Danny watched her in his rear view mirror until she was just a spec on the horizon. He wanted her image to be burned into his memory. He could still see her massive curls blowing in the wind.

It had been hard for him to let her walk into that place alone. He would have rather taken her away. Taken her anywhere. Right now he would have preferred to have run away with her. Forget all about what had brought him here in the first place. Just only remember her.

Danny could hear Carmen's voice ringing in his ears. Saying that family came first. That avenging Mick's murder should be the only thing on his mind, but it wasn't. Actually, Mick was the furthest thing from it. Even Nino and his incessant games had taken a back seat to Michelle.

"NINO!" Danny said aloud. It wasn't until right then that he remembered he left Nino sitting there in that bar. The very same bar he had just let Michelle go into all alone. He fought every urge to turn the car around. He didn't want Michelle in the same state with Nino let alone the same room. He knew he couldn't blow his cover though. He couldn't draw that much attention to himself. If he was going to flush out Mick's killer he needed to use his head. That was becoming increasingly more and more difficult though.

Danny could see Nino now. Leering at her, trying to touch her and so many other things he couldn't let himself imagine. What should he do. He wrestled with his conscious. Good vs. Evil and much to Danny's dismay Evil won out. He couldn't jeopardize what he had started there. The family was counting on him to do a job. He wanted to say to hell with it. To hell with it all. The family, the business, the business that had been left to him not one that he had chosen. More than anything he wished he was the college student he was pretending to be. That he could have a life with Michelle. A life that was his own and only his.

Danny tried his best to put the thoughts of Nino and Michelle out of his head. He was sure that she would be all right. And if Nino laid a finger on her...to hell with needing him to find Mick's killer. Nino would find death a blessing after Danny was through with him.. He thought pounding his fist against the steering wheel.

Danny threw is jacket on the bed and sat down. He breathed a heavy sigh. This was the first time since getting to Chicago that he had a minute to be alone. The quiet was calming. There hadn't been much quiet at the Santos house considering the news of Mick's death. Danny had to laugh though. Mick had been gone, exiled from the family for years now but the minute that word was delivered of his untimely demise Carmen's instincts kicked right back into play. She wanted to be sure that who ever was responsible for this paid and paid dearly. Danny wasn't able to recall his mother shedding not one tear. He on the other had felt this overwhelming sense of loss consuming him. That's what had driven him to seek revenge. Not some family honor or the code that Carmen had taught him it was the fact that he felt responsible for what had happened to Mick.

He had known what Mick was getting himself into. The drugs, the gambling, drinking morning, noon and night. He had tried countless times to get Mick to talk to him. Mick wanted nothing to do with Danny. Mick was hell bent on self destruction. Ever since their father was gunned down and Carmen had turned to Danny for support Mick turned into a person no one recognized. Apparently in Chicago he had continued his downward spiral.

Danny was exhausted. He rubbed his fingers across his temples trying to stave off an on coming headache. Lack of sleep and food were taking their toll on him. He loosened the collar on his shirt, kicked of his loafers settling back against the bed. If he was going to meet Michelle later he better catch a nap. He still wasn't able to rid himself of the nagging feeling he had about Nino. Nino and Mick and more importantly Nino and Michelle.

Each time he let his eyes fall closed pictures of Nino and Michelle danced before the dark canvas. Danny felt every muscle in his body tighten with all the thoughts he entertained about the two. He was more then certain that the last thing that Michelle needed was to have Nino hitting on her. Nino didn't know when to give up. The little he had been able to summize about Michelle was that she wasn't in need of a run in with Nino Rivera.

Danny got up off of the bed and paced the room. His thoughts toggled between Nino and Michelle. He hadn't bought any of the bull that Nino and this Carlos had been selling earlier. Carlos looked familiar to him but he could quite place where he had seen him before. The scenario that he had described about being the go between for Mick and some Colombian drug lord just didn't sit right. Even Bernard's family who was more into the drug scene then the Santos didn't deal directly with anyone that high up in the food chain. There would have been no way that Mick had weaseled his way in. Danny kept remembering Carlos' face. He was anxious sitting there talking with him. Carlos had something to hide. Danny could sense it. He just needed to find out what. Carlos was the weak link in this chain. Danny intended on snapping it.

He pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket and dialed Dietz.

"Dietz,"

"Danny," Dietz returned the same tone.

"I need you to do some digging for me. I need to know everything you come up with on a Carlos Alverez."

"Done."

"I want this done with the greatest of care, Dietz. I have a feeling that he's the key to finding out who killed my brother."

"I will do it as if I was hunting down my own brother's killer, Danny. Don't worry it will be taken care of."

"I expect nothing less."

Danny ended the conversation without a goodbye. He couldn't rid himself of the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Nino's face swirled before his eyes. He could see the sneer and smirk that Nino wore almost always. Why had he brought up Mick's drug dealing in Springfield, pushing him to check there again then out of the blue brought Danny a man who supposedly could lead him to the killer. It just didn't add up. Did Nino really think he was that stupid? Danny mused to himself. Nino may have been holding all of the cards now, but Danny still had a few aces up his sleeve.

"To hell with it," Danny said looking at the clock on the dresser. He still had hours before he was to meet Michelle. He knew that even his best effort would not have brought sleep. He didn't give a damn about his cover anymore. He wanted to be with Michelle. Even if that meant sitting at the bar watching her serve drinks at least he would be there. Be there so that Nino knew his place.

Michelle lightly fingered the bump on the back of her head as she looked on at Danny's retreating car. It throbbed beneath her touch. This was going to be a long night she thought to herself turning to enter Shooters. It was bad enough working when she was on her game but lately it was always a bit off and now with the pounding headache that was lurking just below the surface she knew that she would have to keep her wits about her.

The tips in this place were great but that's about all that was great about it. One too many times she found herself on the wrong side of an advance or two. Louie, the owner, wasn't much help either. He expected his waitresses to keep the customers happy whatever that may mean.

Michelle couldn't stop smiling though. There would be a pot of gold at the end of her shift tonight. She would get to be with Danny again. This was the first time in she couldn't remember when that she was looking forward to a date. "A date," she whispered. She hadn't had a date, what she classified a date, since before she left Springfield, before Jesse. Bill Lewis had tried to console her after Jesse's' death but she never thought of him as more then just her friend, best friend, but friend none the less.

Jesse's death. Would she ever be able to get that haunting image out of her head. She could see the blood soaked sheets. They had been a vivid red rather then the crisp white that she remembered buying when Jesse moved into the apartment. For weeks she walked around in a complete daze. She was devoid of any feeling. She hadn't even cried at the funeral. All she could recall was nodding as each person filed past her giving her their condolences. The Bauer's were the only family Jesse had in Springfield. So it was understood that they would handle all the arrangements.

Rick had finally gotten her to transfer to Chicago University. He had said the change would be good for her. That she needed someplace for a fresh start. Chicago had been good to him and he felt sure that it would be for her too.

Fresh start, Michelle had to laugh. It had been anything but. Much to her surprise two days after arriving in the windy city Michelle ran face to face into Drew Jacobs and a man she had never seen before.

Michelle and Drew each replayed their version of that awful night in Jesse's apartment as they starred one another down.

"Michelle," Drew spoke first, "What are you doing here?" her tone was one of surprise and disgust as she watched Mick Santos eyeing her "friend" up and down.

"Just transferred here," Michelle returned.

"That's great, just great," Drew's attempt at politeness wasn't lost on Michelle. She knew all too well that Drew was as unhappy to see her as she was.

"Welcome to CU," Mick said.

"Thank you," Michelle couldn't help but notice Drew's grip tighten around his arm as she spoke. Drew looked like a cornered animal that was protecting her young. A plan began forming in Michelle's head. She had watched as Drew endlessly pursued Jesse for over a year. Pay back time she thought to herself. She would punish Drew in the same why that Drew had done her.

Reality came crashing back in on her as she was met eye to eye with Nino as he stood at the bar trying to get another drink.

"Hey gorgeous," his slurred speech was evidence that he had been there for sometime.

Michelle would have run if she could have. But she was the only bartender on duty until at least 11:00pm. She had no choice but to play nice with Nino.

"Hey, Nino," she tried to smile. "What can I get you?"

"A shot and a beer." Michelle set the frothy glass on the bar and poured the scotch into the shot glass as well, "How about you joining me?" he stroked her hand as he spoke.

"Can't. Louie doesn't like us mixing business with pleasure." Michelle did her best to hide her hatred for him. She had learned her lesson with Mick. Alcohol only served to intensify his anger when provoked. That was the very last thing she wanted to do.

"Don't you worry about ole' Louie over there. He knows better then to mess with a Rivera. Come on baby drink with me," Nino said imploring her.

"Miss....miss," Michelle heard her name being called to wait on another customer.

"I have to take care of them," she pointed to the table across the room. It was full of frat boys. They were from the fraternity that was connected to her sorority. Michelle was glad to see some familiar faces that night.

"Not until you take care of me!" Nino grabbed her hard by the arm. His teeth were clenched and eyes blazing. So much for not making him angry Michelle thought.

"Nino, you're hurting me," she said softly.

"So I am," he returned coldly.

"Michelle," one of the frat boys came to the bar, "hey, Michelle can we get some drinks or not?" he said before noticing that Michelle wasn't ignoring them by choice.

"She's busy right now!" Nino spat at the young man.

The guy backed away without a second thought Michelle's eyes begging for help.

"Nino," she said sweetly, "I really need to get their drink order." She was trying to come up with any reason for him to let go of her.

"You are one sweet thing," he began, "Mick, old boy, had a great thing with you. Too bad he had to go and get himself killed." Mick caressed her face while never letting go of her arm. "Mick could have never made you as happy as I can." Michelle could smell the scotch on his breath as he brought his face within inches of hers. The odor mixed with stale cigarettes was enough to make her vomit.

"Nino," she started but he continued talking right over her words.

"I have watched you since the day Mick brought you to the frat house. I dreamed of all the things I could do to you." He trailed his finger from her cheek down her slender neck to the swelling of her breasts beneath her thin tank top. Michelle tried to back away from his touch but his hold on her was too great. He looked her square in the eye as he pulled one of the meager straps away from her shoulder revealing her white lace bar.

Michelle stood frozen. She wasn't able to move, to scream to do anything. She felt like she was playing a part in a really bad made for television movie. Only she knew that she wasn't. This was Mick all over again. The terror she felt that night when he had finally found her. Here she was embroiled in the very same thing all over again. It was unbelievable. No one in that bar was doing a damn thing to help her. She felt the hot tears trickle down her face as Nino rubbed her nipple. Taking it between his thumb and forefinger.

Nino felt the hard on forming with each passing second. How he had longed to touch her. Fondle her the way he was right now. He leaned over the bar further removing her bra strap leaving Michelle totally exposed for the entire bar to see. She struggled to free herself from his grasp but the harder she tried the tighter his hold became.

"You might as well stay and enjoy yourself," Nino hissed, "I'm the best you'll ever have. A Santos doesn't even begin to compare."

"WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON HERE?" Louie came screaming from the back. The sound of Louie's voice had taken Nino by surprise giving Michelle enough time to shake her arm from his hand and run. She ran out the door without looking back. Running, she was running again.

Even though he hadn't slept in over 24 hours, Danny was hurriedly getting dressed. Just moments before he had a sensation that he couldn't quite explain come over him. He couldn't shake the feeling that Michelle was in trouble.

He must have caught every red light between his hotel and Shooters. "Come on....come on. Michelle I'm coming baby I'm coming please hang on," he pleaded.

It was unreal to think that in the two times they had been together that Danny had felt so much for her. He would have given up his life for her. He couldn't let anything happen to her. Finally the neon sign of Shooters crept over the horizon.

Danny threw the car in park and looked around the parking lot. Nino's car was gone along with Michelle's. It had been parked in the space marked "employees only" before. Danny's blood ran cold.

"Excuse me," Danny did his best to get the man behind the bar attention. The man with the dirty T-shirt looked up without saying a word, "I'm looking for Michelle Bauer."

"She's not here."

"I can see that," Danny was unable to contain his anger. He was wasting valuable time. "Can you tell me where she is?"

"Don't know, don't care. As far as I'm concerned the girl is fired. The way she just ran out of here."

"What? What do you mean ran out of here?" Danny's voice was thick with panic.

"Hey, I don't have time for this. She's gone and I'm out a bartender until eleven." the man turned away leaving Danny standing silent at the bar. His mind raced all roads leading to Nino.

"Hey, I heard you asking Louie about Michelle," the young man from earlier said tapping Danny on the shoulder.

"Yeah," Danny returned a bit too harshly.

"I know what happened to her." He had gotten Danny's full attention now. "A guy was giving her a hard time at the bar. Hitting on her something fierce. It got pretty intense. I'm not sure how it all happened but she ended up running out of here."

"What guy?" Danny felt his fists clench at his sides as he spoke.

"I've seen him around campus. I think his name is Nino something or other. Used to hang out with that Santos guy. Pretty rough crowd if you ask me," Danny could have done without the commentary.

"What happened?"

"Like I said, he was hitting on her hot and heavy. Hell, I think he even somehow ended up getting her top pulled down. I tried to stop it but....I like Michelle and all but I wasn't about to get my head bashed in man."

It took all Danny had not to deck him. He, hell everyone sat by and watched Nino intimidate Michelle but did nothing. "God help you when I get a hold of you, Nino," Danny said under his breath.