Author's Note: Changed just a bit of dialogue to better reflect Mac's character, as pointed out by a very astute reader who I think was prplerayne. If it was another reader, I apolgize and let me know!

DISCLAIMERS: I do not own any of these characters. They belong to Jerry Bruckheimer and the wonderful writers for CSI: NY. Any resemblance to scenes from the episodes is included for clarity and continuity and I do not claim any of those as my own work. However everything else is mine.

Busted

Lindsay sat on the edge of the chair across from Mac's desk and looked at him. He, however, was not looking at her. This made her even more nervous. Calm down Lindsay, he interrogates criminals for a living but so do you. Just keep your cool! He had his index finger on his lips and he was looking off to the side as if he were collecting his thoughts.

When he turned to her, she absolutely could not read his expression. Oh this was going to be bad, just bad. She just knew it. She would way rather deal with Messer's temper than Mac's quiet fury.

"Lindsay, when I hired you over a year ago, I had complete faith that you would make an excellent CSI. You have impeccable lab skills, a great sense of intuition and a very level head on your shoulders. The very level head was particularly attractive because within the last eighteen months, I've had to fire one CSI for evidence tampering and take another off the promotion grid for insubordination. I don't need those kinds of cowboy tactics in this office.

She swallowed hard. She felt the tears well up in her eyes. Dammit! She would not cry in front this man whom she respected and admired. She knew she deserved anything he dished out to her. Like Danny said, she had crossed the line.

"It has come to my attention that the last of the Bozeman murder victims was your sister," he said gravely.

There went one tear sliding down her cheek. He handed her a box of Kleenex and she quickly wiped her eyes.

He continued in a much softer tone, "I am truly sorry for your loss."

She took a deep breath, "Thank you for saying that."

Then his face became very serious again. "But Lindsay, you were way out of line by staying on this case once you knew there was a personal connection. I have no choice but to take you off it!"

She nodded mutely.

"Yes, I know, I'm sorry. I promise nothing like this will ever happen again."

"You better hope not because there won't be a second chance. Understand?"

"Yes," she said gratefully.

"Okay what I need you to do now is to go to JFK airport and get on a plane to Montana for some much needed R&R. There is a ticket waiting for you at the counter under your name. I don't want to see you back in this office for a week."

"But Mac, I can't leave right now with the investigation going on. I just can't. I have to be here when they catch Laurel's murderer. I can't live without knowing what's going on," she babbled. She just felt such destitution at being shut out like that.

"Lindsay, I understand your feelings but this is an order. Get out of town for the next week and allow yourself some downtime. Do I make myself clear?" That last sentence was stated with such authority she knew she had no recourse.

"As a bell," she replied stiffly.

"Plane leaves at 11:00 so you have just enough time to catch it if you leave within the next 20 minutes."

She got up to leave and as her hand was on the doorknob, he said to her in a very encouraging tone, "Lindsay, I'm on your side. I want you to know that."

Her back stiffened and she walked out of his office without a backward glance.