First Impressions
Parts 35-36
By Kellie
Michelle sat in the front seat of Frank's squad car as Danny made his way down a dirt driveway along the border of his family's estate. He came to a stop alongside a wooden, split rail fence. Danny got out of the car and began to remove the two rails from between the fence posts. Soon they were driving down River Road away from the Santos Estate. "Michelle, do you know of any place we could meet Frank that he's familiar with?"
"Well, there's the lighthouse. My family has owned it for years."
Michelle listened as Danny called Frank and set up a meeting at the lighthouse. "It's going to be a few hours before Frank can meet us. He's getting ready to go into a meeting with the police chief."
Michelle nodded as they turned down the lighthouse drive. Danny pulled the car behind the lighthouse and began to gather paperwork from inside the car. He had the folder from his mother's safe and a photocopy of the file from Miami that Frank had made and left in the squad car. After watching him dig through the car and gather the papers, Michelle led the way to the lighthouse. She reached up along the molding over a window by the lighthouse door and found the spare key. Michelle opened the door and they went inside.
"Where can I spread this stuff out to look it over?" he asked.
"Well, the bed is the only place big enough for you to spread that stuff out to look it over. I'll leave you to work," Michelle said as she started up the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Danny asked.
"Up on the observation deck. I'm sure you need some time alone to look that stuff over," she said as she pointed at the paperwork he was beginning to spread out on the bed.
"Michelle, you don't have to leave for me to work on this stuff."
"I really need some time to think about what we were discussing at the gazebo. Anyway it's getting close to sunset and the view from the deck is spectacular," she added before continuing up the steps.
Danny sat down on the bed and started flipping through papers and putting things together. "Well, now I know how Mother found out about my involvement with the FBI," he said to himself as he reviewed a photograph. Setting the photo to the side, Danny continued to shuffle the paperwork and put things in order.
Michelle sat with her arms around her knees on the deck as she looked out over the water. "I wonder if I have some clean clothes around here," she muttered to herself as she looked at the torn knees of her jeans. Fingering the bandage along her arm, Michelle considered everything that had occurred over the last few days.
Danny came up silently and stood in the doorway watching as she sat there. He couldn't help thinking that despite her torn clothes and bandages, she was the most beautiful creature on earth. After several minutes of watching her silent contemplation of the sunset, he stepped out onto the deck. "You're right about the sunset," Danny's deep voice startled her.
Michelle started to rise to her feet. She realized how stiff and sore she was becoming from her escape from the car as she reached out to grab the railing. "Michelle, are you alright?"
"I'm okay, just a little stiff and sore from that roll I took out of the car."
Danny reached out and helped her to her feet. Michelle turned to face the sunset and Danny began to massage her shoulders. "Does that help?"
"Uh huh. You have magic hands."
"You think so," he whispered in her ear as his hands dropped down to her lower back and began kneading the muscles there as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Definitely. Did you finish looking through those files?"
"Yeah, I have everything in order to go over with Frank. I still have a couple of tough decisions to make about some of the evidence."
"What kind of decisions?"
"The information I have could send my mother to prison. I have to decide if I want to be the person to put my mother behind bars - the decision I've never wanted to face. That's why I spent the last several years working far away from Springfield."
Michelle reached up with her right hand and ran her fingers through the wavy hair along his face, "I'm sorry."
"Michelle, there's nothing to be sorry about."
"Yes, there is - I'm sorry that you're having to face such a difficult decision. No one should have to face this."
Danny tightened his arms around her waist, "Michelle Bauer, you are an amazing woman."
"I guess I should say thank you for the compliment," Michelle said in a near whisper as she felt Danny's lips moving along her neck. She turned to face him and placed her hands on his shoulders as their lips met.
"I like the way you say thank you," Danny mumbled as he moved his lips along her jaw.
"Oh, I'm not finished thanking you yet. I think we need to head downstairs," Michelle whispered in his ear.
"What do you have in mind?"
"You'll see," Michelle said seductively as she led him down the curving staircase. She led him to stand beside the small bed. "Danny, while I was sitting up there thinking about everything that has happened over the past week, I realized something."
"What's that?" he asked as he slipped his arms around her waist.
"I realized even though every common sense instinct I have is telling me to get the hell out of this mess and stay away from you, but ." she paused and looked up at his worried eyes. "My heart is telling me not to let you get away. Danny, I love you."
His grip around her waist tightened. "Michelle, I've loved you since the first minute I saw you."
"Really, why didn't you say something?"
"Think about how corny that line would have sounded - Do you believe in love at first sight? - You would have shot me down so fast my head would have been spinning."
"True." Michelle slowly raised her eyes to meet his, "Danny, how long until Frank will be here?"
"At least an hour, why?"
"I don't want any interruptions," she said as she began to unbutton his shirt.
"Michelle, are you sure?"
"Absolutely, now kiss me," she said as their mouths met and they fell back onto the bed.
___________________________________________________
Michelle began tugging at the sheet as she tried to climb out of bed without awaking Danny. She felt his arm snake around her waist, "Baby, where are you going?"
"As much as I would love to stay in bed with you, we can't. Frank will be here soon. I'm going to grab a shower," she answered as she ran her fingers along his arm.
"Hmm. I guess you're right," he looked at the clock on the nightstand as he spoke.
She leaned down and gave him a quick kiss before heading into the bathroom. Later, Michelle emerged from the bathroom dressed in a Springfield University t-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts trying to run a comb through her tangled, wet hair. Noticing the now made bed, she looked up to find Danny dressed and sitting in the window seat. "Frank's pulling up right now. I guess I have to decide what to do," he said.
"Danny, I've known Frank for a long time. Tell him your dilemma without detailing any specific evidence. Maybe he can help you figure out what to do."
"I wish it were that easy," he replied as he stood and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
"I'll go up on the observation deck and read while you talk to Frank," she said as she grabbed a book lying on the window seat.
Danny nodded as he watched her head up the stairs. Hearing Frank knock, he turned and headed towards the door.
"Hi, where's Michelle?" Frank asked as he came inside.
"She just went up to the observation deck so we can talk."
Frank nodded as he asked, "Danny, what's wrong? I can tell something's bothering you."
"We can discuss that in a minute. What's Mick's condition?"
"It's bad - massive head injury. If he lives, he'll never completely recover. They won't know the extent of the brain damage until he comes out of the coma," Frank informed him.
Danny walked over to the window and looked out at the water. "I feel so damned guilty about what happened. If I hadn't."
"Danny, stop that. You made the only choices you could under the circumstances. Mick kidnapped you and Michelle. In his drug-altered state of mind, there's no telling what he would have done to Michelle if you hadn't gotten her out of that car. Mick did this to himself when he tried to strangle you in that car," Frank firmly stated.
"I know, but he's my brother. I can't help thinking that there's something I could have handled differently that might have avoided this whole mess."
Frank replied, "You told me yourself that the drugs completely changed your brother into someone you didn't recognize. Mick put himself on this self-destructive path. If it hadn't been this, he would probably would have been killed in a botched drug deal."
"I know that in my head, but my heart."
"I know." Frank paused before asking, "What have you figured out from the files?"
"Before I fill you in on that, there's something else I need to talk to you about - and it needs to stay between us."
"Of course. What's going on?"
"Well, I have the evidence we needed on Mick's drug operation. I've also found out that my mother is more involved in it than I thought. I've spent years staying away from Springfield so I wouldn't have to face investigating my own family. I never wanted to be the person to put my family behind bars and now I'm faced with that very circumstance," Danny quietly said.
"I've been thinking about that myself since you agreed to help me. There's no way we'll ever be able to pursue charges against Mick. I spoke with the doctor and if Mick makes it through the next couple of days, he'll most likely be severely handicapped physically and mentally. The doctors don't think Mick will ever be fit to stand trial."
A lone tear fell down Danny's face as he thought about the brother from his childhood. The brother who was always cracking jokes - the brother he loved.
"Danny, put copies of what you need in sealed envelopes for me to hold on to for the next 24 hours. Contact your superiors and tell them your situation. Maybe they would let you offer your mother a deal if she'll turn state's evidence against some of the other families. You have nothing to lose by trying. If that doesn't work, I'll turn the evidence over to the DA and see if we can find a way to avoid involving you in this any further."
"Frank, there's no way some of that evidence will make it through court unless I'm there to testify about it and explain how it was obtained. I'll try your idea, but if my superiors don't go for it there won't be any choice about what I have to do."