When Christine woke up, she realized someone was standing and staring at her. It took her a moment to focus on Ella. "So you're awake," Ella said.

Christine just stared at her. "Where is Mac?" she asked.

"He's in there sleeping. How long is he going to sleep?"

"He will sleep all the time if he doesn't get his medication."

"Why?"

"It's one of the side effects of being struck by lightning. He has to have his medicine."

Ella shifted uncomfortably on her feet. "Where is it?" she asked.

"It's at our apartment but his medicine for his headaches is in my purse at the restaurant."

Ella folded her arms. "If they see me, I'll be arrested," she said.

"You deserve it. How could you do something like this to him? He cared about you when no one else did."

"Well, he had a funny way of showing it."

"He told me a lot of things that happened. Mac has a caring heart and you are stomping on it right now."

"I don't have to listen to this." Ella turned to leave the room.

"Just think about this…when you get caught, who do you think is going to help you? Do you think Stella is going to help you? She is going to make it look like you did it. Why do you think you're having to stay here?"

Ella frowned but then she left the room. Christine felt like crying but she wanted to get Mac's attention if she could. "Mac!" she yelled as loudly as she could. "Mac!"

Mac was deep asleep but he thought he heard someone saying his name. "Mac, wake up!" the voice yelled. Not just a voice…Christine's voice.

Mac opened his eyes. "Christine," he said. He sat up and remembered where they were. He was still chained to the wall but he heard Christine yell his name again.

"Mac!"

Mac shook his head trying to get himself awake as he heard her yell his name again. "Christine!" he finally yelled.

Christine gasped when she heard him as she had been about to give up. "Mac!"

"I hear you!"

"Are you awake!?"

"I'm getting there!"

"Can you stand up?"

Mac shook his head. "No! The chains are too short!"

Christine could not believe this situation they were in. She did not see how they could get out of it. "Mac!"

"I hear you!"

Christine thought he still felt groggy. "Mac, no matter what they say, you can't do what they want!"

Mac absorbed that a moment. "What?"

"Mac, you can't do what they want just because of me!"

Mac realized what she was saying. "I will not let them hurt you!"

"They will just keep using you! You can't!"

"I love you," Mac said but it was not loud enough that she could hear it. He did not have the strength to yell anymore. He still felt sleepy and wondered if he could stay awake if he did not get up soon. He leaned against the wall and wondered what they would want him to do. He had no idea what they had planned or what his part would be in it.

Stella got herself ready and headed for the crime lab. She knew she could walk right in there and they would trust her without even questioning her. After all, she still had her detective status even though she was not working at the time. They would never guess that she was holding Mac and his beloved Christine hostage. She hated the fact that Mac was married again. She thought maybe after she had ruined Mac's reputation completely, she would just kill Christine right in front of him while he was helpless to stop her.

Stella went into the precinct expecting to see Don Flack there but he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a woman at his desk. Stella walked over to her. "Excuse me," she said. "I'm looking for Don Flack."

"He's on sick leave," the woman said. "I'm Jamie Lovato. Can I help you?"

"I'm Stella Bonasera. I used to work here in the lab. I was hoping to see Mac and the others in the lab."

"Oh, well, I can call and get clearance for you."

"Good. You do that."

Jamie got on the phone to the lab and told Jo that Stella was there. Of course, Jo had heard of Stella. "Well, bring her on up," Jo said.

"Okay," Jamie replied. She hung up the phone and got Stella a visitor's badge and took her up to the lab.

When Stella walked out of the elevator, Lindsay was there to greet her. "Hi, Stella," Lindsay said and hugged her. Lindsay was about four months pregnant now.

"So how are you doing?" Stella asked.

"I'm doing great, and I've already felt the baby move."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I guess after the first one, you're more sensitive. What brings you here?"

"Oh, I was wanting to talk to Mac about something and let him know that I'm working on a case in the city, you know, hunting down a desperate criminal."

"Oh, well, Mac isn't here yet, but you can talk to Jo Danville. She's the new second in command."

"How do you like her?"

"She's great and a lot of fun."

They walked down the hallway. Stella remembered coming down that hall many times. She saw Mac's office, still as neat as a pin and had all his pictures on the wall. Lindsay led her down to Jo's office, which used to be her office. Stella was shocked to see the office. It was cluttered with files and post-it notes and all sorts of papers. There was a woman sitting at the desk who had long, dark hair and green eyes which looked like they could see beyond the exterior of a person. She stood up.

"Good morning," Jo said as she looked at the woman who had curly hair and green eyes. "I'm Jo Danville."

"Stella Bonasera."

"Well, it's nice to see my predecessor."

"Nice to see my replacement doing so well."

"I'm afraid Mac isn't here yet. He's been having some health problems lately. I guess you don't know he was struck by lightning."

Stella tried not to roll her eyes at that remark. "When did this happen?" she asked, trying to sound surprised and concerned.

"Just a few days ago. He's doing better now, but he may have had to take today off since he had a full day yesterday."

"You haven't tried to call him? Wow, things have changed around here. If Mac didn't show up for work, it was almost an international incident."

Jo smiled. "Well, he's realized that he can't be here twenty-four hours a day," she said.

"Do you know when he will be in?"

"No, but I can call and check."

"Great."

"Well, I have to get back in the lab," Lindsay said. "It's good to see you, Stella."

"You too," Stella replied. She felt smug since they did not know that she was holding Mac hostage. She would make it look like Mac had gone off the deep end and the lightning thing would just add icing to the cake. They would think the lightning strike caused him to snap and maybe she would make them think that he even killed Christine.

Jo dialed Mac's number and waited but the phone went straight to voice mail. She wondered why that happened…it would mean that his phone was off. "I just got his voice mail," she said. "I'll try Christine's number." Of course she got the same thing. "That's funny."

"What?" Stella asked as though she did not know.

"Both their phones went to voice mail."

"Maybe they don't want to be disturbed."

Jo considered that but she did not think Mac would want her to share all the information about that case with Stella. If he had not told her, she would not tell her either. "I guess they're busy or something," she said.

"I'll come back later then. Can you tell him that I was here? I'm working on a case here and just wanted to drop in and say hi and let Mac know."

"Of course. I'm sure he'll be glad to see you."

"I'm sure he will," Stella said trying to hide her smirk.

Jo scowled as Stella walked away. She thought that woman seemed a little smug. And what was she doing here? She said she was working on a case? What case? Jo had not heard of any cases that involved anyone from New Orleans. They had not been contacted by anyone from New Orleans. They usually heard about it before the detective ever arrived in the city. She got up and went into the lab as she was sure Stella had left. "Lindsay, how much do you know about Stella?" Jo asked.

"Well I worked with her for a little over five years," Lindsay said. "I know her pretty well."

"Have you been corresponding with her?"

"We used to a lot more than lately. I guess we're too busy." Lindsay looked at Jo. "Why?"

"I was just wondering. I haven't heard of any cases from New Orleans around here," Jo said.

"There are so many precincts in the city, it could be either one. She just wanted to see Mac."

"It's odd, though, Mac and Christine's phones both went to voice mail immediately when I called them," Jo said. "Where are they?"

"I assumed Mac would be here this morning to work on that case again."

"So did I." Jo looked at Lindsay. "I think we should check on them. I'm going to call Christine's restaurant."

Jo went back to her office and got her phone. She dialed the number to Christine's restaurant but did not get an answer there either. She hung up the phone and sat there clicking her inkpen for a moment. She knew Mac would not run off without at least letting her know, and she knew he would not run off with this case still up in the air. She went to the computer lab where Adam was already working on things.

"Adam," Jo said. "I want you to try to trace Mac's cell phone."

Adam started typing on the computer and ran the trace, but of course, he did not find it. "It must be off," he said.

"Try Christine's phone."

Adam did the trace again but got the same results. He looked at Jo. "You think they're in trouble?" he asked.

"I don't know. See if you can get the phone company to turn the phones on and trace them."

"I'm on it."

Jo went back to the lab and Danny was just arriving and so was Sheldon. "Guys," Jo said. "Adam just tried to track Mac's and Christine's phones and he can't get a trace on them."

"What's going on?" Danny asked.

"Mac is not here and I can't get either of them on their phones. It goes straight to voice mail. There's no answer at Christine's restaurant."

"What about their apartment?"

Jo got her phone and tried that number but of course got no answer. "Nothing," she said.

"And on the day right after all this other happened," Sheldon said.

"Danny, you and I are going to the restaurant. Sheldon, you get Lovato and go to the apartment and see what you can find."

Lindsay watched as they all left. She did not go out on missions while she was pregnant but she hoped they found something…

Danny and Jo went to the restaurant and found that the "Closed" sign was in the window but the lights were on in the restaurant. Jo knocked on the door but of course, there was no answer. She tried the knob and found that it was not locked. She looked at Danny and they both drew their weapons as they went in. "N.Y.P.D.!" Danny yelled into the place.

They went into the restaurant and headed toward the kitchen. They found nothing as they got to the back room until they found that Christine's purse was in the floor with the contents spilled out. Jo looked at Danny. "Something's wrong," Jo said.

Danny got his phone and called it in as a case, possible abduction. "If they have Christine…"

"They have Mac too," Jo finished.

Ella was going back to the place they were keeping Mac and Christine. She had gone to get Mac's medication and had barely gotten out of the restaurant before Jo and Danny arrived. She knew Mac would not be able to do anything if he did not get that medicine. She had watched him in the room he was in and he had barely been able to stay awake. She pulled her car into the garage and closed the door and then went inside. Stella was not there so she would not know that she had left if she did not let her know that she was giving Mac medicine. She went into the room where Christine was sitting in the electric chair.

Christine looked up at her as she came in. "I got his medicine," Ella said.

Christine could not believe it but she looked at the bottles in Ella's hands. "Well, you should give him both of them," she said. "He needs one of them twice a day and the pain medication every six hours."

"Which one keeps him awake?"

"He needs them all! That is only two of them! He needs those medicines for pain! He has been sleeping but when he gets awake, he will start having a lot of pain. You can't treat him like this! This is torture!"

"I went to get the medicines! I couldn't go to the apartment. They're starting to get suspicious already!"

Christine glared at her. "Just give them to him!"

"I will!"

Ella left that room and got a bottle of water for Mac to take the medicines with. When she walked into his room, he was lying on the sleeping bag. "I brought your medicine," she said.

Mac was barely awake. She went over to him and gave him the two pills. "That's all I could get," she said.

Mac looked at the pills in his hand and then took them with the water. He lay back down and closed his eyes. Ella watched him a moment and then left the room. Despite what Stella thought, she did not really want to hurt Mac. When she first got involved in this, all she had thought about was seeing Mac again. She had met Stella in a bar and Stella had recognized her. As they talked, they had conspired together to mess up Mac's happiness. After all, why should he be so happy when they were not? At first, it was just to steal some things and hurt him that way, but then it had turned into kidnapping. Now, Stella intended to force him to do something…and she did not know what. She supposed she could let Mac go, but Stella would probably kill her…and what about Christine? Did Stella really intend to kill her?

"Hey!" Christine yelled.

Ella went down to that room. "What?" she asked.

"I need to go to the bathroom. How long do you think a person can sit like this?"

Ella stared at her a moment. "If you try to escape, you're going to cause harm to come to Mac, and me too," she said.

"I won't," Christine said.

"I shouldn't but I will take you."

Ella went over to Christine and got her out of the chair. She held the gun on her as she took her to the bathroom. Christine went into the bathroom and started to close the door but Ella put her foot in the door. "The door has to stay open," Ella said.

Christine went on in. She looked at the window in the bathroom but it was just like the ones in the other rooms. She finished what she had to do in there and then Ella took her back to the room. "Please let me see Mac," Christine begged.

Ella looked around and then at Christine. "If I let you do that and Stella comes back while you're in there, she would be angry," she said.

"How did you get in this?"

"Never mind that. I'll let you see him for a minute but then you have to get back in there before Stella comes back."

Ella let Christine into the room where Mac was. He was still lying down. "Mac," Christine said as she knelt beside him.

Mac opened his eyes and looked at her. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Christine stroked his hair. "I should be asking you that."

"Oh, I'll be alright. I'm just lazy."

"Mac, how are you feeling?"

"Sleepy. My feet hurt."

"Your feet?"

"Yeah. It's like something's stinging me."

"Stinging you?"

Mac nodded. "I just feel tired."

"Your medicine ought to help soon."

"I hope so."

"Come on," Ella said. "You have to go back."

"Just a few more minutes," Christine said.

"No! Stella will be back soon."

Christine leaned over Mac and kissed him. "Mac, listen to me," she said. "Don't do what they want because of me."

Mac stared into her eyes a moment. "I will do what I have to," he said. "I will not let them hurt you just to protect myself."

"Mac, you can't. You don't know what they will ask."

"You don't either."

"It can't be anything good. Mac, please, listen to me."

"I'll figure out something."

"Come on!" Ella said anxiously. "You have to get back in there!"

Christine kissed Mac again and then reluctantly went with Ella. She thought about trying to run so they would not have any leverage over Mac. But she figured that would only succeed at getting her hurt or killed. She knew if she was hurt, Mac would be even more likely to do what they wanted.

Ella took Christine back into the room. "Why do I have to be in that chair?" Christine asked.

"Because Stella said so," Ella replied. "Now sit down."

Christine had to force herself to sit down and let Ella strap her back in. She got her in just in time because then they heard the front door open. Ella hurried and closed the door where Christine was.

"Ella, where are you?" Stella called.

"In here," Ella replied. She realized she was afraid of Stella.

Stella came down the hall. "So how are our guests?" she asked.

"They're fine," Ella answered.

"I assume you took them to the bathroom, gave them some breakfast?"

"I took her to the bathroom but not him, and I didn't give them breakfast."

"Well, how do you expect him to do anything without food?" Stella asked. "Anyway, I brought take-out." She looked at Ella. "Don't ever take him loose alone. I was just testing you."

Ella watched as Stella walked on down the hall. She wondered if she expected her to feed them but she supposed she would just unchain one hand and let them eat. She went into the kitchen which was one of the most drab and colorless kitchens she had ever seen. The food Stella had brought was sitting on the table in bags.

Ella looked into the bags and found three breakfast plates. She supposed one of those was for her. She took one of the plates out and took it into the room where Christine was. "Are you right-handed or left-handed?" Ella asked.

Christine stared at her a moment. "Right," she said.

Ella unstrapped her right hand and set the plate in her lap. "Enjoy."

Christine was not sure she could eat. She could not stop wondering what they intended to make Mac do. She picked up the fork and wondered why they were even feeding her. She figured they would kill her and when they were done with Mac, they would kill him too.

Ella walked into Mac's room. He was sitting up now and looking as intense as ever. She knew he was right handed, so she did not have to ask. Mac glared at her as she set the plate down. "You know I could take that key from you," he said.

"If you do, she will kill Christine before you can even get to her," Ella warned and looked into Mac's eyes. She was practically face to face with him. She unlocked the shackle on Mac's right wrist so that he could eat. "Just eat your breakfast." She tried to touch Mac's face but he jerked away.

"Get away from me," Mac said.

"You know, you're going to need my help to get out of this so you better be nice to me."

Mac glared at her. "I'll take my chances," he growled.

Ella stood up. "Enjoy your meal."

Mac watched her leave the room. He supposed he better eat. He took a bite of the egg on the plate. He hoped he could figure out a way to get out of there and save Christine too. He knew Ella was right Stella could kill Christine before he even got out of this room.

When Mac was done with his breakfast, he had to go to the bathroom. Ella came in to get the plate. "I need to go to the bathroom," he said.

"I'll be back," Ella replied.

Ella went down to where Stella was. "He needs to go to the bathroom," she said.

"So take him," Stella said. "And remind him that I have the switch that controls that chair that his wife is sitting in."

Ella went back down to Mac's room thinking that she was becoming a slave. She went over to him. "Stella said to remind you that she has the switch that controls the chair your wife is sitting in," she said.

"I haven't forgotten," Mac snapped.

Ella took the shackles off of Mac and then led him down the colorless hallway to the bathroom. "You have to leave the door open," she said.

"No I don't!" Mac said and slammed the door.

Ella folded her arms and leaned on the wall. She wished this place could have some color to it at least. It was all the same color…that drab off-white color. She hated staying there but she had no choice now because she was wanted and Stella said they would be rich after this was over and Mac would be in prison.

Mac came out of the bathroom. He looked toward the room where Christine was. "I want to see her," he said.

"You can't right now," Ella replied. "Just go on to your room."

Mac went on but he was thinking about how long it would take him to run from his room to Christine's room. Then he would have to break the door down. After that,,, he would have to get Christine loose before Stella could electrocute her. He swallowed hard thinking of that. He could not remember the lightning strike but he had seen people who had been electrocuted before. He had certainly never watched an execution but he knew it was not anything he wanted to see.

As Ella was putting the shackles back on him, Mac figured she might be their only hope of getting out of there alive. "Ella," he said quietly. "Help us and I will help you. You haven't done anything like murder yet."

Ella looked into Mac's eyes. "But you'll never love me," she said.

"Ella, that's ridiculous. I never did anything to make you think that I wanted to have a relationship with you. I was just trying to help you because I care about people. You don't have to be like this."

"Great speech, Mac," Stella said as she walked in the door.

Ella stood up and quickly swiped a tear from her face. "He's shackled," she said.

"Good, then go and finish your breakfast while Mac and I have a heart to heart talk."

Ella left the room and Stella went over to Mac. Mac glared at her. "How could you do something like this?" he asked. "This is insane."

"Well, when you have lost everything, I guess you don't have anything else to lose."

"Stella, why didn't you come and talk to me?"

"What for? You never loved me even though I was in love with you and tried to make it obvious."

Mac sighed. "It wouldn't have been appropriate," he said.

"Oh, no, don't give me that speech. You are so dense…I don't know how Christine go to you."

Mac looked at her. "She's different and I love her."

"How did she get your attention in that shell?"

"It wasn't hard."

Stella frowned and squatted in front of him. "Well, now, you're going to do my bidding," she said. "I know how much you love her."

"And there's nothing you can do about it." Mac could see the anger in Stella's eyes and he thought she would slap him, but instead she grabbed him in the crotch.

Mac gritted his teeth as he was pressed up against the wall. "I can sure make it so you can't have sex for a while," she said.

Mac could not say anything. He just glared at her. She moved closer to his face. "Aren't you going to yell?" she asked as she squeezed harder.

Mac thought her would die but he forced himself not to cry out. She tried to kiss him but he had the presence of mind to turn his head. She let go of him and then slapped him. Mac finally got his breath back and tried not to whimper.

"Oh, you think you're so tough," Stella said.

"What do you think you're going to accomplish by doing this?" Mac finally asked.

"I'm going to be rich. Of course, I'm not poor but I'll have enough to get out of here and no one will suspect."

"Jo will see through you. If you think you can fool her…"

"Oh I already met Jo. I went to your lab and made them think I was there to see you. They didn't know that I had you here. You should have seen me. I could have won an academy award."

"They will figure it out."

"No, they will be looking for my little accomplice in there."

Stella stood up. "But, today I have a plan for you. You're going to do what I tell you because I'll be listening and if you even give a hint or look funny, Christine will be dead long before you can ever find this place."

"I will not help you!"

"Oh really?"

Stella unlocked the shackles and pulled Mac up. He was still in pain and found it hard to stand up straight let along walk. "Aw, did it hurt that bad?" Stella asked in a mocking way.

Mac was getting angrier by the minute, but he could not fight at the moment. She led him down to the room that Christine was in. Stella shoved Mac against the wall and pulled out a remote which had two switches on it.

"What are you doing?" Mac asked.

"I'm showing you something," Stella said.

Mac watched in horror as she flipped one of the switches. He stared at Christine as he heard an electronic whine. Christine gasped as she felt as though she were surrounded by static.

Mac saw the hair on Christine's head stand up. "NO!" he yelled. "Stop!"

"Don't worry, Mac, this switch just powers up the chair, but this other switch will make her a piece of toast."

"Stop it!"

"Are you going to cooperate?"

Mac swallowed hard and looked at Christine. "No, Mac," Christine said.

Mac wished he could do something but he could not. "I will," he said. "Just stop."

Christine tried not to cry but it was hard. Mac stared at her as Stella flipped the switch off again and led him out of the room. He knew he would have to do whatever she wanted until he could find a way to let Jo and the others know what was going on.