Michelle stared at the door incredulously. She could not believe he had the nerve to show up here. "What do you want?" groaned Michelle.

"Why the hell didn't you discuss these with me first?" shouted Danny as he waved a set of legal documents in her face.

"I assume that those are the divorce papers. Ross told me that they would be served today," she replied curtly. "I'm hoping you'll just let me go. I need to move on with my life."

"Michelle, you know I can't let you go. I love you! Why won't you let me explain? It's not what you think!"

"Finding you in bed with Theresa - it's not what I think. You have some nerve. There is nothing you can do to explain you way out of this one Danny!" shouted Michelle. Tears sprang to her eyes as she recalled that horrible night.

Danny had gone to LA with Theresa to try and line up another job. He had been forced to turn down the previous job offer due to Michelle's arrest and trial for Ben's murder. After her acquittal, Michelle and Danny faced a mountain of legal bills and there was little money left in their savings to pay them. When Theresa turned up and offered to help Danny get another job, they had felt that there was no choice but to accept her offer. Danny had begged Michelle to go with him to LA, but Michelle couldn't miss anymore classes at the university.

Thanks to a generous donation from Vanessa, Springfield University had agreed to let Michelle pick up the classes she had be forced to drop during fall semester at the middle of the spring semester. Missing classes was not an option with some of the professors, who resented the fact that special arrangements were made for her to join classes mid-term, something that was never done at the university. It had taken a lot of string pulling and fast-talking, but Michelle had managed to get out of her afternoon classes that Friday. Somehow she had even gotten Dr. Douglas, who was famous on campus for his inflexibility, to excuse her from class for once.

Michelle had caught an early afternoon flight to LA, intent on surprising her husband by dinnertime. Unfortunately, mechanical problems prolonged the flight's layover in Phoenix for 5 hours.

It was nearly 1 AM when Michelle finally arrived at the hotel. After showing the desk clerk her ID, she had gotten a key to Danny's room. Michelle quietly opened the door to the suite. She spotted Danny's leather jacket lying across the back of a chair, so she knew he had not gone out that night.

Michelle set her bag down on the sofa and started rummaging through it. She pulled out the gown and robe she had bought right after their honeymoon as a surprise for Danny. He never could resist her in this ensemble. After slipping it on, Michelle entered the bedroom. She looked across the room and saw Danny's sleeping form. As she approached the bed, Michelle screamed when she saw Theresa in bed snuggled up to her husband.

By the time Danny had awakened enough to realize what was going on, Michelle was throwing her clothes on in the living room of the suite. Danny followed her out of the bedroom saying, "Michelle, wait! It's not what you think."

"Well, tell me Danny, what exactly am I supposed to think? Oh! I know, you were drunk and not thinking," shouted Michelle as she picked up one of the empty beer bottles on the coffee table and flung it towards his head while recalling Danny's drunken night with Drew. Danny had quickly ducked as the bottle shattered on the doorframe behind him.

"Michelle, will you please listen to me?" he had implored. But after studying the pained look etched across her face, Danny knew she was too upset to be rational. There was no way she was going to listen to him at this moment. Michelle would never believe that he had been just as surprised as she to find Theresa in his bed.

"I can't listen to your excuses!" shouted Michelle as she ran out the door and slammed it behind her.

Before rushing out in pursuit of his wife, Danny had looked over and spotted Theresa at the bedroom door and asked, "What the hell are you doing here?"

***

Danny stood in the Bauer kitchen staring at his wife. "Michelle, I have been trying for days to talk to you. You won't take my calls and you've refused to see me. What we have is too special to just throw away. Please let me explain. These papers wouldn't be necessary if you would just listen to me, Michelle."

"You just don't get it, Danny. There's nothing you could do to explain this away. You betrayed our marriage - again. For all I know, everything you say is a lie. Please leave."

Rick walked into the kitchen after hearing Michelle's raised voice. Looking at Danny with intense anger, he stated, "Danny, Michelle wants you to leave. I suggest you do so before I'm forced to show you out."

"Rick, stay out of this. I can handle it. Danny was just leaving, weren't you?"

"Michelle, please listen to me," Danny said quietly.

"Michelle, are you sure you don't need me to show him to the door?"

"Yes, Rick. I can handle it. You need to get to the hospital before you're late."

"Okay. Page me if you need me," replied Rick as he stormed past Danny and went out the back door.

"Danny, there's nothing you could say to change my mind. Just sign the papers and send them back to Ross. There's nothing left to be said." Michelle walked over and swung the door open, "Please leave."

Danny walked over to the door and stopped in front of Michelle. He looked her in the eye and couldn't stop himself. Before Michelle could do anything, he leaned down and kissed her. Michelle pushed him away and reached out to slap him. Danny caught her arm with his hand, leaned over to her ear and whispered, "I'm not giving up on us. I'll fight you every step of the way on this divorce. I can't live without you. I love you too much."

Michelle stood by the door, tears falling down her face, as she watched Danny's car tear out of the driveway. She walked wearily over to the phone and slowly dialed a number. "I don't know if I'll be able to follow through with this plan of yours. I can't stand to see the hurt and confusion in his eyes."

***

Danny stood outside the door to the rectory preparing to ring the bell, when suddenly the door swung open and he was face to face with the person he wanted to see. "Ray, I really need to talk with you."

"Danny, I can see you're upset, but I can't talk now. Wait in my room and we can talk when I get back. There's a parishioner I've got to go see right away. I shouldn't be long."

"Okay."

Danny quietly walked inside and met Father Thomas in the hallway. "Daniel, you look upset. Is there something I can help you with?" he asked.

"I shouldn't trouble you with this, Father. I'm just going to wait in Ray's room until he returns. I'll talk with him," Danny replied.

"Daniel, does this have anything to do with the problems in your marriage. Ray told me that you and Michelle have separated."

"Yes, Father. I'm really not sure if I can explain it - I don't even understand how all of this happened myself."

"Come into my study, Daniel. Just start at the beginning and tell me everything. Maybe we can make sense out of this together."

"Okay," Danny whispered as he followed the priest into the dark study.

Parts 4-6

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