Ray escorted Bernard to his awaiting limo still trying to come up with an explanation as to how he had ended up here in the first place.

"Can you believe this place?" Bernard remarked gruffly, "And that women whoever she was...I mean what gives her the right to speak to me like that?" Bernard enjoyed the power that his position afforded him. And was very unaccustomed to having his authority questioned in any way.

"I think she was just doing her job Bernard. Isn't that what you are paying her to do?" Ray quipped.

"What I'm not paying her for is the attitude! And certainly not to let Danny just walk away undetected. That's ludicrous."

This whole situation was getting out of control. This was not how he had envisioned it all playing out. Yet maybe there was a better way to break Danny after all. Just a small deviation in the original plan.

"Bernard...I must ask......how did you even know about this? I was under the impression that I was the only contact person for Danny?" Ray asked warily.

"I don't know Ray. Apparently my name and number must still be on record somewhere in that shambles they call an office."

"Maybe...but I was pretty specific in my instructions to you and the office personnel."

Bernard shifted uneasy at Ray's persistence. "If this place can lose a grown man what makes you think that they can keep track of a few pieces of paper," he retorted doing his best to draw Ray away from his intended goal.

"Maybe I didn't make myself clear the other day Bernard. I want you to stay the hell away from Danny. Having you popping up here and there isn't helping him.........."

"Ray," Bernard cut in anger in his voice, "I am like a father to Daniel. You can't expect me to sit by watching and waiting like a dog begging for table scraps."

"That's exactly what I want you to do!"

"You have to be joking," Bernard returned disbelieving the words falling from Ray's mouth.

"Never been more serious. Bernard don't you get it? You are a constant reminder to Danny. Every single time he looks at you he sees what happened to Caitlyn. How is he ever supposed to get past it if you won't give him the space to do just that?" Ray said pleading the case he knew to be true.

Yet, that's exactly what Bernard had wanted. He wanted Caitlyn's ghost to stay alive and well in Danny's mind. This wouldn't work any other way.

"Excuse me," Bernard said as his rang off into the distance. "Yeah........hold on a moment," Bernard cupped his hand against the receiver, "This is business Ray....so if we are finished here...."

"Are we clear on the fact that you are going to steer clear of Danny?" Bernard hesitated for a moment, "I swear Bernard...I will pull Danny out of here right now if you don't agree."

"Fine.....whatever you want."

"Good. Then I don't expect to see you around here again." Ray made a mental note to contact the office in the morning and be sure just who's name was on Danny's file. He wasn't able to rid himself of the sinking feeling he had in the pit of his stomach. A feeling that was telling him that Bernard wasn't to be trusted.

Bernard waited until Ray was safely out of earshot to resume his conversation. "Yeah, I'm still here. There has been a chance in the plan.....No this is even better......much better," Bernard said sinister in tone. "Don't worry I will fill you in on all the details when the time is right.....For now just stay close......and keep your eyes open you hear me? I'll be in touch." With that said Bernard ended the conversation.

Yes....a plan was forming nicely in his head. It still had a few loose ends but with a little digging on his part they would all come together quite nicely.

This might actually work out better then he originally imagined.

Michelle resisted the urge to run after him. She was quite certain that Kathy wasn't finished with her yet. It was hard to imagine that someone had built walls around them higher then her own but it looked like Danny Santos had done just that. She was beginning to wonder if she would ever break through or if she even wanted to for that matter.

"Michelle, would you like to explain this?" Kathy held out the empty vial that she had thrown to the ground in her anger at herself.

She swallowed hard before beginning to speak. There wasn't anyway out of this but the truth. She could only hope that Kathy wouldn't pass a harsh judgment. "Where did you find that?"

"The State Troopers had the pleasure."

"Oh God," Michelle whispered in horror. "Kathy, what's going to happen to me?"

"So, I am to assume that it was yours?" Michelle could do nothing but nod an acknowledgment, "Why?" Kathy was outraged yet not in the least bit surprised. Given Michelle's call the previous night, she should have seen this coming.

"It's so stupid...I can't even tell you."

"Michelle, I can't help you if you don't talk to me," Kathy did her best to draw her out.

"I felt like I let you down today. In group I mean.....I couldn't even talk in there. I was supposed to open up and finally start dealing with the past but all I could do was stumble over my words....." she sighed dropping her head in her hands.

"You're telling me that you did this cause you thought I was disappointed in you?"

"Yes...no...hell I don't know anymore. I just wanted to be numb. I wanted that dull ache to go away. So I called Derrick. I know it was stupid. I should have never done it. I knew it the minute I took my first hit but it was too late. I let my fears get the best of me again," the tears were now flowing freely.

"Michelle," Kathy came around to the front of her desk, "First off you know as well as I do that this road you are on isn't an easy one to say the least. You are bound to hit a road block here and there," she took Michelle's hand in hers. "You have to get back in the program. You have to deal with the past. If you don't you will never move on."

"What if I can't?" Michelle said more as a statement then a question.

"You can! You have made so much progress. Don't let this one slip up drag you down again. Don't let the drug and Derrick win. Not this time. You have so much potential that you haven't even tapped yet."

If only she believed Kathy's words. For her they sounded so hollow right now. As empty as she always felt.

"I wish that were true."

"IT IS! Michelle, look at me," Kathy wanted to take her by the arms and shake some sense into her. "Okay....so you aren't perfect.....SO WHAT!?!?! No one expects you to be perfect."

"Yeah right!" Michelle retorted.

"Forget about everyone in your past. Forget them. They pushed their goals...unfulfilled dreams on you. Figure out what it is you want. Just you.......not anyone else. Do you understand me?"

"How do I do that?"

"By knocking down those walls you have built. Stop second guessing everything. Quit preparing yourself for the worst....stop waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak."

If Kathy only knew how easier that was said then done. Her wall was so high right now it would take a miracle to bring it down.

"I can't do that."

"What do you mean you can't? You let Derrick in. You let him find his way over.....him and his drugs. Look where that has gotten you. Beaten and hooked on something that eventually is going to kill you if he doesn't do it first!!!!!"

Michelle felt a cold chill run down her spine as visions of Derrick filled every empty cavity in her head. How true Kathy was.....but could she really do what she was asking of her. Could she totally and completely drop her defenses and start anew?

"Michelle, stop waiting for people to hurt you. Falling into a state of oblivion isn't the answer. You will still get hurt that way. Worse yet is that you will be missing out on some wonderful people in your life if you stop them at the gate."

Michelle now entertained thoughts of Danny Santos. Kathy's words hitting her very core. She wanted more then anything to connect with him. Tear down her walls for him but could he do the same for her? Could they find a way to make each other whole again?

Danny heard the sound of his chair hitting the floor as he stormed from the room. He would have slammed the door on them if he thought that it would have helped.

He was so mad right now he couldn't even see straight. But who was he really angry with? Bernard and Ray for dropping him in this hell hole......Kathy for having the nerve to stand up to him......Michelle for caring about him....or himself for letting Michelle get to him? Perhaps a combination of them all in some shape or form.

The last thing he wanted or needed for that matter was a relationship. But why was it that he couldn't stop thinking about her. The way she smiled at him....laughed at his off handed comments...the way she had tried to comfort him moments before. All those things were taking up space in his brain that once had belonged to Caitlyn. Spaces that were for her and her alone.

It seemed the harder Danny tried to picture her face the more it faded being replaced with the soft features of Michelle Bauer's face instead.

He raced towards his room...towards the picture of Caitlyn gazing at him lovingly. He needed to see her face again. Needed to burn her image into his mind.

"I miss you," he whispered running his hand against the cool glass. "I don't know what's happening to me. I can't stop these feelings. I am trying so hard......." he sighed trying to come up with a good explanation for what he was feeling. Seeking absolution from a picture.

Danny threw himself onto the hard mattress starring at the ceiling. The moonlight casting shadows all around. What made him take Michelle to his special place? Why did he head there without even realizing it? Had it been a reflex or something more then that?

Danny's head was spinning with so many questions and too few answers.

How he wished he had a drink at that very moment. Just one to take the edge off. Yet Danny knew better. Knew that one was never enough....hell one bottle wouldn't have been enough right now.

"Well, I see you caused one hell of a ruckus this evening," Kirk Maxwell sauntered in the room without so much as a tap on the door.

Danny sat straight up at the intrusion. He had every intention of steering clear of this one. Especially since this guy had been the cause of the little scene earlier that day in his first group session. If it hadn't been for Kirk Maxwell none of tonight would have happened. He wouldn't have stormed out of the group giving Kathy the opportunity to have him down to her office and if she hadn't asked to see him then no one would have even bothered to look for him so then he and Michelle could have slipped back in unnoticed as they had planned. Instead, a completely different act had taken place.

"What is it that you want?" Danny asked agitated by Kirk's presence.

"Was just curious as to how you got that bombshell to leave with you?" he returned slyly, "I have been trying like hell to get her to notice me for weeks now and you get her in a day......what's you secret man?" he laughed.

Danny replayed Kirk's earlier remarks with regards to Michelle. He felt the same fury building. The rage that filled him as he watched Derrick manhandle Michelle. He fought it the best he could but quickly it was getting the better of him.

"Don't get any ideas here man!" Danny said in his most controlled voice. "You don't have a clue who you would be messing with. Let's just say she's off limits and leave it at that...shall we?"

Kirk did his best not to laugh. He could have said the same thing to Danny as well but he continued playing along. "Thought you weren't interested? I mean seems like you got a girl already," Kirk picked up Caitlyn's picture from the desk, "She a beautiful girl Danny......you have mighty good taste for a drunk," Kirk twisted the knife.

"GIVE ME THAT!" Danny whipped the golden frame from Kirk's grasp.

"Whoa...possessive aren't we?" he chided, "So let me get this straight you have this beautiful woman waiting for you at home and you have another here? Am I understanding this?" Kirk was enjoying the torment that filled Danny's black eyes.

Kirk Maxwell pushed all of Danny's buttons. He had Danny so furious that if he had had a gun at that very moment Kirk would have been dead where he sat.

The overpowering sensation of guilt came to consume him again. He hated to admit it but in a way Kirk spoke the truth. What right did he have to dictate who went after Michelle and who didn't. He had no claim to her. Yet that wasn't entirely true. As hard as he was denying it that's how hard his heart was pushing forward feelings...feelings that Danny wanted to vanquish.

God, he could have used a bottle of scotch right about now.

"What nothing to say?" Kirk continued badgering Danny.

"Let's get one thing straight here Maxwell.....I don't like you. Don't want you hanging around Michelle and I surely don't need your friendship!" Danny spat.

"Bet you need this though." Kirk pulled a flask out from under his flannel shirt. "I may not be such a bad guy after all," he laughed.

In slow motion Danny watched himself reaching for the silver container before him. It came to rest easy in his hand. It fit like a glove. Like an old friend returning home from a long journey.

"Go ahead man....I know you want to," Kirk pushed.

Danny did want to. He wanted this so badly. He brought the mouth of the flask to his. Easily the hot liquid slid down his throat setting it afire as it came to rest in the pit of his stomach.

Relief was his for but a moment. When Danny opened his eyes he was looking at Caitlyn's bright happy face. How had he let himself get to this place. A place so far from the person he once was. He didn't want to be that person anymore.

Danny replaced the cap on the flask before handing it back to Kirk, "Nah, man you keep it. Looks like you need it a hell of a lot more than me."

"Danny?"

He swung around to see Michelle standing in his door.

Kathy's words about Michelle shielding herself from people hurting her haunted her. How long had she really been doing that? How long had she lashed out at someone in fear that they would harm her first? More then she cared to count actually.

It had become second nature to her now. She wanted to be the one to walk away before someone had the chance to do it her. That's how she had ended up feeling so barren. Her soul stripped of any and all emotion.

Michelle had fallen into this pattern years before. What made her think that she could break the cycle now.....that was if she even wanted to.

"Michelle," The sound of Kathy's voice pulled her back into the room, "Am I making any sense here?" she did her best not to sound desperate. Yet she was. Kathy needed Michelle to understand. Needed her to want to move forward because the next time she slipped Kathy doubted that she or anyone for that matter would be able to come to Michelle's rescue.

"Yes," Michelle returned in a whisper.

"I know how hard it's going to be for you to do what I am asking. Your habits have been ingrained in you so long ago....but you have to try. If you ever want to have a normal relationship with anyone you are going to have to give it a shot. I'm not saying that you won't get hurt.....but that will be your true test. That is when you will have to face down those demons again."

"Yeah...what if I fail miserably.?"

"You might....but you will have to pick yourself up dust yourself off and start all over again. This isn't something that's going to happen over night."

"I don't want to risk getting hurt."

"Michelle, who's kidding who here? You are still hurting. Even with that wall you have encased yourself in you are still in pain. All that I'm asking is that you try. Try to open up and live again. It's really not all that bad," Kathy half smiled. "Who knows you might actually enjoy yourself."

"What's going to happen to me?" Michelle questioned picking up the tiny vial once more, "I mean what did you tell the Troopers?"

"I didn't tell them anything. I couldn't.....I mean I had my suspicions but nothing concrete."

"Then what about this," she held the small amber colored container in the palm of her hand.

"This is a drug and alcohol treatment center.....what do you think they thought? It could have been anyone's and that's what I let them believe."

"Thank you," Michelle sighed.

"Listen missy......" Kathy said mockingly shaking her finger at Michelle's face, "I saved your ass once let's not let it happen again!"

Michelle stood up and embraced her friend lovingly. She had found a true friend in Kathy Stewart. Someone who did her very best not to judge her even when she knew damn well she deserved to be. A person who told it like it was even if it was something Michelle didn't care to hear.

All that Kathy had said that evening were things that Michelle had known for quite some time now. Hearing them though had given her a renewed sense of herself. The last thing she wanted to do was slip back in to her drug induced state. She was at the foot of an awfully long climb but it was time she started the trek.

"So would you care to explain to me just where you and Mr. Santos were all that time you were gone?"

Michelle noticed a hint of curiosity in Kathy's question. "He took me to his family's grounds. It was beautiful. We walked around the pond......."

"Michelle, can I just say one thing?" It was hard to miss the dreamy eyed expression on Michelle's face.

"What?"

"Be careful. You don't know anything about this man. Obviously he has his share of problems too or he wouldn't be here for god sakes. I know I told you to drop the defenses and all but that doesn't mean you have to lose all common sense either."

"I know that Kathy.....but there's something about him....I can't put my finger on it but I feel safe with him."

Kathy snorted at the words. SAFE????? Danny Santos was head of one of the largest crime organizations in the state.....his fiancé was blown to bits by a rival family and Michelle felt safe with him. Kathy had to laugh at the mere thought of it all.

"What?" Michelle asked as Kathy shook her head.

"Just be careful. That's all that I want you to do."

"Did you know he lost his parents, too? They died when he was pretty young."

"Yes........I remember reading that in his file."

"Kathy, I know exactly where he is coming from. I completely understand him. Hell funny thing is that he and I are so much alike that it's scary. I even think he has me beat on the height of the wall around him."

"You have a point there," Kathy added recalling her few encounters with him.

"I can't explain it...but I am drawn to him. Even the first day he came here. I felt something. I think he did too."

"You could be right." Kathy had sensed it as well but given what she knew about him now she wasn't sure he was the man Michelle needed, but he had put himself out there for Michelle that night. He had stood up for her against Derrick. He had no reason to do that. That was a fact that Kathy wasn't able to deny. He had also went to bat for her in his explanation of what had happened. So really Kathy wasn't sure what to make of the man who called himself Danny Santos.

"What are you thinking, Michelle? I see the wheels turning...hell there's smoke coming out of your ears as we speak."

"Well you told me that I need to let people in. That I should tear down the walls right? So how about I start with Danny?" Michelle's smile lit up her features.

"Just be careful. I get the feeling there is more to Mr. Santos then meets the eye. Don't set yourself up for a fall you understand me?"

"Yes ma'am," Michelle threw Kathy a mock salute before getting up to leave, "Is everything okay with us?" she questioned realizing that Kathy hadn't officially told her she could go.

"Yeah...I'm pretty sure we are. Get with me in the morning....we need to get you worked back into some group sessions."

"What about my job in the office?" Michelle knew all too well that Dr. Chajson was looking for any reason to give her the boot.

"Don't worry about that. We will work around it one way or another."

"Thanks again Kath...you are the greatest."

"So I've been told."

Michelle walked away armed with a new found confidence. The confidence she hoped would finally rid of her of Derrick Lawson and everything he represented.