Promises
         Chapter 25 
 

"Danny dozed on and off for a couple of hours after he convinced Ray to go home. It never failed, every time he was almost asleep a nurse would come in to give him some kind of medication or to take his blood pressure. He couldn't wait to get home…home to Michelle.
He was about to speak his mind as the door to his room opened again; he expecting yet another nurse. He stopped short as he saw Michelle.
"What are you doing here?" he mumbled.
"What am I doing here?" Michelle asked with a confused look as she sat down on the edge of the bed. "Why wouldn't I be here?"
"You look tired," he explained.
She groaned, "I told you I'm fine, so stop worrying. Now, how do you feel?"
"Better," he swallowed. "How's your head?"
Michelle laughed, "Listen to us. We're playing twenty questions with each other. We're both feeling better. Now let's leave it at that."
"Ray told me what happened last night with my mother," Danny said.
"Oh," Michelle frowned. "I don't think we have to worry about her coming back around again. I made it clear that she wasn't welcome in our lives."
"He told me she knows about the baby," he said.
"I accused her of having us followed, but she said she could just tell by looking at me," she explained. "I guess it's that glow that people always talk about."
"I'm sorry she upset you," he grimaced as he tried to shift his shoulder.
"Easy," she said helping him move his arm back down. "You have nothing to be sorry about. You know, I thought you slept through the night. When did you and Ray have all this time to talk?"
"He was still here when I woke up this morning," he explained. "I finally convinced him to go home and get some sleep. I told him he didn't have to stay last night, but he said he didn't think you would leave unless he did."
"I didn't want her to upset you," Michelle said, adjusting his pillow.
He reached up with his good hand and grabbed her wrist. "Stop fussing with the pillow and look at me."
"What?" she lowered her eyes to his.
"I know you've been through a lot these last couple of days," he said. "I don't want you to hold anything back. Talk to me."
"Danny," her voice began to crack. "I can't…" She stood up and turned her head away from him as tears started to fall.
"Baby, don't turn away from me," he pleaded. "Come here."
She sat back down on the bed and laid her head against his good shoulder. He put his arm around her, his heart breaking.
"Danny, I was so scared," she said in between sobs. "When I saw you lying on the ground with blood everywhere, I thought…"
"I'm okay," he reassured.
"No," she sat up quickly. "I thought I was going to lose you. All I could think about was all the times I used to stand there watching you walk out the door, wondering if I would ever see you again. Then when you decided to leave your family's business I thought that was all behind us. I didn't think I would ever have to feel that kind of fear again. But Danny, that fear was nothing compared to what I felt yesterday, watching the paramedics work on you, knowing there was a bullet in you. I can't go through that again."
"Michelle, I don't know what to tell you," he began. "I am out of the business."
"Danny, I know you've been working with Bernard again," she said.
"How do you know that?" he asked.
"I found your cell phone and you had a message," she explained. "I checked your voice mail and it was from Bernard, warning you about a possible retaliation for your threats."
"Michelle…" he said.
"Why?" she asked. "Why did you do it?"
"Because I have to find out who is trying to hurt you before…" he demanded.
"Before they kill me?" she finished.
"Don't," he closed his eyes.
"Danny, the police are working on this," she said. "Let them find out who is responsible. You don't have to risk your life trying to save mine."
"The police have been working on this for over two months and they don't know anymore now than they did in the beginning," he said.
"Neither do you," she accused. "Or is there something you haven't told me?
"No," he lied. He couldn't tell her what he and Bernard had found out. Not just yet.
"Okay, then," she pleaded. "Can you drop this?"
"Michelle, I…" he stopped as the door opened.
"Well, hello," Dr. Dixon entered. "How's the patient today?"
"I'm fine," Danny murmured, not taking his eyes off Michelle.
"When can he go home?" Michelle asked, turning to face the doctor.
"Well, if he continues to do well, he should be able to leave in the morning," he said.
"When can I return to work?" Danny asked.
"Danny," Michelle groaned.
"I think you should give yourself a couple of weeks to recover before you return to work," he said. "You'll need some physical therapy to get mobility back in your shoulder. I'm sending a physical therapist in this afternoon to show you some of the exercises you can do at home. And Mrs. Santos, you will need to help him with some of them."
"That's fine," she nodded.
"I'll stop back by later today to see if you have any questions," he said. "Get some rest."
They were both silent as Dr. Dixon walked out and closed the door behind him.
"Michelle, I don't want to fight with you," Danny pleaded.
"I don't want to fight with you either," she sighed. "We can finish this conversation later. I need to go. I have an appointment with Dr. Sedwick."
"Why?" he panicked. "Is something wrong?"
"No, no," she reassured him. "It's just a normal check-up."
"Will you come back after your appointment?" he asked.
"Of course," she said, kissing him gently on the lips.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too," she said.

"Michelle, your blood pressure is higher than I would like it to be," Dr. Sedwick scolded.
"Well, there's been a lot going on lately," she sighed. "I'm surprised it isn't higher."
"You've got to take better care of yourself," she said.
"Things will be better once Danny is home with me."
"Rick told me what happened," she began. "I'm sorry to hear Danny was hurt. But Michelle, this pregnancy is already high risk. You need to be especially careful and keep yourself as healthy and as stress free as possible."
"I won't let anything happen to this baby, I promise," she declared.
"I'm glad you feel that way because you may not like what I'm going to say next," she began.
"Is there something else wrong?" Michelle panicked.
"No, but I think given the circumstances and your current health," she said. "It would be best if you didn't return to school just now."
"But you said it would be okay as long as I didn't take a full load," Michelle protested.
"Michelle, you know I wasn't thrilled with the idea from the beginning, but you convinced me that you would take care of yourself and take it easy," she explained. "Your body just can't handle any more stress. I know it's not what you want to hear, but my first priority is your health and your baby's health."
"I know," she sighed as tears began to fall. "It's just always been my dream to be a doctor."
"I'm not saying you can never go back to school," she comforted. "You just need to make it through this pregnancy and then you can go back."
"Okay," she nodded. "Like I said, I will do whatever it takes to keep this baby safe."

Michelle returned to Danny's room after her appointment, with Carlos as always close behind. She was grateful he was sleeping because she didn't feel like fighting with him. She sat there, content with just watching him sleep. She knew how hard he had worked to get to where they were now, but it seemed like it had all been for nothing. The threats were still hanging over there heads and they were still having to look over their shoulders. Why couldn't they just have a normal life, like they both wanted? She wrapped her arms around her stomach and prayed that their baby would always feel safe and never have to experience the kind of fear she had felt over the past couple of days.
She stayed with Danny for the rest of the day, neither one wanting to return to their earlier conversation. Michelle watched the physical therapist as he showed Danny the different exercises he would need to do once he got home. Tears threatened to escape every time Danny grimaced in pain. Although she hated seeing him in so much pain, she couldn't help but be grateful that he hadn't been hurt more seriously. The next time…no, she thought. There's not going to be a next time. This time things were going to change…they had to.

The next day she and Carlos went to the hospital and found Danny almost dressed and ready to go.
"A little anxious to get out of here?" Carlos smiled.
Danny struggled getting his arm through his shirt, "Dr. Dixon has already been by and he said I could go."
"Let me help," Michelle pulled his shirt sleeve out so he could slide his sore shoulder in a little easier. "Well, I guess we can go home then. Where's the sling?"
"I don't need it," Danny frowned.
"Danny," she snapped. "Dr. Dixon said you needed to wear it for at least the next few days. If you don't use it then…"
"Fine," he cut her off. "It's over there in the bag."
Michelle made her way over to the bed and pulled the sling out. She helped him pull it over his head and slide his arm through. After he had it situated, she grabbed both sides of his shirt collar and pulled his face closer to her.
She placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I'm glad you're coming home."
"Me too," he smiled. "Come on, let's go."

Michelle sat in the back with Danny as Carlos drove them home. After they pulled into the driveway, Carlos got out first and told them he would get their bags. Michelle's heart jumped remembering there was one of the bags she needed to get herself. Before Carlos could lay his hands on the bag, she snatched it.
"I'll take this one," she said quickly.
Carlos shrugged his shoulders as Michelle turned, with the bag in hand, to follow Danny into the house. She made him sit down in the living room to rest while she went upstairs and opened the bag. Her hands shaking, she pulled out the gun and held it gently between her hands, not able to take her eyes off of it. She jumped as she heard Carlos close the garage door downstairs. She quickly opened up her nightstand drawer and hid the gun under some books and papers. The remainder of the contents of the bag went into the trash. As she stuff the bag into the trash can, a flash of gold caught her eye. She had forgotten she was still wearing Danny's wedding ring. He was home now and everything was going to be okay. It was time to return the ring to its rightful owner.
She walked slowly down the steps as Carlos approached her. "I'll be outside for awhile checking out the security system if you need anything."
"Thanks Carlos," she smiled.
She watched him walk out the door before she crossed the room to her husband. He was sitting on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table. His eyes were shut, but quickly opened as he sensed her presence.
"I didn't mean to wake you," she frowned.
"I wasn't asleep," he smiled. "Come here."
She sat down beside him and took in the warmth she felt being there with him. She snuggled up against him as he put his arm around her to draw her closer.
"I've missed this so much," he sighed.
"Me too," she said. "I'm so glad you're home and you're going to be home for awhile."
"What difference does it make if I'm here or not," he began. "You're not going to know because you'll be at school."
She sat up to look at him. "Actually I'm not. I dropped out for this semester."
"What?" he asked puzzled. "Why?"
"At my appointment the other day, Dr. Sedwick suggested that it would be best if I wait until after the baby was born before I try to go back."
"Why? Is there something wrong?" his voice thick with worry.
"No, the baby is fine," she explained. "My blood pressure was just a little high."
"Why didn't you tell me this before now?" he asked.
"I didn't want you to worry," she said. "You need to concentrate on getting better, not worrying about me. Actually, it's probably for the best because I have been tired lately."
"I can't believe you haven't told me this before," he groaned.
"There wasn't anything to tell," she defended. "And you've been busy with work. I just wanted to try to last through the end of the semester."
"I'm sorry," he sighed. "I should have been taking better care of you."
"Let's just concentrate on right now," she smiled. "I think I have something that belongs to you."
"And what would that be?" he asked.
She held up her hand to show him his wedding ring. "They wouldn't let you wear it in the hospital, so I kept it until you were home. Now that you are, I think it belongs back on your finger." She pulled his hand down closer to her and slipped the ring onto his finger.
"Back where it belongs," he whispered. "And you're exactly where you belong."
He leaned down to gently kiss her. However, when they lips met, his control slipped and the kiss turned into a more passionate one. He moved his hand through her hair and down her back. She responded by moving into his lap while her hands roamed down his chest, being careful not to hit his shoulder.
"I've missed you so much," he moaned against her lips.
"Me too," she said breathlessly, her mind in a fog.
"We should go upstairs," he managed to say.
With what little control she had left she pulled away, "Danny you're just getting home from the hospital. You need to rest."
"Michelle," he begged as tried to draw her back closer.
"Danny, you have no idea how much I want you right now," she sighed. "But you need to rest."
He groaned as she stood up. "You're killing me."
"I promise as soon as you're feeling better," she smiled. "It'll be worth the wait. Now what are you hungry for?"
"You," he said without hesitation.
"Soon," she promised. "But I was referring to food."
"You're going to cook?" he asked questionably.
"No," she replied. "Don't worry, I was going to order out."
"Well, in that case, anything will do," he laughed.

They spent the remainder of the day on the couch holding each other, watching movies, as they both fell asleep. Close to midnight they made their way upstairs to their bedroom, both falling asleep again quickly. Michelle was just falling asleep when something startled her awake. She listened closely to see if she heard anything. She jumped when she heard something downstairs. Her first thought was someone had broken in the house. She turned to wake up Danny, but he was sleeping so peacefully she didn't want to wake him. Slowly she opened up her nightstand drawer and pulled out the gun. A shiver crept up her spine as she pulled the gun close to her and she walked slowly down the stairs. She listened carefully as she made her way into the kitchen. She saw a shadow in the living room and pulled the gun up to aim in that direction. As she got closer to the living room, she saw the shadow was just the tree outside blowing with the wind. Her eyes peered around the corner into the hallway looking and listening for anything. Then she heard another noise back in the kitchen. She quickly turned the corner and saw the image of a someone coming straight for her. Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger.