-1Was this death?

There began unending darkness, and a heartbeat. Wailing sound, and nothing else. The feeling of sadness within my body, diminished. Weightless. My burden, released. Gone.

A touch, embellished with impassioned naturalness, met with my hand.
A comfort, seemingly familiar came to me. It spoke.

"It's okay now, Danny"

"I've done many things I'm not proud of."

"I know. I forgive you. You're safe now"

Then it disappeared, and glowing lights dance in the shadows of what I couldn't see. Muffled Voices, coming from each and every direction in this darkness. A bright light appears before me, beyond comprehension.

Such an amazing sight.

Was this heaven? Am I moving forward?

Faint shadows decorate my view, and more voices appear. Was this real? Is this the way station to the afterlife? Was this walking into the light?

I see a shadow coming before me, coming closer and closer. I hold out my hand, reaching for it.

"Danny"

"Is this death?"

"No.. Far from it."

Suspended from euphoria, I fell back into my shell.

The voice became clear, one of my life lived before. A friend, but it held authority.

"Mac?"

I focused my eyes, albeit unsuccessfully at the figure before me. Everything fell back into a blurry mess.

"NO…no…no!!"

Feeling came back to me, as the sheets and foam from under me came on fire.

"Danny. Stop"

"She's DEAD. It's all my fault!. I failed."

"Why did you even think that this would solve your problem?"

I couldn't even come up with an answer, I shot silence back at him.

"The bullet put pressure on your right cerebral cortex. You were lucky. The doctor says you'll regain full vision. Even more. You're alive."

I felt ashamed in the fact, that I've let everybody in my life down. Many have paid dearly for my ignorance.

"Danny. The only way that you can fix this, is by coming back. With a vengeance. You come back and you help me put them away. Each and every last one of them. I'm willing to forget everything you've done. The result is punishment enough. I almost lost a friend tonight. Just as I told Aiden before, and I'll tell you this now. This case will be on top of my desk, till we put everyone away."

A renewed energy formed from within me, a new sense of purpose. It felt good to be alive once again. It became necessary, to get all those bastards who took everything meaningful from me.

"I won't let you down, Lindsay"

---

4 Years Later.

"3x life sentence, to be served consecutively. No chance of parole. That's the last one. It's all done"

Mac takes the file from the corner of his desk, and files it away in the cabinet. He pauses in thought, as he closes the drawer.

"You did it Danny, you stayed on course."

For the first time in 4 years, I didn't have to constantly look over my shoulder. It was the sound of freedom, as I heard the drawer close. It was a shame that Lindsay wasn't here to witness this moment.

I had made the fast-track to first grade CSI since then. Since I started this mission to put all of Tanglewood away.

It all was put into motion, thanks to Lindsay.

I look to Mac, who was wearing a smile on his face. "Take a few weeks off, Danny. You long overdue."

"Mac. I just wanted to say. Thanks. Thank you."

I head out, on my way to finally live my life once again.

--

The view was phenomenal. Nothing but water, and tree littered coastline. I push back into the Adirondack chair that I was sitting in, pulling the throw over my body.

I had just settled into this new cottage, that I just bought here in Maine 6 months ago. Just so that I could be near to her family, whenever they were in town It was nice and small, not too big. Right on the water. The place also came with a sailboat, what a deal. I had named it Montana.

The sea-side air and the secluded ness, infused a sense of renewal and a new beginning.

I wasn't ready for a new relationship, I wasn't able to move on since that night 4 years ago.

'I need to get on the water. Can't waste this gorgeous sunshine.'

Walking back inside, I find a suitable outfit to head into the water.

Board shorts and a beater will do. Nodding my head, I close the drawer and my eyes drift up to the photo of Lindsay and I on her family's boat.

I smile. "I did it Lindsay. I did it."
Oh god. Her glowing smile, that lit up the room like a supernova. The warmth, like early mornings surrounding me in bed with her. Could I ever forget that look.

--

It was nice for once to go barefoot, never in New York though. The wood planks beneath my feet were warm and soft. As I made my way down the docks, I see a little girl. Alone. Could be no more than 5. '

"How could a mother leave her child out here, she could fall into the water."

Before I could say anything, she notices me first.

"Hi. You're real."

Confused, I kneel down to meet her eye to eye.

"I'm real as you, Hon."

"No, Mistur.."

As I looked into her eyes I saw it. Though obviously juvenile, this little girl's features. Her brown curly hair, her blue eyes, her little lips. Even the way she held her ground. It all became hauntingly familiar.

"You're in Mommy's picture."