Disclaimer: CSI:NY does NOT belong to me. The only characters that belong to me are Alexis and Emma. And this is a slightly AU story. Hope that's not a problem with anyone. And I hope people like this story!

Spoilers: None…maybe borrowed concepts, but that's about it!

Summary: What do we get when we give Detective Mac Taylor a niece? A little drama but mostly a whole lot of fun!

Chapter 7

"Yo, Messer!" Aiden Burn called out in a playful tone.

Danny looked at her curiously before quirking an eyebrow. "What's up?" He glanced at her casual attire in the workplace. "And why are you dressed like that?"

Aiden looked down at herself, then back at him. "What do you mean?" she asked, feigning innocence. She came to a stop next to his locker and held her arms up in a gangsta way and popped her head, "Word."

Danny burst into laughter. "What the hell was that?" he glanced behind him and took a seat on the bench so he could finish tying his tennis shoes. They had recently completed a long-ass case that had lasted all week so he and Aiden were going out to unwind for the weekend.

Aiden started cracking up as well. "I have no idea, but I made you laugh!" she said gleefully. She straddled the bench and faced him. "So where do you want to go?" she asked, shoving her hands into the front pocket of her Hurley hoodie.

He shrugged and placed his foot on the floor. "I don't care. Whatever you want to do." He turned slightly so he was facing her. He shook his head in amusement.

"What?" she asked defensively. "You gotta problem with how I'm dressed?"

Danny jumped up from his spot and slammed his locker shut. "Not at all. You look kinda cute dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt," he smirked.

Aiden stood as well and followed him out of the locker room. "Is that so?" she asked coyly. "You're not too bad yourself, Messer." She bounced along next to him while he walked calmly. "What are we gonna do?" she asked again.

"Aid," Danny sighed. "If you don't calm down, I'm going to leave you at home. And we live in one of the greatest cities in North America, pick something."

Pretending to pout, she crossed her arms like a petulant child. Waiting a few moments, she soon smiled and asked, "Can we go to Rockefeller Center and go ice skating?"

Danny pretended to think about it as they continued towards the elevators. "Sure, that sounds like fun!"

Meanwhile, in Mac's office, he and Stella were having a heated argument over whether or not she should remain on their newest case. "Stella!" Mac barked, grabbing her attention. "A threatening note was sent to you through this office and you're telling me you're not worried about!"

She muttered something in Greek before answering him. "Mac, I've been threatened before and I've handled it. Why should now be any different?" she asked, frustrated.

"Because now we're engaged and we're parents," he answered roughly. "Unless you'd forgotten that slight detail."

"That was low Mac," Stella said through gritted teeth. She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "You know what, this conversation is finished. I'm going to continue working on this case. If I get threatened again, I'll be sure to let you know."

That said, she turned on her heel and stormed out of his office, nearly running over Alexis who had dropped by with a note for her uncle. "What's wrong with Stella?" she asked in a worried tone.

Mac sighed, "Nothing." Looking carefully at his niece, he asked, "What are you doing here?"

Alexis handed him a note. "This is for credit in my forensic class. By signing it, the teacher won't make me go with a different CSI team for field credit since I already did that with you," she explained.

Mac nodded and scribbled his signature at the bottom of the paper. "Is that it?" he asked, handing it back to her.

"Yeah," she said somewhat detached. She turned and opened the door. "Uncle Mac, you love her. Don't stay angry with each other." With that, she disappeared down the hallway.

Mac sighed and folded his hands, resting them on his desk. She's right, he thought. I love Stella more than anything and I can't let something happen to her and have her think otherwise. Suddenly, an idea struck him like a bolt of lightning. Grabbing his coat, he caught Flack on his way out and told him he was going to be gone for about an hour.

When he arrived at his destination, he suddenly lost his courage. What if she doesn't like it and thinks I'm trying to buy her off? Sighing, he leaned against the building and stared hard at the sidewalk. After arguing with himself for five minutes, he decided to go ahead and go inside.

He quickly made his way over to the nearest counter. "Hi, I need some assistance," he said to the clerk behind the counter.

The young blonde woman smiled at him kindly. "Welcome to Tiffany's. What can I do for you?"

Mac explained what he was looking for and held his breath while the woman went in search of the special request. It was a necklace that had a meaningful Greek symbol molded out of white gold, suspended by an elegant silver chain.

"You're in luck, sir. This is the last one, for a while it seems. Apparently the store is putting a hold on their next shipment for a bit," she explained unnecessarily. She boxed the necklace up and placed the box in the bag. After running Mac's card through the machine, she wished him a good day and he returned the farewell.

On his way back to the lab, his cell started shrilling. Flipping it open, he answered in his business tone, "Detective Taylor."

"Mac, something's wrong," Hawkes began. "I've been looking for Stella to let her know some results and I haven't been able to find her. No one has seen her since lunch."

Mac suddenly felt like he was trapped in an iceberg. "I just saw her an hour ago. What do you mean, 'no one has seen her?'" he asked in an even tone, trying not to let his emotions seep through.

On the other line, Hawkes shrugged, knowing Mac couldn't see him. "I'm not sure Mac. But after that threatening note, I would say it's being taken seriously."

"I'm on my way back. No one is to enter or leave the building," Mac ordered and flipped his phone shut.

Upon arriving at the precinct, he rushed inside to find Flack and Hawkes nervously leaning against the glass walls of his office. "Anything?" he asked immediately.

"We just got another note. It was left at the door and brought to us by an officer," Flack said, handing the note to Mac.

Reading it, the two men witnessed as Mac's face immediately paled and inhaled sharply. "Have you analyzed this yet?"

Hawkes nodded. "Yep. Prints are running through the database." He then looked at Flack helplessly and shrugged.

Flack closed his eyes and lowered his head. "We're gonna find her, Mac. Don't give up now."

Mac glanced at his team member. "You're right. Let's get to work on this."

Hawkes politely dismissed himself and headed back downstairs to the morgue, knowing he wouldn't necessary be needed at the moment. He hoped and prayed he wouldn't be needed at all for this one.

Somewhere in Manhattan, Detective Stella Bonasera sat on a cold, warehouse floor, bound and gagged. Where am I? She thought, trying to adjust her throbbing leg. In their haste, the men who grabbed her had slammed her leg in the door as they sped off. Mac, please find me soon. I'm so sorry I didn't listen was her last coherent thought before slipping into unconsciousness.