Six months later..............................

Michelle watched as Danny packed the last of the things in the trunk. The morning sun was already high in the sky. The heat that soon would take over the day loomed on the horizon.

"I'm going to miss you," Kathy said as she hugged her friend tight. Michelle and Danny both had come so far together as well as separately. Kathy barely recognized either of them.

"Me too. I can't thank you enough for everything you have done for me. I won't ever forget you," Michelle choked on her words. Leaving Kathy behind was proving to be harder then she anticipated, yet looking at Danny again she knew that she had made the right choice. There was nothing left for either of them here.

"Well it looks like we're all set," Danny said coming to stand behind Michelle, his arms encircling her waist.

"Call me whenever you get to where ever it is that you are going."

"We will," Danny assured. Kathy had come to mean a great deal to him in the last six months as well. She had been his sounding board for all the dirty deeds he had done. It was as if she had helped him cleanse his soul so to ensure him a fresh start.

"Where are we going?" Michelle laughed still unaware of their destination.

"Don't know. I say we stop whenever the mood strikes us," he returned.

"Sounds wonderful to me. I don't think I will have the opportunity to do that for some time to come," Kathy smiled. Dr. Chajson had been indicted along with Bernard for the using the center as a front for many illegal activities. The board of directors asked Kathy to step up to the plate and run things. The opportunity was a great one and she whole-heartedly accepted the challenge.

"You will be great as the director. Hell, you were the one who really ran this place anyhow," Michelle said giving Kathy a shot of needed confidence.

"I'm gonna miss you both," Kathy reached out and took the pair in her arms, "That care of each other you hear me?" she said sternly.

"Yes mom," Michelle laughed.

Michelle waved until Kathy was a speck on the horizon. The tears that she had held back before were now flowing freely, "Well looks like the open road awaits," she remarked brushing the last stray tear away.

"There's one last stop I need to make," Danny reached for her hand. He needed Michelle's strength right now.

Danny wound Michelle's black Trans Am through the cemetery. As the car rumbled to a halt, Michelle saw the headstone come into view. The beautiful black marble glistened in the bright sunlight. Michelle felt Danny tense as he too caught sight of the headstone. "You don't have to do this," she rested her hands on his arm.

"Yes I do," he stated quietly.

Michelle followed closely behind as Danny walked towards Caitlyn's grave, "I have someone I want you to meet," he said to the air. He searched for the words that would come after that. They eluded him. Even though he knew this was where he belonged it was still difficult to verbalize.

Michelle rested her hands on his shoulders knowing that this wasn't easy for him. Together in the last six months they had grown as a couple but there was always still a part of him that he closed off to travel. This was his last step in healing she knew that but the pain she saw in Danny's eyes tugged at her heart strings.

"Caitlyn, this is Michelle. I wanted you to know her. I want you to know that Bernard is paying for everything. It's not the highest price he could have paid but I am finally free. I'm sorry my freedom cost you your life," he choked.

"Danny," Michelle whispered, "She doesn't blame you. She loved you."

"I want to believe that. God I want to believe that," the anguish filled his voice.

"Are you sure that you are ready to move on?" she questioned, "I would understand if you didn't."

"NO!!!!" Danny's eyes leapt towards Michelle's face. "I love you Michelle," he gasped. "I just have to find a way to say good-bye."

"Then I think that I should leave you to do that."

"No, stay please."

"I think you need to say what you have to say without worrying that you are going to upset me. I'll just wait for you.' She kissed his cheek and smiled knowing fully that Danny's heart now belonged to her but he had a right to his privacy. The right to tell Caitlyn good-bye without her.

She watched Danny as he knelt down stroking the imprint of Catilyn's name. She could only imagine the words that he said. It didn't matter really. It had been a long time since Michelle felt this secure in herself. The ghosts that followed her for years now somehow vaporized. The whole road lay ahead of them. This excited her. It was a feeling that she relished.

"You okay?" she questioned as Danny came to stand in front of the hood.

"Yes," he scooped her in his arms. "Thank you. Thank you for giving me a reason to go on. For giving me something to believe in."

"I love you Danny Santos."

"I love you too! You ready to hit the open road?" he questioned bringing his mouth to hers.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she returned.

Danny took one last look in the rearview mirror as Caitlyn's headstone faded into the distance. "I'll never forget you........" he whispered to Caitlyn's memory.