Thanks for the reviews so far, I'm glad you all seem to like it. Disclaimer: I still don't own the CSI: NY characters or, unfortunately, the New Tricks characters either.
The three weeks seemed to pass quickly, and in that time both Stella and Mac had been able to fully brief Danny and Lindsay on their new, albeit temporary, roles. Then it was time for the two to leave. The lab had thrown a baby shower of sorts. Given that the guys had attended too, it could hardly be called a proper one. The team had brought a large photo album, a couple of casting kits (the team were adamant that they had not brought double but one was for Stella's bump, the other for the baby's feet and hands) and baby clothes- including a mini Yankees top, which Mac wasn't too pleased with til Flack gave him a matching Cubs one.
Lindsay had also volunteered to drive them to the airport as they didn't even want to guess how much it would cost to park their car there for months possibly. Both women had tears in their eyes, and so did Mac- even though he'd never admit it. All too soon, Mac and Stella's flight was called and it was time for the final goodbyes. It was fine until they got on the plane when Stella started shaking.
"Hey, Stell, it's just a plane."
"I know that." But she didn't seem to be able to convince herself.
"You've never flown before, have you?"
Stella shook her head, "the orphanage didn't have the funds to take us far enough away to warrant a flight, then when I started to work, there was always other things to spend my money on than on foreign holidays."
Just then the plane's engines started and Mac gave Stella a boiled sweet, "what's this for?" she asked
"Eat this whilst we take off, it'll help."
Before they knew it, they were landing at Heathrow. Well, Mac knew it because he was awake, but Stella had fallen asleep midway through the flight and was none too happy when Mac woke her up as they flew over London. Det. Superintendant Sandra Pullman (head of UCOS) had already told them she'd meet them off the plane and sure enough she was there in the arrivals lounge with but was also with a man who introduced himself as Gerry Standing, another member of UCOS.
"I'm afraid you'll be staying with me whilst you're in the UK because Strickland (our 'lovely' boss, Gerry interrupted) Thank you Gerry, as I was saying, because Strickland has decided our budget can't stretch to giving you a hotel room. I'm sorry." Sandra told them
"No worries, we know that problem all too well." Mac replied, smiling, "are we going to go to your office, now?"
"No, not when you've just arrived. We're going to show you the sights, I know this isn't New York but I still hope you've brought a camera." Gerry told them to which Stella produced her pink digital camera out of her handbag and Sandra said "I have a feeling we are going to get on very well, Det. Bonasera."
In the next hour, they managed to go to Buckingham Palace where they had photos taken at the gates, gone on a boat ride down the Thames where they saw Tower of London and London Eye, which they were now on.
"Oh look Stell, you can see for miles."
"Do you work at New Scotland Yard?" Stella asked Sandra
"No, we're based at Ealing about 10 miles from here. Why, did you want to visit it cos I can arrange that for you if you want?"
"It's okay, I was just wondering."
Meanwhile, Gerry was talking to Mac.
"How long have you been with Stella?"
"How on earth did you guess that?"
"I've been married three times; Mac and I've seen the way you look at her. Plus, I know that she wouldn't have come out here until possibly after the baby's born without the father."
Mac smiled, "erm about a year, yeah, it'll be exactly a year next week end. Shit."
"You forgot?" to which Mac nodded
"No worries, I'll help you sort something out."
"Thanks"
The other side of the pod, Sandra was still chatting to Stella.
"So how long have you been with Mac?"
"A year, but we were friends for 15 years before that."
"But it took something major for him to realise you could be anything more than pals?"
Stella nodded, "he was kidnapped- long story- and I sort of rescued him. While we were waiting to be picked up, we talked and a year later this is the result" she said pointing to her bump to which Sandra laughed.
"Anyway, I don't about you but I'm starving. Have you heard of Oxford Street? Shopping heaven and I'm sure there's bound to be a decent café nearby."
"Um, sounds good, though I'm not sure Mac will enjoy an afternoon's retail therapy."
In fact, Mac was more than happy to let Stella go off shopping with Sandra as he'd already arranged to go off with Gerry, though to where exactly, he refused to say. They meet back up three hours later and Sandra and Gerry took them over to the UCOS office briefly to meet the rest of the team, i.e. Brian Lane and Jack Halford before Sandra took them back to hers so they could settle in and tell the team back in NY that they had arrived and were fine as it was now a reasonable hour there.
Hope you liked the update, sorry for the delay but I've been on holiday for two weeks in France with no access to the internet so could not update before and I will say now that this story will have no link to events in the current series of New Tricks. Please review.