"What are you going to do?" the man with brown hair and hazel eyes asked in a panicking voice "Don't tell me that you're going to..."

"No!" the woman in her early 20s shook her head in disagreement "It's not like what you think."

"So tell me! What is it?" the man asked again, patiently, his hand squeezed the shaking hand of the young woman. The woman sat still and said nothing. Her eyes wandered around the autumn garden. Autumn in Chicago could be the most heavenly thing one person can ever dream of: clear sky, the cold breeze that quickly washes by her cheeks, the mild sun rays seem to kiss her pink lips, a blur sight of the clouds slowly flew pass above the two people sitting under the shade of an old oak. Under that shade was not the two people alone, there was a sad story untold burying beneath it, a story about something that only those two could understand and could patiently yet impatiently talk about it.

"There it is!" the woman suddenly stood up and ran towards a tree in front of them. She finally saw it, what she was waiting for: a robin. One little robin that hoped on a tree branch. The woman smiled, for the first time since the conversation started. The man slowly stood up to join her, he also eyed at the little robin. One small pat on her shoulder, the man opened his mouth to say something and shut it immediately; he knew it was not the right time to ask her. Tucking up her long strand of black hair behind her ear, the woman gazed at the man, for the first time, she finally spoke, with all her heart and soul.

A sudden breeze flew pass and silent the ongoing conversation. Before the man could say a word, the woman had already gone back to the house where she found a cot waiting for her by the window. She leaned down to take a careful look at the child and left, quickly and silently like how she came.

Mac Taylor stood there silently as if his feet was tied up to the ground, he could not move. Something in him was broken. The sight of his childhood friend, his best friend, his sister, his girl faded right in front of him killed him inside out. He knew he could not do anything to help her, at that time. Silently he stood until the crying of the child broke the silence. He hurriedly ran into the house and took the baby in his arms. The child, just like her mother, had the most gorgeous hazel eyes, looked at him happily, she smiled. The smile that Mac swore not to forget. He traced her little nose and smiled:

"Robin. Your name will be Robin, Robin Gillian Taylor."

~ROBIN~

Chapter 1: Unexpected encounter_ a first part.

It was 4:30 am when Mac woke up on his bed, woke up after a full 4-hour sleep. His daughter, Robin, who worked for Miami PD had called him at 9am to remind him to have lunch and again at 10pm to tell him to get some sleep. She always does that, since the day that tragic happen: the September 11th tragic. She has been playing Claire's role since that day, and never ever does Mac complaint about it. He is grateful to have such a wonderful daughter like Robin.

Robin is going to be back on New York today. Yesterday was her last day working for Miami PD. And he sure can tell how happy she was to finally get away from Lieutenant Horatio Caine. He always wonders why she dislikes him, maybe because of his attitude, his way of talking. But he does know for one fact that Robin does like his way of working. She told him she would be back at noon so he'd better be prepared for her arrival.

Mac glances at the clock hanging near the window: 5:30am. He gives one final look at the shiny coffee table and head to the kitchen where he put a bunch of narcissuses on the counter. Narcissus is Robin's favorite. Robin loves the white color of the petals and the unique form of this kind. Unlike Robin, Mac doesn't really like this flower. Once you buy it, you have to put this one and only this one in one single vase. You can't put any others kinds together with narcissuses because this kind tend to create a kind of poisonous sap that would kill others flowers. No wonder why it is known as a symbol of selfishness and narcissism. Anyway, Mac will do anything to make his daughter happy. And so, he quickly takes the crystal vase out of the cupboard and put the flowers into it. One hand holding the vase, his other hand unlock Robin's room's door. For three years since Robin started working in Miami, he has been visiting her room so he can feel like she's still with him. Robin is not only his daughter but also his greatest companion, like Stella and the rest of the team.

Sitting on her bed, he looks around the room painted in emerald green, his eyes stop at a wooden box which was locked carefully and only its owner can open it. Mac knows exactly what inside but he never says a word about it. It's Robin's private life after all.

"When will she arrive?" Stella asks with a cheerful look on her face, she had met Robin on and off before the young girl left for Miami. She likes Robin a lot and the two of them share the best moments with each other. Stella once said that if Robin ever worked for NYPD, she would gladly to help.

"At noon. She didn't say clearly when. I guess it should be around an hour from now" Mac replies without taking his eyes off the document he's been reading. There's a new lab tech and one thing for sure, this guy has never done a report before and now Mac is having a hard time understanding what on earth this person wrote "She'll call when she arrive. Robin does not like to startle her good old daddy."

"Now you're talking!" Stella laughs as she heard the phrase "good old daddy" from Mac. Mac raises his eyebrow, smirks:

"That's how Robin calls me. She can be mischievous sometimes."

"I wonder if she inherits that from her father" Stella smiles again and head out of the office, leaving Mac alone with his document again. Mac's smile is longer visible; his eyes show that he's thinking hard about something, something unrelated to the document but to Robin.

Shaking his head, he fishes out his phone to see the coming message. It's Robin's:

"Dad, I'm heading home now. I just got out of the airport. Remember to have lunch!"

Lunch? He looks at his watch: 11:30am? He thought it was 9am the whole time! And Robin is heading home. Great, just great! He cannot leave and have no choice but to have lunch here and tells his beloved daughter to grab something to eat at the deli near their apartment since he didn't buy anything to put in the fridge. Apparently, it has been empty for the last couples of days. Nothing but bottles of water. Robin would be mad, he tells himself while texting.

Less than a minute when he receives her reply, she sure does not happy to know he has been eating out for most of his time.

"I'll see you tonight. And remember to get home unless you want to have frozen dinner. Bring Stella if possible :) Love you Dad"

Smiling at the text, Mac heads out to the lab to talk to the lab tech that wrote the report.

"Have you heard? Mac's daughter is back to NYC!" Lindsay says cheerfully.

"Yeah! I heard that! Stell said she looks just like Mac! Hazel eyes, stern look and a brilliant mind that no one can have!" Sheldon joins in "The only difference is her red hair. Stell said she must get it from Claire."

"Who's Claire?" Danny says with his mouth full of cheese burger, Lindsay says nothing but laughs out loud at the sight of Danny having a hard time talking while chewing his burger. The burger is sure not as tasty and soft as its look.

"Mac's wife. She died in the September 11th. Mac rarely talks about her. The only one in our team that knows about her is Stella." Sheldon adds.

"Seems like none of us but Stell knows much about the Taylors huh?" Adam finally speaks up. He's been listening carefully for a while.

"Now you mention it, Mac rarely talks about his daughter."

"Maybe he never has a chance to."

"But where were she?"

"She has been in Miami for the last three years." The team startled as they hears Mac's voice. Stella chuckles.

"My my...some people are gossiping about the mysterious Taylors."

"You would do the same if you were us!" Lindsay smiles "So Mac, how's old is she?"

"Yeah! How does she look like?"

"Oh, and what did she do in Miami?"

"When will we see her?"

"Yeah!..."

"Guys!" Mac says loudly to silent the noise the team is making. "Fine!" He finds his seat next to Adam and grabs a drink, clearing his dry throat.

"Her name is Robin, Robin Gillian Taylor. She's 25 this year. 24 and a half to be exact, she'll turn 25 on May 5th. Wavy brownish red hair and hazel eyes."

"Sounds like an attractive lady" Adam murmurs and the whole team looks at him as if they're telling him to be quiet so Mac can continue his story. "Sorry"

"It's ok and yes, she is attractive." Mac says proudly "She's attractive and smart. Back in high school and university, there were always roses, love letters and phone calls for her every single day. But she didn't date any of those fans, she said they just after her look. Wait, she did date one guy. His name was James, first place in the National Physics competition. They dated for a year and a half before breaking up because he had to move to London to continue his higher study. She cried for a month..."

Taking another sip, Mac chuckles:

"She doesn't want to get onto another relationship, not yet, she's still in love with James. To be honest, I kinda like the young man too...But she'll find someone else soon."

"So..." Shelton breaks the sad atmosphere by asking in a curious tone "Why did she work for Miami PD? Because her father aka our boss is the head of NYPD?"

"No", Mac shakes his head, smiles:

"During her final year in university, Lieutenant Caine from Miami PD came to visit and he dotted on her." he says it loud and proud "He offered her a spot in Miami PD immediately and she agreed. Time was hard back then, it was hard to find a spot in NYPD. She was sad back then 'cause she knew she wouldn't see me for a long time. She had vacation though but crime never stops for vacation..."

"So...why does she come back?" Adam asks, apparently, this Robin girl is a worth-knowing one.

"For some reasons, she does not like Lieutenant Caine. She does like him, but something about him makes her uncomfortable to work with. And we're having five vacant spots here, which I know my daughter can easily take. Piece of cake for her. We're still looking through applications but until now, no one impresses us as much as Robin does."

Mac pauses a while until he notices something "Where's Don?"

"He's having lunch at another deli" Danny sighs "he was busy chasing after this suspect and can't make it here on time."

"That's sad" Mac looks at his phone, another text from Robin. His eyes sparkle in happiness:

"Dad, thank you for the narcissuses. I love them! Oh, and I'm making pizza tonight ;) Tell Stella to bring some of her special sauce, it's girls' night out."

"Hey Stell" Mac whispers "Robin wants you to join us for pizza night, girls' night out."

"Not fair! Why only Stella is invited!" Danny hisses.

"Sorry Danny, Robin has only known Stella so far, she hasn't met the rest of you."

"Invite us next time! We're dying to see how Mac Taylor's sweet daughter looks like!"

"100% like her dad!"

"No doubt!"

"One number 3 special and a special salad please!" Don looks up to his left and sees two girls take their sit next to his. They're all in their 20s. One with short black hair, look a bit boyish, brown eyes. She's wearing a denim jacket and matching jean while the one on her right, right next to Don, is wearing simple white long sleeved shirt and black jean. Her red hair is neatly tied only leaving some strands near her ears. Don is stunned when he looks at her from her profile, somewhat about this girl reminds him of Mac. No, Mac can't have a daughter! He never mentions her. Maybe his niece, maybe not.

"Seriously V. You have to eat something more than just salad! You do know our jobs require good health! Salad alone can't do the trick!" the red hair says while stirring her tea.

"So I should have one big size salad and another big side...what is it..."special duck on bread loaf"?" The black hair hisses, teasing her friend.

"C'm on! Just try it for once V! It's good! Dad took me here all the time to have it! It can make your day!"

"I don't want to get fat!"

"Do I look fat to you?"

"No?"

"Then try it!"

Don smiles and shakes his head a bit. These girls...

"Nice badge." he startled as he hears the red hair comments "First grade detective I suppose?"

"Yes. And you are..." Don stops as he notice the girl and her friend eye at a man just comes in the deli. The red hair shows a stern look on her face:

"I bet he does take it from the lady sit next to the door."

"It?" Don asks while looking at the guy.

"Hey you!" the black haired girl shouts "Don't you have better thing to do besides snatching someone's purse?"

The man startled, his eyes rage at the girls and run out of the deli!

"My purse! It's gone!" the lady near the door shouts! As far as Don catches up with what is going on, the girls have ran after the man. Don quickly follows them. After a minute or two, Don has caught up with the black hair. They are a bit slower than the man as he's quickly get in an alley.

"Damn it! We may loose him!" the black hair hisses.

Footsteps getting faster and faster by time and suddenly, the two stop as they no longer hear the guilty footsteps of the running man. Instead of it is a cry in pain. A male voice! And when they enter the alley, all they see is a man lying face down on the ground while the red hair is putting on of her legs onto his back. Don notices some bruises on the man face, he can't believe that the girl can make such thing.

"I believe you are taking him back to the station" the red hair speaks up with a smile on her face "the lady's purse in left pocket, he took it the moment he got in."

"Thanks for your help" he looks at the two girls "and would you please letting him go so I can fulfill my job?"

"Ah! Sure!" The red hair let Don takes place and walks out with her friend. He can't hear what they say but he swears he does see the red hair takes a look at him again at the corner of her eyes. Something promising that they may meet again.

"Who is this girl?"

End of chapter 1