A/N: Bare with me, guys. This is my first CSI: NY fic. Plus, it's a WIP. This is driving me NUTS! I gotta finish it!

Resting on a brand new bench somewhere deep in the New York Police Department, Stella impatiently rolled up her sleeve and looked at her Rolex watch. Eight-fifteen, she thought, sighing and staring up at the ceiling. Wonderful.

Stella's eyes followed the passersby; some of New York's Finest, a few civilians coming to file a noise complaint, and a suited-up man closely followed by two burly bodyguards. Stella figured he was a politician. They rolled around in NYPD every so often. As Stella's eyes fell to the ground, she began to slip away into the not-so-distant memories of her little altercation with Mac.

She thought very highly of Mac. Maybe a little too highly, when it came to a professional relationship. He was a top-notch CSI to be working in a city so full of crime. He knew how to deal with anything thrown at him. What Stella hated was how he boxed himself in. She knew how devastated he had been after 9/11, what with losing he wife, but she honestly thought he needed to get out more. Death of a loved one is a harsh part of life, but it's no good just isolating yourself from the world once you feel like nothing - or no one - will help.

Stella wished she could help him live again…if only he were willing.

The pounding of shiny, black shoes were distracting Stella as she sympathized for Mac. Running a hand through her banana curls, she sighed again. Stella didn't notice the man sitting next to her until he spoke.

"Why haven't you left yet?"

Figures, Stella thought. It's Mac.

"I was just thinking."

"About what?" he pushed.

"Now that's none of your business," Stella replied in one fluid breath, turning to look him in the eyes. She folded her hands nervously as soon as his gaze had held her own. Why was she reacting this way around him lately?

"Okay, okay!" Mac said, holding up his hands in defeat. He grinned cheekily – something that made Stella look away and blush. "Seriously, Stella, is there something wrong?"

"No, no, it's okay. I'm fine. Really!"

He stopped abruptly, staring at her, hoping she wasn't finished with her sentence. Moving an inch closer and lowering his already soft voice, he whispered, "What did I do?"

"Mac!" Stella exclaimed a little too loudly.

He tried to lighten the mood with a half smile, but had no luck. Searching for another way to get her to fess up, he said, "Do you want to go to the museum?"

She finally looked at him, almost incredulously. "Why would I need to?"

Mac shrugged. "Just because."

Stella shot him an accusing look. It worked.

"Okay, I'm being nice to you so I can find out what you're thinking."

Stella nodded her head slightly. "That sounds accurate."

"So will you just come along?"

"What museum?"

"The Museum of Natural History."

Stella laughed. "Mac, that's such a geeky place, and you know it."

He was ready this time. "Well, what are we if not a pair of science geeks?"

Jaw dropping a little, Stella chuckled and stood up. Mac followed.

"I hate that," Stella said.

"What?"

"When you're right," she admitted.

He smiled. "So are we going?"

Stella thought for a moment the possibilities of this outing. "Sure…science geek."

Mac smiled again and lightly took her arm. "I'll drive."