Disclaimer: I own them!! I own them!! I own them!! Oh, oopsy, that was all a dream. Sigh. No, CSI: NY do not belong in any way, shape nor form to little ol' moi. Although, some new characters were created by me – does that count? Anywho – belong to Bruckheimer (when exactly is he going to complete his taking over the world plan?) and CBS (pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease kill off the 'reality' shows!!! For the love of humanity end Survivor!).

Rating: K+

Spoilers: Many, especially at the end, for all 3 seasons.

Category: Mac and Stella Friendship and MacPeyton – but very Smacked friendly!!

Author: Traci

Summary: Stella's world begins to fall apart around and Mac's world is about to do the same.

Thanks to Jacqueline for letting me ramble on during writer's block and helping me through it!! You're the best! Well, until someone brings me my new fave Starbuck's drink then eh, you might be second best LOL!! And another thanks to Tamara for picking up on the little details that so often get lost in fanfic – such as when one changes a scene and forgets to change all other references to that character later on!! Thanks.

Author's note: I like Peyton, I really, really do and if Mac was going to be with anyone other than Stella, Peyton's a good choice but… I still think Stella and Mac are meant to be. You're supposed to marry your best friend after all – the movies teach us that!!! And movies and TV never lie to us about real life!

Crashing Down On Them

Detective Mac Taylor sighed as he stared at the empty seat across from him. Rarely in his life had he ever been stood up - least of all by a current girlfriend. Usually Peyton called if she was held up at the medical examiner's office but based on how ticked off she was at him earlier, he figured she had gone home without giving him a second thought.

Picking up the now-cold dinner he had prepared, he took the plates to the kitchen and set them in the sink before looking at his phone. Peyton had been his first real relationship since Claire had died yet, somehow, even after a year he still felt awkward with her at times. She was hard to read. He was never sure what she was thinking. Maybe it was the challenge of her that attracted him to her but then she started questioning his friendship with Stella – complaining that he would always drop everything, including her, for Stella. And that was what led to the low-voiced fight in the hallway earlier that day.

As Mac flipped open his phone to call her, it rang in his hand. The caller ID let him know it was Flack.

"Another call?" he asked.

"Mac, I don't…" Detective Don Flack sighed, his voice strained. "It's Peyton. She's been shot."

Every fiber that was Mac Taylor froze.

"They're taking her to St. Vincent's. I'll call Stella to take this if you want."

"Yeah, that… yeah." Mac hung up, grabbed his coat and prayed she would be alright.

Stella Bonasera groaned when her cell phone started buzzing on the bedside table. Giving a quick glance at the clock, she groaned again. It wasn't even ten at night. All week she had felt the flu coming on and once it hit it hit hard.

"Hello?"

"Stella, it's Flack."

"Flack, I'm not really well, can't Mac take this call?"

He was silent for a brief moment. "No. Peyton was shot. Mac's going to the hospital."

Her eyes flew open. "Is she okay?"

"It didn't look good," he admitted. "If you're too sick…"

Stella was already out of bed and struggling to find proper work clothes. "No, I'm fine. I'll be there soon."

Mac rushed into the emergency room. Flashing his badge, he inquired about Peyton and was immediately told she had been taken directly to surgery. With a deep sigh, he turned and set himself for a long night of waiting.

"What happened?" Stella asked Flack as he walked up to her car.

"Not sure. According to a witness, a woman just stepped out of nowhere, shot Peyton and took off. He's giving a description n…"

"That's her!" they heard a man yelling as he ran towards them, followed closely by an officer. "That's the one who shot that poor woman!"

Flack looked at her.

"Well, I certainly didn't shoot her," she whispered.

The witness continued insisting Stella was the woman who shot Peyton until an officer escorted the witness into a nearby building.

"Stel, you know I'm going to have to ask where you were between eight and nine-thirty tonight."

"Flack, why would I even think of trying to kill Peyton?"

Danny arrived with Lindsay, interrupting Flack and Stella. "Hey, how is she?" Danny asked.

"Mac's at the hospital with her," Flack responded.

With a sigh, Stella turned to Lindsay and Danny. "Can you two take this?"

They glanced at each other then back at Stella.

"Yeah," Lindsay responded.

"Good. I don't have to tell you how important this one is." Stella then looked at Flack. "Shouldn't my interrogation be official and not in the middle of a crime scene?" she hissed before heading back to her car.

Danny gave Flack a quizzical look to which Flack gave him a look that said 'don't ask' right back and left.

Mac's cell phone rang. "Flack, please tell me you found something."

"Mac, we have a slight situation. I'm on my way back to the station – with Stella."

"What? What happened?"

"The witness…"

The doctor walked into the waiting room at that moment, interrupting the call.

"I'll call you back, Don." He hung up and stood up. "How is she?"

"She's very lucky. The bullet went clean through and missed all major organs. She had some blood loss and we are going to keep her for at least a few days in case of infection but she will be fine."

Smiling, Mac thanked the doctor and headed to Peyton's room.

She opened her eyes and smiled at him as he took hold of her hand.

"There are easier ways of getting out of dinner, you know," he grinned, kissing her cheek.

"I'll remember that next time."

"I hate to ask you this right now but, do you know who shot you?"

Peyton closed her eyes then opened them and looked at him once again.

"Peyton?"

"I'm sorry, Mac."

"Sorry? For what?"

"It was…. It was Stella, Mac. Stella shot me."

His body froze for a brief moment. "You know Stella wouldn't do that. It must have been someone who looked like her."

"Mac, it was Stella. The hair, the eyes, the voice…"

He smiled and squeezed her hand. "I'll talk to her, but I'm sure things will seem clearer when the medication starts to wear off a bit. Get some sleep."

Too tired to fight, Peyton merely nodded and drifted off.

Tbc…….