Here By My Side

Chapter 1: Shot

"If the heart is always searching

Can you ever find a home?"

A gunshot echoes throughout the apartment.

Lindsay and Hawkes look at each other. "I thought the apartment was cleared."

Slowly they stand up and make their way to the bedroom where Stella was processing, guns poised. "Stella?" Hawkes calls.

They find Stella leaning against the wall, her hands pressed to her abdomen in an attempt to keep the blood in. "He just came out of nowhere and shot me."

Sheldon rushes to her side, helping her sit. "Lindsay, call for an ambulance." Carefully he removes her hands from around the wound. Then he quickly examines it before covering it with his own hands to slow the bleeding.

"How bad is it?" she winces.

"I think it was too low to hit major organs. The guy either had poor aim or was shaking with nerves. You should be alright."

"Can I do anything to help?" Lindsay offers.

"Check her pulse for me. I can't do much for her. The bullet has to come out before she's stitched, and it could be anywhere."

By the time the paramedics arrive three minutes later, the bleeding has slowly slightly. She is losing the color in her face though as they load her onto a gurney.

The two investigators follow as they wheel her out. "You go with her, Sheldon," Lindsay tells him. "I'll meet up with you at the hospital after I see what I can find of her attacker."

"Sure?"

"Yeah, you'll understand what they're doing to her and all. Go ahead." She watches the ambulance pull away, lights flashing, before going back up the stairs. She processes the window and closet where she assumes the attacker hid and left, then packs the equipment up to meet Hawkes at the hospital.

Here

One of the paramedics takes her hand. "We're going to put an IV in."

She pulls away. "No."

"Stella, you need an IV. Everything will be all right. Just let him get the needle in," Sheldon takes her other hand.

"You put it in," she says weakly.

"Miss, I can't allow him to put it in. He probably as no idea what to do," the paramedic reaches for her hand again.

"I'm a doctor, sir," Hawkes informs the man. "Let me do it if that's what she wants." He gently inserts the needle into her hand and tapes it in place.

The paramedic hooks her up. "We're almost there. We'll take you in to the operating room. The doctor is going to have an x-ray taken to locate the bullet. Then they'll remove it and repair the damage they can before stitching you up."

She winces in pain as they check the wound again. "Mac. Call Mac… Sheldon."

"As soon as they take you back, I'll call him. He's not going to be happy that you were shot, Stel."

"Not my fault. He… he has to be here."

They arrive at the hospital and a group of nurses takes Stella into the building after the gurney is unloaded. Hawkes is led into the waiting room, and another nurse hands him papers to fill out. He decides that now would be a good time to inform his boss about the accident. After all, Mac is the one who knows the information needed by the hospital.

Plus he and Stella are extremely close, and she wants him there. He probably would want to come anyway.

"Taylor," Mac answers his cell phone.

"Mac, we've got a bit of a problem," Hawkes pauses. "Stella was shot."

A/N: So I've finally decided to post again. This is going to be a big story... not because it's really long, because I definitely have written longer ones. But it is my fiftieth story on here. Well, if you were to look, it'd say fifty-two. But two of my stories weren't Mac and Stella... which means I didn't exactly choose to write them, that was just what the people wanted for their Christmas stories. Anyway... I would also like to take the time to that all of you that have me on author alert or favorites. And those of you that have put any of my stories on alert or favorite or reviewed them. I appreciate your support. I would have started this story sooner, but between band and school, I'm pretty busy. I have learned the I officially hate math... why... I'm not quite sure. I've always liked math, but this year I just don't get it. AP Calc... not so fun. Plus everyone like says she's a great teacher, but so far I don't think so... I mean she's okay, but I don't particularly like her style of teaching. And Brit Lit isn't so fun either... I mean it's not as hard as I thought it would be, at least so far, but... still not my favorite class. I think I like Chem II best. What else did I want to say... I can't wait until Wednesday... but I'm like really tired when it's on and I don't want to fall asleep. I can't believe she is pushed off the building... Stella I mean. I hope that is this week... then I'll stay awake. 'Cause there isn't any suspense in whether Mac is alive or not. And someone attacks her as she's leaving the lab in the fifth episode... the guy speak Greek or something and she understands him... I can't wait for that one. I'm still mad that they didn't show the one with the fire in apartment again. I had the perfect song for a story using that, but I needed to see the episode again. Maybe I'll get something early on this season... That's all for now. Please review this one as well. Next chapter brings a twist... something has to go wrong... she can't be shot without consequences. Plus Mac and Stella in a few chapters. I'll update Monday or Tuesday.