Consequences

A/N: I have never written a Y&R fic that actually turned out well! LOL. Before you read the story, you should know that before last week, it'd been awhile since I was a constant watcher of the show. If I mess up details or something, please let me know but please also be forgiving. LOL. Reviews are greatly appreciated!

Summary: Cassie remembers the details of the accident as another accident befalls Daniel.

Chapter One

She kept seeing Daniel's face, and she didn't know why. Cassie Newman had been home from the hospital for three days, and the entire last day, she kept seeing Daniel Romalotti's face, both in her sleep and while she was awake, as if in a flashback or a daydream. She got the feeling it was more than a daydream. His face was hazy in her mind; it looked like he was asleep somewhere. But she was still recovering and didn't have much energy to think it through, nor much time as her family was waiting on her hand and foot and had a tendency to smother.

Cassie looked over at the phone that sat on the end table next to her bed and considered calling Daniel. In spite of what everyone said, she couldn't help worrying about him. He was facing serious jail time; he had to be freaking out.

"Hey, honey, I brought you lunch," Sharon Newman greeted, entering her daughter's bedroom with a tray of food. She approached her daughter's bed with a smile, placing the tray of food down on Cassie's dresser. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired but okay," Cassie replied.

"I thought we could watch a movie or something. Are you feeling up to that?"

Cassie shifted in her bed, slowly sitting up enough to be able to eat. "Maybe a little later. I don't want to fall asleep during it. Maybe Dad and Noah could watch it with us after dinner?"

"Yeah, that'd be great!" Sharon agreed. "Except we probably won't all agree on a movie," she added with a chuckle.

Cassie paused. "Mom, can I call Daniel?"

Sharon looked at her hesitantly, fire coming into the mother's eyes. "No, Cassie. That isn't a good idea. Look at what he did to you!"

"Mom, I'm worried about him. I don't think he's handling this very well. This could ruin his whole life. I wish I could find a way to help him."

"Honey, he drove drunk. Daniel did this to himself," Sharon said firmly. She picked up the tray and set it down in front of Cassie. "Now eat up, I want you to keep up your strength."

"What strength?" Cassie mumbled bitterly as she picked up the sandwich her mom had made for her. "Mom… this accident just doesn't make sense. I remember promising that I wouldn't let Daniel drive. I don't understand why I got in the car with him when he was so drunk, why I let him drive in the first place."

"Well, sweetie, that is something your dad and I want to talk with you about later, when you're stronger. For now, don't worry about the accident, and don't worry about Daniel. He's not your concern."

After that Sharon ended the conversation and made Cassie eat. When her mom left her to take a nap, Cassie didn't call Daniel. She was, however, thinking about him instead of sleeping, trying to discern why she felt so strongly that something big just wasn't adding up.

He wouldn't face vehicular homicide. Daniel felt more relieved over that than he could possibly express, mostly because it meant that Cassie wasn't going to die. He'd been so concerned about her it overshadowed all the trouble he was in from the accident. But the night he spent in jail had really scared him as well. He'd never felt so alone and helpless, and that said a lot considering the things he'd been through with his parents.

The only people he had in his corner now were his mom, Christine Williams, Kevin Fisher and Lily Winters. Daniel had no idea if his father even knew what was going on yet; he was on his way to Europe for a big concert tour and to Daniel's knowledge, no one had reached him yet.

Everywhere in Genoa City Daniel went, he was now an outcast. Nearly all his friends had deserted him. Driving drunk had made him the evilest guy in town. The worst part was, his entire life was ruined over an even he couldn't remember.

He'd also thrown his mother's life into chaos. Now they were living in the Abbott house and things were incredibly tense. He felt like an intruder, and the only place he could get real privacy was his bedroom.

Today, however, Daniel had almost the entire house to himself. His mom, Phyllis Abbott, had gone back to work a few days ago; Jack and Ashley were also at work. The only ones around were Gloria and John. John was busy with his physical therapy and avoiding Gloria would be easy enough. Mamie, who happened to be Lily's great aunt, was incredibly nice to him so he thought he might go downstairs and get some food from her. Then he could stroll around the backyard. He really wanted the fresh air so he decided to head on downstairs.

Before he could reach the dining room, Gloria called out to him. "We don't see much of you around here," she said politely.

He turned around so his back wasn't to her, but he kept his gaze to the floor. Gloria happened to be Kevin's mom, but she also didn't seem very happy to have him in the house.

"Your face is starting to heal nicely," she commented when he didn't say anything.

"Uh, thanks," he mumbled. His swollen, cut up face was yet another reminder that he didn't need of the accident, and it wasn't healing fast enough for him.

"So, do you get along well with John?" she asked.

"Uh, I don't really know him that well. Listen, it is very nice of you all to let us stay here, especially with the circumstances…"

"Yes, well, it was John's decision and not mine," Gloria replied bitterly. She then forced a smile. "So, I understand you are friends with my younger son Kevin?"

Daniel nodded, and she nodded in return. "Well, you're lucky to have him for a friend. I understand you don't have many friends left after what happened."

He took a deep breath, feeling himself getting upset. Gloria was eyeing him closely and he shifted his weight uncomfortably. He could just imagine what she was thinking and he'd heard enough of it from other people in Genoa City. So before she could say anything else, he excused himself and headed quickly into the kitchen.

"Lilly? Lily, are you there?" Devon Hamilton waved his hand in front of his foster sister's face.

She snapped back immediately, joking that she'd spaced out. He gave her a look and she knew he knew better. She dared not tell him that she kissed Daniel almost a week ago, and that since then she'd been daydreaming about kissing him again. But ever since that day he had been even more closed off. The day they kissed was the most open he'd been with her, and she couldn't reach him since.

Daniel kept telling her that they couldn't get closer because he was on the verge of going to jail, and he didn't want to mess up her life. He insisted that she was better off without him; what worried her more was that he felt that way towards everyone in his life, including his mom. She was growing increasingly worried about him, and her parents were increasingly tightening the leash when it came to him.

"You're thinking about Daniel again," Devon stated, sounding exasperated. At the look she fired at him, he put his hands. "I won't say anything, Lily. I just think he's a waste of your time. Neil and Dru think so, too."

"Well, I don't have to agree with you. And I'm sick of getting into this with you."

"Lily… all right, fine. I'm cool."

Lily looked away and wondered if she should go to the Abbotts to see Daniel. He probably felt strange living with several people he hardly knew. She didn't want to push him farther away, but she didn't want him to completely withdraw into himself, either. She didn't know how best to help him, what steps she should take around him. She really wanted to be there for him more than anything else, but was lost on how to do it.

Phyllis Abbott sat in her office thumbing through papers, glancing over at the phone every few seconds. She had finally managed to reach Danny's agent, who promised he would get the rock star to call her. She hoped he called soon; the faster he could get to Genoa City the better.

Daniel was becoming unglued; he was so withdrawn from everyone, and now that they'd moved into the Abbotts he hardly came out of his room. He didn't talk to anyone, he hadn't joined the family for meals. Everytime she tried to talk, he just seemed more withdrawn. It was scaring her; if she couldn't reach him, his father had to be able to. Otherwise she didn't know what she would do.

The phone rang and Phyllis jumped to answer it. "Danny?"

"Phyllis?" Danny's voice echoed back in her ears. "What's going on? My agent said to call you right away. Is Daniel all right?"

"Danny, thank God you called," she replied, bringing her hand up to her forehead. "Daniel… Daniel is in big trouble; I need you to get back to Genoa City as soon as you can. Daniel needs you here."

Cassie knew she should be sleeping but her worry for Daniel kept her awake just a bit longer. She was beginning to think that the image of Daniel she kept seeing was a flashback, although that didn't make a lot of sense. It looked like he was asleep or unconscious; had she been awake after the accident and seen him?

Even worrying about Daniel hadn't been able to prevent her from falling asleep, because her body tired easily. She tried to fight the oncoming sleep, but after a few minutes gave in.

Cassie's sleep had been full of dreams lately, and today was no different. She saw him again, but this time saw more. He wasn't unconscious in the ditch after the accident—he was in the backseat of his car. She saw her own hands reaching into Daniel's pocket and pulling out his car keys. She saw herself turning the ignition to the car.

With a start, Cassie awoke. She tried to sit up, but her head protested the fast movement. Now that she'd seen those flashes, she remembered! Daniel had been passed out in the backseat of his car. He hadn't driven drunk—she was the one who drove and crashed the car!

Daniel grabbed some cookies from the kitchen and headed to the backyard. He hoped that his mom or Christine would reach his dad soon. He could really use his dad around.

His thoughts drifted to Lily. He remembered the kisses they had shared together last week at the tack house; he had enjoyed that time he spent with her so much. But he couldn't let himself get close to her. He couldn't let her get close to him. In this situation, it was impossible. They'd both end up hurt from it, and Daniel didn't want that to happen. He had too much on his mind to try to cope with forming a relationship before heading off to jail; and in no way would he put Lily in that position.

He neared the pool, caught up in his thoughts about the accident, Lily, and his parents. He wasn't watching where he stepped as he walked, and didn't pay attention to all the water surrounding the pool. He heard something behind him and jumped, causing him to lose his footing and slip on a puddle of water. He crashed to the ground, his head striking the harsh edge of a concrete step. He was unconscious before he hit the water, and after the splash the waters were calm again.

TBC