Setting: Bauer cabin
Time: A couple of weeks from now. The annulment is underway though not complete. Michelle has told Jesse the truth about her and Danny's marriage AND that she thinks she might actually be in love with Danny. She has gone to the cabin to get away from everyone and do some serious soul searching.
Michelle jumped as another crack of thunder shook the cabin. A heavy storm had started late that afternoon, and now, at nearly midnight, the rain was showing no signs of letting up. Lightening illuminated the room as Michelle burrowed deeper in the bed. She knew it was ridiculous to be as old as she was and still scared of a thunderstorm, but that didn't stop the little shiver of fear that ran up her spine as she watched the rain lash against the windows. "Maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea after all." she muttered to herself. She had come to the cabin that had been a safe haven for every member of the Bauer family at sometime to collect her thoughts and get some much needed rest. She felt like she hadn't slept since the night Danny had left her there in her kitchen, clutching his wedding ring as though it were a lifeline.
Danny.
Michelle groaned and buried her face in her pillow. Even up here, away from everything and everyone, Danny occupied her every thought. Why couldn't she forget him? Why did the thought of a life with Jesse, the man she'd always thought she loved, leave her feeling strangely empty? Why didn't Jesse's kiss make her forget everything, even who she was, like they used to?
Like Danny's did.
Michelle put her hands over her ears, as though that would stop the endless flow of questions running through her mind. Even more though, she wanted to silence the answer to all those questions.
She loved Danny. It was as simple as that. Somewhere in the middle of this whole crazy thing, she had done the one thing she never thought possible: She had fallen in love with her husband. "Ex-husband, Michelle." she softly corrected herself. Tears stung her eyes as she realized that Danny wouldn't even be that. If they got an annulment, it would be like saying these past few months had never even happened. That they had never been anything to each other.
Thunder shook the cabin again, this time louder, and Michelle sat up in bed. She knew that this would be yet another sleepless night and reached for her robe. She padded softly to the rocking chair in front of the fire she had built in front of the fireplace before getting in bed and opened the book she had brought with her. Maybe after an hour of so of reading she would feel sleepy enough to at least get a few hours sleep. Michelle had been "reading" for at least fifteen minutes before she realized she'd been reading the same sentence over and over again. "Damn" she murmured and laid her head back, squeezing her eyes shut against the inevitable tears. She had been sure she couldn't cry anymore after the past two weeks, but it seemed as though her tears flowed from a bottomless well. "Why didn't I tell him I love him?" she whispered as she sobbed. "Would it have even made a difference?" As she wiped away tears, the firelight glinted off the wedding band she still wore on her left hand. She closed her eyes again, willing herself back to that day. She remembered the look in Danny's eyes as he had made his vows, his smile as the danced, and his kisses on their wedding night. Michelle's shiver had nothing to do with the chill in the room as she remembered the soft kisses he's placed on her back as they had lain on their bed. What if she hadn't stopped him? What if, when he had begun to gently roll her onto her back, she had looked up at him with all the love she felt now shining in her eyes and when his lips met hers, she would have -
Michelle's reverie was interrupted by a nearly frantic pounding at the door. Her heart jumped into her throat, but she rose and headed for the door. After all, it could be some stranded traveler or someone who needed help and Michelle, nor any Bauer, had never been able to disregard a cry for help. Her hand faltered as it reached for the doorknob. It could be Dietz on the other side of that door. Fear briefly sizzled through her, but Michelle raised her chin and straightened her shoulders. If it was Dietz, so be it. She was sick of hiding from him.
Defiantly, eyes blazing, she opened the door.
Danny stood there, completely soaked, an expression of worry, passion, and anger on his face.
"Danny!" Michelle gasped. "What are you...why did you..."
"I needed to see you." he shouted over the noise of the storm. "Can I come in, or should I start building an ark out here?"
"Of c-course, come i-in." Michelle sputtered as she stepped aside.
Danny walked inside and gave the cabin a cursory once over before turning again to face Michelle." Are you alright?"
"Yes" she replied, leaning against the door, shock still glazing her eyes. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Danny glanced around, looking anywhere but at her. " I ran into Jesse at Millennium. He said that you had come up here to be alone for awhile. Then the storm hit and I...I got to thinking about you up here, all alone and I was....I was-"
"Worried?" Michelle asked, a teasing glint in her eyes.
Danny fixed her with a stare that had probably reduced grown men to blubbering heaps, but Michelle boldly met his eyes.
"Yes" he finally ground out "I was worried. But, now that I see you're alright, I'll be going and let you get back to sleep." His eyes drifted over Michelle in her nightgown and robe before quickly looking away. The nightgown was long and white, sleeveless with a row of tiny buttons from her navel to mid-chest. The robe over it was also white, but filmy. It was a simple ensemble, and Michelle found herself wishing she had worn something more seductive. But then, how was she to know he'd come up here to check on her? Michelle's gaze on Danny softened as she thought "Of course he'd come up here to make sure I'm alright".
Danny noticed the look on Michelle's face and wondered what it meant. He decided it was best not to stick around and find out. "You came up here to see if she was safe." he told himself. "She is. Now get the hell out of here before you make a fool out of yourself. Again."
Danny cleared his throat and said, "Well, I need to get going."
Michelle moved towards him and Danny took a hasty step back. "Danny, don't be ridiculous. You can't drive back to Springfield in this."
She was so close he could smell her perfume. "Leave, dammit, leave!" he repeated to himself.
"Stay." Michelle whispered as she took his hands in hers. "Please stay."
Danny looked down into her big brown eyes and knew it was no use. He was staying.