A/N: Here goes another chapter. Thanks for reading and reviewing! Hope that you liked the previous chapter. The facts are real. I checked them up on the back of a facial wash and on the net.
CHAPTER 7: So, That's Up To You To Ponder
"Excuse me, sir, visiting time's over."
Danny turned his head behind. He saw a nurse in a white uniform at the doorway. "Oh, that's my call, Ell. See ya soon, 'kay?"
"Yeah, see ya," replied Elliot.
"Take care and have a good night," he said, getting out of his chair.
He bent down and hugged her gently, afraid to press her wounds. She was taken aback. After all, she had just known Detective Danny Messer for less than 24 hours. She raised her arms slowly and cautiously to his back. "You take care too, Danny. Thanks," she mumbled.
He released her from the warm embrace and helped her recline onto the pillow. He lowered her bed to its original position and flicked off the light. "Night."
Elliot lay in the darkness recalling the myriad of incidents that happened today. She remembered waking up early, excited to begin a new life in the Big Apple. She had met Stella the day before, and she enjoyed being in her company thoroughly. If Stella was such an amazing woman, the whole team must be professionals. She was a bit afraid too. What if they did not accept her well? After all, she was replacing Detective Lindsay Monroe. Replacing. She could take over Detective Monroe's job but she could never replace Detective Monroe. But once she stepped out into the roads of New York, she was caught up in the exciting sights that she felt completely exhilarated. However, she remembered she was hit by something green that hurt her so much. She remembered the blue-eyed Danny Messer coming to her aid. The lovely shade of blue against white. She couldn't take her eyes off her earthly savior. He even came to the hospital to accompany her for the whole day! Besides, nobody had ever called her Ell. It was always Harding. But she could sense something troubling him. Was it Detective Monroe? Stella did not really explain what happened to the latter. All she said was Detective Monroe got involved in an accident, a real bad accident. So, that was up to Elliot to ponder about.
CSINY
Danny walked out into the streets of New York. The night was cold. He stuffed his hands into his coat pockets and strode on. His car was still at the office. He was physically drained from spending the day in the hospital and just wanted to go home quickly. He decided to take the subway. The nearest subway station was just three blocks away.
He kept thinking about Elliot. He loved her green eyes and red hair. She was a wonderful person inside out. But he did not really know her, like he knew Lindsay. Elliot was a part of what Lindsay wasn't and Lindsay was a part that Elliot wasn't. Elliot had this pretty red-head "girl-next-door" feature that he wouldn't suspect she was a crime scene investigator at first glance. She was a great gal who notices everything and is surprisingly quite quiet. After he broke the barrier of silence, she opened up. She herself admitted to him that she was not much of a talker. But she had a great personality if one knew her well enough.
When he hugged her, he could feel her bones quite obviously under her skin. Did she have a problem she was worrying about and did not want to tell? She barely talked about her parents or family, like Danny himself. What family secret was she holding inside? Was hers as bad as Danny's? Or was it just work problems back home? Or stress? Women's behaviour was a total mystery to Danny. So, that was up to Danny to ponder.
CSINY
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, there was 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."
"Why not?" asked Stella, raising her voice. Passer-bys spontaneously looked into the lab.
"It is my problem and my way of dealing with it, Stella. So, just stop."
"Your problem, your way of dealing with it? Great, Mac!" she exclaimed. "This Mac standing right before me now at this very second is not the man that I know and love."
Stella looked at him bitterly and bit her lip. She turned around and headed out of the lab in disappointment. Mac heaved a heavy sigh. He sat down and stared at the computer.
Salicylic acid poisoning.
Headaches, hearing loss, confusion…
Used to treat acne.
Over-zealous.
Over-dosed.
Rope burns.
White fiber.
Asphyxiation.
Sexually-assaulted.
Eugene Yyle.
Mac kept on re-reading to information obtained from the victim's body, but his head could not process it. He put his file down on the table in frustration. He sank his head into his hands.
"Your problem, your way of dealing with it? Great, Mac! This Mac standing right before me now at this very second is not the man that I know and love."
The man that she knows and loves. What does that mean? He could not decipher. He had to be the strong man that everyone sees in Detective Mac Taylor - not the Mac Taylor that easily breaks down. Why couldn't she understand? Call it ego, call it pride. He couldn't care. The perception of others in this field was important, for trust. But for the woman he loves? It hurt him to see her hurt. To go against principals or to go against the woman he loves? He might lose her if he chose the first. But he will lose face in the public arena if he chose the second. Which one? Did she really feel the way he felt about her? Was the "love" she mentioned just neighborly, brotherly love or in-depth love for him? So, that was up to Mac to ponder.
CSINY
Stella stormed out of the room angrily. She felt disappointed at Mac outrageous behaviour. She had not meant for an out-burst like that. But the emotions penned up inside of her was too much to contain. The man she loves, in-depth love was slowly lost in this new Mac Taylor. She couldn't understand his attitude. Was that "guy" ego or pride starting again in his life? Ego and pride were two things that Detective Stella Bonasera could not tolerate. Here she was, striving to break down the wall - and there he was, in absolute indifference. His behaviour puzzled and confused her. What was happening? Bad memories coming back? So, that was up to Stella to ponder.