Frank and Elaina once again fell into a routine after he got the cast removed from his leg and he was able to work again. She went back to work at the Billings office, supervising the local investigations. She hated being behind a desk and not out in the field, but she knew it was safer for her and the baby.

Frank tried to be home for all her doctor’s appointments. He missed the ultrasound appointment she had to find out the baby’s sex, so Elaina told the doctor she didn’t want to know until Frank was available to come with her. She wanted to see the look on his face.

She was into her fourth month before Frank was available to go with her for an appointment. When the doctor showed them the ultrasound, declaring they had a healthy little girl, Frank was ecstatic. After the appointment, they went home and sat together with a baby name book to pick a name.

“Do you have any names picked out before we start?”

“I only know I want her to have Elizabeth for a middle name. I love the name and I told Mom one time I would use it if I had a girl.”

“Sounds good to me,” Frank said, opening the book. He didn’t start at the beginning, he just opened it and started reading off names. “Sabrina!”

“No! Reminds me of someone I thought was my friend years ago.”

“Okay, how about Sadie. It means princess. I like the meaning.”

“I don‘t like the name! Next!”

“Samantha?”

“Maybe,” she said. “What does it mean?

“Listener”

“Still a maybe. Keep going.”

“Umm, Sarah.”

“Definite maybe.”

“It means Princess as well. I think that would be appropriate since I call you Lady.”

“So, is that a definite yes for you?”

“Yeah, what about you?”

“Sarah Elizabeth Donovan. It has a nice flow to it. I say yes!”

“Now, I suppose you want to go buy wallpaper and furniture for her room?”

“Well, I think it would be a good idea. I still have Derek‘s crib. He has been wanting a big boy’s room since he found out he was going to be a big brother,” she explained. So, we can move him to one of the larger bedrooms.

“He should have one. So, which room does he get?”

“I think the one closest to the bathroom until he gets better control of his bed wetting,” Elaina suggested.

“Good idea. Do you want me to help him move tomorrow?”

“That would be good if you don‘t get called. He’d probably say tonight.”

“That won’t happen. He’ll be too tired from the auction,” Frank said. “When are they due back?”

“In a couple of hours. We have time to fool around,” she said coyly.

“This raging hormone thing you have going is a good thing,” he said, kissing her.

“Get it while you can. I never know when we’ll have to stop because its too uncomfortable.”

“No time like the present,” he said, holding his hand out to her when he stood.

By Thanksgiving, Miranda and Trevor had grown so much in love they decided it was time for them to get married. They had a relationship much like Frank and Elaina only Miranda wasn’t an agent. She accepted his career and the fact he would be gone days, weeks, or even months at a time. She involved herself in a community theater group in Atlanta where she and Trevor called home. She also worked at a restaurant waiting tables.

They planned to announce the wedding date during Thanksgiving dinner at his parents house. Frank and Elaina were to be there as well, but Derek had the flu and they decided to stay in Montana and celebrate there. Trevor and Miranda were driving up from Atlanta instead of flying. They left a week before Thanksgiving to give themselves plenty of time together. They were in Pennsylvania where it had been raining for a few days. It was dark and the rain made it even darker. Miranda was scared with so much rain coming down.

The road ahead was covered in water. Trevor got out and looked it over, thinking it was safe for them to cross. He got back in and smiled a comforting smile. He could tell she was nervous, but he had taken this same road many times going to visit his parents. He was confident it was safe enough for them. What he didn’t know was there were flash flood warnings in the area.

He started through the water, as he did, the water started to come into the car. Miranda started yelling for him to stop. He still thought he could make it, only suddenly the car started to move sideways and off the road.

He unbuckled Miranda’s seat belt and rolled down her window. He wanted to get her on top of the car out of the water. When she was halfway out the window, the car hit something and was no longer moving. “This might be our only chance to get out of here.” Trevor told her.

He hoped another car would stop on either side and see they needed help. He got her on top of the car then he joined, her holding on to her. He tried his cell phone but there was no service in the area. There was a roaring sound in the distance. He wondered if it was a truck of something coming down the road. Where was the road? It was too dark to tell. He didn’t see any headlights either, but the sound was getting louder. He suddenly realized it was water rushing towards them.

“Shit! Hang on, Randa!” he said over the roar of the flood. He put his body over hers then grabbed on to the car as best he could. The rush of the water caused the car to start moving again. He barely heard Miranda crying and screaming as the car flowed with the water. He couldn’t feel her underneath him anymore. “Miranda!” He cried out, thinking she had washed away from him only he realized he was the one being pulled away from the car not her!

The next morning, Miranda awakened in a hospital room and Vincent and Francesca were by her bedside. It took her a moment to realize where she was and what had happened. She started to cry.

“You’re gong to be okay, Miranda,” Francesca said, patting her hand.

“Where’s Trevor?” she managed to ask.

“They are still looking for him.”

“How long has it been?” she asked, sitting up.

“Its been a while. Don’t worry they’ll find him,” Francesca said, hoping it was true.

“No. They won’t find him. It has been too long. If you are here it has been hours! He’s dead. I killed him. I killed him!”

Francesca held her while Vincent got a nurse to come in to sedate her. She was right, Trevor was gone, but she didn’t kill him, the water did. They only hoped they found his body soon. “Fran, when did Frank and Elaina say they’d be here?” he asked when they left to let Miranda sleep.

“Three hours; weather permitting. Frank said he would go straight to the sheriff and get an update after he brought Elaina here,” she said, rubbing his back.

“She needs Elaina. Maybe we’re wrong thinking he’s gone. Maybe he hasn’t found a way to contact us,” Vincent said. He wasn’t ready to give up on his son yet. Could he be right? He prayed he was.

After Elaina arrived and got an update on her sister, she went to sit with her. Miranda slept restlessly before awakening. Elaina held her while she explained what happened. “This isn’t your fault, Randa.”

“Yes it is, I was in a hurry to get to New York. I had a friend who wanted to meet Trevor. We were going to have dinner together. Why did we drive? We should have flown.”

“Honey, Trevor loved to drive. He always drove from Atlanta to see his parents. He loved the countryside. He knew those roads better than anyone as often as he took them.”

“We were going to get married. We were going to announce it during dinner on Thanksgiving to his parents, then we were going to call you and Frank. Now, it will never happen. I’ve lost the man I truly loved.”

“Randa, I’m so sorry. I wish I knew what to say to comfort you.”

“I want to get out of here and go find him,” Miranda announced.

“Honey, Frank, and Reese are with the search party, they’ll find him. You need to rest,” Elaina said, trying to keep her in bed.

“I want out of here, please. I can rest later. I want to go home…to Atlanta.”

“No, I want you to stay with me and Frank for a while. I won’t take no for an answer. Besides, it will be the only way you get out of here.”

“All right!”

“Fine, now rest until I get back with the paperwork to spring you from here.”

“I promise.”

The sheriff called off the rescue search after two days. They figured if he was alive, he would have contacted someone by now. All they could do now was wait for the water to recede and hope they found his body. Frank and Reese continued to search on foot along the water‘s edge in hopes of finding some sign, but they didn’t find anything. The family had rooms at the local hotel. When Frank told his parents they were giving up the search as well, his mother finally broke down. His father comforted her as best he could while Reese did the same for Miranda.

Frank left the room, he couldn’t bear to see his mother like that. He went out to walk the halls. Elaina followed after talking to Miranda for a moment. She looked for him and found him leaning against the wall at the elevator. When he saw her approaching, he met her halfway. His eyes were red having had finally broken down too. They held each other tight, he broke away when he felt the baby kick.

“I guess we were squeezing her,” he said, smiling.

“She was trying to hug you too,” Elaina said, kissing his cheek.

“Leave it to you to think of that.”

“A little bit of sunshine for a dark day,” she said, forcing a smile.

“I feel so sorry for Miranda…for all of us.”

“I’ll help your parents with the arrangements if you think that will be okay.”

“I’m sure Dad will appreciate it. I don’t know if Mom will be able to deal with it.”

They all flew back to Frank’s parents home even though Miranda wanted to go to Atlanta. Reese helped Frank in making calls to other family members while Elaina talked to Vincent about funeral arrangements. There was something bothering Elaina in the back of her mind. It didn’t make any since they didn’t find a body after finding Miranda and the car. Miranda said they had been washed off the top of the car. She had managed to float until she found a tree she could climb for safety. Trevor was a good swimmer according to Frank and his parents. It just wasn‘t adding up.

“Vincent, I suggest you have only a memorial service. There is no need to go to the expense of burying an empty casket,” Elaina said.

“You don’t think he’s dead, do you?” Vincent inquired, whispering so his wife wouldn’t hear.

“No I just think burying an empty casket is weird. However, it is up to you and Fran,” she said. “I need to talk to Frank and Reese, excuse me.”

She found them in Vincent’s den talking. “Boys, we need to talk,” she announced, walking in and shutting the door.

“She feels it too,” Frank said.

“I feel what?” she wondered.

“You think Trevor disappeared on purpose,” Reese answered.

“Yes. I think we need to look into it before any other arrangements are made.”

“Good luck. I just called DEA headquarters in Atlanta and all I got was sympathy for my loss,” Frank said.

“We don’t call them. We go in person to Washington DC, where I can look into their beady eyes. We’ll find out the truth one way or the other,” she promised.

“I’m willing to fly you there, but shouldn’t I stay with Miranda and the Donovans if you’re both leaving?”

“Dad does have his hands full with Mom at the moment,” Frank stated.

“We’ll fly commercial. Whatever you do, don’t let Miranda or Fran hear you talking about this.”

“I won’t say a word. How are you going to up and leave without them getting suspicious?”

“Since Derek wasn’t feeling well, we can tell them we’re needed back home,” Frank suggested.

“Sounds good to me,” Elaina said. “Let’s get going. The sooner we find out, the better for all concerned.

The minute Frank and Elaina started asking to see the Director of the DEA they were met with resistance. After hours of waiting to get into his office, Frank decided force was needed to get what they wanted. He took Elaina by the hand and they walked directly into the office, with the secretary calling security.

“What is the meaning of this?” he yelled when they barged in.

“I’m Special Agent Frank Donovan and I want you to tell me where my brother is,” he demanded, leaning across the director’s desk to get in his face.

“I heard about your brother’s death. I can see you are in a state of denial…”

“Bullshit!” Elaina said, while gently pulling Frank back from the desk. “Don’t try to con me or Frank, director. We know Trevor is alive. We just want to know why he’s hiding out.”

“Who told you he was alive? He told me his family were not to know.”

“Thank you, director. It was nice of you to tell us the truth,” Elaina said, smiling as she sat down.

“Damn it, Blakely! You tricked me!”

“She damn well got the truth out of you. Now, tell me where he is!” Frank insisted.

“A drug cartel put a hit out on your brother. He had to fake his death to keep all of you safe. He doesn’t want any of you to be in danger. He said when the threat was over he would contact you.”

“I want to talk to him. Make it happen!” Frank demanded.

“Frank, we know he’s alive. We can’t risk blowing this by contacting him,” Elaina said. “We need to go back and follow through with it.”

“I can’t do that. I need to know about this cartel. I want to help him get back to us,” Frank argued.

“Agent Donovan, we will handle the cartel. Agent Blakely is right. You need to follow your brother’s wishes and assume he is dead for the sake of your lives and those of your family,” the director said.

“I can’t put them through this.”

“Frank, in our careers, we have to deal with collateral damage at times. You know that as well as I do,” Elaina said, rubbing his hand. “If you want to help Trevor, you have to make the world believe he is gone.”

“You’re right, I’ll do it for Trevor.”

“Director, please forgive us for the intrusion. Blame it on grief if you wish. I hope there will be no repercussions from this in our careers. We only wanted the truth.”

“I won’t say or do anything. This is to be kept between us and those few Trevor told.”

“Do you know if he told his fiancé?” she asked curiously.

“He was thinking about it, but I’m not sure. Why?”

“She’s my sister. However, I won’t say anything to her. Thank you and goodbye, Director.”

They headed back to his parents home. It hurt them to keep the secret, but they didn’t want to endanger them either. In their line of work, they always had to do things they didn’t like no matter how much or who it hurt.

Frank was quiet around his parents and Miranda, acting as distraught as he could in front of them. Elaina suggested they go with more of a wake than a memorial service. Celebrate his life and not morn it hoping they would get through it easier. They agreed it was a nice idea.

The day of the wake, Elaina stayed close to Frank. She was afraid he would break down and tell his parents the truth. Elaina thought sooner or later his love for his parents would bring the truth out. She watched Reese with Miranda. She had talked to her a lot over the past few days and she never once said or did anything to let her know if Trevor had told her the truth. If he had told Miranda, she was indeed giving an award winning performance.

She and Frank walked around talking to people, but he was in a daze for the most part. Elaina needed to use the restroom, so she left him with an old college friend. When she came out, she couldn’t find him anywhere. She walked outside and found him smoking, leaning against a wall.

“You know how I feel about you doing that,” she said, taking the cigarette from him and putting it out. She noticed another one on the ground he must’ve already smoked.

“I‘m sorry. A habit I picked up on tough assignments.”

“Here, chew this so if I kiss you, I don‘t taste it that much,” she said, giving him a stick of gum.

“I can’t go back in there, Lady. I can’t say good-bye to him knowing he isn‘t dead.”

“It’s hard, but you really need to be there for your mom and dad. They need you now more than any other time in their life. I’ll be there for you. I’ll do anything to help you make it through this day.”

“I want Trevor to show up before this is over. You can’t make that happen,” Frank said, angrily.

Elaina held him tight, feeling him tremble in her arms. It was tearing him up inside not being able to tell his parents the truth. She whispered words of love and encouragement, giving him light kisses on the face and neck. She hoped Trevor would be able to contact them soon.

After the wake, Francesca wanted to say good-bye to her first-born, so she asked the family members to form a circle and hold hands as each of them said good-bye in their own way. However, when it came time for her to speak she fainted. Vincent took her to their bedroom staying with her for a while.

Frank walked into the living room after checking on his parents. Elaina and Miranda cleaned up after all the other family had left. They noticed Frank was actually laughing while he sat on the couch alone.

“God, he finally lost it,” Elaina said walking over to him. “Frank, are you okay?”

“Don’t worry about me. I was just thinking of that day we met and all the grief Trevor gave me when I said I was going to marry you. We proved him wrong. He said it would never happen.”

“If we hadn’t gotten married he wouldn’t have Miranda now she whispered.

“Has she given you any indication she knows he’s still alive?” Frank wondered.

“None, maybe she will when things settle down here.”

Elaina went back to Laurel, after a few days while Frank stayed with his parents for a little while. Miranda went back to Atlanta, even thought Elaina asked her to stay at least until after Christmas at the ranch, but her request fell on deaf ears. This was the only clue she had that Miranda may know the truth. Knowing the training Trevor had, he had probably set up a way for them to communicate or see one another. He would be risking his life and Miranda’s if her hunch was right. She only hoped the danger of the hit was resolved quickly by his brother DEA agents.