Well, those of you who also follow me on twitter know that I promised to update this story today. Well, it's kinda late and I nearly forgot about that update, so SORRY for the delay!

Sadly reviews dropped since the new season started... I'm a bit sad, that you guys don't seem to be interested anymore... anyways a HUGE thank you to all of you who keep reading and reviewing, this is what keeps me going. YOU GUYS TOTALLY ROCK!

I hope you like this chapter!

Chapter 3: The Windy City

~ M ~ T ~

The next two days Stella and I spent all alone, each of us in our apartments and preparing things for our trip to Chicago. Of course we talked on the phone each day, sometimes even two or three times or more, depending on the news we got or on things we needed to bring. Sometimes we just wanted to know how the other one's doing and if we could help each other. Thursday morning I invited Stella to go out for lunch together and get the last things arranged. Sinclair had called me in the morning and told me the last details of the trip. He had talked to his boss and the city council and finally got the okay to pay our flight to Chicago. His argumentation was simple and true. Stella and I were going to Chicago on business so basically we didn't need to pay anything. This was the least he could do for us, was what Sinclair told me. I was more than thankful that he could manage to get the flight paid for us, since this journey would cost enough and no one really knew how long this would last. The flight would go at 7 am on Friday so that we would arrive in Chicago at 10 am.

xXxXxXxXx

It was Friday morning at 4 am when my alarm clock went off and forced me out of my dreamless sleep. Time to get up, shower, grab my things and then go and meet Stella at the airport. We had decided to take a cab to the airport since we lived in different parts of the city this was the best way to do it. The JFK Airport was a big place so we had decided to meet in the lobby and then go and do the rest together. Like checking in and find the plane to go on board. I knew we had a busy day ahead so I quickly pushed myself out of the bed and into the bathroom to take a shower, hoping the hot and then cold water would wake me a bit more, while the coffee maker in my kitchen already prepared my coffee, so that I just had to fill it into my travel mug and then I could just up and leave. And so I did.

On the ride to JFK some excitement and nervousness started to build inside me. I never really liked flying, but I couldn't avoid it, so I had to swallow. On the other hand I was quite excited about what was expecting us in Chicago and how the time I spend in my childhood home would be like. Would we be very busy? Would I be able to pay my mother a visit? Would I be able to show Stella a bit more of the City? Would the killer take the bite? How would all this turn out? All those and many other questions where running through my mind, keeping my brain occupied with trying to find answers to those questions, till the cab finally arrived at the airport and I paid the driver, got out and walked into the JFK.

Walking into the lobby I instantly started to look around in search of my beloved partner and "undercover-wife" Stella. I couldn't see her so I assumed she wasn't there yet. Thankfully Sinclair had chosen an early flight, because the traffic wasn't as busy as it would be in a few hours so there was no stop and go on the way here. I found a place, nearly in the middle of the lobby, but near the entrance, where I stopped, my suitcase in my hand. I watched the people coming into the building, but I couldn't see Stella anywhere. Somehow I was now worried that she maybe overslept or something. But yet we still had enough time to check in and go on board, so my heart rate and mind was a bit at ease.

"Good Morning handsome." A familiar voice came from behind. I had been so focused on the things happening in front of me, that her voice next to my ear made jump so I nearly fell over my own two feet. I turned around and then smiled slightly. Handsome? The word echoed in my ears.

"Did I surprise you?" Stella asked innocently.

"Surprise? I nearly died." I teased.

"Hm… you look very vital for one who nearly died just one second ago." She chuckled lightly.

"Uh… ready to go?" I asked her and she nodded a bit disappointed that I didn't reply her good morning. As we walked next to each other, making our way through the crowd I leaned in a bit closer to her and whispered:

"Good morning to you, too, sweetheart."

She stopped for a minute and looked at me in surprise before a happy smile appeared on her face. What she could do to me, I could do to her. That's how it had been for as long as I knew her. We always had that flirty and joyful banter and that was one of the things I loved most about her. Loved? my brain asked. Yes I loved that about her and there is nothing bad or complicated about loving a certain character trait of your best friend. That's why we're best friends, right? We made our way to the check in and with only our hand baggage we went through security and now had about an hour before it was time to board the plane. My bass guitar was put into the travel coffin and put into the trunk of the plane, with the big red note on it to be careful with that piece of luggage. But the coffin was made for occasions like this, so I didn't worry too much, that something could happen to my beloved instrument.

"So… want some breakfast?" I asked Stella.

"Breakfast would be nice. But this time I'm buying. You did enough for this trip already." She said and her tone said that it was better not to argue with her. So we chose a little café to our liking and shared a modest breakfast and some coffee. We decided to stay there and just sit and talk or think till it was time to board the plane.

"So, you're exciting about going to your home town?" Stella asked me.

"Yeah a bit. But am more excited… um… curious about the case and the time we'll spend there. And you?"

"Never went to Chicago before so… am quite curious to see what this city has to offer. It's quite interesting to see where my best friend grew up, you know."

"Ah… the city's more exciting than my life as a small boy."

"I bet little Mac Taylor had a more exciting life than he thinks he had. Bet he kidded around just like every small boy does, didn't you?"

"You really want to hear a tale of my childhood, don't you?" I asked with a nervous chuckle.

"I am curious, you know that, right?" she said. "Tales are always interesting."

"Alright…"

~ S ~ B ~

Mac started into a tale of his childhood, a little adventure he had in a suburban area, where he grew up. He told me about an old factory building they discovered a bit out of town and used as their secret quarters and the things they found inside and outside and what they did. Listening to Mac's calm voice telling a story made me calm down a bit. I was really nervous about this new challenge and the new city, since I never went to Chicago before. Knowing that Mac grew up in Chicago and knew a lot of the city makes this whole adventure a bit more tempting, because I always have been curious to see where and how my best friend grew up, so I was listening carefully and curiously to Mac's little story and the time passed by even fasten, so that we soon had to leave to catch our flight.

Flying… I never made a big deal of flying, but I never really liked it either. Maybe it was the knowledge of what happened if there would be any trouble and the plane crashed or whatever. Maybe it was because I thought flying wasn't as save as driving a car and even driving a car wasn't always safe. Even if you would walk on your own two feet you could fall and break your bones… so what was safe? But maybe it was just the strange feeling of flying, being so high above the world under you. I didn't know why I didn't like it and it wasn't exactly like I hated it. Just felt… strange.

I knew that Mac hated flying, but as I looked at him, sitting next to me as the plane slowly rolled to the runway, he seemed calm and all relaxed. Well, he may hate flying but otherwise he was used to it, even more than I was. But deep down inside I knew he probably just put on a brave face for me.

"Didn't you hate flying?" I asked softly causing him to look at me in surprise.

"Yes, I hate it… well, hate seems a bit too negative. I just don't like it, but I'm used to it by now." He answered in a low tone, only audible for me.

The plane was now on the runway and constantly speeded up, before it finally took of and started to move higher and higher into the sky. That was the stage I hated most together with landing on the ground again. It was the process of keeping the pressure balance inside that I hated most. The pressure you feel in your ears was one of the most uncomfortable feelings of flying for me. Soon the plane was on a constant level and I got used to the circumstances.

Now with quiet sound of the jet inside my ears I realized how tired I still was. I tried to hide a yawn but wasn't really able to. Mac looked at me with a slightly concerned look in his blue eyes.

"Want to get some sleep?" he asked quietly.

"Don't know… don't want to miss the landing." I smiled tiredly.

"I'll wake you up."

I remembered that he did the same when we got back from Greece. Greece… my brain pondered those memories. Back then Mac and I had a great time after our case was finally solved. Although I sometimes was shaken by the grieving for Professor Papakota, but Mac once again proved what a good friend he really was. He was there when I needed him most, although we had an argument before I went there and he had every right to be mad at me, he wasn't. He had put his anger away and he followed me, because he had been worried and he cared about me. That heartfelt sentiment on that day was burned into my brain and heart, a memory I'll never forget. Our flight back to New York was early back then and he had suggested that I should get some sleep and he would wake me up.

I smiled at those memories and my heart and mind was put at ease. He was there to wake me, so why not try and get some sleep, before I fell asleep when the Lieutenant would tell us all the details we needed to know? I slightly nodded my head with the small smile.

"I think I could use some more sleep." I said.

"Good… you need a pillow? You got one." He smiled shyly. I looked at him, not sure I understood him correctly.

"What? You?"

"Well, maybe not the whole me, but… how about my shoulder?"

"Sounds very tempting." I said and again tried to hide a yawn.

"Come here." He said, putting his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to him. I rested my head on his shoulder as suggested by him and soon I was sound asleep.

xXxXxXxXx

The next time I opened my eyes I was still on the plane. It was quiet around me. The only sounds that I could hear were some people quietly talking, or the rustling of paper and of course the sound of the plane. My head was still rested on Mac's shoulder and his thumb softly stroke my upper arm. To be honest it felt good to just sit like that and know he took care that I was okay, but from sleeping in that position, for I don't know how long, my back slightly hurt. So I had to move, if I wanted or not. Regrettably I lifted my head from his shoulder and he instantly let go of me and I carefully stretched a bit. He watched me with a soft smile tugged on his lips.

"Hey." He greeted me, my green eyes met his.

"Hey." I replied with smile.

"So… you're already awake and well-rested?"

"Thanks to you. You're a great pillow."

"Thanks." He said and chuckled shyly. "You still have an hour left to sleep…"

"No, thanks, I think I got enough sleep now. And I think I am curious about your childhood home…"

"Want me to tell you a bit about the city?"

"Would be great." I smiled.

The last hour of the flight to Chicago passed much faster than expected. Mac turned out to be an excellent storyteller. His way of talking about the city he grew up in sounded much like a story, but it wasn't. He didn't just rattle about all the things he knew about, he also asked me a few questions and included me in his tale, which actually was more a report. Anyways, he tried his best to make the history and his knowledge of the Chicago sound interesting. As the time arrived and we were informed that we're going to land in a few minutes, Mac and I had been wrapped up in our discussion. As soon as the plane touched the ground again and stood still, we were allowed to get out. We got through security and then grabbed our suitcases and Mac the coffin with his bass guitar and made our way through the crowd in the lobby of the airport. Lieutenant de LaRossa said he would meet us outside. So Mac and I exited the building. Outside I walked a few more steps and then stopped, Mac stopping next to me. A slightly cold breeze blew into my face and played with my curls. The sun was shining and there wasn't a single cloud on the bright blue sky above us. I turned my head to look into Mac's bright blue eyes.

"How does it feel to be back home?" I asked softly.

"Well… it's been a while since I came here the last time. Feels… familiar." He answered.

"I bet if your mother was here, she would rush into your arms, wouldn't she?"

"No way, Stella. First she would give me a tongue-lashing and ask me why the hell I didn't visited her for so long. And then she would wrap her arms around her poor son and take me home to spoil me."

"She spoils you?" I asked with a raised brow.

"Mostly… we gotta go, Stella. Lieutenant de LaRossa waits." He reminded me and started to look around, only to see the blond man standing across from us, next to his black cruiser.

"Morning Detectives." De LaRossa greeted as we arrived his cruiser. He told us to put our bags into the trunk.

"How do you like the city so far, Detective Bonasera?"

"Oh, it got its nickname for a reason." I smiled as another breeze blew into my face.

"Yes it does. But you quickly get used to it, you'll see." Lt. de LaRossa said and then we got into the car and he took us to our new home.

The Windy City… I pondered, knowing that I would get used to my new surroundings quite fast. With Mac here at my side and as my partner and guide it would be the easiest thing to do. Thinking of the case and the work ahead, that was a different story.

I hope you liked this chapter and please let me know what you think! It'll just take a minute to write your thoughts in a review and it's the best reward I can get for the time it takes to write those stories!

A/N: I also updates "Don't You Dare" this week, so it won't hurt to drop by and read, for those who haven't yet... AND PLEASE check my poll and vote!

Have a great weekend everyone! blackrose538