There was the anguish on his face when his back was to her and that pain was reflected during the entire scene through his facial expressions, his rigidly-held stance and the build-up of tears just lingering in the corner of his eyes ranging from a slight sheen to a glistening wetness. It was evident throughout this scene that he was fighting inner demons -- so evident, in fact, that Michelle picked up on it and hastened to comfort him.

The aching devastation with which he held her in his arms was another indication, as was the desperate desire to never, ever let her go, but knowing that -- bound by the edicts of his family's code -- he had no choice. With that embrace, with his desperation, he was holding onto the love, the future he had hoped to have with her for one last moment and it was so obvious that he wanted to prolong that moment as long as he could.

Of course, the most incriminating evidence was his words -- the whispered "I'm gonna miss you," the anguished "it won't be the same without you," his heartbroken "I don't want to say goodbye to you" and his last hope and request that she just tell him the truth and give him the opportunity to save herself. And then those final, telling words, "you're my wife. I have to take care of you," rang as clear as the tolling bell of death.

And I believe that Michelle was, on some subconscious level, aware of the undercurrents of his words and actions. Why else would she show the signs of fear that she did? Yet still, as proof of her growing feelings for him, she did hold onto him, she did try and calm him, reassure him, comfort him. And she did these things despite her fear. For as much as she must have been aware that Danny was struggling with inner turmoil (that was very apparent), still she also must have believed deep down that he would not hurt her.

And I agree. I do believe that Danny would not have hurt her, despite his words and actions; and his mother's wishes. He may have driven her to a private location, he may have even wrestled with pulling the gun out, but ultimately, I do not believe that he would have been able to pull it out *against* her. He loves her too much. Of course, Dietz's careless phone conversation took that torment out of his hands. Still, I find it reassuring that the show actually wrote and aired this scene, being as it was so emotionally and violently charged and one that featured a pair who very clearly may be headed for super-coupledom.

And I find it fascinating and encouraging for the Daniel Santos that we have watched these past three months would have wrestled with the demons and decisions exactly as he did in this scene. And it is promising to know that the powers that be are not shirking the complexity of this character -- or the dark currents of the Manny relationship -- by shying away from potentially controversial areas.

Jennifer H.