A/N: Starts up six years after the events in Stella's Day. Danny and Lindsay have moved out of their tiny apartment and into a small two story walkup in Manhattan. They still only have Taylor, who is seven. Stella and Flack ended up having twin boys, Eric and Hunter, who are five. Mac finally married Peyton and they have no kids. As said before, I own nothing having to do with this show or its creation. I leave that to the good graces of CBS and Jerry Bruckhimer and team.


Chapter Seven: She Can't Be Gone

"Taylor Lindsay Messer," Lindsay yelled from the bottom of the stairs. "You have fifteen seconds to get down here!"

"My scarf isn't straight!" seven year old Taylor yelled back to her mother.

Lindsay sighed and looked down at her watch. The new student orientation at St. Sebastian's Catholic Prep started in forty five minutes and traffic was getting worse with every passing second. If they didn't leave in the next two minutes, they would not make it on time. Lindsay was already upset that Danny could not be there with them, but he was on call for the day.

"Taylor, I'm not going to tell you again!"

"All right! I'm coming!"

The pitter patter of small feet came bounding down the stairs. Lindsay could not believe that the little girl standing in front of her was the same precious gift that she and Danny had received on a January evening. Taylor had gotten the best of both of her parents. She got Danny's bright blue eyes, his New York attitude and manner of speech, Lindsay's hair color and her personality.

She and Danny had tried for more kids but they were not so lucky. The injuries that Lindsay sustained on their wedding day had finally left her unable to conceive. The Messer family consisted of Danny, Lindsay and Taylor. They were a happy little threesome and there was not a set of prouder parents in the entire city.

"Mom, explain to me why I have to go to this school?" Taylor asked, putting on her coat. "I like P.S 302. All my friends from the neighborhood go there."

"Your father, grandparents and I think that this will be a better opportunity for you. Your dad went to St. Sebastian's. You want to be like your dad, don't you?"

Taylor sighed and nodded. She wanted to be just like her dad. Taylor already had her own mini-CSI kit hidden in a suitcase under her bed. She had fingerprint dust kit (an old bottle of baby powder and an old face powder brush), sample swabs (Q-Tips), a flashlight, evidence bags (brown paper lunch sacks) and tape. Lindsay had noticed that Taylor would go around the house dusting the tables, chairs, windows and glasses for prints. Once she had left a message for Danny on the bathroom mirror in Vaseline and then left clues that would lead Danny to the message. It was a simple four word message that was left, "I love you Daddy."

Lindsay and Taylor made it out of the house and Lindsay hailed a cab. They had little under a half an hour to make it to the school on time. Lindsay was more nervous about the orientation than Taylor was. Taylor looked out the window of the cab taking in the city. Taylor loved the city. She loved the hustle and bustle of all the people in it. She liked to make up stories about the people she saw. They were spies, movie stars, moms, dad, even brothers and sisters.

Danny and Lindsay once thought that Taylor would be lonely being an only child but then they realized that she had plenty of cousins for her to play with. There was never a weekend that some relative of the Messer's would come by to take Taylor out for the day. She would always come back happy.

There were other times that Taylor would go over to the Flack's for a day. Stella and Don had twin boys who were five. Flack one afternoon made the joke about Taylor marrying one of his boys. Both Danny and Lindsay gave Flack a look. It was the "Never in a million years" look.

Much to their surprise, standing outside the school was Danny. Lindsay was just as surprised to see Danny as Taylor was. She ran over to her father. Danny scooped her up into his arms and hugged her tightly.

"I thought you were on a case?" Lindsay said, kissing him.

"Well, I told Mac that this was an important day in the youngest Messer's life and I had to be there for her. I do have to get right back to the lab as soon as we're done," Danny explained. He set Taylor down and took her hand. "So, come on. What are we waiting for?"

"Absolutely nothing," Lindsay said, taking Taylor's other free hand.

The school was large and expansive. A person could really get lost if they didn't know where they were going. Luckily for the Messer's nothing had changed since Danny had been there, many moons ago. They wandered around, taking in the school before going into the library for the new student orientation.

"Welcome to St. Sebastian's Preparatory Academy," an older, large blonde woman announced. "I am Headmistress Amelia Livingston. Could I please have all of the parents of the kindergarten, first and second grade children please meet over by the periodicals?"

Several parents and children moved to one side. Another woman, younger and slender came over to the parents of the younger students. "Good afternoon," she said. "My name is Miss Charlotte Matthews, I am the head of the lower grades. I am also the first grade teacher. How many of you are going into the first grade?"

Miss Matthews knelt down to get to the kids' level. Taylor was the only one to raise her hand. "Looks like I have one student. What is your name?"

Taylor looked back at Danny and Lindsay, overcome with a bought of shyness that she got from Lindsay. "Taylor Lindsay Messer," she said quietly.

"Well Miss Taylor Lindsay Messer," Miss Matthews said, "I am honored to be your teacher this year. Who are your parents?"

Taylor pointed back to Danny and Lindsay. "My mommy and daddy are crime scene investigators. They work with my Uncle Mac, Aunt Stella, Uncle Flack, Uncle Hawkes and Aunt Peyton," Taylor said, suddenly unable to turn off her voice box. "Cept, they aren't my real aunts and uncles, but Daddy says they are because we spend more time with them than we do with Uncle Louie and Aunt Irene."

"Wow, it seems like you have quite the family. Does anyone else want to talk about their families?" Miss Matthews asked.

A few other kids spoke up. Danny was amazed at how quickly Taylor could turn on and off her shyness. She was like this with everyone. Even to those that she had known all her life, Taylor would pull out the shy card and play it to her advantage.

After Miss Matthews got a few more kids to speak up she took the twenty or so parents and kids on a tour of the lower classes.

"Each teacher has their own personal schedule that they follow from day to day. The students in my class have music and PE every Monday and Thursday afternoons. We go the library every Friday and we try to keep an accurate reading log. The kindergarten and first graders are encouraged to try to read with their parents on a daily basis. We at St. Sebastian's believe that eighty percent of learning takes place at home and not at school. Do you have any questions so far?"

The group came back to the lobby. The tour was over. "All right. We shall see all the students here on Monday. Welcome to St. Sebastian's."

Just as Miss Matthews was finishing her talk Danny's pager went off. He pulled his girls aside. "Dispatch. I have to go. I'll see you at home."

He kissed Taylor on the cheek. He hugged Lindsay and gave her a kiss. "I love you. I'll see you at home."

"I love you too."

Taylor waved to her father as he got into the Envoy and drove off into the city. She then took her mother's hand and the pair walked down the sidewalk.

"So what do you think of your new school?" Lindsay asked.

"I haven't started yet Mom," Taylor replied. "But Miss Matthews seems nice."

"I think you'll really like this school," Lindsay said looking down at Taylor.

"I think I will too, Mommy."

Later that night after Taylor was tucked into bed and the house was all quiet, Lindsay waited for Danny to return home. Even though she knew he was safe, with Mac, Stella or Flack, she still worried. She hated to hear the phone ring late at night; always afraid it would be bad news.

Soon, shortly after midnight she heard the front door open quietly, keys be set in the bowl by the door and the soft treads of feet on the stairs. She rolled over in bed to watch as he came into their room. He slipped silently into the room and kicked off his shoes. She watched him dig in his piles of clothes for his sweats as he peeled off his dress shirt and pants. He slipped in next to her, placing his glasses on the nightstand then rolling over to her.

"Welcome home," she whispered, kissing him tenderly.

"Good to be here," he replied. "I missed you today."

"I did too," she said, wiggling into the curve of his body, feeling him wrap his arms around her. This was what Lindsay loved about Danny. He could have had the hardest day of his career and he would still come home and take her in his arms. She loved the feeling of being in his embrace, feeling his day's growth on her cheek when he kissed her goodnight. To Lindsay this was her heaven.

For Christmas the year before Danny had bought Lindsay season tickets to the Met. Four nights a month for a year they got a chance to dress up, go out to dinner and to a show without Taylor. They had adjusted their schedules so they would not be on call on those nights. On those nights Taylor would go over to Grandma's and come home smelling like tomato sauce and vanilla candles.

A few weeks after Taylor had started at St. Sebastian's it was Danny and Lindsay's night out. Connie came over just as Taylor got home from school, ready to enjoy having her granddaughter over. There was not a child that Connie Messer loved more than Taylor.

Their night started out like any other. Danny got into his suit and waited for Lindsay to be ready. She loved to look her absolute best on these date nights. Danny sat down in the living room waiting for her. He heard their bedroom door open and then he heard her soft footsteps on the stairs. He looked up and saw her.

She was wearing a new dress. It was a strapless green gown with black embroidered ivy curling around her curves. She had her hair pulled up in a messy French twist. She had on the diamond journey pendant Danny had bought her for their first anniversary. She had a black silk shawl draped over her shoulders.

"You look absolutely beautiful Montana," Danny breathed. He held out his arm to her and she gladly took it. "When did you get this dress?"

"Awhile back. I was waiting for the right night to wear it," she answered.

"Glad to see that you found it."

He led her out of the house and down to the street. Sometimes Danny would hire a limo to pick them up and take them to their restaurant, but other times they would take the good old fashioned yellow taxi cab. Besides teaching Lindsay the proper way to eat a pizza, he taught her how to spot a gypsy cab. He still had issues with gypsy cabs even after that one case.

A bright yellow cab pulled to the curb and Danny opened the door for her. On the drive over to the Met, Lindsay laid her head on Danny's shoulder and enjoyed the silence between them. In those moments all the stress of the day melted away. The world then revolved around them.

After the show Danny and Lindsay walked out to the curb watching for a cab. A young man in a hooded sweatshirt walked towards them. He was completely out of place amongst the fancy dressed people coming out of the Met. He was hanging his head low and had his hands buried in his pocket.

Lindsay noticed him first and leaned closer to Danny. Danny felt her tense up and he put his arm around her tighter. The young man walked past them. He suddenly turned back and pulled out the gun that he had stashed in his pocket. He pointed it at Danny and Lindsay. Danny took a step in front of Lindsay, blocking her from the shooter.

"What do you want?" Danny asked, staying calm.

The kid looked perplexed as if this was his first hold up. He looked around nervously. Danny took a few steps closer to the kid, trying to get him to back down.

"Get back!" the kid yelled.

"Come on, you don't want to do this," Danny said. "How about I give you my wallet and my watch and we just about our business?"

Danny reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his wallet. He held it out to the kid. As the kid reached out for Danny's wallet he saw the diamond necklace hanging from Lindsay's neck.

"The necklace," the kid said suddenly. "That too."

Lindsay covered it with her hand backing away. That necklace was the first gift that Danny had ever given her. She was not about to part with it just because some punk kid had her so frightened she couldn't move.

"Montana, give him the necklace," Danny urged.

In a split second Danny heard the gun cock and then it was fired. Before he knew what had happened the kid ran down the street and he saw Lindsay fall to the ground. Everything was moving in slow motion for Danny. He ran to Lindsay's side, taking hold of her hand. A dark colored stain was growing on the front of her gown.

"Lindsay! Montana!" Danny was sobbing.

Her breathing was labored and shallow. What little strength she had was focused on Danny's hand. Danny stroked her face, whispering through his tears that everything was going to be all right.

Several other patrons had gathered around Several had pulled out their cell phones. One man knelt beside the distraught Danny, telling him that an ambulance was on the way. The man took off his jacket and pressed it over Lindsay's wound.

"Danny?" Lindsay called out. "Danny?"

"I'm right here baby. I'm right here," Danny replied.

"I love you. Tell Taylor that I'll always be with her," Lindsay was mumbling. "Danny. Danny. Dann…"

"NO! LINDSAY! LINDSAY!" Danny screamed. "Lindsay! Montana come back! Mrs. Messer, come on! Baby? Lindsay?"

Across town at the lab Mac got a call from dispatch. Shots had been fired outside the Met. One casualty. There were very few times that Mac felt like he was legitimately having a heart attack. He had it once when he found out about Claire, another when he heard about Stella and now this moment. He knew from his schedule that it was Danny and Lindsay's night at the opera. Fearing the worst he was the second on the scene. The first was Flack. The look on the young man's face was not the face that Mac wanted to see.

"Flack?" Mac asked, already knowing the answer.

"It's Lindsay," Flack said, his voice catching.

"Where's Danny?"

"With Lindsay. He won't leave her."

Mac nodded knowingly. The two men walked over to the stretcher, both placing a comforting hand on Danny's convulsing shoulders. The man in front of them was not the Danny they knew and loved. This was a heartbroken man in a Danny suit. In that instant they knew nothing in Danny Messer's life was going to be the same. Danny climbed into the ambulance and took the drive to the ME's office. Mac called ahead and had Peyton and Sid standing by to be there when Danny arrived. Solving Lindsay Messer's murder would become high priority in the lab.

"Don, I want you and Stella to go over to Danny's parents," Mac said. "I want a friendly, familiar face to tell Taylor that her mother is gone. I'll be at the lab."

Flack nodded and began the heartbreaking dialing of Stella's cell. He shakily put the phone to his ear and delivered the bad news.

"Stel?" Flack said, his voice catching. "Are you sitting down? Lindsay's gone."

"What? No!" was Stella's reaction.

"Mac wants us to go over to the Messers and tell Taylor ourselves. He wants her to have a friendly, familiar face to tell her. Meet me there?"

"Yeah."

Flack went to his car and began the drive. The silence in the car was getting to him and he flipped on the radio. He turned the stations until he heard an old Phil Vasser song come on. The song was about a man whose best friend's wife had just died and how he had been wasting time in his own life. How strange it was that Flack heard that song on the drive to his best friend's parents' place to let them know that their daughter in law had been killed.

How was he going to find the words to console them? How was he going to look his goddaughter in the eye and tell her that her mother was gone? Don Flack had no idea what he was going to say to Taylor Lindsay Messer when he saw her. He was having trouble telling himself. He came to a stop outside the Messers just as Stella came up behind him.

Stella Bonasera-Flack had a similar drive. She couldn't believe that something like this could happen to one of their own, again. First Aiden and now Lindsay. Stella, like Flack had no idea what she was going to say to Connie, Vito and Taylor Messer. All she could hope for would be the right words for her and Flack to say.

Flack took his wife's hand and they walked up to the front porch. They rang the bell and was soon showered with the soft glow of the porch light. They heard the patter of soft feet in the hallway. The door opened and Taylor stood in front of them with a quizzical look on her face.

"Aunt Stella? Uncle Don? Why are you here?" Taylor asked.

Stella knelt down in front of Taylor, hating what she was going to have to tell her. "Can we come in? We have to tell you and your grandparents something important."

Taylor nodded. She slipped in between her godparents, taking each one by the hand. Stella shut the door behind her. They were led into the living room where Connie, Vito and Taylor were watching a movie. Connie looked over at the Flacks and knew instantly something was wrong.

"Something's happened, hasn't it?" Connie said, flipping off the movie.

Stella and Flack sank onto the couch, trying very hard to keep it together. Tears were already forming in Stella's eyes.

"Yeah Connie, something has," Stella answered. "Something horrifying."

Seven year old Taylor retreated into her grandmother's lap. She had never seen her godparents this upset before. She could only assume that the news was bad.

"Tonight, just after the opera, a young man, attempted to rob Danny and Lindsay," Stella began. "Danny tried reasoning with the guy but he shot—he shot Lindsay. She's gone."

The color drained from Connie's face. She held tightly to Taylor, not believing that the child on her lap's mother was gone. He bottom lip quivered and she held back her tears. What she really wanted to do was scream and cry but she couldn't frighten Taylor.

"Aunt Stella, where's my Mommy?" Taylor asked, tears already dripping down her cheeks.

This was the question that Stella did not have the heart to answer. She left the comforting space next to Flack and crossed the room to Taylor. She knelt down in front of her. Stella took Taylor's small hands in her own.

"Taylor, your mom has gone to heaven. She's flying on a cloud watching over you," Stella said, her voice catching. "Taylor, I'm going to tell you something that your mom told me about you. You are the best thing that ever happened to your mom. She loved you more than anyone else I knew."

Tears were pouring down Taylor's cheeks. She was having a hard time understanding what Stella was telling her.

"I want my Daddy!" she exclaimed suddenly. She pried herself out of her grandmother's grasp and ran from the room, leaving the four grieving adults. Connie sat back, muttering in Italian. The ever present silent Vito sat stunned in his chair.

Danny stood across from Peyton as she undressed the still and lifeless Lindsay. There was no one else in that room but her and Danny. She slipped off Lindsay's wedding and engagement rings and placed them in an envelope. She did the same with the pendant around her neck.

"Danny, are you all right?" Peyton asked.

"No. I'm not. Nothing is ever going to be right again. She can't be gone. Damnit Peyton, she's survived a smoke bomb, a cobra bite, a subway tunnel collapse and a different gunshot wound. Why now!?"

"I can't answer that for you Danny," Peyton said. "But there is somewhere else you should be right now."

Danny nodded in agreement. He needed to go home and get his little girl. He hated to leave Lindsay in this cold place but he had to get to his Taylor. It was close to two in the morning when he pulled in front of his parent's house. The porch light was the only light on in the entire house. He noticed that Flack and Stella's cars were still out front. Danny stared at the house.

He thought about the first time he had brought Lindsay over to meet his family It was Easter dinner just after they had gotten engaged. They had gotten into the house but he and Lindsay had gotten separated. He found her later in the kitchen stirring a pot of spaghetti sauce. He had told his mother that she couldn't banish Lindsay to the kitchen until they were married. Connie had scolded him in Italian but he had never told Lindsay what she had really said. What he told her was that it was never too early to learn how to make good sauce. But what Connie Messer had really told her son that day was this, "You break her, I break you."

Danny pounded the wheel of his car venting the anger, hurt, loneliness, bitterness and heartbreak out of his system. He wanted to be able to walk into his parents house without letting out the tears he knew he hadn't finished shedding for his Lindsay. He pushed open the door and stepped on the street. He crossed the yard to the front door and found it unlocked. He quietly entered his parent's house hoping that everyone was asleep. That way he wouldn't have to talk to anyone until the sun came up. Fate was not that kind to Danny Messer. He wandered into the kitchen and found Flack sitting at the table.

"Everyone's asleep Danny," Flack said. "Stella and your Mom are in with Taylor. She cried herself to sleep about an hour ago. I figured I'd wait up for you."

"He wanted her pendant and she wouldn't give it to him," Danny said. "Before I could do anything the punk had already fired and Lindsay was dying."

Flack sat back listening to Danny talk. As Danny talked, the tears that he hadn't wanted to shed again were starting to drip again.

"You wanna hear something funny?" Danny asked wiping at the tears on his cheek.

"What?" Flack responded.

"You remember that case Mac and I had a few years ago, the one with the poisoned clothes?"

"Vaguely," Flack said. "I was working with Stella and Aiden on the Staten Island monastery case. The Jewish wedding one?"

"Yeah that one. While we were processing, I was being sarcastic about the flight of the doves representing the couples union and eternal love. Mac looked over at me and said, 'It could happen to you, you know.' I replied with 'What? Marriage?' Mac looked over at me in his serious Mac face and said, 'No love.' I laughed and we ended the conversation with me saying this, 'Don't even joke about that stuff, Mac. It's not funny.' About a year later in walks this girl and slowly but surely Mac's words start haunting my thoughts. Funny how he's always right."

Danny looked over Flack's shoulder and saw a little reddish-blonde girl standing in the doorway of the kitchen. Her bright blue eyes shone with tears. Danny got up from the kitchen table and knelt down in front of his daughter.

"I want Mommy back," Taylor sniffled, throwing her arms around Danny.

"I know baby, I know," Danny said, cradling her. "I do too."

A few days later Lindsay's parents arrived in the city for Lindsay's service. It was the first time Taylor and Danny had seen them in about four years. Danny had been out with Flack, making the arrest on the kid that had shot Lindsay. Jerry, Becky and Richie Monroe arrived at the Messer's place.

The past few days had been very hard for everyone. Most of all for Taylor. Connie had decided that there had been too many tears shed that week that no more were allowed around Taylor. She did everything she could to keep Taylor busy. She had Taylor help her make cannolis, they did 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles, watched movies, played cards; did anything to keep Taylor from being too sad.

Taylor had not seen Jerry and Becky Monroe since she was three and really had no memory of them. She became her shy self when they arrived. She hid behind her Nanna peeking every now and then at the other side of her family. Jerry was looking around the house looking for signs of his son in law.

"Where's Danny?" Jerry asked.

"He's out with Don arresting the man responsible for this," Connie said. "Would you care for some coffee?"

"That would be nice Connie," Becky said politely. "Hi Taylor. Can I have a hug?"

Taylor looked up at her Nanna and Connie nodded. She came out from behind her and crossed over to Becky. Becky threw her arms around her so tightly Taylor could barely breathe. Taylor wiggled out of Becky's embrace and went back to Nanna Connie.

"When's Danny getting back?" Jerry asked.

"He didn't say," Connie said, bluntly. Her nerves were already shot with trying to be strong for her son and granddaughter. She did not have the energy to fight with the Monroes. "Despite the reasoning behind you being here, I would like to try to have a nice visit."

"A nice visit?" Jerry snapped. "My daughter has been murdered! And you want to have a 'nice visit'? What is wrong with you?!"

"Taylor, go up to your room please," Connie said. "Nanna needs to talk to your grandparents. Ok?"

Taylor nodded and walked sullenly up the stairs to the room that she and Nanna Messer had decorated a few months back. When Connie heard the door shut she turned back to Jerry Monroe.

"I know you're upset about Lindsay! We all are! Vito and I have done everything we could to make this easier on Taylor. You should know as well as Danny what it's like to lose your wife, the mother of your children!" Connie yelled. "Danny is dealing with this tragedy in the only way he knows how. Lindsay would want this person put away so no other little girl would be without her mother! What that little girl upstairs needs right now is not for the six of us to be yelling and screaming at each other. What she needs is to be told all the wonderful things her mother did, said, created, loved. That way Lindsay will always be with us, living out in the life of Taylor Lindsay Messer. That is who we need to be focusing on. Not this."

Tears were dripping down Connie's face. She was so angry at the way Jerry Monroe was acting that it made her want to wring his neck. They were not the only ones hurting over the loss of Lindsay. It was not just the Messers and the Monroes affected by Lindsay's passing. It affected the Flacks, the Taylors, everyone around them.

"This is Danny's fault you know that right?" Jerry snapped. "He could have easily prevented this from happening. If it's the last thing I do, Danny Messer will pay for this."

"Jerry! You stop it now!" Connie shouted. "This is no more my son's fault as it is Lindsay's. Would you rather it be Danny that we bury tomorrow morning? Because that's another way this could have turned out! No one asked for this to happen."

"You don't want me to answer that question. Cause I'm pretty sure you don't want to hear what I have to say."

"Come on Pop," Richie said, putting his hand on his father's elbow. "Let's go. You need to calm down."

Richie Monroe led his father outside and out to their rental car. Becky stopped at the doorpost, turning back to Connie. "I'm so sorry Connie," Becky said. "I really am."

The next morning it was a somber service. Danny and Taylor stood closet to the casket with their pillars of strength on either side of them. Connie next to Taylor and Vito next to Danny. Behind the Messers, clumped to one side was Jerry, Becky and Richie Monroe. Beside them was Flack, Stella, Mac, Peyton, Hawkes, and Adam.

The mournful words were spoken. Then Danny addressed the mourners.

"It was a brisk fall day when I first met the woman who would become my wife. I was working with my mentor and boss Mac Taylor on a case in the zoo. This girl came up to Mac, introduced herself as Lindsay Monroe. After getting off on the wrong foot, meaning I teased her and got her on the fact that Mac didn't like to be called sir, Lindsay and I got to be really good friends," Danny read from a set of note cards he had spent the entire night writing. "I wouldn't admit it then, but I was falling in love with this little country girl. There was nothing that I wouldn't do for her. Then one day we were working on a case in the old Taylor street subway station. A construction crew was collapsing part of the tunnel to make room for a new connecting one. A crew member had gotten killed and we were down there collecting the evidence. She had followed a trail and before we knew the tunnel had collapsed again. Lindsay was trapped and I couldn't get to her."

Danny stopped for a moment to catch his breath. "That was the first time I told her that I loved her. It was on the helicopter taking her to the hospital. About a year and a half later we were married. Then she gave us the greatest present anyone could ask for. Our daughter Taylor Lindsay Messer. Yes we did name our daughter after a subway station and our boss. Because according to Montana, if it hadn't been for those two we wouldn't have what we had. Lindsay Diane 'Montana' Messer, was the best friend, wife, mother anyone could have asked for. I loved her more than she knew and I know that my life will never be the same without her in it."

The casket was lowered into the ground and it was more than Danny could take. The one thing he loved more than anything else in his life was gone and wouldn't be coming back. What was he going to do now? How on earth was he going to raise his daughter by himself? He knew he'd have his parents and his friends to help him. But would that be enough for Taylor? Would it be enough for him?

He stood alone in front of Lindsay's gravestone. Lindsay Diane Messer, loving mother, wife and friend. To my Montana, wheat fields and skylines forever. Those were the words that Danny had etched into the cold, unfeeling marble. His parents had taken Taylor back to their house for Lindsay's wake. He felt the presence of someone behind him. He turned around and faced Jerry and Becky Monroe.

"Jerry I am begging you, don't do this," Becky whispered.

"What's going on?" Danny asked, pushing up his glasses.

Jerry pressed an envelope into Danny's hand and then walked away. Danny looked down at the envelope. He tore it open and felt his heart stopped. Jerry was suing him for custody of Taylor.