Chapter 25: Your New Supervisor
Just a little late
You found me, you found me
"How'd your date go last night?" Lindsay asks, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"Taylor, Bonasera, my office. Now!" Sinclair yells.
"Great… until Sinclair and his wife showed up at the restaurant we were at," Stella follows Mac out of the break room. "You're sure about this, right? It's going to work?"
"We've done what we can, Stella. Hopefully it's enough."
Silently they take the elevator up a floor and enter his office, taking the two seats in front of his desk. "Detectives, I am sure you know why you are here," Sinclair begins.
Mac looks at his partner, "Actually, can you clarify that for us?"
"I saw the two of you together last night. It was a pretty nice restaurant to take someone who is just a friend."
"So? That doesn't mean it isn't possible. How do you know the other people there were not just friends?"
"I don't know for sure. But I'm sure you noticed that there was not one table that did not have an equal number of men and women. Why would that be?"
"Stella and I are not doing anything wrong, sir," Mac states.
"Mac, if you read through our rules, you will find that it is clearly stated that the department frowns upon relationships between coworkers."
"Frowns upon? That doesn't say that they're forbidden," Stella points out.
"If you continue reading," Sinclair looks at her, "it says that relationships with employees are not allowed. Detective Bonasera is technically your employee since she works under you, and therefore you cannot have a relationship of the romantic nature with her."
"Stella and I have the same ranking."
"But she is not in charge of the lab."
"Then we will share the position and split the extra pay that I get."
"Mac, when you started the relationship, she was underneath you. It can't be done," Sinclair informs them.
"Actually, Danny has been in charge since we're still working half-days."
The chief of detectives sighs, "Look, Detective Taylor is still the boss. There is no way the two of you can get away with a relationship. Now, if the two of you agree to stop seeing each other, I will let it slide this time, and you can go on with your lives. But if you insist on having a romantic relationship, I will be forced to fire one of you."
"Exactly what proof do you have that the relationship I have with Stella is romantic?" Mac asks.
"At this point… I really don't have any solid evidence. But it is obviously headed that direction. I'm doing this for your own good. The lab is currently at its best, and I don't want the two of you to mess that up. The moment he gets mono or I find the two of you kissing or… anything else that is a gesture between lovers, you are fired, Detective Bonasera. I suggest that the two of you end this relationship or one of you changes departments or jobs."
Mac and Stella look at each other before standing. "We are not going to end this relationship. We will be back to see you soon with our decision."
"Now what?" Stella asks as the elevator doors close.
"Can you handle a new boss?"
She shakes her head, "I don't want you to go anywhere. But… for us, I guess I could learn to deal with it."
"You're willing to give it a shot?"
"Are you sure there's no other way? I'd be happy to go back to narcotics, Mac."
"You are not going anywhere, Stella. I'm the one that wanted to go out with you; I'll make the changes necessary so that we can be together."
"Mac, I -"
"Maybe we should consult the team and see what they think about a new boss," he suggests since the two of them clearly were not getting anywhere in their argument.
"Fine."
As soon as they have gathered everyone in the break room, Mac's phone rings. "Taylor." Five minutes later he hangs up and motions for Stella to come over by him. "Quinn got another job offer to work as an inspector full-time; she said she was going to take it so she could travel all over the country. She said she'd put in a recommendation for me at the Jersey lab if I wanted. That would leave our lab without a supervisor."
"We'll probably end up with some jerk," she rolls her eyes.
"You're next in line, Stel. I think it'd be easier for them to promote you and hire a new CSI than hiring someone else to come in as supervisor."
She looks around the room. "Should we ask them before going back to see Sinclair?"
He nods, and they step back in front of their coworkers. "As most of you know, Stella and I have started dating. And as you also know, we are not allowed to do so because I am her boss. So… we may have come up with a solution, and we'd like to get your opinions before approaching Sinclair about it."
A/N: One chapter left. I probably will not post it until Thursday or maybe Friday. But that doesn't mean you can't review. I think I need only five more to get two hundred, which is my goal. So... please hit the button and do so. Or I could go re-write the ending and kill one of them... no, I won't do that. Actually, I don't really have much else written. Anyway... please review and I'll give you the final chapter as soon as I can.