A/N: I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and to those who did not celebrate, I hope your week went well. This is just an idea I came up with whilst at Chapters (bookstore chain). It is angst galore with a death involved, so please be forewarned. I am not killing Danny or Lindsay - I already did that once and don't plan to do it again. Or at least not for a while. Anyhoo, there will also be a lot of comforting, because DL comforting is adorable and I am Mo's "Fluffy Stuffy Wuffy." Reviews are appreciated and love. Happy New Year :) enjoy!

A/N2: The death will be revealed in this chapter.

Chapter 1 - Call

Lindsay had always loved snow. Ever curious about the mysterious element, she sat at the living room window, nose pressed up against the glass as her gorgeous chocolate eyes followed the flakes spiraling down towards the earth before melting into the snow that had already fallen. Some flakes were large whilst others were so miniscule she could barely make them out, but they all created the same thing: a blanket of white dust that not only covered the fields, but provided her and her friends with endless hours of making snowmen and snow angels. Afterwards they would come in and nestle by the fireplace, sipping on hot chocolate and munching on gingerbread cookie whilst sharing with each other what they wanted for Christmas.

A voice from the kitchen made her jump slightly. "Lindsay, time to put the angel on the tree."

The seven-year-old took one last glance at the snow before rising from her comfortable position. It was a Monroe tradition that had been passed down for generations: the angel was the last item to be placed on the Christmas tree. Lindsay had assisted her mother in decorating the symbolic object, often examining the ornaments before sliding them onto the faux branches, and she was the one who did the honours every year.

Although all the ornaments were beautiful, Lindsay loved the angel. It was nothing special, yet she felt an air of security whenever she looked at it. The gold-trimmed dress sparkled in the light, and her serene face warmed Lindsay's heart. A pair of majestic wings, also lined with gold fabric, sprouted from her back. Lindsay liked to think the angel was watching over her, as no matter where she walked in the room, the eyes always seemed to follow.

Todd Monroe grunted slightly as he lifted his daughter up and onto his shoulders, allowing her to place the object on top of the tree. He was a burly fellow, with a square jaw and a neck like a tree trunk. "Perfect as always."

Still perched on her father's shoulders, Lindsay flashed a smile. "Isn't she beautiful Mom?"

Todd's wife, Kathleen, glanced up at her young daughter and returned the gesture. "Just like you."

Silence rendered in the air as the three admired the angel for a few moments, as they did every Christmas Eve. Without warning, Lindsay's eyes drooped heavily. The excitement of what lay ahead had begun to overpower her senses. With ease, Todd lifted her from his shoulders and carried her off to her room, where he gently placed his daughter in her bed. Lindsay struggled to stay awake as her parents kissed her on both cheeks.

"Merry Christmas sweetheart." Kathleen whispered in her ear.

"We love you. Have a good sleep now." Todd pushed back a strand of hair that had fallen into Lindsay's face. The youngster mumbled something incoherent before drifting off, carefully watched by her protective parents, who were standing at her door.

"She'll grow up to be a fine lady."

Todd wrapped a loving arm around his wife's shoulders. "I wish she could stay my baby girl forever, but I know she'll find a good man someday. I only hope he will know how lucky he is to have her."

Katie smiled in the sparse moonlight. "Lindsay will always be your baby girl."

Turning in the doorway, Todd stole a glance at his sleeping daughter before heading for their room. "Always."

---

Ignoring the e-mail alert that had just popped up on her computer screen and shaking her from her recollection, Lindsay focused her straying mind on the loads of paperwork that lay in front of her. Outside the hustle and bustle of the city rose in the late May air. Spring had arrived, bringing with it a wondrous array of fresh flowers and scents. When she and Danny had time off, they would often walk to Central Park and travel the numerous paths hand-in-hand, stopping to admire the sculptures and gardens the park was famous for.

Danny. Even his name caused shivers to run down her spine. He was everything she never knew she always wanted. He was intelligent, chivalrous, funny…not to mention adorable beyond words. He was also incredibly tough; a quality, according to him, they both shared. He didn't take crap from anybody, and would often put suspects in their seats when they eyed Lindsay's toned body. Fiercely proud and often displaying hysterical antics alongside Flack, Danny was also a loving person. Behind his armour-like exterior lay the heart of a big teddy bear, something Mac said she had brought out in him. Both were content to spend the rest of their lives with each other.

The notice flashed again on the screen, and Lindsay moaned in frustration. She was not in the mood to reply, and cancelled out of the box before it got too annoying.

"Y'know Montana, when people get e-mails they usually respond to them."

Lindsay jumped in her seat and whirled around to face the strange voice, but immediately calmed when her eyes fell upon their face. "It's complicated."

Danny sat down across from her in their shared office. "Family matters?"

Lindsay was not particularly interested in discussing the issue, even with Danny. "I'll reply to it later. Right now I have work to do."

Reaching across the desks, Danny clasped her hand and ran a thumb along her smooth skin. "Montana, ignoring your father won't solve the distance between you two. Maybe you should read what he has to say."

As always, she melted at the sound of her nickname. "You don't understand my father. He's stubborn and only sees things his way. We were close once, but now…" her voice trailed off awkwardly. Danny continued to caress her skin, staring at her lovingly.

"Just think about it, okay?"

Lindsay fell silent. Once upon a time her father and she were the best of friends, but as Lindsay got older they slowly drifted apart. Lindsay wasn't exactly sure why it had happened; they were extremely close when she was a child. As the years passed by, however, both Lindsay and her father changed. He became stern and never seemed to appreciate things others did. Family was an important value to Lindsay, and although it bothered her that she was having a falling out with him, she was not willing to talk to her father just yet.

Taking Danny's advice to heart, she nodded sullenly. "Okay."

---

Billions of stars twinkled in the uncharted vaults, shining their honour upon the residents of New York City. Lindsay moved around the apartment, cleaning things here and moving things there. Danny would be home in about an hour, and she was looking forward to an evening with him. Both had been extremely busy at the lab in the past couple of weeks, and while the tragic death of Ruben Sandoval was long gone, Danny was still reeling from the emotional ride. Sleep didn't come easy for him anymore, and he would often lie on the couch during the night to gather his thoughts. He had opened up to her, letting loose all his emotions one evening before releasing a blood-curdling howl in helpless anger. Despite all this, Lindsay could see a change in him. He was slowly but surely healing from the terrible event.

The phone's loud ring interrupted Lindsay's thoughts. Peering at the small display screen, she scrunched her nose and ignored it. The phone continued to ring three more times before stopping. As she washed some dishes, Lindsay's mind played back to her earlier conversation with Danny. His words echoed in her brain, and she sighed heavily. Padding over to the phone, she waited for it to ring again, instinctively knowing the caller would try again.

BRRRRINGGGGGG! BRRRRINGGGGGG!!

Hand shaking slightly, Lindsay lifted the receiver. "Hello?"

"Lindsay, it's your father."

"I know who it is." Lindsay was surprised at the curtness of her own tone.

Todd's voice sounded slightly anxious. "Why haven't you replied to my e-mails?"

"Work has been really busy lately."

Todd blinked through a few tears. "I've been trying to get a hold of you for days. Your mother is not well."

At the mention of Katie, Lindsay immediately perked up. "Mom? Is she alright?"

Her father sighed on the other end. "She has brain cancer. They're giving her a month."

A/N: To those from the DL thread reading this story, I still am and always will be fluffy. Your Stuffy is fluffy:)