Okay, so the fanficflash of the Valentine's chapter, kinda screwed with the time-line, so even though chapter 6 was set on a tuesday...this is set on a monday. Hey, I'm writing this, so I can do things like that :p heehee
Again, cant thank y'all enough! x
Mac,
Great news! Palmer and Carlson are out! Highbourne called me up to his office and actually heeded advice. They're out, I'm the new Temporary Supervisor and Danny's promoted to CSI2! Carlson wasn't too happy, she growled a little bit as she passed me in the car lot, but at least we're not doing her job as well anymore.
Highbourne's bringing in reinforcements too. Apparently we've got two rookies due Monday. As for their experience, I was promised they had at least graduated college, which I'm pretty sure is more than can be said for Carlson.
Danny's over the moon at his promotion. You should have seen his face. I think he called Aiden straight away. They're so cute together, and Danny say's it's going well (like we didn't all think that years ago).
Anyway, I'll have a Massimo's pizza ready and waiting upon your return, and a Sullivan's Irish Coffee.
Stay safe, soldier. With love,
Acting Supervisor, Det. Stella Bonasera
(I could get used to that)
---
Monday morning and Stella Bonasera swung opened the heavy glass doors to the office she would call her own for the next 2 months. She breathed a happy sigh as she sank into the chair, putting her coffee and files on the desk.
That pang of smug glee was slightly lessened when she noticed just how much had changed in the office thanks to Palmer.
Not only was the desk chair lower and lumpier (no longer moulded to Mac's body), but his pictures and even his cold case files were missing.
Hergreen eyes narrowed as she rifled through the drawers in search, finally finding them in the deep ones to the left. They weren't even respectfully stowed away, but haphazardly thrown. She pulled the photograph frames out and stacked them on her knees, sorting them the right way round and having a reminiscent glance at them as she went.
The first picture wasn't one that gave first-handed memories, but she'd heard plenty of stories and gazed into the photo enough times. Mac looked so handsome, and so happy, in his tuxedo, and Claire? Breath-taking in her creamy white gown, accentuated with white and pink lilies in her bouquet and shimmering blonde hair. They were already married, and sickeningly happy, when Stella moved up from Narcotics. They were in it for the long haul. The familiar twinge of sadness rolled through her as she remembered Mac after the tragedies. She gave it a bittersweet smile before standing it up on the desk behind her.
Next was a photograph from Christmas 2000. This one she knew, because it was Stella that had taken it. It was the Christmas party in Brucciani's; Danny had just joined the team, and little did they know that they'd lose not only Claire, but fellow NY CSI Bobby Sinclair, in the Trade Centre Attacks, resulting down the line in Aiden's arrival. But that party was the last time everyone was together, and they'd made the most of it.
In this particular photograph, Claire was sat across Mac's knee's, her red dress flowing over the both of them. They had started off in a smiling pose, until Mac whispered something Stella probably didn't want to hear, that caused Claire to howl with laughter. The camera caught the scene at the perfect moment. Even if you didn't know the circumstances, you couldn't help but grin at the capture.
She placed the frame next to the wedding shot.
The third photograph elicited a grin from Stella. It was taken at the last Christmas party, this one in Sullivans. Thanks to Tequila slammer contests from Danny, Stella and Aiden were slightly worse for wear. Jane Parsons, also 'enjoying herself', had convinced the girls to back up to each other, fingers as make-shift guns a la Charlie's Angels, while the guys looked on in merriment.
This picture stayed on the desk in front of her, she decided, smiling as she put it pride of place.
Next she dragged out the cold case files. Part of the essence of Mac Taylor was his unwavering loyalty and passion. Although that makes him sound like a Labrador, he stops at no lengths to get to the bottom of a case, capture those responsible and bring justice to the victims. But he'd never cross the fine line of legality, which made the manila folder on top of the pile all the more poignant: Regina Bowen.
She cleared the spot in the corner of the desk and dropped the heavy pile. 10 folders. He'd acquired another since he told Stella about the 9 that used to be 12. She picked up her own cold case folders, only 2 so far, and lay them across Mac's in a different direction. She might as well keep a check on any developments for all of them.
The remainder of the coffee she'd brought with her had gone cold already. The office was organised and back to normal, so she might as well treat herself to another cup before the newbies arrived.
Xx
Danny's addiction to the black stuff never ceased to amuse Stella. She'd often been tempted to change the coffee to Decaf for a week, then back to full caffeine secretly and see what he'd do. Of course, that would mean her own coffee wouldn't have the same kick, hence why she'd yet to do it.
"You want a snorkel?" She chuckled, watching Danny's nose dip further into the cup.
He shot up, surprised having not heard her entrance. He looked at her with heavy, blood-shot eyes, hazier from their usual crystalline blue. "Huh?"
"You. Snorkel. Want one?" she smirked, pouring out the cold coffee and replacing it with the fresh steaming batch from the pot. "Celebrations?"
He blinked, struggling to open his eyes again. "Aiden will be the death of me."
"I didn't need to know that."
"No, no, she brought Tequila over to my place," he said, peeling off his glasses and rubbing his tired eyes.
"On the eve of your first shift as a CSI2?"
"No, on Friday," he growled, downing the rest of his coffee, oblivious to the burn it must have caused.
She whistled, trying not to chuckle at the grimace of pain from the hung-over colleague. "You going to be alright to work?"
"Not a problem. Couple more coffee's and some Aspirin, and I'll be sorted."
Somehow Stella wasn't convinced, but knew today was going to be very, very fun. She was about to 'accidentally' drop something very loud, when Stacy from the front desk spoiled her fun.
"Stella? The new guys are waiting in your office."
"Okay, thanks Stace," Stella smiled, taking a deep breath before embarking on her first official duty as Temporary Supervisor.
Xx
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Stella smiled, throwing the office door open and greeting the waiting couple. She took a seat. "I'm Detective Stella Bonasera, welcome to New York." She hoped the 'Welcome to New York' speech would end up better than the last time she'd said it.
She was greeted by smiles and "Thanks" from the man and woman opposite her. Stella had had a quick read through their files that Highbourne had passed along earlier that morning, and they sounded miles better than their predecessors, but this was the first meeting.
The woman, who Stella remembered was called Roberts, looked pleasant enough. Her shoulder-length auburn hair set off her high cheek bones nicely and brought out green tints in her brown eyes. Her grey business suit said professional, but the sparkling brooch gave it a younger feel, perfect for her 25 years.
As for the man, his dark hair was pulled back in to a short ponytail, and when added to his goatee beard, he exuberated Rocker chic.
"Okay, so I feel like a bad game show host, but what's your name and where'd you come from?"
"Natalie Roberts, " the woman pointed at herself. "I followed my husband here from Baraboo, Wisconsin, when he got transferred in his job. Erm…" she shrugged with her hands. "I've worked with the crime lab in Madison for the past 2 and a half years."
He took that as his cue, "I'm Connor Jackson, I followed my husb-no, I'm just kidding," he smirked, revealing shining white teeth, "I'm a Jersey native, and I believe you've met the reason I moved up here."
Stella looked at him, questioningly.
"My boss back home? Jimmy Palmer."
"Enough said."