Chapter 9: Holes in the Floor of Heaven

"One day shy of eight years old
Grandma passed away
I was a broken hearted little boy,
blowing out that birthday cake
How I cried when the sky let go
with a cold and lonesome rain
Momma smiled said don't be sad child
Grandma's watchin you today"

"How could you lose him, Danny?" Stella cries as she opens the door to her house.

"I don't know," Danny answers.

"What did you guys do?" Hawkes asks.

"We played cards, then had a bowl of ice cream while watching TV. I put him to bed at nine like Stella told me to. When I want to check on him half an hour later, he wasn't there. I looked all over the house for him before calling her," Danny explains. "Then I called Flack and Lindsay and asked them to go looking for him-"

"Where are they going to look, Danny? Mike could be anywhere in the city," Stella says. Sheldon tries to hug her, but she refuses to let him.

"Stel, I remembered something he said while we were playing cards. First he asked me if I thought you two would get married. I asked him if he wanted you to. He said he wants a father, and he misses Mac. Mike asked whether we could go visit him, and at first I was a little lost. I mean, how do you visit a dead person? I asked him that, and he said you visit their grave and talk to them. I told him no, and if he asked you, you might take him this weekend. Then Mike asked if you were going to have another baby. I told him you might if you met the right person. You'll have to explain to him where babies come from," Danny says as she cries.

"Okay, so you think he went to visit Mac," Hawkes asks and Danny nods.

"He doesn't know how to get to the cemetery even if he did sneak out of the house. Mike's probably lost somewhere out in this stupid city. Who knows who found him and what they did to him. For all we know he could be dead," Stella cries harder at the thought. She doesn't fight Hawkes when he tries again to put his arms around her.

"We'll find Mike. He'll be okay," he says, rubbing her back soothingly.


"'Cause there's holes in the floor of Heaven
and her tears are pourin' down
that's how you know she's watchin'
wishin' she could be here now
And sometimes if you're lonely
just remember she can see
there's holes in the floor of Heaven
and she's watchin' over you and me"

There was a knock on the door and Danny answers it.

"Okay, we're all here. What do you want us to do, Stella? We've got the search dogs outside," Lindsay says. "Another unit is one their way to help us. We'll find him, Stel. I'm sure he's fine."

"Do you guys have any idea where he could have gone?" Flack asks. "Wait, why was Danny watching Mike in the first place?"

"I… I- Hawkes asked me out to dinner so I asked Danny to watch Mike for the evening. He said Mike mentioned something about talking to Mac. We think he was intending to go to the cemetery, but who knows where he ended up trying to get there or who found him," Stella replies as Hawkes lets her go.

"Have you done laundry recently, Stel?" Danny asks.

Stella gives him a confused look. "Not since last weekend."

"I'll go get one of Mike's dirty shirts for the dogs to pick up his scent with," Danny offers.

When Danny comes back, Stella takes the shirt and starts to give orders. "Okay, Flack and Lindsay, you start heading to the cemetery. Take different routes. Mike could have stopped and asked someone for directions; we all know he's not shy. Stay at the cemetery when you get there in case he arrives." Lindsay leaves and Flack follows after giving Stella a reassuring hug. "Danny, stay here in case Mike comes back. When the other unit comes, tell then to just drive around looking for him. If you could please alert the station and have everyone on the lookout, that would be great," she says.

"Sure thing, Stella. We're not going to give up until we find Mike. And we will find, and he'll be unharmed. Mike's a smart kid," Danny puts a hand on her shoulder as he says this, disappointed she is not sending him out, but he knows every job is important if they're going to find Mike before it is too late.

"Sheldon, you and I are going with the search dogs," Stella says heading to the door with Hawkes behind her. "Here," Stella hands the shirt to the officer, and the dogs sniff it. Immediately they pick up Mike's path and set out on the chase.


"Seasons come and seasons go
nothin' stays the same
I grew up fell in love
met a girl who took my name
Year by year we made a life
in this sleepy little town
I thought we'd grow old together
Lord I sure do miss her now"

"I can't believe you're running. And in those shoes," Hawkes teases as they run after the dogs, hot on Mike's trail.

"Me either. Sheldon Hawkes, this is no time to be funny. My son is lost and alone in this awful city," Stella yells at him. "I can't run any more," she slows to a walk and Hawkes stops running too.

"We can still see them from back here. We'll catch up eventually," Hawkes tells her. She leans against him for support. "I love you."

"I love you too, but right now I'm trying to find my son, so if you don't mind," Stella takes off running as Hawkes leans over to kiss her cheek.

"What? Stella, wait for me," he runs after her. "Did you say you love me?" Hawkes asks when he catches up with her.

"Yeah, I guess I did."

---CSI: NY---

"Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me how to get to the cemetery?" Mike asks a man on the street, even though Stella and Mac had taught him not to talk to strangers.

"No, shouldn't you be with your parents?" the man asks.

"Thanks for your help," Mike walks away, spotting another store where he could ask for directions. "Hi, can you please tell me how to get to the cemetery?" Mike politely asks the woman behind the counter.

"What would a boy like you want at a cemetery?" she asks.

"I want to talk to my dad. Well, Mac's not my real dad. My mom killed my real dad because he was a bad man. Mac is my other dad. He was a detective and someone killed him. I miss him a lot and I know my mom does too, but she and Hawkes are going to get married and have a baby," Mike says as the lady rolls her eyes.

"Where is your mother?" she asks.

"Out on a date. Danny was watching me, but I snuck out," Mike answers cheerfully.

'Figures. How many guys can she have at once? Anyway she's not a very good mother. I should call the police for child negligence,' the woman thinks to herself.

"Mike," Stella yells as she opens the door to the store.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" he runs over to her and gives her a big hug.

"Why did you leave? You had me so scared. I thought something would happen to you." Stella gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Let's go home."

"I love you, Mom. How did you find me?" Mike asks before kissing her.

"We used the search dogs," she answers, exiting the store. Hawkes gives them both a hug and takes Mike out of Stella's arms.

"I called everyone and told them that we found him. Two cars are on their way here so we don't have to walk all the way back to the house," Sheldon tells Stella, then turns to Mike. "You, mister, I believe you're in big trouble. Why did you leave the house after Danny put you in bed?"


"Well my little girl is 23
I walk her down the aisle
it's a shame her mom can't be here now
to see her lovely smile
They throw the rice
I catch her eye
as the rain starts comin' down
she takes my hand says daddy don't be sad 'cause
I know momma's watchin' now"

"I wanted to talk to Mac," Mike says quietly. "I asked Danny to take me, but he wouldn't. Danny said you might take me tomorrow if I asked you, but it couldn't wait."

"So you decided sneaking out and trying to find your own way there would have been better?" Stella asks.

"I… I guess. Can we go visit Mac tomorrow, Mommy?" Mike asks sadly. "I'm sorry I scared you and everyone else, and I'm sorry I ran away. I love you, Mommy," Mike leans over out of Hawkes arms to kiss her.

"I love you too, Mike. Why not? It's getting too late to today," Stella tells him and he nods.

"You know, Mike, Mac is always watching you from heaven. He sees everything that happens from way up in the sky. I'm sure Mac misses you too. You can talk to him from anywhere, and he'll always hear you," Hawkes says as they get in the SUV.

"Why did he leave?" Mike asks.

"Mike, Mac didn't want to leave you and Stella. But some… idiot decided to kill him," Hawkes assures him.

"Bad things happen to good people all the time, especially when you're not expecting to have your perfect life ruined," Stella adds.

"Hawkes, can you spend the night again?" Mike asks with a huge smile.

"You'll have to ask your mother that."

"We'll see."

---CSI: NY---

Hawkes sat on the couch, half asleep with Stella on top of him. Mike was back in bed.

"Stel," he whispered softly, realizing he should probably leave. She did not wake up. He carefully lifted her up and carried her upstairs to her bed. As he lay her down softly on the bed, she woke up and before he could pull away, Stella pulled his head down to her lips.

"Spend the night," she says softly when he pulled back from her.

"You sure you're okay?" Sheldon asks as she pulls him back on top of her.

"Yes, I'm fine. But it does get lonely with this bed all to myself," Stella whispers as Hawkes kisses her neck, moving down her shoulder.

"Then I'll definitely stay," he pauses. Fetch, the lab, jumps onto the bed and starts kissing both Stella's and Hawkes' faces.

"Fetch, get down," Stella says. The dog stops licking them, but refuses to move.

Hawkes gets off Stella and walks to the bedroom door calling the dog. "Come on, Fetch. Go see Mike." Fetch leaves. Hawkes goes back to Stella after shutting the door, taking off his shirt. "Now, where were we?" he asks.

Stella giggles as he continues to kiss her. "Wait, do you want more kids or– well obviously you did because you were pregnant- but do I need to-"

"Not unless you don't want to be a dad," Stella smiles.

"I didn't know you were this bad, Stella," Hawkes whispers in her ear before he slips her shirt over her head.

"Sheldon, there's a lot you don't know about me."


"And there's holes in the floor of Heaven
and her tears are pourin down
that's how you know she's watchin'
wishin' she could be here now
and sometimes when I'm lonely
I remember she can see
there's holes in the floor of Heaven
and she's watchin' over you and me
Watchin' over you and me
Watchin' over you and me
Watchin' over you and me"

A/N: "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" Steve Warner. I just barely got this done before I have to leave. Got to go finish packing. I'll try to type the last chapter on the one day I have before I leave again for Dayton. Please, please, please review.