They drove in silence for the longest time. Neither knowing what to say but the silence was a comfortable one. Michelle felt totally safe sitting next to this man she barely knew. Safer then she had felt in a very long time.

Danny swung the car on to a dirt road that Michelle was unfamiliar with. For the first time, she let her head take over. Thoughts running wild. Where could he be taking her? Had she let herself be lulled into thinking that he had been different then Derrick.

"Where are we going?" she finally asked.

"You'll see." Danny returned never taking his eyes off of the winding road.

Michelle's panic was getting the better of her. At one point she even entertained thoughts of jumping from the car. They weren't traveling that fast.

It was then that she saw a pond coming into her view. As the car came to rest at the crest of the hill, Michelle let out a deep breath.

"You okay?" he questioned noticing how tense her body posture was.

"Where are we?" she squeaked imaging all kinds of crazy scenarios.

Danny swallowed hard around the lump forming in his throat. It wasn't until he stopped the engine that he realized exactly where he had taken Michelle.

"Danny?" she asked again tentatively placing her hand on the door handle should she have needed to make a break for it. But there was something in his eyes that told her she wasn't in any danger.

Danny let his eyes travel across the landscape. Remembering every time that he and Caitlyn had walked along the shoreline. Every picnic that they had had there. What had possessed him to bring Michelle here of all places?

"Danny?" he heard her voice again.

"Huh????" he finally turned to look at her.

"I asked you where are we?"

"My family owns this. I would come here to get away from it all. When the world would get the better of me I would come here to regroup."

It hadn't been a complete lie. Originally that's how it had started but then it turned into an escape for him and Caitlyn. A place where they were able to flee to get away from all the was his life.

"Thought you might need that. To regroup I mean."

"I think you might be right."

Michelle exited the car watching the orange ball steadily dropping into the horizon. It had been such a long time that she had taken the time to look at a sunset. Such a long time that she let herself feel anything. She had built a wall around her. A wall that she thought would in some way protect her from all that was bad in the world. Yet no matter how high she built it, things were still able to scale it and find their way to her.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Danny asked coming to stand beside her. "I think this is the best place in the city to watch a sunset."

"Yes it is."

He stole sidelong glances at her as she watched the sun turn from orange....red and magenta before them. Here he was in this place again. A place that he hadn't visited in so long and it wasn't Caitlyn by his side. He fought the guilt that was beginning to rise within him. The guilt that was beckoning for a drink. The sensation that had started it all. It had been the guilt of what he had allowed to happen to her that found it's way to the bottle of scotch time and time again.

"You want to walk?" he found himself saying without thinking.

"Sure." Michelle followed along side him. Again they fell into a comfortable silence. She breathed in deeply the crisp air as dusk loomed. It was hard to miss the sadness in Danny's eyes. She wanted to ask him what had caused him so much pain but stopped short for fear of him asking her the same questions.

He had more then a right too. He had walked in on one of her weakest moments. He had saved her from Derrick. He deserved an answer but she wasn't ready for that yet. She wasn't ready to give everything of herself. So it was easier to say nothing at all.

By the time they had circled the pond dusk had turned to dark. Michelle looked at her watch. It was going on seven o'clock. She was mortified. Both her and Danny were in so much trouble. By the grace of God Dr. Chajson was still out of town. Michelle could only hope that Kathy would understand.

"What's up Michelle?" Danny asked sensing her distress.

"We are in deep shit!"

"Why?" then reality came crashing back. He had let himself forget his life for the moment. He had lulled himself into thinking he was an ordinary guy with an ordinary girl.

"Danny......" she gasped," You aren't supposed to leave the center. Not without a family member knowing." her doe eyes wide with worry.

"What?" Danny taken completely off guard. "What the hell are you talking about?" It was difficult to hide the anger that grew from his very core. "So what.......I'm a prisoner?" he bellowed.

Michelle began backing away recalling the fury that had erupted the first day that she had met him in the office. "No....not a prisoner," she barely whispered.

"SURE FEELS LIKE IT TO ME!!!! What the hell did Ray and Bernard do to me?" he said utterly exasperated.

"I think that they were only trying to help you," she returned trying to gain her composure and understand what must have been going through his mind.

"How the fuck would you know?" he spat angry at the world again. Furious that he had brought her here in the first place. Furious at himself for thinking how much she sounded like Caitlyn at that very moment. She had been his rock, sounding board for everything that he found too hard to deal with on his own. As much as he tried to shield her from the business she had pushed her way into every aspect of his life. Saying that it was all or nothing. And Danny wasn't about to let it be nothing. Looking at Michelle Bauer right now was like looking into Caitlyn all over again. What had he been thinking anyhow? "YOU DON'T KNOW A DAMN THING ABOUT ME!!!!! So don't presume to make judgments on what is helping me!"

His wrath both silenced and enraged her. At this moment it was hard to remember the guy who had protected her from Derrick. Gone was the man who's touch had comforted her. Once again she had let her heart get the better of her.

She ripped the car keys from his hands as she strode away from him. He heard the deep throaty roar of the headers on the Trans Am. They called to him. She was leaving with or without him. At the very moment it took all she had not to tear away leaving dust and gravel in her wake.

Danny dropped into the passenger seat never once looking at her. His emotions taking him on a roller coaster ride. The highs and lows coursing through his very being were nauseating. All he wanted right now was to get away from her.....as far away as he could.

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Michelle drove hard and fast. She didn't know if it was due to the fact that she knew that she had stepped over the line with Danny with regards to the treatment protocol or was it the fact that she was so irate at him right now.

In an instant it was as though he thought he was the only one with problems. The only one entitled to be angry with the world. She pressed her foot harder on the pedal causing the tires to squeal as they rounded the corner a bit too sharply.

She took pleasure in watching Danny grab for the door. It was her turn to cause him some discomfort. Nothing back there made any sense to her. One minute they were as comfortable as two people could have been with each other and then the next he was going off half cocked. She had the disturbing feeling that there was more to why Danny Santos was admitted to Hillman then met the eye.

"WOULD YOU SLOW DOWN!" he did his best to sound harsh but Michelle was able to detect a hint of fear in his tone. She couldn't stop herself from smiling. "What?......what something you find funny?"

"Nothing," she suppressed a giggle forming at the back of her throat.

"Where the hell did you learn to drive?" he questioned.

"What?.....you don't like the way I drive?" Michelle down shifted letting the throaty roar again escape the headers.

"MICHELLE!" he growled as she again sent the tires squealing.

"Calm down Danny. I know exactly how to handle this baby. She and I go way back." Michelle rubbed her hand across the black dash.

"What?" he said obviously confused.

"This car was my father's. He taught me how to drive in this car. Hell I even took my driver's test in this car." she laughed remembering the State Trooper's face as the car rumbled up next to him. "When my parents died......" she sighed, "This was just about the only thing that I had left of him. I have been driving it ever since."

Danny felt his heart drop at her words. So she had lost her parents too. He couldn't stop himself from wondering all the details of the event. "I'm sorry about your parents." his voice genuine again.

"It's okay really. Water under the bridge so to speak," Michelle said trying to sound nonchalant but Danny knew better. He knew what it was like to lose your parents. It was a pain that never truly left you. No matter what fond memories that you carried with you it still hurt like hell. A hell he never wanted to relive but here he was deep in it again. Yet this time it was even more difficult.

"How old were you when they died?" Danny found himself asking again with out thinking.

"I was a sophomore in college."

"That must have been rough for you."

"Yeah you could say that." she sighed wondering how she had let herself get into this conversation.

"I'm sorry."

"Why? Were you the one behind the wheel that night? Were you the one driving drunk? Did you cause them to go careening off the road to their death?" her voice raising with each question. It was now her turn to show just how quick her mood could change as well.

"No," he stated.

"Well then just save the pity okay? Let's just say been there done that!"

"Michelle," Danny's voice was gentle now, "It's not pity," his hand now resting on hers as she shifted again. The energy rushed between them again. "It's not pity," he repeated knowing full well by the look on her face she didn't believe him. "I lost my parents too Michelle," Danny whispered. "I was a great deal younger then you but I think I have a pretty good idea what it feels like."

Michelle stared at him completely stunned. This was something that she had never expected. She saw the same grief in Danny's eyes that was reflective in her own. Yet his was deeper somehow. All the anger that she had felt a while ago vanished into thin air. Their connection was evident once more.

"Danny.....listen I'm sorry. I shouldn't have....."

"Same goes for me," he said stopping her midsentence. "Back there...I shouldn't have snapped. It has nothing to do with you really.......too many ghosts I guess," he said beneath his breath.

"You know what how about it we just call it even and forget it?" she smiled that incredible smile at him. Danny thought he would melt.

"Deal."

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Michelle swung her car back into the space that it had previously occupied hours ago. She was already steeling herself for the wrath that she knew she would incur. So far today she hadn't done a thing by the rules. She knew that no matter how much Kathy cared for her, she wouldn't be able to save her ass on this one. She had royally screwed herself.

"Michelle?" Danny questioned sensing her anxiety.

"Danny....I wasn't kidding about what I said earlier. It's against every policy....what we did. I mean.....," she sighed trying to come up with an explanation. "Kathy....well let's just say she's going to have my hide for this."

"SHIT!"

"What?" she asked not liking the tone in his voice.

"I just remembered. I was supposed to meet with her. In her office...hell hours ago. It totally slipped my mind. I mean all I could think about was helping you," Danny's words betrayed him.

"You have got to be kidding right?" she commented in disbelief all the while trying not to concentrate on his last remark. Yet the words resounded in her ears.

"I get the feeling that this isn't a good thing......not a good thing at all," Danny said still not sure of exactly what Bernard and Ray had gotten him into.

"Damn straight," Michelle returned dryly.

"Is there any way that I can slip in unnoticed?"

"I highly doubt that. Danny it's almost going on nine o'clock. Kathy will have had a everyone in the county looking for you." Michelle let out a heavy sigh.

"I can at least try can't I?" he questioned trying to call forth all of his sneak tactics. Danny had more then his fair share of experience entering on the scene undetected.

"Good luck," she quipped.

"Ah ye of little faith. Don't underestimate Danny Santos." Michelle couldn't help but smile as she looked on at him. "It's now or never."

Michelle and Danny walked across the lot to the double doors. Biting her lower lip as Danny reached for the handle, she gathered every bit of strength in her. She certainly wasn't about to let Danny take the fall for something that she had ultimately caused.

All thoughts of slipping in unnoticed vanished the second that the pair crossed the threshold. Before them stood Kathy, two Illinois State Troopers and Danny's cousin Ray.

"Mr. Santos!.......just where have you been?" Kathy's voice rang out through the quiet corridor, "Michelle!?!?!" Kathy's hard gaze came to rest on her when she stepped out from behind Danny. "WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON HERE!?!?!?!" Kathy recalled the way these two had reacted to one another in group. A million thoughts were running rampant through her mind.

"Kathy......." Michelle started, "Derrick came here today."

"Michelle, your jaw," Kathy remarked as she came closer to her. "Derrick is responsible for this?" She reached out to lift Michelle's face into the light.

"Yeah....." she stammered looking for a way to tell Kathy the truth. The truth being that she had asked Derrick to come. That she had wanted the high that only Derrick could give. Yet she had also gotten the other thing that Derrick Lawson was famous for...his temper.

"What happened?" Kathy's tone had soften a bit.

"Well........."

"Kathy.....right?" Danny began. Michelle starred at him wide eyed wondering what he was about to do. He didn't realize it but he was in as much trouble as she was. If only for different reasons. "I think I can explain."

"Oh please do Mr. Santos. This should be quite interesting." Kathy quipped still not trusting this man. She had done some checking around and wasn't at all pleased with what she had come up with. She was still trying to understand how Dr. Chajson had let himself get involved with this case.

"See........I was getting ready to meet you in your office. I went for a quick walk around the grounds to clear my head. When I noticed Michelle and some guy in the parking lot. I didn't pay much attention at first until he took a swing at her. Then when he started forcing her in his car I took action. What was I supposed to do?"

"Is this true Michelle? Was Derrick forcing you to go with him?" Kathy wasn't about to let it slip that the State Troopers had found the remnants of the cocaine that Michelle had thrown to the ground.

"Yes," she barely whispered. "If it hadn't been for Danny I don't know what I would have done." Michelle looked at Danny with disbelief in her eyes. Why had he covered for her? Why had he put himself on the line for her. He could have dropped the bomb about the cocaine...the kiss everything.

"That still doesn't explain what the two of you were doing."

"That's my fault again."

"Oh is that so Mr. Santos? Seems to me you have all the answers tonight," Kathy shot back at him.

"I was never told that I was unable to leave the grounds," Danny starred coldly at Ray as he spoke. "Michelle was pretty shaken by the whole experience and I just thought she needed sometime to get her head together."

"You may have not known the rules but Michelle certainly does!"

"Kathy, I'm so sorry. It will never happen again. I promise."

"Daniel!!" Bernard's voice caused everyone to turn their heads in his direction. "What on earth is going on here?"

Ray was stunned at Bernard's presence. He had made it perfectly clear on all the forms that he had completed that he was to be the only family contact. How had Bernard even know about this little incident?

"Hello Bernard," Danny's tone turned to ice.

"Someone said you were missing."

"Missing?" Danny repeated. "I was out with a friend." Danny reached for Michelle's hand. "See I was under the impression that I wasn't a prisoner here. I thought that I came here of my own free will...but apparently that was not the case." Dagger flew from his eyes. "As it turns out I am not permitted to leave the grounds. AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU AND RAY HAD ME COMMITTED!?!?!?!" The rage was evident in his voice.

"Daniel," Bernard said softly, "It's for your own good. You couldn't keep on drinking the way that you were......."

"So...what you took away all my decision making powers?" Danny seethed.

"Excuse me?" Kathy cut in, "Just who are you sir?"

"HE'S NOBODY!" Danny yelled. Michelle gently let her hand rest on Danny's arm. She felt his muscles tighten as he starred down the man before them.

"Sir?" Kathy questioned.

"Bernard....I think it's time that you go," Ray said sternly standing his ground once again.

"I'm not going anywhere until I get some answers! I want to know how it is that a man placed in the care of this facility can just walk away unnoticed?"

"We were working on that just before you came in," Kathy directed her remarks to the man bellowing orders before her. She liked him even less then she had Danny Santos.

"Working on it?" he repeated.

"Yes.....seems that Mr. Santos here is a hero of sorts. He helped Ms. Bauer out of a bad situation. Nothing more nothing less. I think we can put this behind us now." Kathy was lying through her teeth at the moment but all she wanted was for this Bernard person to be gone. It was hard to miss the animosity between the two.

"Bernard, let's go," Ray grabbed for his arm. "Danny.....I will call you later."

"Yeah whatever....." Danny returned not caring if he heard from either one of them again.

Bernard watched Danny and Michelle standing together. Even from his far distance he could see that the two had a bond. A bond that maybe just maybe he could use to his advantage.

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Danny let a heavy sigh escape his lips as Ray and Bernard faded into the distance. It saddened him that at this very moment he felt nothing but contempt for both of them.

He tried to rationalize Ray's involvement in all of this. Thinking back Danny knew that Ray had done everything within his power to help him. In all actuality he had forced Ray to turn to Bernard.

Danny wasn't able to get past the fact that Bernard had contributed to the Sanchez problem. Had let their defenses down enough enabling Rico Sanchez to worm his way in.

Danny hated Bernard with every inch of his being. Bernard had been like a father to him for so many years but he couldn't get past the fact that Bernard's lack of concern had cost Caitlyn her life.

"Danny," Michelle voice pulled him back to reality, "Hey are you okay?" she ran her hand up and down his arm.

"I'm fine," he returned absently still starring off into the distance.

Michelle was less then convinced. All of his body language said something completely different. "Danny….are you sure? Who was that guy?"

"NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS!" he spat pulling from her grasp.

"Danny?!?!?" she returned in utter confusion.

"You know what Michelle…..just forget it! Forget everything." He turned to go running smack into Kathy who wasn't about to let this all just drop.

"And where do you think you are going Mr. Santos? We aren't finished here. Not by a long shot. That goes for you too, Michelle. Both of you my office now!"

Michelle and Danny looked on as Kathy finished up her business with the State Troopers who eyed Danny now and again. It was hard to miss the nervousness in Danny's posture. Michelle wished she knew what was going on inside of him.

How he could simply turn on a dime with her time and time again. That should have scared her off. It should have sent every warning flag flying high in her head. It had been the same situation with Derrick…..yet Michelle couldn't help but remember Danny's earlier words. That he had lost his parents too. She knew the scars that she carried with her and how they had given her a distorted view of things at times. For right now she decided to reserve judgment. Get to know him a bit more before she made her final decision. That was if she would have the chance. Kathy's angry face coming towards them told Michelle they were in for one hell of a lecture.

Kathy closed the door hard as Danny and Michelle took their seats. Danny hadn't said a word to Michelle much less looked at her since Bernard and Ray had left.

She had tried a number of times to speak to him but her remarks fell of deaf ears. It amazed her how much his distance effected her. The farther away he seemed to be from her the closer she tried to get. It was all happening without much thought on her part.

"Okay you two….." Kathy said harshly, "Exactly what the hell happened here?" Kathy looked at the blank faces before her. Neither of them rushing forth with any explanation.

Michelle searched for the right words. She was certain that Kathy would be disappointed in her. And disappointment was the one thing that continually proved to be Michelle's downfall.

"What neither of you have anything to say now?" she questioned, "You had an answer for everything moments ago, Mr. Santos."

"Listen," Danny growled, "I told you what the hell happened. Let's just leave it at that!" Danny's black eyes blazing as he spoke.

Kathy wasn't about to back down, "I know what you told me….but I think there's more to this story then either one of you are saying."

"What is it with you lady? You're never satisfied with anything I say. You know what I've had it with this place…with all of you!" Michelle recoiled as his words stung her.

"SIT DOWN MR. SANTOS……!!!! We are by no means finished here."

"Hell I was finished before you even started!" Danny's haste to exit the room sent his chair tumbling to the ground. Both women watched his retreating back for the second time that day.