Chapter One

Mac sat in his office pondering over the most recent case he had just closed. He'd seen some pretty horrific things in his time, but even he found it hard to believe that one man could cause all that death and destruction. Unfortunately yes, or at least that was where the evidence led him. He couldn't help it, but he did feel a bit sad that his old school friend was behind bars. The criminal was caught and that's all that mattered. It was rather funny if you thought about it, Mason Sykes was never the type of person to get into trouble at school, he was always neat and tidy, did all of his school work, and never got into any trouble, it was tragic really, how so many bad decisions effected this man.

Mac stopped himself in his tracks. What was he doing? sympathizing with a criminal? He knew it wasn't right, yet he couldn't help but feel a personal connection to this case. He just couldn't help thinking that if he had stayed in touch with him from school, 19 lives would have been spared (including mason's own). Somehow he felt a sense of guilt from this case, as if he hadn't done enough to prevent it. Although in reality he probably saved many more lives. He looked back at his own life compared to his former friend, they hadn't started out to dis-similar. The only thing on Mac's mind was, how did one child go from being an A grade student… to a serial killer?

His thoughts were interrupted, and he felt a sense of relief surface, Jo stepped into his office and smiled reassuringly at him. Mac was glad, it wasn't something that he wanted to think about. She sighed silently as she approached Mac, she always knew there had been a spark between the two of them, her heart fluttered every time she was in his presence. Jo just never knew what Mac was thinking, did he feel it too? She looked at him, into his big kind blue green eyes and smiled again, all she could see was love.
"What?" Mac asked softly and grinned back admiring her smile.
"The guys and I were gonna go grab a bite to eat." Jo said lightly "Fancy joining us?"
"Yeah, I'd love to…" Mac began, and before he could think of an excuse not to go, Jo quickly interrupted.
"Good, we're going to that new Italian restaurant that opened on 5th Avenue"
"Okay," he sighed defeated. Mac looked down with a fond smile, she knew her away around him, just the way Claire had.

He gazed at the pile of unsolved cases at the end of his desk for a moment before dismissing them, one day away from re-reading them wouldn't hurt and so he grabbed his coat. This was when Jo felt guilt sweep over her, she had encouraged Mac leave so early, she looked at the open cases on the desk and returned to look at him.
"You can't spend all your time at work" she pleaded, trying to reason with herself rather than with Mac. He nodded and followed her out, they then walked to the elevator where the rest of the team stood waiting.
"Time-to go" Danny said quickly, nobody wanted Mac to change his mind about going. Mac was the boss that everyone loved.

-0-

Mac and Jo decided to walk to 5th Ave. from the lab, while the others found there own means of transport. They walked side by side, hands almost touching. Jo wondered for a second time today if Mac felt it to. Her Heart leaped to her throat at the thought, but had to discourage the feeling as she knew they were just close friends. Close friends is good, Jo thought as she attempted to fool herself. If they were more, they could complicate things at work and compromise the cases. Guilt filled her soul again, she had already pulled Mac away from the unsolved cases. Every chance Mac got, he would sit in his office for an hour or so after his shift had finished. He would quietly re-read some cases that had never been solved in the hope that sifting through the evidence another time he would find the answer, the criminal, the missing child and Justice served.

It had started out a nice evening, but now dark clouds began to loom around the tall building of the big apple. Jo and Mac approached Central Park. It being an Late November evening the sun began its decent, and the lighter clouds became reds and purples in the sunset. As it darkened, Christmas lights became more prominent which lit the path like a candle in darkness. There was a chilling breeze that crept up behind the couple and lay over the rest on New York.

Mac felt it also, a strong pulse of passion that flowed through him from the very first day she worked in the lab. Oh, he thought, she certainly knew how to make an impression. The chemistry was strong between them, but Jo was professional, a former FBI agent, and that is what they must remain. Professional. He shook his head as if to remove the thought, but it wouldn't shift. His heart pounded with excitement, he'd never felt this way before, even with Claire. It wasn't more as such, it was just different. It made him feel as if he were a school boy with a silly crush.

The rain had struck without warning, so much so that they quickly ran from their yellow cabs to get inside the restaurant. Many people ran for shelter also, even if they had no intention of eating there, all they wanted was to stay dry. In the jungle of people, rushing towards the door Mac was certain, absolutely positive he saw Claire standing in the rain. His vision was blocked by someone dashing for cover.
Claire was gone.