Alright, chapter 2. This chapter isn't bèta-ed, so I'm sorry for any mistakes.

It isn't quite as long as the previous one, because I had no idea how to end this chapter, but I already know how I want to start the next one. I hope you like this one and I promise I will update as soon as possible.

Chapter 2 – Sorry, Sorry

'Honey, it's time to wake up,' Wayne says in a singing voice. Of course I'm already awake and if I hadn't been, I would have woken up by the sound of the door slamming against the wall when he pushed it open.

'Morning. It's time for breakfast,' and with that, he inserts the needle and pushes the liquid inside my body. I close my eyes momentarily to let the nausea pass, but I find out that it's not helping anymore. Wayne is quick to pick it up and uncuffs me.

As soon as I'm free I sprint to the bathroom and throw up in the toilet bowl. Although there isn't much to throw up. After I'm finished I lean my head against the wall and try to get my vision back. I know how messed up this is. I really need to see a doctor and Wayne isn't going to take me there, so I'm glad this is almost over. I'm also wondering what to tell Mac since he came over last night and wants to talk today. Maybe I can convince him to have that talk after four o'clock, when Wayne will leave me alone, I've cleared the building and we're trapped in that elevator car. A silent tear escapes my eye and I wipe it away. Now is not the time to break down.

When I walk back into my bedroom I see Wayne waiting on my bed.

'Are you okay honey?' he asks me and for a moment it seems like he's really concerned about me.

'Fine,' is all I say.

He quickly leaves the room and allows me privacy so I can get dressed for work. I try to be as quick as possible, but when I feel another wave of nausea attack me, I'm rushing to the bathroom for the second time. Crap. This is not good.

X

When I enter the lab it's still quiet. No wonder, since it's 6 in the morning. I just couldn't sleep anymore. I was laying in my bed thinking about Stella, trying to figure out what was going on.

After last night it's clear to me that she's being abused, but why didn't she talk to Flack or something. Report this. Why didn't she talk to me? I'm supposed to be her best friend.

A little before seven I see Stella walking into the lab. Maybe it's the light in here, but it seems to me that she's even paler than before. Alright, here goes nothing, I have to talk to her, now.

'Stella, wait up,' I start as I sprint out of my office.

'Mac,' she turns around to face me.

I wait a moment to catch my breath and she keeps looking over her shoulder.

'Stell, do you have a minute, 'cause I really need to talk to you?'

'Can't it wait? We'll go out for lunch … then I'll tell everything'

'Promise?'

She nods and immediately turns around and walks away again.

'Damn' I think. I want to know already. At least there is something wrong, that's for sure now, she just said so herself.

X

'Damn' I think to myself. I just said there was something wrong, now he really expects an answer. What do I do?

As I walk towards my office I can feel someone's eyes on me. slowly I turn around, only to find Jennifer looking towards me. Jennifer Fisscher is Kendall's replacement since she's on maternity leave since a couple of months. Because of all the toxins and chemicals we work with in the lab, Adam didn't want her working there anymore when she was six months pregnant. He's going to be a really protective daddy. But with her gone, Mac had to find someone who could take over for a little while. Jennifer was the perfect candidate … But she also gives me the creeps. Ever since she started working here I found her staring at me with this look in her eyes. Like she can see right through me. It freaks me out.

'Jen, did you need anything?'

'No, I was just wondering if I could leave a little earlier. I have to pick up my niece from school today, 'cause my brother is away and my sister-in-law is not feeling very well,' she answers quickly.

'Sure, what time did you have to leave?'

'Oh, just a little before four o'clock' Jen answers.

'I'll clear it with Mac for you'

'Okay. Thanks Stella'

I continue the walk towards my office. A little before four, is that just a coincidence? Right, now I'm being paranoid. Just because she gives me the creeps, doesn't mean she's evil or something. Get a grip Bonasera.

Just then I spot Millie and Reed coming out of the elevator. Millie is Mac's mother and she watches Reed for him while he is at work. They have visited the lab before, but did they really have to choose this day to show up here. When something is about to happen. Now, calm down Stella. It's still morning. They'll be gone before four. I look up from my computer again and catch Reed's eyes. He smiles at me and start dragging his grandmother towards my office.

'Stella,' he happily greets me 'guess what, I had a sleepover last night'

'You did, with who?' I ask him, while he's climbing in my lap again.

'With Jeremy. We stayed up really late and watched movies. And this morning grandma picked me up again'

'And did you have fun?'

'Yeah, but I also missed daddy'

'So that's why we're here so early, right, so you can say hi to daddy' Millie explains.

'Well, Mac's out on a scene right now, so you'll have to wait until he comes back'

'Can you give us a tour through the lab? Grandma hasn't seen everything yet' Reed gently asks me.

'I'm sure Stella has something better to do Reed' Millie interrupts.

'Oh no its fine. I just have paperwork to finish and Mac already knows I hate that, so I gladly give you guys a tour' I smirk.

X

When I come back from the scene with Danny, I see my mother sitting behind my desk reading some sort of magazine while Stella is reading to Reed on the couch in my office. As I watch the scene behind the glass walls of my office I notice my mom bringing her finger to her lips, ordering me to be quiet when I enter. I shift my attention back to Stella and see she has stopped reading and is now adjusting a blanket around my son's small body. How sweet. Silently, I enter my office and place my jacket on one of the chairs. Then I hug my mom and move towards the couch. I kneel in front of Stella and place a hand on my son's cheek. He smiles but doesn't wake up. I notice how he's lying half on Stella. His head in her lap, one arm around her waist and the other under his head.

'You comfortable?' I joke.

'Very. He saved me from my paperwork, so this is the least I could do' Stella replies as she continues to stroke Reed's hair away from his face.

'He told me this morning when I picked him up from Jeremy's that he had fun but missed his daddy, so I offered to drive by the lab so he could say hi,' Millie starts to explain, 'then he saw Stella in her office and she told us that you were out on a case so she waited with us. Gave us a tour. Then we stopped in your office since you have a couch and Reed wanted to read something, but he was to tired so he just fell asleep'

'I missed you too son,' I turn back to Reed, 'it was to quiet at home'

Just then Reed begins to stir. Slowly he lifts his head from Stella's lap and looks around the room. Then he notices me.

'Daddy,' he gives me a big hug.

'I missed you too Reed,' I hug him back, 'I heard you had another tour. I think you can dream it by now, am I right?'

'But I like tours, daddy,' Reed whines, 'and we had to show grandma' he looks up at Stella for confirmation.

'He's right Mac,' she offers me.

'Well, we should let you guys get back to work,' Millie interferes in our playful banter. She comes around the desk to hug and kiss Stella and I can see the shock written over her face when she realizes that Stella is all bones. She doesn't let Stella know however. She just smiles and turns around to give me a hug and a kiss. Then she grabs Reed's hand and together they leave the lab.

I turn to Stella and smile once more.

'You know,' I start, 'that was a really sweet scene to walk in on'

Our eyes connect and she blushes.

'I should get back to my paperwork,' she stammers, 'I'll meet you at lunch, right?'

'Yes, I'll swing by your office around noon'

She smiles one more time and then turns to leave my office.

X

A sweet scene. Is he trying to say something? I know I shouldn't be thinking this. I have to plan a set-up. Yes, that's where my focus should be.

Maybe I can invite them all for a drink? But then again, it's the middle of the day. If I say I need some help, I'm sure I can get Mac and Don to follow me. but what about Sheldon and Adam. Adam rarely leaves the lab during work hours.

Alright, maybe I can solve my lunch problem. Mac wants to grab lunch with me, so I can tell my story, but that's a couple of hours to early. What should I do about that. Maybe I'm lucky and get a call sometime before noon. That way I can skip lunch. Wow, this is the first time I'm praying for a scene.

X

Damn it! Why did that woman have to get murdered. There goes my plan to talk to Stella. Maybe I can offer her dinner. But then I would have to include Reed. On the other hand, maybe that isn't so bad…

As soon as I enter my office again, my phone starts ringing. Of course, I can't be gone for a second or someone needs me.

'Taylor,' I answer.

'McCanna, it's me,' my mother replies.

'You just saw me this morning, is something wrong? Are you and Reed alright?' I immediately worry.

'Oh no, we're fine, son. It's Stella I'm worried about,'

'What do you mean?'

'Well, when I gave her a hug … I just … I just felt bones. She's so skinny. That can't be healthy, right? And Reed told me the same thing. Well, not exactly the same, but close. And he still thinks of Stella like his mommy. You should do something about that son,' she ends her little speech.

'I know Stella is … thin. But the last few weeks we didn't really talk. I mean, I felt something was wrong, I saw something was wrong, she is a walking skeleton. I even came to her apartment last night, but she refused to let me in and didn't want to talk, so I made her promise we talk today. I confronted her this morning, but she said she'd rather wait till lunch and discuss this somewhere outside the lab. I told her it was okay, but just as we were gonna walk out, Don came rushing in. said we had a dead body in Central Park. I'm gonna try and get her to open up to me tonight if that's alright with you. We can have dinner, the four of us. As for the mommy part. I already talked to Reed. Made him promise not to mention that again, and certainly not to Stella. What else can I do?' I desperately ask.

'Actually, I meant, you should talk to Stella about the mommy part. I know you're in love with her, son. And I can clearly see she's in love with you and your son. I think she would like it if Reed would call her mommy. You can give her the family she never had McCanna. Think about it,'

'Mom! I can't just say that. What would she think of me?'

'I think she would be very happy, son.'

'Mom, you can't be serious. Please. At least not now. Maybe one day, I don't know,' I sigh.

'Alright, McCanna. I guess you're right. I see you tonight, okay.'

'Okay, bye mom.'

Mothers… I love my mom, but sometimes she can just rant on and on about my love life, or lack thereof. I know she just wants to see her son happy, but she doesn't have to be so obvious about it.

X

Alright, this is it. A couple of minutes 'till four o'clock. I'll get Mac, Don and Sheldon to help me gather some more evidence on our Central Park vic. I really don't know about Adam. Will Wayne be really mad at me if I can't get him inside the cart? Probably. But three instead of four is better than none at all.

Here we go. Perfect timing Don, but I have to interrupt your chat with Messer.

'Hey Don, can you come with me,' I stick my head into the breakroom, where Don is talking with Danny.

'Sure Stell, what's going on?' don immediately gets up and follows me to Mac office.

'I'll explain in a minute.'

I softly knock on Mac's office door.

'Stella, come in.'

'Hey Mac, sorry to interrupt, but I just got a call from officer Jenkins about our Central Park vic. He found another witness. She claims she saw it happen, but got scared when the police arrived, so she ran. She came back though and now she wants to talk. She also has some blood on her according to Jenkins, so he said to bring some CSI's.'

'Alright, let's go then. You coming as well Hawkes?'

'Sure'

Pfeeww. Hawkes is coming along. Thanks Mac, you're a life savior. Just as we're about to enter the elevator I see Adam coming our way. It seems as though he's in a hurry.

'Hold the elevator please!' he yells as he rounds the corner.

Don quickly puts his hand between the closing doors, so Adam can slip in.

'Thanks. Kendall just called. Her water broke, I need to get to the hospital as soon as possible. I'm gonna be a dad.' Adam rambles on.

Now I feel really terrible. But everything is already set. I finally found a way to break into the system and send the codes to Wayne, so he could control the elevator. He's not gonna let us go now. I'm so sorry Adam…

A/N: I don't know if you've noticed already, but all the titles I use are songs. If you can guess who sings these songs, I may just let you decide something later on in this story. You can let me know what you guess when you leave me a review...