Disclaimer: I own nothing. Song belongs to Leann Rimes.

Summary: See Chapter 1.

Rating: K

Okay, so there needs to be a few things clarified before I go on with the chapter. Danny and Lindsay met OUTSIDE of work, I wont go into how, where, blah blah, but for purposes of the story (and lack of good brain storming on my part since this story has totally spiraled OFF the original outline I made) D/L met in 2003– ok? Emily is about to turn four – since Im not sure if I established that or not. But, they both are CSI's and all works well… okie doke? I hope that's not too confusing.

This Chapter is a bit different in that there are NO flashbacks, it just wouldn't have worked had I tried to wedge a flashback in here somewhere, but I promise, Chapter 8 is the return of the Flashbacks.

The "Letter" is in italics.

Chapter 7 – Remember Me

In every life there are detours on dirt gravel roads,

Sometimes it feels like there's just no right way to go,

There'll be times you'll go crazy,

And times you'll break down,

Always something that stands in your way...

Just keep your eyes on me

Never lose site of me

This love

Nothing can come between

Us when we're following

This love

Danny sunk to the floor as he read the letter, he glanced at the date – exactly one year ago today she'd written the letter. His tears hit the aged paper causing words to smear due to the mixture of his salty tears and the ink. He closed the letter, swallowing hard, and then re-opened it. He read it, over, and over again, allowing the words to sink into his brain, swallowing hard again, he leaned his head back against the arm rest of the sofa behind him, allowing the moonlight to illuminate the letter.

In every life there are detours on dirt gravel roads,

Sometimes it feels like there's just no right way to go,

There'll be times you'll go crazy,

And times you'll break down,

Always something that stands in your way...

Just keep your eyes on me

Never lose site of me

This love

Nothing can come between

Us when we're following

This love

January 23, 2007

Danny –

Its hard for me to explain why I wrote this, I just, I guess I felt that with our line of work there was a possibility that one, or, dare I say it, both, of us could get seriously injured or killed on the job, or, even outside of the job. I don't know, It might just be me worrying about what would happen to Emily if one of us were to die, and so, that's why Im writing this to you. Im sure you have your own will, or whatever you'd like to call this, hidden somewhere around this place. I love you Danny, with all my heart, and even though I didn't allow you in a few years ago, believe me when I tell you that I've liked you since the moment you embarrassed me in that coffee shop. Every moment I've spent with you over the last three and a half years has been nothing short of amazing and now, we have a beautiful little girl to show for it, all the hard work we put into making this relationship work. I just want you to know that you, and Emily are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I want you to know that every day im apart from you two, I think of you and look out for you. Im always here for you, whenever you need me I'll be here for you. Don't be afraid to keep moving on Dan, please don't, tell Emily not to stop riding, not to give up on her dreams, and help her Dan, guide her and take care of her. I know you will, you're in charge now, don't worry about periods, boyfriends, dating, or marriage, take every day at a time – you'll be amazed at how soon she'll be wanting her drivers license.

He cringed, thinking about his little girl smooching with a neighbor hood boy. He squeezed his fists at the thought of a boy touching his daughter in that way. He looked back down at his wifes delicate writing.

Don't cringe Danny, I know you cant stop worrying about a boy touching your little girl that way – but honey, its going to happen, you cant keep her locked up forever, and don't think for one second that at sixteen she'll still believe boys have cooties.

He chuckled, he remembered dreading even going anywhere near a girl when he was in elementary school, and then quickly flashed to the first time he kissed a girl, oh how things had changed. He glanced around the room then back to the letter.

Most of all Danny, I want you to not grieve for the rest of your life, I don't want you to cry yourself to sleep at night, I don't want you angry with every living thing, and I don't want you to quit your job, its too good of a job, and its something you love, something you're so amazingly great at and have such a knack for that I couldn't bear you leaving. Things will be hard, things aren't going to be easy and you and Em are allowed to be sad, for as long as you need to be, but please don't make it forever. You need to be there for each other now, you need to help each other. Laugh Danny, Laugh hard, laugh often, go places we used to go together and enjoy it, don't grieve. Teach Emily something new, take her somewhere new every summer – keep our traditions going.

He smiled, thinking of their many traditions they'd created as a family over the last few years – opening one present on Christmas eve, the rest Christmas morning, having an annual Bar-B-Q every fourth of July and then watching the fireworks together, going to Rosas on his and Lindsays anniversary, making breakfast together every Sunday (even if they didn't actually eat breakfast together until Sunday evening). He sniffed back tears, continuing on.

Danny, you are my world, you're my husband, my lover, my heart, my soul, my best friend. You have always been the shoulder I could lean and cry on, you've been the one who's made me laugh so hard I've cried, you've been my support when I've felt like my world was spinning out of control, you keep me grounded and sane, and you've been my protector, you've never given me a reason to not trust you and your family took me in with open arms and love. There is no person on this earth that I would have rather shared my life with, than you. Im thankful every day to have found you, and to have had the chance to love you.

I'll always be here Danny, whenever you need me, Ill be here. I have enclosed a letter that I want you to give to Emily once she turns 16, please don't show it to her, read it to her or tell her about it until then.

I love you Cowboy and always will… ti amo.

Lindsay

Danny opened up the envelop again, finding a smaller letter inside, folded nicely and placed in a rather small envelope. Emilys name was scribed neatly across the front and Danny smiled tucking the letter back inside, folding Lindsays up and placing it back in the envelope. He picked himself up off the floor shuffling to his bedroom. He removed his clothes, pulling on a pair of PJ Pants, he turned, making his way across the apartment to Emilys room, he peered in the door making sure she was asleep, smiling, he turned on his heels and made his back to his room. After placing the letters in his dresser drawer he crawled into bed, allowing the covers to slowly warm around him. He allowed his mind to wander, wander to places that for the last month he didn't allow it to wonder – Lindsay, that fateful day, a day that if he had just one more do-over day, that's the day he'd pick. His eyes fluttered closed, then re-opened as he pictured her bright face that morning after she'd kissed him, then their daughter, and made her way out the door, pausing briefly to blow him a kiss and smile at him again. He turned on his side, willing himself to fall asleep – but sleep, would just not come.

Just keep your eyes on me

Never lose site of me

This love

Nothing can come between

Us when we're following

This love

Just keep your eyes on me

Never lose site of me

This love

Nothing can come between

Us when we're following

This love

That's it for this chapter. I hated writing this mostly because I honestly think it's a really sucky and hastily written chapter. I almost forgot about the "letter" from my last chapter and im kicking myself now for writing it in and keeping it, but, whats done is done, I understand any flames that result from this chapter. Back to the goods next chapter. Thanks guys!