Danny felt all the blood drain from his body at the sound of Nino's voice. "Where's Michelle?" he said no inflection at all.

"All in due time. All in due time." Nino wasn't about to give up the position that he held over Danny Santos. A position that he had never been able to have over Mick. He intended on enjoying it for as long as he was able to.

"Cut the shit Nino. I swear to god I will hunt you down like the animal you are..."

"Ooooo, getting a back bone I finally see. Too little too late Santos. Mick should have taught you that sooner hell maybe you should have taught it to him and he'd still be alive," Nino chuckled.

"WHERE'S MICHELLE?!?!?!" Danny screamed loud enough for half of Chicago to hear him.

"She's fine for now that is."

"NINO!" Rage seethed within him.

"Easy there big boy. Don't want you busting a gut or nothing," Nino quipped.

"You're a DEAD man Rivera!"

"Well then I guess I'll just have to be taking Michelle with me then won't I?"

"I swear Nino if you hurt her..."

"I've had enough of this. Meet me at Shooters....."

"Danny.....don't it's a......" with that the phone went dead.

"Michelle....Michelle," Danny called frantically into the phone. He was certain that he had heard her voice faint as it was. His breath came out in short hard bursts. He'd be damned if he was about to let Nino hurt her.

It wasn't just Nino hurting her that Danny was worried about. Dr. Edwards had made no bones about keeping her stress level as minimal as possible. He highly doubted that was the case for her right now. "God please keep her safe," Danny whispered.

"That was Nino. He has Michelle. I have to meet him at Shooters."

"Daniel, wait your hand. You must have that taken care of," Carmen was insistent.

"Carmen, back off! You sent me to do a job. This is my show let me run it."

"Drew, you're coming with me." Danny grabbed her arm and began dragging her down the hall.

"Danny," Dietz called after him. "You can't trust Nino. You can't go alone."

"He won't be there," Drew said to herself.

"What?" Danny questioned bringing her face to meet his, "What? What the fuck did you say?"

"He won't be there. He won't meet you at Shooters."

"There where is he? Drew, I am about out of patience with you. If you value your life you best start talking."

Value her life, Drew had to laugh at the very thought. What life? She was better off dead. "I can bet you he took her to the Santos warehouse down at the docks."

"What? What the hell would he know about our warehouses?" Danny was utterly confused.

"It doesn't matter. I'm sure that's where he took her. I'd stake my life on it."

"Well, baby, you just did," Danny roared.

"Let the show begin!" Nino hissed. "Don't ever do something so stupid again." he said as he bounced her head off of the pavement.

"Nino, just leave Danny out of this," she pleaded. "He doesn't have anything to do with us."

"Wrong! He has everything to do with us. He's here looking for who killed his brother. Mama Carmen sent him to avenge his brother's death. So sweetheart he has everything to do with us."

"You know I never did get the proper thank you for saving your miserable life that night Mick left you to die."

"What?" Michelle felt the heaviness in her chest grow. The dull ache was now growing into a stabbing pain. She was barely able to breath.

"You heard me. If it hadn't been for me you would nothing more then a blood spot on the concrete."

That whole night after Mick had slashed her wrists was a blur. She couldn't remember anything except waking up in the hospital wrists bandage, body battered and spirit completely broken.

"I think that I need a proper thank you Miss Bauer. I mean it's fitting seeing as how I saved your life an all," Nino reached for the bottle of booze. He took a hard swig and brought his mouth crashing down on hers.

The only thing that stood between Nino and her body was the thin hospital gown. Nino began pushing it upward. Excitement filled him as he caught a glimpse of her femininity. How long he had waited for this moment. Next to be revealed were her breasts. Nino touched their softness. Michelle flinched.

"What?!?!" he screamed, "I'm not good enough to fuck?!?! What you only service the Santos men? Well baby you ain't seen nothing yet."

Nino ripped away the gown as if it had been paper beneath his fingers. He brought the full weight of his body down on hers. Michelle couldn't feel anything. Her body had gone numb. So numb in fact that she wasn't able to feel the constant pain in her chest any longer.

Nino let his hands travel the length of her body. Exploring each and every beautiful part. He felt his hardness beneath his zipper. Begging to be released. Easily he undid his jeans exposing his manhood before her.

Michelle closed her eyes and tried to imagine she was anywhere but there. Finding Jesse dead was a better thought right now then knowing what Nino was about to do to her. She wished she was dead. Death would be a relief right now.

Nino couldn't resist teasing her. Laying his nakedness against her. It was more for his own arousal. Just as he was about to partake of his pleasure a voice rang out.

"NINO!"

Nino jumped to his feet. There he was naked and standing before Bernard, his father, and his band of merry men.

Danny threw Drew in the front seat of his car and sped off in the direction of the Santos warehouse and docks. Carmen and Dietz close behind.

Drew absently watched as the blood from Danny's hand steadily dripped onto his tan upholstery.

"I need you to tell me everything you know about Mick, Nino and Michelle."

"I don't know anything."

"Like hell you don't! You knew that Nino would be at my warehouse," Reality hit him again. What if this was just another one of Nino's wild goose chases. What if Drew was a set up? "Let's get one thing straight Drew, if you are leading me to a set up I'll be sure you die before Nino does." Danny's voice was cold and calculating.

"It's not I swear," she whispered.

"Then start talking!"

Drew went about telling him again how she had tried to get Jesse away from Michelle. That in a way it worked but backfired as well. Jesse killing himself and Michelle finding his body. Drew explained that she left Springfield hitting Chicago and hooking up with Mick. She said they were one in the same soul. That was until Michelle Bauer showed up on the scene. It was only a matter of time that it was just like Jesse all over again. Mick dropped me like a stone she said dryly. Had the circumstances been different Danny would have laughed at that remark.

Well things didn't work out like Mick planned. See Drew went on to say that Michelle just wanted revenge on Drew. Wanted her to hurt the way she had hurt. So she set out to steal Mick. It was a success until Mick didn't want to let Michelle go.

Danny sat quietly listening to all that Drew had to say. Some of it was actually starting to make sense. The pictures in Mick's room, Michelle's harassment charges, the cryptic note that he had found.

"Where does Nino fit into all of this?" Danny asked as he turned the corner alley leading to the warehouse.

"Nino wanted Michelle. He wanted to stick it to Mick by getting her."

"That's it?"

"Yeah that's it. Nino wanted Michelle. Just like every other man I know," Drew couldn't stop herself the words fell from her mouth.

Danny parked along side Nino's car. Damn, Drew was right, he thought to himself. "Come on," he drug Drew from the car to doorway.

Drew was trying hard not to remember that night. It wasn't all that long ago. Mick had been dead for a little over a month now but she still could see it all so clearly. Her mouth went dry as Danny pushed her through the door.

Danny stopped short upon seeing Michelle tied to the floor Nino crouched above her knife to her throat. He was more shocked to see Bernard.

Danny was paralyzed. He wasn't able to focus on anything else but Michelle. He couldn't see her face but he could just imagine what she was going through her mind right now.

Dietz and Carmen now came to enter the warehouse. She walked confidently over to where Bernard was standing.

"Look's like the gang's all here. It's time for the show to begin." Nino had the voice of a madman. Danny took steps towards them. "STOP!....STOP right there Santos or she's as good as dead!" he pressed the knife blade firmer against Michelle's throat.

Danny had inched his way close enough to get a look at Michelle's angelic face. She was so pale, ghostly white and entirely too still. It was then that he noticed that she was lying naked there beneath Nino's hold. The rage welled within him. He felt his whole body stiffen. He could have killed Nino with his bare hands and not broken a sweat. Danny knew he needed to put order to his thoughts. He needed a plan of action. He needed to get Nino the hell away from Michelle.

He couldn't stop himself from wondering if they had gotten there too late. If the damage had already been done. If Michelle's already weakened heart had given out to the strain.

"Nino," Bernard began, "Move away from the girl."

"You dont' give me orders anymore remember? I'm dead to you! Those were your words, Bernard."

"Nino, move away from the girl," Bernard's voice was deep and forceful.

"Why so you can again side with the Santos'? So you can give them something that's rightfully mine?"

"Nino, move away from the girl," Bernard continued with the same request.

"I saved her from Mick. I made sure she was safe. She's mine now. I intend on collecting what is due me." Nino forcefully kissed Michelle square on the mouth.

Danny moved forward without thinking. It was as if he had no control over himself. "I'll kill her Santos I don't have anything left to lose now!"

"Danny...let me handle this," Bernard said placing his hand on Danny's shoulder.

"Then handle it!" Danny returned jaw clenched in fear.

"Nino, move away from the girl," Bernard said the same words again.

Danny was bouncing off the walls by now, "This isn't working, Bernard. It's not working. You don't understand Michelle could die."

"I understand that Danny."

"NO YOU DON'T!" Danny stood once again on the sidelines unable to do a damn thing for her.

"What's she doing here?" Nino questioned pointing the knife in Drew's direction.

"She's a piece to the puzzle, Nino. Maybe even the final piece," Bernard answered.

"She's a fucking whore. Can't believe anything that comes out of her mouth." he spat. Slowly he watched as his plan started to unravel.

"I should have killed you when I had the chance!" he screamed at her. She wasn't able to do more then cower behind Danny. "You think he can protect you? Look he couldn't protect her and he loves her!" Nino pointed to Michelle.

"You think that they will let you live? You think just because you led them to me they will forget the fact that you killed Mick?"

The silence that filled the warehouse was deafening. All eyes came to rest upon Drew. She would have run if she thought it would have done any good. Her body was engulfed in a cold sweat. What was she going to do now.

"Dietz." That was all that was necessary to be said and Dietz had the gun pointed at Drew's temple.

"Wait," she whispered. "It's not like that. It wasn't like how he said. Mick was raping Michelle. I had to stop him. He slit her wrists. Left her for dead. I didn't know what else to do," tears escaped past Drew's lashes blurring her vision.

"You expect me to believe that you were protecting Michelle?" Danny said in astonishment. "You have done nothing but say how she has ruined your life. You really think that I believe you. Believe that you cared whether she lived of died."

"No, I didn't care about her. You're right. I followed Mick. I knew he was meeting her. I just snapped. I didn't mean to kill him. I didn't mean to kill him," Drew cried hysterically.

"YOU SHOT HIM THROUGH THE HEART!" Carmen's voice was one of complete control. "Dietz....dispose of her," Carmen's order was quick and direct.

"Wait, please," she begged. "Nino was the one who told me he was dead. I wanted to get help. He said that Mick was dead. He threw his body in the river before I even had a chance to call anyone. You have to believe me.....you have to. I loved him. I didn't want him to die." Drew crumpled to the floor at Dietz's feet.

Nino took the opportunity of everyone centering around Drew to make a break for it. To hell with Danny Santos, to hell with Michelle Bauer. If he didn't get out of there right now he was as good as dead. Unfortunately all exits were blocked. "What? You believe this lying bitch? Come on you have got to be kidding right?" Nino found himself laughing but no one was joining him in the joke.

"As a matter fact we do, Nino. Her story meshes with one I was just recently told," Bernard stated.

"Who? Who told you that?" Carlos stepped out from the shadows. "You! Why? Why would you cross me?" Nino found himself angry.

"Well let's just say I know which side my bread is buttered on."

"Bernard?" Carmen's tone was questioning.

"I understand Carmen. This is the last time Nino will be a problem for your family. I will handle this in the same way you would."

Nino stood in awe as they spoke as if he wasn't even there. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Bernard was going to kill him. Kill his own son.

Danny couldn't stand still a moment longer. He ran to Michelle as if he had been shot out of a cannon. Hurriedly he freed her from her constraints. Her breathing was so shallow it was barely noticeable. "Hang on baby, hang on," He said as he dialed 911.

Danny wasn't about to let Michelle ride alone in the ambulance this time around. He climbed in right along side her. Holding her hand all the while. She was so cold. The paramedics had wrapped her in a blanket but Danny could see that that wasn't really helping.

They went to work on Michelle the best they could. Danny knew that he should be telling them about her condition but right now he was unable to find his voice. He wasn't even sure he could remember let alone explain all the things that Dr. Edwards had told him.

He kept replaying Drew's words over and over in his head. Mick raping her was stuck like a skipping record. He was unable to move past that part of the story. He couldn't even imagine the horror that must have been for Michelle. No wonder she was an emotional wreck. All things considered Danny wondered how she survived at all.

"Her BP's dropping hard and fast! What's our ETA?" Danny heard the urgency in the man's voice.

"Less then 10 minutes," the driver returned.

"DAMN! Call ahead and have the crash cart ready. We're losing her here."

"What?" Danny whispered yet received no response.

Everything whirled around him. He felt lost in all the confusion. He stood by and watched the doctors and nurses once again go to work on Michelle. This time even he could see that the frenzy of the room had heightened. Dr. Edwards burst into the room barking orders. Danny couldn't help but feel a bit at ease at seeing this man. In the last few days he had grown to be a friend and great comfort to him with regards to Michelle.

Suddenly the monitor flat lined. The monotone sound of death rang in Danny's ears. "WHAT'S HAPPENING?!?!" he yelled over the mayhem that engulfed the room. "DOCTOR?" Danny was looking for a sign anything from Dr. Edwards to tell him what was going on. Nothing. He was completely entranced in saving his patient.

Danny watched helplessly as the paddles were placed on Michelle's chest. He watched her body bounce as the electric shock surged through her body. Nothing, still that same sound bouncing off of the walls.

"Charging," he heard a tech say as they team waited for the machine to reset itself.

Again Michelle's body was hit with another shock. Nothing. Danny swallowed hard around the lump forming in his throat. The tears came and fell steady as he looked on Michelle's life slipping out of the room. He pressed his body back hard against the wall hoping that would help him remain standing but it didn't. He slid powerless to the floor. Cradling his head in his hands he sobbed uncontrollably all the while listening to the orders being bantered about the room.

"I have a pulse. It's weak but it's there."

"Come on Michelle, don't give up on us now." Danny heard Dr. Edwards say bringing him to his feet.

"It's getting stronger doctor."

"That a girl. I have never lost a patient yet."

Danny moved forward until he was standing directly along side of Dr. Edwards. "Thank you," he whispered. The doctor wasn't sure if it had been for him or for the higher power that he knew had taken over the case.

Dr. Edwards led Danny to the waiting room. "Is she all right?" he said breathless.

"Right now she's stable. That's all I know for sure." Danny found no encouragement in those words. "I had Dr. Spencer paged when I knew she was on her way in. He will be better able to assess her condition."

"Tell me, please," Danny pleaded, "I know what I saw happening in there. I know….." his voice trailed off not wanting to acknowledge the fact that by all rights Michelle had died before his eyes.

"Danny, easy," Dr. Edwards rested his hand on Danny's shoulder steadying him. The sobs came again without warning. "Sit down. When was the last time you had something to eat?"

"I don't know."

It was then that Dr. Edwards looked down remembering Danny's hand. It was encrusted with blood. "Danny, we really need to get your hand looked at. The longer we wait the more possible damage that could be done."

"I don't care. I have to find out how she is first," Danny stood again pacing the room.

"Danny, please. Let me do my job. You won't be able to see her for a while. I'm sure that Dr. Spencer is going to be with her for some time."

"No, I want to be with her!" Danny insisted.

"Danny!" Dr. Edwards voice rose. "Listen to me. You aren't doing Michelle any good if you lose the use of that hand. Please be sensible."

Danny found himself relenting to the doctor's request. Danny looked over his shoulder starring hard at the door he knew Michelle was just beyond.

Danny found his way back to the 5th floor waiting room. Dr. Edwards assured him that he would be able to see Michelle soon. Dr. Spencer was just about finished. Danny had been unable to get any further information about her condition. That fact had sent him into a panic all over again.

He was surprised to find Dietz and Carmen there in the waiting room. "Daniel," Carmen rushed to his side. He numbly pushed her back, "How are you?"

How was he? What an absurd question to even ask. He was drowning with no life preserver in sight. He had watched the love of his life being held at knifepoint, watched her slip slowly away from him to be brought back to life but still didn't know if she was truly going to be okay. How did she think he was?

"Daniel?" Carmen shook his shoulders trying to elicit a response any response.

"What?" he spat out.

"How is Michelle?" she asked softly.

"I don't know……I just don't know," anguish filled his voice and worry was etched all over his features.

"Let's sit down. There are some things I think we need to discuss."

"WHAT?!?! You expect me to think about business now? To hell with this fucking business!!"

"Danny," she tried her best to soothe her son, "its things we learned regarding your brother's death."

"Mick's not my brother. Not any more!" Danny returned coldly. His brother ceased to exist for the minute he truly understood what he had done to Michelle.

"Daniel, I need you to sit down and listen to this. It's very important."

Danny sat down beside his mother. Carmen began recounting every detail of the mess that was Michelle, Mick, Drew and Nino.

Danny was horrified as he listened to the hell that Mick had put Michelle through that night in the warehouse. Drew had told them that she had stood in the shadows watching as Mick terrorized and cut her. Finally emerging when Mick slashed Michelle's wrists watching her bleed all over the cement.

Drew said that she acted on reflex. She hadn't remembered shooting Mick until Nino had told her that he was dead. Nino had disposed of the body before she had had a chance to protest.

Carmen continued with how Nino had brought Michelle to the hospital that night. And then Nino set his sights on her.

"You know the rest," Carmen placed her hand over Danny's bandaged one.

"Mick was a MONSTER! A BEAST! How could he ever hurt her?" Danny yelled pacing again.

"Danny," Dr. Edwards walked into the room.

"Yes," Danny anxiously walked to him.

"Dr. Spencer would like to talk to you."

"How is she? How's Michelle?"

"She's awake and stable."

Danny felt relief fill every inch of him, "Can I see her?"

"First you need to talk to Dr. Spencer."

"Why?" Panicking again.

"He wants to discuss her condition with you first. Nothing more."

"Okay," Danny left the room without a word to his mother or Dietz.

Danny listened intently as Dr. Spencer explained that luckily the cardiac arrest that Michelle sustained didn't cause any further damage to the heart muscle. He assured Danny that it would take a great deal of time and effort on her part but he felt that she would make a full recovery. She would have to monitored closely for the rest of her life but she would be able to go about things in a normal manner. Just like any other person.

Danny was estactic. He was unable to contain his joy. "Thank you! Thank you so much. Both of you," he said turning to look at Dr. Edwards as well. "Can I see her?" he was too excited to stand still. Both doctors had to smile. He looked like a little kid waiting to go into the circus for the first time.

"You're all she's been asking for," Dr. Edwards returned. Knowing that Danny needed to hear that.

"Just remember she's still pretty weak. Stress is still a big issue for her. Just keep things light."

Danny pushed open the door to Michelle's room. He stopped to relish in the fact that she was alive and wanted to see him. His heart swelled with the love he felt for her. How sorry that he was even related to the beast that had caused her so much pain.

"Hey," she smiled weakly.

"Hi," he took his hand in hers. "I'm so glad that you are going to be all right. I was so scared for you," he whispered as a tear escaped his coffee colored eyes.

"Shhh," she said reaching up to wipe the tear away.

"I'm so sorry for everything. I should have seen this all. I should have stopped it when I had the chance." Danny said with angst.

"Shh," she placed her finger to his full lips, "This wasn't your fault. How could you have known anything about my life? I need to tell you about Mick…" the words catching in her throat.

"I know. I know everything." Michelle began crying now. Danny watched her chest rise and fall with each sob. He gathered her fragile body in his arms. Rocking her speaking in soothing tones.

"Michelle, nothing is ever going to hurt you again. I stake my life on it. We are going to work through this together. I'll be there for you every step of the way. If you'll let me?" he questioned.

Michelle nodded not trusting her voice, "I know this might scare you," he began, "but I love you Michelle."

"I love you too," she returned, "I love you too."