Presently, I'm getting strong hints that GL wants to typify this couple by throwing them in the midst of the typical soap dramatic ploy: the tired, absolutely tired, triangle. Granted, TPTB probably won't have Danny and/or Michelle be interested in the third party (I'm not sure if it will be someone interested in Danny or in Michelle.) Instead, I think the third party will be trying to cause trouble for the couple. Personally, I think this is the weakest soap ploy, and it's a sign from the writers that they don't know where else to go. Triangles end up doing more wasteful harm than good imho, and they end up driving fans up the wall. Trust me.

Danny and Michelle don't need a third party to enhance their story for three very good reasons.

1) The issues of their differences and their backgrounds.

2) Carmen.

3) Paul Anthony Stewart and Joie Lenz's chemistry is one of a kind and too hot to be wasted with bringing in a third person into their storyline.

I wish that the writers would remember that Manny's story is uniquely special and above the conventional daytime romance. With two extraordinary performers like Stewart and Lenz, the power of Manny should be a given, in my humble opinion. [Besides] Danny and Michelle still have a lot to deal with besides worrying about a third party. This couple is undoubtedly strong, but they still have outside threats weighing against them. People attacking them from left and right figuratively and literally is enough for them to have to deal with.

I don't know, would a possible third party bring forth the conflict or story that would put Manny back on the frontburner? It's possible. But, at what cost? I understand that Danny had a past before he fell in love with his soulmate: Michelle. I understand the reverse as well. And, maybe, learning about that past may make them even stronger in the end. It's just that the audience recognizes the complexity in these individual characters, and we want to learn more about them rather than being subjected to a third person masking as a threat at all when both Danny and Michelle have more pressing issues.

I would rather that the writers concentrate on Danny and Michelle's different worlds and the ironic similarities of them and the internal growth of them as a couple. It has never been more obvious that two people are more meant to be together than Danny and Michelle. They have so many different themes to throw at them that don't involve the uncharacteristic theory that Danny ever loved anyone else to the depths of his core like he does Michelle and vice versa.

Having said all that, I'm getting the impression that the writers feel that since they've focused so much on the Bauer/Santos dynamics toward Manny already, that maybe they are ready to deal with past issues that haven't been brought up yet. It's possible that's what they're doing. I just wish that the writers would allow Manny the opportunity to really be together before the past and future have to be dealt with.

Airpoet