Title: New York Stories
Chapter 36 – Making Amends & Making Trouble

"Damn it!" Mac curses as he slams the phone back down, Frankie's stupid threat still ringing in his ears. He stares at the phone for what seems like an eternity before he calls Rick and asks him to trace the number.

"Frankie again?"

"Did you get the number?" Mac asks impatiently.

"Nope, he must be using one of those pay as you go cellular phone's again. Sorry man."

"Right thanks," Mac states glumly as he hangs up and then looks at the clock. Stella would already be heading toward court for an early morning hearing but he even wonders if burdening her with another petty threat would be worth it. It had been well over a week since he saw Frankie in person and almost one more week since his two goons were arrested on petty charges. One more week and he was sure he wouldn't hear from Frankie Mala again.

"Why worry her for nothing," Mac sighs as he slowly puts the phone back down on the cradle just as his first cadet walks into the class.

"Morning Lieutenant Taylor," the young man offers a polite salute.

Mac responds in kind but his mind still wondering if Frankie was all talk; finally it hit him. Mac grabs his cell, excuses himself as a few more students arrive and then heads into the hallway, dialing a familiar number as he goes, praying for it to connect before he has to start his class.

"Mac what's up?"

"Don I just need to tell you a few things," Mac states in haste.

"Everything okay? You sound kinda jittery," Don mentions.

"I guess after what you told me about that James fellow I don't want to take any chances."

"Frankie?"

"He called again."

"Thought you said it was just the once. What did he say?"

"Basically the same old stuff. Rick has tried to trace his number but it's a pay as you go cell phone so there is no provider and you don't have to register so…"

"There is no name on file and no address. Mac, even if you had an address, going to pay him even a so called friendly visit could backfire and get you suspended."

"I don't want him to hurt Stella," Mac pleads with a hint of desperation. "I honestly don't know what to do. I haven't faced an enemy like this before."

"Frankie isn't normal," Don huffs. "Okay so let me see what I can find on him and I'll get back to you."

"Okay thanks," Mac resigns with a lighter tone as he hangs up and then heads back to class. He looks at the expectant faces before him, all eager to learn the new weapon he'll be teaching as well as the history lesson from a decorated General that he'll be co-authoring. He hopes that Don can at least find something on where Frankie is hiding out. And while he has no intention of threatening Frankie or giving him cause to go to the police, he wants to at least be armed with a little knowledge.

"Morning class," he starts with a tight lipped smile, hoping the day would pass by without incident but not realizing that a trap was being set that he was about to walk into in a few short hours.

XXXXXXXX

"Stella you okay?" Pauline asks as they wait for the judge to decide on the appropriate custody terms.

Stella watches the small boy ahead of them, nervously fidgeting before the judge, his adoptive father firmly clutching his hand while his birth mother hurls whispered obscenities at the officer she's attached to.

"Yeah I'm fine," she looks over with a weak smile. "Just always wonder how they'll turn out."

"He'll be just fine. Mr. Turner is a descent man. Is that all that is bothering you? You and Mac okay?"

The instant Mac's name is mentioned Stella's lips curl upward and Pauline's face as well breaks into a warm grin.

"Going well I take it."

"We talked about some major life altering decisions."

"You can use the M word you know," Pauline teases Stella.

"I know," Stella pauses, "but I just never thought I'd be lucky enough to find someone as amazing as Mac. I love him and yes I do want to marry him."

"I hear a 'but' in there," Pauline gently pries. "Frankie?"

"Yes but not in the way you might think," Stella quickly interjects.

"Is he still bothering you?"

"I think he's bothering Mac but Mac is not saying much."

"I'm sure if…"

"Pauline, do you really think that Frankie is just going to let it peacefully rest that he was basically shoved out by another man? One that made him look like a fool in a public place?"

"Ah the pot luck, right," Pauline frowns as she offers Stella a kind smile. "What else can you do?"

"Nothing and that is the worst part," Stella sighs as she puts her brave face back on and returns Pauline's slightly confident grin.

"Well as long as Mac is telling you all that is going on then I'm sure everything will be fine."

"Thanks," Stella concludes as the judge finally slams down the gavel and its all eyes forward. The ruling thankfully is in favor of the kind adoptive father, and the case is closed.

Stella slowly files out after Pauline her eyes giving the small boy a kind smile and nod before she disappears through the doors and then heads for the street, only a short walk back to their building and her mind needing the time and fresh air to think about current happenings.

She knows that while Frankie is still around there will always be that tension between them; her wondering if Mac has been harassed by him and then wondering if he's telling her everything, even a simple phone call from Frankie or would he just downplay to spare her worries.

She had tried to do a search to see where Frankie was living, maybe to just send Don over with a friendly 'reminder' of sorts but was unsuccessful in her search for either a phone or residential address. She had even called the last number of his active studio and found that it closed down; the previous tenant, Frankie, leaving no forwarding number or contact information. For anyone looking, Frankie Mala had disappeared from radar.

However, he was very much alive and just waiting to pounce.

"Oh Mac, I hope today passes by without incident," she utters fatefully.

"So you give any more thought to what we talked about?" Paul asks Danny as he joins him on the bench at lunch time.

"Got the ring yesterday," Danny utters in a low tone. "It's a home in a safe place and yeah I like the setting very much. Just hope she will."

"Trust me, Lindsay is going to love it. Women like any amount of effort we put forth to make a romantic setting," Paul smirks. "Sheila gets excited when I offer to do the vacuuming or laundry. Then we…"

"Yeah man I got it," Danny holds up his hand and laughs. Both of them see Louie walking toward them and clam up, Danny praying the tension doesn't escalate and further foster hard feelings.

"Don't stop on my account," Louie tries to offer with a lighter tone, looking at Danny with a sincere expression.

Danny looks up at his brother and frowns as well; knowing that Louie would never apologize to him in front of Paul, much less in public and so tells himself that Louie is trying in his own lame way to make amends.

"We had to," Danny finally pipes up. "Paul was about to tell me about him and Sheila having sex in the laundry."

"Well it starts with the vacuuming," Paul smirks.

"Yeah no sex talk in here."

"Ah that's lame," Rico pipes up from behind them. "Isn't that what mechanics do all day long, talk about women and sex."

"Glad Lucy isn't here," Danny huffs.

"You mean Lindsay?" Louie smirks.

"No way, she'd probably join in," Danny chuckles.

"Sounds like her and Sheila would get along great," Paul laughs as well.

"Hey speaking of hot wives have you guys…"

"Yeah man that picture you carry in your wallet isn't your wife," Paul teases Rico. "I've seen her. On a TV ad."

"Is not," Rico argues in return.

"What's she like?" Louie wonders.

"Well…" Paul stops, his face slightly flushed. "She's great."

"But you don't believe me?" Rico puts on a mock pout and the four of them start to laugh. Ryan soon joins them and the conversation is light and friendly, filled with 'guy talk', laughter, friendly teasing; sounding like old times.

Danny looks at his brother who only offers a small nod in return and knows that while things might remain strained until he's at his own shop, they aren't beyond repair and their brotherly bond is still strong. They were part Italian, that was an automatic given for high emotions running in their blood, the rest was inherent from the streets they grew up on and the people they had to contend with on a daily basis.

The friendly banter continues over the lunch, before they finally break apart and all head back to work. Danny turns around from his work station to see Louie hovering a few feet away. Silence builds for a few seconds before Danny dares to break it.

"We good?"

"As we were," Louie nods as he extends his hand.

Danny grasps it, the other three mechanic's looking on with relieved expressions as the two brothers finally make peace. The day still holding promise of happier times.

XXXXXXXX

"So am I going to have to dock pay for your uh…waning attention?" Dr. Chan asks with a smile as he comes into the main room and sees Darcy and Lindsay playing with the kitten.

"Blame Lindsay she brought it up here," Darcy smirks.

"Thanks," Lindsay dead pans as she ushers the kitten back into its small holding crate and then stands up to face Dr. Chan. "I couldn't help it."

"I'm just glad she's got a good home and that no one is allergic."

"Me too. Can't wait to see Lucy's face."

"So maybe like the kitten can like bring the ring down the isle or something when you guys get hitched," Darcy pipes up, forcing both older adults to look at her with wondering glances. "Or not," she rolls her eyes as she turns back to the computer screen.

"I need you to prep Buster for me," Dr. Chan hands his file to Lindsay.

"I'll do it right now," she takes the file and then looks at Darcy with a glaring expression.

"Could happen?" Darcy answers with a small smack of her gum.

Lindsay just shakes her head as she takes the kitten with her. She hopes that Lucy will like the name 'Oreo' for the black and white animal; her mind already picturing Lucy's large smile when she first sees her very own pet.

Lindsay carefully stows Oreo in the back and then heads off to the surgery room to get their next patient for the day ready.

"Hey Buster," she greets the old golden retriever. "Can I see your tummy?"

She grabs an IV and then gets to work, gently humming to herself and wondering how Danny's day is going. He had told her that he really wanted to make peace with his brother, given there were only two weeks left before he would be running his own shop.

This weekend, before their adult date, she told him she would help him draft up a help wanted ad and get the shop ready for its grand opening. Not that it needed much work, but she said that she would like to be an integral part of that and he was more than willing to comply.

Lunch time finally rolls around and it doesn't take Lindsay more than a few seconds to recognize the sound of Danny's bike and head for the front of the clinic, still wearing her nursing apron. Danny stops the bike and offers her a large smile as she approaches.

"Whoa Freddie Krueger," he teases as his gaze forces hers to travel to the front small blood splatter.

"Wasn't it Jason from the Friday the 13th movies?" Lindsay quips.

"Can't remember, but something along those lines. All I know is I was smitten from that day forward," Danny confesses, his words reminding her of the time he had come to visit Sheldon's clinic a few buildings over. "Came to see the latest family addition."

"You'll love her."

"Name?"

"Oreo," Lindsay laughs. "Figured it would be easy for Lucy to say and I just didn't want the poor kitty to be stuck with like Harry or fur ball."

"What's wrong with fur ball?" Danny asks in mock hurt as he heads for the entrance with Lindsay. Darcy offers both of them a wide smile before she disappears into the back to finish her lunch, allowing the two adults their few minutes of alone time. Lindsay brings out the carrying cage with the small sleeping kitten in it and Danny's heart melts.

"Do you love her?" Lindsay asks warmly.

Danny looks at her and offers her a warm but serious gaze, before he leans in closer, his lips nearing hers. "More and more every day," he whispers as his lips finally meet hers.

Tori looks up to see Jessica approaching her and smiles.

"You made it," she gives her friend a hug.

"Just couldn't stay at home. Besides the project sounded like a good use of my time," Jessica admits in truth. "How are things here?"

"Some of the students, like Tiffany and Shannon were asking after you and the rest in James class are just trying to move past. All they were told is that he was involved in something illegal and was killed in a police shoot out after he resisted arrest."

"Don's team is good," Jessica states with a small amount of pride.

"We still have a sub in for you today."

"Good, that way I can get caught up on my paperwork that I missed and help you and not feel totally stressed."

"How was dinner last night?"

"It was a great distraction," Jessica tells Tori as they slowly head toward the teacher's lounge. She enters the room and once again briefly sees an image of James waiting for her and then it disappears.

"Still see him I guess," Tori mentions softly.

"I know it'll take a few days but it's not as bad. At least I don't see him in the hallways any longer," Jessica responds. "Okay so where to first?"

"I just need to give my class some instructions so why don't you get started on whatever paperwork and then say in an hour come and see me?"

"Sounds like a great plan."

Jessica watches Tori take her leave and then heads toward her locker. Her stomach still tightens as she pulls the door open, her mind still hearing James voice whispering her name. But as she allows her eyes to focus on a small picture of her and Don, her anxiety starts to fade and her heart rate return to normal.

The night before they had come to a silent understanding; both of them acknowledging how short time was but her also realizing that Don wanted to be a much more integral part of her life than a boyfriend. He wanted her to lean on him for everything, just as she had offered him in the early stages of their budding romance.

In everything, were the words he offered that feed her heart happy thoughts as she settles in at a nearby table and gets to work. During the next hour, teachers and support staff would stop by to see how she was, ask if there was anything she needed or just say hello and tell her they were glad she was back.

"I love you Don, I do want to marry you," she whispers to herself, that happy thought now carrying her until she heads to see Tori, her mind then switching to creative mode as she starts to help with the art exhibition. She tries to focus on the task at hand but when she hears a student mention hockey, her thoughts shift to the game her and Don will be watching tonight. Watching and seeing who wins and what kind of wager will be placed.

"He is so going to lose," she smiles to herself.

XXXXXXXX

"Don't you have any normal friends?" Sully grumbles as he hears Flack's explanation as to why he's searching for information on Frankie Mala.

"You know him Sul, he's the ass that Stella dumped."

"Oh right the artist right?"

"Right."

"Yeah don't trust those kind."

"Those kind?" Flack arches his brows in amusement. "Explain."

"Metro, artsy-fartsy, pretty boys…arrogant bastards, whatever," Sully huffs, drawing a slight smirk from Flack before he turns back. "What did you find?"

"Nothing on Frankie. I mean unless he's now living in the middle of central park this guy just disappeared."

"Hmm," Sully's expression turns serious.

"What?"

"Just don't like the sound of that," Sully sighs as he slumps his large frame down beside his partner and both stare at the information on the screen before them.

"I found the two guys that had attacked him on the base. Both were convinced and are now about to serve minor sentences. But when asked in interrogation who organized or paid them, they both said it was just some guy with a grudge and they didn't know where he lived or anything."

"Yeah a damn ghost," Sully growls. "I hate ghosts."

"Well this one ain't a ghost just yet," Flack reminds his partner with a grim glare.

"When was the last time your friend spoke to Mr. Mala?"

"This morning."

"What?"

"Well he had one of the guys for the NSA try to trace the number but it comes from one of those pay as you go cell phone deals and when I ran his credit cards, I got nothing. He paid cash."

"Damn ghost is smart. I hate smart ones."

"Mac thinks he'll go after Stella, but both Stella and I agree that he's going after Mac."

"Or he'll go for him and then her," Sully ponders.

"Think he'd actually kill Mac?"

"Make out a will?" Sully retorts. "Just tell your friend not to go down any dark alleys alone after work."

"He knows," Flack huffs, not really believing his words. "Okay so what do we do now?"

"Let me make a call."

"To who?" Flack inquires.

"A friend in a low place," Sully quips as he pushes himself back up and then heads for his own desk. Flack watches with an amused grin before he turns back to the computer with a serious expression.

"At least you better not do something like that Mac," he grumbles as he looks at the clock. It was almost time to go and he knows that Mac will soon be leaving to get Stella. He had told him he'd have something for him at the end of the day but so far nothing. He looks over at Sully who talks on the phone hopes that as soon as the call ends he'll be able to call his friend with something, anything to let him know what Frankie Mala's next move would be.

The call would be too late.

Mac finishes marking his last assignment and then slowly heads for the door, locking up his classroom and heading for the lockers. He quickly changes and then heads back into the quiet hallway. Reed hadn't shown up like he said he might do; so all day his mind was forced to battle thoughts between Frankie's ominous threat and Stella's promise of the meal they were going to cook after work tonight.

He heads for Rick's office and sees Rick engaged in an in-depth discussion with two NSA Generals and knows that's one meeting he cannot interrupt. So with a small intake of air he heads for the exit doors, his heart rate now slightly elevated.

So far Don hadn't called with news on Frankie but in truth he wasn't expecting him to really find anything substantial. Frankie was smart, like a snake lying in the grass waiting to pounce at the most unsuspecting moment. He was glad he told Don about Frankie and knew that tonight he would have to tell Stella, because if she found out he told Don and not her, even if he used the excuse he did it to protect her, his future with her could be forfeit.

He spies his Jeep a few yards ahead and lets out a small sigh of relief; no one waiting and no waiting letter stuck under the windshield wiper. But just as he gets his keys ready to get in, two men quickly step out from behind the Jeep; two men he doesn't recognize.

"Bout damn time Taylor," one of them states gruffly.

"Pardon?" Mac inquires in haste as he takes a step back. But just as he does, one of them pulls a gun and cocks it, halting Mac in his tracks.

"Are you insane? This parking lot is monitored," Mac hisses.

"Oh you mean that camera up there? The one with black spray paint on it?" The other sneers.

"Who sent you Frankie Mala?"

"We can't…"

"Why the hell can't he come and face me himself?"

"I am," a familiar voice finally pipes up from behind.

Mac quickly turns to see Frankie walking up to him dressed in a janitor's outfit. Had he been lurking on the property all day? Is that how he got in? Another clever disguise? Is that how he let these two in?

"I hope you made out your will Mac," Frankie smirks as he raises what appears to be a gun as well.

"What the hell do you want?" Mac demands in anger.

"You!"

And before Mac can make a move, something pierces his skin and his world fades to black, his body crumpling to the ground in front of his would be captors.

"Bind his wrists and let's go," Frankie directs as he looks around to ensure that no one was watching. However, just as Mac's eyes had failed to pick him up hours earlier, he now fails to notice a set of narrowed eyes watching his every move; about to make his own.

A/N: okay so didn't want to drag out any longer before Frankie made his move but stay tuned for a bit more and thanks again!