter next as he rang the doorbell for the second time in two days.

"Mrs. Santos is expecting you," Dietz said without an ounce of inflection to his tone, "She's in the dining room," he pointed to the room up the hall.

Each room that Ben encountered in this house confused him. Each one was so different from the last. It almost felt like you were walking through an interior designer's gallery. It gave him a feeling that he was unable to explain. The only thing he was certain of was that Carmen Santos was a woman with many sides and he intended on staying on her good ones.

"Good morning, Ben," she said directing him to the seat across from her, "Coffee?"

"Yes thank you." Carmen nodded to Dietz for him to comply with Ben's request. It took every fiber of his being to not dump the steaming pot of coffee in Ben's lap. The smug look on this man's face was one that Dietz would have loved to have the pleasure of removing.

"That will be all Dietz."

"Excuse me?" he asked stunned that again he was being sent from the room like some child being scolded.

"Mr. Warren and I have business to discuss. I wish to do it in private."

"Carmen," Dietz knew he was stepping well out of place but his rage was getting the better of him, "What is going on here?!?! One minute I am your right hand and now suddenly all my loyalty is forgotten? I don't think I am quite understanding what's going on here."

"I told you what is going on here. Ben and I have business to discuss. Nothing more nothing less," she said matter of fact.

"I don't think he likes me very much," Ben said as Dietz removed himself from the room with much hesitation.

"I am far more concerned with you attempt at locating Daniel then Dietz and his ruffled feathers. Besides Dietz was Miguel's right hand. I think it's time I had one of my own choosing," Carmen placed her hand on Ben's and gave it a knowing stroke.

"Damn you Carmen," Dietz seethed outside the archway that led to the dining room, "Two can play this game."

"I thought you didn't mix business with pleasure?" Ben eyed her cautiously.

"In this instance I think that they are one in the same."

"How so?" Ben was curious.

"I see us as much more then just business partners Ben. I think you do as well. So you handle the business at hand, that is find my son, and we will move on to the pleasure," she smiled seductively her eyes undressing him as he sat before her.

"Finding Danny isn't going to be as easy as you thought."

"Non sense. He can't just have vanished. Besides I gave you all the information on his contacts. You mean to tell me you haven't come up with anything yet?"

"Carmen, you dropped this mountain of information in my lap less than a twenty-four hours ago, had Dietz lurking about making sure that I was working, which let me tell you was more of a hindrance then a help."

"And your point is?"

"What you think I am a computer feed me the information and I spit out the answer instantly?" Ben couldn't help but laugh.

"We don't have a great deal of time to find Daniel. I can't have any precious time being wasted."

"What's really going on here?" Ben asked pointedly.

"I need to bring my son home!"

"Then why on earth did you let him leave in the first place?"

"It wasn't of my choosing."

"Do you think that maybe we could for once stop playing the game of cat and mouse and lay our cards on the table?" Ben stated not wanting to continue running endlessly on this hamster wheel that she had placed him on.

"You know all that you need to know for the time being."

"No not good enough."

"WHAT!?!?!?"

"You heard me. I won't keep doing this without knowing what it is I am exactly doing. I have never been a man to come running at the snap of a woman's fingers. I certainly don't intend to start now, even if the fingers doing the snapping are attached to the body of THE CARMEN SANTOS."

"You do have balls Mr. Warren," Carmen suppressed a grin.

"So I have been told. So are you ready to tell me what's really going on here?"

"It appears that you haven't left me much of a choice."

"Apparently not."

"Daniel, as you know has made it perfectly clear that he wants nothing to do with this business."

"And from what I gather that was fine with you until he decided to do his vanishing act. You were content being the boss. Am I getting close here?"

"Yes."

"But the men from the other day have much different plans from what I could gather. You were not their choice to head the organization."

"Yes. Women are not looked on as anything more then a pretty accessory. I am far from just that."

"There is no denying your attractiveness Carmen," Ben couldn't stop himself from saying the words. He could have sworn that he detected a faint blush pass across her ivory cheeks.

"Bernardo and the others have been waiting for almost seven years for Daniel to step up to the plate and take his rightful place. The place that was once his father's," she continued ignoring Ben's remarks completely.

"With Danny being gone it leaves you vulnerable?" Ben raised a brow.

"I see you catch on fast."

"I do my best."

"There is another fly in the ointment."

"What's that?"

"Daniel issued a very loaded threat upon his leaving."

"Which was?"

"He may not have wanted to be involved but he was involved. In ways that could hurt all of us should he decide to use the information against the others and myself."

"Are you saying what I think you are? Are you telling me that Danny threatened to turn your books over to the FEDS?" Ben did his best to suppress a laugh. This was not at all what he had expected and couldn't help finding it all quite amusing.

It looked like Carmen Santos wasn't as powerful as he had once thought her to be.

"Yes," her conformation of his questions was nothing more than a whisper.

"So finding Danny gains you what exactly? From where I am sitting it looks like you are screwed whether I locate him or not."

"I know that if I can just talk to him....I can make him see that it's in everyone's best interests to come home."

"You mean your best interest."

"His as well. Bernardo and the others aren't just going to let this go. You heard him yourself. Without Daniel there is no Santos Family. I don't think I need to draw you a picture as to what he was saying without actually saying it."

"I still don't see how Danny's return is going to help you. He doesn't want this business. That's so obvious, especially if he went to all the trouble in orchestrating his departure."

"I don't need Danny to want the business. I just need him to sit at the head of the table. Everything else will remain the same."

"Why does this sound way too simple to work?"

"It's worked this long hasn't it?"

"Apparently not all that well by the looks of the shambles things are in now."

"JUST FIND DANIEL!!!!!" Carmen was irritated by Ben's words. Words she knew to be true. Daniel wasn't about to just walk back through the door and do her bidding. But she couldn't think about that right now. And she most definitely wasn't about to go down without a fight.

Michelle rested her hand on Danny's as he down shifted bringing the car to rest alongside hers. The lot had long since been empty. It was hard to believe that it was almost four o'clock in the morning. It was as though time had stopped while they were together.

"Looks like you were successful in giving me a night that wasn't business related."

"So I did," Danny leaned in and kissed her, "What would you think about going and grabbing some breakfast?" The last thing he wanted was for this date to come to an end.

"Are you sure? Don't you want to go check and make sure things are okay with the club first?"

"No," he smiled, "I have to be in the produce yards in a few hours. The club can wait until then, besides I am starved."

"I'm up for it if you are," she returned knowing that she was going to pay for it later. She had chem lab in a little less then five hours. She'd be lucky to stay awake during the experiments, but none of that mattered right now.

"Well then let's eat."

Danny drove across town to a small diner on the edge of the interstate. It mainly served as a truck stop but Albert had taken him there soon after his arrival and even though the surroundings were grim the food was excellent.

"Well you really know how to show a girl a good time," Michelle gingerly ran her hands along the top of the table fearing they would stick to it.

"They make one hell of a Spanish omelet."

"We are supposed to eat here?" Michelle questioned Danny's sanity at the moment. From the looks of things in this place she had a feeling even the roaches didn't eat there.

"I know what you are thinking. It's not as bad as it looks. Albert brought me here a few times....and look I'm still alive," he said reaching across the table giving her hands a squeeze.

"I don't know," she hesitated as two truck drivers made their way to the counter.

"Come on haven't you heard the saying that truck drivers know the best places to eat?" Danny was enjoying teasing her.

"You want me to take their word?" she countered as she discreetly pointing the direction of the men who had just entered, "NO WAY.....I don't think so."

"Come on live a little," he laughed, "Thank you," he said to the waitress who was filling the coffee cups in front of them.

"That was my intention," she countered in all seriousness.

"You are too cute."

"Ah hah," the waitress cleared her throat, "Are you two gonna order or what?"

"Yeah........NO!" they said in unison.

"Well which is it? Yes or no?"

"I'll have the Spanish omelet and toast please."

"And you?" she turned addressing Michelle.

"A bagel and cream cheese." She assumed that was about the safest thing on the menu before her.

"Chicken," Danny hissed when the waitress was out of earshot.

"Better to be a live chicken then a dead duck," she laughed.

"So Ms. Branson, I told you my most embarrassing moments I think that it's time you told me a few of yours."

"I don't have any."

"Oh now why don't I believe that one?" he smiled his eyes peering at her over his coffee.

"No really I was a very backward kid. Especially after my mom died. I was a book worm. Can't get into too many embarrassing situations that way."

"I find it incredibly hard to believe that a girl as beautiful as you, was a bookworm."

"Well maybe not all the time, but certainly nothing as funny as the story you told me about you and your cousin. Hell, my sides still hurt from laughing so hard."

"Yeah it was a hell of a sight. Imagine the blackmail material I had on him for years. I mean all I had to do was pretend to blow a kiss his way and Ray would go ballistic. I sometimes wonder if the experience was so traumatic that's what made him become a priest?"

"A priest huh? Ever catch him in a nun's habit?" Michelle laughed.

"Oh that was so bad," Danny chuckled.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist."

"Obviously not."

"Spanish omelet?" the waitress said standing by their table.

"That's mine," Danny answered.

"So then this must be yours."

The tacky pink waitress uniform made her look like she just stepped out of an "Alice" rerun. Michelle could almost hear Mel banging his spatula on that damn bell that always sat on the window and yelling for Vera to pick up. "Nothing gets past her huh?" Michelle joked as she did her best to inspect the knife she was about to use to spread cream cheese on her bagel.

"Enough already," Danny said as he forced her to stop her incessant cleaning of the face of the knife, "Didn't anyone ever tell you a little dirt never hurt anyone?"

"That's not what all my medical textbooks say."

"Medical text books?"

"Yeah, I am studying to be a doctor."

"My my we are full of surprises aren't we?"

"Not really," as she said those words Michelle felt her stomach churn with the lie.

"That's really cool though. How long have you wanted to be a doctor?"

"Since I was a little kid. It's a family thing."

"Family thing?" Danny had to laugh thinking that it must be nice to have a family occupation that was reputable. Unlike the one he had been born to.

"Yeah both my parents worked in the medical profession. My dad was a doctor. Chief of staff actually and my mom was a hospital administrator." Michelle tried to reign in her thoughts and remember the words from that file that now defined her. It was difficult to meld them together. Each moment longer she spent with Danny was a minute closer she came to telling him everything.

"What hospital is your dad chief of staff at?"

"He's not."

"Huh?"

"He died a few years back.........in a plane crash," Michelle was now on a wing and a prayer. The story that she had been given about her deceased parents was that they had both died together in a car accident shortly before she moved to Texas, but since that wasn't how it had come out earlier she needed to think fast to make sure this all came together.

"You are kidding right? You lost you mom and your dad?"

"Yep," she took a swig of coffee so, as she didn't have to look into his eyes.

"That's horrible. And I thought my situation was bad."

"What do you mean, your situation?"

"Just that I lost one parent......but losing two that is unimaginable."

"Believe me this wasn't how I expected my life to turn out," Michelle said knowing that was the first entirely truthful thing she had said thus far.

"No doubt."

The awkward silence that they had thought was behind them was creeping its way around them again.

Michelle looked into Danny's all consuming black eyes and wanted to cry. For the first time in her life she felt completely connected to another human being and she couldn't even be honest with them.

"Hey look the suns coming up," Danny's voice broke her from her trance.

"So it is."

"Melanie, are you okay? I'm sorry if I upset you."

"You didn't."

"Believe me I know memories can be rough."

"That they can be."

"Let me pay the bill and we can be on our way."

"Sure thing."

Michelle stood outside the diner watching as the sun slowly made its way to its destination. The morning hues were pinks, magentas, purples and misty blues cutting across the various portions of the giant orange ball. She caught herself thinking what perfect scenery for Jesse to paint.

The thought sent the hairs on her neck on end. Why after all she had shared with Danny that night would Jesse find his way to her thoughts?

Right now everything in her mind was a jumbled mess. The closer she became to accepting that she was Melanie Branson now the more that Michelle Bauer reared into the main stream. Michelle wondered if this was what it was like for a person with multiple personalities. Each having their own identity and each wanting to be in the forefront. The only difference with her was there wasn't anything she could do about these two warring personalities that really weren't all that different

Looking in the rearview mirror until Danny wasn't more then a speck on the horizon, Michelle licked her lips and could taste his sweet kiss.

It hadn't taken much cajoling on her to part in getting Danny to agree on her accompanying him to the produce yards while he placed the day's orders. Neither one was all that eager to have their time together come to an end.

Back in Springfield, she had gone with Jesse a few times when he would place orders for Millennium, but being here with Danny was totally different. He made her feel as though her thoughts and opinions mattered. Danny asked her what she thought the lunch and dinner specials should be, what her favorite things were, it was like he was running the club for her and her alone. Where as with Jesse it was just the opposite. She had always felt as if she was more in the way then anything else. Michelle couldn't help thinking back to a time when she offered a suggestion; one that Jesse shot down without any hesitation by saying 'That's not what Drew wants, and she always gets what she wants'

If only Michelle had heard the trueness in his words back then, maybe she would have opened her eyes to them on her own instead of the way things had played out. Sad thing is now she was so torn by the way things had turned out. How could she in one hand remember what had brought her to Texas, to Danny in the first place and in the other be thankful for it. Those things should have been on the sides of the magnets that repelled when brought close enough. Yet that wasn't the case. At present they were very much connected.

Michelle felt her stomach churn with the fact that she was beginning to rationalize Mick's death and her part in it so that she could get on with her life. There was a part of her being that found that offensive and yet another that was in complete agreement.

As she turned the key in the lock, Michelle so desperately wanted to walk over to the phone and dial her house in Springfield. She wanted to hear Abby's reassuring voice. She wanted to hear someone's voice other then the monotone one in her head telling that it was okay to have a life. That she didn't have to continually punish herself for an event that was beyond her control. She vaguely thought hearing those thoughts from Abby would allow her to enjoy the happiness that deep down she knew she deserved.

The last thing she wanted to be doing right now was getting ready to head out the door again. Her oversized bed was calling to her. The adrenaline that had carried her through the last twenty-four hours was no more and sleep was all Michelle wanted at the moment.

The blinking red dot on her answering machine caught her eye. She hoped that maybe it was Tony Rodgers telling her that he didn't need her this afternoon and she would be able to grab a afternoon nap. No such luck though. The first voice to fill the room was that of Sarah.

"Mel, hey it's me. Just checking in. Give me a buzz when you get a minute." Michelle made a mental note to spend some more time with her friend as Christmas was approaching fast. Even in Sarah's best attempts to sound chipper, Michelle could sense that she wasn't looking forward to spending her first Christmas without her mom. She just wished there were something she could do for Sarah to make this time of year a bit easier.

When Jeremy Lucas' voice filled the room next, Michelle just about dropped the carton of orange juice she was holding, "Melanie, I need to see you as soon as possible. There are some things that we ought to discuss. Call me as soon as you get this message."

Michelle couldn't tell if his tone was more foreboding or on the angry side. This obsession, even if that was the right word, for her was getting a bit over the top for her.

"Doesn't he know when to give up?" she said aloud. She glanced at the clock on the stove. She had just enough time to grab a shower and head to the Chemistry Lab. Calling Agent Lucas would have to wait, for she knew that it wasn't about to be a quick conversation.

"Hi Melanie," It was Danny's voice that made her stop in her tracks on the way to the shower, "I know we just left each other but I couldn't stop myself.....," there was a pause, "I just had to let you know that I was thinking about you," Michelle heard herself sigh, "Well I hope to see you later tonight. I can't play hooky tonight but I would love it if you came to the club. Well business is calling. Love ya."

Michelle sunk into the softness of the sofa, unable to believe her luck. What she imagined to be complete and utter hell was turning out to be heaven. As difficult as it was she did her best to bury the sneaking suspicion that this was way too good to be true.

"You look awful chipper for a man who never made it home last night," Albert said coming up from behind as Danny replaced the receiver.

"I guess you are right about that. As a matter of fact you have been right about quite a lot of things."

"Glad to hear you say that. There is something that I would like to discuss with you."

"Why so ominous?" Danny couldn't help but wonder what Aunt Jenny had done now.

"I need you to keep an open mind about this. Let's go in the office," Albert looked around as the employees began entering the club.

"Open mind?"

"Please, can we do this in the office?" Albert motioned in the direction of the open door.

"So she's finally gotten to, huh?" Danny's mood was immediately shredded by what he expected to hear, "So what is this the big kiss off or what?" he spat not understanding where all his rage was truly coming from.

"Get your arrogant ass in that office before I drop kick it in there!" Albert said with rage to match Danny's.

"What was all that about?" Carl asked Joe, the bartender.

"Hell if I know," he wasn't about to be forthcoming with any information regarding the private conversation he had been privy to.

"Seems like ever since that kid showed up.....Albert......he's been on edge," Carl had a feeling that Joe was loyal to Danny but it never hurt to assess the situation.

"I think you are looking for trouble where there isn't any," Joe countered.

"Are you blind or what?" Carl coaxed, "You mean to tell me that you haven't seen all the tension between Albert and his wife not to mention the way that Danny and Jenny stare at each other from across the room? It's not any normal Aunt/nephew relationship that I have ever seen before."

"And since when are you the judge of what's normal?" Joe asked sarcastically.

"Just what are you getting at?"

"It's no secret around here about you and your daughter. If you are looking at abnormal relationships, I think you should start at home and leave Albert to tend to his own business."

"Sarah and I have a perfectly fine relationship," Carl said not understanding why he found the need to defend himself, but did it anyhow.

"Perfectly whacked," Joe remarked.

"That's enough! I am still your boss you know!"

"What ever you say boss," Joe laughed knowing full well that Carl was a fool if he believed that one.

Albert eyed his nephew sitting before him. He was about as bullheaded as his wife.

"So what is this all about?" Danny asked the edge to his tone quite apparent.

"I thought Mick was the hot headed one of the family," Albert said more as a statement then a question.

"Exactly what are you trying to say, Uncle?"

"How about the fact that you weld your temper whenever the moment strikes you?"

"I just want to get this over. We all knew it was coming. I don't blame you, really. Jenny is your wife."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"I am waiting to be told that I am not welcome here any longer."

"That's not what I wanted to talk with you about."

"Then what? They way it came off was that Jenny has had enough of me and was finally getting her way."

"My god you both have such a chips on your shoulders."

"Huh?"

"My god, it's finally clear to me. She hates you for all the things that she lost in her life and you hate her as much for the things she represents that you never had a chance at. What took me so long to see that?"

"What are you talking about? I by no means hate Jenny."

"Oh but son you do. Maybe not Jenny as a person, but you do hate the fact that she possesses all the qualities lacking in your own mother."

"That's crazy," Danny wasn't about to admit that on more then one occasion since coming there he had thoughts those very things. Had wondered what it would be like to have a mother that cared more about her child and there needs rather then their own twisted agenda.

"Not from where I am sitting."

"So if this isn't about my leaving, then what?"

"I want you to give your aunt another chance."

"You are kidding right?"

"No."

"What on earth for?"

"Because maybe if the two of you could get past your own hang-ups that you would be good for the other."

"I doubt that."

"Please give it a chance. I mean a real chance for once. If this time around doesn't work then I will never make mention of it again," Albert looked into Danny's skeptical face, "Please, do this one thing for me. It's important for all of us."

"Whatever, but don't count on it being any different this time."

"Drop the attitude and it just might be!" Albert forced.

"And did you give your wife that same piece of advice? Seeing as she had one long before I did."

"Don't worry about Jenny. Just keeps yours in check and all should go well."

"What you want me to go do this now?"

"Well you certainly need to go home and take a shower. You look like you slept in those clothes. So I say no time like the present."

"If you say so." Danny got up to leave the room not believing that this conversation were to be any different then all the others they had had, but he would humor his uncle just to not ever have to do this again.

"By the way where were you all night?"

"With Melanie," The smile that had faded earlier was now back in its rightful place.

"See.....I knew I was right about you two. So how did she handle it when you told her you were a Santos."

"I didn't," Danny hesitated, "I thought about what you said and I just couldn't risk it. I can't lose her."

"You won't. I can feel it in my bones. There is some irresistible force between the two of you."

"Yeah, Carmen and the others," Danny said somberly.

"You said that you have Carmen under wraps right?"

"Yeah but I can't help thinking that maybe Carmen isn't the problem after all. I half expect to see Bernardo and the others walk through the door. I mean they know where you are Albert. It won't take a genius to figure out that I would come here."

"Carmen hasn't figured it out yet," Albert wanted to laugh.

"She doesn't want to. But sooner or later I think when she's pushed she won't have much choice."

"That is the one thing Jenny is worried about. She doesn't trust Carmen, as a matter of fact she never has. She thinks that Carmen isn't done with you just yet."

"But she does have to find me first," Danny added, "I promise if it comes to that. I will be gone. I promised you not to upset the life you have made here. I intend on keeping that promise."

Carl stood outside the closed door, wheels in his mind turning a mile a minute. He was actually piecing together a formidable plan. One that might actually rid him of Danny once and for all. Now the question was did he have the nerve to go through with it?

Dietz toyed with the phone weighing his options carefully. He had a pretty good idea that when this ended it wasn't going to be pretty and he wanted to be sure he aligned himself with the winning side.

He had worked for the Santos Family for so many years now that he had lost count. So in his own warped way it pained him to be playing with such thoughts.

He had always admired the way that Carmen had manipulated her spot at the table. As a matter a fact he had been in complete awe of it. It had been a masterpiece in the making, but right now the painting that she was laying out on the canvas before him and the others lacked the greatness, which he knew she had in her.

Danny's walking away had left her desperate. And working under the guise of desperation in the business was the fastest way to disappear. And as loyal as he may once have been, he wasn't about to evaporate into thin air.

"Mr. Sandoval please," Dietz heard his voice shake as he spoke Bernardo's name. He knew that he was playing with fire and hoping he wasn't about to get burnt. His only saving grace right now was in the fact that Bernardo had had enough games and Dietz would use that to his advantage.

"Yeah," the gruff voice came through the line.

"Nino?" Dietz questioned knowing that he had been given the wrong Mr. Sandoval.

"Yeah, who the hell is this?" Nino was his usual crass self.

"Dietz. I was calling to speak with you father. Is he there?"

"No."

"Could you give him a message? I would like to speak with him privately if he would grant me the opportunity of meeting with him," Dietz trotted out all the correct codes and protocols.

"What?!?! I ain't good enough for you to tell?" Nino was just about as hot headed as Mick had been. There was an unspoken bet between a number of the families as to whom would be the first to die between the two.

"It's nothing like that. This is something that I am sure that your father would wish to hear first hand."

"What does Carmen want now?" Nino's distaste for Carmen was as evident as Bernardo's.

"It's more like what she doesn't want him to know," Dietz dangled the bait before him, knowing full well that Nino would jump for it.

"Are you telling me what I think you are?"

"What is it that you think I am saying, Nino?"

"Are you looking to join forces with our family?" Nino's interest was seriously peaked. He remembered Dietz from when he couldn't have been more then six years old. Dietz had been a permanent fixture within the ranks of the Santos organization.

"I will only discuss this with Bernardo. Will you give him the message that I called?"

"You bet I will," Dietz was satisfied in knowing that he had caught Nino's attention enough to be sure that his message would be delivered to the intended recipient.

Ben had gone through his list of private investigators, twice maybe even three times, the minute the hint of the Santos name came up it was as if the voice on the other end turned to ice.

No one wanted to touch this job. Not even for the enormous amount of money that Carmen had left as his disposal.

He looked over the information for the ten thousandth time. None of it made any sense. If Carmen really thought there was something in all of this mess that would lead him to Danny, he sure as hell couldn't see it.

Ben was certain the time that it was going to take him to locate Danny would not fit into the table of those men he just met. That coupled with the fact that he now knew that they had been waiting for seven years already, Ben was even more sure that he was steadily coming to the end of the rope.

Another thing that struck him, as odd in the whole scheme of things was that Carmen had never once made mention of Mick, or the fact that Mick had been blackmailing him. He couldn't believe that she hadn't known about all of that.

Ben was starting to wonder if he was just a pawn in Carmen's elaborate plan? A further concern of his was Dietz. On the surface Ben knew that he could hold his own with him, but his words loomed around Ben's head. Dietz was far more knowledgeable in the game. And as much as Ben hated to admit it, he was at a great disadvantage. Disadvantage wasn't a place he wanted to be given the people who had the upper hand.

"I see you took care of the orders early today," Carl jabbed as Danny headed for the exit.

"Yeah I did. Want to make something about it?"

"No, I just wanted to know if there was anything that you needed me to do. I know that Jackson's daughter Alexa and her band are playing here tonight. I just making sure that you didn't need any help with that."

Carl's simple approach had caught Danny off guard. This wasn't the Carl Beck he had been dealing with from day one and he certainly didn't trust his sudden change of heart anymore then he did the one his aunt supposedly had had.

"Between, Reggie, Joe, Albert and myself, I think everything is under control."

"I am beginning to feel as if there isn't a place for me here anymore," Carl commented.

"Think what you like," Danny said turning his back to him. That position served Carl's temper well. For had Danny still been facing him, he doubted that he could have contained the rage that filled his posture. It had been his sweat that had helped bring this place into the forefront and suddenly he wasn't good enough? That a goddamned bartender had more say here then he did. Enough was enough! He wasn't about to let all he had worked for go up in smoke.

Danny slid behind the steering wheel and breathed in deeply. Melanie's sent still hung in the air. Immediately he was drawn back not so many hours ago. There she was standing in front of him the gentle morning wind tossing her curls about. He ached for her. It felt more like days instead of hours that they had been apart.

This was all so foreign to him. He wasn't sure exactly what to do with all these emotions that coursed through him. They were the antithesis of what Carl conjured up from his fiery depths.

Carl brought out every true Santos quality he had. Carl had the ability to turn him into a mobster through and through.

Everything about Carl Beck was suspect from where Danny stood. And this sudden nice guy was one ploy that wasn't about to work. Danny wasn't going to let his defenses down with him anymore then he planned on doing with Jenny no matter what Albert's wishes were.

He caught sight of Jenny sitting on the terrace. He imagined that she was just finishing up breakfast. It was barely eight o'clock in the morning. At this point Danny had been up for a little over twenty-four hours and until right now he hadn't noticed how truly tired he was. Having confrontation number two thousand was low on his list of things to do at the moment.

Danny's car rolled to a stop in front of the garage. He cut the engine and tried to remember what Albert had said about his attitude. However the mere thought of sitting down and having and intelligent conversation with Jenny, well it was just a foreign to him as the feelings that Melanie elicited in him. None the less this was something that he had to do. Albert expected it of him and Danny respected his uncle enough to do what was expected of him. Even if the results would be far from what Albert expected.

"Good morning, Danny," Jenny said as she watched him pensively climbing the stairs to meet her, "Would you like a cup of coffee or maybe something to eat?" Jenny shifted uneasily in her chair waiting for his answer.

"Sure." Danny dropped himself in the seat across from her and waited for the inevitable fireworks.

Jenny poured Danny a cup and searched for someway to start this conversation. What words were there to explain this all away? I'm sorry, well that wasn't nearly enough.

She looked at his face and pushed Richard's resemblance into the far corner of her mind. Yet maybe that was where she needed to pull from.

"Albert thought we should talk," Danny said first tired of the silence.

"So did I," she added.

"Oh really?" Danny had trouble hiding his sarcasm.

"Hard as that is to believe yes I did."

"So what will it be this time?" he quipped, "You going to tell me again what a gangster I am......or better yet that I robbed you of you son?!?!" Danny knew that was hitting below the belt but he couldn't stop the words from rolling off his tongue.

"No," she said gently.

Danny was taken aback, "What?"

"I won't be doing that anymore."

"What's with the complete 180?"

"I can't keep doing this....and not keep my husband and my marriage."

"And what you aren't blaming the demise of your marriage on me?"

"No, I Albert and I did that all on our own," Again Danny was forced into silence, "What was broken between us happened long before you ever even thought about coming to Texas. I was just too bullheaded to admit it."

"So now you expect me to believe that you are welcoming me with open arms?" Danny was certain that this wasn't exactly what Albert had in mind when he said keep your attitude in check, but Danny didn't know any other way to react to this.

"No. Too much has been said for either one of us to believe that."

"Then what? What exactly are we doing this for? Or is it just some elaborate show for Albert?"

"No," Jenny knew this wasn't going the way she had wanted. There was no simple explanation for her actions. They were all rolled into something that took place fifteen years ago. The hurt and grief that was never allowed to come to the surface then now rearing it's head was far too twisted to make much sense to herself much less someone who was only a small child at the time.

"Then what?" Danny questioned far too tired to even care about the answer.

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" Danny repeated with disgust in his voice.

"Doesn't quite do the job does it?"

"Not hardly! Jenny, I came here with the best of intentions. I only wanted a fresh start. I told you that time and time again. You just chose to assume the worst in me at every turn. And now suddenly you expect me to trust this? Haven't we done the I'll try thing far too many times already?" Danny heard the strain in his own voice to hold back the tears that were now collecting in the back of his throat.

Jenny didn't know what to say in response to that. He had been correct in that assumption. They, more like she, had offered her support in previous times but it had fallen short each and every attempt. She really couldn't blame him for not believing her.

"What can I do?" she fieablely asked.

"Nothing. You could have accepted me for the very beginning. You could have given me a chance to prove that I wasn't the monster you thought I was. You could have not put a roadblock up at every turn........" Danny could have gone and on with the could haves but there really was no point to it. Nothing could turn back the hands of time. What was done was done. Like most things in his life.

"I should have. Can't you just understand the fear I felt?"

"What was there to fear? I wasn't a threat. That wasn't my intention."

"No it wasn't, but from my standpoint you were. You were everything that we had left behind. The violence, the secrecy, the fear, the minute I picked up the phone and heard your voice it was like hearing Miguel all over again. Those were times that I never want to relive."

"You must be missing the point. I don't want those things either. That's why I came here in the first place!" Danny shouted angry all over again.

"I know that here," she pointed to her head, "but it's here I am having the trouble with," as her finger came to rest at her heart.

"I don't understand."

"I lost my son. Each time I look at you I see him. I am angry that he is dead. I hate the fact that my boy's life was cut so short. After all these years watching you walk through my door brought back all the ghosts. Things that neither Albert nor I ever talked about. Danny, I can't even visit his grave. Do you know what that feels like?"

Danny couldn't fathom that thought. There had been so many times when he was struggling with one thing or another that he went to his father's gravesite. It brought him peace and clarity of thought. To imagine never to have been able to do that well it was unthinkable.

"Richard was not a topic of conversation in this house ever. I couldn't speak his name without Albert throwing his hand up in the air as if to stop my words."

"I'm sorry," Danny reached out for the first time in effort to truly comfort her. Maybe they weren't so different after all.

In Jenny's sentences if you replaced the names Carmen for Albert and Miguel or Mick for Richard, she had pretty much describe the way things had been in the Santos house after each of those deaths.

"So can you see why suddenly it was like getting run over by a Mack truck? It was as if I was watching a replay of my life only you had been recast as the part of my son. That made me angry. I didn't want a replacement. I wanted Richard. Everything that you did was an irritation to me. Just one more thing that took what little I had left of my life."

"But that wasn't how it was. I was looking for a place to fit in."

"I know, but when you aren't thinking rationally it doesn't really matter what is or isn't taking place. So do you think there a ghost of a chance of making this work?" she asked.

"I wish I knew."

Danny and Jenny sat there well into the morning talking. For the first time since his arrival Danny felt that he belonged there. Jenny had brought out the pictures of Richard that had been tucked away in secret for years now.

One caught his attention. It was a photo of Richard, Albert, Miguel and Mick. Without thought Danny reached out and stroked the glass. Like by doing that he would be tied to the father he missed more then he realized. He had to wonder if his life would have been simpler or more complicated if his father had been part of it. Unfortunately that was a question he would never have an answer for.

"Tell me this Danny, in all honesty how long do you think that you can run?" Jenny's question pulled him from his thoughts.

"What?"

"You know what I am asking. I am not as naive as you would like to believe. Just because I chose to pretend I didn't know what went on behind closed doors, doesn't mean that I was oblivious to it. I know that you were the person that Miguel wanted to run the business. Just as I knew that Albert fully expected Richard to be your second as he had always been your fathers."

"You did?" Danny wondered if his jaw was scrapping the grown at this realization.

"Yes. So I ask you how long do you think you can hide out here? That is the part of this all that frightens me the most. That sooner or later we are going to get pulled back in no matter if Albert wants to or not."

"I assure you the minute I get wind of trouble I am gone."

"And won't that be a bit too late?"

"I hope not," Danny said his voice barely a whisper.

"That's what I am afraid of."