More Than a Lab Rumour?

This is my first fic, so I'm sorry if it's not great! It's un-complete and I'm still deciding where I'm going to go with this and how far I'm going to go, so please bare with me! Okay, so I don't ANYTHING! (Although I wish I did!) All belongs to CBS, Jerry Bruckheimer etc. Please read and rate. Thank you!

Everything starts off with a first impression. But where will that impression take them? Jo is the replacement for Stella, and soon a new rumour replaces the old one in the lab, involving Mac's love-life. However, will it become more than a rumour, and if so, who will figure it out? JAC.

Chapter 1 – first impressions (based around the 34th floor ep).

Jo Danville had been working in the New York crime lab for 1 year, 2 months, 12 hours and 7 minutes. Meanwhile she had spent 1 year, 2 moths, 11 hours and 2 minutes falling in love with her boss, partner and friend; Detective Mac Taylor.

From the moment that she'd cast her eyes upon the brown haired, blue eyed detective she had felt a definite spark. One that you may expect to feel from the love of your life; your soul mate. She never had felt this way, even when she was with her now ex-husband, FBI agent, Russ Josephson. Of course, she never expected this growing love, but New York was throwing all kinds of surprises – even from day one. She'd arrived at an empty lab, wondering where everyone was. She was already nervous enough but then she happened to stumble upon a dead body. Her first day was already full of surprises, and she hadn't even met her boss yet. He was simply another surprise, except this was more of a pleasant surprise.

She could see his confusion appear across his face as she introduced herself and announced herself. "Hi, I'm Jo...Danville. I'm your new crime scene investigator... And this young woman is dead." Truth be told she hadn't expected to be attracted to him, but she had to make a good impression and show that she was serious. She new that at some point that there would be time to relax a bit. Horror swept over Mac's face as his mind registered what she had just said.

Danny and Hawkes soon got onto processing the scene and already she was starting to relax as Danny put her at ease, being relaxed about work. So she bit the bullet and made a small joke, much to Danny's approval. A small, tight lipped, but genuine, smile appeared on her face and she could see her getting along quite well with the team. She soon got back to what she was doing as she heard Mac talking down the phone, his voice showing that he was a bit tense and agitated about the situation that they were in. He quickly instructed all the lab techs to get back to work, and to stop being nosey. Jo was a little shocked at first but then relaxed; after all he was the boss. 'And a fine looking one at that' her brain teases her as she tries to ignore her growing attraction. However his stern looks to his staff increased her attraction once again. Her nerves now starting to rise a little more and the only response she can think of is a small joke; just to ease any possible tension between the two.

"Well, I almost ran outta here." She joked as a small smirk appeared across Mac's lips. "Do you know who she is?"

"No. Definitely doesn't work in the lab."

"My first thought was, it's a practical joke. Welcome to the New York crime lab." She dared to tease.

"We usually savatage a pair of latex gloves or have a tech pose as a dead body in autopsy, then suddenly pops to life. Murder? Not our style."

"Good to know."

Her mind was racing. How could she be feeling this way? She only just met the man, and yet she can't keep herself from thinking about him. Wanting to ask questions. 'Is he married? Divorced? Kids maybe?' Her mind was racing. 'Even if he isn't married he's probably dating or has a girlfriend. You have no chance, Jo. Just forget it. He's your boss for crying out loud!' It was impossible to know if he was wearing on due to his latex gloves. 'Perfect!' her brain cries. She knew that she had to impress him, and so stating as much about their vic was the way forward at this stage. She stated all of the obvious facts to show that she was capable of assessing a crime scene but then she decided to try and go the extra mile. Suggesting things about the unknown vic, that he may be oblivious to.

"Excessive make-up, which tells me that she was single but dating. The soles of her shoes were significantly worn, so I'd imagine she walks either from her home or to the subway, on her way to work. Hmm, ahh, the fragrance is a gift from a man, the scent is sweet, not floral."

"Do you happen to know her mother's maiden name?" Mac inquired, shocked but impressed by his newest member of his team.

"Just trying to make a good first impression with the boss." She answered truthfully, a smile creeping upon her face. Much to her delight, Mac mirrored her and a smile appeared upon his face. The face that she was rapidly falling for. He looked good when he was, smiling, curious, angry and even confused.

"You know what's so odd, I had to go through a pat-down, and practically give up my first born, to get through security and up to this lab." She stated trying to get back on track.

"We're gonna snip a lock of your hair before we give you a desk." Mac joked once again. 'Yes! He likes to have a joke but he's so respectful. He surely is taken. I'm never that lucky.' Her brain torments again.

"My point being if she doesn't work in the crime lab, how did she get onto this floor?"

"Trust me. That's a question I definitely wanna answer."

Throughout the day, and case, Jo figured out many things about her co-workers and Mac. Lindsay appeared to be struggling with her medal that she had received for her courage and bravery saving Danny and Lucy's lives. Jo felt honoured to be working alongside her, but she could tell that Lindsay was missing her friend; Stella. She'd received a gift from Stella, and it showed how much she was struggling with things. Both the medal and Stella's departure. Jo felt bad, she'd replaced Stella in a way. Mainly her job position, as she could see that they all cared deeply about Stella and that no-one could ever really replace her.

Jo also figured things about her boss as well. He was a caring man, but amazingly single. She'd got some 'gossip' from lab techs and she'd filtered out the rumours and found the true evidence. His wife, Claire, had sadly died on 9/11. He'd put himself in a shell, and dug himself a hole to hide from the world and his true feelings. He'd had a relationship with a Medical Examiner, named Peyton Driscoll. It was going well, they even went to London together, but then she put him back behind his emotional shield and shoved him back in his hole, when she broke up with him through a 'Dear John' letter from London. Not that long ago, he'd met a woman called Aubrey Hunter. She was a doctor, but apart from a couple of dates, there was never anything more. The gossip and rumours that the lab techs had come up with were about him and Stella. They told Jo, that before Stella had left they were all certain that it was love between the two, and that they'd probably been dating for awhile. However, the rumour had died when she accepted to run her own lab in New Orleans, and she left New York, and more importantly, Mac. 'Maybe I have a chance...' Her heart, almost praying that she does. 'Yeah right! He never made a move for Stella, why should you be so lucky?'Her brain is quick to remind her and she's back to reality.

She was just relieved that this case had ended. She'd not expected all cases to be like this, but Mac had assured her that they get many like the one that they'd just solved. Even if this was not quite what she was expecting, something inside told her that the move to NYC was going to be a good thing. Maybe even life changing.