Setting: Outside Danny's hospital room
Michelle was sitting outside Danny's room while Rick was checking on him. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Danny didn't remember her. No, she must have imagined that in some sick way......Danny couldn't be.....she stopped herself from torturing herself like that.
"Great Michelle! You're talking to yourself now' she said, taking a deep breath and getting up.
As she walked to Danny's door to see how things were going through the window she noticed that girl again. This time the girl walked right by her and for a second Michelle could swear that she looked right at her. Michelle felt a shiver as the girl's shoulder brushed hers. She quickly turned around and faced the girl who had stopped and faced Michelle even before Michelle had reacted.
"Are you working for Carmen?" Michelle asked the girl.
When Michelle heard the little and childish laugh that the girl let out, she understood how stupid her question was. Carmen was a weird monster, but even she wouldn't hire young kids to do her dirty work. At least that's what Michelle was hoping.
"Do not let Carmen anywhere Danny" she said as she walked away from Michelle.
Michelle tried to go after her but Rick got out of Danny's room and grabbed Michelle by the arm. Contrary to the last time someone had done that to that same arm, Michelle didn't feel a thing. Let's just say that Dietz's manners and Rick's were simply very different.
"How is he? Please tell me he remembers......."Michelle asked almost begging her brother to tell her what she wanted to hear.
She turned her head and the girl was still there.......Looking at her and almost begging for something. But what? Michelle had no idea and at the moment some voices called from the back the girl had disappeared. Michelle looked all around but she was nowhere in sight.
"What is going on? why is everyone so serious?" Pilar asked coming from behind Michelle.
"Danny has had......"Rick tried to say but Michelle cut him off.
"I know I know......"Michelle lets out in a deep sigh....."Danny has had a big blow to the head!" "How is he now?"
"Danny has amnesia Michelle. He doesn't seem to remember much about anything right now. Apart from his Spanish everything seems to be a bit of a blur right now so if I were you two I would try and give it some time."
"but......"Pilar was trying to say something or ask something but Michelle's tears stopped her.
"Michelle. I'm sure that Danny is going to be ok." Rick said taking his sister in his arms.
Suddenly he was called by the nurse to the ER and Pilar took it upon herself to stay with Michelle. Michelle could not believe it. She has always wanted Danny to forget his family. To forget his Mother and his job to be with her. And now it had happened. The only problem was that he didn't remember her either. She felt a sick feeling at the thought of Danny looking at her like a stranger.
"You should go see him. Maybe he would remember you.......I mean you are his sister." Michelle said trying not to sound too sad at the thought of Danny remembering Pilar but not her.
"Michelle, the first person Danny will ever think of or remember is you. He loves you."
"I'm not so sure of that anymore Pilar." Michelle said regaining control over her emotions." Danny has made it pretty clear that he doesn't want me."
"Then why do you think he rushed back here Michelle?" Pilar asked trying to convince Michelle of Danny's true feelings.
"Certainly not because he misses my culinary skills" Michelle said sarcastically.
"Are you telling me my mother let you anywhere near the kitchen while you were married......or should I say living with Danny, because you are still his wife." Pilar stated.
"You're mother locked me in our room and and threw the key away." Michelle said through her teeth at the thought of the time she spent under that roof. "But our marriage was never......."
"Would you stop that!? Technically you are still Danny's wife and until that changes you are the one who should be by Danny's side while he recovers."
"Your Mother is never going to allow that Pilar." Michelle said as the small hope in her eyes faded away.
Pilar had a certain way of convincing Michelle of her own feelings. She was so NOT Santos-like, and so not like her mother. Michelle started thinking how Carmen could ever be Pilar's mother. Pilar has nothing of a Santos, Michelle thought. At least Carmen has done one good thing in her life. She had kept Pilar away from all the Santos crazy life.
"You can be certain of that" said a voice from behind Michelle.
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Setting: Hospital waiting room.
"Someone is outside and would like to talk to you" the voice said before Michelle could turn around.
Pilar was face to face with the man and by the look on her face, it didn't seem like good news.
"Dietz, tell my mother if she has something to say she she doesn't have to send you. She can come herself." Pilar said as Michelle turned around to face Dietz.
Dietz was standing 2 feet away from Michelle and for once she stood up to him, perfectly knowing that whatever she said or did to him did not matter. What mattered was Carmen's orders, and she couldn't give a damn about Dietz.
"What is it?" Michelle asked getting up from the chair.
"The boss has something to say to you."
"Well tell the 'boss' that if she wants to talk to me, she knows where to find me. But I will not go to her when I know perfectly what she has to say. Oh and while you're at it......I guess that dinner's off right?" she said as she walked away and entered Danny's door.
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Setting: the Santos house.
"what do you mean she is not coming? Get her here!" Carmen shouted on the phone.
After a few moments of listening to Dietz lame explanations:
"Alright then we will have to find another way."
And she hung up. She went behind the desk and sat on her famous *power* chair. She bent down and pulled a gun out of the drawer.
"I will not let you take away my last son. I will make sure you get what you deserve Michelle. Even if I have to do it myself." She whispered through her teeth as she stared down at the gun in her hands.
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Setting: Danny's hospital room
"Arrghh"
"I'm sorry! Oh God!" Michelle said as Danny gasped in pain.
"No I am......I....."Danny started while Michelle was trying the best she could not to hurt him while helping him sit in his bed.
Michelle stopped herself inches away from Danny's face. Danny felt a shiver go down his spine as Michelle's hair brushed his face. Michelle suddenly felt her cheeks turn pink. She let out a little nervous laugh as she backed away a little. Danny suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable and Michelle saw it in his eyes.
She wanted to apologize and then realized that she didn't want to. She wanted to be close to him, she wanted to touch him and most of all him to touch her back. But this man doesn't know that. The man sitting in that bed doesn't know her. She silently vowed to make him remember the way he felt. That she would make him feel his love for her again. For once she knew exactly what she wanted.......why was still something else, but she wanted Danny. That was all she could think about.
Danny's voice snapped Michelle out of her thoughts.
"So......." He started not exactly aware of what he was saying.
"yeah......"Michelle said.
'God that was a stupid one Michelle' is what she told herself. There had never been so many silences between her and Danny. And even when there were, it was never as awkward as this one. She didn't know what to tell him, besides that she was in love with him. But she couldn't say that just now. God knows he would get scared out of his mind if she told Danny that now. Instead she looked at him and tried to feel everything he was feeling through his eyes. Somehow Danny found himself doing the same thing.
"Well, do you need anything else? I can go get you whatever.....you know." Michelle said to break the ice.
"No I'm ok. come here....."Danny said taking Michelle's hands.
Michelle sat on the bed beside Danny. He took a long hard look at her beautiful face and tried not to faint at the touch of her hands.
"Why don't you tell me about you? About what you like, dislike, about what we were, what we are......"Danny said smiling.
"Well.....we.....it's a bit complicated." Michelle said sitting back on the chair.
Danny felt his heart aching when he felt her slipping in the chair. He felt like his heart was about to cry out 'NOOO'. But he just looked at her and simply said:
"Well how can it be more complicated than this.....? I mean, this is pretty weird. having my own wife telling me about our marriage, don't you think?"Danny said trying to look happy but you could see in his expression that he was struggling to give that Oscar winning performance.
Michelle let out a long sigh.
"HA!......you could be surprised" she said with a fake laugh.
"I don't think I can't get more surprised than now." He added.
"Neither can I." said Carmen from the door. "I am surprised to see you here after our last discussion Michelle."
"What discussion Carmen? The one you made me have with your puppy dog?"
"I get you are referring to Dietz. He has been called many things but puppy dog.....I have to give you some credit Michelle, this one surpasses the others. "Carmen said walking toward Danny's bed.
"Well you learn a lot trapped in a dungeon" Michelle whispered almost to herself.
But Carmen did hear and so did Danny. He seemed to be amused by it all.
"You are always generous on compliments Michelle." Carmen said with a malicious smile.
She reached out for her purse without leaving Michelle one second. Her eyes were filled with amusement and revenge. Michelle knew exactly Carmen hadn't come here to make peace with her daughter-in-law.
"I have something for you Michelle......."Carmen started carefully reaching into her purse. Michelle and Danny watched closely as Carmen smiled when she finally grabbed the object she was looking for.