Setting: Danny and Michelle's room.
Michelle was sitting at the table, lost in her thoughts while Danny did the same. Sarah's words had left them speechless. Danny had stayed by Sarah's side until she had fallen asleep. Michelle had just stood there watching as the young girl let herself drift into a fitful sleep. Danny had not said a word, neither had Michelle. They had watched and calmed her down throughout her many nightmares. Both of them had left the room silent and had kept silent ever since. That is until Danny decided to break it with his voice.
God did she love his voice. He was now talking in a very thoughtful and low voice.
"What are you thinking?" He said lifting his head to look at Michelle.
"Nothing" she answered after some moment of hesitation.
"It's ok.......I know what you are thinking." He admitted.
"What am I thinking?"
"The same thing you've been wondering ever since we got here" He said almost in a whisper.
"Well can you really blame me? I mean you took me in the middle of nowhere and expected me not to ask one question Danny!" Michelle said defending herself.
"I know........" He said guiltily. "What do you want to know? I have a vague idea but just ask."
"Who is she Danny? I can see she is very important to you. And I know she is Alex's sister but......" She started. "Why is she so against Carmen Danny?"
"Why isn't everyone?" Danny asked thoughtful.
"Danny......."
"It's fine!" He said laughing. "I can understand why people would hate her......"
His laughter faded slowly as he got lost in his thought again. This time he had to tell her.
"Who is she?" Michelle asked again as she pulled her seat closer to his.
"I have known her since I was a teenager. After my father died......"Danny started not knowing where to start. "My mother was depressed for a long time...... Yeah that's hard to believe but she was. And she met a very nice and decent man. A 'legal' business man. I remember him always trying to cheer her up, protect her. He was like a second father to Mick, Pilar and I." Danny said tears filling his eyes at the memory of this man.
Michelle looked at him compassion starting to grow on her face. No one had ever told her that. No one ever talked about that. Even though the thought of a man like the one Danny was describing with Carmen brought pity for this man in Michelle's heart, she could feel Danny's pain as he talked about their story.
"He almost made her forget about the life she had led all these years. A life of terror and imprisonment. He and his family moved in with us." He continued as Michelle stroke his air.
"Mother even forgot about the business for a while. As unbelievable as it may seem, my mother was in love with that man. Or so we all thought." Danny whispered anger showing through his voice.
"He seemed like a very nice man......"Michelle said trying to comfort Danny.
"Adam......." He said thoughtful.
He looked up at her and at her confused look he rectified his thought.
"That was his name. He had two beautiful daughter and a lovely young boy around my age. Amber, Alex......and Sarah." He now said tears rolling down his cheek.
"You mean......" Michelle started surprised at his revelation.
Sarah and Danny.......family? Carmen and this man.......Adam...in love? the simple thought of Carmen in love was like tickling Michelle until she died laughing. Carmen's heart appeared so cold and built of stone that it was almost impossible to even imagine her with a genuine smile on her face. Danny didn't hear Michelle's interruption. He was determined to go through with telling her everything. EVERY single detail of that sordid story.
"Sarah was a very bright girl" He added sobbing.
"She still is Danny......"Michelle whispered as she put her arm around his shoulders.
"Yes but her future was so bright. Just like yours. Full of love and ambition. Always a smile on her face. She knew what my family was about. Even at that young age she knew the Santos were not known to be the best people in town. But she always smiled to my mother, kissed me good night, slid under Pilar's sheets after a nightmare."
Danny was now crying. He sighed and tried to wipe the tears away from eyes but they kept falling like water falls.
"Her entire life was taken away in one night. One moment!!" he shouted still crying like a baby.
"In one second she saw her entire family fall apart......" He whispered as Michelle took him in her arms
She had never seen him this way before. He was crying and burying his face in her neck as Michelle kept her arms tightly around his neck. She had seen Danny's soft side before but never had she even imagined him crying like that. His whole body was in pain as he was giving her the truth about that faithful night.
"It's ok Danny......"she whispered in his ear.
Danny pulled back and wiped his face with his hands breathing loudly as he tried not to cry.
"What happened......?" Michelle asked once he had calmed down.
"She witnessed the cold murder of her family Michelle. She was right there. 10 years old and looking at her family dying in front of her." He added angrily.
Michelle eyes widened as Danny's words sunk in her head. She could not believe it. This couldn't be........How? WHO? Michelle's head started spinning at the thought of this young 10 year old watching the life being sucked out of her family members. A sick feeling came to her as she held Danny again. This time so he could hold her back. Which he did. She was as much emotional about it as Danny had been throughout the whole conversation. She needed him to hold her, for no particular reason.....just him to hold her.
Michelle was speechless. God knows how many questions she had but she couldn't bring herself to ask one of them. Danny's eyes were drowning and Michelle couldn't help but drown with him. She had seen pain in Danny's eyes before. She had seen it at the beach that night he couldn't bring himself to honor his family. She had seen it when she had told him about the F.B.I. But this time was different. His heart wasn't breaking anymore, it had already been crashed and stepped on in its entirety. She vowed to make whoever did this to him......and Sarah and Alex pay. Somehow, she vowed to do whatever it took to make that person pay.
Danny sighed and looked into Michelle's eyes. How.....how did she do that? What was it about her that made him feel so secure and yet afraid all at once. Every eye contact, every touch and every breath she took was sending shivers down his spine. She could look right through him. No one had ever been able to do that.......Sarah and Michelle were the only ones who could look at Danny and see his soul. And both of them he had destroyed.
Michelle finally spoke as Danny kept getting comfort from the shelter of her beautiful eyes.
"Danny........I'm so sorry." Michelle whispered.
"Don't be. I am. I am the one who should be sorry." Danny said guilt surrounding his whole being.
"No......It's not your fault Danny." Michelle started before Danny close his eyes in pain.
"That's where you're wrong......."He whispered almost to himself.
"what are you talking about Danny? What happened? What happened to them?" Michelle's voice sounding more worried at every word.
Danny caressed her face unable to talk for a while. Michelle could feel his hand shaking on her cheek. He cupped her face resting his head on her forehead.
"The business became second."Danny started taking a deep breath. "I don't know the details......I was very young, but I know that rival families took advantage of that. We received some threats, from various enemies and.......Adam found out. He asked my mother to get out. To leave the business. And when she didn't......" Danny took a deep breath before continuing. "When she didn't Michelle......He did the only thing he thought was right. He helped the F.B.I. Just like you......Just like you Michelle." He said crying at the thought of what might have happened to Michelle. "And in order to protect our family......"Danny started.
He paused looking for a way to tell Michelle.
"You mean.......??"Michelle's surprise was hard to hide. Her face turned pale at the simple thought of it.
"Mick and I......" He added tears falling from his eyes.
Michelle couldn't help but cry at what Danny was about to tell her.
"We killed them......It was my fault Michelle we killed them. All of them." He shouted throwing his glass of water on the wall. The tears were flowing from his eyes like water falls in the spring. Unstoppable.
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Setting: Carmen's office.
"Where is she?" Carmen asked Dietz who had just entered.
Dietz walked to Carmen's desk holding a file that contained pictures and documents.
"Home." He said almost disappointed he didn't have juicy details for his boss.
"She is not home. Her home is here!" Carmen shouted through her teeth.
Carmen sat in her chair and stared long in Dietz's direction.
"What about the girl at the lighthouse?" Carmen asked angrily.
"We have looked everywhere. No signs of her, or Danny or Michelle either." He said with a dry tone.
"Find them!!" Carmen yelled at him hitting her desk.
She got up as Dietz got out of the room. Her eyes were filled with anger and revenge. If Michelle had been right there in front of Carmen, a simple eye contact would have killed her.
Suddenly, Carmen was pulled out of her day-dreaming by the phone. Too bad she was about to make Michelle pay in that dream......Almost as satisfying as doing it for real. Carmen could taste the victory as she walked to the phone.
"Hold!" Carmen said answering.
"Who is this? Carmen asked anger filling her voice.
No one answered. She could hear some breathing in the phone and she asked again.
"Do you know who you are calling? If this is some funny joke let me just warn you you didn't fall on the right number." Carmen said hanging the phone.
Back at the hotel, Sarah hung up the phone. A smile spread across her face as she put it down. She had heard exactly what she wanted. Carmen was nervous. She had no idea what was going on and she was getting nervous. Boy did she have reasons to be, Sarah thought.
"Oh I wouldn't be so certain of that mama dear. I think I fell on the exact lucky number." she said smiling. "Prudencia mama......La familia is back"
Danny got up anger winning over him. Michelle tried her best to calm him down, with her words with her touch but Danny pushed her away. He finally did it on his own. He leaned on the table and calmed down. She took his arm, letting him know that she was there for him. He looked down at her beautiful face and tried to regain control of his emotions.
"Danny......."She whispered.
"Mick and i went there Michelle......I was barely 17. We just went there and......"He started his voice breaking. "Mick was supposed to do the work and I was supposed to watch. 'To learn' mama had said."
"But you didn't kill them......."Michelle said realizing Sarah was sleeping right in the other room.
"We had taken them some place quiet. Mick had the gun in his hand and......I had never seen him like this. It was probably the only time I have ever seen him like this. Sarah reached out to him and grabbed his hand, smiling."
Danny paused to remember well the events of that night.
"She was smiling!" He cried out. "She said she had missed him... Mick couldn't do it. He dropped the gun to the floor and Sarah just climbed into his arms."
"He didn't kill them."
"No not then.......But my mother had warned Mick not to bother coming home before he had killed them all. It was the orders. You can't disobey the others in our family. Adam begged us to spare his children. But we knew that Dietz and my mother would want bodies. We decided to save Sarah and Alex......the youngest."
Danny paused as Michelle hands reached to his face. But he pulled back.
"I took Sarah and Alex outside but Sarah wouldn't leave her father. She ran back inside and I couldn't stop her. She got there just in time to see Mick shoot her father and her older sister."He said teary. "She just stood there and watched as her family bled to death......right before her eyes. We told mother that the job had been done and after she heard of bodies being found she figured it had been taken care of well.....she never mentioned it again." Danny said sitting back down.
"But......Carmen thinks that Sarah is dead!" Michelle said surprised Carmen had never figured that one out.
"Yeah.....For her they were all killed that night."
"How?......Where have they been during 7 years?"
"Right here. In Springfield."Danny stated softly.
"You mean they have been right under Carmen's nose all this time and she never......NEVER saw them?" Michelle asked amazed.
Danny sighed as he looked at Michelle.
"Mick and I took care of them until Mick got into troubles and then it was just me. But by then Sarah and Alex had grown up quite a lot."
"This is why she doesn't use any guns......is it?"She asked him aware of his answer already.
"She'd rather get killed than pull a gun on someone. You got the proof......"
"There is something I don't understand......"Michelle started.
"there is nothing to understand Michelle!"Danny shouted. "Mick and I killed Sarah's father as she was watching!!! She has had to live in hiding her entire life.....never having friends, always watching her back, and mostly living with the memory of the Santos who had brought all this on her."
"Danny , Sarah doesn't blame you......."
"No. She didn't blame Mick either. Somehow she reminds me of you.....always strong and never letting anyone put her down. You would think anyone would have lost it by now, but not her. She made sure all these years that no one else was going to live what she had lived."Danny said now his voice back to normal.
"What do you mean?" Michelle asked.
"you think I protected you alone?"Danny said his eyes filling with tears.
"She......you mean Sarah has been following me all the time?" Michelle asked surprise rising in her voice.
"I'm surprised you never noticed her before."Danny smiled. "But now everything has changed.....anything I ever had on my mother is worthless now. We had a plan. I was faking amnesia so I could get away from her. We knew it would trigger her hate and feeling of revenge on you. We would catch her, and Sarah and Alex were the extra cards we were holding against her, and she had no idea about that. But somehow, something happened and Sarah got shot and we had no idea what my mother was up to anymore."
"You mean you think Sarah is still keeping something from you?" Michelle asked as she now sat beside Danny on the bed.
Danny didn't answer. He simply looked into Michelle's eyes and reached out to touch her face.
"So you did come back for me.....?" She whispered almost happy.
"I would give my life for you Michelle."Danny told her tears threatening to fall again.
Michelle leaned up and kissed him softly. Danny did not hesitate to kiss her back. Soon their soft kiss had turned passionate and they were lost in the moment. Never did she want this kiss to end, Michelle thought. The feel of his lips, his hands in her hair, her hands in his, was all she needed. He couldn't bring himself to break that kiss. Not this time. He had done a pretty good job at the lighthouse, in her kitchen and everywhere else, but this time he didn't have the strength, or the will. He wanted her. He wanted her so much that it hurt to think he had tried to push her away so many times before. Her lips tasted like heaven to him. Her hands went down his back as she started unbuttoning his shirt. He looked at her lovingly and she knew he was not going to stop her. He quickly took his shirt off and carefully pulled her white t-shirt over her head. She looked adoringly into his eyes. Finally she said.....she had not done that on their wedding day, or their wedding night either like Danny had so furiously commanded her to, but now it just came genuinely. She adored him as much as he adored her. Her hands stroke his hair as he kissed her passionately. she lay her back down on the holding= his neck with her two hands as he kissed her again, softly yet passionately.
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Setting: Streets near the diner.
Pilar was walking to the diner where she was meeting Alex. the plan was to go at the Santos house and play Carmen at her own game. Pilar was to distract Carmen while Alex would search for incriminating evidence against her. If that didn't work, Pilar was resigned to go all the way, making her mother believe that she wanted to be part of the Santos and the business. Anything that would have given her any insight on her plans. She couldn't let Danny down. Not after everything. She had not clearly understood what had exactly happened for Alex to be alive but she knew somehow she owed it to her brother.
She was walking in the dark when suddenly a hand grabbed her from behind. she struggled as hard as she could but the man kept her immobile. He put his hands on her mouth and dragged her out in the alley. When Pilar turned around she came face to face with Dietz. He was hurting her arm and still had his hands on her mouth. she could barely feel the blood circulating in her right arm anymore.
"Let me go!" She was able to cry as she kicked him and his hands dropped in pain.
At that moment Alex had arrived running and at the sight of the tall young man, Dietz froze. He knew him. He recognized 'him'. Alex had not changed a bit since the days he called Dietz uncle Dietz. Contrary to Sarah, who had grown into a lovely young woman. Dietz had not recognized her at the lighthouse and now was too surprise to even make the connection. Alex jumped at Dietz's throat and tried to get him to drop his gun. Pilar backed away yelling at Alex to let him go but he didn't listen.
"You shouldn't have touched her!!!"Alex yelled as the gun went off. Pilar covered her eyes at the slow-motion movie that was happening right in front of her. The gun had fired. She fell on her knees as the two men's eyes widened and stared at each other. they both fell to the ground. Pilar looked down at her shirt and saw traces of blood, before looking at the two men lying on the floor. A dead silence rang through the night.....
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Michelle could her music in her ears. Real or not, she couldn't care less, she could feel Danny was hearing the same one. He was there, wanting her as much as she wanted him. The music fitted Danny's every move like a dance. A dance both their bodies had gotten lost in.
Busco en tu piel
la tormenta y los rayos
El huracan
De tu cuerpo besbocado
Danny's kisses tasted like candy, sweet and tasteful, but mostly all very addictive. Michelle never thought she could feel this way about a simple kiss. But then again, it never was a simple kiss when it came to his. To Danny's. She had waited so long for this. For his hands, his kisses........his heart. And now it was there, in front of her, melting her away. She had been lost without him. How did she ever live without him? The thought of being without Danny ever again was almost impossible for her to imagine.
Haz el amor conmigo
No es nade malo
Se mezclara lo dulce
Con lo salado
Danny tried desperately to kick his running shoes off as he was busy exploring every inch of Michelle's neck. His hands moved down Michelle's body resting on her hips as he continued to kiss her passionately. Michelle's hands were lost in the curls of his hair.
Why in God's name had he worn running shoes he yelled to himself, frantically trying to kick them off with his two feet. He could smell the heavenly sent of her hair, feel every move her hands desirously made in his hair, on his back. He could taste her lips devouring his......yet a small feeling of frustration came to him.
"Michelle......?" He whispered in between steamy kisses
Michelle simply moaned, too breathless to answer back anything.
"Michelle......." he repeated reluctantly taking his lips from hers.
He sat on the bed as he noticed Michelle's confused expression.
"What? ......What is it?" she asked running her hands through her straight blonde hair as if it would help her regain control of her thoughts.
"Remind me never wear these shoes again!!!!" He said as he finally untied them with his hands.
Tu passion verconzosa
Se te escapa de las manos
Yo beso tus caderas calurosas
Con mis labios
He threw the first shoe in the air as Michelle's smile turned into a soft laugh. He threw the other one away, his sexy grin widening. He looked straight at Michelle who pulled him back down with her firm grip behind his neck. She laughed nervously and whispered:
"Don't you dare scare me like that again Santos......." She told him with a smile.
Danny's face lit up at her words. After all these little seduction parties he had thrown her in their room at Casa Santos, he'd better not back off NOW, Michelle laughed to herself.
"Me?" He asked innocently. "I'm all yours Mrs Bauer." He whispered in her left ear as he leaned on top of her.
"Santos" she rectified with a grin.
"Whatever you say 'mam." he smiled before his lips were all over her again.
Si solo con miranos
Nos deseamos
Nos comemos con los ojos
Siempre los dos
Amandonos
Danny covered her smile with ardent kisses as Michelle held on to him, lost in the beauty of this moment. "He has been working out." she thought at the feel of the ups and downs of his chest coming closer to her. "If he hasn't, I have been very much blind" she then thought as her hands slowly went down on his chest. He was definitely a man, she agreed thinking of his famous speech. The one he had made, declaring his attraction to her in every way. But tonight he was more than just a man. He was her husband. And she was his wife. In every way.
Hagamos el amor
Hagamos el amor
Hagamos el amor
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Setting: Streets near the diner.
Pilar's tears rang in the night. The two man were lying on the floor before her. Dietz started to get up as Pilar ran to Alex.
"Alex!" She screamed at the sight of his wounded chest. "Alex......come on" She cried as she tried to wake him up.
For a couple of second Dietz just stood there, frozen by what he was seeing. He had shot him. He had shot Alex......
Pilar turned to face him and screamed at him.
"Cobarde!!!!!!! Cobarde!!!!!!!!!!" (coward)
The tears were unstoppable. She hated Dietz before but now......if that gun had been in her hands she would have turned into a real Santos. The kind you don't want to mess with. Dietz opened his mouth to speak but closed it as Pilar kept yelling.
"Call an ambulance!!!!!! Call 911!!!!!!! Dietz!!!!???"
He handed her his cellphone before running away into the darkness of the night. A few minutes later paramedics arrived, finding Pilar rocking Alex back and forth in her arms. Crying. They asked her to let him go but she didn't. She held his hand and stroke his black hair as they took both of them in the ambulance.
************************************************************************************
The early sun light was coming in from the window. There were no curtains.....or if that thing hanging there was curtains, they were really in a dump.
Danny moved around in the bed, almost afraid to open his eyes and realize that it was just a dream. Afraid Michelle would not be by his side, and that his very fertile imagination had played tricks on him again. Yeah! She tended to do that a lot, his imagination. Bring Michelle into his deepest thoughts all the time.....he had dreamed about her every single night since they had met. Now he was almost afraid of waking up and realizing this was just another one of those dreams.
Suddenly Danny realized that he had WAY too much space to moved around like that. He carefully opened his eyes to realize that he was alone in bed.
"Michelle...?" He asked in a sleepy voice.
No one answered and he sat in bed. Danny looked around the room but no one in sight. "Oh my god....." he thought. it wasn't real.....he starts telling himself rubbing his face. Then he looks down at himself and notices his absence of clothing. "Nope.....That was definitely real" He says out loud unable to stop smiling at the thought of the night he had just spent with his wife. His wife. She definitely was his wife now. And she wanted to be most of all.
"Michelle?" He asked again as he got out of bed and put on his worn-out blue jeans.
Still no answer. Danny went in the bathroom but got out as quickly. where was she? He walked a bit around the room, looking for his shoes. Half dressed and half naked, he bent over and found one under the table. As he was looking for the other he happened to trip on the pile of clothing He and Michelle had just thrown around like confetti the night before. He genuinely started laughing as he went through them to only find his other shoe under the pile. Danny sat on the bed. The sheets were all twisted and wrinkled....."Thank god there is no morning room lady here" he thought...she would have had an eyeful. Not only was he still half naked but the room looked like a mess. Somehow it didn't even bother him one bit. All his thoughts were on Michelle. Her touch and her kisses. He had never felt for anyone else what he had felt for her. And in the last couple of hours that love had simply grown by the minute.
He got up, found a nice deep blue T-shirt that seemed to be clean and put it on. He looked at himself in the mirror for about 2 seconds and couldn't help laughing. "You don't dress like that everyday Santos!" He laughed at himself. The casual look was not exactly the Santos was of dressing. But they were in the middle of nowhere and suits would have had lots of people talking. He looked over at Michelle's bag and noticed that she didn't have much clothes either. Some jeans and t-shirts and underwear......"God stop that!!!" he told himself. "You are going through Michelle's underwear!!" He whispered turning himself away from the bag.
Well Michelle did not seem to be anywhere in this room, so Danny head out of the room.
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"So that's what you were doing there......"
"Yeah......I had heard that 'Basura' say that......"Sarah started.
"Hold on.....I'm ignorant but...What's basura?" Michelle asked sipping coffee.
"Well......"Sarah answered with a smile. "That is a very nice word for trash."
"You are not Spanish......how come your Spanish is so good?" Michelle asked.
"Well, my mom was a Spanish teacher. I guess my dad always had a thing for Spanish......and the women that came along with it."Sarah simply stated.
Michelle smiled and Sarah returned her smile.
"I take you are talking about Carmen.....la basura.....kinda suits her well." Michelle stated amused.
Sarah laughed almost silently, then continued explaining herself to Michelle.
"I had heard her say she was going to kill you herself if she had to. And I tried to tell Danny that but...."She started. "You were in there with him all day that day. That is when you saw me......well the second time. I had to tell you to keep Danny away from her. I knew that this way, it would mean keeping yourself away from Carmen also."
For the first time Sarah was talking openly about it all, which surprised Michelle a bit. Sarah seemed surprised also. She was practically telling her life story to a complete stranger. But on second thought, Michelle was not that much of a stranger. she was Danny's wife. The two girls had been talking for over an hour already. Sarah had told her silly things about Danny when he was 16 years old. Michelle had told her how they had met, although Sarah already knew quite a lot.
"You see.....Danny's accident was not planned at all!" Sarah confessed her eyes widening. "But........"
"The amnesia was......"Michelle finished with a smile.
"Yeah.....It was the only way to make Carmen believe that she had lost Danny forever now. I'm glad he decided to tell you everything." Sarah added after a brief pause.
"Yeah well......we didn't ......."Michelle paused to think of what she was about to say. " We didn't have........time......to go into details..." Michelle started hiding behind her coffee cup.
"Yeah I bet......."Sarah said a huge smile across her face.
Michelle felt her face turning pink. Sarah was a very discerning person. It's like she could read Michelle's mind even before she could herself. She was very keen for her age and Michelle admired that in her. The two girls were sitting at the table. Michelle had sworn not to tell Danny they also went outside a bit before. He would freak if he knew Sarah wasn't resting 24 hours a day.
"What do you wanna know?" Sarah asked taking a bite of toast.
"I don't wanna push you......" Michelle started. "You don't have to tell me......."
"You know......If I didn't feel like telling you I probably would not have mentioned it." Sarah said softly with a grin. "Go ahead. Ask me anything......"
Michelle hesitated before asking her question. She didn't want to rub it in , but she had to know.
"Why.......Why did you go to the lighthouse? I mean, I know you wanted to warn me and Danny.....but......When you saw we weren't there, why did you stay?" Michelle asked.
"I knew they were going to go there. Wait for you if you weren't."Sarah said looking Michelle straight in the eye, the way she often does. "I was just glad you weren't" She added after a brief pause. "I couldn't let them kill you both."She smiled.
"Of course, they wouldn't have shot Danny. But they would have killed you. And killing you would have killed him. Everything good that's left in him he took it from you." She added.
Michelle didn't know what to say. The only thing she thought of was something she had meant to say a long time ago.
"I......I don't think I've said it....but.....Thank you. You saved my life. All of our lives."Michelle sincerely told Sarah.
"You're welcome." Sarah said softly. "You have a lot more to live for than I do anyway." she smiled.
"That's not true......"
"Yes it is....."Sarah whispered sounding unfortunate. "You have all these things to remember and live for. You have a family, friends, school.....You still have premed to go through!"Sarah smiled.
"Yeah that is going to kill me."Michelle laughed crossing her legs on her chair.
"No it's not." Sarah reassured her certainty in her eyes. "You are gonna be a great doctor. And you have all these things. All these memories and.....You have a husband. Don't blush......you have a husband who loves you very much." Sarah said laughing at Michelle's shyness whenever Danny came up.
"You have all these things to remember forever, and other things to live for right now......and even more things to look forward to. Birthdays, parties.....your wedding. Even your first kiss." Sarah added smiling. "I don't have any of that." She continued a bit on a sad note.
"You have never been kissed?" Michelle asked.
"I have never been kissed" Sarah replied laughing. "It's hard to go on dates when you practically hide in the bushes all the time" She added as the two of them had a nice laugh.
"It'll come....."Michelle friendly reassured her.
"Yeah....most people my age are panicked about sex and I am there waiting for my first kiss." She laughed again. "But you see when I was in that lighthouse.....none of that mattered. All these things i don't have to hold on to, I knew you and Danny had. And I guess at that moment that's what mattered."
Michelle couldn't find the words to tell Sarah how thankful she was. This girl had been shot for her. SHE should have been the one hurt and yet, Sarah had been the one. She had been shot and she was the one cheering Michelle up. How was this? Michelle smiled to herself. She could easily imagine being friends with Sarah now. at first all she wanted to do was run away from that mysterious girl but now.....she realized she was wrong to ever feel like that. Sarah took a deep breath.
"God I feel like on the Barbara Walter's show now" She said as they both laughed again.
"Always better than Jerry Springer......." Michelle added taking another sip of coffee.
At that moment the door came interrupting their friendly chat. Danny came in looking like a little boy waken by the thunders. His face was still sleepy and his eyes were still small.
"What are you doing out of your bed?" Danny quickly asked suddenly all awake.
"Good morning to you too Danny." She replied with a smile.
"Good morning." He said as he kissed her on the cheek. "'morning Michelle....."He said with all the love his eyes could hold.
"'morning Danny..."She replied with that same look.
"Oh my God......Did you get beaten up Danny?!" Sarah asked teasingly.
Danny looked confused. Sarah touched her neck. Danny suddenly realized how carried away he and Michelle might have been. Michelle now felt her face turning from pink to bright red.
"Wow.....must have been very intense." Sarah added. At their shocked faces she added: "The fight I meant...of course the fight" as she looked at them trying her best not to laugh at their embarrassed faces.
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Setting: Carmen's office.
"What do you mean you don't know where Dietz is?" Carmen asked one of her men.
"He was following Pilar!! Get him here!" Carmen added angrier by the second.
"We don't know where Pilar is either......" One of the men confessed.
Carmen sat down and turned her chair around so her back was turned on her men.
"You find them both and bring them here. You do NOT touch her! If I hear one of you has laid one finger on my daughter you can kiss your pretty life goodbye. Have I made myself clear enough this time?" Carmen said facing them again.
"We have made enough mistakes as it is." She finished as they all went searching for Pilar and Dietz.
Where was Dietz? He was supposed to check with her every hour. She had not heard from him since last night and it was now 9 AM. Something was wrong. she could feel it.
_____________________________________________
After Michelle's embarassment led the way to giggle, Danny sat down with them at the table.
"I don't know if I should jump up cheering or crying at the thought of you two giggling like that....."He started grabbing a piece of Sarah's toast.
"Smile amigo smile!!!" Sarah sang loudly grabbing her toast back.
Michelle watched amused at these two fighting for the small piece of toast. Danny took it away from her again.
"Give me that." He teased.
Michelle lifted her body up a couple of inches and grabbed the toast out of Danny's hand and stuffed it in her mouth.
"There you go babies!" She said her mouth full and with a huge victorious smile radiating across her face.
"Hope it was good.....?" Danny asked in his sexy voice.
"Very......."Michelle answered.
Were they still talking about toast? Who knew.....But so far everything had been VERY good in the last 12 hours or so. Sarah looked at them holding her laughter inside. Danny and Michelle just looked at each other for a couple of minutes before remembering Sarah's presence. "Love is in the air" Sarah thought smiling. Danny tried to take his stare away from Michelle as he regained his normal tone.
"Shouldn't you be lying in bed?" He asked Sarah concern in his voice.
"Danny......."She started. "I am feeling very much fine!"
"I really don't think it's a good idea for you to be walking around....." He started.
"I'm not walking around, I'm sitting at the table!!"She said laughing at his worried expression.
Michelle grinned as Danny looked at her for support on this. But Michelle did the total opposite.
"She is not in pain anymore Danny. I really Do think it is a good idea for her to start moving a bit" She said defying his look.
"What are you talking about Michelle? She is still weak....."Danny defended.
"No she's not!"
"She is ok?! Look Michelle......" He began , but he was cut off again.
"Danny, I know what I'm talking about and she has improved a lot and......"
This time they were both cut off by Sarah's loud voice. How on earth were they able to have taken time to fall in love, she thought amused. Michelle and Danny's argument wasn't really out of anger but mostly concern over Sarah's well being.
"Alright! Hello??!!"She shouted with an exaggerated smile on her face. "Time out........"She added at the two of them who were now standing up.
How did that argument start? Michelle thought to herself. Funny how she couldn't even remember as she stared at Danny's face. His angelic features had a weird way of making her forget the rest of the world around them. Except from Sarah who practically ordered silence.
"Alright you can breathe" she finally added laughing. "What is it you are arguing about again?"
The amusement in her voice was very much noticeable and Danny just smiled and said :
"You know what? You're right......this is stupid. I'm sorry."
"No I am....."Michelle started.
"Oh ok....."Sarah laughed. "I'd pay a lot of money to see you on your honeymoon........"
Danny and Michelle both turned their head toward Sarah at once. Of course no one had ever said a word about honeymoon.....no one had even said a word about being a couple! But somehow she knew that would get their attention. And did it ever? she laughed.
"Who said we were going on a honeymoon.......?"Danny asked curious, looking back and forth between Michelle and Sarah.
"Hey don't look at me" Michelle smiled at Danny's suspicions.
Although Michelle had not indeed said a thing about honeymoon the thought of it sort of made her feel warm all over. Them on a beach somewhere........or at a cabin.....wherever they were would not matter since they would barely see or notice the scenery she thought. The events of the night before came running in her head as a chill ran down her back.
"Well you are married........"Sarah said smiling. "Well you are right this is none of my business."
"You are in an awfully good mood today."Danny stated as he was about to sit back down.
"You know what?" She said trying to stop him. "I think I'm in the mood to dance....." she quickly blurted out.
Danny laughed and so did Michelle. Sarah felt like dancing. Danny had a weird feeling something was up right in front of him. First Sarah doesn't dance.....never. Second, she has just been shot. God she was turning into Pilar number 2! he thought. Playing match-maker......
"I don't think you should even think of dancing."Danny said laughing.
He had not laughed in a long time until this morning. Michelle tried to remember the last time he had sincerely laughed like that, and her only thought was their wedding day. She thought back on that dance......she felt so stupid on that dance floor, dancing Hispanic dances not knowing any of the steps. She remembered Danny being a very good dancer though.
"Not with me silly........"Sarah said faking pain to her almost mended wound. "You know how much in pain I am" she said making up a very tired and old voice. "But your wife is all healthy and cheery today!!" She added back to normal and sounding ready for a marathon.
He knew this was a set up. She had turned into Cupid. what was it these days about everyone wanting to put some romance everywhere he thought. Pilar......Sarah......Then he just glance over at Michelle and a sudden urge to turn romantic himself overwhelmed him. The only problem: no music.
"Well you could sing!"Sarah proposed.
"What ?" Michelle laughed surprised. "You can sing!?"
"NO.......I mean no I can't.....I...I don't sing." He insisted pointing at the two girls.
"Oh she didn't......." Sarah burst out laughing. "Sorry Danny."
But the sound of her voice was still filled with laughter.
"It's ok......I got music."She added.
"When did you get music?" Danny asked her stunned and intrigued.
"What did you really think I was lying in that bed 24/7 for 3 weeks?"
He looked over at Michelle who simply smiled to him.
"I guess not!" He said as a matter of fact. "You know I think you are right.....it is time Michelle learn some Hispanic dances, don't you think?" He asked now getting in the mood of dancing with his wife.
"OH no!!! I am not dancing......"Michelle tried to tell him.
But before she even got the chance to protest Danny already had her in his arms.
"May I have this dance?" He asked as a perfect gentleman.
He softly kissed her hand and the ring on her finger sparkled in the morning sunlight. All that were missing were some over the top clothes......candles and an expensive orchestra to make this a perfect fantasy. But as soon as they looked in each other's eyes, all these little details just trailed off their minds. Sarah started the music, a Latino pop song called "La bomba" began playing on the tape recorder. The beat was lively and Michelle laughed not knowing where to put her hands......or her feet for that matter.
"On the hips Danny boy......."Sarah commanded from her bed.
Danny looked over at her and obeyed.
"Anything else you majesty?" He asked with one of his adoring grin.
"Yeah yeah......hand in hand...yes like that. the other around the neck Michelle......" She continued amused. "There you go....."She laughed.
Danny looked down at Michelle who was still trying to figure out what to do with her feet. The feel of Danny's hand on her hips almost made her faint. And all he could feel or think of was her hand caressing the back of his neck.
"I don't dance Danny......."She laughed in a whisper.
"Tut tut tut........" They heard from the bed. "Wrong.......I saw your marriage reception." She added.
Both Danny and Michelle stared at her. None of them, not even Danny had known that.
"What? You thought I was going to miss that?"
None of them said a word.
"Danny I don't know......."Michelle started.
But Danny lift her chin with his right hand and looked deep down her eyes.
"Just look at me."He said in her ear.
At that moment she knew she could dance anything. She could fly to the moon and back if he had asked her, with that simple sentence. This is what had always saved her. On their wedding day and so many time after that. She got lost into him and didn't take her eyes away from his the whole time. Danny started leading and Michelle simply followed. By moments she could hear him whispering the words of the song in her hear. Soft and sexy Spanish word that she didn't understand but they sounded like heaven through his voice. Now all she had to do was learn some Spanish and everything was perfect. Everything was already perfect she thought as Danny spun her around. He had all the correct moves and his body slid with the music beautifully. His hands went to her hair as they dance and laughed. Sarah stood there watching them both finally enjoying some time away from reality. God knows they needed that. Seeing what she was seeing, she now was sure that at the lighthouse, this is what had mattered. It is for a moment like this that life was worth living.
Michelle rapidly got the moves correctly and soon they were swinging to the Latino song like pros. Some hips sexy movements and secret adoring looks and everything around them disappeared.
Suddenly out of nowhere, a knock on the door brought them back to the real world. Danny and Michelle turned around as Sarah stood up in her bed.
"Danny?!" a voice shouted from the other side of the door.
As soon as Danny recognized his sister's voice he rushed over to open it.
"Pilar!? What are you........How did you find us here?" He asked as his sister jumped in his arms.
She was crying on his shoulder as Danny closed the door.
"Where is Alex?" Sarah asked from the bed.
Pilar's cries slowed down as she stared at the young wounded girl sitting in bed. Her stare mixed with surprised, sadness, and joy. It had been 7 long years, and it took a tragedy like this one to bring them back together. How was she going to tell them, Pilar wondered.
"Where is he?"Danny asked worries filling his voice as he saw the scratches on her right arm.
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Michelle was sitting in the car staring out the window, wondering about all that had happened in the last 24 hours or so. It was almost hard to believe. Pilar had come in crying every tear in her and she had triggered Danny and Sarah's worries. And they were right. Pilar explained how Carmen was now ahead of them. She had sobbed through her entire story. Sarah's eyes filled with tears and anger as Pilar told about Alex and Dietz's fight......and the gun shot.
"I don't think I ever realized how Dietz was involved in this" Michelle thought to herself
He was there that night at the beach. He was the one who had shot Sarah.....now Alex. How far was Carmen willing to go to get her? She was starting to destroy her own family in order to make Michelle pay. Was it all worth it? Michelle kept wondering. She felt anger filling her head. Anger towards herself, for actually having felt sorry for Carmen when Danny told her the entire story of Adam and Sarah......No more! no more was she sorry for that woman. That 'Basura' Michelle whispered through her teeth. "Basura and every other garbage name there ever existed" she thought to herself.
After Pilar had finished telling the tragic events of the night before, Danny had got up ready to kill the woman with his bare hands. Pilar had stopped him telling him that now Carmen had what she wanted, them in total ignorance of her plan. Danny had calmed down before Sarah jumped out of bed. Suddenly revived with an incredibly amount of energy she had thrown the covers on the floor, walked over to her bags and put on a pair of Cargo pants that matched her green t-shirt. Danny tried to stop her and get her to sit down but Sarah didn't listen to a word he said.
"Let me go Danny!!!" She yelled.
"Danny....." Michelle started.
But Sarah stood still, her bag in her hands. Something in her eyes sent Michelle a chill that went through her entire being. Danny let go of her arm as Sarah held her wound, clearly in pain. But she was not going to let it show. She took a deep breath before looking at Pilar, her face relaxing at the sight of Danny's little sister.
Pilar still could not believe she was right there. Alive. She was too overwhelmed to even ask why? or how? Sarah walked over to Pilar and gave her ex-future sister-in-law a big hug. "God that was confusing" Pilar told herself after reciting that sentence once or twice in her head. But after second thought, she agreed that EVERYTHING was confusing about being a Santos. Pilar held Sarah for a long time, not wanting to let her go. Michelle watched them sharing a short and unexpected, but still emotional reunion.
"I'm happy to see you....."Sarah whispered as she broke their hug.
"So am I.....God you don't know how." Pilar replied wiping her tears away.
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Setting: Carmen's office.
"What is it? Not happy to see me?" Sarah asked as Carmen hid behind her desk.
Sarah took her hand out of her pocket as Carmen's face turned from pale to pure white.
"What? You thought I was going to pull out a gun or something mama?" She added giving her the keys of the house.
"Where?........"Carmen managed to let out as she grabbed the keys from her hands.
"Oh......professional confidentiality required......."Sarah smiled.
"No......How? It's impossible." Carmen said her mouth wide open in shock.
"Nothing is impossible Carmen. Isn't that what you used to tell me all the time?" She stated her anger hitting Carmen like a slap in the face. "The future is yours and it is bright! those were your own words if I remember correctly.......The world is at you feet and Life is all yours." She laughed as Carmen's eyes filled with tears and anger.
"Hay que luchar por ella right? Just know what you want and reach out for it right?!!" Sarah shouted.
"You can't be.......You are dead!" Carmen stated her anger being replaced with fear.
Never had Sarah seen Carmen afraid before. And she had been watching, but never had Carmen been scared. But now her face eyes were screaming for help.
Sarah simply laughed her question off.
"Wanna touch?" she asked tending her hand in front of Carmen. "As real as you.......just a bit more human." Sarah smiled at a panicked Carmen.
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Setting: Pilar's car.
Michelle's nervousness became almost unbearable. Pilar tried to make conversation to take Michelle's mind off of what was probably starting to happen inside the house, but nothing could make her forget her husband. That last kiss he gave her.......it was nothing like his usual kisses. There were desperation and fear in it. What if something happens to him? "Don't you dare think that way Michelle Bauer Santos!" She yelled at herself. The word Santos brought to different thoughts in her.
The first one was Danny. She had become Danny's wife. A Santos. Her heart beat faster at the simply mention of his name. The other one was Carmen. The total opposite of Danny. The only feeling she brought to Michelle was fear. She thought that Carmen had done everything imaginable in the past to break her and Danny up but now......she was surpassing Michelle's worst nightmares.
"I can't stay here....."Michelle began as she opened her door.
"Michelle!!" Pilar exclaimed to stop her.
Michelle was already out of the car and it didn't take Pilar 2 seconds to jump out of her seat and reach Michelle's arm.
"You can't go in there Michelle." She tried to explain.
"If Danny is in there then that is where I should be Pilar!!" Michelle defended.
"Danny knows what he's doing.."
"Does he!!?? Does he really? If anything happens I want to be there." She said as she brushed Pilar's hand away.
"Then I am going with you." Pilar said walking towards the door.
Both girls entered the house, no regrets and no look back.
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"What is it Carmen.......? Don't you want to shake hands? After all this time......"Sarah asked now empty of all emotions.
Carmen remembered that. the way Sarah had to hide every single trace of emotion from her face. Emotions were there, you just could not read them clearly.
"I don't know who you are but I want you to get out of my house! Right now!" Carmen shouted.
"Oh.....I think you know exactly who I am."Sarah said. "How is my father? Been to see him lately? Kinda lonely with all these rocks and graves....."
Carmen grabbed Sarah's arm in an extreme rage. Sarah tried to get away but it didn't work.
"Let me go!" She shouted.
"Let her go!!!" Danny screamed from the door way.
"Danny......." Carmen said letting go of her arm. "What is all this?" She asked furious.
"Looks like family dinner to me." Sarah smiled.
Carmen walked over to her son and reached for his face but Danny pushed her away.
"How dare you even touch me after everything you have done." he said through clenched teeth.
"You remember......"Carmen said surprised that her son's amnesia had just vanished.
Danny laughed at her statement.
"Remember mama? Remember what? That you tried to kill my wife......my friends. That you destroyed my life and destroyed papa's business!!?" Danny shouted at his mother.
"Danny you are my son......I always....." She started but Danny cut her defense short.
"I am not your son mother." He whispered containing his anger. "I have never been the son you wanted me to be and I never will......You lost me mama. You lost your entire family now." He added looking straight at Carmen's eyes.
"This is all because of that Michelle Bauer......"
It didn't take much longer for Danny to jump at his mother. Anyone who dared talk this way about her would have ended up dead, but Danny was not going to strangle his own mother. No matter how much he wanted to he was not like her. Killing was not his destiny.
"Don't you ever!! Don't you ever say another thing about Michelle mama!!!! I will NOT be responsible for what happens to you if you ever pronounce my wife's name again with that tone!" He shouted through his teeth, inches away from Carmen's face. "Do you hear me!?"
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Pilar and Michelle had just entered the house. Michelle was almost running in front of Pilar. She had to get to Danny. suddenly Pilar felt a hand grabbing her by the waist and covering her mouth. Michelle was too far ahead to even notice. The masked man dragged Pilar out of there and into another dark room.
When Michelle arrived to Carmen's door, she looked behind her and realized Pilar wasn't there. She went back a few steps, but no one was there.
"Pilar?!" Michelle whispered to make sure no one in Carmen's office heard her. "Pilar!" She said a bit louder.
Where was Pilar? Oh my god......Michelle thought. what was happening? She frantically searched the place with her eyes only to see that she was alone. Or was she?
*********************************************************************************
Setting: Carmen's office
"I have had enough of this!! Tell me what is she doing here?!" Carmen shouted at Danny.
She struggled and got herself away from his firm grip. Danny sarcastically laughed at her question.
"I thought family was always welcome here mama......"Danny told his mother.
"I thought she was DEAD!!!!" Carmen yelled at her son, tears falling from her eyes.
"Surprise surprise Carmen.....Guess you were wrong this time. You can't always have it your way."Sarah replied saving Danny from another confrontation.
"I want you out of my house......I don't know what kind of sick games you are playing but I want you out!!!"She screamed. "Dietz!!!!" She yelled before remembering he had disappeared also......
Danny smiled at his furious mother. How had she become that evil. No human being should be allowed to sink that low, Danny thought leaning on the desk. But for some strange reason his mother had embraced the role perfectly. for a female earthly Satan, she was good. No recast could have been permitted, he thought. She took her role too seriously though, and it was time for it to stop, he told himself as he opened his mouth to answer back.
"who? Who are you calling mother? Dietz is not here....."Danny said.
"No one is here Carmen" Michelle's voice rang in the room.
Carmen turned around to face the girl she blamed for everything wrong in her little mafia bubble. And she loved blaming her, it was so easy. So much easier than the truth. Michelle had heard loud voices from inside and had decided it was time she too participated in this little game of hers. She wanted a fight? She would get one. One hell of a fight, Michelle thought walking towards her.
Danny opened his mouth to say something, but his wife's voice stopped him mid-way.
"Dietz is far away Carmen. He is not here to help you. In fact no one is here to save you this time." Michelle said repeating Carmen's own cruel words. "It is indeed judgment day at last." She whispered through her teeth.
Danny walked over to Michelle.
"What are you doing here?" he whispered.
"I had to come.....After I am the one Carmen wants right?"She said turning back to her mother-in-law.
"Right."Carmen agreed.
Sarah walked over them and stood in front of Carmen. She opened her arms wide and smiled to her.
"What? Aren't you going to greet me back into the family?" She innocently asked her.
"Go to hell!!" Carmen shouted as she tried to escape her stare.
"Oooh.......I've already been there and it is no pick-nick.......but you should love." Sarah smiled.
Carmen walked over to her desk and tried to take the phone but Danny stopped her just as she was going to hit the numbers. He grabbed her arm tight and leaned his face close to hers. Not a sound could be heard......silence was ringing in the night.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you mama."
"Danny....."Carmen cried. "We can get passed all of this...."She started before Danny's laugh interrupted her.
"Passed this mama? Passed the fact that you ASKED me to kill my own family over and over again!!!??? Talk to me about family code huh?!!!"Danny yelled at her.
Michelle put her hands on his shoulders and Danny backed away from Carmen. Just enough so he could take the damn phone she still had in her hands and sent it crashing on the wall behind her.
"I never meant to hurt you.....You are my son."
"Don't mama. don't lie to me!!!! You played me for a fool all these years!! And hurting me is all you did. I won't let you do that to Michelle. I won't let you hurt her anymore than you already did." He told her
Carmen eyes were now more scared than ever. She sat down on her chair and while everyone was silent she quietly opened the drawer of her desk.
"What did you do to Pilar? your daughter Carmen?!!" Michelle asked in disgust at the sight of that woman she despised so much. "Where did you take her?"
"What......"Carmen started before Sarah and Danny shouted all at once.
"What are you talking about Michelle?" Danny asked.
"What happened to Pilar?" were the words that came from Sarah at the same time Danny spoke.
"I don't know." She angrily said emphasizing each words. "One minute she was there and the other.......What did you send one of your goons after her? God you are sick!!"Michelle exclaimed.
"I did not do anything........Where is Pilar where is my baby?" Carmen cried as she got up.
"You tell me." Michelle replied.
"And while you are at it.......why don't you spent your last family moments filling me in on the juicy details of what was supposed to be my death Carmen? How did you plan all those killings.......I'm really intrigued" Sarah added with a disgusted smile. "You have to get credit, you got 2 out of 4. Dime Carmen, como mataste a ellos? how did you kill them all?" She asked through her teeth.
"I have had enough of this. I have had enough of you Michelle....."Carmen said as she pulled a gun out and pointed it at her.
Michelle felt her knees failing to support her anymore as she saw Carmen's gun and the face that matched it perfectly. This woman had gotten away with way too many murders and blackmails, Michelle thought. Everything that has happened to her in the last months have been because of her. She was not going to let anyone else get hurt by Carmen. Michelle ran in front of Sarah, who desperately tried to push her away from Carmen's aim. But in vain. Michelle did not move.
"Get out of the way!!!!"Carmen screamed.
"No!!!" Michelle shouted back.
Danny stepped in front of all of them begging his mother to put the gun down. Carmen didn't even blink at Danny's request and simply asked him to move out of the way.
"I will not let you do this !!!" he told her.
Carmen laughed as Michelle and Sarah stepped on the side a little. Certainly not to admire the view, Michelle thought to herself.
"You wanted to know the juicy details honey?"Carmen asked Sarah never taking her eyes from her son. "I'll tell you some details......it was bloody and satisfying!" She said emphasizing the last adjective she used. "But you would know that wouldn't you darling? You were there......wasn't it beautiful?" She asked her anger buzzing in Michelle's ears.
"Oh my god you are evil......"Sarah whispered as her tears rolled on her cheeks.
"No dear. I am a mother trying to save her family!" she shouted back.
Then the door flew open and Pilar came in. Michelle rushed to her near the door way and relief surrounding her whole being she took the girl in her arms.
"You are not a mother!!" Pilar shouted after Michelle let her go. "You are disturbed!!"
"Pilar stay out of this!"Carmen shouted.
"Pilar what happened....."Michelle asked softly. "Where were you?"
But Pilar did not answer. She just shared a long and curious look with Sarah and simply nodded to her. What was going on. Michelle was almost scared of the look in the two girls' eyes.
"No mother I won't stay out of this. You have done enough already I will not let you do any harm to MY family." Pilar's angry voice threatened.
"I am protecting OUR family!!" Carmen shouted as she pulled the trigger of the gun she had once again pointed at Michelle. Everyone's eyes widened and a Man came running through the door and jumped in front of Michelle. Michelle and this mystery man fell to the ground as Danny ran to them. There was blood on the ground as Sarah rushed to them. Pilar started crying and Sarah and her bent down to help Michelle get up. Danny took her in his arms and cried as he verified if she was hurt. Then all their eyes turned to the man lying on the floor.
Sarah was the first one rushing to him. She looked up at Danny as if she was screaming for his help. Danny helped her turn the man on his back and his face dropped. He felt his heart spin like a flying saucer in full speed. He fell to his knees and Michelle eyes widened at the sight of him.
"Oh my god!!" She let out as she grabbed Danny before he fell to the ground.
"What ?" Carmen shouted as she walked over to the body.
At the sight of this man, lying on her floor with a bullet in in his heart, she screamed in pain and fell to the ground. This couldn't be. It was him. How?
This couldn't be.....
He was there. Dying on the floor. On his floor. Carmen was crying, Danny was crying, everyone was crying. Carmen stood up regaining control of herself. She dropped the gun to the floor and simply stood there tears flowing from her eyes.
"Papa?!!" Danny cried as he leaned over the body.
"Oh my god!!!!!" he cried louder.
Michelle could not believe what she was seeing.
Mister Santos. He was alive. How did this happen? she asked herself. Michelle could not hold back her tears as Danny sobbed like a baby trying to understand how? How his father could possibly still be alive.
"It's a scam Danny!!!! "Carmen shouted in anger.
"This can't be!!!!"
"Yes it can Carmen!" Sarah shouted back. "This is your husband......."She started crying. "......And you killed him....again."
Michelle took a distressed Pilar in her arms as Mr Santos took his son's hands.
"This was my way out my son....." He said barely able to breathe. "I pray to god you will forgive me someday......it was my only way out.....but it isn't yours." He told Danny.
Danny cried shaking his father as the man closed his eyes and went in a peaceful and eternal sleep.
Danny turned to face his mother and yelled at her with all the strength and power in his being.
Carmen picked up the gun that was lying on the floor.
"HOW!!!!?????" He shouted.
"this is not your father!?" Carmen yelled in disbelief.
"Papa......."he whispered. "This is my father and you killed him!!!!" he shouted again as he grabbed her throat.
Michelle tried to stop him but to no use. Danny's anger was unstoppable. Carmen broke down as her eyes met with the body on the floor. Her husband. He had not died, and now she had killed him. Danny's hands tightened and Carmen could barely breathe. He was going to kill her. He had no remorse or what so ever.....He wanted to make her pay. His cries were frightening as Pilar tried to pull him away by holding and pulling his shoulders. But Danny was too strong.
During that time, Michelle bent down over Mr Santos and tears came to her naturally. He had faked his own death. He had tried to make the business legitimate but somehow couldn't and his only way out was to make everyone believe he had died. Michelle reached in the man's jacket and took out a cell phone.
"Danny!!" Pilar yelled trying to break him and Carmen apart.
Danny loosened his grip, which gave way for Carmen to move.
"Police! I need some help at the Santos family!" Michelle said on the phone. "A man has been shot hurry!!" She shouted as she dropped the phone.
Carmen pointed her gun at Michelle again.
"This time no one will stop me. " she said as she prepared to shoot.
Suddenly a gun shot was heard. Carmen fell to the ground in pain as Michelle reopened her eyes, only to see Carmen holding her shoulder in pain.
Sarah was standing at the other end of the room with a gun in her hands. Danny's gun. She had shot. She had shot Carmen in the shoulder to save Michelle's life. She wouldn't have shot to save her own but she did to save Michelle. Danny turned around stunned and looked at Sarah, who dropped the gun on the floor.
"This is turning into scream 3 and I hate slasher movies..."She whispered as she stared down at Carmen.
Danny grabbed Carmen's gun and threw it away. He rushed over to Michelle and took her in his arms. "God thank you." He whispered as Michelle held him with all the strength she had left. Neither of them wanted to let go. What if they had lost each other......Danny couldn't even imagine what would have happened if Sarah had not pulled the trigger.
at this moment Dietz came in in a hurry and rushed to Mr Santos' body.
"Oh my God boss!!" He said.
Then Danny understood it all. Dietz was not Carmen's handy man. Sarah had been Danny's shadow for years. Dietz had been his father's and his father had been Sarah's. That is when everything clicked in Danny's mind. Sarah's words became true. "There is always someone in the shadows Danny." And now he believed it. He kept on holding Michelle as he leaned in to kiss her. Tears fell from her eyes at the feel of Danny's lips on hers. They were holding on to each other as if they were too scared that if they let go it would all fall apart. So their arms remained firmly around each other.
Not long after the police arrived and they took Mr Santos' body in an ambulance, as well as Carmen. Sarah, Pilar, Danny and Michelle were brought in later for questioning but they did not bother too long after Sarah's statement. They had all they needed. Michelle and Danny left the station hand in hand. They had not let go of each other since Carmen had been shot in the shoulder.
Outside, Danny leaned in and kissed Michelle softly on the lips before murmuring to her:
"I love you Michelle Santos."
"Bauer Santos." she rectified laughing for the first time since tonight's events.
Yes it was. Bauer Santos. Danny smiled to himself at the sight of the strong woman in front of him.
"You will always argue what I say aren't you?" He asked her softly with a grin.
"No. Not always." She kissed him more passionately this time and as she pulled back she whispered back to him:
"I love you too."
Well that they finally agreed on. Life had not been easy for them since the beginning, and it probably would not be ever.....but this was the chance they were ready to take. As long as they were together, nothing else mattered. As it had been said on their wedding day. "What God joins together ......." Well you know the rest Michelle smiled to herself as she kissed Danny again and again. Danny had chosen her. He had chosen them, and they had chosen life and love......
Dear Drew,
As of tomorrow, you will now be friends with the new cedars intern. It just proves how the last four years have passed so quickly.
How is California? I received the pictures of little Adam last week and I have to say you have a beautiful son. I can't wait to see him again soon. You will see in a couple of years he won't want to leave the sun for a visit to Springfield.
Danny can't wait to see his God son.
Aunt Meta and Jesse sends you all their good thoughts and congratulations.
Jesse left town last week to go to New York and he wanted me to tell you that he and his wife will visit you and the family over the summer. He promised. His career has taken off, but so far (laugh).......you know how Jesse is. He and Danny have come to an understanding. I even think I saw a smile on their face as they were drooling over Anthony's pictures. They are not best of friends but at least they stand each other.
Selena is taken care of the club beautifully. She and Buzz are taking care of everything for your visit next month. Max is very excited and can't wait to see you. Don't worry your mother takes good care of him. she feeds him vegetables every day, and I think he likes her too. Who would have thought?
Who would have thought I would be writing you a letter 4 years ago? Not me. I thought i would hate you forever after I learned you had slept with Danny but somehow I found myself missing you once you left. I am glad you are coming soon.
In my last letter I forgot to mention that as much as I would want to tell you Carmen rot in jail forever, she was released 3 months ago. She has been visiting a couple of times too, but Danny never really forgave her. He goes to see his father's grave often and I think it helps him to know that his father never wanted him to lead the life that he did.
I would love to be able to tell you that Carmen is a model citizen now, but what can I say.....Some things never change. She doesn't have that much hatred in her eyes when she looks at me now. Now that I gave her a grand son I think her softer side has grown.
As for me and Danny, things could not be more perfect. My father has finally accepted Danny as my husband. Rick and Abby have practically fallen in love with our house. Or they just have come to really like Danny but you know Rick. He will not admit that and neither will Danny. They keep spending time together and even though Abby and I know they are enjoying themselves, they find lame excuses all the time.
As you know Anthony just turned 4 years old, and he is admiring his father like a God. Last night I found them both asleep on the couch watching cartoons when I came back from Rick's. Anthony has Danny's eyes. He has my mouth but he looks exactly like his father. Danny's work has slowed down a lot since he decided to spend more time home. He is getting used to legitimate business very well I might add. We are going on our zillionth honeymoon this summer. What can I say?(laugh)
Sarah got her first kiss. The guy turned out to be a jerk in the end and dumped her but I don't think she regretted it. She has been the best babysitter to Anthony, and her excitement over your visit is indescribeable She has been making up all the school work she missed for such a long time and I really do believe she will go far. In whatever she does. She has practically been a member of the family since that infamous summer 4 years ago. She is like the sister I never had.
Pilar and Bill are getting married this summer and you are invited. They can't wait to see little Adam either. Pilar will make a beautiful bride, and bill and handsome groom. It was about time he popped the question, he had been planing it for months before he got down on one knee at Towers. It was beautiful, you should have seen it.
And Anthony is very much proud of his name. I think that triggered something in Carmen. The fact that he was called like his late husband.
This is for Alex. I know you will read anyway but I just wanted to let him know I am glad your association is expanding. You two make quite a team. I am happy everything went right for him after he recovered from the shooting.
You know what Danny once told me? Sometimes some people are thrown into your life, out of the blue, for no reasons. Under unusual circumstances and they end up changing your life forever. I am glad Drew found you Alex.
I wish you the same happiness Danny and I have shared over the past years.
Enclosed in this letter is a formal invitation Anthony made for you for the Bauer Santos barbecue. Everyone is dying to see the three of you. It has been a long time. Way too long
Love
Michelle
THE END