I still do NOT own the CSI: NY characters and an advance notice- this will be a crossover with a British crime drama called New Tricks, whose characters I don't own either but I love the programme just as much. Please remember to review. By the way, this is a repost cos I didn't like my other version of this story.
Mac could still remember vividly what he was doing when he got the call about the fire at Stella's apartment. He had stayed at work late and was trying to work on some of the unsolved cases that had been sitting on his desk for years now when his mobile started to vibrate across the table (being the professional he was, his phone was always set silent at work- that and the fact that he never knew what to choose for his ringtone, they always seemed too embarrassing).
"Taylor" he answered instinctively without looking at the caller ID
"Detective, we have just received a report of a fire at an apartment block at 35 and 5th. Still one woman and child unaccounted for."
He didn't know why, but the address didn't register with him as Stella's until he arrived there 10 minutes later and saw her car in the car park. It was then that all the memories of Frankie and how he'd nearly lost her came flooding back.
"Still one woman and child unaccounted for" was ringing in his mind. Somehow, he'd known that as soon as he'd realised Stella was involved, it would be her missing.
Trying to keep calm, he started to try to search for her. It was only when he got to the doors of the block of flats and started to demand that he be let in that he was told that everyone had got out.
"Even the woman and child?" he asked, praying that the fireman was right. The fire-fighter didn't need to answer, though because at that moment, Stella caught up with him (she'd been trying to get to him since she'd seen him arrive on scene).
"Mac, calm down. Listen to him- everyone is ok" Stella told him.
A smile broke out on his face as he finally realised they were right.
"Come on, let's get you clean and changed- and back to sleep!" Mac told her light- heartedly; relieved that the situation was not nearly as bad as the scenarios that had been playing over and over in his mind.
"This from the man who has stayed at work for days at a time- and on more than one occasion I might add" Stella replied, jokingly.
"Seriously though, I think there may still be a change of your clothes at mine and as I'm sure you are now going to try to convince me to let you work this case- which I might add, goes against every department protocol- you need to change out of your pyjamas."
"You read my mind, Mac. So you're letting me work the case?" Stella said
Mac's sigh showed her that she had won.
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Five hours later, and both of them had been able to catch up on some sleep as well as changed before being allowed back into the apartments when they had been declared safe. However, in the rush to get ready- they'd both overslept due to the 'interruption' in the night- neither of them had had time for breakfast so Mac had stopped off on the way to their scene at Starbucks to get coffees and Danish pastries for them both.
"Oh, you're truly a God send, Mac" Stella exclaimed upon seeing Mac with the food "and you even got me a Caramel Macchiato- my favourite" as she bear hugged him
"Mind the food!" he replied, which had been squished in its bag between the two of them during the hug though seeing Stella this happy meant the he was smiling now too.
They managed to solve the case by the end of shift but something had been bugging Stella since the middle of the case, Mac realised. He found himself, for the first time thinking that it may have been a mistake to let Stella work a case that she was involved in. it wasn't that she would compromise evidence, but seeing her so full of sadness made him wonder what it was that allowed him to stay in his office instead of going to comfort her. Of course, he knew it probably had something to do with the fact that her neighbour's kids weren't hers at all and Stella hadn't even suspected so until the team had found out so. So, for the first time in years, probably, he clocked off on time and took Stella home.
Another first was that Stella stared out of the window in silence for the whole journey. Normally, she would happily chat about everything and nothing, especially when it was Mac driving them to scene.
When they arrived at his home, Mac immediately started asking questions ten to the dozen as he checked that everything would be ok for Stella. She had slept on the couch the previous night, but he knew that the creaky old settee was not suitable for long term use. However, in his rush to sort out the practical arrangements he didn't notice Stella becoming more and more emotional until she collapsed in tears on the floor.
"Hey, come here." Mac said, shocked at the sudden outburst of emotion from his partner who usually so together, his support and now the roles had been reversed.
"I should have known"
"No, it wasn't your fault; it was 4 years, Stell"
"I'm a detective and I couldn't even see what was going on next door. I presumed that Austin was her child and that… and that" she let out another sob "the hole in the wall was cos he was spying on me. He was crying for help and I ignored him. Mac, I couldn't have cared less" she said as she pummelled his chest. Mac just held her tighter, knowing that more than anything; she needed to let her frustration at her own 'failures' out.
"I'll give you my resignation tomorrow."
"You know I won't accept it. As your boss, I know that you are the best CSI I've ever known. As your friend, I will not let you beat yourself up about something that you had no control over. And anyways, as soon as you'd leave, you come right back cos you'd be so bored."
The last sentence brought a slight smile to Stella's face. For the rest of the evening, they just sat eating fast food and watching chick flick before Stella fell asleep against Mac's chest, exhausted by the day's events, both physically and emotionally. Mac quickly realised that he was stuck so soon followed suit.
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The next day, they were both on evening shift and because all of Stella's belongings had been destroyed in the fire, spent the day shopping, much to her delight. By the time that their shift started, Stella had managed to max out all but one of Mac's credit cards and he was thanking God that it was the nearly the end of the month and he would be getting paid soon. They'd also managed to sort out sleeping arrangements as they both realised that they were comfortable enough to sleep in the same bed.
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A month later, and they had both settled into a routine. The rumours in the lab about the two had continued, though everyone knew better than to air them within ear shot of either of them. Then that day came. Mac and Stella had been having breakfast when the call came. Mac had taken it and, unusually, went into the bedroom to continue the conversation. Stella didn't really notice until Mac came back into the kitchen and told her that he would be leaving early to go directly to a scene but that there was no need to worry and she wasn't needed at the moment. Of course, Stella immediately knew something was up and able very quickly to get the truth out of him, though this time even she couldn't convince him to let her come with him, even if it was for his security.
"His demand said one and only ONE CSI, Stell. Even if I wanted you to come with me, I wouldn't be able to. I promise I'll be back ASAP."
Half an hour later and Stella was alone and decided to turn the news on. A big mistake, she thought as soon as the bulletin came on. The Bank Kidnapping was all over the news and she just sat there frozen by it though none of the news channels knew about Mac being there so she couldn't find out if he was safe yet. The wait was torturing her so after a few calls, she was given clearance to be able to come down to the scene.
Even being so close to where he was, the wait for news was still antagonising. One, two, three hours later and all they had were the pictures and the virtual autopsy he had sent them. Then it all kicked off. Stella could see it through the windows of the bank. Mac taking the kidnapper down, removing his weapon and letting the other hostages go. Stella was screaming over and over in her head for Mac to get out. He could now, they both knew that, but he wasn't. His conscience pulled him back and made let the kidnapper save face.
She was made to go to the house of the kidnapper's family and she felt sick when she arrived and realised it was empty. They had both been played and now Mac was still there. She tried to contact him, but he'd turned his phone back off.
Her phone rings and she prays that it's Mac saying he's okay but instead, it's Flack's boss saying that things have just got worse. They'd lost trace on Mac and the car with them both in is heading out of NYPD jurisdiction.
Stella ran as fast as she could back to her car and started driving towards where the last report of the car was seen. She had tears in her eyes but refused to let them fall- she had to stay strong and hope for Mac's sake.
Then she saw it. At first she thought that it was just a delusion that she was imaging due to her desperation to get Mac back. But as she got closer she realised that everything matched up. She just hoped that the captor wouldn't realise that he was being followed before she could stop him.
She sped up until she was by the side of the car, then rammed it to make it spin. Even though Mac was driving (and he was normally the best driver that Stella knew) he'd seen Stella's car approaching and instinctively knew what she would be trying to do.
The car spun 1 and half times before coming to a stop. Stella got out of her car and approached the car with her weapon still in its holster (she was now in her normal clothes as she'd left the vest in her car) under her jacket.
"Hello, hello. Can anyone hear me?" Stella asked as she moved towards the car.
The kidnapper hadn't been restrained and so ended up lying on the floor of the backseats whereas Mac was unharmed.
"I'm fine" Mac replied "but I think that my friend may be hurt." He didn't want to put Stella or himself at further risk of the kidnapper came to so didn't mention that he was kidnapped- even though they both knew that, the kidnapper didn't know that Stella was NYPD.
"Come on, we need to get you out of this wreckage" Stella responded in mock over friendly tones, like a nurse in hospital.
As they walked away, neither of them realised that a fire had broken out in the bonnet of the car until a loud bang threw them both to the ground. At the same time, Stella's phone started to ring.
"Stella, what the hell were you thinking? You know the rules- you should have told us." It was Flack on the phone.
"I've found Mac, he's safe." Stella said half laughing and crying.
"You what?" Now Flack thought he was hallucinating
"Mac- he's with me and we're both fine!"
"Where are you guys? I'm presuming not at the lab"
"Erm, I don't actually know. By my car, so if you can track it…"
"Why aren't you driving it?"
"Because it's next to a burning wreck of a car"
With this, Flack's footsteps could be heard increasing in speed
"Lindsay, I need you to trace Stella's car pronto so we can find her." Flack could be heard saying
"Already done, Flack. We're not as incompetent as you think we are."
Flack cam back on the phone- "We'll be with you guys in half an hour- just sit tight and Stella- don't run off anywhere."
"So you broke all the rules again Stell?"
"I was on auto- pilot. I jut knew I had to find you." The tears that Stella had refused to let fall on way to finding Mac now started to fall freely.
"Hey, like you said, we're both safe now. There's no need to worry."
"But I almost lost you and that's the worst feeling I've ever felt- worse than realising at 12 that I would never be adopted, even worse than remembering I was the one who'd killed Frankie. I don't know what I'd do without you Mac. I …"
Stella was cut off by Mac pressing his lips to hers. All the emotions from that day and the month before were let out in the passion of the kiss, which was only stopped by a need for air.
"I'm sorry." It was so like Mac to apologise for everything. Even when he'd done something right.
"What for? I love you, Mac" Stella replied as Mac's face light up in a smile at the realisation that she felt that same way as he did.