Chapter 3: Rise
"I'm not in love
I do think I have tried
It costs too much
I don't have the money or the time"
"He told you what?" Mac says, astounded.
"He was going to fire you too, but I told him you didn't love me back," she takes a deep breath to calm herself.
"I won't let him do this to you, Stella."
"Mac, what choice do we have? If we talk, I'll still be fired."
"You said you loved me. Since when does that make us in an intimate relationship? They don't have any proof that we are. Because we're not."
"What, you want them to do an IA investigation? How would that prove anything?"
He shrugs, "They can look through the lab security videos and see that nothing's ever happened between us. They can look through the security videos of our apartment buildings and see that we haven't spent more than ten minutes at a time in each other's apartments lately."
"And they can find some way to prove ten minutes is enough time for… And I'm sure the camera in the hallway could see… last night. Plus all the times I've kissed your cheek in the lab… Things aren't looking so good for us."
"Maybe you could have Brendon tell them that you two are dating."
"And they'd just say I was cheating on him. Besides, we've only been dating for… three days."
Mac stands and heads out the door, leaving behind a very confused Stella. Deciding it best not to follow, she stares out the window of his office and thinks about what she will now do with her life.
"'Caused me to fall apart once or twice
It's worse, can lack the beautiful mess
In a perfect world we never came
Oh, we never left
You remember what we were?
Do you find out what a kiss is for right before you die?"
"It's all yours."
"What's all mine?" Stella turns to Mac in confusion as he walks back through the door.
"This. I… I convinced him to let you keep your job if I quit. So… the lab is now in your hands."
"Why on earth did you do that, Mac? I could have found something else to do."
He sighs, "Because it's my fault. If I had addressed your… interest in me when I noticed it instead of ignoring it, you wouldn't have had to tell me that you love me where everyone could hear you."
"Maybe I shouldn't have loved you in the first place," she gives him a small smile.
"You can't help who you fall in love with," Mac smiles back at her.
Danny enters the office, "Are we under suspicion of tampering with evidence or something? I've seen Sinclair three times already, and it's not even eleven yet."
The two older detectives look at each other before looking at him. "I… quit. He wanted to fire Stella so I… quit so she could keep her job," Mac informs him.
"Why's he firing Stella?"
"For… the other night."
"But you two aren't dating. That's ridiculous. We need both of you. There's got to be some way to fight this," Danny says. "What if we all quit if he won't let both of you stay?"
"There's no need for all of you to do that. What if he doesn't care? He can hire an all new team and pay them less, solving part of the budget problem," Stella shakes her head.
"He won't want to have an all new CSI team. Besides, you two are worth the risk. You've done so much for all of us."
"Just like when you have fallen
I will be there when you rise
In all kinds of weather
I will be there when you rise
Oh…"
"You have a very devoted team," Sinclair tells them. Mac and Stella both nod. "Tell them all that they've proven their point and to return to work tomorrow. As for the two of you… you can both keep your job as long as you swear that you'll never be more than partners."
"Stella and I are perfectly happy as close friends," he says, although he wants to be so much more. But he would beat down his emotions as long as they could still work together.
"You may get back to work now. I trust there's plenty for you all to do after the excitement today."
Once they are out of his office, Stella says, "I never thought their plan would work. We owe them, Mac."
"How about we take them out for dinner?" Mac suggests. "And you can invite Brendon if you want."
"He's working today."
"Maybe some other time then." The couple walks into the lab and notices how deserted it is. "Gee, how many people did Danny get to go along with him?"
When they enter Mac's office, Danny, Lindsay, Hawkes, Sid, Flack, Angell, and Adam are all waiting. "So…" Sheldon prompts.
"Sinclair said you all can return to work tomorrow. Stella and I would like to thank you for helping us. We'd like to take you all out for dinner."
"I know you're disappointed
It's there as long as you let yourself
I know that's important
It's right when it has always been
You remember what we were?
Do you find out what regret is for right before you die?"
Brendon leans over to kiss her as the movie ends. Stella pulls away quickly. They avoid looking at each other for a moment. "Stella -"
At the same time, she says, "Brendon…"
"You first," he delays what he wants to say to her, hoping to find a nice way to state it.
"I… I don't think this is working out. It's just…"
"I agree," he says slowly. "I think we should… end this. But I still want to be friends with you."
"Wait, you agree with me?"
He nods, "You're still in love with him."
"But there's absolutely no way we can be together. I feel bad breaking up with you for someone I can never be with."
"You two are brilliant, but you can't find away to get past the rules?"
"The only solution is one of us giving up our job," Stella explains. "But… part of the reason we both still do this job is because of each other."
"I'm sure you two could manage to be discreet about your relationship."
"We shouldn't have to be discreet. Well, when we're at work, yes. But outside of work… we shouldn't have to be looking over our shoulders for Sinclair or somebody who will tell him."
"I don't have an answer for you."
"I guess I should be going. Thanks for putting up with all of this. I really do care about you, Brendon."
"And I care about you. We just… don't love each other… at least not in that way," he walks her to the door. "Well… whenever you want to talk or hang out or whatever, just call me."
"See you, Brendon," she kisses his cheek.
"Just like when you have fallen
I will be there when you rise
In all kinds of weather
I will be there when you rise"
Stella shivers as they walk down the street. "I hate the snow."
Mac laughs and puts his arm around her. "It was your choice to walk through the park to get back to the lab."
"Why didn't you talk me out of it?"
"Because we agreed to avoid all the last minute Christmas shoppers." He stops at a stand on the sidewalk to buy them some hot chocolate. "So… have you finished Christmas shopping yet?"
"Of course not. Christmas is still four days away."
"I assume you'll be spending it with Brendon this year."
She shakes her head, "We… broke up."
"Whose idea was that?"
"It was a mutual agreement."
"So what are you going to do then?"
"On Christmas… I thought we'd spend it together like we normally do. Unless you have other plans."
They had spent every Christmas together since Claire had passed away. "Whose turn is it to cook this year?" he looks at her.
"I think it's your turn," she sips her hot chocolate.
"Are you sure? I think I cooked last year," he frowns at her. She smiles, giving it away. "You liar. Fine, if you want me to cook, I will." He throws his empty cup out and picks up a handful of snow, forming it into a ball.
"Don't you dare throw that at me, Taylor."
"What are you going to do about it?" he taunts.
"Oh… it's the most peculiar feeling
I don't know what's coming
After we die
Oh… I will be there when you rise"
"What took you two so long?" Hawkes asks when they get off the elevator.
"Stella insisted we go through the park."
"At this time of year, I'd think walking through the park would be quicker," he comments.
"Someone threw a snowball at me," she glares at Mac, pulling her coat off.
"Flack, Danny, and Lindsay went to process the boyfriend's apartment and question him."
"Okay, why don't you see how Sid is doing with the autopsy? Stella and I will go over the evidence again."
"See you guys later then," Hawkes heads towards the elevators.
The couple heads toward the layout room and puts their lab coats on. They begin to process the victim's clothes again. "I think I've found a hair," Mac takes a pair of tweezers and gently pulls them out of the sweater.
"It's not the victim's. We'll have to figure out what color hair the boyfriend has."
"Can you take it over to Adam and have him run the DNA?"
"Sure." Stella takes the envelope from him. She returns a few minutes later. "Find anything else?"
"Nope."
She studies him as he scrutinizes over the evidence. "Mac…"
He looks up at her. "Yes?"
"I… what are we going to do?"
"I will remember your pain
And your fears
Oh, come on
Come on, yeah
You're still here
Every moment that you are"
"I honestly don't know, Stella."
"I've never felt this strongly about anyone. I can't just ignore it."
"I know. But you heard Sinclair… we'll both be out of a job."
She sighs, "Can't we blackmail him?"
"With what?" he smiles at her.
"I don't see why you're happy, Mac."
"Because you look kind of cute when you're frustrated," he puts his hands on her arms.
She shakes her head gently, "You'd better be careful. He could be watching us."
"I'm sure he has better things to do than follow us around all day, hoping we do something… inappropriate for partners. Or at least I hope he does."
"I love you, Mac," Stella whispers.
He leans in, kissing her. "I love you too."
Hearing footsteps in the hall, they quickly separate. Lindsay sticks her head in, "We found a gun that matches the caliber of the bullet found in the victim. Danny is taking it to ballistics to check striations. We didn't find any prints on it. And Flack brought in the boyfriend."
"Thanks for the update," Mac says.
"Are you two trying to get in trouble again?" she looks at them knowingly. The detectives look at each other. "Don't worry; I won't tell anyone. Just… maybe you should do it somewhere more private where it's less likely someone will find you." She leaves the two alone again.
"I told you," Stella says.
Mac's phone rings. "Taylor. Okay, I'll send Stella. She should be there in twenty minutes," he hangs up.
"Send me where?"
"Robbery. Angell needs a CSI."
"I grow up
I hope to get the hang of this
I bleed from six strings
I let the truth fall from my lips
You remember what we were?
Do you find out what a kiss is for right before you die?"
"Hey," Stella sets down her kit. "What do we have?"
"Owner said a kid came in and took a couple videogames. Described the kid as around fourteen, black, and he was wearing jeans and a dark red sweatshirt."
"Okay," she pulls out her camera. "Could be one of… a couple thousand people? Shouldn't be too difficult to identify him," she says sarcastically.
"The kid didn't have any kind of weapon. He just ran out the door after pulling the games off the shelf when he thought the owner wasn't looking. He had a friend, but he didn't get a good look at him. Didn't think he snatched anything."
Stella looks around, spotting something lying on the floor under a display table. She photographs it before picking it up with a gloved hand. "Wallet. ID belongs to… Jonathan Sinclair, sixteen years old."
"Any relation to the chief of detectives?"
"I'm not sure." She turns to the owner of the store, "Does this look like the boy that robbed you?"
"Yeah, that's him."
"Angell, get an alert out on the kid. I'll call Mac." Stella heads outside and pulls out her cell phone. "Mac, does Sinclair have a son?"
"Yeah, I think so. Why?"
"We think he might be involved in the robbery. A wallet was found on the floor with an ID that says Jonathan Sinclair."
"I'll call Sinclair on my way over."
"Do you think this could help us out? Like if we get the guy not to press charges as long as he gets the merchandise back and we keep it out of the press?"
"It could… But if you ask him, Stel, he'll know we're still interested in each other."
"I think the press would be very interested in whether police department treats all criminals equally no matter who they're connected to."
"Just like when you have fallen
I will be there when you rise
In all kinds of weather
I will be there when you rise"
"My wife and I are in the process of separating right now, and it's been particularly hard on our kids. I know that no excuse to steal, but I promise there will be consequences at home. And counseling," Sinclair tells the owner. "I would really appreciate it if you wouldn't press charges. I'll make sure he pays you for the games."
The owner thinks for a few moments, "On one condition: I could use a little help around here. How long is he off of school for?"
"Until the fifth."
"Can you have him come in everyday for say… three hours and help me clean up and restock the shelves?"
"Of course."
"We're closed on Sundays and Christmas and New Years Day. So… we'll wait for him to get here before making final arrangements."
Sinclair turns to Mac and Stella who had finished processing. "What will it take to keep the two of you quiet about this?"
"But I thought that was your mission: to show the public of New York City that connections don't matter; every criminal is treated the same no matter what," Mac glares at him, thinking of the investigation made on him for the death of Clay Dobson.
"Mac… whatever you two want, you can have as long as you keep this out of the media. Just not a pay raise because of the budget."
"We don't want your money," Stella tells him. "Mac and I… we… want to be together without getting in trouble."
He sighs, "Okay… if that's what it takes. But keep your relationship out of the job. I don't want to hear anything about you two being unprofessional on the job."
"Oh… it's the most peculiar feeling
You don't know what's coming
After we die
Oh… I will be there when you rise"
"Danny, they're not that stupid," Lindsay tries to tell him.
"What reason would they have to looking up at the doorway? They'll never see it."
Flack shakes his head, "Just keep the rest of our names out of this."
"They're coming," Lindsay motions Danny inside the break room.
Mac and Stella walk down the hallway, deep in conversation. "What time are you coming over tonight?"
"Six? What do we have to do? Put the tree up and watch… watch… Rudolph and Frosty?"
"Okay." The couple turns into the break room, stopping in the doorway. The others tried to hide their chuckling; their bosses were oblivious to the mistletoe above their heads.
"Don't you need to be getting to the airport?" Stella asks Danny and Lindsay.
"Yeah. We're leaving in ten minutes, Montana."
Sheldon comes up behind them, "I've got to be leaving if I'm going to make it to Christmas Eve dinner on time."
"See you in a couple days," Stella says.
"But first, I believe you two have a tradition to follow," Hawkes looks up at the mistletoe.
Mac and Stella follow his gaze. "Danny Messer, how many times have I told you not to put this stuff up in the lab?" Mac glares at the culprit.
"You know, you're kind of insulting Stella if you don't kiss her, Mac."
Stella chuckles, "You guys do know that Sinclair is letting us go out as long as we're professional at work."
"How'd you manage to do that?" Flack frowns at them. "He must have owed you big time."
"His son was involved in a robbery, and he said he'd do anything for us if we kept it out of the media. So… we convinced him to give us permission to date."
"Well, that totally ruins it," Danny sighs; somehow they had managed to dodge the mistletoe every year.
Mac turns to Stella, "We might as well give them a happy ending to tell when they share the story over dinner."
Stella rests her hands on his shoulders and presses her lips to his. "There. Are you guys happy now?"
"Oh, oh, I will be there when you rise
Oh, oh, I will be there when you rise"
"This movie is so sad," Stella wipes her eyes as Frosty begins to melt.
"Is that why you were in tears that first year we spent Christmas together watching movies?"
"I think that was the first time I ever saw this movie."
He frowns at her, "You were a seriously deprived child."
"I'm sure I missed out on more than just Frosty."
Mac gets up and turns off the lights on the tree. "Santa can't come if you're still awake."
"I guess you're kicking me out now. I'll see you tomorrow morning."
"Stay here," he says quietly.
"I don't have any clothes to wear."
"I still have some of your clothes from when you used to stay those first few years."
"I… Don't you think it's a little fast?"
"Stel, I'm not asking you to do anything you don't want to. I just… want you to stay here. It's silly for you to go all the way home and come back in the morning," he takes her hands. "You can have my bed, and I'll stay on the couch."
"I can't kick you out of your own bed, Mac. I'll sleep on the couch."
He sighs, "I told you you are difficult."
She smiles, shaking her head at him. "How about we… share the bed? It's not like we haven't slept in the same bed before."
"Okay," Mac agrees. He leads her to the bedroom and digs a pair of her pajamas out of a drawer.
Five minutes later she comes out of the bathroom. She frowns at Mac; he is wearing a Santa hat. "What are you doing?"
"Getting in the holiday spirit."
"If the rest of the team saw you in that, they'd probably think you went crazy," Stella wraps her arms around him neck.
He leans over to kiss her, putting his hands on her waist. "I think this is going to be the best Christmas with you."
"And why is that?" she kisses him again.
"Because I have all I ever wanted right here in front of me."
"Well, in that case… Merry Christmas, Mac," she smiles at him.
"Merry Christmas to you too, Stella."
"All kinds of weather
I will be there when you rise
Just like you were fallen down
I will be there when you rise"
A/N: I hope you all have a merry Christmas. Or I guess I should say happy holidays in case some of you don't celebrate Christmas. The story is now over. I've got another one chapter thing almost done. I might post it next week some time. It involves a cute little orange kitten. Who is a troublemaker. Then I think I'll start a story with Ella in it... She's going to go after Stella. Well... I don't really know what else to say. Bones is on in a few minutes so I must hurry. Thank you for reading. Please review.