Promises
         Chapter 23 
 

"Michelle!" Rick shouted, pulling her arm. "Come back out here." She continued glaring at the man on the stretcher as Rick drug her back to the waiting room. "What's gotten in to you?"
"What's gotten in to me?" she asked confused. "That man tried to kill my husband!"
"Did you hear yourself in there?" he said. "You sounded like a …"
"A Santos," she finished for him. "Well, Rick, I am a Santos."
"You're not like that and you know it," he demanded. "You and Danny have fought like crazy to get away from all that."
"All I know right now is that someone tried to kill my husband," she seethed. "And nothing else matters."
"That's not true," he insisted. "Your health is very important right now…for you and your baby. Now I'm not taking no for an answer. Your head is still bleeding and you probably have a concussion. You are going down to x-ray…now!"
Before she could fight back, Rick was practically carrying her down the hall with Carlos following close behind. She was restless, but managed to stay still enough for them to get a CT scan of her head.
"You never did tell me how you hit your head," Rick said as he placed stitches in her head.
"I guess it was on one of the rocks when Danny pushed me down," she explained. "I must have blacked out for a second, because the next thing I remember was him lying on top of me asking me if I was okay. He thought I had been shot."
She stopped as the tears came again. "Okay, we're through here," Rick said as he took his gloves off. "Come here." He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "He's going to be okay, Michelle. You need to stay calm."
"I just want to see him," she cried.
"Okay," he sighed. "But as soon as you see him, I'm taking you home with me and Abby."
She jumped off the table a little too fast and Rick had to steady her. Carlos reached for her other arm and helped Rick lead her to the surgery waiting room where Ed and Abby had been joined by Ray, Drew, Jesse, Bill and Pilar. Everyone looked up as she entered and Bill rushed over to hug her.
"Have you heard anything?" Michelle managed to say, holding on to Bill.
"No, nothing yet," Abby said walking toward Rick. She leaned into him to whisper. "How is she?"
"She has a mild concussion and a few stitches," he explained. "She'll be fine, but we've got to get her home to get some rest.
Michelle overheard him and fired back. "I told you I'm not leaving until I see Danny."
"I know that Michelle," Rick defended.
"Why don't you come over here and sit down?" Bill led her to a nearby chair.
Pilar sat forward, wiping away her tears. "Michelle, what happened? Who shot my brother?"
"I don't know," she sighed, sitting down next to Bill. "Carlos shot the guy in the leg and he's down in the ER now."
"You didn't see anyone?" she demanded.
"No," she began. Before she could say any more, Frank entered saying he needed to ask her some questions about the shooting.
"Frank, can't this wait," Abby pleaded.
"I'm sorry," he frowned. "But we need Michelle's statement about what happened."
"It's okay," Michelle sighed. "Ask me whatever you want."
She answered his questions the best she could, but she confessed she didn't know very much about what had happened. She never even saw the man until after Carlos had shot him. Frank was brief with his questions and promised her he would do everything he could to find out who was behind this. He stopped in the hallway on his way and asked Carlos a few more questions before he left.
After another hour, Michelle was restless. She paced back and forth in the waiting room, praying the doctor would come out soon to tell her Danny would be okay. Everyone kept a close eye on her, worried about the exhaustion that was written all over her face. Much to everyone's relief, Michael appeared.
"How is Danny?" Michelle rushed to his side.
"Your husband is fine," he explained. "We successfully removed the bullet and there was no permanent damage. He should be as good as new in a few weeks."
"Thank God," Pilar whispered.
"When can I see him?" Michelle begged.
"He's in recovery," he explained. "They should bringing him up in a little while. He'll be admitted to 5 West if you want to go ahead and go up. I'll tell the nurse to let you know as soon as he's settled."
"Thanks Michael," Rick smiled.
Michelle closed her eyes and offered up a silent prayer of thanks as Michael left. Ray walked up and put his arm around her.
"Would you like to go to the chapel with me?" he asked.
"Yeah," she whispered. "I would like that." She turned to face her father, "I'm going with Ray. We'll be up in a little bit."
Bill walked up and put his arms around her, "Do you want me to come with you too?"
"It's okay," she smiled. "Take Pilar up and we'll be up there in a little bit.
She turned and took Ray's hand and let him lead her down to the hospital chapel. They sat in silence side by side, holding hands, both saying their own prayers.
Ray glanced at Michelle, "How are you?"
"I've had better days," she forced a slight laugh. "I just don't know how this all could have happened. Ray, I thought we were finally going to have the normal life we wanted. But it seems no matter what Danny does, he always gets sucked back into this family. And now with Carmen being released…I'm afraid that Danny will never break free."
"You have to understand something about my cousin," Ray began. "Ever since we were kids, Danny has dreamed about a normal life. He hated seeing what the 'family business' did to his father, his mother and even Mick. Danny wanted to go to college, which he did. He wanted to own his own business, which he does. He wanted a loving beautiful wife, which he has. And he wanted children of his own, which he will have soon. He is finally getting everything he's always wanted. And he will fight to keep anything or anyone from taking that away from him."
"I know that's what he wants," she sighed. "But what if he doesn't have a choice. What if he never had the choice to begin with? He was born a Santos and nothing can change that."
"I was born a Santos too," he said. "But I made the choice to stay away from that side of my family. Danny was confused for a long time. He didn't think he could have that life he always dreamed about, so he allowed his mother to control him and drag him into the business. But then he met you and everything changed. He knew that with you in his life he could have that life he dreamed of."
"I just don't know what he's going to do about all this that's happened," she cried. "He's been so stressed ever since I was poisoned. He tells me he's letting Frank and the police handle everything, but I know he's up to something on his own. He even has Carlos following us everywhere we go."
"He's just worried about you," he explained. "And worried about this baby. Michelle, you and this baby are his life."
"I know," she turned away from him. "And I'm worried about him. He's worked so hard to change his family business. I know it hasn't been easy for him, but he's made himself a success in a legitimate business. I'm just afraid that today changed things and it will go back to the way it used to be. I can't live that way. And I won't let my child live that way either."

Later, Michelle and Ray joined the others in the waiting room. When the nurse appeared, Michelle jumped to her feet and followed her to Danny's room. She eased the door shut behind her and sat down beside his bed, reaching for his hand. The flood of tears returned as she looked at his bandaged shoulder and all her worry and fear came barreling down on her. She laid her head down on the bed beside him as her eyes could no long stay open. She jumped as she felt his hand on her head. She looked up, meeting his eyes and smiled through her tears.
"Hey," he whispered.
"Hey," she smiled. "How do you feel?"
"Groggy," he groaned, brushing his fingers against her bruised head. "How's your head?"
"It's fine," she winced.
"Did you have someone look at it?" he asked.
"Yeah," she nodded. "It's just a bump."
"I didn't mean to push you down so hard," he frowned. "I don't know what I would have done if that bullet had had hit you."
"Are you kidding?" she said. "Danny, you saved my life again. One day my luck is going to run out."
"Please, don't say that," he grimaced as he moved his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," she said. "You have to keep that arm still. The doctor said there wasn't any permanent damage. You'll be as good as new in a few weeks."
"Where's the guy that Carlos caught?" he quickly changed the subject.
"They brought him into the ER, but he's fine," she said. "Frank has him under arrest so I'm sure they'll haul him off to jail as soon as they can."
"Did they find out who he was working for?" he asked.
"I'm not sure," she sighed. "You know, you really don't need to be worrying about any of this right now. You need to rest. Don't think a little thing like getting shot is going to get you out of helping me set up the nursery."
"You know there is nothing I want to do more," he said. "But you don't have to make jokes. I know you're scared."
"I'm fine," she began.
"I can see it in your eyes," he interrupted. "Baby, I know what you're thinking. I'm not going to let things go back to the way they were."
"Let's not talk about that now," she whispered. "You need to rest."
"I'm not the only one who needs some rest," he said. "You look a little pale. Why don't you go home?"
"I told you I feel fine. I'm not going anywhere," she charged. "Danny you didn't leave me when I was in the hospital."
"That was different," he explained. "I wasn't pregnant."
"Well, that would have been a scientific miracle," she smiled.
"This isn't funny," he demanded. "You are exhausted. Have you even eaten?"
"I don't believe you," she smiled. "You're the one who was shot and the one who just had surgery. Don't worry about me."
"Worrying about you is my job," he said.
"Okay, okay," she gave in. "I will go home for a little while…after you fall asleep."
"And eat something," he said.
"Yes," she laughed. "I will eat something too. Now close those eyes I love so much and get some sleep."
"I want Carlos with you wherever you go," he pleaded.
"He's right outside the door," she said. "Don't worry, he's following my every move."
"Good," he whispered, as the morphine started to kick in. "I love you."
She leaned down to kiss him gently on the lips, "I love you too."

Michelle made her way back to the waiting room where everyone jumped to their feet when they saw her.
"How is he?" Pilar asked.
"Sleeping," she said wearily. "He seems to be doing okay though."
"Michelle?" Bill asked as saw the expression on her face change.
"I just need to…" her voice trailed off as she began to sway. She would have fallen to the floor if he hadn't caught her.
"Here, sit down for a minute," he said, pulling her over to a chair. He pushed the hair back from her face. "Michelle, you're exhausted."
She leaned over, resting her head in her hands. "I'm okay."
"No you're not," Ed demanded. "You are going home now."
"Can I talk to Michelle for a minute?" Ray asked the others. "Alone."
"I'll go get the car," Ed said. "I'll be waiting at the door."
"We're going to go too," Drew added, giving Michelle a hug. "If you need anything, call me."
"Michelle," Jesse kneeled in front of her. "Just take care of yourself, okay?"
She smiled and nodded as he and Drew walked out of the waiting room. Rick and Abby followed Ed and Bill went with Pilar to see Danny. Ray looked around to see if everyone was gone. Then he looked at an exhausted Michelle.
"Look at me," Ray said, turning her face to look at him. "You have to get some rest."
"I know," she sighed. "I just hate to think about leaving him here alone. What if someone comes back to…"
"That's not going to happen. Frank said he would get someone to guard his room. And he's going to be sleeping all night," he said. "You can go home and do the same and then come back in the morning." He saw she was still hesitant. "Would it make you feel better if I stayed with him?" he asked.
Her head snapped up to look at him. "I couldn't ask you to do that."
"Michelle, Danny is like my brother," he said. "He's my best friend. I would do anything in the world for him, including making sure his wife is taking care of herself."
"Will you call me if he asks for me or if anything changes with him?" she begged.
"Of course," he smiled. "But like I said, I'm sure he's going to be sleeping all night."
"Okay," she sighed. "I'll be at my brother's house. I don't think I can go home right now. Not without Danny."
Ray leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "Now go. You're father's waiting."
Michelle gave a weak smile as Ray helped her to her feet. "I think I'm going to go in just to say goodnight."
Ray shook his head, "I'll go with you."
They were heading to his room when a nurse walked by with a bag. "Mrs. Santos?"
"Yes," Michelle said.
"These are your husband's personal effects," she explained. "I thought you may want to take them with you as you leave tonight."
"Thank you," she nodded as the nurse handed her the bag.
"Ray, why don't you go ahead and go in," she said. "I'm just going to sit down over here and see if there's anything in here that I should leave with Danny."
"Okay," he nodded. "But stay right here."
"I promise," Michelle smiled, cutting her eyes across the room to Carlos. "He won't let me."
She watched as Ray entered Danny's room and then turned her attention to the bag which held her husband's things. There wasn't much. Just his clothes and his wallet, then she saw the blood stained coat with a hole in the shoulder. She planned on taking it home and burning it so there would be no reminders of this awful night. Tears welled up as his wedding ring fell out of an envelope and into her lap. She picked it up and carefully read the inscription she knew by heart. 'My love, I promise forever.' She hadn't even wanted to pick out rings when they first got married. She wanted to focus all her energy on hating him for dragging her into this life. But no matter how hard she fought it, she was falling in love with him, even then. After he had given his ring back to her and told her he was walking out of her life, she took the ring to a jeweler and had it inscribed. She knew then that whatever it took, she was going to spend the rest of her life with him. On their last, and final, wedding, Danny showed her the rings and she noticed he had had hers inscribed as well, with the same inscription.
As she drifted back to the present, she placed his ring on her thumb where she planned on keeping it until it could be returned to its rightful owner. As she was putting the coat back into the bag, she felt something heavy in the pocket hit her arm. Her hand froze as she reached into the pocket and pulled out the heavy object. She held the gun discreetly between her hands. She quickly glanced up at Carlos who was standing in the hallway across from the waiting room. When she saw he was busy looking up and down the halls, she quickly turned her attention back to the object she held in her hands. How had no one found this before now? How did it get in the bag without the police noticing it? She rubbed her fingers over the smooth, cold metal realizing that this was the first time she had ever held a gun in her hands. A sudden chill pierced through her body as she gripped the handle of the gun, feeling the power she held in her hands. Ray suddenly reappeared and she shoved the coat with the gun back into the bag.
"Hey, do you want to go…" he began, but stopped when he saw the look on her face. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," she said quickly. "I'm going to go in and see Danny before I go."
"You want me to hold the bag?" he asked.
"No," she snapped. "I'll keep it with me."
Ray watched after her as she turned the corner to Danny's room. He caught Carlos's eye and read the same worried expression he was feeling.

Michelle slowly opened the door, sitting the bag on the floor and made her way to the bed where Danny was still sleeping soundly.
She leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. "I love you so much," she whispered. "We're going to get through this…together."
As she turned to leave, she saw the door slowly open. Nothing could have prepared her for what she saw next.