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She would not be afraid, Michelle thought. Its just Danny, she thought. I haven't been afraid of him in a long time. He won't hurt me.
She stiffened her shoulders and started to move towards him. He stepped out of the light then and she couldn't control the gasp that escaped from her mouth. Oh, how she wished she could grab that gasp and shove it back down her throat.
Abby hadn't mentioned his injuries and she realized she hadn't asked. She had been in such shock finding out he had been in the accident that she wasn't thinking straight. The patch that covered his eye is what concerned her the most. He had had an eye injury. Had he lost his sight???? Why hadn't he told her about the accident? Didn't he know that she would have come to him???
She took another moment to examine his appearance. He hadn't completely stepped into the light but even with him encased in shadows, she could see the scars on his face and neck. The puffy scars on his neck continued down the firm column of Danny's throat until it was obscured by the dark navy shirt that he wore.
The scar gave him a sort of rakish appearance. And while, Michelle knew how painful it must have been for Danny, it only added to his attraction. She doubted anything could kill her attraction to this man.
He stood facing her, legs apart in a combative stance. Clearly he was ready for a fight. Why?? What had she done to deserve such scorn on his once handsome face??
"Hello Danny" she said not shrinking under his condemning look. She had done nothing to be ashamed of.
"Not a very affectionate greeting after three long years, wouldn't you say Michelle, Come on, you can do better than that" he said sardonically.
"What do you want me to do?" Michelle said, "Grovel at your feet?"
"I think a kiss might be more in keeping with our relationship, dont you MIchelle?" he said sneering.
Michelle ground her teeth. "We don't have a relationship" she reminded in. She had signed the annullment papers as he has requested and that was that, their marraige was over. It had taken all of twenty seconds to dissolve her marraige.
"Maybe we don't" he resigned and stepped completely into the light and for the first time Michelle saw the man Danny had become and not just because of his scars. "Not a pleasant sight am I?"
Michelle gave a sarcastic laugh. "I never would have imagined you to be a man full of self pity" she said.
Danny took a step towards her. "Oh, but I'm not" he said. "Not anymore at least. I have grown quite used to looking at a monster every morning when I shave".
"Don't be ridiculous" Michelle said. "you certainly aren't ugly"
Michelle realized that she had said the wrong thing. He looked at her with a gaze that could have turned her to stone. "Don't say that again. Save it for someone who really needs it or someone who might actually believe it".
"Do they hurt?" she said despite herself, speaking of his scars.
Too late, she realized she had said the wrong thing again. His eyes turned glassy as if he were remembering something painful. "Of course they hurt, Michelle, they hurt me every day of my life. They hurt in the morning when I struggle to get out of bed, they hurt when I work and they hurt when I go to bed. People don't look me straight in the eye, and I mean that literally since I have only one eye left now. Little children stare or cry. Of course they hurt. What kind of stupid question was that?" he demanded.
"I'm sorry I didnt mean..." Michelle said.
"Of course you didnt mean, Michelle. The injuries are my constant reminder of my almost dying, but I am not going to die just yet, not to please anyone," he said and stared at her icily.
What did he mean by that?? Had he thought she wanted him dead??? "Danny, I've never wished you dead. What would make you think something like that??" she asked near tears.
He shrugged. "I didnt hear from you the entire time I was in the hospital, It was a natural assumption to make. If you were too busy to see your dying ex husband, then what we once had didn't mean one damn thing to you" he said.
Michelle was aghast. "But I didnt.."
"What Michelle, were you waiting for an engraved invitation?"
"But I..." Michelle stammered.
"What, were too busy. Your precious medical career was too important to put on pause for even a second. Boy, you are going to make one hell of a doctor. Let Danny die but hey, I'll save the next one" he snarled.
"No Danny, that's not it, you have to listen..." Michelle tried desperately to explain.
"No Michelle, I dont have to listen. Wasn't Pilar's letter enough?? Wasn't the knowledge that I was dying and calling for you enough to make you leave for even one day? Didnt I mean anything to you?"" he said with real hurt in his voice.
"Danny if you would just listen, I can explain. I...."
"No, Michelle, I won't listen. As a matter of fact, I can't even stand to be in the same room with you. Now if you will excuse me, I need to leave" he said and pushed his way past her.
But not before issuing a warning. "You've come back Michelle but things are different. I am not the same Danny Santos you left three years ago. You made your feelings for me perfectly clear and I want to warn you to stay away from me. The man you knew doesn't exist anymore and the man that replaced him can be real cruel. You had best heed that warning, Dr. Bauer" he spit out the title as if it were poisonous venom in his mouth.
Michelle stood stunned at the door that had just been slammed. What the hell had just happened here????
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