I'm getting increasingly worried about my state of mind recently. Not only did I find an NY episode 4 months after receiving it looong stupid story but I didnt post a chunk of chapter 4! I swear, I wonder sometimes...

So, if y'all would like to go back a chapter, you should find a reply email from Stella to Mac, which would make the 'Graham in the Garages' part of the chapter make sense. Apologies!

Anyhoodles, chapter 5. Hope you enjoy! Thanks to everyone for their reviews and kind words xxx

Stella,

Glad everything is still in one piece, though the 'Temporary Supervisor' sounds like a piece of work - stay 'cool'.

I'm doing well, even if I am aching in places I never knew I had, or at least hadn't felt since my early days. Nothing a good nights sleep and a Massimo's pizza wouldn't heal.

We're moving on tomorrow, so I don't know when the next email will likely happen. If I'm able, you know I will.

Stay safe (and cool). Love to all,

Mac

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Danny found Stella taking a well deserved rest in the break room. They'd wrapped up their latest case in record time (thanks to a particularly impressive interrogation by Flack) and, as of yet, no new ones had come in.

She lay spread out on the couch, head propped up on the arm, empty coffee cup on the floor next to her. Her attention was tuned to a CNN report about the overseas efforts. Mac said he wasn't allowed to mention where he was stationed, a rule Stella didn't appreciate but could vaguely understand. She had this vision of watching the news and seeing Mac in the background just doing some mundane job- loading a truck or something. As stupid as it sounded, she needed to see him moving. Is was all well and dandy reading that he was fine, but she needed to see it.

"Comfy?" Danny asked, smirking as he passed her for the coffee pot.

A mumbled reply of sounds came as a reply.

"Anything new?" he asked, motioning to the television set.

"Nothing we didn't already know."

"Sleeping on the job are we, Stella?" a new voice asked from the door way. She tipped her head to see the speaker. 'Crap' she thought, seeing none-other than Chief Highbourne with a semi-permanent scowl on his face.

"Not sleeping, sir, just taking a break," she tried to smile, reluctantly sitting up from her comfortable position.

"Yes, well, can I see you in my office, please? Now." he escaped, not waiting for an answer.

"What'd you do this time?" Danny asked, that same expectant voice from the crime scene last week.

"Very funny," she sassed, making her way to the Chief's office.

She stepped off the elevator on the higher floor and walked straight ahead. It was wrong that she was able to notice Highbourne had moved some things around, and gotten a new chair. A nice maroon leather Lazy-Boy with arms, 'Showing who's boss?' she couldn't help but think.

He gestured to a seat opposite him.

"Okay," he said, shuffling papers. Being summoned to Highbourne's office meant only one thing: Complaints had been filed.

"Who filed?" Stella asked, cutting to the chase.

"Filed?"

"Yeah, you know, complaints against me. Wouldn't be the first time, although I cant think who it could be this time…"

"No one's complained…" he said, leaning back into the chair. "Yet."

'I knew he was going to say that.'

"That isn't why I called you up here."

"Oh." she said, surprised, and just a little confused. If it wasn't a complaint, and probable suspension, what was it?

"I wanted to get an update on our replacement Supervisor and CSI."

"The temporary Supervisor and CSI," Stella corrected. Mac was coming home, so Palmer wasn't a replacement, purely a temporary.

"Er, right. Anyway, how are they settling in?"

"What do you want me to say? That they're doing their part and pulling their weight?" she snarked, sitting back, crossing her arms and legs.

"I take it that wouldn't be the truth?"

She raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips.

"I take that as a 'no.'"

"If you want the truth, and don't see me overstepping the mark…Palmer is useless, he hasn't stepped foot out of that office unless it was for a coffee and a fresh donut, or to sneak into the broom cupboard with Carlson - and don't think I'm just saying that. Oh yes, the boss is getting very 'friendly' with our favourite rookie. And Candeece? Has not got a clue. Danny and I have been doing not only our own jobs, but her's too. She barely knows the fundamental basics of Crime Scene Investigation and it's really getting old." Stella knew she should probably stop talking, but it just wouldn't stop coming. "If you really want to know what I think, not only should you get rid of Palmer and Carlson before this lab is jeopardised beyond belief, but Danny Messer should go back on the promotion grid. He's been amazing through all of this, and deserves the recognition. But we really cant do this alone. So while you're searching for a new Temporary Supervisor, you need to get at least 2 new CSI's in, with experience if possible."

"…you done?" Highbourne asked, slightly amused that Stella had not only spoken her mind, but said it all very very fast.

"…yes." she sheepishly said.

"Okay, well, I thought you were going to say that. You may think I just sit up here all day long answering calls and suspending people," Stella didn't flinch, "but I still know what's going on down there in the lab."

'He didn't deny that he does sweet FA' she thought with a smirk

"And, believe it or not, I had a feeling about Palmer and Carlson when I hired them."

"Why did you hire them in the first place then?"

"Because Day Shift was down to you and Messer. And Palmer was actually a decent CSI in his day. He came highly regarded."

"Yeah, well, it was still me and Messer even with Palmer and Carlson here."

"I realise that now, and I have a solution. I'm not going to hire another Supervisor-"

Stella cut him off "-What? We cant do this alone. We need somebody-"

"- let me finish?"

"Sorry," she muttered, feeling six years old again arguing with the sisters about going to Church.

He sat forward, leaning his elbows on the wooden desk. "I'm not going to hire another Supervisor, because I'm promoting you to that position. Until Taylor comes back of course, by which time we'll have to come up with another scenario. As for Messer, he's promoted to CSI2. He has shown great improvement these last few weeks. Whether that's under your supervision, I don't know, but like you said, he deserves the recognition. I already have 2 new CSI's due to start Monday, if you need anymore, we'll have to sort something out. Will that suffice?" he cocked his head to the side.

"Yeah, I think so," Stella scoffed, her eyes wide.

"Good. I'll leave it to you to inform Messer of his promotion, and I'll get Palmer and Carlson up here now and tell them their fate." He stood up from his chair, stretching out his hand to a still dumb-struck Stella. "Oh, and I've called Swing Shift in early. They said they were more than willing to relieve you and Messer from an extra hour or two. I think they've met Palmer," he smiled.

Stella chuckled, shaking his hand. "Thank you."

"Don't screw it up."