"Danny?" she questioned again. He wasn't able to do more then stare intently at her. All of his energy focused on the picturesque face just inches from him. "Danny....are you all right?" she inquired gently touching his skin again. He couldn't stop the tiny electric pulses from rippling throughout his body.

In that instant his reactions had betrayed Caitlyn. No matter how hard he tried to force himself to look away he hadn't been able to. In that moment the earth had stopped spinning. It was like his life had been paused allowing him to feel again.

"Danny?" Ray's voice prodded the frame to advance causing Danny to remember again. Abruptly, he pulled back from the counter. Doing his best to get his bearings straight. "Hey, Danny what's the matter? You all right, man?" Ray thought that Danny looked like he had just seen a ghost.

"I'm fine," he returned gruffly, angry about his momentary lapse of reason.

"I still need you to complete these forms," the girl tried to continue on with the task at hand. It was rather difficult though. She wasn't able to restrain herself from starring at this man before her. All the bells and whistles in her head were sounding but that wasn't making a damn bit of difference right now.

"Don't you think that maybe just this once you could bend the rules and let me complete these forms?" Ray questioned noticing how anxious Danny was standing beside him.

"I wish that I could.........." she began but stopped suddenly as she gazed at the young man before her. It wasn't hard to tell that whatever had driven him to this point had to have been something completely unthinkable. She knew in her heart that getting him help was more important then following every rule to the letter. She only hoped that Dr. Chajson saw it that way as well.

"Thank you," Ray commented as she handed him over the forms, "I really appreciate this."

"That's okay.....just remember if anyone asks you didn't get those forms from me," she grinned trying to make the best of an awkward situation.

She stole glances at the pair as they worked on the forms. It was hard to concentrate on the papers in front of her. She found her eyes wandering back to his handsome face. She knew that this wasn't right...that she was asking for trouble from the word go but she couldn't help herself from being drawn to this man. She could hear the group now spouting words like co-dependency...enabler all the things that she was trying so desperately to get away from but at this very moment that really didn't make much of a difference. The last thing she needed in her life right now was another complication yet she wasn't about to walk away either.

"Thank you again," Ray smiled handing over the clipboard with all of Danny's information.

"It's quite all right," she was doing her best to sound professional, but the quiver in her voice revealed her true feelings. She watched Danny as he stared out into the courtyard. Some of the other counselors were conducting group sessions out there. It was all part of the program. Some one on one mixed with group work all in an effort to help the people deal with what they couldn't on their own.

"So what do we do now?" Ray questioned.

"Really, that's all. I will show Danny to his room. Get him settled and tomorrow first thing when Dr. Chajson gets here…..he and Danny will begin."

"Could you tell me a little bit about the program here? I wasn't the person who got this rolling for him. I am a bit in the dark," Ray felt more like Danny's father then his friend. Yet, Danny wasn't making any effort to do any of this for himself. Someone had to.

"Sure. what is it you exactly would like to know?" she returned sweetly enjoying every minute longer that she was able to be close to Danny.

Danny pushed his body against the cool vinyl back of the chair watching and listening as she spoke. Answering all of Ray's questions. He felt his head spin as the thoughts collided in his brain. He was trying so adamantly to stop himself from looking at her. Thinking about how her touch had burned into his skin. How in that instant he felt something…….something that he never thought he would ever feel again. Never wanted to feel again.

"So do you have any other questions?"

"No, I think that you have answered them all. Danny, do you have anything you want to know?" Ray turned placing his hand on Danny's leg, jarring him to attention.

"Huh?…..no….no questions." He kept his eyes firmly secured on Ray never letting himself look in her direction. The last thing he wanted to do was face her again.

"Well, then I will show you and Danny to his room."

This time Danny wasn't able to keep himself from looking at her as she emerged from behind the counter. He held his breath. She was gorgeous. Her auburn hair hung past her shoulders gently grazing her face. He wanted to reach out and touch it. Run his fingers through the silken strands. Her sweater tank hung at every curve. Danny felt his pulse quicken again as she took him by the arm leading him towards the door. He shook his head trying to rid himself of the thoughts that were consuming him.

"Right this way," she directed heading down the hallway. "Derrick?" she jumped as the man stepped out from behind the door, "What….what are you doing here? You know that……."

"I had to talk to you, Michelle…..I have to make you understand," he returned desperately, grabbing for her arms.

Michelle tensed frozen in the moment. She couldn't breathe….she couldn't speak. Both Danny and Ray couldn't help but notice the girl from just moments before was gone replaced by some scared animal.

Danny let himself be led from the office into the hallway. All the while his head was playing a tug of war. Visions of Caitlyn's face mixing with those of the beautiful girl before him. He would have given anything for her to release him from her touch but at the same time he felt a greater need grabbing for his heart. Trying to pull the shattered remnants back together.

"Derrick......" she stepped back stumbling over Danny's feet. Fear over taking her body. It was Danny's turn to touch her. He steadied her to keep her from falling. She trembled at the man before her. "What.....why are you here?!?!" she gasped. "You know that......"

"I had to see you. I had to talk to you. You have to understand. I need you to understand," he pleaded.

On first glance Danny thought this was a lover's quarrel but on closer inspection it was hard to miss the terror etched on her face. The young from just moments ago had vanished. No longer was she sweet and helpful but paralyzed by fear.

Danny found himself wanting to step forward and take charge of this scene. Something that he hadn't felt since Caitlyn had died. It was almost as if the Danny he once had been was rising to the surface.

"I can't talk to you." she strained trying to remain calm, "I'm busy please......just go."

"Michelle......you have to understand.......I need you," this time the man's words returned with more force.

"Derrick...please......" quickly she was losing her cool. Falling back into old habits and patterns.

"Come on two minutes...that's all I'm asking. I think I deserve that," he growled yanking her hard by the arm.

"HEY!" Ray interjected, "I don't know what you think you're doing but...."

"LISTEN BUDDY................THIS ISN'T ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!" Derrick returned through clenched teeth never letting Michelle from his grasp.

"Come on, Michelle," Danny said surprising Ray not to mention himself. "I think you were about to show me to my room," Danny took advantage of fact that he had stunned them all removing Michelle from Derrick's hand. He hadn't any idea where he found his voice but the expression on Michelle's face caused him to snap. He didn't know if it had been truly her or he was stuck in some bizarre place imagining all the times that men had put the moves on his Caitlyn.

"THIS ISN'T FINISHED! You have to talk to me sooner or later," he called as he watched the three walked down the hall.

"I'm so sorry for that," she apologized, "I can assure you that it's not always like this here. It's really a wonderful facility." Michelle was afraid that Derrick's outburst would jeopardize her job. She didn't need him causing any more problems for her then he already had.

"That's not what I'm worried about. Are you all right?" Ray questioned.

"Yeah...yeah I'm fine. Thank you."

"Who was that guy?" Danny asked again causing Ray to look at him with surprise.

"No one really.....here we are. This is your room, Danny," she said too quickly trying to steer the conversation away from her. "Here's the bathroom and obviously the closet and dresser for your clothes..." she rambled on trying to catch her breath. It was like the room was closing in around her. Derrick's last words resounding in her head.

"Thank you again for all of your help," Ray said trying to shake her hand. She pulled back before he was able to make contact.

"Not a problem. It's just part of my job," she returned very business like. Her encounter with Derrick caused reality to force it's way back into the forefront. No matter how appealing Danny Santos may had appeared she wasn't about to let herself be put in the same position again.

"Dinner's in an hour or so. Everyone is expected to be in the dining room by quarter to six. If you have any questions there's a person on duty at the desk around the clock."

"Thank you. I don't think I'm really that hungry," Danny countered. He wasn't ready to immerse himself in this experience just yet.

"Suit yourself." with that she turned and left the room.

Danny poked his head out the door and watched her retreat down the corridor. He was doing his best to make sense out of what just happened.

Pensively Michelle hurried up the hallway half expecting Derrick to jump out from the shadows again. He hadn't taken to the fact that they were over. That she wasn't able to continue on the way they had been. The drugs weren't working for her any more. They weren't able to cover the fact that Derrick beat her. Beat her when he was high...drunk...straight as an arrow it hadn't really mattered. Towards the end he beat her for the fun of it. She was still able to hear the howls of laughter the day that he had beat her bad enough to land her in the hospital. In all reality, Derrick had done her a favor. He had enabled her to get the help she so desperately needed.

Showed her that for her entire life she had been playing the part of the victim. Letting everyone around her run her show. It had been so easy to slip into Derrick's world of drugs yet as time went on things spiraled out of control. To the point where Michelle didn't know the difference between fantasy and reality. The drugs helped her forget the hell that her life was. At first they helped her to forget that she lost her parents to a drunk driver.......then they showed her that it didn't matter that nothing she did pleased the aunt she had been forced to live with. Derrick had been her saving grace. At first glance that is. His charm could turn on a dime. Leaving Michelle in a heap of dust on the floor in his wake.

She entered the office again thankful to find it empty. She ran her hands along the counter stopping to touch the folder containing the information on Danny Santos. She wished that she had met him in another time and place. She couldn't risk taking a chance on him. Couldn't risk finding him to be no different then Derrick. That had been her cross to bear. The fear that Derrick had instilled in her. The fear that she wasn't safe with any man.

Ray looked on as Danny began unpacking his things. Still in awe of the display that he had shown. That had been the first time in months that Ray had seen a glimmer of the Danny that he once had known. He wasn't sure what had caused it only that he hoped that it would continue during his stay here.

"Hey, Danny......."

"Ummmmm," he returned concentrating on the task at hand.

"I'm really sorry about the way this all went down. I didn't want it to be like we setting you up," Ray continued to wrestle with the guilt feelings about the way Bernard had handled this all. Ray's apology was met by silence. It was a bit unnerving.

"Danny.....I love you like a brother man. I just didn't know where else to turn. I couldn't watch you go on the way you were.......," still no response.

Ray was frustrated watching Danny go about his business as if he wasn't even in the room. Sad thing was he knew that Danny was just being Danny. And isn't that what they had wanted? This was Danny's way of dealing with something he didn't want to. That's exactly what he did....not deal with it. Shut down...close off those closest to him. That was the one thing Caitlyn had in her favor. She never let Danny shut her out. She would push and fight until Danny had no choice but to relent. Ray couldn't help but miss her.

"Danny.....would you at least say something...anything," Ray said exasperated.

"What do you want me to say, Ray? I'm here aren't I? This is what you and Bernard wanted and you got it. So can't we just leave it at that?"

"Come on man....you know that I wouldn't have gone along with this if I thought there was another way," Ray forced.

"How about treating me like a human being rather then some stray animal you had to take to the pound!" Danny spat his anger brewing again. More with himself then with Ray. He wasn't able to remove Michelle's face from his thoughts. That infuriated him. That in a flash someone had crept through his defenses.

"Danny....." Ray gasped at his analogy, "You know damn well I tried like hell to get through to you!" Ray paced about the room trying to control his own animosity.

"You know what Ray.....you got what you wanted. I'm here safe and sound so why don't you just go okay? Just leave me in peace."

"You can't be serious."

"Dead serious!"

Ray left the room without another word. He hung his head as he walked away. He couldn't help feeling that Bernard had talked him into betraying his family. The only family that Danny had left. He could have kick himself for letting Bernard call all the shots. The only hope Ray had now was that this place would help Danny. Help him remember what it was like to be whole again.

Danny watched the sun crest over the horizon. Sleep hadn't come. He spent the majority of the night listening to the sounds of his new home.

This was a eerie place in the stillness of night. The shadows played tricks on the mind in the wee morning hours. Danny stared for hours at the one picture that he had brought with him of Caitlyn. He tried to find the words to apology to her for the moment of weakness that he had had earlier that day. Still almost twelve hours after first meeting Michelle he wasn't able to get her off of his mind. Or the fact that whoever this Derrick was frightened her to death. It was such a difficult thing to balance. His love for Caitlyn and this thing...whatever it was for Michelle. It was hard to put order to all of it. But there was no denying that she had stirred something in him that he thought had been dead and buried along with Caitlyn.

At seven o'clock Danny heard what he assumed to be the bell summoning everyone to breakfast. It was the same sound he had heard last night around the time Michelle had told him that they served dinner. He pulled on his black jeans and tee-shirt and joined the masses not knowing actually if he was even heading in the right direction.

Absently, he glanced in the direction of the office. Hoping to get a glimpse of Michelle this morning. However the room was still dark. He felt a pang of disappointment wash over him.

The cafeteria was loud and full of people in a variety of attire. Danny had to laugh thinking that he was over dressed for the occasion. Most of them were to be lucky to be dressed at all. How had he let himself be talked into staying in this hell hole? And the way that he had left things with Ray last night...there wasn't much luck of him springing him anytime soon.

Danny did his best to find a table to himself. Not an easy task to say the least. He sat quietly surveying the scene. Trying to use all the skills that Bernard had taught him to assess the situation, yet for some reason Danny doubted that such serve measures would be necessary in a place like this.

Danny looked up as a young man slid into the seat across from him. Danny tensed at his presence. He watched as the man sat there eating not saying a word. Danny didn't know what to make of him. At least he had to admit he looked as normal as he did. Hell he was even dressed. That was a good sign.

"What are you starring at?" he finally asked setting down his cup of coffee.

"Nothing," Danny countered forcefully, "Prefer to eat breakfast alone."

"What, you think you get reserved seating?" he quipped. "You have to be new around here."

"What's it to you?" It was easy for Danny to slip back into the role of head of the family never revealing too much until you knew just who it was you were dealing with.

"That attitude's going to get you no where fast in this place."

"Like I need your advice!" Danny countered pushing his body away from the table. Like he really wanted or needed this..

"Hey, wait a minute. Relax okay? Sit back down. I didn't mean anything by that. You just look like about the most normal person to roll into this place," the man half laughed.

Danny couldn't help thinking the very same thing. From the inside it looked like Bernard had committed him to the loony bin rather then a alcohol treatment program.

"The name's Kirk Maxwell."

"Danny Santos," he hesitantly placed his hand in the one that Kirk had placed in front of him.

"Nice to meet you, Danny. What's you in for?" it sounded more like a question you would get in prison then here.

"Alcohol. Seems I like it more then it likes me."

"Know the feeling. Same here. This is my third go around at getting clean."

"First and last," Danny stated.

"That's what I thought too, man. But them demons they are a bitch to shake," he smiled almost sinisterly.

"I'm doing my time and getting the fuck out of here. I have no intention of ever being back!"

"That's what they all say man. Don't get all high and mighty on me yet. You don't know the ride you are in for. It's hell here."

Danny shifted in his seat. He had grown tired of this conversation. "Nice talking to you...............ah."

"Kirk."

"Kirk...but there's some place I have to be."

Danny walked away before giving him the chance to say anymore making a mental note that no one was normal here.

Kirk Maxwell watched Danny stride confidently across the floor to the door. He felt a smile creeping across his face. This was going to be a piece of cake. Danny Santos wouldn't know what hit him.