"Like Someone in Love: Gathering Evidence" 1/3

By Rita Widmer

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI: NY so sue me. ;)

Summary: Stella is worried about Mac's new demeanor around her. It's a mystery that only she can solve.

Author's Note: I heard this song on the radio, and I thought how fun it would be if Mac or Stella started acting oddly, because they discovered he/she is falling in love. This is the result. Thanks again to all those that reviewed my last story.

Enjoy and review please!

MSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMS

Stella Bonasera got out of the Avalanche, and met up with Mac in front of the vehicle. She gave him an encouraging smile as they headed off to the crime scene, when the most shocking thing happened, Mac tripped on the curb.

If it hadn't been her strong grip on his arm, he would have fallen on his face. She tried to keep a straight face at the look on his astonished face. He shook his head, and gave her a small smile as he continued on.

Stella reached out to the tape to move it so she could get under, but for the second time within a minute she was to be shocked by Mac. Instead of going under like usual, he tried walking right through with no success.

She grinned at him as he was pushed backwards by the tape. "Mac, are you all right?" she asked him.

"Yes," he barely kept from hissing the word.

She shrugged it off, and looked at Don who seemed to be just as shocked as her. Deep down, she knew, Don barely suppressed a comment on his entrance.

"What do you have for us?" asked Stella, figuring getting back to the case would ease the tension.

"A boy for you and a girl for Mac," answered Don.

"I didn't realize this was going to be a double date. I would have worn something nicer."

"You're looking good enough for them, but your partner there could use some work."

That got us a glare from said partner, and she got to work on the boy in front of her.

MSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMS

The rest of the crime scene investigation went well, and Mac and I headed back to the lab. I went straight to the trace lab, while Mac checked on the autopsies.

The two of us worked on separate parts of the case for awhile, but finally we got a hit on a drug found in the boy's system. I went to find Mac, and found him in his office staring out the windows at the stars.

I called his name a few times with no luck, so I headed around his desk and touched his shoulder.

He jerked around, and knocked over his chair, and for the third time today, I saw Mac discombobulated.

"What do you want?" asked Mac with a slight hint of anger. Then before I could say anything, he added, "I'm sorry, did you find something?"

"Adam just handed over the test results. Nothing seems to be adding up in this case. No one seems to know where they were before their bodies were found. Flack was able to identify the boy as Michael Richards, and we're heading to his home to check it out."

"Let me know what you find. They didn't just fall from the sky and land there."

"We'll figure it out." She touched his arm lightly before turning to head out the door. She turned around to look at him when she heard him call her name.

"Thanks for everything, Stel." She somehow knew it had nothing to do with her case work, but something else that she couldn't quite place and honestly, she was afraid.

"Is anything wrong?"

"No, I'm fine. It's just been a long day."

MSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMS

Stella sighed as Flack and her discovered what happened to their young couple. No crime was committed against them. Sadly there families had decided to try to keep them apart, and drove them to try to kill themselves, but in their last moments they realized they had wanted to live and ran for help at the nearest place, but before they could find help they had passed out and died.

The old story of Romeo and Juliet once again told in modern times, and Stella was never a fan of the story. No matter what happened in her love life, she wanted to believe love would conquer all.

She took out her cell phone to call Mac with the news.

"Taylor."

"Hey, Flack and I solved the case. It was an accident. I was thinking of stopping at the coffee shop, would you like to meet me there? I'll explain what happened to you then."

"Sorry, I'm, uh, busy with paperwork. Go home and get some rest. You can report to me in the morning."

She could hear the hesitation in his voice as he made his excuses, and she had to find out why. Deciding to appear to agree, she hung up the phone, and headed to the shop and bought two coffees.

Once she was back at the lab, she headed straight to Mac's office with a smile on her face. Looking through the glass, she acknowledged he wasn't completely lying about the paperwork he needed to do. He looked like he was buried within it.

His head was lowered into the piles, and he missed her entrance. She set down the cups of coffee, and bent over the piles so her face was only inches from her. Luckily for her, her reflexes were quick, because a mere second later his head popped up and barely missed hitting her.

He groaned at the action, and sent a glare her way.

"I come bearing gifts, a cup of coffee for the hard-working boss, and the pleasure of my company." Stella handed him a coffee cup.

"Thanks, I needed this, but didn't I send you home?"

"Yes, and I admit to breaking a direct order, boss. I guess I haven't had enough pleasure of your company today, and had to come back to visit."

If today wasn't already filled with surprises this one may have shocked her. Something about what she said caught him off-guard while drinking his coffee, and he ended up spilling it down his chin.

Handing over a tissue, she did her best to hide her grin at his dumbfounded look. This was not the Mac we all know and love.

Standing up, she realized she better leave him to the paperwork before there was anymore accidents. "I'm going to take your advice now, and go home to bed. Don't stay up too late! Good night."

There was only a blank stare from her partner, and Stella couldn't read what was going on behind those eyes. She decided sleeping on it would be a good idea.

TBC…

AN 2: Anyone else going "Poor Mac?" I know, I know I'm being cruel, but stick with it and he will get his just reward for all his troubles.

Since this story is completely written that means you the readers can choose how fast you get the next part. The quicker the reviews, the quicker the next part will come. I'm thinking of a goal about 8. I know you guys can do it.