Danny let the fine mist soak through his clothes reaching his skin all the while never really feeling it. Not truly feeling anything. The last days had been a blur. Some bizarre made for television movie where he had been cast as the poor soul left in the aftermath.

He looked on as the mourners filed past the casket. Each placing a single white rose on the cherry wood. The flowers cascaded down the sides until he could barely see the box underneath. So many stopped to pay their respects to him, yet he could have cared less. Nothing they could say would arrest the feeling of utter despair that filled him. The pain of knowing that it should have been him lying there in that casket.....not her. That was something that Danny would never be able to shake. It had been meant for him. She had been the innocent victim. A victim for choosing to love him dispute the warnings.

The rain began falling at a steady pace. He watched as they all scurried to their awaiting vehicles as if the rain was going to somehow hurt them. He wanted to be hurt. He wanted something physical to show for the agony that he was feeling.

Ray stood along side his cousin and friend as Danny made his way to the casket. His body trembled as he looked at the picture of her beside the altar. She was his princess. She was to be his wife. But now that would never be!

Danny knelt beside the casket rubbing his hands along the highly polished surface, willing her to come back to him. If he had been able to crawl in there along side of her he would have done it in an instant. Ray rested his hands on Danny's shoulders as the sobs wracked his body. The hard rain mixed with his salty tears clouding his vision further.

There had been so many things that he had never gotten to tell her. So many things that they hadn't gotten to do. In one brief fiery moment that had all been shattered.

Danny raked his arms across the casket forcing the white petals to fall to the ground, "NO!!!!!!!!!" he screamed beating on the coffin's lid. "NO......IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ME.........IT WAS MEANT FOR ME!!!!!!!" Danny broke down laying his body against the case that held his love....held his very being. Danny sobbed and screamed until he had no voice left.

Ray stood in the rain and waited patiently. It ripped him apart to see the sheer torment that Danny was going through. No words would erase the anguish that he was experiencing. Nothing would be able to take away the guilt that he would carry from this point on.

Danny had known the threats were real. For once in his life he had underestimated his enemy or overestimated himself. Overestimated his ability to protect what was precious to him.

Ray awkwardly removed Danny from his perch as they watched the casket being interned. As he watched it being lowered into the ground Danny felt his stomach lurch. Before he knew what hit him he was doubled over spilling his guts.

Everytime he closed his eyes all he saw was the fiery wreckage. The blast had rocked the house off it's foundation. He could see her standing before him at his desk begging him to finish his business call. She had wanted one uninterrupted night alone with him but he had to go off to Chicago. Things in the business had heated up since the Sanchez Family had decided to embark on some of the Santos' territory. Danny had enlisted Bernard's help but they were still having some trouble with Rico. He felt that his family was entitled to their piece of the action.

Rico and Danny had butted heads one time too many for Rico's liking so he had decided to dispose of him in true Sanchez form however the outcome had not played out according to the script.

Danny recalled how beautiful she looked that day. She kissed him forcing his thoughts from his coversation, "I'll get the car," she whispered, "You better not make me have to come in and get you," she giggled

Those were the last words that he was to ever hear her say. The explosion forced every window in the Santos house to shatter. The roar of the fire outside was deafening. For a moment he had been stunned unable to move but then he heard it....the voices screaming in the distance.

He raced to the front drive only to find his car engulfed in flames. "Mr. Santos...it's too late," Roberto held him back, "Sir, there's nothing you can do."

"FUCK...THERE'S NOTING I CAN DO!!!!!" he growled pulling out of his grip. The blistering flames licked at him. His attempt to make his way closer was met with another explosion as the gas tank ruptured. The force of the blast sent him careening to the pavement.

All he could remember was hearing Ray calling his name..............

"Danny........" There it was again. Ray's voice calling to him. "Danny!"

"Huh?"

"I think it's time we were going."

"Ray, I can't leave her here," he cried. "She was always afraid of being alone. I can't let her be alone......." Danny's voice trailed off into the distance as he let himself be lead to the awaiting car. "I'm so sorry......so sorry....Caitlyn," he whispered as Ray closed the door.