Danny gently closed the door to the little MG. The car fit Michelle's petite frame to a tee but he on the other hand even with the driver's seat pushed to it's furthest position still felt cramped.

He didn't have much choice in the matter. Michelle was already sound asleep, head resting against the passenger window. He couldn't stop himself from smiling. She was completely wiped out.

Danny checked his watch again it was almost four in the morning. This night had definitely not turned out anything like he had expected it to. The only thing he wanted to find in Chicago was his brother's killer and ending up with the girl of his dreams. He knew how ridiculous that sounded to his head but his heart wouldn't have had it any other way. Even though she had closed off a part of herself for the most part she had been pretty open with him. She told him about why she wanted to become a doctor. It was a Bauer family tradition so she said. Funny to think her family saved people and his killed them. That was the Santos family tradition. Not a tradition that he was all that proud of actually. Up until recently the thought of killing someone anyone had never crossed his mind. He left the dirty business up to the many thugs that Carmen had on the payroll, but in this instance this situation had to be taken care of by him. He and Mick had been too young to avenge their father's death leaving that up to their Uncle Juan, his father's brother. It had eaten away at Mick at the age of sixteen to be told to sit back and let the men handle things. But Danny on the other hand was happy to not be party to the violence that he knew would take place once the group of men stepped out the door of the house that day. That event was never spoken of again expect to say that the message had been delivered loud and clear.

From that point forward even at the young age of fourteen, Danny became Carmen's right hand. She taught him every aspect of the business. More than he had actually wanted to know. It was fine with him to let Mick take on the illegal side of things, the threats, extortion and the killing. Mick lived for the taste of blood and to his family's dismay drugs as well. That had been Mick's true downfall. They clouded his judgement, so much so that one night after he had taken care of a "problem" and gotten himself one healthy fix of cocaine decided to tell anyone at Millennium who would listen about the great job he had done for the family. How the blood ran in the streets that night. As luck would have it Carmen had Dietz tailing Mick. Dietz got him out of there before too much damage had been done. Most people only looked at him like a drunk telling tales but never the less Mick's bags were packed and he was gone without a word. Danny hadn't even gotten to say goodbye to him.

He had tried to speak with his mother about the whole thing, but her only response was that she had a problem and it was dealt with. Mick was a closed subject as far as she was concerned. Life at the Santos house went on as if Mick had never been a part of it. That was until a little over a month ago word reached them from Chicago that Mick had been found shot dead through the heart. Danny wasn't truly surprised by any of it. Unbeknownst to his mother he had been keeping track of his brother through Bernard. Bernard worked mainly out of that territory. Knew of all of Mick's activities. He told Danny that Mick was heavy into the drugs, using, selling trafficking even. His gambling had intensified along with his temper. Things weren't looking all that good for him at all. At one point, Bernard stepped in as a favor to Danny and had gotten some harassment charges pending against Mick buried when they would have never been seen again. Apparently, Mick and Nino were more alike then Danny cared to admit. Both thought of themselves as the studs that no women was able to resist unfortunately no one had informed the women they had their sights set on.

Danny pulled in beside his sedan. Michelle was still sleeping peacefully there in the seat beside him. She looked angelic there in her white dress. He hated to wake her, but since he hadn't any idea where she lived on campus he couldn't just take her home. Besides he had an early meeting with Nino he wasn't about to miss no matter how tempting she may be. He wanted to get this job done as quickly as he could even though that might mean leaving her behind. The mere thought tore at his heart.

"Michelle," he whispered, "Michelle," Danny stroked her cheek she felt a bit warm to him. "We're here," he spoke as if she was a small child he was trying to wake after a long car ride. He reached for her arm to shake her, "Michelle," he said again.

"NO!" she screamed without opening her eyes.

Startled Danny removed his hand. "Michelle?" he said bewildered.

She opened her eyes to realize that she wasn't where she had dreamed she was and that the person touching her wasn't the person she thought it had been.

Michelle stared at Danny with the eyes of a caged animal. They darted from side to side as she tried desperately to get the vision of that eight inch knife blade glistening before her out of her mind. She felt a wave of nausea passed through her.

"Michelle...Michelle," Danny spoke louder this time. She was still lost somewhere in her own world. By the expression etched on her face, Danny knew that whatever had gone down with her it had been horrible. He hurriedly removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She was shaking uncontrollably. "Michelle," he took her face in his hand and forced her to see him not the demon that filled her head, whatever that may have been.

It was as if his touch had brought her back to reality. She looked into his bottomless black eyes and began sobbing. Danny wrapped his arms around her massaging her back until the cries subsided.

Michelle breathed in deeply the scent of his cologne. She rested her head against his chest listening to the soft steady beating of his heart. It comforted her. When would this nightmare ever end. Sad thing was a new nightmare had come to replace the old one without a break in between. She felt like she was in perpetual motion. She finally moved away to face him. She was met with the kindest eyes looking back at her. That began an entire new wave of tears. She hadn't had someone look at her like since Jesse had told her loved her for the first time.

Her face was tear stained and her beautiful ringlets from earlier were now just a mass of hair hanging limp but none of the mattered to Danny. She was gorgeous just the same. He reached to wipe away the remnants of her tears. "Michelle, what's the matter?"

"Nothing," again the walls closed in.

"It didn't seem like nothing a minute ago. It was like we weren't even in the same car." He hated to push but this was too weird even for him and he had seen an awful lot in his business.

"Nothing," she stressed as she opened the car door and tried to get out. This time Danny wasn't fast enough to stop her from falling. Lucky for her the car door helped her steady herself.

"Hey, baby you don't look so good," he said coming around to her side of the car. She was a white as a sheet and she had beads of sweat forming on her brow. "I better get you to the hospital."

"No, I'm fine really. I told you it's been a long day. That's all it is. I'm just exhausted. I'll be okay." Danny was less then convinced. "Where do you live?" he questioned.

"Why?"

"Cause I'm not letting you drive home like this. It would be insane."

"I live at Delta House."

"Come on, I'm taking you home right now," Danny was gentle but firm. He had a bad feeling about all of this. He didn't want to spook her anymore then she was but he needed her to know that he wasn't taking no for an answer.

"What about my car?" she asked as Danny helped her into the front seat of his sedan.

"It'll be here in the morning. Besides I'm too tall for that little matchbox thing you call a car," he joked.

Michelle laughed despite herself. She sat back and closed her eyes for the short ride that if was to home.

Danny sat by her bed watching her sleep. She tossed and turned endlessly, crying out now and again. It tore him up inside to watch her go through hell and not even knowing why. Who could blame her though. Who was he anyway? He had walked into her life tonight without any warning and would more than likely be leaving in the same manner. It was probably better had he just left well enough alone. Yet that wasn't an option for him now. He had already made his connection with her. A connection that he had never had the time or the desire for until now.

The sun was dawning over the horizon. Danny stood by the window and watched the brilliant colors illuminate the early morning sky. He turned to watch Michelle sleeping somewhere along the line she had stopped her endless motion and appeared to be finally sleeping easy. He hated to leave her but he needed to check in with home before heading off to meet Nino. He wanted to make one more sweep of the rival families to be certain that none of them had been responsible for Mick's death. Dietz was to have the report ready by now.

He knelt down next to Michelle's bed and watched the steady rise and fall of her chest. Her breathing was slow and unconstrained. At last she was comfortable. Gently he pressed his lips to hers. He didn't know what had made him do that but he couldn't stop himself. Actually he had to force his body to move towards the door to exit. Before leaving he scribbled a quick note and left it on the desk.

Michelle

Sorry I wasn't here when you woke up this morning. I

had something that I had to take care of early. I hope

that you are feeling better today. We'll talk soon, promise.

Danny

 

Nino stood when he saw Danny enter the tiny diner. It was hard to miss the fact that he was wearing the same clothes he had on last night. As a matter a fact it looked as though he had slept in them.

The morning sun pierced through the shades on the window. Nino groaned as he turned his face away. The beauty of the morning was utterly lost on him. Where as Danny could see the promise that sunrise held Nino only looked upon it as the intrusion he felt it was.

He lifted his head to glance around the room. Drew was perched in the chair across the room starring him down.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed and faced her. She was looking at him with complete betrayal. She had been sitting there all night. Ever since she had heard him utter Michelle's name. She couldn't take it not again.

"What?" Nino asked. She remained silent, "What the fuck is your problem Drew?" he yelled his anger building.

"You're my problem Nino!" she screamed back, "You and that damn Michelle Bauer! Could you please tell me what every man's fascination is with her....cause I just don't get it." Not again Nino thought to himself. He didn't have the time for another one of her triads. Sure the sex was phenomenal but it wasn't worth all this aggravation.

"Could you get to the point please?" he said drumming his fingers against the window sill not really caring what she had to say. Hell he wasn't even listening. The tiny red sports car parked out front more readily caught his attention. He pulled back the shade for a better look. That was Michelle's car parked out front. He was sure he had seen her drive off with Danny in it the night before. He felt an erection just thinking of how sexy she looked in that tight white dress. He had to stop himself. He needed to start thinking clearly. He needed to get Danny out of Chicago and fast. He couldn't have him and Michelle getting close. Also the sooner he had Danny chasing his tail looking for Mick's killer the better it would be for all concerned.

"NINO!," Drew howled pounding her fists against his back, "Are you listening to me?"

"Give it a rest girl," he snarled throwing her on the bed. She continued yelling as he grabbed his towel and headed for a cold shower. There was work that had to be done.

Nino rested his hand on the hood of Michelle's tiny car. It was cold meaning the car had been there for some time. He didn't understand what was going on here but he was damn sure going to find out.

Nino picked a table furthest to the back of the diner to wait for Danny. He checked his watch for the third time. Santos is never late he thought to himself. Danny Santos was business all business. Just like Bernard, Carmen all the stiffs of the families. What a dull life they all led Nino laughed. Now he had the life, all the perks of the association with Crime Families but none of the aggravation. What could be better then that?

His waitress came to refill his coffee. He eyed her from head to toe. She was a fine looking women for her age. Nino was half tempted to take in the back and show her a good time. What the hell he thought. Just as he stood up to retrieve the pretty thing he saw Danny walking through the door of the diner.

Danny slid into the booth across from Nino. "What the hell happened to you?"

"It was a rough night," Danny said motioning to the waitress to bring him some coffee as well. It was apparent that Danny hadn't had time to shower or change for that matter. Nino did his best to contain the rage that he felt welling in him. Damn that Michelle. What did she only service the Santos boys?

"Nino...Nino," Danny snapped his fingers in front of his face, "Hey are you in there?" Danny was way too tired and concerned about Michelle to be sitting at this table baby-sitting Nino Rivera of all people.

Dietz hadn't been able to turn up anything on the other families still there was something gnawing in Danny's gut that told him to keep looking there. Mick no longer lived by the family code of honor Danny was more then certain that he had stepped on a few rival's toes since being here in Chicago. Also it was openly known that Carmen had virtually disowned him leaving him a fairly easy mark if need be.

"No man, what happened to you last night?" Nino was like a dog with a bone about this. He had to know what he was up against in his quest for Michelle.

"That's not what we're here to discuss Nino," Danny said sipping his coffee.

"I just wanted to know if you had as good a time as I did?" Nino could be so crass at times.

"And I just want to know what you know about who could have killed my brother," Danny's patience was wearing thin. Why Bernard had ever thought that Nino would help him was beyond all comprehension. Nino made no bones about not liking the allegiance of the families. He always felt the when Miguel died that Bernard should have been the natural successor not Carmen. Nino knew where a women's place was and it definitely wasn't anywhere near the top of organized crime.

Nino could see he wasn't going to get anywhere with this at all. Danny had no intention of telling him what he had done the night before. Mick and Danny had been nothing alike. It was hard to tell that they were even brothers most of the time. Danny was smart and quick whited. He was a dynamic man who could take control of any situation with one word or one icy cold stare but Mick on the other had was hot tempered always looking for a fight. His motto was swing first ask questions later.

"Nino," Danny's fist came down hard on the table causing the saucers to rattle beneath their cups.

"What?" he said with such innocence, "I said I would help you and I will. It's just not as simple as you might think. Mick had a lot of enemies and not just here in Chicago."

"Tell me something that I don't already know, would you Nino," Danny threw his hands up in disgust. This was exasperating.

Nino delighted in pulling Danny's chain. It was nice for once to have the upper hand when it came to him. "All I'm saying is well it's gonna be tough."

"Bernard said you would make it untough!"

"Well, I'll do my best."

"Nino, get to the god damn point before you find my hands around your throat." Danny said much too calmly for his liking.

"Here," Nino handed Danny an envelope, "You'll find a list of most of Mick's contact. The ones I knew about anyway."

Danny opened the envelope and began reading. None of the names were familiar to him. Not that he had expected them to be. In the two years that Mick had been away from the family he had changed a great deal. Hell from everything that Bernard had told him he wouldn't have even recognized his brother.

"This is great Nino. So you think one of these people on here murdered Mick?"

"Mick was into some pretty shady dealings. It's as good a chance as any." A sinister smile passed over Nino's face. There was a killer on that list, he just didn't happen to kill Mick, but what Danny didn't know wouldn't hurt him.