Chap 4 :

A/N: Well, I had to go for the weekend, so I managed to get this a bit earlier, hope you'll like it. As always thanks to all who took the precious time to write a review and for those who read too, or put this fic in their fav or alert..

This story hasn't been beta-ed, so all mistakes are mine.

Summary: Sequel to JBH. Mac and Stella start to take things toward a common future while a deadly killer piles up body in NYC. Whole team whump, deadly game between killer the city and the team...

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, besides the characters I created for this story. CSI NY belongs to CBS and Jerry Bruckeimer.

When she unlocked the door by typing her security code, and stepped in the corridor, Stella's eyes quickly spotted Lindsay hovering around her office. She sighed inwardly, thanking Mac for taking the stairs, and avoiding their friend's enquiring stare. Ambling and hiding her broad smile after the small moment she had shared with Mac, she headed to her office as if nothing had happened. As she sat in her chair, Lindsay walked quickly toward her desk, a small frown creasing her face.

"What's going on, Linds?" she asked now worried at her friend's look.

"Ah, nothing," replied the young CSI. "Just got the tox results from our vic and you're not gonna believe it."

Stella stared at her friend before she grabbed the file she was handing her. She read through the report and frowned, looking up at Lindsay.

Her friend nodded with a pout to confirm what she had read. "Yes, he had no chances to survive to this," she said acknowledging Stella's widened stare.

"Benzodiazepine? He was drugged?" she sighed, the pieces taking form in her mind. "He let himself died because he couldn't wake up?"

"It appears so. We don't know yet, if the drugs were his or if our perp gave it to him."

Stella shivered at the thought. Drugging someone to stab him and watch him slowly die was just very creepy. "We have to get back to his apartment and look if he had a prescription, or if this was planned. We need to know if the drugs in his system had been planned or not."

Lindsay nodded and before she could add something a small smile crossed her lips as Stella's phone went off. She watched mischievously as her friend pulled her phone and a smile instantly lighted her face. Probably saw a name that she likes, to react like that, noted her mind. Might even be her secret lover. Lindsay grinned and observed as Stella's eyes seemed glued to the little screen. Then Stella's face lightened even more, unable to suppress a wide grin growing up to her ears.

"Is that your secret lover?" enquired Lindsay with a wicked grin, her eyes peering toward the small phone in a vain attempt of maybe catch a name or a picture.

Stella stared at Lindsay as she was noticing her friend for the first time. Damn it! She had forgotten Lindsay was there. She sighed inwardly, thanking the small self control remaining after what she had read, and happy she hadn't whispered Mac's name as she was just about to do. She bit her lower lip and stared at Lindsay for a second. She had just been unable to hide her feelings at Mac gentle words glowing on the screen.

I love you.

Mac

Oh God, it felt so right to read that, especially coming from him. Taking a small breath, her eyes looked down at the phone and she quickly turned it over, hiding her secret away from her enquiring friend. She was going to keep that text, not because she feared they wouldn't be anymore. No, seeing how Mac had subtly loosened up, though keeping their relationship very discreet, she knew more surprises would come. But because it was the first text that had made her heart beat so furiously this way, and that she wanted to be able to look at it all day while he would be far from her.

Finally, she raised her eyes to meet a grinning Lindsay. "Ah, just a friend," she said as she looked back and typed a small answer, before she stuffed it in her pocket.

"A friend?" quipped Lindsay. "You usually don't smile that much for a friend," said Lindsay with a hint of amusement.

Stella stood up and grabbed her gun. She slid it in her holster and stuffed it behind her back, ignoring her friend's comment. "Let's go checked our vic's apartment," she dropped as she exited her office, avoiding Lindsay's wide grin of victory. It was almost 2pm and she didn't want to miss their dinner tonight. Oh no. She was just too excited for that.

The young CSI followed her to the lift, her smile still plastered on her face as she stepped inside. Now she knew that Stella had really a crush with that mysterious man. She bounced lightly on the sole of her feet from the excitement her discovery had provoked. Stella was in love. But with who? Biting her lower lip, Lindsay glanced mischievously at her friend. Soon she promised herself. Soon, she would have a better description that just hot, which was something anyway. Her brows rose with a smile. This was going to be interesting.

To make that impression on Stella, the guy had to have struck her heart damn hard. Stella wasn't the kind to be impressed so lightly, especially since Frankie and Drew. No, now she was way more careful and had always gone very slowly with her boyfriend like Brendon. So this one had to be really special to become so close of her heart after only one weekend. Because before that she hadn't seen Stella much preoccupied. She tightened her lips, though her friend had always been worried for Mac. She frowned, wondering what her boss and friend would think about that. She knew that they were really close friends and she had to admit that she had always thought that those two would end up together, especially seeing how Mac was always looking at her when she wasn't looking. It was obvious that he cared a lot about her. She sighed inwardly. Yep, this time, her hot date could really hurt him. She was happy for her friend if she had found someone, but Mac would have been a perfect match. But if both were taking their lives into different directions now, since even Mac had a date this weekend, then she couldn't do anything about it. She sighed inwardly. She just hoped that her friends would be really happy this time, and that no awful news would hurt them more than life had already done.

xxx

Mac hung up, a broad smile grazing his lips. It's perfect. He stood up from his desk and turned toward the warm sun peering high in the sky. He stuffed his hands in his pocket and watched for a minute as the warm, yellow rays were reflected on the silver tower around him. They were in the middle of July, and even with the cooling air lingering in his office he could feel the heat coming from inside his chest and soaring through his body. He knew that it had nothing to do with the sun outside but all to do with the woman occupying his thoughts. Stella had stolen his heart a long time ago and feeling it beat slowly for her was a delight of every second. He grinned inwardly, remembering her short answer as he had finally made it to his office.

Love you too, Handsome.

Her lovely words had glowed on his screen at the rhythm of his heart. And like a kid marveling with his first toy, he had stared at her words for a minute, the world shutting down around him as his soul was instantly back at her side. He knew he had probably remained frozen just a couple of seconds, staring at his screen with a grin lighting his face, but it had been enough to get him some curious stare from his staff. So he had finally stepped inside his office, putting his phone back in his pocket. A smile grazed his lips. He had been right to send her that text, though he had no doubt about her feelings, but reading her answer had appeased his heart more than he would probably admit to her. It had soothed him the same way as if he had heard her warm voice uttering these words. He smiled, before his lips tightened with a small sigh, his mind getting back to work and the case he had in hand. He had some work to do now.

He frowned, remembering that his case was far from close and since he had plans for tonight, he should get going not to be late again. Twice in two days would really not make it as a good sign of respect towards Stella. But this time, he was sure he would be there on time. He smiled and turned to his desk as Danny entered pushing open the glass door. Mac raised his eyes on him and immediately spotted the file in his friend's hands.

"What is it, Danny?"

"Hey Mac," said his young friend. "I analyzed the flowers, I mean the roses," he grinned at Mac, referring to their talk from the previous day.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Mac's lips. Of course Danny had noted carefully that. His eyes peered into his friend's with amused sparkles. So Danny too was in the game now, and he could bet his friend was going to ask him again for his date. He sighed inwardly, hoping their friends would quickly lose interest. Now, since yesterday he would bet the team had probably gathered the small intel he had already given to Sid. Got to check. He frowned inwardly. He wasn't comfortable to drive his friends on wrong assumptions, but he had to. For Stella and for him. If they wanted to start on a solid ground they couldn't afford to spend their time worrying about Sinclair getting the info or any news reporters trying to play it on the 8 o'clock news to mess with one of their cases. He knew his friends wouldn't give them up to the mass media this way. But the less people knew and the more, he and Stella, had time to get comfortable together; to round their mind up into the most important question, and then, they would be able to share it with their friends.

Mac sighed as his eyes sparkled lightly amused. "So what did you find?"

Danny grinned, and noted how Mac had slowly sat back into his chair, feigning not to notice his use of word rose. "Huh, the sample I took from the thorns matches the same kind of thallium sulfate we found in Marlyn's bloodstream. And her blood was on the flowers too," he said seriously. Even if he wanted to know more about Mac's weekend, their case was their priority and Mac wouldn't forgive him if he was taking the things too lightly.

Mac seemed to think a moment as he slanted backward in his chair, his hand lingering on his desk. He raised his eyes to the ceiling. "Flowers are the expression of love and passion," he said, thinking aloud. "Leave us with two kinds of suspects: a lover or a stalker." He bit his lower lip, his fingers typing slowly on his desk. "Had to be someone who tried to reach her heart or felt his heart broken. What do we have on the boyfriend?"

Danny smiled, now was the time to give Mac his latest intel. "I talked to Flack about Marlyn's boyfriend, and he's bringing a James Malevoy for interrogation. He said he found him mumbling things at his place. The guy already looks weird. And the sample from the rape kit came back positive for a male donor, though according to Sid, he hasn't found any evidence of rape." He paused and looked at Mac before giving his last intel to his boss. "I checked Marlyn's last calls, and guess what? She tried to call Malevoy twice before she died."

A smile grazed Mac's lips mixed with satisfaction and pride. Although he had no doubts about Danny's abilities, he liked that the young CSI surprise him by being ahead of their next move. "Good job, Danny." Mac praised.

Danny grinned and continued. "Well, my guess is that, earlier in the evening, she had sex with someone other than her boyfriend. The guy leaves but Malevoy maybe already knew about it. So he sent her some deadly flowers thinking she'll accept them as coming from the other guy. But when she realized it's from Malevoy and not the new guy, she's pissed off. She tossed 'em in the garbage, and calls him to officially break up." He raised his eyes toward Mac.

Mac bit his lower lip. "It's a possibility. We still have to find all the evidence that goes with that. Marlyn could have as well been murdered by the second guy, jealous that she had already a boyfriend."

"Yeah, but what are you making of the calls, Mac?"

"I don't know yet. Do we have the audio?"

"No audio. It was just text. Sheldon is getting them right now." Danny watched as Mac stood up, looking serious.

"She texted him?" Mac looked surprised.

"Yep, that's kinda cold to be dumped by text like that," exclaimed Danny. A small frown creased his face as he watched Mac thinking. "What are you thinking, Mac?"

Mac bit his lower lip. "I don't know Danny. There's something off with this case."

"What's off, Mac?" Danny frowned. "Everythin' point toward the boyfriend. What ya want more?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'm too suspicious." He paused and shook his head. "It just seems too neat."

"Well, Mac you're the one always telling me not to go with my gut. So what now? We forget about the evidence?"

"No Danny going with your gut is fine, as long as you have evidence to sustain the case. And right now, I have none about my suspicions. So maybe you're right. And what sounds and looks like Malevoy being the killer, means it's him." He circled his desk and grabbed his jacket. "Let's go see what Malevoy has to say."

Mac headed for the lift, Danny on his tail. He gave a quick glance toward Stella's empty office, and his heart sank instantly as he would have enjoyed catching a small sight of her. But she was probably on her case somewhere in the city too. He sighed and focus his mind back to work. Maybe with some luck this case could be closed for tonight. Then, his plans would work out and he would have plenty of time to see Stella. He smiled at the perspective of spending some quality time with her, without dozing off. He cringed inwardly, sure he would have to stay up this time. He pressed the lift button and waited, getting now excited for the upcoming evening. Yep, maybe soon.

xxx

Stella pushed the door open with her gloved hands and crouched under the yellow tape to enter Parker's apartment. Lindsay close behind, both women watched their steps as they arrived in their crime scene and avoided the mess on the floor. Her eyes shaved the small room, and Stella noticed the wide pool of blood had dried at the feet of the couch, though the heavy stench of iron and death hadn't left the place. She wrinkled her nose and with her chin, she pointed to the bathroom at Lindsay. Without a word, her friend headed to the bathroom while herself turned to check the kitchen. If Parker had taken a prescription, some could still be on the counter.

The warm light of the sun peered through the windows in the kitchen and Stella frowned at the mess that was displayed here too. They had taken pictures of the kitchen yesterday, and she couldn't remember seeing any bottles of drugs anywhere around. But their vic could have hidden it in a closet, right? Looking at the messy floor, she stepped carefully between the shards of broken glass and ceramic, and opened the fridge first. Just in case he hid it there, her mind whispered. But like the first time, she didn't find anything curious inside so she closed it and her sight shaved quickly the shelves around her. Bottles of spices, and cans were stored on it, but no signs of his prescription or bottle of pills.

She sighed and set her kit on the floor where she had found a spot without too many shards of glass. So they would have it the hard way, her mind whispered in misery. She sighed hoping they would find something like a drug prescription or the bottle left by the killer, otherwise they would have to bag everything and she wasn't sure she would be able to make it on time for her dinner with Mac. She cringed inwardly. She knew that he felt guilty for showing up late yesterday, though it wasn't his fault if he had been so drained and had fallen asleep at the hospital. She bit her lower lip. It was few hours of sleep that she was grateful he had taken. At least he was coming around with his sleep this way, even if it was at the hospital and not with her.

She started to open every drawer and rummaged through it. Her hopes up for an easy case that would wrap on time for her dinner plan with Mac.

After thirty minutes of thorough search inside the kitchen, she had to come to the conclusion that Parker had no drug filled with Benzodiazepine in his kitchen. At least none that she could see. She sighed and heading to the main room, her kit in hand, she hoped Lindsay had a better luck. But as she entered the main room too, Stella could see the light frown on her friend's face. She cringed inwardly, this case wasn't getting the right way for her evening's plans.

"Nothing," confirmed Lindsay as she set her kit down and shaved with her beam the last place their vic could have put a bottle of prescription; on the small table in front of the TV.

Both nodded and started to rummage once again through the main room just in case they had missed something the day before, which was really unlikely. After thirty minutes they both stopped and turned toward each other.

"Okay, I give up," Lindsay said. "It's not here."

Stella tightened her lips. "Which means it was either brought by our killer or it could still be in his food." She made a small pout, that her friend noted immediately. "We gonna have to bag everything." She sighed, so much for an easy case. This one was going to take some time.

Lindsay nodded with small concerns too. It meant Danny would have to leave sooner to take care of Lucy, as their nanny was off tonight. So she too didn't like the idea of remaining here for long hours to bag every piece of food that their vic could have eaten. She glanced at Stella, her face grim.

"You okay, Stella?"

"Yeah, yeah. Just don't like that." She sighed, her eyes still shaving the shards on the floor.

"Oh you mean you had plans for tonight?" Lindsay gave her a small grin. "Your hot date maybe?" quipped Lindsay.

Stella bit her lower lip and narrowed her eyes, pondering her answer. Then, she finally gave up. "Yes, but I can tell him good bye with all we have to bag now."

"Sorry, but I'm sure he'll understand. What's his job again?"

Stella gave her friend a sideway glance. "I never said anything about his job, you smart little girl," replied Stella amused. "But since you want to know, he's in the forces."

"You mean a cop too?"

Stella shook her head. "Nope, more like wearing fatigues and salute people."

"Oh," dropped Lindsay a bit disappointed. She tightened her lips. She had really believed that maybe, considering Mac and Stella had been on vacation at the same time, well then, all these things about her date were pure smoke an mirrors, and it had been Mac all along. She sighed inwardly. But if the guy was a military, then, Mac was out of game, though he had been one himself. "Sorry."

"Ah it's okay, kiddo. Job first, right?"

Lindsay chuckled lightly. "You mean it's more like Mac to say that," quipped Lindsay. As her boss' name escaped her lips, Lindsay would have sworn she had seen the flash of a sparkle lightened Stella's eyes before it disappeared suddenly.

Looking away to avoid Lindsay's stare, Stella turned toward the place where they had found their vic, and set her brain into CSI mode. She knew that the evocation of Mac's name had made her react instantly and that her friend had probably seen it. But right now, she couldn't let her see more.

"If the killer first drugged Parker and then stabbed him, he had plenty of time to watch him die slowly," Stella added, her brows creased as she stared at the small, messy room. Something was off. She frowned and her eyes looked from the couch to the armchair placed in front of it. It was the only piece of furniture that hadn't been thrown upside down. Her hand pointed at the armchair. "Doesn't this furniture seem a bit odd placed here?" she asked to Lindsay.

Lindsay pouted, knowing her friend had wanted to keep something from her. But why? And why that sparkle when she had talked about Mac? Had they fought together? Or maybe she didn't want Mac to know about her boyfriend? Could this mean that her friend had finally acknowledged her feelings for her best friend? She sighed inwardly, reminding herself that now she had even more questions about this strange weekend. Focusing her thoughts on work, she stared at the armchair. The thing was in front of the couch, and offered the best view to look at their vic. She looked around and noticed it turned its back to the TV, its side to the small table in the center of the room.

"Yes it is. You think our killer watched our vic die?" Lindsay wondered aloud.

Stella sighed heavily as she opened her kit, took a swab and her blue pen light, and added an orange filter on it. She crouched in front of the brown furniture. Slowly, her beam shaved the armchair and then she stopped as she had found blue, glowing traces on the leather seat.

"Found something, and it's definitely body fluid," she stated with a pout.

Lindsay's eyes widened and she creased her brows. "You don't think our perp, just...I mean..." her voice trailed off at the disgusting possibility as if murdering someone wasn't enough but getting on edge because of it was just madness.

Carefully, Stella took a swab and she continued to shave the furniture until her eyes found a short, black hair stuck between the cushion. "Got a hair, here," she said her tone a bit stronger.

Lindsay brought her a small paper envelope and Stella dropped it with her tweezers. Then, she raised on her feet.

Stella glanced at her friend, turning her back to the door. "Okay, let's start to bag everything for the lab. We'll have to find out if our killer has spiked the food and made his way when Parker was unable to resist."

"Yes, but what about this mess," pointed out Lindsay. "Looks a lot like a struggle to me, and if he had waited for Parker to be weakened by the drugs this shouldn't have happened."

Stella bit her lower lip. Lindsay had a point though, there was another solution. "Well, maybe the drugs didn't kick in fast enough, or our killer could have been angry and have broken everything because of it, or it's just a masquerade to make us believe about a struggle."

"Hum," said Lindsay.

Stella shook her head. "Whatever it is, we'll have to back it up with evidence. So let's bag everything. I'd like to get out of here ASAP."

Lindsay smiled at Stella's reference. It seemed that she was really taking this date seriously. Other the years, it was the first time, she had really seen her friend so eager about a date. Even with the other she had always been cheerful about it, but not as serious as with this one. Lindsay smiled, hoping she would get to know who was making her friend so happy.

"Why being in a rush, detectives?" echoed a voice from the threshold.

As Stella and Lindsay looked at the door wide open, they met the cold stare of Detective Fincher; though, realized Lindsay all his attention was focused on Stella. A chill ran down her spine at the way the detective was looking at her friend and her stomach churned inside. She wouldn't like to cross the man in a dark alley. And somehow the fact that he was a cop like them wasn't to reassure her.

"Fincher?" replied harshly Stella. "What are you doing here?" Even though she was able to tackle that jerk on the ground if he was getting to close, she couldn't suppress her rising anxiety. C'mon, think about Mac, and you'll be alright. Don't show any fear to this ass.

"It's my turf, Bonasera. And last time I checked I was assigned to this crime. Didn't you learn that at the Academy?" he replied on a scolding tone.

She narrowed her eyes, her anger slowly simmering inside. "Last time I checked, this place was labeled my crime scene, Fincher." She bit back. "And I don't need a lecture by someone who barely finished his class because of daddy," she snapped back. If that jerk wanted a fight, then he was going to get one.

And as a reaction to her words, his face turned red from rage at the mention of his father, who had notoriously helped him to pass the final test at the academy and had supported his career all along.

"I swear I'll make you pay for that Bonasera." He hissed between his teeth, his eyes darting angry knife. Lindsay could have sworn that if a stare could kill, Stella would be on the floor, already dead. "Next time I'll see you, you'll beg me to take back what you just said."

"Yeah, everyone has dreams Fincher, mine is to see you vanish from my crime scene." She replied harshly, her glare telling him to get lost.

The man clenched his fists, and Lindsay wondered for a moment if he wasn't going to jump on Stella's throat. But then, his features suddenly relaxed and a scary glow appeared in his eyes.

"Good day, Ladies," he threw, his voice hissing like a snake about to bite, before he turned his heels and left; his negative aura still vibrating through the room.

"Wow, what was that?" whistled Lindsay at Fincher's sudden change of behavior.

"I have no idea," whispered Stella, her eyes glued on the entrance with a deep frown. "But I don't care." She turned toward Lindsay. "We have work to do."

Lindsay nodded. "Yeah, ready when you are."

Stella shook her head and grabbing her kit, she headed to the kitchen, Lindsay on her tail. But before she entered the room her phone went off and she frowned.

Lindsay turned to her friend intrigued. Stella receiving a text twice a day. If it was the same guy he had to be really serious and taken by her.

Stella lazily opened her phone, thinking Adam had found something with the shards and was texting her his discovery as she had asked him. But instead of Adam's name, another well known name glowed. Mac? Her anxiety due to Fincher's showdown instantly faded and she marveled to know how he had known that she needed him at that precise moment. She pressed on her phone and read the text. It was the details about their date for tonight. Her heart squeezed in her chest, realizing that she might not be able to make it on time. She still had an appointment with Sid after this. But his last words comforted her and if she had ever had any doubts, they had all vanished the moment she saw the small words attached to the dinner's location and time.

8' at Marlo

Thinking of you

She smiled. Two official days, and he hadn't stopped surprising her. Stella turned her eyes toward the shining sun peering by the window and heating their bodies. The warm rays reminded her of their weekend. Mac's loving face appeared before her and she relaxed instantly as she felt his eyes on her as if he was there. All memories of Fincher died away and only Mac heated passion when he had kissed her in the stairway remained. She grinned inwardly and hoped that tonight, even if their dinner was doubtful now, that they would have some time to be together. And this time too, she would make sure he would let her check his wounds like yesterday. A sheepish smile covered her face. Although it worried her that he was wounded, she had to admit it was a genuine excuse for her to ask him to take his shirt off and to delight into the view of his well-built chest. She tightened her lips and sighed inwardly. Even if their dinner was canceled, she would make sure they would see each other tonight.

With regrets, she typed her answer, hoping he would understand why, and followed her friend to the kitchen, sighing at the long task ahead of them.

xxx

Still a bit tired from his lack of sleep and his stitches still itching a bit, Mac covered his mouth to hide a small yawn. Although the last two nights had helped him to catch up with some sleep, he knew he still had a long way to be back to normal. Hell, he had read it in Dr Shen's eyes the day before. So, if he wanted to have enough energy to keep up with Stella, he would have to try to rest more often, otherwise their relationship could quickly turn as her watching him sleep. He sighed, well it had been the case with Peyton, and his ex had always been pissed off about that, pretexting that it was his way not to get involved with them. He sighed, at the time she might have been right, though he had never fallen asleep consciously. When he was out, it was because he hadn't decided it. But he hoped that this bad habit wouldn't ruin the relationship he wanted to have with Stella. Two nights at her apartment, and twice he had fallen asleep before her, with one making him late. This couldn't be a good thing. His lips tight, Mac watched from behind the wheel as Danny had made it to the stairs leading to the precinct and was now waiting for him. He quickly pulled his phone out and texted the details for their date to Stella. As Danny had come shortly after he had planned everything he hadn't had the time to send it.

Few seconds later, with another hidden yawn, Mac climbed off his avalanche, promising to himself that tonight he would do his best to remain awake and watch her falling asleep first, well if the opportunity was given to him anyway. He headed to the 12th precinct, home base of Don Flack. His friend had called when they were stuck in the traffic, informing them that Malevoy was waiting for them. Taking a deep breath to shave his tiredness, Mac climbed up the stairs and joined Danny who was watching him with a mischievous grin.

"You should tell her to give you a break, Mac," quipped his young friend.

Mac rolled his eyes and shot a glare that clearly meant that he wasn't ready to hear more of that from Danny. It was enough that they all tried to know what he had done with his weekend, but now assuming that he wasn't up to the task because of a new girl friend was out of the line. Furthermore, when he happened that he had done nothing as he was miserably falling asleep after two non official dates. He sighed in misery.

Danny closed his mouth at Mac's glaring eyes. Touchy. Alright, back down, Messer. You'll know later.

As they entered the precinct, Danny's quietness, made Mac realized that maybe he had been a bit too harsh with his friend. But really right now, he was too irritated and not ready to start in a talk about his private life in the middle of this precinct. So it would wait.

Danny frowned, knowing he had gone a bit too far with Mac this time. Okay the jokes and teasing were fun, but he should have thought twice before saying what he had just done.

As Flack greeted them in the middle of the busy office with detectives coming and going with files and suspects, he led them to the interrogation room. Just as they were about to enter the interrogation room, Mac's phone went off. He quickly pulled it and when he saw that it was Stella he stuffed it back inside, his heart too heavy to be able to read her words right now. He was happy she had answered so quickly, but with Don and Danny peering over his shoulders and a suspect ready for them, he couldn't let his mind wander to her. He gave a firm look at Don to indicate that he was ready to enter. He saw his friend frowning, probably wondering why he hadn't read his message, but it didn't matter. He had to focus on their suspect right now.

Don glanced at Mac's serious expression and tightened his lips. Something was bothering his friend and it troubled him not to know what. But considering Mac's way to hide his private life and almost everything about him, he knew he wasn't going to have an answer right now, if he popped the question. So instead, he just opened the door for Mac and Danny, and stepped right behind them.

As they entered the small grey room, both CSIs looked at a young man with blue slacks and white t-shirt. His head was snuggled between his hands and he had clearly been crying minutes ago. Mac's gut twitched at the scene. If Malevoy was the killer then, his act was good. But considering the evidence, and the flowers used as a weapon, he was the perfect suspect too. So Mac wasn't ready to let him go because just he had a good act. No, he needed more than that.

Quietly, he sat in the steel chair in front of Malevoy as Danny stepped beside their suspect and Don joined his favorite spot, leaned next to the tinted glass in the back of the room, his arms crossed before him.

Danny sat on the edge of the table and started. "Mr. Malevoy, this is Detective Taylor," he said, his hand pointing at Mac. "And I'm Detective Messer, and I guess you already met Detective Flack."

Mac observed as Malevoy shook his head after looking at each person in the room. His eyes were red and lightly swollen. His hands entwined before him to stop their small shaking. Mac narrowed his eyes spotting the sweat glistening their suspect's face and neck. Something was wrong with this guy, he wasn't only crying his dead girlfriend.

"Mister Malevoy, we have to ask you a couple of questions regarding Marlyn's death," continued Danny, his voice low and calm.

Malevoy nodded and tightened his hands before him.

"Can you tell us where you were last night?" resumed Danny as he bent toward their suspect.

Malevoy frowned as he glanced at Mac before he looked at Danny with a pair of small eyes. "I was...I was," he repeated, his voice trailing off every time he wanted to add something.

Danny sighed and glanced at Mac, wondering if the guy was really mourning his girlfriend or if he was playing them.

"You were what, John?" snapped suddenly Danny, changing his tone. He knew by Don that the guy had no alibi for that night, but now, he and Mac had to hear his version and what he could say about Marlyn.

Malevoy jumped at the change of tone in Danny's voice and stared at Mac as if he could help him.

Still quiet, Mac noticed how the man before him was now biting his lip in an effort not to shake from every part of his body. Malevoy clenched his fists together, and his knuckles went white.

"I...I can't remember," Malevoy finally spat, his face creasing under a heavy frown.

"Well that's too bad, John, because right now, you appeared to be our first suspect," dropped Danny.

Malevoy cursed. "I think I was with her, part of the evening, we..., we..."

"Did you have any intercourse with her?" asked Danny.

"I..I'm not sure," rambled Malevoy. "But I haven't killed her.

"Well then, you won't mind giving us a DNA sample, right?" Danny asked, his brows rose as he stood up before Malevoy.

"I swear, I haven't killed her!" snapped Malevoy.

"How can you swear, John, if you can't prove it? If you have no alibi?" Danny replied harshly.

"I..I...I don't remember," dropped Malevoy in misery, his voice breaking with sobs.

"You can't or you don't want because you murdered your girlfriend, John?" replied harshly Danny but this time he smashed his hand on the table. All the evidence pointed toward this guy. And it made Danny's blood to boil to think of the guy killing his girlfriend like this, in cold blooded murder. For what? Because she was seeing another guy? Crap.

Malevoy took his head in his hands and curled up on himself. "I don't remember, I was...I was," he tried, but his voice was strangled by his sobs. His eyes darted to Mac for help before he quickly looked down to the steel table.

"You don't remember because you were on cloud number nine," Mac finally stated, as he slowly leaned forward, his elbows coming to rest on the table.

Danny glanced at Mac and let his boss took the lead to another track. Malevoy nodded and curled even more on himself.

Mac continued. "You were so on edge that you didn't check your phone to see that Marlyn had texted you for help." Mac stared at the man before him with disgust. Then with a swift move, he grabbed Malevoy's left wrist and extended his arm on the table, although careful not to hurt the guy. A long, red line of punctured marks appeared inside his arm. "What are you taking John? Heroine, cocaine?" He asked harshly.

The man shook his head as Mac let his arm free. He shakily brought it back against his chest. "Heroine," he answered bitterly. "I...I haven't killed Marlyn. She was helping me to quit." He spit as if it was his best defense.

"Well, obviously you did a great job to thank her, mister Malevoy," Mac stated bitterly as he stood up, his chair screeching on the concrete. "Now she's dead and you'll have to fight your bad habit alone." He nodded to Danny and headed for the door.

"Wait," struggled Malevoy. "I'll give you the sample you need."

Mac glanced at Danny and continued toward the exit.

"Wait, how...how...?" came Malevoy's strangled voice from behind them.

Mac turned toward the man that had lost the only person that had tried to help him in his life. "She was poisoned and died alone, struggling to get some help," he replied harshly, his voice hissing his words between his clenched teeth. "Help you couldn't give as you were having your little selfish trip."

Now he was really pissed off. Obviously Marlyn Delaney had tried to help this guy and the day she had needed a hand, only silence and death had answered her. He saw the look of dark realization hitting Malevoy's eyes. But he didn't care. The guy had been a loner, and as soon as he would be released he would get back to his miserable life of junky. He cursed inwardly. He hated that part. Marlyn had done a lot for his life and in the end, he hadn't been there. Now instead of one, they had two vics. One dead, and one that would only survive by name. He shook his head. So much lost. As he stepped outside, he really hoped Stella was having a better day than him. He took a small breath, a small smile displayed on his lips the minute his mind had drifted back to her. Smile, that didn't come unnoticed by his friends.

"You okay, Mac?" asked Don mischievously, as he closed the door behind them.

"Yeah, Don, I'm fine," answered Mac with a small sigh.

Don stared at him. "You believe him?"

Mac looked back at Malevoy through the open blinds. "I believe he was so under that he never made it to his phone." He sighed. "I bet Marlyn's texts will be her calling for help, since she couldn't talk due to her pulmonary embolism, it's the logical choice."

"So we start over and check her neighbors?" asked Danny, stuffing his hands in his jeans, and obviously not happy about this news.

Mac bit his lower lip and nodded. "Yes, we need all the help we can get, and we'll have to go back to the evidence and all the things we found on her body. Any fiber, or anything we could have missed." He frowned and was about to leave when Don gently grabbed his arm.

Don glanced at Danny with an amused smile. Danny tensed, knowing what Don was about to say but seeing how Mac had snapped earlier it wasn't the best moment to tease him with his weekend. But when Don spoke, he surprisingly saw Mac's shoulders relaxed slowly.

"Never saw a woman tiring you so much, Mac," Don teased. He smiled, they were in a small corridor and besides he and Danny, no one else could hear their talk. With Mac he had better to check where they were talking before starting a conversation.

Mac rolled his eyes to the ceiling. If only, his brain whispered in misery. Nothing can happen when I fall asleep, his brain replied in misery. He took a deep breath, ready to face the phase two of his plan. "Why do you think it's a woman?"

Don's smile grew to his ears at his friend answer. "Oh C'mon, Mac. I saw you tired because of work, you don't keep that smile all along then. So who is she?"

Mac sighed. He knew his friends would try to know more, and he was glad he had come up with a genuine portrait of his date to lead them away from Stella. "She's..." his voice trailed off and he saw with pleasure his friends' eyes widening in expectations. So predictable, he smiled inwardly. "She's not from here," he finally dropped amused, knowing that they probably got that information from Sid by now, but he couldn't resist to enjoy the small glimmer of hope flickering in their eyes the minute they realized the intel was old.

Don frowned, faking it was a new data. "Not from here, huh? You mean like London?"

"No, it's not Peyton," said Mac with a deep sigh, and to his surprise he saw his friends emitting a small sigh of relieve too. "May I know why you seem so happy about that?" he asked now intrigued.

Don rubbed his neck and quirked his brows. "Well, we're friends, and well, she kinda got under your skin and hurt you, Mac, so..." he raked his throat. "Not my business but we saw how she hurt you before, so I guess I'm just relieved it's not her. You two never really matched."

Mac remained stunned at his friend's words. He frowned and glanced at Danny. "You think the same way?"

Danny looked nervously at Don, cursing him silently for throwing that talk right now. "Huh, well, ya know. It's your life, Mac. I just remember how you were after she left, I mean, I don't know the details, but she was the one chasing you, not the other way around..." his voice trailed off as he looked at Mac with a sheepish look.

Mac nodded, not sure it was a good thing his friends had known that much about his relationship with Peyton. So, he was right to be careful with Stella. He didn't want any bets in the lab coming running over their backs. His lips tight, he turned and was about to leave when Don spoke again. Mac's shoulders instantly tensed at Don's question.

"So what kind of things she do?" teased Don, not forgetting about his question. "I mean what does she do for living?" he repeated knowing from his friend tensed posture that his words could have been interpreted in the wrong way.

Without even thinking about it, Mac answered, relieved by Don's second question. For a minute he had really thought his friend wanted to know...okay focus Mac. "She's a dancer," he dropped without turning to his friend. And without another word, he left both men, eyes wide and mouth half open. He had a text to read.

"A dancer," repeated Danny with admiration. So this time Mac wasn't in the scientific field. But how could he have met her then?

Don patted Danny's shoulder. "Danny, I got one intel, your job to get another one now." He grinned and left his friend to run after Mac who had already climbed inside his avalanche.

Mac stared at the small screen, sadness now filling his heart at Stella's words.

Sorry, running late with my case

Can we postpone to tomorrow?

His lips tight, Mac was pondering his answer when Danny jumped inside the Avalanche. Without a glance to his friend, Mac quickly typed his answer and stuffed his phone back in his pocket, his heart now heavy. Evening was over and so the opportunity to see her. He sighed as he turned on the ignition and led the truck inside the heavy traffic of a late afternoon.

The warm sun-rays glistened over the roof cars before him, and Mac squeezed the wheel without a word, his mind searching for any excuses to see Stella tonight. Because without a dinner plan, well, he had no reason to go see her if she hadn't invited him first at his place, right? He frowned. He had forgotten his bag at her place, so maybe it would be fine if he dropped by later. His lips tight, he stared before him. Maybe he would do that. He wanted to see her so much, that he was ready to make up any damn excuse to come and see her. He sighed, his brain taking a much needed breath. Well, she hadn't said they couldn't see each other. Their dinner was only postponed, so maybe he should really go to see her. A small smile played over his lips, after all they had been through, hope was allowed, right? And on this positive note, he drove toward the Lab, hoping he would be able to arrange things for tonight.

...TBC

A/N: alright, sorry, for the end a bit sad. But life is a lot about ups and downs, right? Okay, well, next chapter will get into more Mac and Stella time, so why I had to stop here. But what solution do you think Mac and Stella will come up with? Do you think they'll finish the evening together?

So as usual, feel free to leave your comments and what you thought about this chapter, and have a great weekend.