Mac was deep. Deep in thought. Deeper than usual.

Stella was deep. Deep in thought, possibly deeper than Mac.

Silence in the SUV was quieter than usual as well. Mac had his eyes on the road, Stella's on her hands in her lap- both trying to get back to the lab as quickly as possible. The air in the car was cool and collected, and the detectives basking in it. But the trouble was easily sensed.

Bzzz, bzzz

Stella shook her head slightly to the familiar sound of her cell. She was momentarily confused of its location due to the fact that her head had been taking a vacation in the clouds lately.

"Stella." Said Mac. Stella looked up at him. "It's in your jacket pocket."

Stella dug through her right hand pocket, feeling the smooth exterior of the buzzing object. She glanced at the caller ID before opening it.

"Bonesera." She responded in her detective demeanor.

Mac listened inventively, hoping whoever it was had some good news, something to follow. But that all crashed when Stella gave a sad sigh as an answer to whatever news the caller had given. Mac could feel his chest sinking into his gut.

"That was Danny." Stella started. "Hawkes was able to ID a gun brand, but not the actual type."

Mac raised an eyebrow.

"I know seriously." Stella agreed. "The stria didn't match anything in IBIS and Flack and his officers found nothing in the woods. They had dogs and everything, Mac. Lindsay even accompanied Danny out to the theatre to set up a 3-D imagery, trajectory and all. The line of the bullet kept leading them back to where Flack and his men had already searched."

Mac let out a tired sigh. He had stayed up the whole night. In fact, his whole team had. Fatigue would soon be haunting him and with this lack of evidence, he didn't know what move to make next.

"Let's just go back to the lab and see what we've got." He said. "If it doesn't look like much…"

He got stuck there. He never gave up on a case and cold cases never really happened to him. The only lead they would have, would have to come out of Endza. Her currently unknown condition was pestering him endlessly. Surgeries always took way too long.

Before they even knew it, they were at the lab. Both detectives silently yet speedily climbed out the SUV and hurried over to the elevator. The answers had to be somewhere.

"Hawkes." Mac called.

The former M.E. shot his head towards his boss. The computer screen he was currently looking at was probably going to give him tunnel vision by the next morning.

"Hey Mac." Hawkes said, with a twinge of defeat etched in his voice.

"You really have nothing?" Mac asked. Hawkes licked his lips with confusion.

"I wouldn't say nothing but this bullet is different. I can't really narrow it done to a specific gun, but I can tell you,.." he paused looking his boss straight in the eye. "You wouldn't find it here."

Mac paused.

"Wh-what do you mean?" he asked, stumbling over his words.

"The bullet's details are consistent with a certain foreign make. It could fit into a number of guns. There isn't very much information at all. I think our shooter was depending on that. I don't know if it is a new brand or old. Either way, I can't give you much." Hawkes said with a sigh. "I'm sorry."

Mac pursed his lips and patted Hawke's shoulder. The black man gave a slight nod, knowing that he did what he could.

. . . . . . . .

As Mac walked down the corridor, he rubbed his temple. If Endza was going to make it out, how could he tell her that they couldn't catch the man who had done this? They had never had such lack of evidence before. And it was causing so much pain.

"Mac." He turned his head to see Flack walking up behind him. He didn't look very satisfied.

"Please tell me you have something to ease this migraine of a day." Mac said.

"Sorry Taylor. My guys found nothing. The dogs picked up a scent but lost it down by the creek running behind the theatre." Flack stated. "I talked to the few, and by few I mean three people, who were outside of the theatre. They were all backstage people and all can be accounted for during the time of the shooting."

Mac closed his eyes and nodded.

"And Mac." Flack stared again. "Word got out that Endza was shot. I don't know how but it did. We used it to our advantage and asked if anyone knew of anybody who would want to hurt Endza. They all said she kept to herself and, get ready for this, only spent her time dancing and finishing her college courses."

That got Mac's attention.

"Walk with me." Mac said, gesturing Flack to follow him. "Go on."

"Right. I decided to look into that. She takes online classes and will be graduating this semester. She will have a B. in Biology, B.A. in Theatre Art, and it said she is continuing in Psychology."

"Anything from that?" Mac asked. They might actually get a suspect out of this. Wait, graduating?

"Not really. None of the teachers actually see their students, but they all said Endza never turned in reports late and always flew by in flying colors."

"So she is finishing up college at age sixteen?" Mac asked intrigued.

"Yep. I could hardly finish tenth grade at that age." Flack said in a serious tone.

"So technically, we're looking at a genius." Mac said. "Thanks Don."

"Sure thing." Mac turned to go his way. "Hey Mac."

The former marine turned around and looked Flack straight in the eye.

"Be sure to get some sleep."

Mac nodded to that.

"Hawkes!" Sheldon sat straight up in his chair. Wait, was he sleeping?

"Yeah,… boss." He said groggily. "What do you need?"

"What's your IQ?" Mac asked plainly.

The question sent Hawkes mind in a scurry. Was he in trouble?

"Mac, I'm so sorry. I promise you won't find me sleeping on the job ever again." He said as quickly as possible. He felt like little kid who failed his math test, not like he ever did that.

Mac realized what Hawkes thought he meant.

"No, Hawkes it's alright. Good to know, but that's not why I asked you that."

"Oh." Hawkes said, taking a breather. "Um, 150, I think. Why?"

"Turns out our gun shot victim is a protégée." Mac said taking a seat. "She will be graduating from an online college course this spring with degrees in Biology and Theatre Art. Flack said she would continue pursuing Psychology."

Hawkes nodded, with wide eyes. He was impressed.

"You don't think someone shot her because of her high IQ do you?" he asked.

Mac shook his head.

"I don't know. But it's a start."