Still, within a week of Stella going on lab duty, she was in Mac's office every quarter of an hour complaining about how she was going out of her mind and could she please go back on full duty, if only for a few more weeks

Here's the update. I still don't own the rights to CSI: NY

Within a week of Stella going on lab duty, she was in Mac's office every quarter of an hour complaining about how she was going out of her mind and could she please go back on full duty, if only for a few more weeks. Mac's answer remained constant- "We both know this is the best for the two of you, now back to work" so Stella, like Mac, had taken to looking at cold cases to spend the time.

Mac didn't realise that Stella had taken to doing this and only found out when two months later; she came into his office grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"What's gotten into you today?" Mac said, glad to see her finally happy in the lab since she had been confined to it.

"I've just got a lead in a 10 year old case."

"Go on."

"The DNA profile of the attacker matches an unsolved case in the UK."

"You know this how?"

"Ran the DNA samples through the international DNA database and it came up a match to a UCOS case"

"UCOS being…?"

"The Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad. It's a team in the Met who specialise in cold cases."

Stella just stood there, pleading with her eyes for something, but what exactly Mac didn't know.

"What do you want, Stell?"

"To go to London to compare notes cos their case is more recent so there's a bigger chance of them being able to find out who the perp is."

"You've already booked the tickets, haven't you?"

Stella nodded.

"When for?"

"Four weeks time."

Mac just lost it. "Did you even think to ask me, you'll be six months gone by then Stell, do you know if it's even to fly?"

It was the first time that Mac had properly lost his temper with Stella and she couldn't cope with it anymore so she just turned and walked away.

Almost instantaneously, Mac realised how harsh he'd been with her and started to bang his fists against the desk in anger at himself before realising that it was not doing anything to help the situation. He thanked God that the lab had glass walls as it meant that he was immediately able to see that Stella had gone back to the break room and was trying to get a coffee from the vending machine.

Knowing she was only doing it to annoy him (because she actually gagged at the smell of it) he ran into the break room.

"I'm sorry."

"That just won't cut it this time Mac" Stella responded with her back to him so he couldn't see her crying again.

"No, it won't. Stell, I was just worried that you hadn't taken into consideration the fact that the flight could hurt you and/or the baby BUT I know that you would have checked that before even considering going to the UK."

"Hmm"

"And, whilst we're on this topic, why don't we start thinking about your baby shower. I know you've been looking at decorations and invites for it on the internet."

"Yeah but did you know that every time I do, I start crying cos there's no one I can invite- I don't have any family and the team don't even know we're together, let alone about to become parents."

"That can be rectified. I don't care how much paperwork I have to fill in- you deserve to be happy and if keeping us a secret isn't, then it has to stop."

Stella hugged him and he knew they'd be alright. The only problem left was how to tell the team.

He knew lab rules said that you had to give three weeks notice for any holidays and because he'd said to Stella that he would be coming with her to London, it would mean that the lab would be without the two most senior CSIs.

The next day, after giving out cases to the team (Stella is there cos she'd be bored otherwise and she knows what Mac's about to say), he announces that he has important information to share.

"Stella and I will be going to London in three weeks for a while to follow a lead on a cold case. Whilst we're away, Lindsay and Danny will be leading the lab. Any questions?"

Lindsay was the first to speak up "Erm, how long is a while?"

"We have leave for up to four months but we will be out there for as long as necessary, so be prepared for us to lengthen our trip or to be back within the week."

Sheldon had done the maths pretty quickly and realised something important was amiss "I know this is really none of my business but if you're going for up to four months, won't that mean that Stella's baby could be born in the UK?"

"That is a possibility." Mac replied, inwardly grinning as he knew his team were finally working out the paternity of her child.

"And you're okay with the baby being born 2000 miles from its father?" this time Hawkes addressed his question to Stella (Stella had being telling the team that the father was her partner, but had refused to name him).

"On the contrary, I would be beside myself if that were to happen. However, considering that he will be going with me, that won't happen."

There was a pause before… "one minute, if the father is going with Stella to England and Mac and Stella are going together, then … no way… we would have guessed" Danny said as Lindsay fainted at the realisation. Stella gasped whilst Hawkes rushed to Lindsay to check she was okay.

I know, I know, the baby still hasn't been born yet, but I didn't think it quite fitted in yet. Sorry. Baby names still wanted and please review.