A/N: Thanks for reviewing! There will be more Stella/Mac stuff. chilli-peppers mentioned whether it should be a Danny should be with Lindsay or Elliot. What do you think? Please review!

"Okay, Hawkes, follow me," said Stella, walking down the corridor.

"Yeah," said Hawkes, getting out of his chair.

"This is what Danny got from the accident," started Stella.

Sheldon raised his hand. "Wait. How is he?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "He seems to have a great time with Elliot."

"Mmm…Elliot…yup. Elliot?"

"She just woke up around an hour ago; doctors checked on her and said that she should feel lucky to be alive. She almost didn't make it," she explained.

"Whoa, close shave," exclaimed Hawkes, raising his eyebrows.

"No doubt 'bout that. But she up and awake and having a great time herself with Danny."

"Okay, so let's get back to Danny's observation," he said, changing the topic.

"Right. The car was a green Mustang with heavily tinted windows. He thinks it might be a sports car."

"Phew, use a sports car for an accident?" he exclaimed. "Plates?"

"He only saw the last number, which is 9. Exactly like Lindsay's. According to him, it was smeared with mud - obviously a cover-up. Which person would actually want their sports car to be covered with dirt?" asked Stella incredulously.

"Unless it's used for attempted murder."

CSINY

"Now, Lisa is suffering from salicylic acid poisoning," explained Sid.

"How did you know that?" asked Mac.

"Remember the time when Lisa's sister told you she suffered from hearing loss, severe headaches and so on? Those are the symptoms of salicylic acid poisoning."

Sid moved over to the victim's body and touched her face with his gloved hand. "Look at this. She has acne. Salicylic acid is - "

"Used to treat acne," he concluded.

"Right. Either she was over-zealous or someone over-dosed her."

"What about the rope burns?" asked Mac.

"I found some white fiber one her arm. She died from asphyxiation, possibly someone heavy sitting on her chest. Other than that, she was also sexually-assaulted," explained Sid.

"Fingernail scrapings?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks."

Mac left Sid and headed to the lab. He ran the scrapings through a test for DNA.

"Now, let's see who you are…" he mumbled while running through the database. "Eugene Yyle…"

"Mac."

He turned around and saw Stella standing at the doorway. "Hey. Lisa's parents just gave consent for the post-mortem and looks like we are not at a dead end anymore," he said, grinning.

Stella smiled a forced smile. She couldn't imagine how Mac could go on smiling like that when two of his team members were down physically and one emotionally. "So, what's the U-turn?"

"Lisa was on salicylic acid to treat her acne. An over-dose caused hearing loss, severe headaches, confusion…all what Linda mentioned. She couldn't hear the murderer behind her or was too confused that before she knew it, she was dead," explained Mac.

"Mac, stop, stop," said Stella, raising her hand.

"You want me to go through that again?"

"No, I want you to stop and listen to me."

He put down his file on the table and turned to look at her. "If this about the case…"

"No, it's about Danny, Elliot and Lindsay."

Mac knew his resistance towards talking about it was slowly breaking down. The solid wall that he built after he broke down in front of Stella was being eroded bit by bit. He shut his eyes and inhaled slowly.

"Okay, what is it?"

"Mac, you can't go on like this. Just earlier, after I returned from the hospital to bring you news, you completely shut off. Like you did not care for those three youngsters there," said Stella, grabbing his shoulder. "Don't turn away, Mac. You are going to get to that hospital right now and stay with them. They need you - Danny needs you. He may be painting the town red with Elliot now. But look at him when she sleeps, he's like a walking zombie. Both his partners have been injured. Mac, Danny looks up to you as a father - a father he never had."

He turned to face the computer. He wanted so much to strengthen the wall. But he couldn't, especially when he looked into Stella's eyes. He closed his eyes. Danny was abused by his father as a young boy. His mother never stood up for him, in fear of her own safety. Then, that Tanglewood case. One by one, troubles came and went. But every time, they left scars in his Danny's heart, scars that could never be healed by even the deftest surgeon. No. Mac was determined to maintain the wall he built. Nobody would ever see Detective Mac Taylor break down again. Not even Stella - the one he loves.

"No, Stella, no."

A/N: How was that? Lindsay or Elliot? Please review!