A/N – I am really sad to be posting this last chapter. Hope you have enjoyed this story, I loved wriritng it. And thank you one last time to everyone who reviewed and supported me to do this.

Israel - Chapter Twenty-One

As police officers in this big, complicated city we see so much bad. So many souls filled with hatred and violence and it's our job to look for them, chase after them and confront them. Over time they can become all we see. As with all evil some good will always come from it. It can bring us together with some of the most dedicated, honourable, kind-hearted people we could ever hope to meet. It can fill hearts with a love so strong that it will endure forever and create unbreakable friendships that will last even in the face of life's most difficult challenges.

Sometimes the good comes when we most need it and least expect it. If we are lucky enough to notice it, set our eyes upon it and appreciate it, it can almost make us forget all of the bad. Today is life, the only life you're sure of, make the most of today. Words of wisdom, a slice of goodness passed on by an innocent soul whose life was cut short by an errant bullet. These are words that will always stay with me, words that changed the course of my life forever a year ago this very day.

Mac sighed as he finished up his last piece of paperwork and placed it back into the folder. Then he closed it and filed it away in his out tray for the morning. It had been a long, hard day but pleasant enough considering the past four months in which Don had left them. He hadn't seen Don again, not since that day they'd watched the old VHS of him playing the piano together, but then Mac hadn't expected to see him again. He had finally moved on, not that he had let Don go, the young man would forever remain in his heart, but he had moved on in the spirit of living. Mac smiled as he looked up and watched Lindsay and Adam laughing together in the lab opposite his office. She seemed happy and Mac was glad that she and Danny had managed to put aside their troubles and move on. They were truly meant to be with one another. Adam had sent out invitations to his wedding next year and Mac knew that would be just the sort of joyous occasion they all needed. His gaze moved to Sid and Hawkes standing outside the elevators. Sid had informed him just the other day that his cancer was in complete remission and Hawkes and told everyone excitedly that he was moving in with Jamie and that made Mac smile. It was good to see that the others were all getting on with their lives, just as he was. They had hope, hope for life, hope for the future and that was the point. Hope that wasn't a feeling of certainty that everything would end well, but hope that was simply a feeling that their lives, their work had meaning.

"Are you still here, Mac Taylor?" Jo asked as she leant against his doorframe.

"I was just leaving," Mac murmured, one eyebrow raised.

"Good, because there's no more work to be done here, so you get off and enjoy that evening of yours."

"I will," Mac stated as he picked up the newspaper on his desk and walked toward the door. He suddenly paused, frowned and turned back towards his office.

"When did that get there?" he asked.

Jo came forward and stood next to him.

"Now you can't tell me you haven't noticed that, Mac Taylor. It's been there for days now."

"Days, really?" Mac asked, looking at her in amusement.

"Mmhm," Jo nodded. "It took me such an age to find superglue that was strong enough to fix it and then I've had it back at my place until a suitable time."

Mac smiled at her, touched by the gesture. "Thank you, Jo," he said in earnest.

"You're very welcome," she replied and gently touched his arm.

Mac smiled at her as she left his office and then turned back to look at the leafy plant in its newly mended pot. Don's leafy plant...to remind him of Don every day and the love they had shared. Mac nodded in approval.

Danny wheeled his chair out onto the court, the little girl trudging along by his side. He smiled across at her, the huge basketball she carried looking even bigger in her tiny arms. He was going to teach her how to play some ball, or at least how to throw and catch. So much had happened in the past month since Lindsay had moved back home. He'd applied for a volunteering job at Flack's old YMCA that he'd seen in Lindsay's letter; to coach a newly formed wheelchair basketball team and had been offered the position. It seemed he had a natural talent for the sport as he had previously been an excellent basketball played and the wheels didn't stop him, in fact he almost found it easier. He was hoping if he built up enough strength in his upper body he might even get to play professionally, then he could become the big sports star he'd always wanted to be. Louie would have been proud of him...so would've Flack.

"Is this good, Daddy?" Lucy asked, stopping in the middle of the court.

"That's great, Luce, now throw the ball to me."

Lucy grinned and chucked the ball as far as she could. It bounced off his knees and she went chasing after it, laughing excitedly.

"Hmmm," Danny hummed to himself. "This may take a while."

They played for half an hour, the little girl running about everywhere and squealing in delight whenever she managed to catch the ball and squealing even louder when her father did. After a bit Danny showed her some of his skills and she clapped along excitedly as she watched.

"My hero!"

Danny turned and grinned at his wife as she laughed at him.

"Hey, babe," he said breathlessly, rolling himself towards where she was standing with baby Donny.

"I got your message and thought we'd head on down here once I'd collected him from your Ma's."

"How was work?" Danny asked.

"Fun," Lindsay smiled.

"Not how I remember it," Danny chuckled.

"And how was your work?" Lindsay asked.

"Amazing, some of the kids are really good," Danny nodded excitedly.

"That's great, Danny," Lindsay nodded, pleased he had so much motivation in his new work. "Hey, Luce, you want a game with Mummy?" she asked.

"Mummy," Lucy squealed and grabbed the ball from Danny, running back over to centre court.

"Good luck," Danny laughed as he watched Lindsay follow after the little girl. He glanced into the pram and saw Donny was awake.

"Hey there, buddy," he smiled. "You wanna watch your Mummy and sister play ball?" he asked as he gently lifted Donny from the pram and sat him on his lap, wheeling his chair over to the stands.

"Mummy's not very good, is she?" he chuckled as he watched his wife and daughter playing happily together, laughing and giggling to get the ball. For the first time in a long while he felt really happy.

"They're great aren't they?"

Danny smiled to himself as he heard the voice behind him but didn't turn around.

"I think I owe you an apology, Flack."

"Seeing you happy again is enough."

"If it wasn't for you I'd have..." Danny drifted off, unable to voice how close he'd been to the end.

"It wasn't me. It was your family, Danno."

At that moment Donny gave a loud giggle in Danny's arms and waved his arms about. Danny smiled fondly down at him.

"They mean the world to me."

"I know that."

"I can't believe I could ever have hated Don."

"Thank you, by the way, for the name."

"After the best man I've ever known," Danny said softly. He sighed and cuddled Don to him. After a moment he spoke again.

"It was you, with the job, wasn't it?" he asked, turning to look behind.

The wind whistling around him was the only reply he got. Flack was gone.

"Thank you, Flack," Danny whispered into the sky.

Mac smiled as he walked into the cafe and heard the bell above the door give a little ding. The place looked completely new. The walls had been re-plastered and painted; there were new tables and glass in the counter. If Mac hadn't known where he was, he would have assumed it was a completely different cafe to Sal's old one. He glanced about at the patrons and tilted his head in interest at them. Crust man was back with his bag of crusts, sitting at the same table as the woman with the hamster who was there, feeding bits of cake to her hamster. The pair were nattering quietly together and each had a twinkle in their eye. Moustache man, or non-moustache man as he now was, was sitting with the surviving gaping lady and the two were holding hands and staring lovingly at each other. Mac chuckled to himself.

"Mac Taylor!" boomed Sal as he came to the counter.

"Sal," Mac nodded. "I like what you've done with the place."

"Thank you, I figured it was time for a spruce up anyway."

"It looks very nice," Mac nodded.

"So is it the usual for you?" Sal asked.

"Not today thanks, Sal. I just needed to talk to Mungo actually."

"Oh," Sal said in surprise.

"Sal," Mac said quietly. "What happened?" he asked, nodding his head towards the others.

"Oh," Sal laughed. "Well when Harry got out of the hospital he put his foot down about going into the home, so his family let him be. He came back here and it turned out he had had Maude's hamster all the time. It had hidden in his coat."

"That's wonderful," Mac nodded.

"I think there might possibly be something there," Sal whispered slyly, giving Mac a wink.

"Quite possibly," Mac agreed.

"And after Felix tried to save Margot, Roberta went to say thank you to him and they got talking. They're a couple now."

Mac smiled happily at them. The two couples. Happiness born out of tragedy.

"Thanks, Sal," Mac nodded and wove his way over to Mungo who still sat staring out of the window.

"Hello, Mungo," Mac said.

The old man looked up at him, he seemed lost and scared.

"I have something for you," Mac smiled as he placed the newspaper he'd taken from his office down on the table.

Mungo frowned at it and then picked it up, staring blankly at it for a moment before a huge grin erupted on his face and then he began to rifle through it excitedly.

Mac smiled down at him, pleased he could have been of assistance in helping this poor, unhappy soul. Suddenly he felt a tugging on his coat and saw that Mungo was pulling on it.

"What is it?" Mac asked.

Mungo pointed to behind Mac at the small table set in the corner, away from the others and easy to miss for anyone who only glanced hurriedly around the room. Mac liked it because it was more peaceful there and he didn't have to put up with anyone taking notice of him.

"Yes, that's my usual table," Mac nodded.

Mungo just grinned at him and then went back to reading his paper.

Mac laughed a moment and then turned and made his way to his table, trying to see what was so interesting about it. He choked on his own breath as he got nearer, the blood in his veins freezing and his heart stammering to a pause as he finally saw what Mungo had been pointing out to him. It was Don. Don was sitting at the table staring at him. Mac slid into the seat opposite and gaped at the younger man in front of him.

"I thought you had gone?" he rasped.

Don smiled back at him. "I said if you looked hard enough you'd see me," he replied.

"Does this mean I'm still crazy?" Mac asked.

"Perhaps," Don said mystically. "That was a very kind thing you did for that man."

Mac nodded. "It didn't take more than thirty minutes for me to go down to the City Archives and get a copy of the correct paper. If it brings joy to the rest of his life then it was worth it."

"It's good to see you caring for others, Mac. It's such an essential part of your being," Don told him.

Mac exhaled in amusement. "I'm glad you know me so well," he smirked.

"I know you like I know myself," Don said honestly.

Mac smiled. "I miss you."

"I know. I miss you too."

"I still feel so empty without you."

Don looked sad. "When you feel like that lean on our friends, Mac. Bury your sorrows in doing good."

"I try to," Mac nodded. "But I can't help but imagine my life would be so much better if you hadn't been taken from me. This life I have now...it's hollow. I may be alive but I don't feel very much like this is living."

"Do not disdain life, Mac, it is our being, our all," Don said softly.

Mac was suddenly aware of how quiet it had become in the cafe and how dim it was too. He turned around and noticed how none of the people that had been there a moment before were there anymore. Not even Sal. Mac turned back to face Don and opened his mouth to question it but Don spoke first.

"It was God's will I should die, Mac, not yours and not mine. Death is a road we must all eventually take and all of us alone, it just came sooner for me than I'd thought."

"I don't believe in God," Mac stated. He may have been on the path to mending but his spite at God had still not abated. "He destroyed my life twice...taking Claire...taking you...I don't see the point in believing if his plan for me is to live my life in solitude."

"God's plan for us all leads us down a path of confusion but we struggle on and we survive," Don replied. "You survived, Mac. You moved on twice, never giving up hope, and are a stronger man for it. You wrestled with God and defeated him. You're Israel."

"What?" Mac frowned in confusion.

Don smiled at him. "And he said unto him, 'What is thy name?' And he said, 'Jacob.' And he said, 'Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed.' You won out Mac, you rose from the ashes of tragedy a stronger and better man and with that you will find the courage to live on long after I am gone."

Mac stared open mouthed at Don as he uncurled his hand and pressed something into Mac's palm. Mac's eyes drifted down and looked at the cross and chain that had been placed there. His cross and chain, the one he had thrown in the trash back at his apartment so very long ago. He looked back up at Don and tried to speak but choked on his own words and coughed. He gasped for air and then tried again.

"You're really Don, aren't you?" he choked.

Don smiled. "I always have been."

"I...I don't understand," Mac stammered, completely at a loss as to what to do. He had never been faced with a situation like this in his life.

"I never left you, Mac," Don stated. "I knew you'd need me."

"You never left?" Mac coughed.

"I was always with you, looking out for you. How do you think Stella knew when to come? Who told you to make up with Danny? Who reassured you about all the doubts you were left with after my demise?"

"All this time...I thought you were just a part of my mind," Mac said sorrowfully.

"I was what you needed me to be," Don said wisely.

"And I have your forgiveness?" Mac choked.

"You never even needed it, Mac. I love you. I always have and always will. And that means you never need my forgiveness."

"Why are you here...now?" Mac asked, it suddenly occurring to him that it was a strange moment for Don to reveal his true self to him.

Don sighed and looked a little sad. "I need to go soon," he replied.

"I don't want you to leave. I don't want to be alone," Mac said miserably.

"You won't be alone, Mac. You have so many people around you who care. Lean on Danny, he loves you very much."

"I still feel I destroyed his life," Mac replied.

"He forgave you a long time ago, Mac. He doesn't blame you," Don said truthfully. "He needs you. He and Lindsay need you. They're your family."

Mac nodded, blinking his tears away unsuccessfully. "I wish so much you could stay, Don."

"It's my time, Mac. I have to go."

"Then how do I say goodbye?" Mac asked, tears in his eyes.

"You don't. Not where it counts," Don replied, smiling at Mac.

Mac nodded, feeling a tear drop down his cheek.

"Don't cry for me, Mac," Don said sadly. "Don't cry for a soul set free."

"I won't ever see you again, will I?" Mac asked.

"I'll always be a part of you, Mac."

Mac nodded sadly and blinked his tears away. "I think I need to get some fresh air."

Don smiled at him. "Take care of yourself, Mac."

"I love you, Don. I'll never forget you," Mac replied, standing up.

Don stood and moved towards Mac standing so close they were almost touching.

"I know you won't. My love will always be with you, Mac, just as it always has been."

Mac smiled and slowly walked to the door putting on his cross as he went. As he reached it he turned back for one moment, taking in his last fill of Don.

"Hey, Mac?"

"Hmm?"

"Promise me one thing?"

"Anything."

"When you leave here count to five before you turn the corner."

Mac frowned and then after a moment nodded. Not understanding but trusting.

"Goodbye, Don."

Don smiled goofily at him.

Mac opened the door and proceeded down the street, winding his way between the crowds of people milling there. No tears came to him. He wasn't sad. For the first time in a very long while he felt a sort of contentment within himself. He was finally at peace with himself, with God, with life and with the world. He'd let go of all his anger and grief. He'd let go of Don, knowing the man he loved would always be a part of him, but that he was to continue on in this life without him. He reached the corner and paused for a moment. He smiled as he remembered Don's words and decided to humour him.

One...

...

Two...

...

Three...

...

Four...

...

Five...

...

Mac turned and ran smack bang into some poor woman who dropped the paper bag she was carrying . Its contents spilt out all over the sidewalk. Apples, potatoes, oranges, eggs, pasta... everywhere. Mac almost rolled his eyes at Don's stupid sense of humour. He bent down to help her pick them up.

"I'm so sorry," he grunted. "I didn't see..."

"Mac? Mac Taylor?"

Mac looked up as she spoke his name and frowned when the pretty woman kneeling before him caused a spark of recognition in his mind.

"I...I err..."

"It's Christine. Christine Whitney. Stan's sister."

Mac stared at her for a moment and then recognition flooded through him.

"Christine," he murmured.

She smiled at him. "I haven't seen you in years, how've you been?"

"Well...I, hmm..." Mac mumbled shyly.

"That good?" she said kindly, eyebrows raised. "Look, I've got a free moment if you wanna grab a cup of coffee or something?"

Mac looked down for a moment. "I can't really. I don't think..."

He suddenly paused as a voice echoed through his head.

"Promise me one thing...when you leave here, count to five before you turn the corner."

Mac smiled to himself and nodded his head knowingly. Don had known. Don had wanted this.

"Actually, yeah. Coffee would be nice."

Don watched from a distance as Mac smiled at Christine and then they stood up together and started walking down the street, side by side. Mac finally looked happy. His job was done. He felt a soft hand on his arm and smiled as he turned to his companion.

"It's time," Claire said.

Don took one last look at Mac and then turned away. Claire took his hand and led him away from the bustling New York street. The noise suddenly died down as the streets and people started to fade away beneath him. In front of him he saw his beloved parents waiting for him. Jess was there too, just as beautiful as ever. And so was Aiden, a happy grin on her face and arms outstretched in welcome towards him.

It was heaven.

A/N – Anyone spot the line from 7x06?

Jacob is renamed "Israel" by God after he wrestles with an angel. (Genesis 32:28-29). The name "Israel" can be translated as; "God contended." "He who fights/struggles." "He who wrestles with God."

Hope you enjoyed it and maybe next time you watch an episode of csiny and see Mac and Flack in a scene together you might be reminded of this story and some hidden subtext in their interaction ;)