Broken

Chapter 1: Suspended

The broken clock is a comfort

It helps me sleep tonight

Maybe it can stop tomorrow

From stealing all my time

Stella passes by Mac's office on the way to her own and glances at him inside. He looks up from the paper he is holding and motions her in. "What's up, Mac?" she smiles at him.

"Take a seat, Stella."

She frowns, wondering what is wrong, and sits down opposite him. Was she in trouble? Had someone filed a complaint against her? She couldn't think of anyone she had angered recently. "Is something wrong?"

"What is this?" he hands over a lift of a print he had taken from a crime scene.

"A fingerprint? I don't understand what you're trying to say," she studies the print for a moment, looking for anything unusual.

"Do you know who it belongs to?"

"I have a feeling you're about to tell me."

"I found it at the Diakos scene."

"And it's just now being run through the system? Mac, this is why I wanted the case; things would get done if I were on it. We might even know who killed him already."

"Apparently you have been working the case," he hands over the print out Adam had given him about the owner of the print. "I would've thought you'd be happy that the man that attacked you is dead, but I guess that not enough for you."

"Obviously there is someone more dangerous out there that desperately wants those coins if Diakos is dead, Mac," she looks down at the sheet he gave her only to find her picture staring up at her.

"You were there, Stella," he hands her another sheet, "and so was Angell."

"Mac, it's not what it looks like…"

"Given the person involved in the case, I assume it was your idea, and you convinced Angell to help you," he looks at her, his blue eyes hard and distant. She is unable to read his thoughts.

"Leave Angell out of it; it was my idea, and she shouldn't be punished for being a good friend. But I swear, Mac, we had nothing to do with his death."

"How can I be sure of that?"

"Mac, you know I wouldn't kill him; I was just looking for something in order to put him jail."

"I thought I knew you, Stella, but now I'm not so sure. The Stella I know wouldn't have disobeyed my order no matter how emotionally involved she was in the case; the Stella I know wouldn't have been stupid enough to endanger herself and a colleague like that; the Stella I know wouldn't have hid what she was doing from me."

She looks away from his eyes, "Things change. This case just… got to me. I couldn't let him continue to kill people."

Mac rubs his head, not sure what to do about her. "I trusted you, Stella, and I thought you trusted me too. But now I don't think I can ever confide in you again. How could you do this to me? To our team? To the lab? Do you know what will happen if the press finds out what you've been doing?"

"I know I screwed up. And I really wanted to tell you, but I knew you'd be angry and I didn't want you to get hurt if something happened."

"What if you had died? Diakos already tried to kill you once; I'm sure he'd have no trouble breaking your neck like those other people. Do you think I wouldn't have been hurt if something had happened to you?" he practically yells at her.

"I was stupid; how many times do I have to say it?"

"I really don't know what to do with you, Stella. I never expected you to do something like this. I am very disappointed in you."

She finally looks back into his eyes and sees his hurt and anger. "Just fire me and get it over with."

"I kept you off that case to protect you; I thought it was the best thing for you, and now I can see that I was clearly wrong. However, that does not excuse your actions," he stands up.

She follows suit, "I appreciate all that you've done for me, Mac. You were a great boss and wonderful friend. I know it doesn't change anything, but I am sorry for not telling you about what I was doing."

"One month on suspension until I decide what actions should be taken," he holds his hand out. She removes her gun and badge and hands them over to him. "I will try my hardest to save your job, but I can't promise anything. You were a great CSI, and we're going to miss you. And I want you to know that… I care about you a lot, Stel."

Stella looks at him one last time before heading to the elevators.

A/N: So this is what I hope happens in the last few episodes of the season... kind of uses some spoilers I've read so... I was going to write a story about Diakos attacking her again after Mac found out, but since he died before I got the chance... I guess that's not going to happen. There's twelve more chapters of this, and it kind of goes in a different order than how it will actually happen on the show 'cause I think Lindsay is supposed to have the baby before the whole Greek thing is wrapped up. Anyway... I can't wait for school to be over. I think we have like thirty-five more days. So... I guess that's all. I meant to start this last weekend but kind of forgot. If I got lots of reviews, I'll update again tomorrow. If not, Friday if I have time; we're supposed to be moving my great aunt or something. I hope you liked it so far and please review.