Come Back Home
By

Title: Come Back Home
Author: Diane
Email: [email protected]
Catagory: Drama
Rating:
Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to these characters, so don't sue me.
Pairing: LDF/ LK
Author's Notes: Songfic based on Janis Joplin's Farwell Song.
Personal Note: Dedicated to Kristen. Missing since 6/23/97. You are in our thoughts and prayers. May you be returned to all who love you so this pain can end.
Summary: Lenny needs his daughter home.

COME BACK HOME


Mr. Kosnowski, can you hear me?"

Lenny looked up at the unfamiliar face, suddenly aware of where he was.

"Almost done with your make-up. You go on in five minutes."

It's funny how life changes. Years ago he would have be thrilled to be on television. He dreamed of playing the guitar in front of a live audience while all of Milwaukee saw how he finally became a big star. But now he was sick of it. The rain was beating down outside. All he wanted to do was climb into bed and hold Laverne. The last thing he wanted to do was to be on a talk show talking about his daughter, again. All he wanted was a normal life. Hell, he hardly knew what normal was anymore. Not since that awful afternoon....

Life was perfect. He and Laverne were blissfully happy.Their daughter Kristen was their biggest joy. Lenny bragged to anyone with ears that she was the sweetest and smartest baby ever born. Even when Kristen was in her teenage years, she still managed to keep a close connection to her parents. She never lied, never held back anything. Lenny never imagined fatherhood to be so easy, but it was. Their bond was tight and when Kristen suddenly decided at age eighteen to leave for the summer to work in San Francisco, Lenny was heartbroken. Laverne insisted the independence would be good for her since Lenny was always smothering her with his love. Kristen even decided to give Berkeley a try. She signed up for some photography courses, a hobby she got from her mom.

Everything seemed perfect for Kristen's future, until that Saturday night when Kristen didn't call home.

"She's probably just out having fun and forgot what time it is," Laverne said.

"Nah, this just isn't like her Vernie. She's always called us when she said she would. She never forgets," said Lenny.

When the phone finally did ring that Sunday afternoon, their lives changed forever. It was Kristen's new roommates. All Lenny could understand was something about Kristen leaving work at the coffee shop, but never arriving at her apartment. She never picked up her paycheck either. As far as everyone knew, she simply vanished.

As hours turned to days, days turned to weeks, there was still no sign from Kristen. The police continued on the case, but since she was no longer a minor, less attention was brought to it. Lenny pleaded with detectives to keep searching but finally they stopped. Laverne and Lenny quickly used up all their life savings on private detectives. They moved out of the house of their dreams and into a small studio apartment in a bad section of town. Everyone helped them. Shirley, Carmine and even Squiggy gave all they could. But it just was never enough. Their only hope was to keep Kristen in the media so that somewhere, someone might recognize their daughter and help her to come home.

Lenny's heart sunk. Sure Laverne had hopes of Kristen's return, but Lenny thought the worst.

"She has amnesia, she's lost and she has no idea how to get home" was Laverne's only thought.

But Lenny knew. He knew that the little girl he raised, the little girl that sat on his knees and played peek-a-boo for hours was never going to come home. If only he could tell her again how much he loved her.....

"Okay Mr. Kosnowski, you're all set. Make a left and that will bring you to the stage. Mr. Donahue will be waiting for you, and when they announce you, you go on."

Lenny realized it was time to tell the world once again about Kristen. Maybe this time would be different. As he wiped a tear away from his eye, he prayed that maybe today was going to be the day that one of these interviews produced his daughter. He could only hope.

Well, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
What would I do without you, child?
I'm afraid that I can't say.
But I hope, honey, that when you will remember
Lord, it'll be, it'll be such a sunny day.









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