Author's Note: MJ Taylor is my creation. I have no claim to established CSI: NY Characters. They belong to CBS.
Secrets
Several hours later Mac and Stella arrived. Stella informed her that the rest of the team was right behind them. MJ filled them in on what she had been told and they were both relieved. "You look like you could use a break?" Stella observed. MJ not wanting to leave hesitated. "We'll be here. Promise. Go stretch your legs." Stella guided her towards the door. MJ stopped at the doorway turned and asked. "Did you get him?" Mac answered her without looking at her. "We did." MJ nodded. "I'll be back."
MJ was wandering around the small atrium when she heard her name being called turned to find Doc walking towards her. "I've been looking for you." MJ was immediately frightened. "Did something happen? Is Don okay?" Doc reassured her. "He's fine. Resting. I just met with his neurologist and I wanted to check on you." Seeing a small bench Doc invited her to sit. "I should get back" MJ insisted. "Stella and Mac are there. He's fine. You, on the other hand, are a different story." MJ plopped down and laid her head on his shoulder. "Okay, Doc give it to me straight. What did you find out and please don't sugarcoat it." Doc draped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a friend squeeze. "Well, they'll know more in the morning, but they are pretty comfortable with the words full recovery." MJ sat up. "You're sure?" Doc smiled. "Like I said, we'll know more tomorrow, but there is every reason to believe he'll be back chasing you in a few weeks." MJ blushed. Doc turned and looked into her eyes. "But my question is how are you? You look worse than he does." MJ gave him a small grin. "I'll be fine once he wakes up." They sat quietly for a minute before MJ spoke again. "Thanks for finding me and checking on me Doc." Doc smiled. "Promise me something." MJ looked at him. "Sure, if I can." Doc gently grabbed her chin. "He'll be sleeping all night. You've been here all day, please go home and get some sleep too. He'll probably come around sometime tomorrow. When he does wake up and you still look like hell, Danny and I will get blamed for not taking care of you." MJ giggled. "I'll splash some cold water on my face and add a couple layers of make up, he'll never know. But I can't leave him, Doc. I just can't." Doc shook his head. "I kind of thought that's what you say. But I thought I'd give it a shot." MJ turned and gave him a friendly hug. "Thank you for caring and trying. But I need to be here." Doc nodded. "Come on, I'll walk you back." They walked arm in arm back to Don's room.
They walked in and saw Mac sitting with Don. MJ walked over to Lindsay, who must have arrived while she was gone, and gave her a hug. "Hey, D." MJ acknowledged Danny's arrival as well. "Jes' Mags, Don looks better than you do." Danny walked over and kissed the top of her head. "Have you slept?" MJ gave him a small smile. "A little. Got to meet Don's folks." Danny shook his head. "Looking' like crap, Mags, you must have made a great first impression." MJ swatted his arm. "Gee, thanks Messer." Danny not liking what he saw. "Come on MJ, Lindsay and I will take you home so you can get some sleep." MJ shook her head. "I'm staying put Danny. I won't leave him." MJ walked over to the window so she could look in on Don. Lindsay went over to her and gave her a friendly squeeze. "He's tough, MJ. He'll pull through." MJ dropped her head on Lindsay's. "Thanks, Linds. I'll just feel a lot better when he opens his eyes."
The team milled around for a little bit longer, then Mac and Stella reassured them that Don wouldn't be alone and shooed them all home. Leaving Mac, Stella and MJ holding vigil. Over the next few hours they each took turns sitting with him. Stella had to force MJ to take her breaks. "What if he wakes up while I'm gone?" Stella shook her head. "MJ, he'll just be awake when you get back. Now go?" MJ relented. "Okay, I won't be long." Stella nodded then reassured her. "I won't leave until you get back, promise." MJ headed out and down the hall, towards the chapel as Mac returned with fresh coffee.
Stella stood in the doorway and watched MJ leave. Gratefully, she took the coffee from Mac. "Is she finally going home?" Mac inquired. Stella shook her head. "Are you kidding? The only way she's going home is Flack waking up and telling her to go home." Mac, surprised to hear the implication, asked. "Flack and MJ?" Stella not surprised by the lack of communication between Mac and MJ, informed him. "I think they are in the process of figuring it out. This just might push them in the right direction. I think they'd be good for each other." Mac didn't comment as he walked over and took a seat outside Don's room. Stella joined him in his silent vigil.