This is not a chapter in itself it is more of a little background story about how Quinn and Mac's first work relationship ended. Let me know what you think.
Flashback Macs office 2000
Mac is sitting in his office with a letter of resignation from Quinn that he was just handed by the chief. A week ago Mac hired a new young Detective who comes from narcotics. He is wondering why Quinn has resigned. She hasn't shown any signs of unhappiness with his leadership. It knocks on the door Mac looks up from the letter. It is Quinn. He signals to her to come in and close the door.
"hey, Mac. You wanted to see me?"
"yes come on in Quinn. Take a seat."
Quinn sits down in front of his desk. She looks wondering at him.
"is there a problem?" she asks.
Mac holds up the letter.
"you have resigned?" he says more as a statement than a question.
"yes. I have."
"why?"
"because…" she looks down at her hands before she continues. Trying to find the right words to explain this. "because when you started talking about a few month ago that you wanted to get an assistant supervisor I honestly expected you would promote me. I mean I have worked for you since the day you started as a leader of the lab."
"yes and you is a great CSI Quinn with great investigation skills."
"why didn't you hire me? You hired a newbie from narcotics who has no forensic field experiences."
"correct me if I'm wrong Quinn but neither did you when I hired you. I gave you a chance."
Quinn nods. She knows he is right.
"but Mac this is a leading position and according to what I heard…"
mac starts laughing.
"Quinn stop." Quinn looks over at him. mac is now having a serious look again. "I don't hire or fire people based on rumors or gossip. If I did… honestly, I probably wouldn't have hired you."
Quinn look choked. "there are bad rumors about me? From who?"
"doesn't matter. All I'm saying is Stella Bonasera is a great detective she has passed all necessary test and taken all forensic classes necessary and she has done great in narcotics."
Quinn nods and chuckles. "I get it, Mac." She starts talking with a contemptuous tone. "The perfect CSI on the paper. Only A's in all her classes. probably young, beautiful intelligent. When I told you that sometimes you need to play politics to win in this game I did realize that you would actually start playing that hard."
Mac just looks at her with a serious and annoyed look. "are you done?"
Quin stops talking and looks at Mac with a serious look.
"since you are clearly unhappy with my way of leading this team I believe it is the right decision for you to quit. And find a lab where you agree with the leader. Because it is not only my hiring of detective Bonasera you have seemed to disagree with lately. My hiring of you detective Messer didn't you agree with either."
"Mac. I'm sorry I just think that you are gambling with this team. We had something great going ith this team and with hiring two… apology, but… hiring two Kids you are gambling with this team."
"I appreciate your opinion of my leading style Quinn. It's not going to change anything."
Quinn stands up.
"I also believe that my latest leading decisions aren't the only reason why you quit?"
Quinn stops and looks at him. she smiles and looks down a little embarrassed.
"okay, Mac. I know you are married and…
"and I Love my wife."
Quinn Nods.
"if…" she looks down at her hands. "if you hadn't been married do you think there could be something between us?"
She looks up at him again with a little hope in her eyes.
"no." he says and she looks down again in disappointment.
"why? You don't like me?"
He just smiles without saying anything. He stands up so does she.
"Quinn I'm a marine. I believe that interpersonal relationships between team members complicate and can in worst case compromise the team's mission."
"once a marine. Always a marine huh?"
She looks into his eyes. She nods.
"yeah. Never fell for a marine." He says with a little smile.
"did you tell your wife that?" Quinn asks. Mac chuckles.
"actually I did. She didn't take no for an answer."
"some women don't."
Mac nods. "yeah I'm glad she didn't."
Quinn smiles and nods. She realizes she has nothing to lose. Claire is the lucky winner. There are nothing more she can do. She looks up at him. she leans forward and kisses him on the lips. He doesn't respond but he doesn't push her off either.
"goodbye, Mac." She says and leaves the office. Mac doesn't move. He is like glued to she spot. He can never tell Claire this happened.