She was such a coward. She had run away from Danny as if he had been the boogie man or something.
The most wonderful thing in her life had happened but it hadn't happened in the right circumstances or for the right reasons. He had been so grief stricken and she had been determined to help relieve that grief. Anybody would have been able to do what she had done for Danny last night.
She struggled to put thoughts of Danny out of her head. She had to go to the hospital to do one of her progress monitoring classes. She liked doing these. She got to meet the most interesting people. She had also had some sad cases, like that little boy Lewis who had died of kidney failure. Her heart had broken for him because nobody seemed to care if he lived or died. There was this one lady though, she couldn't remember her name, she was a secretary by trade but had ventured off into some amateur writing. She would call and ask about his progress. She really had seemed to care. There were actually some people who were glad when this poor, sick boy died. He had had an ogre for a father she had heard. She was fortunate enough to have never met the man. She had cried when Lewis died and had gone to put a yellow flower on his grave the day after his funeral.
She was excited to get back into this part of her studies. It would help keep her mind off of last nights events. She had let her heart rule her head again and she hoped it wouldn't result in even more heartbreak.
She smiled to herself as she recalled the memory despite herself. Danny had made love to her. It was the first time and it was wonderful. Better than anything she could have hoped for. It was exactly like in her dream. She now at least had something to hold onto in the bleak looking future. She normally didn't whine so much but she had found out she loved Danny too late and you just couldn't turn it on and off like a faucet. She would live the rest of her life with these feelings and the memory of last night.
She wondered when Grandmother Santos' funeral would be. She would attend. She would sit by Danny if he asked and leave him alone if he didn't. She hoped he would call her and at least let her know the arrangements.
She got her books and began to make her way to the hospital. She hoped Elizabeth was the one to assign her to her patient. She was a great person and she always picked out someone interesting for Michelle to monitor. After all, she had picked out Lewis.
She parked in the parking deck and went up to the hospital. She checked in at the desk and was delighted to see her name on Elizabeth's rotation. Wonderful, she thought as she began to go up to the intensive care ward where Elizabeth would be waiting to give her assignment.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Ray, can I talk to you for a minute" Danny said and pulled Ray aside.
"Of course Danny, what can I do?" Ray said and followed Danny out into the hall where they could be alone.
"Listen, some stuff has come up and I need to talk to someone about. I want to talk to you as a cousin, not a priest, Can you do that?" Danny asked.
"Just let me remove my collar" Ray said joking. "Of course Danny, whatever you need. What is going on?" Ray said.
Danny began to tell him of all of the things that had been happening sans the making love to Michelle twice part. He did however mention her getting sick as a result of Carmen's underhanded attempt to keep them apart by forging the annulment papers.
"Wow" Ray said shaking his head. "Dietz and Aunt Carmen?"
"Unbelievable isn't it?" Danny said.
"So, your real mother, is she alive?" he asked.
"I have no idea although I am going to work on that after this whole mess is over. I need to go back to Springfield tonight. I need to see Michelle, It seems like we keep missing each other and this time I want to connect" he explained.
"Sure, Danny, you go back. We have done everything we can do for today anyway. Carmen and Pilar said they were going to stay a little longer with Federico. Bill will take care of Pilar and I will take care of uncle. Carmen can ride with Ben" he said.
"Thanks Ray and I know I'm probably just being emotional because of all that has happened but I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you and your willingness to keep your commitment to the church. I know there are a lot of women out there that would just love to corrupt a priest. I know I could never be as strong as you are. Michelle brings out all the weaknesses in me and there isn't anything that I wouldn't do for her, you know. I know you are still trying to decide if you are going to remain in the priesthood. I hope you decide to stay, at least someone will make something good of the Santos name" Danny said.
"Thank you Danny although I will tell you that I envy what you and Michelle have found together. I wish I had met someone that special before I made my commitment to the church. Don't throw what you have with Michelle away. Fight for her. Your love will be stronger than anything that is thrown at you including all of the stuff you told me." Ray said.
Danny hugged Ray and started to go. He could be in Springfield by this afternoon and with Michelle by tonight.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The angel had gone again. She had been his lifeline. Her voice would come to him and soothe him when he would wake up frightened. He needed to tell her to get Danny. He needed to tell someone that he was still in danger.
He needed to pee. He remember the catheter attached to him and let it do its work. He was having periods of lucidness and they seemed to be getting longer with each stretch.
Carmen, did she know he was still alive? Danny, where was Danny? He needed to tell him everything. He needed to know the truth. He knew that he was expendable to the Santos family now and he knew he had to do whatever was necessary to save his sorry self.
He had put a little insurance away in case such a day arrived. He had the goods on Carmen that she didn't know about. He knew all about Teressa and he knew all about the will. He had put his life on the line numerous times for her and she had set up a hit on him.
He had known his life would probably end like this although for some reason God had chosen to spare him. He was going to do what he could to make sure Carmen Santos got her comeuppance. She was not the rightful heir to the Santos fortune and she knew it. He grew tired again and cursed his body for being so weak.
He could think later he thought as he started to lose the battle with unconsciousness. His last thoughts were of his angel.....