Author's Note: This is my first CSI: NY fic, and my attempt at a multi-chapter. Just my thoughts on what happened while Mac was in London with Peyton. AU for episode 4X01.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to CBS and the show's writers. Any similarities with another fic is unintentional.

*Well, Mac was right about one thing, the cleaning crew was very unhappy.* Stella Bonasera mused, thinking over the past few hours. The bomb set by Detective Taylor had done its job, and done it well. Remains of the lab, the bomb, as well as the two robbers were currently being cleaned up, as she and the rest of the team waited on news about Adam and Danny. Lindsey was pacing across the waiting room, worried and angry. Hawkes watched from his seat beside Stella, occasionally glancing over at Sid on his other side. Flack had been held up by protocol, but promised to be there as soon as he could. After Mac and Payton had left the lab, they hadn't been seen since. Feeling a light vibration in her left hand Stella looked down at her phone. *Sinclair. Probably wanting to know what happened.*

Standing she moved away some before answering "Bonasera."

"Detective Bonasera, I've just received a leave of absence request from Detective Taylor, effective immediately. You are now in charge of the crime lab for the next ten days. Succeed, and it may be permanent." Before she could reply the line went dead.

"Sinclair." She explained to the team's questioning looks. "I'm in charge until Mac gets back." Was all the Greek detective said before resuming her seat.

"You mean he just left?" Flack had entered during the call, and he was looking at her. "That's it, no call, no nothing?! Does he even know about Danny and Adam?" His voice started to rise, but was stopped by the look received from a nearby nurse.

Too tired to do anything else, Stella just nodded "Yeah Don, Sinclair had to tell me, said he just received the paperwork. And I doubt he does, unless anyone has talked to him or Peyton." Looking around she searched the eyes of her team, each of them shaking their heads no.

Any further conversation was stopped by the doctor that entered the room. They all stood, hoping for good news. "Are you here for Mr. Adam Ross and Detective Danny Messer?" Dr. Irving asked, looking at the ring of people around her. After a moment the tall, curly headed woman spoke. "Yes we are doctor. How are they?" "Mr. Ross sustained superficial injuries, the cuts and burns have been treated, and will heal on their own over the next week or so." She read from the chart, as the team breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Detective Messer's injuries however were much more severe. He cracked several ribs on both sides, three of the fingers on his left hand are broken, and he suffered a slight concussion, in addition to the black eye, split lip and other injuries congruent with a beating. It will take time for these to heal, especially the broken fingers." Again the taller woman spoke. "How long before they can leave?" Glancing down at the file again, the doctor answered "Mr. Ross can leave today, if he has someone to stay with him. The burns on his hands will make daily tasks difficult, and the dressings will need to be changed regularly. Detective Messer will need to stay here for a few days for observation, but he too will need someone to stay with him."

"Can we see them now?" Lindsey finally spoke up. "Detective Messer has been taken to room 324 on the third floor, though only one visitor at a time."

At Lindsey's torn look, Sid smiled gently "Go ahead Lindsey, I know Adam will understand." With a fleeting smile she rushed towards the elevators that would take her to the third floor. He turned back to doctor "Thank you Dr. Irving, is there any way we can see Mr. Ross?"

"Mr. Ross is ready to go now, but as I said someone must stay with him. Otherwise he must remain here." A nod from Hawkes, his decision made "I'll stay with him doctor and make sure everything is taken care of." Dr. Irving smiled "Very well, he'll be out in a few minutes." With that she disappeared back behind the double doors.

"Doc, you didn't have to do that. I was gonna offer too." Flack said, with Stella and Sid voicing their agreement. "Well, I figured it may get a tad awkward if you took him Stel, plus I know how to change bandages and what to do if anything happens." He explained with a shrug. Not bragging, just facts. There was no arguing with Sheldon's logic, so the others merely nodded "Well let us know if you need anything."

Stella smiled before turning to Flack "So Don, what's the word on our Irish gang?"

"The one leading the attack on the lab was the same one that shot their boss. Long story short, they're all going away for a very long time." He couldn't help but smirk before continuing "All the coke that was at the lab is now in the possession of the DEA, since the tests were completed before everything happened. Oh, and they got the guy out of that drawer you stuck him in Doc, and he's now officially claustrophobic."

Hawkes fought a smile as Stella and Sid frowned. "One of the guys came down to the morgue, probably following the blood trail left by his buddy. After I snatched Adam's I.D. off the guy, I stuck him in one of the empty drawers and placed a cabinet in front of it. Had to make sure he wasn't going anywhere for a while." The good doctor explained.

"Wow, sounds like you guys had a fun time." A voice from behind them commented. As one they turned to find Adam standing there, his hands bandaged and one of the more severe cuts on his face stitched closed.

In two strides of her long legs, Stella crossed over, giving him a tight hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. "You alright? How do you feel?" She asked as she stepped back to allow the others room.

"Yeah...yeah...a little sore, but okay. How's Danny?" He asked, watching for their reactions.

"He's doin' okay, some cracked ribs, three broken fingers and a slight concussion, but he'll make a full recovery. Lindsey's with him now." Hawkes informed him, then continued "Adam I'm gonna be staying with you for a few days. You're going to need help since your hand is immobile at the moment."

The lab tech's eyes grew wide "Thanks Doc, bu..but really, you don't have to do that, I'll manage..an...I'm sure you have other.."

Stopping him with a raised hand, Sheldon explained "Doctors orders Adam. And even if they weren't, that's what friends do, they take care of each other. So you're just going to have to deal with it." Leaning in closer, he whispered "Besides, I didn't want you to have to face Sid's creepy place by yourself with nowhere to go."

Adam gave a half laugh "Yeah...definitely not…thanks Doc."

Straightening, Hawkes looked at Stella "I'm gonna go ahead and get him home Stel, you'll let us know if anything happens?"

She nodded "Of course. It'll probably be a few days before we can get back into the lab, but I'll call if anything comes up. Get well soon Adam, the lab couldn't run without you." The now lab supervisor smiled, immensely glad he hadn't physically suffered anything beyond superficial wounds. Those were easy to heal. The emotional ones would take much longer. He offered a shy, almost stuttering one in response as he followed Hawkes out the door.

"Well I believe it is now my turn to bid you adieu, I'm sure my poor wife is anxiously awaiting news." Sid now stood, turning to the other two in the room. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call. And let me know if there's anything I can do to help get the lab running again."

Stella gave a half-smile to their resident pathologist "I'll do that Sid, but for now it's just waiting on the cleaning crew to finish up." He nodded, grabbing his hat before exiting through the doors to the outside world.

As he left she sank into a nearby chair, elbows on knees and her head in her hands. She had completely forgotten about Flack until he dropped in the seat beside her. "You doin' okay Stel?" Raising her head to look at him, she nodded slowly.

"Yeah Don, just trying to process everything that's happened. Helluva day huh?" The woman just barely managed a smile, and she was sure Flack saw right through it. Her mask was slowly crumbling under the weight of the day's events.

All the blue eyed man beside her could do was nod. "Yeah. Look Stella, how 'bout we call it a night? Lindsey's with Danny, Hawkes is taking care of Adam. It's almost midnight, and I know we both had an early start this morning. Lemme drive you home, tomorrow's gonna be here all too soon."

Stella couldn't help but smile at her friend, a real one this time. "Since I'm currently too tired to argue, I'll have to agree. But I'm gonna let Lindsey know we're leaving first." She said, pulling out her phone.

"Hey Lindsey, its Stella. Yeah, Adam's alright, Hawkes is going to be staying with him for a few days though. I'm about to leave, but let me know if there's any change or if you need anything."

"Thanks Stella, but Danny's parent's are here now, so I'm probably gonna head home for a few hours before I come back. They're only allowing family right now, so there's not much I can do. But his mom promised to call me with any changes."

"Alright kiddo, and don't worry, he's gonna be fine." With exchanged good byes they hung up as Stella stepped into Flack's car. The ride to her apartment was silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Pulling up in front of her building, Flack threw the car in park. "Thanks for the ride Don; I'll let you know if anything happens. And you need to get some sleep too."

With a slightly flippant 'Yes mom' he watched her leave, making sure she got inside before he drove off. But despite his agreement, he couldn't sleep at the moment. His mind was filled with angry questions, ones that could only be answered by a man he had once called friend, who was half a world away.

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