Author's Note: This is kind of an anti-Lindsay story, but I want to be clear that I'm not personally anti-Lindsay. This plot sprung to mind after RSRD last season, and it just wouldn't go away. Hey, at least Lindsay's character gets a little more definition here…

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. They do, however, live inside my head.

Chapter 1: An Interesting Conversation

Lindsay Monroe was eavesdropping. She hadn't really intended to, but Flack and Stella mentioned Danny's name, so she had to stop. And the conversation they were having was quite intriguing.

"Did I hear Danny say he was going to visit his parents this weekend?" Stella asked.

Flack nodded as he poured them each a cup of coffee. "Yeah, I don't think he really wants to, but with Louie's condition, he doesn't have much of a choice."

Lindsay pretended to arrange some files she was holding as she stood just outside the break room. Flack looked toward the doorway. Lindsay quickly back further out of sight. Why wouldn't Danny want to see his parents, she wondered. She knew he had been in contact with them since the incident involving Louie and the Tanglewood Boys. Lindsay had met Danny's mother, Elizabeth, at the hospital shortly after Sonny Sassone's arrest. Lindsay had been impressed with both Mrs. Messer's composure during the ordeal and the calming effect she seemed to have on her youngest son. Danny's emotions had immediately been reigned in with the appearance of his mother.

Lindsay's ears pricked up as Stella and Flack continued their conversation.

"Has Danny talked to you at all about how things stand?" Stella asked with concern.

"Not really. He's in a difficult position, to say the least, but I know his parents have always had his back in the past. I can't imagine that changing now. I think he just wants to keep his distance so that certain people don't get the wrong idea." Don answered. Stella looked relieved.

"Well, you know more about that world than I do. I just hope Danny knows that we all have his back, too. We can protect him."

"Stella, believe me, Anthony Messer will protect his son, and I don't think he needs our help." Don looked directly into Stella's eyes as he said this. "I haven't heard anything floating around about any rivals getting restless, and this isn't 'The Godfather.' Everything's fine. If you try to get involved, you'll just make Danny mad. He knows what to do."

Stella nodded in agreement. "You're right. He's been dealing with this his whole life, and he's dealt with it well." She echoed Flack's earlier statement. "Everything's fine."

Lindsay turned around and walked the opposite direction, toward her desk. Her thoughts were running through her mind a mile a minute. What is Danny handling, she wondered. What does Stella want to protect him from? Lindsay's eyes widened as she remembered Flack's reference to "The Godfather."

"I think a little research is in order," she said softly to herself.