Promises
         Chapter 28 
 

Danny came flying up the driveway and ran into the house. He found a pale Michelle sitting on the living room couch, with Bill close by her side. He sat down on the edge of the coffee table and pulled her hands into his.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?" his eyes full of fear.
"I'm fine," she whispered. "How did you…?"
"I called him," Pilar confessed. "I was just so worried about you when that pain hit you."
"Where does it hurt?" he questioned.
"It doesn't," she said. "Not anymore. I'm sure it was just a cramp or something."
"I think we should call Dr. Sedwick and have her take a look at you," Danny said.
"I already called her," Bill spoke up. "She said for Michelle to rest and if the pain came back or got any worse to call her and take her to the hospital."
"Bill, I think we should go and leave them two to themselves," Pilar stated.
Bill hesitated, not taking his eyes off of Michelle, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes," she smiled. "Go on with Pilar. I'll call you before I leave for Europe tomorrow."
He leaned over and kissed her gently on the forehead. "Call me if you need anything."
Pilar reached for his hand and pulled him out the door.
"I'll be outside," Carlos said, leaving them alone.
Danny waited for him to leave, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Honey, I'm fine," she smiled. "I think it scared me more than anything else."
"Scared the hell out of me too," he sighed.
"Where were you?" she asked.
He hesitated, searching her eyes, before he answered. "I went to see Ben."
"Why?" she gasped.
"I tried to get answers from him," he explained. "But of course he wasn't talking."
"So I guess I'm still off to Europe tomorrow," she frowned.
"I'm sorry," he winced. "If there were any other way…"
"I know," she forced a smile. "I know you're just trying to protect me. I just can't stand the thought of being away from you."
He moved from the table to sit beside her on the couch, pulling her into his arms. "I don't want to be away from you either, but we have to do this. I'm going to find out who is behind this and once I do, we will be together again and we're going to be free from all of this."
"Danny, don't," she sat up, pulling away from him.
"Don't what?" he asked.
"Don't make me a promise you will never be able to keep," she sighed.
"I will keep that promise, Michelle," he demanded. "We are going to be together again and we are going to have the life we both want. There's not going to be any more threats. We won't have to look over our shoulders anymore."
"How?" she asked. "How can you possibly make that happen?"
"I will find a way," he stated. "Somehow, some way. I promise."

Michelle woke up the next morning after a restless night sleep. She turned to look at Danny still sleeping, with a tug at her heart. He had been so gentle with her last night. He hadn't wanted to make love after her scare earlier that afternoon, but she convinced him she was fine. She knew this night would have to last them for the weeks and months ahead and she needed him. She needed to feel close to him again before she left, not knowing when they would be together again. He needed it too. She gently brushed the side of his face with her fingertips. He always looked so peaceful when he was sleeping. Even after they were first married, when she hated him, or at least thought she hated him, she loved to lie in bed and just watch him sleep. She imagined sleep was the only time of late he ever got any real peace. All this was taking a toll on him too. She had noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the lines of worry etched on his forehead. With a sigh, she remembered what she had to do today. She had been dreading this day ever since Danny convinced her to go to Europe. It wasn't going to be easy to walk away from him.

"So are we ready to go?" Carlos entered through the garage door.
"I guess," Michelle mumbled from the living room.
"Are we picking up Mr. Bauer?" he asked.
"No, my dad is meeting us there," she said.
"Okay, I guess we better get going," Danny walked down the stairs with the last of Michelle's suitcases.
Carlos took the suitcase from him and carried it to the car. Danny walked over to Michelle who was standing by the fireplace, looking at the collection of pictures of the two of them.
"You ready to go?" he whispered, wrapping his arms around her.
"As ready as I'll ever be," she sighed, trying unsuccessfully to hold back her tears.
He turned her around and wrapped his arms tighter around her as she cried. "This won't be forever."
"I know," she choked. "I just can't imagine waking up in the morning and you're not being there."
He lifted her chin with his finger and looked into her watery eyes. "I will always be with you. Just like you're always with me." He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Forever."
"We really should be going," Carlos said from behind them.
"Come on," Danny sighed. "We have to do this."

"I was getting worried that you weren't going to make it," Ed grunted once they arrived at the airport.
"If only," Michelle grunted. "Carlos has already taken our bags over. I guess the only thing left is to board the plane."
"Yeah," Ed nodded. "I'll wait over there with Carlos and give you two some time."
Michelle nodded her head as the flood of tears returned. Danny drew her into his arms once again, fighting his own tears.
"This is even harder than I thought it would be," she sobbed.
"Shh," he whispered. "This is all going to be over soon. I promise."
She pulled back as he wiped the tears from her face, "There's only one thing I want you to promise me."
"Anything," he frowned.
"Please take care of yourself," she begged. "Don't do anything dangerous where you could get hurt. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you."
"I told you nothing is going to happen to me," he smiled. "You just take it easy and relax. Enjoy your time with your dad. Paris is beautiful this time of year."
"There's going to be nothing enjoyable about this trip," she groaned. "And I don't want to do anything in Paris unless it's with you."
"Michelle," Ed called for her. "That's the last call for our flight."
"Okay," Danny sighed. "Come on, you've got to go."
She looked up at him with a tear-stained face as they gave each other a final kiss. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you, too," his voice cracked.
He walked her over to her father and watched them as they walked with Carlos down the ramp toward the plane. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. This was for the best. She would be safe and he could concentrate on finding the person responsible for threatening her. This wouldn't be forever. He knew all this was true, he just wish his heart understood. He began the slow walk back to his car when his phone started ringing.
"Hello?"
"It's so hard to say good-bye isn't it?" the voice mocked.
The voice was muffled and hard to understand. "Who is this?"
"You know you can't protect her in Europe. You just made my job a lot easier."
"Who the hell…" he began as he heard a click. "Hello? Hello? Damn it!"
He snapped the phone closed and started to sprint back to the gate Michelle had entered. He found an airline employee and grabbed her by the arm, "You have to stop that plane."
"Excuse me," she glared at him. "Would you please let go of my arm?"
He dropped her arm, "Sorry, but my wife is on that plane. This is an emergency. You have to stop it now."
"I'm sorry sir," she said. "It's too late. The pilot is preparing for takeoff."
"You don't understand," his voice in a panic. "If that plane takes off, my wife is as good as dead."
"I'm sorry," she repeated. "There's nothing I can do. Maybe you can reach her once she lands in Paris."
He ran his hands through his hair as she walked away. "Think Danny," he said to himself. "There's got to be a way to get to her."
He made his way over to the ticket counter, "I need to buy a ticket for the next flight to Paris."
She scanned the computer, "The next flight isn't until morning."
"What?" he exclaimed. "There has to be a way for me to get there tonight."
"I'm sorry," she frowned. "But all our other flights have been delayed."
"Delayed?" he questioned. "Why?"
"There's heavy fog rolling in," she explained. "Now if you want, I can get you on…"
"What about the flight to Paris that is supposed to be leaving right now?" he asked hopefully.
"From the computer, it looks like it was the last one to get off," she explained.
"Damn it!" he exclaimed. "I have to get to Paris tonight."
"That's just not possible," she said. "Now I can get you on a flight first thing in the…"
He didn't hear the rest of her sentence as he suddenly heard the sweetest voice in the world. "Danny?"
He turned around and relief poured through his body as he ran and pulled Michelle into his arms.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "And why are you still here? I thought you would have left by now."
"What happened with your flight?" he asked. "They said it was the last one to take off before the fog got too thick."
"Mechanical problems," she said, searching his face. "Now tell me what is it."
"You can't go to Europe," he sighed.
"What?" Ed exclaimed. "Danny, I thought we agreed that this was the best thing for Michelle."
"I know," he groaned. "But things have changed."
"What changed?" Carlos questioned.
"After you boarded the plane, I got a phone call," Danny explained. "Whoever it was said I couldn't keep you safe in Europe and I had made their job easier."
"What?" Michelle gasped.
"It's okay," he reached for her hand. "I promise you I'm going to keep you safe. But you're not going to Europe."
"And just how do you plan on keeping her safe?" Ed demanded.
"I'll up the security at the house and Michelle will have to stay there at all times," he explained.
"A prisoner in my own house?" she exclaimed. "I don't think so."
"Michelle, it's the only way," he pleaded.
"I've got a couple of people I can call that can help us out," Carlos said. "Once we get back to the house, I'll give them a call."
"Good," Danny nodded. "I think we need to get going."
"I'll go see about getting our bags off the plane," Carlos replied.
"Dad, are you coming with us?" Michelle asked.
"I still have to get to Paris," he explained. "As soon as the fog lifts, they said they were going to take off with another plane."
"So you're going to stay here and wait?" she asked.
"I'll keep myself busy at some of the shops," he said. "Danny, you get her home."
Michelle hugged her Dad tightly. "You are coming back aren't you?"
"Of course," he smiled. "You just don't have this baby early and I'll be back in time."
"I'll miss you," she said.
"You just take care of yourself sweetie," he kissed her on the forehead. "And you listen to your husband. He'll make sure you stay safe."
"I promise," Danny said.
"I'm holding you to that," Ed glared.