So, here we go. Alternative 7x01. Let me know what you think.

CHAPTER 4

She'd expected she'd meet him in front of her new office, hugging him and maybe daring to kiss his cheek. She'd have shown him his office, shared with Lindsay Messer, and they'd have talked about their kids. Instead, she'd found him in her empty Lab, all alone, peering down at a dead woman. He'd joked about it, alright, but that wasn't how she'd imagined she would introduce the Lab to him.

Mac Taylor had smiled, shrugging a pair of latex gloves on as he immediately started to process the body; for a moment, Jo felt as a witness in her own Lab. She'd barked at the techs to resume their work while Danny and Sheldon took her place besides Mac. He must have made a good first impression, because she saw them smiling out of the corner of her eyes.

She managed to be right on something, tough: Adam was utterly terrified of the new Assistant Supervisor, despite the fact that Mac had been nothing but civil towards him. He must have gotten a whiff of the man's past career in the Marines, as if he would trying something funny on him.

At the end of the day, after she'd managed to somehow save the day, he'd joined her on the building ceiling, a calculating look in his dark blue eyes. –Well, at least you wear a vest when you dive headfirst against peril. That's an improvement from Stella: I always had to remind her, and always had to listen to her complain about how her twins hurt afterwards. -, he commented, pointing to his left pectoral, causing Jo to burst out laughing, feeling all the tension of the day slowly leaving her body.

***MJ***

Lindsay was so out of it that she almost didn't notice the new presence in her office. Mac Taylor was examining the medal she had carelessly trashed a few hours prior, sitting at the desk opposite from hers. –You know, I got medals for much less than you did. -, he told her as a greeting. She narrowed her eyes at him, frustrated at the stranger. –Is this a competition I wasn't aware of?-, she replied brusquely.

Mac shrugged. –No. I was just trying to make you feel better. Is it working yet?-, he confessed with a grin. Lindsay rolled her eyes, a small grin tugging at her lips. –No. You're terrible at it. -, she replied with a laugh. Mac smiled. –You're not the first woman to tell me so. Nobody ever explains to me what I'm doing wrong. How is that fair?-, he joked, causing Lindsay to double over with laughter at the funny faces he was pulling as well.

-You could start by introducing yourself. -, the female Detective said after she had regained some sort of composure. The man saluted. –Mac Taylor, at your service. -, he exclaimed, causing the woman to giggle. –Lindsay Messer. Nice to meet you, Detective Taylor. -, Lindsay replied, shaking her new colleague's hand.

–I know I'm basically a complete stranger, but if you ever need to talk, I'm here. I might be able to better help you if you start the conversation, you know?-, Mac offered kindly, throwing in a joke for good measure. Lindsay smiled appreciatively. –You know, I might actually take you up on that offer. The Department psychologist is annoying. -, she replied with a genuine smile. –All good psychologists are, I'm afraid. -, Mac sentenced with a headshake.

***MJ***

-So, what do you think about Mac?-, Danny wondered, uncapping his beer and taking a swig as he kept looking straight at Don, waiting for his answer. The Homicide Detective shrugged. –Seems good at what he does. Was he military?-, he replied with a question of his own. Danny nodded. –Marines. Several years. –

Don whistled. –He handles himself in a certain way… but he seems laid back in private, doesn't he? Where did Jo find him anyway?-, he observed, taking a swig of his own beer. –You remember the conference in Miami she attended a few months back? Apparently, they kept in touch. -, Danny explained. Don raised a brow at that, but the CSI didn't provide other information. Apparently, either there were none to be added, or he wasn't informed. Just then, they spied Adam and Lindsay approaching their table.

-He just gives me the creeps, Linds. He's too chill for an ex-Marine, he must be up to something. -, they heard Adam say, to which his female companion rolled her eyes, getting to her tiptoes to kiss her husband. –Adam, relax! He seems like a good guy. -, she replied, huffing good-naturedly.

-So, Montana. Did you discover anything about your new office-mate?-, her husband wondered, handing her a beer. Lindsay grinned. –Sure thing. He's 46, he has a 21-year old daughter and right now they're camping in their new apartment. This weekend they're painting it and getting some furniture. Oh, and his former boss in New Orleans, Stella, video called for a brief chat. She says hi. -, she summarized smugly, pleased at her friends' impressed faces. –Oh, and he plays the bass. -, she added as an afterthought.

Danny shot his wife a funny look. –Err, Montana? Should I be worried?-

***MJ***

-Jo? Do you have different hours than the rest of us?-, Mac Taylor wondered aloud, peering inside his boss's office. She snapped to attention, focusing her hazel eyes on him, surprised by the mild intrusion. –Officially? No, but these aren't gonna fill themselves. -, she drawled, pointing with her chin to the mountain of paperwork in front of her as she tried to relieve her back from some stress.

-You need a hand with those?-, he offered, to which the dark haired woman shook her head no. –Gods, no. It's your first week here, go home to see your daughter. But it's only a rain-check. Now you've offered, you're screwed. -, she joked. Unconvinced, Mac grunted in response.

-You could bring them home. I won't tell if you don't. -, he suggested, getting a frustrated huff from his boss. He raised his hands in surrender. –Just sayin'. Night Jo, see you tomorrow. -, he told her softly, retreating from Jo's office.