Chapter 2: Irreplaceable
Lindsay looked up from Mac as Stella entered the room. "How's he doing?"
"Better," Mac managed.
"And he's talking, despite the doctor's request that he not." Lindsay said.
"I'm fine," he insisted. Danny's sudden snore brought a short stare from Stella. Danny was sleeping comfortably in a chair in the corner of the room.
"I guess he managed to make himself at home." Mac said. Lindsay snickered and Stella grinned.
"I should probably get going." Lindsay said.
"Why? I just got here." Stella said in protest.
"I've already been here for over two hours. And I think it's Danny's bedtime," she said, smiling. It was late, almost 9:30 PM.
"Well, if you insist." Lindsay nodded and went over to shake Danny awake. He stood and stretched. Mac nodded slightly to him to acknowledge his presence. He smiled and looked at Lindsay.
"Time to go," she said. Danny nodded and followed her out. Stella looked at Mac.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing. They make a cute couple, don't they?" Mac shrugged in response.
"Depends on how you define 'cute couple.' If you mean they look good together and have matching personalities, I agree."
"There's other meanings of 'cute couple?'"
"Yes. Especially when used with sarcasm."
Stella sighed and sat down in the chair Lindsay had been sitting in, next to Mac's bed.
"How're you holding up? You look fine, but..."
"I feel like I've been to hell and back." He admitted, bringing a smile to Stella's face.
"That sounds like an understatement."
"It is."
He closed his eyes and sighed. "Before I blacked out at the crime scene, there was something I tried to tell Lindsay. She wouldn't let me talk though."
"What?"
"I saw the shooter."
"Really? Maybe I should--"
"No, don't call in a cop."
"Alright. Tell me."
"He...He was wearing a...gray hoodie...God, it's hard to remember. Blue jeans...He couldn't have been older than fifteen. He had the hood over his head, so I couldn't tell many details but...He had long brown hair. It hung down over rectangular glasses."
"A kid?"
"Yeah. That's what it looked like."
"I'll tell the police. They may be able to put out some sketches, ask some questions. We'll see what we can turn up."
"Right." Stella reached out and held his hand. "Stella?"
"Yeah, Mac?"
"Thanks."
----
Ryan sat at his computer in his house, a small building that he was rarely seen at. He was looking at the CSI database, reading up on Stella, Danny, Hawkes, and Lindsay. Lindsay in particular though. He had gotten a strange feeling from her for whatever reason, and he wanted to know why. He had already read up on the killing of her friends, and done plenty of research on it.
Evidently, in some notes left by Mac, Danny and Lindsay were close. He mentally filed it away for later use. Note to self: Try and put Danny and Lindsay on cases together, he thought. He sighed and stood. He went over and turned on his TV to the news.
"...Just in, Detective Stella Bonasera has recieved an anonymous description of the shooter at the crime scene earlier today. This picture," It flipped to a sketch of a kid in a grayish hoodie with rectangular glasses and long hair, "Is a sketch done by NYPD's sketch artist from the description Detective Bonasera recieved. Anyone who has seen this boy is urged to call NYPD with details.
Ryan frowned and looked over at the clock. 11:27 PM. He sighed and went back to the computer, letting the reporter talk about another murder that had recently been solved due to another 'stellar job on NYCSI's part,' according to the DA.
He sighed and closed out of the CSI database before getting up, turning off the TV with the remote, and going out to his car.
----
Lindsay opened her apartment door and stepped inside, smiling slightly. Danny had taken her to her favorite restaurant after visiting with Mac. He had dropped her off outside the apartment building. She flicked on the TV and glanced at the clock. 11:35 PM. The reporter on the news was talking about a recently solved murder. Suddenly there was a knock on her apartment door. She jumped slightly and went over to it and peered outside through the eyehole. No one was there. She frowned and opened the door.
Sitting outside in the hallway was a cardboard box with 'Lindsay' written on the top. She picked up the small box and brought it inside. She set it on the counter and opened it cautiously. Inside was a small post-it note on top of some bubble wrap. Written on the post-it was 'Enjoy.' In the bubble wrap was a small metal tin with chocolate chip cookies inside, evidently home made. She frowned and she looked at the cookies. Only one thought was running through her mind.
Who?