Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.
Danny sat next to Ray�s hospital bed, staring at the only member of his family, other than Michelle, that he trusted implicitly. Even though the doctors now believed that Ray would make a full recovery, Rick and Nurse SJ had tried to prepare Danny for Ray�s condition. They told him that Ray was very weak, and that speaking was still very difficult. Danny tried to keep this in mind, but he was still extremely saddened by the sight of Ray so helpless.
Danny was lost in memories of the two of them as children, when he heard Michelle step into the room. He immediately walked to the door to meet her. Her embrace offered him strength and hope, two things he needed to feel at that moment.
"How is he?" Michelle asked.
"Your brother says that he�s doing well and should make a full recovery, but he�s still very weak."
"Have you been able to talk to him?"
"Not yet. He�s been asleep since I got here."
"I�m sure the rest is doing him good. He�ll wake up soon enough, and then you can let him know that you�re here."
Danny pulled Michelle close to him, and rested his forehead on hers. Then, he remembered the reason Michelle had not been in Ray�s room with him earlier.
"Did you see Dr. Sedwick?" he asked hopefully.
"I spoke with one of the nurses and made an appointment for later this afternoon. While I was there, the nurse did a pregnancy test." Michelle answered.
"And?" Danny said, excitedly.
"And it said exactly the same thing as the one I took in Tahoe," Michelle beamed.
"I knew it would," Danny said, as he held his wife as close to him as he possibly could.
Danny and Michelle sat down next to Ray, waiting for him to wake up, unaware of the man in the hallway, looking in at them.
He stood in the hallway, the journal still in his briefcase. Danny had been in with Ray for over thirty minutes and so far, all Ray had done was sleep.
"Damn," he thought to himself. "I�ve got to get rid of this journal. If Ray doesn�t wake up soon, I�m giving to give it to Danny."
"Does your head hurt?" Danny asked, as he noticed Michelle rubbing her temples.
"A little," she answered. "I think I just need to eat something."
"Well, we can�t have you going hungry, can we?" Danny said playfully. "Do you want me to go downstairs and get you something to eat?"
"Maybe a granola bar," Michelle said.
"Coming right up," Danny said, as he walked out the door.
Carmen had been waiting for her opportunity to get Michelle alone, and when she saw Danny leaving Ray�s room, she knew the time had arrived. Michelle wouldn�t be shaken easily, and Carmen was aware of that fact.
She�d just spent several weeks alone with Danny, so she was more sure than ever that their love would conquer all. But, Carmen had other plans. She�d needle away at Michelle, little by little. Gradually planting seeds of doubt in her mind, about Danny�s loyalty to her. It wouldn�t be fast, but it would be effective. She would make Michelle believe that Danny was still involved in the family business, and Michelle�s conscience would win out in the end. Carmen knew that Michelle would not stay around if she believed Danny was working for the family again.
She opened the door to Ray�s room and said, "Hello Michelle. Welcome home."
Michelle looked up and saw Carmen. She knew she�d have to face her sooner or later, but she was hoping it would be later. Apparently not.
"Hello Carmen," Michelle said, in a voice that was void of emotion.
"You and Daniel were away for a long time," Carmen said.
"I think we deserved it, after everything," Michelle replied.
"I�m sure you do. I know you believe that Daniel is yours now," Carmen said.
"What are you talking about?" Michelle said, as she stood to her feet.
"I just mean that things must seem perfect to you now. You think that Daniel has left the family and the business in favor of your love."
"Are you implying that he hasn�t?" Michelle asked defiantly.
"Well, I am his mother, Michelle, and being a Santos is part of who he is."
"I�m not going to have this argument with you, while Ray is lying in this hospital bed, trying to recover. So if that�s all you came for, you can leave now."
"Ray is my nephew, and I�ll stay as long as I wish," Carmen said.
"Fine, then I�ll leave. I�m not going to be the cause of any unnecessary stress on Ray."
Michelle calmly walked out of Ray�s room. She was not going to let Carmen get to her. She knew that Carmen was full of hatred and bitterness, and that was what was spilling out of her mouth, not the truth. She had to start now, controlling her emotions where Carmen was concerned, otherwise this pregnancy was going to be difficult.
She was just beginning to calm down when she realized that Carmen had followed her out into the hallway. Michelle pushed the button for the elevator, because she had no intention of staying there and continuing that conversation with Carmen.
"Michelle, you know what I�m saying is the truth."
"I know that you hate me because Danny loves me, and I know that you�ll say anything to hurt me," Michelle shot back, her anger now apparent.
"Your love for Danny will not be enough for him. I know the two of you think that your love will sustain you, but, in the end, Danny needs the challenge that this family presents for him. He will come back, and if you can�t accept that, then you will lose him."
Michelle was tired of being polite. She was tired of holding her anger in check. She�d had enough.
She looked directly into Carmen�s eyes, and said, "I�ll never lose Danny. You�re the one whose lost, Carmen. You�ve lost your son, and you have no one to blame but yourself."
The look that Carmen gave to Michelle made her blood run cold. She watched in horror as Carmen raised her hand to strike her.
Danny emerged from the stairwell and started down the hall, just in time to see Carmen slap Michelle, hard enough to make her stumble. Lillian was coming out of Ray�s room, pushing a tray of medicine, which Michelle fell directly into, as she reeled from Carmen�s hit. The elevator that Michelle had been waiting for had opened, and Michelle landed on the floor, directly between the elevator doors.
Danny was running up the hall, screaming, as he watched the elevator doors close on Michelle�s abdomen.
He reached her in a split second and dropped to his knees beside her. The elevator doors had opened back up, and Danny positioned himself against one of them, to keep them from closing on her again.
"Are you alright?" he asked, as his hand stroked her face.
He could tell by the anguish on her face, and the way she was holding her belly, that she wasn�t.
"I�ll page a doctor," Lillian said, grabbing the phone on the wall.
"Get Dr. Sedwick!" Danny screamed. "She�s pregnant."
Carmen leaned back against the wall, and sank to the floor. "Daniel, I�m so sorry."
"Shut up!" he screamed.
"I didn�t know," Carmen cried.
"Just shut up! I don�t want to hear anything from you, ever again! Get out of here!" He was trying to hold it together for Michelle and the baby, but Carmen�s continued presence was making that difficult.
"Daniel, I�d never intentionally harm your child. You have to know that," she pleaded.
"Oh no? But you�d intentionally harm my wife? Get out of my sight!"
"Please, Daniel," she begged, "You�re my son!"
"I�m not your son!" he screamed at her, as Dr. Sedwick and Lillian rolled Michelle onto a stretcher. As he followed them into the elevator, he screamed at her again. "I�ll never be your son again!"
Ray laid in his bed, still not at himself enough to speak. The medication he was on made him weak and groggy, but his mind was crystal clear, and he was aware of what had just happened. "You don�t know how right you are, Danny," he thought to himself. "You�ve got to know the truth."
**********************************
Danny sat at Michelle�s bedside, tears freely falling from his eyes. He wasn�t sure how much she would remember. The medications she�d been given had pretty well knocked her out. His heart ached when he thought that he might have to tell her what had happened. He folded his hands together on her bed, and laid his head on them, sobbing softly.
Michelle opened her eyes, and saw her husband crying. She was immediately aware of the reason for his tears. The medications may have put her to sleep, but they didn�t dull her senses or cloud her memory. She remembered what had happened. At he sight of Danny crying next to her, she knew that she would have to be the strong one. He had been strong for her so many times, protected her, put her needs first.
Now it was her turn, and she wouldn�t fail him.
She reached out her hand and touched his hand. �Danny,� she said softly.
Danny looked up at Michelle, tears streaking his cheeks. Michelle wiped his tears with her hand, and his voice broke as he said her name. �Michelle,� and then he choked.
�Our baby�s gone,� she said. It was not a question, but a statement. She wanted him to know that he didn�t have to go through the agony of telling her that they�d lost their baby.
Danny just nodded and let his head fall onto the bed again.
Michelle sat up, as much as she could, and ran her fingers through his hair.
�It�s going to be o.k., Danny,� she said through her own tears.
�How?� he asked, never lifting his head.
�I don�t know exactly, but I know we have each other, and that will get us through.�
Danny looked at his wife, his crying still heavy, and said, �I�m so sorry.�
Michelle lifted his face in her hands, and as tears fell down her face she said, �There�s no need for you to apologize.�
�But my mother,� Danny said, and then he choked again.
Still looking in his eyes, she whispered, �We don�t need to talk about why or how, Danny. Let�s just lean on each other.�
All he could do was nod, and hold her hands tightly.
When he�d regained some measure of composure, he sat up on the bed with her and asked, �Where do we go from here, Michelle? How do we go on?�
Michelle gave him the only honest answer she could, �I don�t know, Danny. Yesterday morning we didn�t even know I was pregnant, and now we�ve lost our baby.�
�I think we have to do something to remember our baby,� he said quietly.
�I think that�s a good idea,� Michelle said, as he wiped her tears.
�I don�t really know how, but I think we need to do something.�
They talked for a long while, neither one of them ashamed of the tears that came, each of them a comfort and strength for the other. They decided that a funeral or memorial service would be more of a production than either of them cared to deal with. Instead, they decided to make a large donation to the maternity department of the hospital, in honor of their baby. They would have their own, private memorial once Michelle was feeling better.
When Ray woke up, he saw him standing there � the person to whom he�d given his journal for safe keeping. He wanted so badly to talk, but he was still having trouble.
�It�s o.k., Ray. You don�t have to talk. I will. Do you know what�s happened to Danny and Michelle?�
Ray indicated that he did with a slight nod.
�I know that you want to tell Danny yourself, but I think he has to know the truth, immediately.�
Ray nodded again.
�I�m going to go down to Michelle�s room and give the journal to him. Then, when you�re stronger, the two of you can talk about it.�
Ray squeezed his hand, as if to say thank you, and he turned and walked out the door.
�Thank You, God,� Ray silently prayed. �And please help them.�
Dr. Sedwick came in to see Michelle after she woke up. She said that, barring any complications, Michelle would be able to go home the next1 day. She explained that losing this baby should not cause them any difficulties conceiving in the future, something that made them both feel a tiny bit better.
�Thank you, Dr. Sedwick,� Danny said as she started to leave the room.
"Danny, I know this must be terrible for the two of you. There is a support group for couples who�ve experienced miscarriages, here at the hospital. It might be beneficial for you to look into it.�
�I�ll talk with Michelle about it, when she�s feeling better.�
Dr. Sedwick smiled and said, �Take care of each other. I know you will.�
Danny sat back down next to Michelle, and held her hand while she rested. Although his heart still hurt badly, he was encouraged by the strength and wisdom that Michelle had shown. He knew she was right. They had each other, and they would weather this storm together.
He managed to doze of slightly, with his head laying on Michelle�s bed. He was awakened by the sound of the door opening.
He looked up and recognized the man, but could not remember his name.
�Danny, I�m so sorry. Rick told me what happened,� the man said as he extended his hand.
Danny shook his hand, and said, �You�ll have to forgive me, but I can�t remember your name.�
�I�m sorry,� he said. �Phillip Spaulding.�
Michelle slowly became aware that someone was in the room.
�Phillip,� she whispered. �Thank you for coming.�
Phillip looked down at the girl who he�d always thought of as Rick�s baby sister, and was amazed at the woman he now realized she was. Her expression was strong and brave, in the face of such insurmountable tragedy. Having just become a father again himself, he could not imagine their pain.
�Michelle, Rick told me what happened. I want you to know how sorry I am. Is there anything I can do for the two of you?�
Michelle smiled back at him and said, �Just love your little Brad with all your heart.�
Phillip�s heart sank. He turned his attention to Danny. �I have something for you, Danny.�
He reached into his briefcase and pulled out Ray�s journal.
He explained how he�d met Ray once, and how Ray had asked him to keep the journal safe. He told them that Ray had been afraid something terrible would happen, and that�s why he needed to be sure the journal was safe. Danny could not believe what Phillip was saying.
�Ray wanted to tell you everything himself, but he�s not fully recovered yet, and you need to know what�s in this journal now.�
�I don�t understand,� Danny said, completely dumbfounded.
�I�m not saying it will be easy, especially considering what you�ve just been through, but I do think it will help you make some sense out of your life.�
Phillip stood up to leave, but first he kissed Michelle�s forehead. �You�ve grown up so much Michelle. You really are a fine young woman.�
With that, he left Michelle�s room, the hospital, and this whole, terrible episode behind.
Danny kissed Michelle, and together they opened Ray�s journal and began to read.