A/N: This story is different than anything I've ever written. This is a dark story conjured up by my slightly-less-dark mind. I'm being vague on purpose, and it'll all make sense why in a little while. Enjoy, and feel free to leave me some feedback!

~oOo~

If there was one thing in this world Andrew Flynn never would've considered himself, it was a quitter. Yet here he was, ready to quit.

Her funeral, the light mist as she was lowered into the ground, it solidified things for him. Things he never thought, as a father, he'd be experiencing. He had managed to outlive his daughter. His brilliant, funny, charming daughter, his only daughter, the only member of his family that ever truly forgave him for his mistakes. She was gone, and as he watched his ex-wife Miranda place a rose on her coffin, he felt a gentle squeeze on his arm.

He had nearly forgotten Sharon was there. His mind was in a far off place, replaying at warp-speed every memory he and Nicole ever shared. He couldn't believe it was real, refused to believe the scene in front of him.

Andy's son-in-law Stephen and his sons, Aaron and Seth, stood next to the large, framed portrait of Nicole, their heads hung solemnly. What could he say to them? Nothing, really. They had lost a wife and mother, but he had lost a daughter. He could tell them how sorry he was for their loss, but the loss he was feeling was eating him alive, tearing him limb from limb.

"Andy." Sharon whispers, gently rubbing his hand with hers, "I think I should take you home."

"No," he shakes his head, "no, it's okay. Home is the last place I want to be right now."

"Hey," she squeezes his arm again, waiting for his eyes to hesitantly meet hers, "I miss her too."

"It's not the same." He sighs, his voice breaking, "She is... Was my daughter. I... I talked to her right before..." His voice trails off.

The accident.

Nicole had called him to schedule dinner, before quickly hurrying out the door and to the boys' ballet recital. "I'll see you then, sweetheart." He had said, the thought never occurring to him that maybe he wouldn't. But he did see her again, and it was a memory he would not soon forget.

Andy was driving home from work when he got caught up in traffic, and the closer he got to the accident, the more rapid his heartbeat became. The ringing of his phone nearly made him jump out of his skin.

"He... Hello?" He answered hesitantly, watching as police and EMS tried to separate the two destroyed vehicles.

"Hello, Andrew Flynn? My name is Emma DeGrein, I work with the highway patrol-"

"No!" Andy managed to sob out, watching as the EMS lifted Nicole's unmoving body from her minivan, "Nicole!" He threw his phone down and ran to the ambulance as fast as he could.

"Sir! Sir you need to get back!" A police officer yelled, "Sir!"

"She's my daughter!" Andy exclaims, falling to his knees hysterically, tears streaming down his face, "Nicole!"

"Andy." Sharon tries again, "Please let me take you home."

He finally manages to focus on his surroundings and realizes that everyone else has left the cemetery.

"No." He replies, his voice low, "I can take care of myself, thank you for being here."

"Andy-" He can tell by the tone of her voice she's ready to argue, but he won't hear it.

"I just need some time to myself." He replies and hugs her before heading to his car and driving off, leaving Sharon alone in the rain.

~oOo~

He was numb, so incredibly numb that he couldn't tell which way was up, couldn't tell who was calling his name, or if anyone really was at all. The dim lights of the bar and the scent of day-old smoke brought him back to life just as quickly as it was killing him. He needed to feel something other than the pain of losing her. He needed to feel something other than the emptiness.

He brings the shot glass to his shaking lips and downs its contents in one swift motion, letting out a deep sigh. You're throwing everything away, you asshole. The voice in the back of his head nags, causing him to crave another drink. And another. And another. And another.

~oOo~

He didn't even feel the first few punches the equally drunk man next to him managed to land before he was on the ground, his arms wrapped around his body in a futile attempt to protect himself. He didn't even remember what he said that set the guy off in the first place, but then again, it didn't matter. Maybe this was the work of some higher power trying to prove a point.

The man stumbles out of the bar, leaving Andy laying on the floor. His face is bleeding and torn open, but he could care less. The alcohol coursing through his veins and the beating of his heart ringing in his ears gave him what he was looking for: a feeling other than emptiness.

~oOo~

Okay, so that's chapter one, I know we never want to see Andy in this situation, but this idea totally has my head spinning. There'll be Shandy, I promise, but not for a while yet. :)