A/N: Okay, so I have about four fics to update a day now to keep them from going on hiatus. They are: "Won't Back Down", "Worlds Apart" , "Starting With Me" , and "NYPD's Love Triangle" (In collaboration with myself and xSunkissedxx) This means I now have littler time to do other things, like go on a website I frequent (I'm a die-hard Warrior cats fan, so I go on a chat site called Warriors Fantasy. If you ever go there and see a white pawn with the name 'Thorne' or 'Alice Quarantine' , it's me c:) and other things...because of my little ritual when I write. Music, WF, polyvore, a drink, and a snack.

Rain: I know, it's so sad when people die! I wanted to make Frankie and Isabella a little closer, so I threw that in. I feel terrible for it, because I did that lol. I think she knows that Frankie's there for her and it scares her, because he might die too.


I hope you know, I hope you know

That this has nothing to do with you

It's personal, myself and I

We've got some straightening out to do

Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry


Isabella sat down in her truck, letter in hand as she ripped it open. With trembling hands, she opened the piece of paper and began to read. The letter was dated the day she was released from the hospital, she realized in surprise.

Izzy,

If you're reading this, I'm dead. There's no way around that. I just want you to know that I'm okay, even though I'm not there. Truth? I've never been good at sitting down and writing out my thoughts and feelings, especially for other people. But you knew that. I also want you to know that there's never been anyone after you. Yep, you had me whipped, honey. I know there's someone else, someone better for you than I was. Someone who was able to keep you and never let you go. I've been in love with you since the day you snapped at me at that murder scene. Remember Henry Darius? You were so serious about your job and you didn't let anyone tell you what to do.

She stopped reading, the tears blurring her vision. He didn't say "I was in love." He said "I've been in love." What kind of monster had she been, pushing away the first man she had ever let in? She had blamed herself when he was kicking himself twice as hard.

I love you, Bella.

The only man in the world who had been able to get away with calling her that. Sobs racked her as she rested her head against the steering wheel. Folding up the letter and sticking it into her console, she wiped away her tears.

"I'm Agent Zuko," a dark-haired man said with a wink. Isabella stuck her chin out defiantly as she crossed her arms over her chest. Mac usually let her take care of the FBI, because she had a way of getting them to back down.

"Detective Pacino," she introduced herself. He extended a hand and she glared at him. "This is the NYPD case, not an FBI case."

"Stubborn and beautiful, a deadly combination," Zuko said, closing his eyes for a moment. Isabella let out an indignant snort. "It's a sad day when Detective Taylor has to send one of his CSIs to do his dirty work."

"He sends me because I get the job done," she quipped. "Henry Darius is on Manhattan soil, that makes him NYPD's problem. You're more than welcome to oversee, but not interfere."

Isabella wiped her eyes and hopped down out of her truck. She walked into her house to pack her things for Dante's funeral in four days. The thought of saying goodbye to him was a lot to bear right now. It wasn't fair to Frankie that she kept pushing him away, but she needed space.


Seeing Isabella so depressed had crushed Frankie. She had lost weight, her hair hung limply from a half-assed ponytail. But what chilled him to the bone were her eyes. The blue eyes he loved to look into, what used to be so happy and joyful, had become deep-set and sorrowful, the happiness completely gone.

"Man, she's really messed up over Dante's death," Jane commented. She had expressed her concern over his dating a divorcee, but he had told her to ultimately back off.

"He was her husband," Frankie reminded her. "No matter if they're divorced or not, they loved each other at one point in time. You can't erase that."

And...he just set himself up for that.

"I know, you don't erase that sort of love. That's why most people don't date divorcees," she muttered. He kicked her shin as someone looked up.

"Ow," she growled at him. He scowled at her pointedly, letting her know someone was listening in.

"It's gonna sound cheesy, but I do love her," he muttered to her after Korsak walked by. "She needs me right now, I'm not gonna turn my back on her because she's divorced."

Jane rolled her eyes. "Oh, yuck, come on. Isabella's great, I really do like her, but she needs space right now. You need to give her space to think about everything that's happened," she replied. "If she wants you, then go to her."

"Jane, she's not the type to reach out for people. If she wants me, she's not gonna tell me," he argued.

"Then, it's up to you," Jane replied honestly. "I just don't want to see you get hurt again."


Isabella stood in the cemetery as she watched him being lowered into the ground. It was a horrendously reality now. Her life was going on without Dante. Exes all over had asked her how she could stomach being near her ex-husband, let alone being friends with him. She didn't know, but his friendship had been too valuable to lose. Now she wished she could have had a chance to say goodbye.

Her black skirt ruffled in the breeze as she stood motionlessly under the tree. Dante had still loved her, but had let her go to let her grow. Who else could love her like that? Who else had?

She felt someone slip their hand in hers and she looked up to see Don.

"Hey," she said softly. He opened his arms wordlessly and she stepped into his embrace.

"You'll be alright, Izzy," he told her. She wiped her eyes a tad, sniffling.

"That's the problem," she whispered.