Promises
        Chapter 2
 

They barely made it into the house when Michelle bolted for the bathroom again. Danny couldn't mask his worry when he saw her pale face emerge from the bathroom.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I think I just need to lie down," she whispered, heading for the bed. "I'm beginning to think this may be food poisoning. Are you sure you're mother is still in jail?"
"Yes," he sighed. "She's never going to hurt you again. You know that."
"Where Carmen is concerned, I don't put anything past her…" her voice trailed off as she groaned, clutching her stomach.
"In the bed," Danny demanded, dragging her down to the bed.
"Let me change clothes first," she whimpered. "Can you get my gown out of the top drawer?"
He turned around and pulled her blue satin gown out of the top drawer. She was struggling to get her shirt over her head, so he lifted her arms and slid the shirt off. Seeing her bare shoulder, he couldn't resist kissing her all the way up her shoulder to her neck.
"I finally get you home and all to myself and I feel like I'm dying," she groaned, leaning her head against his chest.
"Please don't say that," he grimaced.
"I'm sorry," she said, regretting her poor choice of words considering everything they had been through.
"I'm sorry I haven't been here very much," he sighed, kissing her forehead. "There's just so much to do and I want to make sure I do everything right."
"I know," she said. "I've just missed you."
"Well, I'm all yours tonight," he smiled. "All you have to do is lie in this bed and your wish is my command."
"There's only one thing I would wish for and unfortunately I don't think I'm up to it," she frowned.
"Soon," he kissed her softly on the lips. "As soon as you're feeling better."

Danny awoke the next morning, reaching for Michelle. He was startled when his hand hit empty space where she was supposed to be. "Michelle," he began to panic. He jumped out of the bed and called for her again.
He made his way to the living room where he finally found her asleep on the couch. His fingers brushed her forehead as he moved a stray curl away. He placed his hand firmer on her head and felt she was burning up. She suddenly began to stir.
"Michelle, baby," he whispered.
"Danny," she mumbled. "What time is it?"
"It's a little after 8:00," he explained. "How do you feel?"
"Horrible," she moaned, barely opening her eyes. "I was sick all night. That's why I came to the living room. I didn't want to keep you awake."
"You should have woken me up," he sighed. "I think you need to go back to the hospital."
"Rick should have my blood tests back today," she said. "He'll be able to tell from those what's wrong with me."
"But you're getting worse," Danny said. "You're burning up."
"I'm just hot with these covers on me," she explained, throwing the covers off of her as she tried to stand up. "I just…" her voice trailed off as her knees gave way as she almost fainted.
"You're going back to the hospital," he demanded, catching her in his arms. "You stay right here and I'll get you something to change into."
Michelle didn't even have the strength to protest. It took all of her strength to just keep her head up. What was wrong with her? She had never felt so horrible in her life. Her eyes just wouldn't stay open any longer so she laid her head back and let her eyes fall shut. It wasn't long before Danny came back with some clothes.
"Michelle?" he whispered.
She struggled to open her eyes to see the worry in her husband's eyes. "I'll be okay Danny. Don't worry so much."
"I'll feel better once Rick takes another look at you," he said, pulling her gown over her head and sliding a slip dress down over her.
He didn't even bother putting shoes on her. He picked her up and carried her to the car. She was silent the entire way to the hospital, her head resting against the door and her eyes shut. He kept stealing glances over at her as the knot in his stomach tightened. Relieved, he pulled the car through the emergency entrance. He had called Rick to let him know he was bringing her back in so he was waiting at the door when they pulled up. Rick pulled the door open even before Danny had the car in park. His face fell when he saw his sister. Danny could see the worry on his face.
"Danny," he shouted. "Get the wheelchair by the door and bring it over here."
Danny quickly brought the wheelchair around to the passenger side of the car as Rick carefully picked Michelle up in his arms and sat her down.
"Rick," she mumbled. "I don't feel so good."
"It's okay sweetie," he smiled. "We're going to find out what's wrong."
Once inside, Danny tried to follow Rick into an exam room. "Danny wait out here."
"Rick…" he demanded.
"She doesn't need to be upset right now, and seeing you upset will make it worse for her," he explained. "I promise I'll let you know as soon as I know anything."
Danny reluctantly stayed behind as Rick wheeled his wife into an exam room. He paced back and forth racking his brain to think what could possibly be wrong with Michelle. She said yesterday she had been sick for a few days, but she had gotten progressively worse. He knew she had been joking about his mother poisoning her, but what if? If not his mother, he surely had plenty of other enemies since he decided to turn the family business legitimate. What if someone had tried to get to him through Michelle? He would kill them! No! There were those old ways coming through again. He'd tried to get those tendencies out of his head for Michelle's sake, but the ideas had been ingrained in him since he was a boy. It would take time before he could completely change, if ever. But he couldn't stand the idea of anyone hurting her. He had promised to protect her with his life and now what if he had failed. Slow down, Danny, he told himself. You don't even know what's wrong. He just couldn't stand to see her so weak and lifeless. Whatever it was, he could tell by the expression on Rick's face that he was worried too.

"Michelle?" Rick asked her in the exam room. "Are you in pain anywhere?"
"My stomach hurts," she winced.
"Okay, just try to relax," he said. "We're going to draw some more blood and see what's going on."
She didn't even protest this time about getting stuck with a needle. She was just so tired, she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. Rick checked her vitals before he walked out.
Danny jumped up the second he saw the door open. "Rick, how is she?"
"She's resting," he sighed. "We drew some more blood to run a few more tests. I'm going right now to see if the results are back from last night."
"Can I see her?" Danny asked pleading.
"She needs to rest," Rick explained. But seeing the look on Danny's face, he gave in. "Just make sure she rests."
"I promise," Danny said, opening the door to the exam room. His heart ached seeing her lying there. She was so pale, too pale. He sat beside her and covered her hand with both of his, pressing warm kisses to it.
She began to stir when she felt him beside her. Slowly her eyes fluttered open. "Hey, baby," he smiled.
"I'm so tired," she whispered.
"I know," he frowned. "Just close your eyes and get some sleep."
"You won't leave will you?" she asked, fighting her heavy eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said, kissing her forehead. "I love you."

An hour later, Rick walked in, closing the door behind him. Danny was still by Michelle's side, holding her hand.
"Danny," he whispered. "I need to look her over again. Why don't you go get some coffee or something. I won't be long."
"Okay," he agreed reluctantly. He leaned over as he stood up and pressed another soft kiss to her forehead.
Rick waited until Danny was out the door and closed it again. He sat down beside Michelle, who was beginning to wake up.
"Where's Danny?" she whispered.
"I asked him to wait outside for a minute," Rick explained. "I need to talk to you."
"You got my test results?" she asked.
"Yes," he frowned.
"What's wrong with me Rick?" she asked, not liking the look on his face.
"Michelle," he sighed. "I don't know exactly how to tell you this, but we found what is almost certainly making you sick. We found a trace of arsenic in your blood."
"What?" she explained. "Someone tried to kill me!"
"Please Michelle, stay calm," he begged. "It was a very small trace, just enough to make you sick, but not enough to kill you."
"I guess I should be grateful then," she sneered.
"Michelle, listen to me!" Rick scolded. "You are very sick. You have to stay calm."
"Okay," she sighed, shielding her eyes with her arm.
"There's more," Rick said.