Celtic's Series
        Home Sweet Home

 

 
Danny swung the front doors of the Santos mansion open and allowed his wife to enter before him. It had been a silent ride home, with the exception of a few "You ok?"'s that filled the void every ten minutes. Michelle rubbed her head and headed for the stairs without looking back at Danny, but she was stopped by the jolting sound of loud voices.

Carmen flew into the entryway. "Danny, thank God! We need you! Where have you been?" She glared at Michelle, blaming her for keeping her son out and away from the family once again.

Danny's face grew cold. "What's the matter, Mama? I'm sure things aren't as bad as you think, whatever it is. Michelle and I---"

"Danny, we need you… NOW! You better come in here." She cast an evil look at Michelle again before turning around and walking back into the den.

Michelle looked at the back of her husband's shoulders. They had tensed up just in the few seconds that they were back in that house. She wished beyond everything that they could get away. They had to, if they were ever going to have a life. He had to get away, he deserved so much more than this; he wasn't like them.

He whirled around and took her hands in his. "I better go see what's up. Um, why don't you go on up and relax a little bit, take a bath or something and try not to worry. I'll be up as soon as I can. If…uh…if you doze off, I'll try my best not to wake you." He smiled at her, and it relaxed her against her will.

"Ok, that sounds good actually. I'll,uh, see you later." She smiled meagerly at him and began ascending up the stairs before turning around. She broke into a trot by the time she reached the top.

Danny stood there and watched her until she was out of view. When she had disappeared, the soft smile on his lips turned into a tight line and his eyebrows dropped. He sighed and straightened his jacket before walking into the den.

Carmen stood behind the desk with her hands defiantly propping her up in her authoritative way. Also standing there were the heads of the other families, including Nino.

"There he is. Where you been, Danny?"

Ignoring the question, Danny slapped his hands together. "What's up, Gentleman? What can we do for you?" Nino cocked his head to the side and sneered at him.

"Well, we've been hearing rumors for a couple of weeks now, but we weren't for sure until tonight, figured we might oughtta let you know…"

Danny nodded, puzzled. 'Oookkk… let us know what?" Carmen spoke up from behind her protective desk.

"This isn't good, Danny. I knew someday this was going to come back and haunt you… haunt us." He stood there, quiet, waiting to find out just what the hell they were talking about.

Nino saw the lack of recognition in his eyes and spoke up. "We got wind of a new family in town stirring things up. Checking out all of our territory, monitoring our operations, asking a bunch of questions…"

Danny nodded again. "Find out anything?"

Nino smirked before going on. "We checked it out, didn't really put the pieces together until recently… you remember your good old friend Sammy?"

Danny's mind searched for the name, and then he remembered. He went pale a little bit before choking any response out of his dry throat. "Sa-Sammy? Sammy, uh"

"Yeah, that's right, Sammy Rosierras. Ringing a bell?"

Danny loosened the neck in his shirt to let the sweat escape. His mind raced back to that night 5 years ago. It seemed like so long ago, and until now, he had been able to forget it ever happened. "Uh, Sammy's in town? Any idea what he wants, or what he's looking for?"

Nino flashed Carmen a smile. "Oh, gee, Danny, I don't know. I guess to say that he might be here looking for payback or retribution would be out of the question???" Danny looked at his mother for some more insight. She raised an eyebrow and remained silent.

"You see, Danny," Nino went on, "the problem is, he doesn't seem to be just looking for you. Nor did he come here by himself, but he seems to have moved his entire unit down here, including his cousin Sergio."

Danny's spine stiffened. Sergio Rosierras was notorious for his activity in the New York area, and not one cop or detective had been able to touch him. The Santos Clan had nothing on Sergio. He was untouchable. "You don't say? So, just what exactly have you found out, Nino, or do you plan on just dropping crumbs to make everyone nervous?"

"Nervous? You should be nervous, Danny. Your little stunt a few years ago has put us ALL on the line. We had a shipment due in last night, but somehow the Feds managed to search it before the ship docked. Oh, and the kicker? Sammy was there. If it wasn't for his own nifty maneuvering with the pigs, we'd be wearing some nice orange suits, courtesy of the county right now. So, what does that mean? That means we now owe Sammy, Danny. Do you know what that means? And I would lay you odds, Sergio was in on it, too. No one gets out of paying back Sergio when he's done something for you. Are you getting the seriousness of this situation yet?"

Danny soaked in Nino's words, but couldn't reply. Carmen came out from behind the desk. "Danny, this is big. We have got to do something. We need all of your concentration on this, do you understand?" She asked, halfway pleading with him.

"Yes, Mama, you know I'll do what needs to be done. Nino, thanks for stopping by, let's keep each other posted, and don't worry, things worked out before, they will again. I give you my word." These words flowed out of his mouth with the certainty of a second grader in the school spelling bee.

"Yeah, well, I hope that still means something, Danny." Nino held out his hand to him, and handshakes went around before the room cleared leaving mother and son.

Danny started out of the room when Carmen blocked his exit. "This is serious, Danny. What are we going to do? Sammy and Sergio are after all of the families, and you know what that means. If we're the ones that caused it, they'll do us in to save themselves."

Danny snickered. "You make it sound as if you wouldn't do the same thing, Mother." Carmen glared at him. "Relax, things will work out. What do you suggest we do?"

Carmen pondered his question for a bit. "Well, I'm gonna send some of our men out and see if we can shake up some of Sammy's men; see what they're planning on doing and just what their goal is here in Springfield. In the meantime, I think you should lay low and not venture out unless absolutely necessary. I'm serious, Danny."

"What? I thought we were never supposed to let on like we're scared."

"Danny, you know as well as I do that Sammy is here because of you. I've already lost one son, I'm not going to lose you, too."

Danny painfully shrugged off the pounding memory of that night so long ago. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "Ok, well, I think I'm gonna turn in. It's late, and I… I need to think about all of this, see if I can come up with something."

Carmen nodded. "This is one of those situations where we're going to have to work together, Daniel. I don't want you to do anything before talking to me about it. It's not just you that's involved anymore."

"I know, Mother. I just need to think." Danny turned and left the room, rubbing his ear. When he got to the stairs, he stopped and looked up at the hallway, remembering Michelle would be waiting for him. "Oh, Michelle, I can't let you find out about this. What would you think of me?" He took a few deep breaths and tried to push the gnawing thoughts out of his head. His legs felt like they were made out of lead, but he managed to climb the stairs and head for the bedroom.

Michelle was in bed with her back to the door. Danny tiptoed up behind her and examined her breathing to see if she was asleep. It was deep and slow… peaceful. He quietly poured himself a drink of scotch before he undressed. His shoes made a clonk noise on the floor and aroused Michelle.

She looked up and could barely make out his silhouette. "Hey. Is everything ok? You're mother sounded like things were urgent."

"Uh, yeah, things are ok. Don't worry about it, it's just family stuff. Things will be fine, I don't want you to worry, ok? I don't ever want you to have to worry." He crawled into bed beside her and stroked her arm. She looked back at him and contemplated falling into his arms. He looked like he could use a hug.

"Ok, well, you can talk to me if you need to." She smiled and moved towards him a little and gave him a peck on the cheek. He leaned into it and pulled her to him and held onto her like a child with a new teddy bear, desperate to hang on and not lose his grip. He held her tightly, and Michelle had to breathe harder to get oxygen. She could tell something was on his mind, but she decided not to ask again. He needed her tonight, and for once, she was going to be there, no questions asked.