Thanks for the reviews guys, they make my day XD

Next chapter, sorry their short. So much to write, so little time!

Enjoy! (:

All rights go to CBS.

PS-No Jo Danville in this story. Stella never got "replaced" (Though we all know, no one can replace her.)

Alana and Nate saw the man in the suit looking at their boss with loving eyes. They saw how she was reacting to this too. Their curly haired boss had tears in the corner of her eyes, just about to spill over. That man in the suit was the man in the picture frame that sat on her desk. Her old partner, Mac Taylor. As Mac took a small step towards Stella, they knew that it was their cue to let them have their space.

"Stella.." Mac whispered

"Mac.." Stella said, softer then Mac had whispered.

Mac's brain was going 1000 miles per hour. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to just take her in his arms and never let go. But with her team standing right by the luggage claim… it just wouldn't be professional. But then again, they weren't partners anymore. She was-is- his best friend, who wouldn't hug their best friend?

As the distance between them slowly closed, Stella lost her patience. Enough is enough, she missed her best friend. So she flung herself at him, arms going around his neck and her cheek instantly making contact with his.

Mac's arm went straight to her waist, holding her tighter and tighter. His face found home in her curls, whispering "I missed you so much" over and over again.

After what felt like a lifetime, his arms loosened his grip fearing that he had squeezed her too hard. As they looked at each other for the second time, they were smiling from ear to ear from the joy of being together again. Stella put her hand to his cheek, whispering "I missed you too."

Both were satisfied, for now.

Mac put his hand on the small of her back-just like he used to-and led her over to her team by the luggage claim. But it was just Alana standing there.

"Where's Nate?" Stella asked, her tone changing from friend to boss.

Nate and a surprising guest arrived from the other side of the luggage claim, struggling to bring 5 suitcases around.

"I can't believe you got the first hug from Stella, Mac.." The man said teasingly. Knowing fully that he wouldn't get the first hug as long as Mac was around. But he was totally fine with it.

"Don!" Stella shrieked in an excited voice.

Don dropped the suitcases, and opened his arms to receive his hug. The hug was short and sweet, unlike her and Mac's which was long and emotional. But it fit them well, brother and sister.

"It's so good to see you, I missed you." Don said then turning to Mac "Now why don't you be a gentlemen and help me with these?" pointing to the overweight luggage.

Mac let out a chuckle, grabbing two of them and headed out the door. Stella and Alana walked out after them, watching the men with all of the suitcases and leaving none for them.

"Nate, Alana, your riding with me. I'll drop you off at your hotel then we'll head over to the lab so you guys can get started. Want anything to eat?" Don asked.

Mac helped Stella into the passenger seat, then went around the back to put her suitcase in the trunk.

"I owe you one, Don." Said Mac as Flack came to help him with the suitcases.

"Just make this right, Mac." replied the officer, catching the full meaning right away.

Mac hopped in the truck, taking a quick glance at Stella.

"So…Wanna grab something to eat at your favorite Greek place?" Mac asked, hoping to relieve some tension that he felt was lingering in the air.

"Milo's?" Stella asked in excitement, flashing her trademark smile that he loved so much.

"That's the one." He laughed, putting the car into drive.

XXXXXXXXX

Flack had been their tour guide, talking endlessly about his precious city. They were supposed to get to the NY Crime Lab-and they were going-but Don had decided to take the long way and drive by the sights.

Both Nate and Alana's faces were glued to the window as their eyes went big seeing the tall skyscrapers and billboards like little children. Saying, "Nate, look!" and "Alana! Over here!"

Nate and Alana were like the Flack and Stella of New Orleans.

"Here we are. New York Crime Lab."

The two stepped into the lab, greeted by glass walls, TV screens and workers running around with white lab coats and iPad-type things in their hands.

Their tour-guide gestured them into a room with 4 lab techs and a man in scrubs, all looking like they were teenagers in a gossip circle.

"Guys, Nate and Alana. Stella's Team. Nate, Alana, Mac's team." Don started with the introductions. "Dr. Sheldon Hawkes our encyclopedia on legs, Lindsey Messer our Midwestern mother, Danny Messer our gossip king, Adam Ross our shy probie, and Sid Hammerback….. our dead-man obsessed grandpa. The ME."

Those introductions earned Don a glare that said "I'll kill you" from each of the members.

After finishing the introductions, doing the usual "how do you like New York?" a silence hung over them.

"So, did Mac kiss Stella yet?" asked Danny, always blurting out the wrong things at the wrong time.

"He better. Or I'm gonna be down 20 bucks." Replied Nate, " To this lady over here." Pointing to Alana.

"You guys have a bet too!" Adam asked in surprise.

"We've heard a lot about Mac from Stella. And from the way she talks about him, she is like in love with that man."

Danny and Flack both gave each other high-fives, pretty much confirming their suspicions about the two.

"She's never actually admitted it before though…" said Alana, trying to fix the confusion.

"Don't worry, they'll confess….. they'll confess…" Said Don with a suspicious look.

Hope you guys liked the chapter! (^_^) Pretty please with a cherry on top, review! _