July 2000

Mac, Stella and Lindsey were happy about Stella´s second pregnancy. They were happy at the moment and hoped that Flora would be happy when the baby would be born.

What they did not know at the time was that their world would start to spin again soon. Flack seemed to have found the guy who killed Stella and Lindsey´s parents. Mac learned about it when Flack entered his office one morning. "Don!" Flack sat down across from Mac after closing the door.

"Mac we found the guy." Mac looked up surprised. "We need Lindsey to ID him." "Thank you, Flack. I will take care of it." Flack nodded got up from his seat and left the office. Mac was of course glad to hear that but he was also a little worried about what would happen if Lindsey had to ID him. Would all the nightmares return and would all the fear and panic resurface. He needed to call his wife.

One hour later Mac met his wife and Lindsey at the police station where they were greeted by the DA. Lindsey´s fear was filling the whole room. She was terrified of that guy. "Number three." The DA nodded while Mac led her out of the building with Stella following close behind. They drove to the lab and went to Mac´s office.

Inside his office everything poured out of Lindsey. She fell into Mac´s arms crying from relief and fear. What would happen if he got away with it?

Mac held her trying to soothe while Stella was stroking her back. She went stiff like a block of ice when Mac´s office door suddenly opened to reveal Danny who wanted to give Mac a report. Mac continued to hold her stroked her back trying to soothe her, while he spoke comforting words. "Danny what can we do for you?" Mac asked wanting to get rid of him. "Mac I got the report of the substance from the kitchen." He nodded and led Lindsey around his desk and sat her down in his chair." Lindsey clutched his hand and arm keeping him close to her.

"Danny sit down." Then Stella got Lindsey´s attention. "Lindsey I need to go pick up Flora. Do you want to come along?" She shook her head no and looked at Mac. He caught the fearful look and then smiled reassuringly at his wife. "Stella Lindsey and I will be home for Lunch." She nodded and looked at Lindsey and Mac one more time before leaving the office.

Danny observed the whole scene while waiting for Mac to look at the report. Lindsey was huddled in Mac´s chair clutching his arm while his other arm was around her shoulders and was holding her against his chest. "Danny what did we find?" "The substance from the kitchen was crystal meth. All of it." Mac nodded worried.

"Danny let Flack know and try to get this guy. I want this guy behind bars before he can sell it to the whole city." Danny nodded and then asked Lindsey a question. "Are you alright Lindsey?" Lindsey just looked at Danny and then looked at Mac. "Thank you for your concern Danny but it is not the right time to ask her a question at the moment." Danny nodded and left.

Soon after Danny had left Mac and Lindsey left too. They wanted to be home for lunch. After Lunch Lindsey retired to the couch. When Mac was ready to return to the office Lindsey suddenly got up put her shoes and then threw herself in his arms clinging to him. Mac knew that it was pretty much useless to try to talk to her in her fearful state. "I will take her with me Stella. We will be alright." Stella looked worried and Mac was worried, too. "We will be alright Stella." Stella nodded and watched as Mac led Lindsey to the car.

At the office Lindsey retired on the couch watching Mac carefully making sure that he did not leave.

While Mac was reading a report both Danny and Flack were suddenly standing in his office. Lindsey could not see them coming because the back of the couch was to the door, but when they suddenly walked past her she gasped and moved to the other corner of the couch.

The three men heard her gasp. Flack knew how to react and stayed back but Danny wanted to calm. "Lindsey it is just me Danny." He carefully took a step towards her but she shrank back. Mac was watching it hoping he could help her but when she shrank back he knew better. "Danny, move back." Mac was around the desk in seconds and sat down on the couch next to Lindsey. She sat on the couch with her knees pulled up to her chest and wild eyes staring at Danny and Flack.

"Lindsey it is me Mac." He waited for her to react. She focused her wild eyes on him instead of Danny and Flack. He could clearly see the fear in her eyes. He stayed where he was keeping his distance. "Lindsey Danny and Flack are not going to hurt you. Do you remember Flack, who helped us identify him this morning?" The men could see her thinking. "The man with the number three?"

"Yes Lindsey." She nodded and smiled a little at Mac and Flack. She then looked down at her hands again. Mac carefully got up and went to his desk and got out her charm. He sat back down again and gave her the picture of her, Stella and Mac. She carefully took it and smiled at it. They had helped her so much. "Mac!" the whole time Mac had held out his hand for her patiently waiting for her to relax a little more.

After a few minutes she held the picture to her heart and carefully took Mac´s hand. Flack and Danny just watched quietly and stayed back. She looked at the picture again and kissed it. Mac smiled fondly at her actions. She was trying to assure herself. When she pressed it against her heart again she slowly scooted towards Mac who was still holding her hand. When she was right next to him he moved his left arm around her shoulder while continuing to hold her left hand with his right hand. She leaned against his chest but Mac could still feel the fear in her body.

"Everything is alright Lindsey." She just nodded and tried to calm down.

While Lindsey tried to calm down Mac talked to Flack and Danny about the reason for their coming. After they had left after a few more minutes he turned his attention back to Lindsey. She looked almost peaceful now. But he knew that that could change again. She was asleep against his chest and he carefully lied her down on the couch and covered her with his suit jacket.

He just hoped that she would go back to where they were three years ago.