Title: How Their Lives Changed
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI:NY it belongs to Anthony Zuiker and CBS.
Author's Note: Continuation of SMacked/Daniela story, the beginning may have a bit and of an overlap and here is another short chapter.
Beta'd by: lily moonlight
Rating: T
Chapter 2: Their Decision
Daniela felt lost. Even though she was still young, she already knew what it was to feel lost, having experienced it several times. When she heard a kind voice, she lifted her head up and saw one person in front of her, who seemed both unfamiliar and familiar, but who definitely made her feel less nervous.
Seeing the sad look on Daniela's face tugged at Stella's and Mac's heart strings. As soon as she had crouched down carefully in front of the little girl, Stella opened her arms wide and Daniela, still holding her beloved teddy bear, with her flew into her open arms and hugged her as tightly as she could, like life depended on it.
Although she was in pain from her healing shoulder injury Stella resisted the urge to let out a groan because she did want to scare Daniela. Slowly, she sat down on the floor so she could hold Daniela better. As she hugged the little girl as tightly as she was able to, Stella looked up at Mac, both of them thinking the same thing: there had to be an explanation as to why her parents would just leave the little girl here. If it was plain abandonment, they could be arrested for a felony which would carry jail time and a fine.
Mac sat down next to Stella and leaned in close to her ear, whispering so Daniela wouldn't hear. "I remember what you said to me when you had the case three years ago and I know you're even more upset now, and know that I am too, but I think right now we should take her in and care for her. We'll take it one day at a time."
Stella quietly agreed with Mac and knew that being there for Daniela would be their main priority right now. Stella tried to stand up with Daniela in her arms but could not because of her injury. Mac, still very anxious for his wife, saw her dilemma and reached out to gently rub Daniela's back, hoping to comfort her.
Daniela turned around to see warm blue eyes and an equally warmer smile from the man standing by her, but when she saw him put out his arms, she whimpered and buried her face in the woman's neck, feeling safer staying where she was.
Stella knew that because Daniela had not met Mac before she would shy away from him and scared around him, at first. It took a bit of coaxing from her, but eventually Daniela relented and released her hold. Gently, Stella placed the toddler in Mac's arms and he stood up, holding her closely. Stella stood up slowly, her arm sore, but she smiled at the sight of Mac holding Daniela and how she had trusted him enough to lay her head on his shoulder—Mac was obviously a natural.
After standing up Stella took the keys Mac gave her she opened the door and they stepped inside. As soon as they had put all their luggage aside, and with Daniela content to be in Mac's arms, they sat on the couch and pondered what they would do next.
As they sat there, trying to take everything in, Stella noticed a piece of folded paper sticking out of Daniela's sunflower-patterned sundress pocket. She pulled it out, opened it and read what was written on the single sheet of paper.
August 23, 2009
To Detectives Bonasera and Taylor,
I know it will have come as a surprise to find our little girl, Daniela, at your doorstep but there is a good reason for this. Ever since the resolution in Sandra's murder, we realized how precious life was so we set aside more time to spend with our daughter.
For a long while we did very well and we had put in 90 percent of our savings as capital to get more antiques. However, the economic recession has shrunk our customer base and paired with that, Roland's medical bills had been piling up and we were in financial trouble. We now have no choice but to declare bankruptcy and liquidate our assets in order to pay our debts.
So because of this we feel that we are unable to care for our daughter and that you two will be much better able to. You will find within Daniela's suitcase a manila envelope containing papers stating our intent to terminate our parental rights. You will also be contacted by our lawyer shortly with regards to adopting Daniela.
We owe you our thanks and gratitude,
Roland and Raquel Myerson
All Stella could do was shake her head in disbelief; now that she knew the reason why Daniela was with them, she felt a little sorry for the Myersons. Silently, Stella let Mac read the note and his reaction was the same as hers. Stella took Daniela from Mac while he went over to the little suitcase that Daniela had with her and unzipped it. Right on the top of the contents, he saw a 9ʺ x12 ʺ manila envelope. With the envelope in hand Mac walked back to the couch, opened the envelope and pulled out a document which he knew instantly what it was: a statement of termination and the Myersons' signatures.
Gazing at each other, Stella and Mac knew that they had a long road ahead of them if they agreed to adopt Daniela, but they also knew they would face it head on not matter what, and they would face it together.
A/N 2: Thanks for reading the second chapter! As always the reviews are appreciated!
