Disclaimer: I don't own Monk or any affliated characters... well except Jennifer since I gave her her own personality I never dreamed that one little life
"Mr. Stottlemyer," the doctor said
"Yes that would be me," Leland replied
"Come and meet your daughter"
Could bring so much joy to my world
He had never seen such a tiny child. It was his firstborn so he didn't know what to expect. All he knew was that he loved her. He loved her more then he ever thought it was possible to love another human being.
And now I know the power of love
"Karen look at her," he said, "she's so tiny and so beautiful"
"She is"
"We should name her Jennifer," he said, "after your sister"
"Leland," Karen's face lit up, "I would love that"
Cause God has sent us an angel above
"You're not disapointed are you," Karen asked later that day
"Disapointed? Why would I be disapointed?"
"Because we had a girl," Karen said, "I know you wanted a boy"
"I wanted a boy," Leland admitted, "but I got this girl and this girl is better then any boy"
He kissed the crown of his daughter's head.
I never knew there could be so much glory
"Daddy look. I can wide a twicyle," 2-year-old Jennifer said riding through the doors of his office.
He laughed.
"That's very good sweetheart," he told her, "Now why don't you go ride outside with mommy and later on we 3 can go out for ice cream"
"Ice cweam," Jennifer exclaimed excited, "Ice cweam, Ice cweam"
Your little hand held in mine
Even now Leland could feel the gasp of his daughter's tiny hand held in his own. Karen didn't understand. It wasn't that he wanted to give up. It was that he didn't want to hear those five words.
"We found your daughter's body"
At least if he ended the search there was still hope that she was out there, alive somewhere.
Your beautiful eyes and shining face
"Jennifer this is your little brother?"
"Oh mommy he's so cute. Can I hold him?"
"Sure honey," Karen said and as soon as she was settled on her father's lap she placed the infant in her arms.
"What's he called," Jennifer asked
"What do you think," Leland wanted to know.
"I like the name Jarred," Jennifer said, "It's the name of one of my friends in nursery school"
Karen and Leland looked at each other then smiled. What a perfect name.
Life's proof of God's Grace
Jennifer was six and Jarred was two.
"What happened to my vase," Karen asked
"Oh I acdently ran into it when I was playing," Jennifer explained even though Jareed had actually been the one to break it.
"Please be careful Jen," Karen said, "now run along. Lunch will be ready soon"
Leland had seen what actually happened and when he asked her why she took the blame
"Oh," Jennifer explained, "That's cause I know mommy was upset with Jarred for drawing on the walls and flushing her watch down the toliet. I knew she would get mad at him if she knew it was him and I didn't want that to happen"
Karen and Leland never got mad but Jennifer had seen that in school and that's just how her friend's mommy looked right before she got mad.
"You're a very good big sister Jen," Leland told his daughter.
You are my child
"LELAND SHE'S NOT A STATISTIC DAMNIT," Karen said, "SHE'S OUR CHILD. SHE'S EIGHT YEARS OLD AND SHE'S SCARED AND GOD KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING TO HER"
"Karen honey," Leland said, "I understand your upset but I am the head of the household and I need to make the decision that I feel is best for everyone"
The glare Karen had given him made him sink into himself. Leland had never used the 'Head of the Household' remark before.
"WHAT ABOUT WHAT'S IN JENNIFER'S BEST INTEREST LELAND," Karen yelled
"Look just calm down and we can talk about this rationally," Leland said
You are the one
When Jennifer turned a year old they threw her a little party. It was Karen's idea to keep it small. She wouldn't really remember the party, Karen pointed out, and the important people in her life would gather to celebrate her in a quiant little gathering.
You are the air that I breathe and you are the sun
Jennifer developed Pnuominia at age 4. She was so sick she had to be hospitalized. Leland sat at her bedside and prayed every moment. She was the sunshine of his life. If only he could breathe for her. If only he could make her better.
Through thick and thin I'll be there by your side for all time
"Alright," Karen said, "I'm calm"
"Listen honey," Leland explained, "what if Jennifer is d e a d? What if we found her b o d y instead of her. How would that affect us? How would that affect Jarred?"
"And what if she's a l i v e," Karen countered, "and she's being t o u r t u r e d or r a p e d or G O D K N O W S W H A T E L S E is happening to her? What if she dies because she's not f o u n d?"
"She's been missing for almost a year now," Leland pointed out, "and you're about to have another baby. By the way if it's a girl we should name it Jennifer."
"NO! Jennifer is alive and I will NOT have you tell me otherwise or anyone for that matter"
Leland saw the tears welling up in Karen's eyes. Even as he looked away he could see it.
"Statistics show she probably-"
"Our daughter is not a stastic Leland. She's our child. I carried her for nine and ½ months. She is our flesh and blood"
"I know honey," he said weakening
"Leland I- I can't give her up"
He reached for her hand and she reluctunatlly took his.
You are my child. You are the one. You bring new meaning and joy into my life No matter whatever I'll be there forever My child
She had only been their child for 8 years but it seemed like forever.
"Dad," Jennifer said, "can I go out and ride my bike to the park. I'll only be gone an hour"
Leland hesitated for only a moment. The park was less then 5 minutes away. It was still light out.
"Okay," he said, "but be home by 4 o'clock"
"Love you dad"
"Love you too sweetie"
That was the last time they saw her.
"Okay," Leland said
"Okay what," Karen asked
"Okay you're… you're right. We shouldn't give up. "
EPILOUGE: 4 days later 4 things happened
Max was born
Jarred became a big brother
Karen and Leland became parents to their 3rd child
Jennifer was returned to her family
