Chapter 6: Redemption

Angell led us to a hotel in a small ghost town. I didn't know what state I was in; I didn't even know if I was in Canada or Mexico even for that matter. I didn't see any Spanish, so I ruled out Mexico. "Angell, where are we?" I asked as I jumped off Speed.

"Oklahoma…," she squawked weakly. I nodded and patted Speed on the head. He neighed happily.

"All right. I have to look presentable before I go into town, is there a place where I can bathe in a pond or lake?" It had hit me – I had an even better idea. "Angell… I usually follow the laws and obey them, but we can make this an exception. Angell, I want you to steal a bar of soap from a local store, if you can." She fluffed up her feathers and bobbed her head. I knew deep down in my heart she could understand me. Stretching her wings, she flew off, as fast as she could…

Angell's POV

I flew into town as quickly as I could. I looked around and saw a gas station. The only thing I could do was to walk into the store. The store had its doors open because it was a nice temperature outside. I quietly snuck in without the cameras or people noticing me. Surprisingly enough, there was soap there and it was on the bottom shelf; all I had to do was grab it and go. I carefully grabbed it with my beak. I found a window that was open in the bathroom and I quietly flew out. "That was easy," I thought to myself.

In NYC, Lindsay's POV

"Oh God… I-I hope Mac, Stella, Ray and Horatio are okay…," I sighed. Danny looked me, as if he were about to cry. "Oh Danny… I miss Mac… we should never let him out of sights again… we should have been there for him…"

"W-we should have…," he agreed. Even Don, Sid, Adam and Sheldon looked worried. "I'm sure he's all right…"

In Miami, Calleigh's POV

I looked at Eric, Natalia, Ryan, Frank, Jesse and Walter while sighing. "I hope Horatio is all right…," I looked into Eric's eyes. "I love Horatio so much… I just can't choose between him and Eric…," I thought. "Everyone has been there for me, even Jesse…"

"H-Horatio is my best friend… I wouldn't want anything to happen to him…," Frank sighed.

"Y-yeah…," everyone seemed to murmur.

In Las Vegas, Nick's POV

"I heard what happened," a familiar voice said to me.

"Huh?" I looked up and turned around to see Grissom of all people! "G-Grissom! What are you doing here?"

"A little birdie told me that Mac Taylor went missing… so I decided to come back and look for him myself."

"But Horatio, Stella and Ray are looking for him currently."

"Nick…. I want to try myself… where are they?"

"They're in Shamrock, Oklahoma," I replied.

"Thanks…," he walked off.

In Shamrock, back to Mac's POV

Angell came back, fluttering above me as she dropped a box of soap (that landed in my hands). "Thank you very much," I smiled. "I appreciate it."

"You're welcome," she weakly squawked. She landed on Speed's head. Speed neighed and looked into my eyes.

"All right, are you going to show me where I can take a bath and maybe wash my clothes?" I jumped onto his back, the best I could. He neighed and began to gallop, off into the distance…

Stella's POV

"Oh Mac… I miss you…," I sighed. I looked up at Ray and Horatio. Ray had called the OKC police to allow us to use some of their dogs. Luckily, I had something of Mac's that I could give them. It was his watch. I had found it sitting on his dresser when I processed the crime scene. The dogs sniffed it violently. They led us to the abandoned factory and to an abandoned field outside of town. The trail stopped at a small pond. That's when the trial went cold and we couldn't find him. It was if I giant bird swooped down and picked him up. I looked on the ground and noticed something odd.

"What are you looking at?" Ray asked.

"Are these horse's hoof prints?" I scratched my head. "They're rounded and too big to be a deer's…" It had hit me – Mac was travelling via horse. "Mac is on horseback; no wonder the dogs are losing his scent."

"That would make sense…," Horatio nodded.

"I found a horse hair, possibly from the tail, I bet the dogs can track the horse instead of Mac himself," Ray stood up and let one of the dogs sniff the hair. They immediately barked and ran off, while we had to chase them…

Mac's POV

I heard barking as I peaked over the bushes. My clothes were soaking wet. I ran out into the open but I ended up tripping over my own feet. "Ow…"

"Huh?" Stella looked behind herself. "Mac!"