Well, not much for me to say here, just enjoy!!

Danny walked into Stella's office to find her laying on the couch, practically passed out from lack of sleep with tear tracks still visible on her smooth cheeks.

"Stella" Danny said softly. When she didn't respond, he tiptoed over to her and gently shook her.

She opened her bloodshot, tired eyes. It took her a second to remember where she was and why a strange man was standing over her. Then it all hit her again. Mac was missing. Her ex-boyfriend had him, and he was probably dying, if not dead already. She wished she could just go back to sleep and forget this mess.

"Stella, you should go home and get some sleep. It's almost three in the morning." Danny interrupted her train of thought.

"Then why are you still here?" Stella asked wearily.

"Apartment renovation. I'm staying here till it's done."

Danny left, leaving Stella alone with her thoughts again. To distract herself from…well….herself, she gathered her purse, keys and phone. She tried turning it on, but her efforts were met by a blank screen.

Great. Just perfect. A dead phone. That really caps off the day amazingly.

After gathering her things, she stepped outside into the cool night air. It soothed her tired body, and dried what was leftover of the tears on her cheeks.

Her moment of peace was broken by a wet cloth appearing over her nose and mouth.

Desperately trying to remember her training, she struggled not to breathe in the chloroform and forced her elbow back into her attacker's stomach.

Whipping around, she pulled out her piece and held the barrel in the shocked face of Drew Bedford.

--

Danny and Lindsay were watching Stella interrogate Drew from the observation room. He wasn't giving any answers, and so far looked like he never would. Stella got fed up and stormed out of the room, leaving Drew alone, looking slightly smug.

'He's not talking." Danny and Lindsay had been so intent on watching Drew they didn't notice that Stella had entered the room.

Lindsay couldn't help but notice the haunted look in Stella's eyes. It wasn't the first time she'd seen it. After Frankie, Stella walked around like a ghost for several days.

"Stel, you sure your okay?" She asked her.

"Lindsay's question was greeted with a single word.

"No."

They stood in silence, watching the one of the only people in the world who knew where their friend and boss was.

Flack noticed them all staring through the window and stuck his head in the door. He braced himself. Not wanting to repeat what he had just heard.

"Guys."

All three of the CSI's jumped at the sound of his voice, and turned to face him.

"A man matching Mac's description has been found."

"Where?!" They all said, practically in unison.

"In the morgue."

Not quite 10x longer than the previous chapter, but still longer.

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