Setting: Hospital waiting room. Michelle just rushes in after she got the news about Danny's accident.
Michelle runs to Rick who is getting out of surgery. When she sees Rick's sweaty shirt and a small trace of blood on it she can't help but gasp. She is searching for air, which appears almost impossible for a few seconds. She turns to Rick who just spotted Michelle in the waiting room.
"Where's Danny? What happened? Rick......." Michelle started to ask with panic in her voice.
Rick had a serious and sad look on his face. Michelle was holding back the tears that had threatened to fall ever since she got a phone call from Rick saying that Danny had just been admitted to the ER. Of course neither Carmen or Ben would have called her. They'd much rather see her dead than by Danny's hospital bed, Michelle thought.
"He got out of surgery right after I got a hold of you, Michelle......" Rick started to tell his sister. Then he stopped himself, seeing the confused look on Michelle's face.
Michelle was staring at his sweaty and bloody shirt. Quickly Rick put both his hands on Michelle's shoulders.
"No no...That...It wasn't Danny. I was not the one doing surgery on Danny, Michelle."
Michelle's look of relief quickly faded as she saw Carmen and Dietz getting out of the elevator. Carmen stopped the moment she noticed Michelle and gave her a long painful stare. One of her personal stares. One of those stares she would throw Michelle across the dinning table every night. She had always thought that being there with Danny, while she should have been with Jesse was the worst. But now she knew that it was probably the best thing about the whole situation.
Those stares and that voice. The voice of a monster. A monster she had come to know way too well for her own taste. Those things were what really frightened her. Not Danny.
Danny. The mere thought of his name brought her back to reality. Danny needed her, no matter what Carmen had to say about it.
"What is she doing here?" Carmen asked as she came closer to Rick and Michelle.
That was always annoying, Michelle thought. The way Carmen would always ask stupid questions like "What is she doing here? what is going on? What is this all about?" Carmen always speaks as if she is speaking to herself. She is not addressing herself to anyone really.....she just throws these words out like they are supposed to scare her or intimidate her. But not this time. Carmen is not going to get to me this time, I won't let her, Michelle almost said out loud.
"My HUSBAND was in a car accident! What do you think I am doing here?" Michelle said loudly.
"There is no such thing. You and Daniel are not married anymore and have never been. You have nothing to do here Michelle"
"See, that's where you're wrong. Technically....we are still married. And whether you like it or not is the least of my worries......"Michelle said, turning back to Rick who was now talking with the doctor who had been with Danny the whole time.
Before Michelle even had time to turn her head Dietz had grabbed her right arm so tightly that she could barely feel the blood circulating anymore. He turned her around as Michelle struggled and shouted "Let me go you jerk!!!" Carmen lowered her mouth to Michelle's ear and whispered :
"This is all your fault, and this time you are not going to get away with it. There is no one left to marry this time and I will make damn sure you get what you deserve."
Dietz's grip tightened again and Michelle screamed for him to let her go. She didn't even realize that the whole staff was looking at them and neither did Carmen. Her eyes were filled with anger and although Michelle had seen anger in Carmen's eyes before this was different. Carmen's anger was filled with desperation and amusement all at once. Michelle couldn't believe her own eyes at the sight of Carmen's mixed feelings. She started hitting Dietz, who would still not let go as Bill and Pilar arrived.
"Mother!!! Dietz!! Let go of her!!" Pilar screamed from behind Michelle.
Within 2 seconds Rick was already rushing to his sister and punched Dietz right in the face. At first Michelle thought to herself "No Rick!" then she smiled at the sight of Dietz's bleeding nose. Rick put his arm around Michelle's shoulder, the way he always did when he was trying to protect her. The way he had done it when he wanted to protect her from J. The way he had when she had brought Zachary home. The way he did when Zachary died. Rick always wanted to protect her and that was his way of doing so.
Dietz got up and jumped at Rick's throat before anyone could even say UH OH! Michelle got thrown to the ground and Pilar rushed to her side. Dietz hit Rick in the stomach before Bill and the other doctor jumped in and tried to tear them apart.
"Let him go!" Carmen screamed at Dietz as Bill and the doctor were trying to separate Rick and Dietz.
"WE can all act like decent adults here. There is no need to resort to violence, especially among family. "she added maliciously, glancing at Michelle who could not believe what she had just heard from the mouth of Satan himself.....or was it herself? Who cares, she thought. She is definitely disturbed Michelle thought to herself, faking a smile as she glanced back at Carmen.
"Rick how is Danny? What happened to him?" Pilar asked, helping Michelle up.
Michelle had never really imagined herself with a sister-in-law before. She always thought she'd be with Jesse and with him well......he had no family. But as she watched that young, innocent, and caring woman help her stand up and genuinely caring for her - her brother's killer - she couldn't help but think that she couldn't have found better.
"He is in a room now, but still unconscious" the doctor began. "He had broken ribs and suffered a serious blow to the head. He must have hit his head in the driver's window, and we had to remove some piece of glass......"He continued as Michelle interrupted him
"Oh my God....." she started with a sob. "but is he alright? Can I see him?"
"He is still in very critical condition.....He may not wake up for another couple of hours. I want to warn you all though..." he paused.
"What? What is it?" Carmen asked, almost sounding genuinely interested to Michelle's ears. Of course she was, she thought. Danny is her son and no matter how much of a monster she is, she wouldn't want him to get hurt.....would she?
"He has suffered a very serious blow to the head....we don't know how long it will take for him to recover yet...."
"Can I see him?" Michelle asked, perfectly knowing she was repeating herself.
She was desperate to see her husband. Her husband. God it was so easy now to say it. As much as it was making her sick a couple of months ago, it felt so good as she spoke the words again, this time aloud.
"Can I see my husband doctor? I have to.......I need to see him?"
The doctor inspected both Michelle and Carmen's faces and replied:
"Only one visitor at a time is allowed."
"Michelle dear, I will make it my duty to let you know how Daniel is doing." Carmen said, passing by Michelle.
"No you won't!" shouted a voice behind Michelle.
Michelle turned around to face Pilar who continued to stare at her mother.
"I think Michelle should be the one to go in first Mother. " she started.
"Pilar...." Carmen began putting her hand on Pilar's arm, but was quickly cut off by her daughter.
"No Carmen!" Pilar started taking Carmen's hand off of her. "I think Michelle is exactly what Danny needs right now. She is family. And personally if I was Danny I wouldn't even want you to be near my room!!" Pilar shouted at her mother.
"You don't speak to me in such a manner, Pilar!! I am your mother!!"
"No you are not. not anymore. "Pilar said, showing no emotion whatsoever. Her stare was blank.
"Pilar....."
"We are all decent adults aren't we mother? Isn't that what you said?" Pilar said, looking straight into Carmen's eyes.
Carmen didn't answer this time and turned to Dietz, whispered something in his ear, and then turned back to Michelle.
"You tell Daniel I will come and see him later on."
She then turned around and headed for the elevator, with Dietz by her side. Boy, did they make a perfect match, Michelle thought to herself before she followed the doctor to Danny's room. Michelle's worst thoughts came to mind seconds before entering Danny's room. She stood in front of the door, remembering his face, the way he would smile to her without even noticing himself. She loved that smile. She wanted to see that smile again, but felt a shiver down her spine at the thought of Danny motionless in that bed. She covered her face with her hands as she locked eyes with a young girl sitting a couple of feet away from Danny's room.
She was staring at her, and Michelle could not have explained it then, but felt a weird sensation. The young girl must have been around 17 years old, Michelle thought. She was wearing jeans and T-shirt and by the look of it, she wasn't living in a mansion. She looked tired and somehow intriguing. The young girl got up and walked away after a few seconds. Michelle watched the young girl walk away as she turned her focus back to Danny. Why? Why was that girl so.....she didn't even have the words to say it. Did she know her? Was she watching her or was it simply her imagination?
Michelle wiped the tears away from her eyes and carefully turned the door knob.