The wheels in Ray's head were spinning full speed. He was trying not to think the worst of Bernard. He kept remembering how he had taken Danny under his wing. Helped him get past his parents death....yet now it didn't seem like Bernard was much of a help. Sure on the outside it appeared to be all on the up and up. Bernard's concern had been genuine and heart felt but lately Ray wasn't so sure anymore. He wasn't able to shake this nagging feeling in his gut. Ray shook his head ridding himself of these thoughts. He wasn't able to do anything about them now anyhow.... it was time to get the information he came for and more importantly see Danny.

"Michelle," he said realizing that Kathy was still on the phone, "Do you think maybe you could help me with something?" Ray did his best to be gentle. If what Bernard had said was the truth she was bound to be a bit shell shocked.

"Sure Ray," she whispered getting up from the safety of the desk.

Michelle had amazed herself once again. She had actually survived an encounter with Derrick without wanting to run out and get high. She gathered her thoughts and walked to the counter where Ray was standing. He possessed the same dark features as Danny yet there was something different about him. Danny looked like he had the weight of the world resting on his shoulders. Ray didn't have that spent look in his eyes.

"I really need you to check Danny's file for me. I was certain that I was to be his only family contact."

"Sure....wait right here." Michelle headed to the file drawers to retrieve Danny's information. "Yes....it says family contact....Ray Santos 555-1897. Did you need to know something else?" Michelle asked as she saw Ray's features cloud.

"Is there any where.....I mean anywhere in there that has the name Bernard Rivera?"

"Hold on ....let me take another look," She thumbed though all the papers but came up empty, "No...no Bernard Rivera...no number no nothing."

"This doesn't make any sense," Ray more to himself then to her.

"What's the matter Ray? What's going on?"

"That's what I'd like to know. Bernard said someone called him last night about Danny. How can that be if he's not on listed anywhere?" Ray's forbodding feeling was growing by the minute.

"I don't know. You should have been the only one the center contacted," Michelle returned, "I'll ask Kathy."

"No, don't that's okay. I will handle it. You don't need to bother her really. It's a family thing anyhow."

"Family? I thought you said you were Danny's only family."

"Well, Bernard has been a long standing family friend. He may as well be family," Ray said trying not to choke on his words.

"Oh. You sure that you don't want me to ask Kathy for you?"

"It's fine really. What I'd really like to do right now is see Danny. Would that be all right?"

"Sure. He should be in his room. You remember the way?" she asked.

"I think I can find it. Thank you Michelle."

"Anytime."

Michelle watched as Ray exited the office. She had the strangest sensation fall over her. It gave her the chills. She looked up to see Kirk Maxwell standing outside the room watching her through the plate glass window. He smiled and waved before turning to walk up the hall. She didn't know what to make of that except that maybe she was still just on edge after what happened with Derrick.

Danny laid on the hard mattress starring up at the ceiling. It was the same position he had occupied all night. Sleep had never come. Each and everytime he closed his eyes Michelle Bauer's face came to rest on the dark canvas. Finally after two in the morning he had given up entirely. He lay there listening to the sounds of this place. Listening and thinking. Thinking about his life and how he had gotten where he was. How he had turned into this man. A man he barely recognized. It wasn't just the alcohol that he caused him to lose his way. He had been lost long before he made his way to the bottle.

The life that Bernard had taught him how to lead was draining him. Tapping his soul dry. He had long lost the taste for it all. The day that he buried his grandmother was the day that he longed to be a simple man. Unencumbered by the life that had been left him. He had told Bernard that. Explained that he didn't want to do this any longer. Bernard hadn't wanted to listen. Said he wouldn't hear of such a thing. That this was his destiny and he had to fulfill it.

Danny ran his hands along his jaw line. The stubble was already forming. He let his thoughts travel once more to Michelle Bauer. To the softness of her skin.....the scent of her body....the sweetness of her lips as they had grazed his. He felt his heart pounding with the images he entertained.

The knock on the door startled him, "Come in," he said before realizing that he had spoken. His dreams causing his mind to be in another place...another time.

Ray pushed open the door, the flask still laying in it's path. Danny hadn't even bothered to pick it up the night before, "Danny," Ray's eyes came to rest on the silver object on the floor. It was hard to miss the stale smell of scotch that hung in the air. "What the hell's this?" he spat forgetting that he had come to make amends with his cousin.

"Nothing," Danny returned swinging his body into an upright position.

"Sure as hell doesn't look like nothing," Ray mocked.

"What the hell do you want?" Danny laughed thinking how many times he had asked that very question since coming to this place.

"I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to see if we had a relationship worth talking about."

"What, you have a wave of consciousness? Feeling bad that you shanghaied me to this hell hole?"

"I wanted my cousin....my friend back," Ray's voice softened.

"What makes you think that I want...hell need a friend the likes of you? I mean what were you thinking?" Danny wondered aloud.

"I can ask you the same thing you know? What have you been thinking?" Ray countered.

Danny slumped on his bed once more. He searched his brain for a good answer...hell any answer to that question. "I wish I knew," he sighed looking Ray square in the eyes.

"Danny," Ray came to sit along side him, "I have apologized and apologized for this. I was between a rock and a hard place with you. Nothing I did was getting through to you. I want to say I would have reacted to what happened differently but hell I don't know. I just knew that I was losing you."

Danny watched as a tear escaped Ray's eye. He found himself resting his hand on Ray's shoulder. "I know."

"I didn't know what else to do. Bernard came to me. Said he had a way to help. So I jumped at it. I'm sorry man. I mean I can sign you out of here anytime you want to leave," Ray said, "You don't have to stay here a minute longer."

"I want to stay," Danny shocked at his own words, "I need to stay. I have to find a way to put this behind me. I have to make a life for myself again."

Ray breathed a sigh of relief at hearing those words from Danny. This is what he had hoped for all along. That Danny would come to grips with what had happened and move forward. Even if it was slowly.

"You sure? I mean anytime you want to go....you call me. I will get you out of here quicker then shit."

"I'm fine, really," The squad car out in the parking lot caught Danny's attention, "Wonder what the cops are doing here?" he questioned as he moved closer to the window.

"I think they are here to question Michelle."

"Michelle?" Danny gasped. His thoughts shot back to the cocaine from the other day. He wondered if Michelle was in some kind of trouble for that?

"Yeah....I guess that Derrick guy is still harassing her. Seems he can't take no for an answer........"

Danny was out the door before Ray had even gotten the chance to talk to him about Bernard's involvement. So it looked like Ray would be doing the digging all on his own.

The uniformed officers walked into the office amidst the stares of the residents of Hillman. Michelle jumped to her feet upon the sight of them.

"Kathy Stewart?" The officer questioned.

"Yes," Kathy said coming to the counter.

"You placed a call to our department?" he inquired.

"Yes....yes I did. I wanted to report the harassment of one of our employees. Michelle, would you please come here."

She walked in slow motion towards the group. Derrick's words resounding in her ears. She knew him well enough to know that this wasn't going to be over. No matter how many reports she placed. He'd find his way to her.

"Would you mind telling me the details?" the man asked.

"I......well....it was...." she stammered.

"Could you at least give me a name?"

"Derrick Lawson," Michelle's voice a whisper. All the reflections of the earlier days coming back to haunt her.

"So how long has he been harassing you?"

It was simple question however the answer was far from simple. It was a maze of twists and turns that right now even she couldn't navigate.

"She has a restraining order against this man," Kathy interjected as she watched Michelle frozen before her.

"Where was it filled?"

"With The State Troopers Office," Michelle's words find sound on their own. "I filed it over six months ago....but it never really mattered to him."

"How so?" the other man asked.

"He found ways around it. And now I guess he just doesn't give a damn."

"Do you have an address for him?"

"You mean to tell me that you wouldn't have that on file?" Kathy questioned angrily.

"I'm sure we do, but this would save us a great deal of time."

"1275 Crossroads....Apt. #2b," Michelle responded still wondering if Derrick's words were true. That had her actions caused the order to be voided? Had she put herself in danger all on her own?

"We'll go check it out for you.....meanwhile it would be a good idea if you stayed put until we let you know that he's been pick up."

"MICHELLE!!!!!" Danny burst into the room.

"Mr. Santos," Kathy spoke up, "Can we help you?"

"I heard about Derrick.....I wanted to be sure that Michelle was okay. Did he hurt you again?" Danny's actions took on a life of their own. He was stroking her bruised face. The bruise that Derrick Lawson had inflicted the previous day.

"Again?" the officer's tone was questioning.

"YES AGAIN! That bastard was here yesterday. He tried to force her into his car. If I hadn't stopped him god only knows what he would have done." Danny laced his fingers with Michelle's across the counter.

"You will attest to what you have just told us?" The officer looked at the mighty Danny Santos in a completely different light. This was a far cry from the Mob Boss that he was.

"Of course," he said as if that was common knowledge, "Anything to keep Michelle safe." The words spilled easily from Danny's mouth. His heart had taken over for his head. The image of Derrick striking Michelle's jaw was the only thing that he could see.

"Well Ms. Bauer, stay here until we get back to you. It looks like Mr. Lawson has some explaining to do."

"Thank you," Kathy said as she escorted the two officers from the building.

Ray stood in the doorway watching the scene unfold before him. He didn't know if Danny's wanting to stay here had anything with getting his life back. It looked more like protecting Michelle Bauer.

Michelle sighed deeply as she looked down at her hands still resting in Danny's. His display of concern had thrown her. It was not what she had expected in the least. After the way things had ended last night, she anticipated Danny running the opposite direction any time he saw her.

"Are you sure that you are all right?" Danny's voice was faint as he spoke reality rearing its face again. In the heat of the moment he had lost all sense of reason yet he couldn't back away from her this time. The memory of their kiss held him in his spot.

"A bit shaken…..but for the most part fine," Her composure was astonishing. The last thing she expected was to feel so calm. So sure of herself. It was funny but she was drawing strengthen from Danny's touch. The worry in his eyes made her want to alay his fears.

"Danny," Ray said stepping out for the shadows, "There's a few more things I wanted to discuss with you. Something that you need to know."

"Can't it wait?" he questioned looking back and forth between Ray and Michelle. Right now staying with her was the only thing he had on his mind.

"Yeah….sure it's not all that important. We can talk about it the next time I come to visit. That is if you want there to be a next time," Ray hesitated.

"I'd like that," Danny returned.

"Take care you two." Ray walked away doing his best to think of a way to keep better tabs on Bernard. And who he should contact. Without Danny's help Ray would have a bit of trouble gaining access to some areas of the business….areas he knew would lead him to the answers he was looking for.

"Miss Stewart," Ray stopped Kathy as she was entering the building.

"Yes."

"I want to discuss a few things with you with regards to my cousin Danny."

"Yes," Kathy returned monotone. Thanks to the likes of Danny Santos and Bernard Rivera this center had been turned on its ear in a matter of days. She really had no desire to deal with it any longer.

"First let me say that I want him to be able to come and go from here as he pleases….."

"I don't think that's such a good idea," she cut in.

"That's how I want it. It was a mistake to make him a prisoner here."

"Mr. Santos, Danny has done very little in the way of making progress. Giving him a get out of jail free pass isn't the answer," Kathy quipped.

"I have discussed this with him. Danny has every intention of staying on and getting the help that he needs. It was an error in judgement on my part thinking that muscling Danny into sobriety would work. So please make your staff aware that he is free to leave the facility any time he sees fit. Understood?"

"I understand…but certainly do not agree." Kathy was far from convinced by Ray's speech. She had worked here too long to be taken in by the flowery words of someone who wanted so desperately to be anywhere but where they were.

"Just so we understand one another. The other thing I need from you…….." Kathy felt the hairs on the back of her neck bristle. She was beginning to wonder who it was she worked for….Dr. Chajson or the Santos Family…..,"Regarding Mr. Rivera……I would like to be kept informed of his visits to the center. I want to know who he comes to see and how long he stays."

"Excuse me?" Kathy questioned feeling like she just stepped into a movie.

"I think that Mr. Rivera has less then the best intentions when it comes to my cousin."

"Mr. Santos…….I need more of an explanation if you expect me to help you. Mr. Rivera came to our rescue this morning. I can't see why it is you think that of him." The problem with that statement was that Kathy had had the same impression of Bernard Rivera as Ray did, but she wasn't about to put the center in the middle of a Mafia war.

"Miss Stewart….may I call you Kathy?" she knodded, "I have no doubt that you know who Danny Santos is….I am sure that you also don't want to be involved……but right now you are my only hope. I can't give you a better explanation then what I have because I simply don't have all the facts yet. So please for the time being could you just call me if Bernard shows up here again?" Ray handed her his business card. "This has my home number on it. Please."

"I really don't like this….don't like any of this."

"Understandable, but ……"

"I will do my best to get you the information you are looking for," Kathy relented.

"Thank you. I will be in touch."

Kathy watched as Ray climbed into the driver's seat of his bright red sports car. She looked down at the card he had placed in her hands. The bold black letters read RIVERA INDUSTIRES……Ray Santos, Chief Financial Officer.

How strange Kathy thought to herself. Why would this man be so hell bent on keeping tabs on Bernard Rivera when it was obvious that he worked for the man. He should be able to do it for himself from the looks of Ray's title. Kathy put the card in her pocket and headed to the main room. It was time to get to work.

Kathy was still trying to make sense out of Ray's request as she walked back into the office. She stopped short when she saw the closeness of Danny and Michelle. They were on opposite sides of the counter yet from the expressions on each of their faces nothing separated them.

"Michelle, I have to head to the hospital to make rounds for Dr. Chajson…….will you be all right alone here?" Kathy asked picking up her purse.

"She'll be fine," Danny spoke up.

"I expect to see both of you in this afternoon's group session. Am I making myself clear?" Kathy's eyes came to rest on the pair.

"Yes, Kathy," Michelle said turning to meet her gaze.

"We'll both be there," Danny returned.

His statement had surprised her. Kathy was certain that she would have to drag him kicking and screaming to the next one. So maybe…just maybe Ray's comments weren't that far off the mark. There could possibly be hope for Danny Santos yet. From the looks of things maybe Michelle Bauer, too.

Danny stood there watching as Michelle started her day. She went about filing and answering the phone as he looked on. He didn't want to let her out of his sight. It was a strange reaction for him. A reaction that he hadn't expected but for the time being one he welcomed.

For the first time in months his heart felt less heavy. It was though his soul had found a way to rejuvenate itself. That his reaching out was causing a healing that he was sure would never come.

"What?" Michelle questioned looking up from her work.

"Nothing," he returned unable to stop smiling.

"What's the big grin for?" she asked never seeing that look on his face before. She was far more used to seeing the face of a brooding man. This was quite a change. A pleasant change she thought.

"Nothing," he continued his noncommittal tone. Since he himself wasn't sure what it was all about. The only thing he knew for sure was that being in her presence made him feel alive. A feeling that he hadn't wanted to possess in a long time. "Do you think later we could talk…..I want to apologize for last night," his voice was so soft that Michelle almost missed his request.

"Sure, I can't get away until Becky comes in later this morning…..will that be okay?" Michelle returned in awe.

"Yeah, sure whatever works for you. I won't be going anywhere," he laughed. Michelle noticed that this time Danny's laugh was one of a genuine nature. Not sarcastic as it had been all the other times.

"Well, then I'll catch up with you as soon as I can."

"Great…..I'll be waiting."

Michelle fell back into the desk chair to catch her breath. This was but another time that Danny had amazed her. This roller coaster ride that she was on with him was thrilling and terrifying all at the same time.

She wanted to remain calm. Wanted to keep her head about her, but that was getting more and more difficult. All she was able to concentrate on was his handsome face. Those dark eyes peering into hers. The touch of his hand against hers. A quick gasp escaped her lips as she recalled the heated kiss from the night before.

He had said he wanted to apologize. Apologize for what? The kiss or for the way the he had sent her on her way? She did her best not to let those thoughts get the best of her. She wanted to remember how concerned he had just been for her. Wanted to concentrate on that more then anything else.