What If…

This is a what if story about Mac and Claire. What if Claire didn't die in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center? What if she lived not too far from New York City for 6 ½ years?

Disclaimer: I do not own CSI: NY or any of its characters. I'll take credit for Janice since I pulled her story off the top of my head. Obviously who she really is belongs to CSI: NY and its creators. Please don't sue.

A/N: There are a lot of details that I left out of the story; this is mainly because I was writing it very late at night when I should have been sleeping. Any mistakes are mine as I don't have a beta. Feedback is appreciated.

A/N 2: My Mom inadvertently gave me the idea for this fic after the episode "Some Buried Bones"

Claire Taylor, known as Jane Doe #77 to the hospital, woke up not knowing where she was, who she was, or what had happened. The nurses, doctors and therapists told her what they knew about the terrorist attacks. They told her that she was a lucky one to make it out alive. Whenever she would ask about her life, if she had a family, they couldn't answer. She had been in a come for 3 months and no one had come looking for her. The hospital worked with her to get her an identity and a job.

Janice Dawson took her new life in stride. She was sure that she was missing someone she just didn't know who. Her new job was in a department store selling cosmetics. It wasn't something she loved, but she did enjoy it. She had weekly appointment with her therapist to try to work through the fog of her memory.

Every time Janice wanted to quit therapy they made some kind of headway. She could remember that she lived with someone, but couldn't remember who they were or where they lived or worked. She could remember that she had given up a child when she was young, but knew nothing else. These things gave her hope that her memory would return. After 5 years she had been able to remember that had been married to whomever she had lived with, but she still couldn't remember who that was. She was confused as to why they weren't looking for her, but her therapist offered that maybe he worked in the Towers as well but hadn't been as lucky as she. Janice accepted this but still had her doubts.

It was another year after Janice had remembered being married when she read an article about a New York City criminalist solving another big case. The detective was one Mac Taylor. She couldn't understand why this name was so familiar to her. There was also a picture of Mac in the article and she was sure that he looked familiar. She clipped his picture from the paper and kept it with her. At her next appointment Janice brought up the article and the picture. Her therapist recommended looking into it.

It took Janice 3 months to get up the courage to simply search Mac Taylor on the internet. When she did she discovered that he was a decorated Marine that had been honorably discharged many years ago. After his career as a Marine Mac Taylor had become a CSI. He was married until his wife was presumed dead on 9/11/2001. Suddenly she wanted to know about Mac's wife. So she searched more and was able to find a name, Claire Taylor, soon after she had been able to find a picture. She was shocked when she saw the picture. It was herself, six years younger.

Janice took another 2 ½ months to decide to go to Mac. She was worried that he would have moved on and forgotten all about her. She didn't want to intrude on his new life. Her therapist was cautiously optimistic about the outcome. So finally Janice decided to go.

Janice stood in front of a door that looked all too familiar. She was nervous and filled with doubt. Would Mac recognize her, had he moved on, does he still love her? Finally she knocked, as she was waiting for a response she thought about running but as she was about to turn and go the door opened…

Another A/N: I know Mac looked for Claire long and hard. But just assume that her picture didn't get to the right people in the hospital she was in. Also I never said what hospital or where Claire had lived for all those years… that's partially because I'm not really sure where she would have been… and I'm not that worried about it… everyone can just imagine wherever they want her to live.