Promises
         Chapter 37 
 

It had been an hour with no word. Danny got up again for the tenth time in the past thirty minutes. He surveyed the room and saw Abby resting her head on Rick's shoulder. Drew, with her quivering lip, was talking to Jesse. Ray had called Carmen when Michelle was taken into surgery and she had immediately come to the hospital, never taking her eyes off of him. Bill sat off to the side…alone. Surely he was missing Pilar about now. Danny missed his little sister too. It was hard to think of her sitting in a jail cell, especially on Christmas. But Michelle wouldn't be here now if it weren't for her. Pilar was responsible, he had to remember that.
Danny paced back and forth, rubbing his stiff neck. He glanced down at his watch again…12:00. They had been in this hospital for eight hours already, but it had seemed like weeks to him. Time was just moving so slow. Why hadn't they heard anything?
He walked away from the waiting room and stood looking out the window at the end of the hallway. It was a crystal clear day…the kind of day Michelle loved…taking a walk in the park. And it was Christmas…Christmas. He thought back to his conversation with Abby the previous night. She said Christmas was a time for miracles. He prayed she was right.

Danny turned when he heard a commotion coming from the waiting room. He hurried back hoping it was the doctor with news of Michelle. But when he drew closer he saw Ed had finally arrived. When Ed looked up, their eyes locked. He stepped back from the crowd and walked over to Danny.
"Hi," he whispered.
"I'm glad you're here," Danny stated. "Michelle really wanted you here."
"I promised her," he said. "How are you?"
"Been better," he mumbled.
"Rick told me what happened," Ed said.
Danny sighed, "So you heard how this is all my fault. I promised you I would take care of your daughter and I failed. If it weren't for me, she wouldn't be here right now. You have every right to hate me and so does Rick…"
"I don't hate you," Ed interrupted. "And neither does Rick."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Danny half laughed.
"Rick is just worried about his baby sister," Ed explained. "And I'm worried about my little girl."
"She's not his baby sister and she's not your little girl anymore," Danny sighed. "She's a grown woman and she's my wife."
"That's where your wrong," Ed said. "She may be a grown woman and she may be your wife, but she will always be my little girl and Rick's baby sister. I know Rick is overprotective of Michelle but I feel like that's my fault.. I left when Michelle was still so young and Rick had to raise her. So I guess in some ways, Rick is more of a father to her than I am. No matter what differences you and Rick or you and I have, the one thing that will not change is we all love Michelle and want what's best for Michelle. I know I've only been around you and Michelle for just a little while, but I know how much she loves you and I would never want to take that away from her."
"I appreciate you saying that," Danny nodded. "I love Michelle more than anything and I know how much she wants her family to accept me and I want that for her."
"I don't blame you for this," Ed said.
"How can you not?" Danny snapped. "Because I blame myself."
Before Ed could respond, Danny looked up and saw Dr. Sedwick. He jumped and raced to her side. "How is Michelle?"
"She's in recovery," Dr. Sedwick exhaled. "There was more bleeding than I anticipated. Michelle lost a lot of blood and she's very weak, but she's going to be fine."
"Thank God," Abby cried.
"What about the baby?" Danny's voice quivered as Carmen laid her hand on his arm.
"Danny," Dr. Sedwick's eyes turned sad.
"Just tell me," Danny pleaded. "Please."
"Dr. Freeman was standing by as soon as the baby was delivered," she explained. "She's really small, but Dr. Freeman is one of the best neonatal specialists in the country so she is in good hands. He's still with her now, but he will come talk to you as soon as he can."
"She?" Danny's voice finally broke. "I have a daughter."
"We're going to do everything we can for her," she said sympathetically. "I'll have a nurse let you know as soon as Michelle is moved back to her room."
Dr. Sedwick turned and walked down the hall. Danny stood motionless staring after her. He and Michelle had a baby girl. His daughter. Their daughter. He was someone's father. That sudden realization hit him like a ton of bricks and he suddenly felt sick. He needed air. Turning away from his mother, he bolted down the hall. He heard his mother and Ray calling after him, but he had to get out of there. He couldn't breathe. Much to his relief, he found a door that opened onto a balcony. He slung the door open and took a deep breath of the cold early afternoon air. He had to get a grip on himself. Michelle was going to need him more than ever now. And now, there was someone else who needed him.
He cursed silently when he heard the door open behind him. Why couldn't he just be alone right now?
"It's kind of a shock when you realize you're really a father, isn't it?"
Danny turned around and was surprised to see Rick standing there. He looked at him with a confused look on his face.
"I saw the expression on your face when Dr. Sedwick told you you had a daughter," he explained. "I felt the same way the day Jacob was born." Rick walked closer and stood next to Danny, his hands on the railing looking out over the city. "I had known for months I was going to be a father, but when he actually came into this world, I suddenly realized I had someone else to take care of now. There was someone who was going to rely on me totally. That scared me."
Danny cleared his throat, not knowing if his voice would allow him to talk. "But I don't even know if I'm going to get that chance."
"You will," Rick stated. "She's a Bauer…and a Santos."
Danny stood there, not believing that the same man who had been blaming him for everything a short while ago was now trying to comfort him.
"Michelle should be back in her room soon," Rick said, turning to leave.
"I'll be there in just a minute," Danny nodded.
Rick reached for the door, but before he could close it behind him, Danny called out, "Rick."
"Yeah," he said.
"Thank you," Danny said.
Rick nodded his head as he closed the door behind him.