The silver lame fabric of Jenny's evening gown whispered as she walked through the swinging doors of the Emergency Room. Instantly her eyes were drawn to the distraught group sitting across the lobby. Jenny held her breath as she saw the blood; Danny's blood spattered about Melanie's clothes. She closed her eyes tightly and did her best to gain the inner strength necessary to stop the demons from her past from taking over her every thought.

It would have been so simple to be drawn back to a night similar to this fifteen years ago. The players may have been different, but she feared the outcome would be the same none the less.

At the moment she had felt as if her feet had taken root. As much as Jenny willed herself to move forward, nothing happened. She had thought that she would be able to handle this alone, but now being in the thick of it she was less then sure of her resolve.

The ambulance sirens and the monotone voices overhead served as staunch reminders of a night she would just as soon forget. She found it funny that even though she and Albert had finally brought Richard's memory into present day, there were still portions of that memory that she compartmentalize as to deal with the pain. Her current surrounds were quickly stripping those compartments away and that frightened her.....................

She could hear the muffled voices from the study.

They were sounds that she had grown accustomed to, so much so that most times she barely acknowledged them. However on this night something about the strained sounds set her instincts in motion.

Her husband and son left the house that night but only one would be returning. If Jenny had known that then she would have not let them sneak away without as much as a good-bye.

As the clock struck midnight, Jenny sat up straight in bed, her heart racing, mouth dry. Every one of her nerve endings was on fire. Without thinking she reached for the phone as it rang beneath her fingertips.

"Hello," her raspy voice said.

"Jenny, its Miguel."

If she had not already been sitting, she was certain that she would had fainted at the sound of her brother-in-laws voice.

"What.....what is it?" the tears pooled in her eyes as she waited for the words she already knew.

"It's Richard........"

"Richard?!?!" she was stunned. This was not the revelation she had expected. "What?!?!"

"I'm sorry. Richard is dead," Miguel said flatly.

"Jenny," Albert's voice startled her.

"Oh Albert," she cried falling into his arms, "This can't be happening.....not again," she gasped.

"Joe, give us a minute please?"

"Sure. I'll go see what I can find out."

"Thank you."

"Albert, what happened? Do you think that Carmen or one of the others is responsible for this? I thought you had this under control?"

Albert resisted the urge to jump at the sounds of her remarks. He did his best not to let her words anger him; make him feel as though he was again responsible. Even in his heart that was how he felt. He was kicking himself for not just going to Bernardo and taking care of the problem the minute he saw it unfolding.

"Jenny, calm down. We don't even know what happened yet. One thing might not have anything to do with the other."

"Do you really believe that?" she questioned.

"Right now I don't know what to believe?" he sighed heavily.

"Albert........" Jenny's tears fell again.

"I know...... I know," he said wrapping her tightly in his arms knowing this was too much hell to live through twice in one life time, "Let's go see what we can find out?"

"Look at her," Jenny said as she motioned to Melanie who still wore a look of shell shock on her face.

"Poor girl," Albert turned away sorry now he had pushed Danny to be with her. Maybe his nephew had been right all along. Right in the fact that there was no getting away from their life. And those that entered were taken hostage.

"Any news on Danny?" Joe asked as the two approached.

"We wanted to talk to Melanie first," Albert said kneeling before her, "Melanie honey, can you hear me?" There was no response. She starred blankly at the wall across the room.

"She's been like this even since we got here," Sarah said.

"Does anyone know what happened?" Albert asked.

"Not really," Matt and Sarah said together. They did their best to relay what little information that they did know. It was sketchy at best.

"Well, I better check on Danny's condition," Albert turned heading towards the admitting desk.

"There's one more thing," Matt said, "He's been admitted under the name Danny Santos."

Those words froze Albert in his tracks. Danny Santos.......the name bounced around in his brain. This only complicated further the abstract story that they had just been told. "What?" he returned his voice barely a whisper.

"I know what you are thinking, cause I thought it too. But that's the name that they have for him," Matt assured.

Albert walked away with Jenny in tow, "Danny Santos?' she questioned, "How......what on earth is going on here?"

"I wish I knew," he returned, "Excuse me," Albert said to the young woman behind the desk, "I'd like to speak with the doctor in charge of my nephew, Danny Samp......Santos, Danny Santos."

"That would be Dr. Hacker. He's still in consulting with the cardiologist and the other surgeon."

"Cardiologist.......surgeon?" Jenny's high-pitched voice rose further with those words.

"I would like to see my nephew." Albert forced.

"As soon as the doctor's know anything I am sure they will be out to discuss it with you. If you'd like to have a seat," she motioned to the many chairs in the lobby area.

"Listen," Jenny said hysteria getting the better of her, "I want to see him. And I want to see him now! Do you understand?!?!" she yelled.

"That's the best that I can do for you right now," the young girl said.

"Please let us know when the doctors are available," Albert said leading Jenny back to their group.

"He can't die, Albert. He can't die without me getting to tell him that.................."

"Easy," Albert whispered into her hair. He didn't know who she was thinking of right now. It could have been Richard, it could have been Danny. He was almost certain it was a combination of both.

"What's the word?" Joe jumped up anxiously upon their return.

"Nothing yet," Albert sighed, "Apparently the doctors are still in with him. As soon as they are finished they will be out to let us know."

Jenny walked over and took the vacant seat beside Michelle, who's body was physically there but mind was off in another time and place.

Silently she sat replaying the events that led up to now over and over again. She couldn't grasp that Danny was Mick's brother. That she was responsible for killing the brother of the man that she loved most in this world. In her fragile state she couldn't wrap her thoughts around that concept.

Would Danny have killed her? Could he have enacted the revenge that she feared from the very beginning; that had brought her to Texas in the first place?

Her heart told her no but her mind kept seeing his cold black eyes looking right through her. The likeness to Mick's eyes is what had frightened her the most. It was like he wasn't really seeing her. He was only seeing what he had been taught to.

In a flash Michelle's memory forced her to relive all the moments that she had shared with Danny. The times when they had share their feelings and emotions. She couldn't let herself forget how instinctively they fit together. That had to count for something. She knew in her heart that neither one of them could have pretended those things. It was possible but not highly probable.

"Melanie," Jenny's soft voice poked at her thoughts, "Melanie, honey are you alright? Have you been checked out by a doctor yet?" Jenny was trying to occupy herself with anything other then thinking about the possibility that Danny could die. She was certain as well that Danny would be beside himself if he thought that Melanie was hurt and not getting the proper care.

"I'm fine," she said never averting her gaze from the wall.

"Honey, I really think we should have a doctor check you out."

"I'm fine really."

"Dr. Hacker?" Albert said as a man in a white lab coat exited into the lobby.

"Yes, you are Danny's relatives?" he questioned.

"Family and friends," Albert returned as the others came to gather around, "So how is he?" Albert asked hesitantly wrapping his arm around his wife and Michelle.

"Right now I wish I had better news," Dr. Hacker's voice foreboding.

"Is he going to make it?" Jenny asked.

"That all depends on where the bullet is, and we won't know that until after surgery."

"Where the bullet is?" Joe questioned.

"Yes, there was no exit wound. By the location of the entry it's safe to assume that it's lodged somewhere next to his heart."

"Oh my god," Sarah cried, "Mel said she couldn't find an exit wound. She was really freaking out about it."

Michelle found it amusing to think that she was being talked about as if she wasn't even there.

"So what exactly does all this mean?" Albert asked again.

"It means for the moment he's as stable as he can be. We will need to do some x-rays and then on to surgery."

"What's the worst case scenario?" Albert asked not really wanting an answer.

"Depending on its location......." the doctor searched for the right words say what he knew by the looks on these people's faces that they already knew, "There is a good chance he could die on the operating table."

The silence that filled the corridor was deafening. "NO!!!!" Michelle's tortured voice cried before she fainted into Albert's arms.

Jenny watched as Albert helped the nurses place Melanie on a gurney. Her own hands were clammy and her body was chilled to the bone by the words that the doctor had spoken. There was a good possibility that Danny might never make it out of this.

Jenny wanted to cry but there were no more tears. The only thought that marched through her head was that the mob had claimed but another victim. Another innocent that wanted nothing more then to live a life free of the violence.

She looked on as Albert followed Melanie down the hall. She wanted to go with them but the mother in her forced her to do what she had never gotten the chance to do with her own son.

"Doctor," Jenny gently tapped the man on the shoulder.

"Yes?"

"I understand time is of the essence, but please I would like to see my nephew before........." the words caught in her throat as the realization of what she was about to say hit her.

"You have a few minutes while they are setting up for the x-rays. He's been sedated. So don't expect too much."

"I won't. Thank you."

Jenny stood perched outside the swinging door of the trauma unit. Through the thin strip of glass she saw Danny lying there completely helpless. She closed her eyes breathing deeply gathering the courage needed to enter. Finally pushing the door open she walked to his side. The tangled mass of tubes and machines were loud and ominous in the tiny 6x6 room.

Jenny brushed his hair away from his forehead the way she had done so many times for her own son when he had been a boy. Her heart ached for Richard. She couldn't help wondering if he had clung to life the way that Danny was right now.

Jenny reached out and took his hand in hers. It was difficult to tell whose was colder.

"Danny," she soft in a hushed voice bringing the back of his hand to her lips, "I want you to know that we are here for you. All of us are out there pulling for you; praying for you. Son, I love you like you were my own. I know I was a stubborn old woman who wasted so much time upon your arrival. I'm sorry for that."

She now looked up to the sky, "Dear Lord, please grant us another chance. We have sinned, father but I want to believe that we have paid dearly for those sins. Please keep Danny safe and bring him back to those that he loves and those that love him."

"Excuse me," a nurse said, "X-ray is ready for him."

Jenny left the room slowly, watching as they wheeled Danny out the other door. As much as she despised Carmen, she had a right to know that her son might die. The goodness in Jenny couldn't stand idly by and let what happened to her happen to another mother.

Carmen had a right to know and what she chose to do with the information was her call.

Agent Jeremy Lucas sat alone in the conference room. His mind raced for the right words to make his superiors understand the way things had happened. Why he had acted on impulse. He had been doing his job. That was his only line of defense. The women who had been left in his charge was in danger. What other options did he have.

Jeremy had called the hospital and the update he had received on Danny Santos was far from promising. That fact wasn't going to help him in the least bit. No matter what way he rationalized his involvement, he wasn't about to slip through the noose unscathed.

By all rights he was to have dropped the Michelle Bauer/Melanie Branson case months ago. On numerous occasions he had been reminded what office protocol was but he had chosen to ignore it. That ignorance was now about to cost him.

He watched them file in one by one and take their respective seats. He shifted uneasy in his, especially at the sight of Agent Reynolds. They wasted no time in getting him here from Illinois.

"Lucas," Supervisor Brennan began as he closed the door.

Albert watched through the pane of glass as the nurses took Melanie's vitals and waited for a doctor to come in to examine her. He had been thankful that she was now conscious again. That fact relieved his troubled mind. Yet not enough to make sense out of all the disjointed information that he had been fed so far. He didn't even know where to begin to put it in any kind of order.

So far the things he did know didn't add up to anything. Danny was shot; from the best he could surmise, the mob hadn't been responsible. If it had, the job would not have been so haphazard. He knew that he hadn't been involved for quite some time now, but he couldn't believe that a hit man would have left so many witnesses. That just didn't make sense.

And how on earth was Danny admitted under the Santos name? That was the question that plagued him the most. Outside of himself and Jenny, the Santos name had never been brought into play.

Albert traced back the steps to earlier in the day. He searched for a reason for Danny to run half-cocked from the club the way he did. The shredded picture of Melanie popped into his mind's eye, unfortunately that image further clouded what was going on. When he had talked to Melanie that afternoon, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He was just playing with the two of them knowing full well that Melanie gave as good as she got and would call right back.

What if that phone call that Danny had so eagerly picked up hadn't been Melanie after all? They all seemed to be lulled into a state of complacency where Carmen was concerned. What if that had been their mistake? But that thought still didn't equate to why Danny would have ripped Melanie's picture. The one thing he was certain of was the boy's love for her.

Could Carmen have found out about her? Was it possible that she could have been using Melanie and her safety as a way of forcing Danny's hand? The possibility that Carmen had threatened Melanie would not have surprised him. Carmen was a cold-hearted snake when it came to getting what she wanted.

Albert's thoughts rested on this new idea. The idea that the bullet had been meant for Melanie and not Danny. As plausible as that idea was there was a part of it that still nagged at him. Carmen would have not been so quick to react. She would have given Danny time to comply, knowing that dangling the threat was a much better way to get the desired response. Also he was sure that Dietz would not have blundered the job. So now rather then having an answer, Albert had just added another question to the already long line.

He kept coming back to the fact that Danny was admitted under the name Santos. How was that possible? Even in a state of delirium he couldn't imagine Danny blurting out those words. Obviously there was still a crucial piece of information that he was lacking. But what?

"How is she?" Albert asked as a nurse left the room.

"Physically she is fine."

"Thank god!"

"We gave her a sedative for the time being. It is our understanding her boyfriend was shot?"

"Yes."

"Well Dr. McCabe thought it would be best if she was to rest for a bit."

"May I sit with her?" Albert questioned.

"Certainly."

The heavy doors made a swooshing sound as they swung until finally slowing to a stop. The strings of his heart tugged at him. There was this sweet young woman, who brought light into the darkest corners of the lives around her. She hadn't deserved this any more then Danny did. Her only crime was falling in love with his nephew.

Albert knew that he should have gotten back to the rest of the group with the information that Melanie was fine. He also needed to find out how Danny was fairing as well, but he was drawn there for the moment. Somewhere in the cavity of his head, he knew that she was the key to understanding this all.

Jeremy Lucas watched as the eyes in the room came to rest on him again. The tale he had just told did little to endear him to the men at the table. By the expressions on their faces he could have given them a pot of gold and they still won't have been pleased.

He had hoped to gain a fraction of support from Agent Reynolds, but that hadn't been the case. In all honesty he had only served to strengthen the idea that Agent Lucas had used his position to prey on his subject's vulnerability.

"What happens now?" Jeremy Lucas finally got up enough nerve to ask.

"That depends," Supervisor Brennan stated.

"Depends?" Lucas repeated, "Depends on what?"

"Whether the Santos man dies."

"What????" Jeremy Lucas heard the confusion in his own voice. Weren't they supposed to take down the bad guys? He thought that that was the primary job of the agency he worked for.

"Problem?" Brennan asked.

"YES!!"

"Why? It's quite simple to understand. You see, if Danny Santos dies, well then you are out of a job…..hell you will be lucky to get a job as a janitor. And if by some stroke of luck he survives, you will find yourself wading your way through the mounds of inactive files that are in desperate need of being cataloged and shipped off to the archives for storage."

"You are kidding right?" Agent Lucas asked in disbelief.

"Does this look like the face of a man who is joking?" Supervisor Brennan said through clenched teeth.

If it had been solely up to him, Jeremy Lucas would have been out on his ear the first time that he had disobeyed the directive regarding The Melanie Branson case. But he had been told to back off and give the man some room to do his job. But from where he stood, it looked as though Jeremy Lucas had done everything but his job.

"WHY?!?!?" Agent Lucas had the audacity to ask.

"WHY!?!?" Supervisor Brennan returned with as much tenacity.

"I WAS ONLY DOING MY JOB!!!! IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR ME MICHELLE BAUER WOULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW!!!!!" he had said the words so many times now he was truly beginning to believe them.

"Need I remind you that as of two months ago Michelle Bauer was no longer your concern?" Brennan's voice boomed.

"You don't understand…………."

"NO!" Brennan forced stopping Jeremy's obvious rebuttal, "It is you who doesn't seem to understand! This isn't just some comedy of errors. This was, is for heaven sakes complete insubordination on your part. If I had my way from the get go I would have thrown you out on your ear months ago."

"Are we forgetting the fact that Danny Santos was by all rights about to kill this girl? Or is it suddenly okay to just sacrifice someone we have sworn to protect?!?!" Jeremy's voice rose his anger and the feelings he still secretly harbored for Michelle getting the better of him.

All he could see was Danny Santos holding her against her will and her screams still pierced his eardrums. The things that happened after that were somewhat of a blur still.

"You think that you can take the events here and twist them to meet your agenda?" Brennan's words were rhetorical in nature, "This has nothing to do with protecting Michelle Bauer and everything to do with your lack of adhering to the protocols of this department."

"SCREW YOUR DAMN PROTOCOLS!!!!!!!" Jeremy spat, "I wasn't about to stand there and let anything happen to her!"

"Ahhh, I see we have finally gotten to the heart of the matter," Brennan smiled content in the fact that Jeremy Lucas was just about to hang himself.

"You weren't there…..NONE OF YOU WERE…..you didn't see the fear in her eyes; you didn't hear the terror in her screams. I did what any of you would have done given the situation!"

"You mean acting without thinking?" Brennan countered, "I highly doubt that."

"I was thinking!" he protested.

"Yeah thinking with you dick," an agent from across the table said.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!!!" Brennan shot a feverish look at the man only wishing that he had thought of it first.

"All any of you had to do was take one look at her to know that she was out of her league. She was completely alone and scared half to death. Come on Reynolds, even you said you knew that…….." Jeremy searched for any life preserver on his steadily sinking ship.

"All I asked to be done was a little more help in getting her settled in," Agent Reynolds countered, "I didn't tell you to fall in love with her."

"Fall in love???? You're kidding right? I wasn't in love with her…………" Jeremy said his eyes darting around the room as all eyes came to rest on him.

Supervisor Brennan tossed a folder onto the table within Agent Lucas' reach, "Think again."

Jeremy looked at the pages held within the manila folder. His thinking that he had appeased Michelle, had been foolish. On the sheet before him, he read the tale of his "stalking" of her.

"Cat got your tongue?" Brennan asked seeing Lucas' face grow paler with each line that he read, "Care to recant any of your last statements?"

"What?" he returned not really hearing himself speak.

"I asked if you wish to rethink anything you have told us so far."

"I never meant to scare her. I just wanted to help her. I thought that we would be good together……." His voice trailed off the full impact finally hitting him.

"Might I make a suggestion and save yourself any further embarrassment Agent Lucas?" Supervisor Brennan began, "If you tender your resignation, none of what has taken place here will go any further than these four walls, however should you choose not to do so, a formal investigation into Ms. Bauer's allegations will become necessary."

"But…….."

"Jeremy," Agent Reynolds spoke to his longtime friend, "It's for the best. Just take the offer. It's really your only option."

Jeremy Lucas scribbled his signature on the pieces of paper placed in front of him without so much as a glance at their words. One momentary lapse of reason had cost him a twelve-year career and possibly a man his life.

Jenny picked up the pay phone's receiver and put it down only to pick it up once more. The words she was searching for eluded her. She had barely spoken to Carmen in all the years that their husband's worked side by side and since their departure to Texas she hadn't spoken to her at all.

Why she felt this need to inform Carmen, she just couldn't put her finger on it, but the sensation was so strong that she had little control over stopping it.

Finally she let her fingers dial a number that in all the years hadn't been forgotten. Pensively Jenny listened as the ringing buzzed in her ear. Absently she looked down at the diamond-crusted watch on her wrist; it was just about to strike midnight. What was supposed to have been a joyous evening had turned into a nightmare roller coaster ride of emotions.

As the phone continued to ring in her ear, Jenny wondered if Carmen was out for the evening. She found it hard to envision Carmen ringing in the New Year.

"Santos residence," a voice finally said.

"Carmen Santos please," Jenny's voice shook.

"May I tell her who is calling?" the voice asked.

"Tell her Albert's wife."

"Excuse me?" the voice questioned.

"She will understand," Jenny assured.

She looked around at her surroundings knowing in her heart she was doing the right thing. She had wished that someone had done this for her that fateful night so many years ago. She craved for so many years to have the opportunity she was now affording Carmen. Jenny shook her head wondering if Carmen would even care; if there was even an ounce of motherly instinct left in her body. Somehow Jenny doubted it.

Jenny would have given up anything to have had just one more minute with Richard. Just one fleeting moment where she could have gotten to say good-bye to her son. No matter how Jenny felt about Carmen, as one mother to another she couldn't take that chance away from her.

"Hello?" Carmen's tone bit at the airwaves.

"Hello Carmen," Jenny said calmer then she expected to be.

"Who is this?" the angry voice questioned annoyed that she had been pulled away from her business.

"It's Jenny, Carmen." The silence that met Jenny's words was eerie.

"What is it you want?" she returned finally.

"Something's happened......................."

"By something I hope you mean that Daniel has finally come to his senses and has seen you and your husband for the cowards that you both are!" Carmen spat.

It took every ounce of her resolve not to slam the phone down and say the hell with it. Not that Jenny was all that surprised by Carmen's venom, she was a snake.

"Not quite," was all Jenny had been able to say before Carmen was off and running again.

"I hope you understand Jenny, that Daniel still is my," she stressed the word, "son! And no amount of play acting on your part is going to change that fact!"

"You may have born him Carmen, but Danny stopped being your son a long time ago."

"You are delusional!" Carmen growled.

"No more then you are, if you think that Danny feels anything more then contempt for you."

"Daniel loves me!" she forced.

"Loves you?" Jenny did her best not to laugh.

"The relationship I have with my son is one that you would never understand. I see a greatness in my son that yours never had!!" Carmen's words were razor sharp. "So don't think that you can make up for his shortcomings by riding on Daniel's coat tails."

"You sick manipulative BITCH!!! The only shortcoming I ever saw in Richard was that he was too willing to please his father," Jenny fought the tears as she continued to speak, "Thankfully for Danny's sake that was one he didn't inherit. He was smart enough to see through your ruse. So if my son's shortcoming as you so aptly put it is he loved his father and wanted to please him then so be it! Why I ever thought you would ever put your children first I will never know!"

"I LOVE MY CHILDREN!!"

"Love Carmen, is unconditional and yours my dear always comes with a price. Unfortunately this time the price might be too high for Danny to pay."

"What???? What are you talking about?" Carmen hated to be spoken to in riddles.

"Carmen, Danny was shot tonight," Jenny said solemnly.

Carmen stood silent the realization of Jenny's words hitting home. Daniel had been shot? The idea was unbelievable. This couldn't be happening, she thought, not when she was finally so close to avenging Mick's death and reigning Daniel in all at the same time. It just couldn't be happening.

"Carmen?" Jenny questioned.

"How is he?" she asked the thought of his threat looming large in her mind at the moment. The world as she knew it had a very real possibility of exploding around her at any second.

"It doesn't look good." Jenny amazed herself with the composure that she had found in her. Minutes before Carmen was taking pot shots at her son and still she found the strength to be civil. She was flabbergasted by it all.

"Why?? What's happening?"

"Carmen, there's a real possibility he could die. I thought you deserved to know that. What you decide to do, well that's up to you."

"He can't die!" Jenny mistook Carmen's urgency for concern, "He can't die," she said again as the wheels in her head spun wildly. She needed to get a handle on this and fast. If there was even an inkling of truth to what Jenny was saying she was a goner.

"I thought you had a right to know. Good-bye Carmen."

Carmen fell back into the high back leather chair, wondering how many more trumps she had left before the hand she had been dealt would be played out. At each turn the control she had just gained was negated by but another force beyond her power. It was beyond maddening now.

Suddenly the only thing that mattered was her own self-preservation. As people she professed to care about died all around her, she was determined not to be among there midst.

A part of her wondered where the tears were for the small fraction there was that she could lose another child in a time span of less then a year. Rather then rushing to Texas to be by Danny's side, there she sat calculating her next move; looking for the most strategic way to capitalize and hold onto what was rightfully hers.

But for Carmen that was far from out of the ordinary. It had become second nature to her and as much as she claimed to love her children she wasn't about to change at this late date.

Michelle opened her eyes slowly letting them adjust to the bright lights that hung over head. Her present thoughts were encircled in a thick fog of confusion. "Danny," she whispered licking her dry lips.

"Hey you," she recognized the voice but couldn't place the face.

"Danny," she said again.

As Michelle's eyes grew more focused to her surroundings, the floodgates of reality sent her memories crashing down on her with tidal wave force. The doctor's final words regarding Danny's condition felt like thousands of needles being simultaneously pushed through her skin.

"Melanie?" She turned to see Danny's uncle sitting in the chair next to the bed she was laying in. "Are you feeling any better?"

She felt her heart quicken. If Danny was a Santos, then so was Albert. The wild thoughts she now entertained caused her head to spin out of control. If Danny hadn't been able to finish the job, would his uncle now be taking up where he left off?

"Melanie?" he questioned sensing the fear that filled her posture.

"Are you going to kill me?" her voice was barely audible.

"What?!?!?" he was taken aback by her question.

"It was self-defense. I swear to god......I didn't mean to kill him," she sputtered doing her best to back away from this man that up until now she had thought of as a friend.

"What are you talking about?" Albert was now more confused then ever.

Before Michelle could answer him the door swung open. She jumped expecting another hail of gunfire.

"Dr. Hacker would like you to join him in the surgical waiting area."

"Is there news about my nephew?"

"The doctor will discuss that with you momentarily."

The nurse was gone as quickly as she had come. Albert was further drowning in all the things that he still didn't understand. Melanie's words had been the final lead weight forcing him to sink deeper under the water. But right now the numerous questions would have to wait.

"Do you think you are up to this?" he turned to the girl who was starring at him as if she was a caged animal.

"Huh?"

"Are you feeling up to joining the others when we talk to the doctor regarding Danny?"

"What?"

He assumed that she was still in shock from the whole incident. He certainly didn't want to make matters worse, especially if things had gone badly, but he had seen what being left out of Richard's death had done to his wife and he didn't want that to happen to Melanie.

"We need to go find out how Danny is doing," Albert said gently stretching his hand to her.

Instinctively she reached out to him. Suddenly so sure of what she was doing. It felt as if a silent revelation had taken place inside of her. The warring factions inside her head unexpectedly declared a truce and again her thoughts were centered completely on Danny and the love for him that filled her. She felt that somehow that love would be her shield; protect her in a way that no love she had had before had done.

"Melanie?" Albert said looking at the young girl who had transformed right before his eyes. To him he abruptly felt as if he had stepped into the fun house room of mirrors. Nothing was if appeared to be. With each glance in a different direction a new image emerged more skewed then the last. The effect was dizzying.

"Yes," she said, "Let's go. I need to see Danny."

Dietz paced the room as he listened for the umpteenth time the news bulletin that broke across the television screen. He perched himself on the edge of the bed and let the words slipping from the pretty news anchors mouth truly sink in this time........

"Danny Santos, of the renowned Santos Crime Family, was shot today in Galveston, Texas. The federal and local authorities at the present time aren't releasing much information. Currently Mr. Santos' condition is listed as critical. We will be back with further details as they are posted......."

 

He ran his hand through his thinning hair. The was surreal, even for him. Danny had been shot. The mere thought of it sent him into a tailspin. He couldn't help wondering if Carmen knew. He could only imagine what must have been going through her head right now. Dietz hadn't forgotten Danny's well placed threat, more importantly he knew that Carmen certainly hadn't either. If the threat was one of substance, Carmen stood to lose everything. Along with the others. Surely they all would be running for cover at the moment. It appeared to him the most opportune time to act. In the weeks he had holed up in this shabby excuse for a motel, he had begun constructing a plan of action for himself. The secrets that he had gained over his long years of loyal service would prove to be quite useful now.

A pang of guilt over took him for a moment. Danny had been a good kid. Dietz recalled all the times he watched the young boy trail after his father-asking question after question. Miguel had been a great and powerful man, yet when it came to Danny there had always been more to him.

A lump came to sit in Dietz's throat whenever he thought back to the day that Miguel had been killed. Everyone watched helplessly as Miguel slipped away while there wasn't a damn thing they could do to stop it. In the black of the night there were times that Dietz could still hear Danny's tortured cries for his fallen father.

He got up and walked over to look at his reflection in the mirror. On closer inspection he wondered where the strong man he once had been was now, was then. Rather then put an end to a reign of terror that had gone on for far too long, he sat quietly by and dutifully played his part. Always thinking that that would gain him a place of respect. But look where that had gotten him now. Absolutely no where. For all his loyalty, Carmen had still not thought him good enough, hell smart enough to be the right hand that he deserved. So now he was left running from all sides. Bernardo was certain not to just forget the things that Carmen had led him to believe and she may have let him walk but he knew all too well that she would strike when she thought he would least expect it. That wouldn't be the case this time though, this was the last time that Carmen would underestimate him. Dietz walked over to the phone and held the receiver firmly in his hand. As he dialed the number he wondered exactly what reaction he was about to come up against.

Michelle walked along side of Albert as they made their way through the cold sterile corridors to the surgical waiting area. It was hard to believe that New Year's Eve had come and gone. She absently wondered where all the party hats and paper streamers were. Where were the familiar tones of Ole Lang Syne? Where was the champagne toast and the kiss that promised great things for the coming year? Where were all the things normal? Michelle found herself laughing despite herself. Nothing in her life equated to normal in a while now, why had she expected this to be any different.

She looked to see Jenny, Sarah, Matt and Joe pacing around the room almost trance like. Each in their own path, all circling yet never colliding.

"Any news?" Albert's voice barely above a whisper yet it seemed to resonate throughout the room.

"The doctor hasn't been in to talk to us yet," Jenny offered, "Melanie, how are you feeling?"

"Better."

"Danny's a strong young man. He's never backed down from a fight. I don't imagine he will start now," Jenny said resting her arm comfortably around Michelle's shoulder for support.

Michelle searched this woman's loving eyes looking for the words, any words but they eluded her. She turned her gaze towards Albert as well. How could she put into words how sorry she was for all of this? That she never meant to bring harm to their family.

Again she tried not to laugh at that thought. The thought that she brought harm to a family that made a daily living of enforcing fear on all those around them. The Santos family was synonymous with words like fear, terror, harm and violence. Who was she trying to kid?

But yet in the back of her mind, she couldn't bring herself to see that in these people standing before her. Offering nothing but love and support. This was all such the antithesis of her expectations. Much in the same way Danny had been too. If she was able to turn off the past few hours, there was no way that she could reconcile the fact that Danny would ever hurt her. She just couldn't fathom the thought. She didn't care what his actions were putting forth; there was a sensation deep within her heart that wouldn't let her head believe it. Instinctively her fingers wound their way to the pendant that delicately hung around her neck; and thoughts drifted to the beautiful poem that now sat on a stand adjacent to her bed. A killer didn't give such gifts. A man with ice water rather then blood running through his veins didn't take the time that Danny had concocting such an elaborate plan just to enact his revenge. The emotions that had been shared between them had been real. There was no denying that fact. She knew that she couldn't and she silently prayed that when all was said and done Danny wouldn't be able to either.

"She's right you know," Albert stated more then asked, "He is truly the toughest one in the family. He made the choices that no one else would have dared to."

"You want to get a cup of coffee or something?" Sarah asked as she and Matt joined them.

"Maybe later," Michelle said uncertain of exactly what she was to say to this girl who had become like a sister to her. How was she supposed to explain away all the lies?

"I'm glad to see that everyone is here," Dr. Hacker said closing the door behind him.

"How is he?" each person in the room said in unison.

"Holding his own at the moment........."

"For the moment?" Michelle gasped lowering her fragile body into the chair directly behind her.

"As I suspected the bullet is lodged in the tissue surrounding Danny's heart. I wasn't able to assess how much damage it may have done. He's being prepped for surgery."

"And?" Albert asked the simple yet foreboding question.

"I really wish that I had an answer to that. All I can say is that this surgery is very risky."

"Could he die?" Michelle's meek voice came from behind the others.

"Not knowing the extent of the damage to his heart muscle, I have to say that yes that could be a possibility."

"I want to see him," she said finally standing.

"That's not possible," Dr. Hacker offered, "He's on his way to the OR as I stand here talking to you."

"You don't understand," she pressed, "I have to see him. I can't let him die without knowing......" her voice trailed off as it got lost in her tears.

"I understand but................"

"No you don't. If you did you wouldn't be saying no!" Michelle's voice hardened in anger.

"Miss," Dr. Hacker had little time for the niceties of bedside manner. A man's life hung in his hands and time was of the utmost importance, "I think it is you who don't understand. Mr. Santos is in grave condition. The longer I stand here and argue with you the more time is lost in saving him." The words were harsh but there wasn't another way for them to be said.

"We are his next of kin," Jenny began knowing the place this young girl was at right now. As real as the possibility of Danny's death was, she was certain that there were things that she needed him to know, "We would like for Melanie to be able to see Danny before he goes into surgery," Jenny looked at her husband who willingly nodded his agreement.

"This is ridiculous you do know that?" Dr. Hacker said utterly annoyed.

"Yes it may be, but it is well within our rights, is it not?" Albert countered fearful of losing his nephew, yet more so of what would happen to this fragile girl beside him if Danny should die on the table without her being able to see him first.

"Make it short!" the doctor snapped.

Michelle and Albert rode the elevator in silence all the while she was trying to make heads or tails out of all the people around her. Currently she left like she was Alice in Wonderland not sure what was true and what was a fantasy.

"Thank you for this," she quietly said as they stopped at the doorway that led to Danny.

"There are no thanks necessary. I know this is what he would have wanted. What he would have expected."

Michelle couldn't help but wonder if that were really true. If Albert had known the things that Danny had, would he have been so willing to leave the life of another one of his relatives hanging in her hands. She highly doubted it.

"Would you like me to go in with you?" he asked.

"If you wouldn't mind I would like to go in alone," she said knowing that the things she needed to say to Danny were meant for him and him alone.

"Certainly. I will be right out here if you need me."

"You only have a few minutes," the scrub nurse informed her.

"I understand."

Michelle held her breath as her eyes rested on Danny's ever so still body. All the machines were so familiar but at the moment she couldn't form a coherent thought about his condition. The medical theories that she had practiced in class were nothing more then words on a page she couldn't comprehend.

She reached for his hand, again thinking how cold he was. Easily her fingers traced the outline of his jaw; touched the fullness of his lips. Michelle brought her fingers to her own lips then gently rested them against his again.

"I love you," she whispered tears pooling in her eyes. What was she supposed to say to him? How could she explain away the facts as they were? "I'm sorry," she said, "Sorry for the pain that I brought to you. I never meant to lie to you," she gasped, "But you lied too Danny. You let me fall head over heels in love with a man whose brother I killed..........How can I make you understand? I didn't mean to do it. You just can't imagine what it was like for me on the beach that night," she brushed away a stray tear that rolled down her cheek, "He may have been your brother but...............," she paused sighing heavily, "Danny he was a monster. He ripped at my clothes all the time sneering and laughing like a crazy person. I did what I did without even thinking. I just acted on instinct," she heard the desperation in her voice, "Just like how instinctively I knew that I loved you the minute I laid eyes on you."

"Miss," the scrub nurse poked her head in the room, "We really need to get him to surgery. His vitals are falling."

"I love you Danny," she kissed his cheek, "Let me prove to you just how much," she said holding in her new wave of sobs.

Michelle and Albert walked back to the surgical waiting area both lost in their own thoughts. Her wondering if there was a ghost of a chance to rebuild what one false move had destroyed, while he was still searching for a way to make this all make sense.

Michelle stopped in her tracks when she saw the men in dark colored suits standing outside the waiting area door. Out of the three men there, she recognized only one. It was Agent Reynolds. She could hear the sound of her heart beating in her ears as panic overtook her for the thousandth time that night.

"Melanie," Agent Reynolds said as he approached them, "We need to speak in private."

"And just who the hell are you?" Albert's voice boomed.

The men looked at him and knew in an instant that who he was. Albert Sampson a.k.a Albert Santos.

"This is Agent Walters, Supervisor Brennan and I am Agent Reynolds. We need to discuss the night's events with Ms. Branson."

"Well there are a lot of people sitting in that waiting room that would like to know just what the hell happened here tonight too!" Albert snapped.

"Sir, I am sorry this is a private bureau matter," Brennan spoke up. For all intents and purposes it looked as though Melanie hadn't be compromised in any way yet and he wanted to keep it that way.

"THE HELL IT IS!!" Albert shot back, "My nephew is in there fighting for his life. I think I deserve to know exactly why that is!"

"The local authorities will be able to help with you with regards to that," Brennan offered.

The next leg of lies had been set in motion. With Agent Lucas agreeing to leave the agency, they had been able to get the ball rolling in moving Michelle to a safe house and set up another identity and move her to safety once more.

Danny Santos' family would be fed a story that centered on a jealous ex-lover and nothing more.

"FUCK THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES!!" Albert spat at them, "What do you take me for a fool? I'm not going to get anything more from them then what I already know, which is very little I might add."

"This isn't up for discussion!" Brennan said firmly, "Ms. Branson would you please come with us." He took her by the arm and began leading her away.

"No," she said softly pulling her arm back.

"WHAT?!?!?" all three agents countered in disbelief.

"No, enough is enough already. I can't do this anymore. I won't!"

"Melanie......." Agent Reynolds began.

"Michelle...........for god sakes it's Michelle!" she yelled having had more of her fill of all the things false in her life.

"What are you doing?!?" Reynolds questioned pulling her next to him.

"What I should have done months ago. Faced the music and taken responsibility for my actions. If I had done that then Danny wouldn't be lying on that damn operating table fighting to stay alive."

"What the hell's going on here?!?!" Albert asked more puzzled then ever now.

"Nothing," the men tried to cover.

"It certainly doesn't appear like nothing to me," he quipped.

"As I said before this is a private bureau matter," Supervisor Brennan said holding his ground. He wasn't about to drop the cover no matter what other ideas this young woman had, "We really must speak in private," he strained looking at Michelle.

"NO!!" she forced again, "My real name is Michelle Bauer. I am from Springfield and I am responsible for Mick's death."

At her revelation a hush fell over the hallway.

"What?" Albert asked the single word stuck in his throat.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!?!?!?!" both Agent's Reynolds and Walters shouted flabbergasted.

"YOU ARE COMING WITH US NOW!!!!!!!!" Brennan shouted back pulling Michelle off her feet as he made his way down the corridor away from the scene that was unfolding before him. Albert was quick to follow after them, his mind spiraling out of control once more.

Albert leaned his body against the cold wall and did his best to gather his abstract thoughts. Presently his brain felt like a soda bottle that had been shook and was about ready to explode.

"Do you understand the ramifications of what you have just done?" Brennan stared at her disbelieving it all.

"Yes," she said with clarity.

"We can't offer you protection now."

"I don't need it," she said seriously.

"THE HELL YOU DON'T!!!!" Agent Walters countered.

"I can't keep running. I can't keep lying. It's time I faced the music for what I have done."

"That's just it, Michelle, you didn't do anything. In the eyes of the law your actions were that of self-defense. Nothing more then that," Agent Reynolds knelt in front of her remembering the frightened girl he had watched walk up the gangway to a new life that she wanted nothing to do with.

"Then why did I have to run?" she knew how foolish a question that was.

"Because of men like him!" Brennan said pointing in Albert's general direction.

"I don't believe that," Michelle said looking Albert squarely in the eye.

"I would never harm her," he offered, "My nephew loves this girl."

"YEAH RIGHT!?!? Like we believe any of that?" Brennan scoffed looking at his agents standing along side him. However Reynolds did believe this man. He had been in this business for too many years not to be able to read people. In his gut he was sure that Albert Santos wasn't the threat here.

"Would someone please tell me what the hell's going on here?" Albert asked again a little more desperate this time.

Before Brennan could stop them Michelle and Agent Reynolds went into the montage of the events that had turned Michelle Bauer into Melanie Branson. He listened as she told of the horrific things that Mick had attempted to do her. She explained how she feared for her life that night on the beach; how it had been a case of her or him. She cried as she recounted her dismay the following day when she came to realize that she had actually killed him. "I didn't mean to," she gasped as she finished her tale.

"I know," Albert said gently taking her in his arms as the others in the room were stunned into silence, "Mick was uncontrollable. Miguel always said that Mick would be his own worst enemy. Apparently he was correct in that assumption. But that still doesn't explain how Danny was shot."

"Somehow Danny found out. I never meant to lie to him, to any of you. I mean I didn't know.....I thought you were just regular folks."

"We are," Albert said.

"The hell you are," Agent Walters interjected, "You are gangsters. Each and every one of you. This little act isn't fooling any of us."

"Appearances can be quite deceiving!" Albert shot back, "Please go on," he said returning his attention to Michelle.

"Like I said Danny showed up at my apartment, he knew everything Albert. He knew what my name really was; he knew that I had been the one responsible for killing Mick. He just went wild on me. I can't blame him, but he wouldn't listen....he just wouldn't listen. Suddenly this man whose eyes had looked at me with love were now these hard black pieces of granite. They were cold and unfeeling; looking at me as if I was nothing more then a bug under the sole of his shoe he needed squash. I just started screaming. Then suddenly there were gunshots and Danny was lying in my arms bleeding. It happened so fast, Albert."

"Exactly who shot him?" Albert asked needing all of the information.

"One of my men," Brennan piped in now, "He was only doing his job," he cringed as those words fell off his tongue. No matter what he truly thought about Agent Lucas he had to do some type of damage control, "It was obvious that Mr. Santos intended on killing Ms. Bauer for her part in his brother's murder!"

"NEVER!!!" Albert countered with great force.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Danny could not, he would not harm Mela....Michelle. I know my nephew and I know his love for her outweighs the actions he has been taught to take!"

"Oh what a wonderful sentiment," the man laughed.

"You think that the file you have marked Santos is the only things that we are about. Well you are wrong.....DEAD WRONG! We are people just like you. And though I will admit that very few men in 'business' have a conscious Daniel does."

"Let's see mob.....conscious......mob.....conscious......mob," Brennan laughed as he used his hands as scales, "For some reason this just doesn't equate for me."

"I don't care what you think about him, I know in here," Albert pointed to his heart, "That Michelle was in no danger from Danny."

"It looks like it really doesn't make a difference anymore. We can no longer protect you, Michelle," he said turning to speak directly to her, "This little stunt of yours has seen to that."

"It doesn't matter," Albert offered, "She is as safe with me as she was with you."

"You are kidding right? Isn't that like leaving the fox in charge of the hen house?" Brennan laughed.

"Not hardly!" Albert growled angered by this man's incessant need to stereotype him when he knew nothing about him.

"Never the less it really makes no difference any more. Don't say that you haven't been warned Ms. Bauer but you are on your own now." With that said the three men exited the room. Agent Reynolds was the only one of them to look back at the pair they had left behind. Something deep within him told him that she was going to be all right.

Michelle sat on the sofa with Albert still apprehensive. It was hard for her to shake the feelings of fear that lived deep within her, yet in some bizarre way the truth had set her free. It was a relief to be Michelle again, a person that had never truly left her anyway.

"Please don't be afraid of me," Albert said with his hands out stretched.

"Funny thing is I'm not."

"I'm glad."

"I need to know something though."

"What?"

"Why is it you go by the name Sampson rather then Santos?"

Albert sighed deeply as he began his tale. It was now her turn to sit and listen intently to all the things that had led up to the place he and his wife were presently. Without thought she hugged him as the tears for his son's death crested his thick lashes. The part of his explanation that interested her the most was that of Danny, and what he had done to escape the life that had been planned for him.

"Michelle, don't ever doubt that Danny loves you. He's loved you since the first day that you walked into the club. He's struggled with those feelings. It was understandable given the life that followed him. But I know in my heart that Danny would not have killed you tonight."

"I know," she agreed, "But how do I make him understand? How do I find the words to explain all the deception?"

"When the time is right, it will all make sense," he said with conviction, "I believe that everything has a reason for happening when it does and I don't plan on giving up on that now."

"But.....if Danny doesn't make it......" she paused swallowing hard around the lump in her throat, "I will be the cause of his death," she cried in anguish.

"Untrue! The only thing you caused Danny........was to be alive again. You breathed life back into a barren soul. Don't ever make light of the things you brought to his life, to all of our lives..........excuse me," he said as he answered the ring of his cell phone, "Hello,"

The voice that met Albert's ear was one of the past.....one he was surprised to ever hear again.