Bauer House

Michelle watches as Danny leaves the room, closing the door behind him. "Dad, I’m glad you and Danny finally had a chance to talk. He really loves me and I love him. A lot happened while you were gone, but I am truly happy."

"You’re happy? Honey, what happened to Jesse? I mean you fought so hard to be with him and now you’re married to Danny Santos, mob prince?"

"First of all, he is no mob prince. Second, don’t think you can come back here after being gone for so long and criticize my choices! Yes, I wanted to be with Jesse, but I’m not now. I’m with the man I want to spend the rest of my life with and that’s Danny! Honestly, you and Claire have some nerve!"

"Michelle, you have to admit, this is crazy! I want to know every detail!"

They are both shouting now.

"I don’t owe you any explanation! You walked out on me just like Claire! And like I told her, you can go to hell!"

Just then Abby, Rick and Danny come running into the study.

"Dad, Michelle, what’s going on?" Rick asks.

Michelle goes to stand by her husband. "Rick I want to thank you and Abby for being a constant in my life these past few years. I don’t know what I would have done with the two of you. You’ve both been like parents to me. And now, I have Danny. We’ll be leaving now, though. Abby, have a wonderful trip. Goodbye Rick."

They all stare at Michelle as she stares at her father. She doesn’t acknowledge him as she takes Danny’s hand and leads him to the kitchen. Michelle, Danny, Pilar and Sandy leave the Bauer house.

Rick, Abby and Ed are still in the study.

"Dad, what did you say to her?"

"It doesn’t matter. She’s right. I basically walked out on her just like Claire. But I’ll be damned if I let the Santos’ hurt my little girl."

Towers

Pilar went to spend some time with her mother, while Sandy went home. Danny and Michelle are back in their suite.

"Michelle, sweetie, are you okay? You haven’t said much of anything since we left your house."

They settle on the sofa. "My dad doesn’t understand. And I don’t feel like making him. I’m a grown woman. It’s not my fault that he wasn’t here for me when I needed him. If he feels left in the dark, too bad. He’s the one who left his teenage daughter behind."

"Honey, he just cares. You have to admit that ours is a peculiar situation. Didn’t you think he would be upset to find his daughter married to the mob?"

"What I thought was that he would be happy that I’m happy. I just don’t like the fact that he and Claire left me and they both expect me to just forget that. I’m suppose to lay all my troubles down and let them help and guide me. Yeah, right."

"Don’t be too hard on them. Parents have a funny way of showing their concern sometimes. And they get in the way when you just want them to stay the hell away."

"Wow."

"What?"

"You are full of so much wisdom. My father practically blasted you and your family and you show no animosity. I think I’ll let you stay home and take care of the kids and I’ll work."

"Kids, huh?"

"Yeah, you do want them. Right?"

"Michelle, I want as many kids as you are willing to give me. I’ve got an idea."

"Uh huh..."

"Why don’t we go practice?"

"Danny, why practice when we can just get started?"

"Are you sure you’re ready? I mean we still need time for ourselves. We don’t have to rush. And what about medical school?"

"You’re right. It’s just that I want to make up for the hell I’ve put you through."

Danny gets up off the sofa and picks Michelle up to carry her into the bedroom.

"I told you…you are forgiven. But if you insist on a punishment, then I want to make love as much as humanly possible."

"Deal."

________________________________

"Good morning," I say to my husband as a role over to greet his beautiful face.

"I think you mean good afternoon. It’s one o’clock PM. How did you sleep?"

"Pretty good. You wore me out."

"I think we wore each other out. Do you realize this is the second day we’ve awaken together…as a couple?"

"Yes, I do and as long as we sleep under the same roof, I will always wake up in these arms."

Danny gets up and heads for the bathroom. "Sounds good to me. Listen, we need to meet with the architect today. Did you have plans?"

"Um I just wanted to have lunch with Dahlia. Which I guess is off now. She probably forgot anyway. What time?" I follow Danny into the bathroom. He starts the shower and then joins me at the double sink as I brush my teeth.

"How about 4pm?"

I nod my head yes. Danny gets in the shower and I go back into the bedroom. As I’m rummaging through all the new clothes Danny bought me, I hear a knock at the door. I put my jeans and shirt on from the day before and go to the living area of the suite.

"Who is it?"

"FBI, Mrs. Santos. We need to talk to you."

Oh no. Why are they here? Didn’t Frank call them? I try to pull myself together before opening the door. Finally, I take a deep breath and open the door.

"Yes, can I help you?"

"Can we come in? I’m agent Simms and this is agent Mathers."

"Uh yeah, I remember. Okay come in."

The two agents come in the suite and I close the door, but I never leave my spot. "I don’t have any information for you. As you may know, we lost our home and I was presumed dead, but everything is okay. Really."

"Mrs. Santos, a few days ago you contacted us. You wanted to help bring down the Santos family. Then there is the matter of the suspicious fire and your disappearance and reappearance. Now, another person is missing that may be connected to your involvement with the Santos’."

"What are you talking about?"

The other agent, Mathers, who has been looking around the suite, comes over to me with a picture. "Do you know this woman?"

"Yes, that’s my sister-in-law, Abigail Bauer. Is there something wrong with her?" I take the picture and stare it, not really wanting to believe what I know I’m about to hear.

"According to her husband, he put her on a plane to Pennsylvania to visit her parents at seven o’clock this morning and hasn’t heard from her since. She was supposed to telephone him when she arrived at the airport. We sent two field agents to the town her parents live and she hasn’t shown up."

I take a seat on the sofa. "What does this have to do with me?"

"Well, we aren’t sure, but we need to know if there would be a reason the Santos would want to hurt this woman?"

"No. Not at all."

Agent Simms sits down beside me. "This may have nothing to do with you and the Santos at all. We just have to check all leads. If you find out anything, or have any questions, please contact Agent Mathers or myself."

They get up to leave and I follow them to the door. "Will you keep me posted on any developments? I will be at my father’s home."

"Sure thing. And Mrs. Santos, please be careful. The Santos cannot be trusted."

I close the door and head to the telephone at the desk. "Hello, Rick…yes, I know…. I’m coming over….what?….of course not!!!…. How could you?…..Dad?…what?!…I’ll be there within the hour"

"Danny," I shout as I run into the bathroom, divesting my clothes. "Danny, Abby’s missing. I need to get showered and dress and then I’m heading over to my father’s."

"Missing? When?"

"This morning. The FBI just left and…"

"The FBI was here?"

"Yeah. Look, let me get ready." I jump in the shower and get dressed. Danny’s in the living area of the suite at the desk when I come out of the bedroom. He hangs up as I walk over to the desk.

"Who was that?"

"I cancelled all my appointments. I’m coming with you."

"No. You can’t."

"Why not?"

"My family thinks your family had Abby abducted or worse."

"Do you think I could or would do that?" he asks hurt and upset.

I walk around the desk to stand behind him with my hands on his shoulders. "Danny, I know you would never hurt me or my family. I just think it would be better if I went alone."

He stands up and turns around leaning against the desk. "We just found our way to one another and you’re shutting me out. I am not my family. I am your husband. I want and need to be by your side. Please let me."

My heart is overflowed at that moment with so much love and joy. "Danny, you’re right. If my family can’t handle us, then I’ll hold vigil somewhere else. When can you be ready?"

"Give me five minutes."