Disclaimer: CSI: NY and all the characters from the show are owned by CBS, Paramount, Jerry Bruckheimer, Anthony Zuiker, and other people who aren't me. Any other characters are my own and resemblance to any other person is a pure coincidence.

Well, here it is, Chapter 10. Rest assured, I kept my promise and at least the cliffhanger from Chapter 8 will be resolved. Thanks again to everyone who has been reading this and a very special thanks for all the kind reviews. Hope you like it.

Wherein two much remembered people join our cast, while our hero continues his strange journey.

I practically run to the only other person in this world of nothingness. It never really occurred to me until now that I'm not hurt, or that my clothes are different, or that I have no idea where I am. At this point, these things are irrelevant. Getting to this person is the only thing that matters.

It seems that the closer I come to them, the further away they appear to be.

As I get closer, I have a clearer view. I can see that it is in fact two people. One is a younger man and he is carrying another, much skinnier, frailer man. The younger man is dressed in what appears to be an Army uniform from WWII. He looks eerily familiar, and by the way he walks and the outline of his face, I know who it is.

I cry out to him "Dad!"

My father turns around and looks at me. The man he is carrying is the one he helped liberate from one of the camps; a survivor of the Holocaust. The man in his arms is so thin that I can see every rib and bone in his body. The sight is sickening.

My father doesn't say anything and continues walking away.

"Wait!" No matter how fast I go, I can't seem to catch up to him. He disappears.

"Dad!"

He's gone, but another person is still in the distance. This person has to stay here. I need to know what is going on.

Luckily, they aren't moving. This time, it's a woman. Her back is to me, but even from a distance, I know it is her. My heart feels like it is in my throat.

I make my way right behind her. My knees are weak and I have trouble getting out the word, as if saying it will make her disappear.

"Claire?"

She turns around.

Her eyes are the most beautiful shade of blue.

"It's me Mac." Her voice. Her voice saying my name. It's wonderful. It is the sound I've wanted to hear the most in almost eight years.

"I've missed you so much Claire." I start to feel a few tears streaming down my cheeks. I don't care.

"I've missed you too Mac." She brings one of her hands up to my cheek and wipes away a tear.

It suddenly strikes me; I don't know where I am or what has happened to me. I don't know if I'm alive or dead, or somewhere in between. I don't know why I saw my father. I don't know if I'll ever see New York or anyone else again. Right now, none of that matters. Right now I'm here with the woman I love and nothing else.

If this is what death is like, I'm not sad that I died.

For a while, I just stand here, my feet anchored to the floor. She still has her hand on my cheek and I savor her touch. I peer into her eyes, and I want to make this moment last for eternity.

After an all too brief period, it ends. She tilts her head in an inquiring way.

"Don't you have a question for me?"

The truth is I do, but I'm afraid. I don't want to know the answer. If I know, this might stop. She might go away.

Finally, I muster up the courage to ask her "Claire am I dead?"

I can barely breathe.

"No, you aren't dead. You're in a coma."

My brain only partially processes what that means. It doesn't matter. I've made my decision.

"Claire, I want to stay here, with you."

She's frowning at me now. The sight of it makes me ache.

"You can't stay here Mac, this isn't real. You have to go back."

I'm determined not to accept that fact. "No, I want to stay."

Her blue eyes pierce into mine. "Mac, it's alright. I know you want to stay but you can't."

"I love you Claire."

"I love you too Mac. I'll always love you, and I will be waiting here for you when your time comes. But now, you have to go, and one of our friends will lead you back." She takes her hand off my cheek and steps back a bit. I'm about to move closer to her, but a new and familiar voice calls out from behind me.

"Hi Mac."

I turn around. My new companion isn't that new at all.

"Stella?"

"That's right, it's me Mac. I've come to take you back."

"But, what about Claire?" I look back at where she was standing. There is no one. She's gone.

"Claire!" I shout out her name, and look everywhere for her, but it is useless.

I've lost her for the second time. The sheer weight of my failure makes me fall to my knees.

"No" I whisper in despair.

My world has darkened, and the hole in my heart that had been so briefly filled is torn open once again.

After sometime, I feel a hand touch my shoulder.

"Mac, it's time to go." Stella is still here with me. She's right; I have to leave this place.

She starts walking in the direction I originally came from. I follow behind her.

Our journey begins in silence.

I'll admit, I enjoyed writing this chapter more than the last one. A shorter chapter this time. Hope I managed to keep you all guessing a bit. Stay tuned, Chapter 11 may have a surprise or two of its own.