Sorry for not updating since April – exams kinda got in the way of progress.

Thanks to anyone who has ever reviewed & to chili-peppers, Stella Taylor, ImaSupernaturalCSI, Jade Storms & JennCorinthos for reviewing the last chapter & to neveragain77 for the PM!

This is the last chapter.

"Do you recognise these men?" Hawkes asked Matthew Finley, throwing autopsy pictures of Ben Stone and Paul Randal on the table in front of him.

"Ben's dead?" The man asked, staring at the pictures.

"Yeah, tried to get into Detective Monroe's hospital room, but you already knew that." Mac told him.

"What gives you that impression?" Finley asked, looking up from the picture.

"Just something Jason told us…"

"Jason doesn't know anything." Finley spat, cutting Mac off.

"You know, that's exactly what Nick Stopford told us. I think that you're protecting him, a promise to his dead father maybe?" Mac asked the man.

"We already know that you were at the hotel the day those three men were murdered and two NYPD officers ended up in hospital, we have CCTV footage of you sneaking out of the back exit." Hawkes told him."

"Ok, so I was there, but I didn't kill anyone, I was on the lookout."

"For Jason?" Hawkes asked.

The man didn't say anything.

"We know Jason had the knife used to kill the men at some point, his fingerprints were on it and so were Ben Stone's."

"Fine, I was looking out for Jason and Nick."

"Nick Stopford?"

"Yeah. Jason got it into his head that Detective Monroe was the reason his father, Mike Barrow, died. He kept going on about her constantly questioning his dad, said he was stressing out. Anyways, he said he wanted that stupid bitch to pay for it. He's been talking about it ever since his father's death."

"So what about Detective Bonasera? Why was she gassed as well?" Mac asked.

"Nick took Jason to Bozeman looking for Detective Monroe and they found out that she had transferred somewhere else. They both spent there time trying to find out where she was. When Jason found out she was at the New York Crime Lab with Detective Bonasera he decided he wanted to hurt them both."

"So you had nothing to do with any of the murders at the Renaissance Hotel?"

"Nope, I ain't a murderer."

"Ok. So who killed CSI Ashleigh Waring? It wasn't Jason, he was in New York, she was killed back in Chicago." Hawkes told him.

"Paul Randall."

"Paul Randall was found dead in New York only four hours after CSI Waring was found in Chicago." Hawkes interrupted.

"CSI Waring had been dead for over two days before Randal was killed." Finley informed them.

"We knew that but how did you know that?" Mac asked.

"Paul Randall killed those women three years ago, tried to do the same to Detectives Monroe and Bonasera but that CSI found them before much harm could come to them so he killed her." He told them.

"What do you mean, before much harm could come to them?" Mac asked, panic evident on his face.

"Don't worry, he didn't have his way with them, just knocked them around a bit."

"Ok, so who killed Paul Randall?" Hawkes asked, changing the subject.

"Ben Stone." Finley told them, pointing to the autopsy picture, still on the table in front of him. "He was pissed at Paul because of what he put us all through; no one back in Chicago looked at us the same after it came out that we were all suspects. Paul wasn't even a suspect, he went back to Connecticut, none of us had seen him since until about six weeks ago."

"Why did Ben try and kill Detective Monroe?"

"I dunno." Finley shrugged, leaning back on his chair. "Was he drunk?"

"Yes."

"He lost his job three years ago and turned to alcohol, I don't know why he went after Detective Monroe, maybe he thought it was easier to get to her at the hospital than a lab full of cops."

"What about Jack Bradley?" Hawkes asked

"What about him?"

"Well he was a suspect along with you, Jason, Ben and Nick. How's he involved?"

"He's not; last I heard he was in Kansas."

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"Do you think he was telling the truth?" Danny asked Mac and Hawkes after they had explained to him and Flack what Matthew Finley had told them.

"I think he had more to do with the events at the Renaissance hotel but apart from that I think he's telling the truth." Mac told them.

"And about what happened to them in Chicago?" Danny asked.

"I don't know…" Mac said looking through the glass wall of the office and into the office opposite where Stella and Lindsay were sat with there back towards them. "Stella never mentioned that anything had happened. I hope it was the truth, I hope it didn't go any further."

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They're talking about us." Lindsay said glancing at the four men across the corridor.

"They're just concerned. Are you alright?" She asked as Lindsay grimaced.

"Still a little sore."

"Why aren't you at home?"

"Danny didn't seem to think it was safe, he wanted to check with Mac, make sure that no one else wanted to do either of us any harm." Lindsay told her.

"You're lucky; he obviously cares a lot about you." Lindsay glared at her. "Oh, come on Lindsay, he jumped in the Hudson to save you."

"So did Flack, it doesn't mean that there's anything between us."

"Lindsay…"

"Okay, okay, you got me, the rumours are true but we are changing the subject right now."

"No fair."

"Okay, what about you and Mac then?"

"You're right; I think they are talking about us." Stella said, turning to watch the men. "I think they might know about our narrow escape in Chicago, I never told them, not even Mac." She told Lindsay turning away from them again.

"If Ashleigh hadn't found us you think that…" Lindsay started.

"It's not worth thinking about Lindsay. Between us we left Chicago with a collection of cuts and bruises and a sprained wrist, nothing more." Stella told her softly.

"But if Ashleigh hadn't found us then she wouldn't be dead. It's only because she took the lead that night that she was made known."

"You know that that is not true Lindsay. Whoever took the lead on the case from the Chicago team would have been at risk. We are not responsible for what happened to Ashleigh, okay?"

Lindsay nodded.

"Come on, I'll give you a ride home, you have some packing to do."

"Thanks Stel but Danny said that he'd take me home. It doesn't matter anyway; I'm not going to the funeral."

"Lindsay…."

"I just don't think it's fair on Ashleigh's family."

"You need some closure, we both do. Paying our respects to Ashleigh and getting away from the lab for a while is the only way that's going to happen. We can stop worrying, they're going to jail for a long time, it's over." Stella told her as she stood up. "Come on, let's go and talk to them." She continued, leading the way to Mac's office.

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Flack flipped his cell phone shut and turned to face Lindsay and Stella. "All three of them are going to be charged with three counts of murder and the attempted murder of two police officers over what happened at the hotel. Nick Stopford has also been charged with assault on a police officer and Jason Barrow has been charged with two more counts of attempted murder of a police officer. Needless to say they won't make bail."

"Thanks Flack." Lindsay said, speaking for the first time since she had entered the office.

"Er, Mac, can we have a word please?" Stella asked.

"Yeah, sure. What do you need?"

Lindsay looked around the office, rubbing her arm nervously.

"Erm, we better get back to work." Flack said, sensing their discomfort.

"Before you go we want to say that we're sorry that we didn't tell any of you what was going on as soon as I received the first flower." Stella told them, glancing around the office at her colleagues. Next to her Lindsay nodded silently.

"You both did what you thought was right, none of us in this room have any right to judge." Flack told them as he stood up.

"He's right, it's in the past, and you should leave it there." Hawkes said, rubbing Stella's shoulder sympathetically.

"That includes you Montana." Danny winked at Lindsay before following Flack and Hawkes out of the office. "I'll talk to you later." He called over his shoulder.

"Lindsay and I need to take some leave." Stella told him once all three men had left.

"Okay, as I expected. Can I ask…"

"We're going to Chicago for Ashleigh's funeral." Stella said cutting him off.

"Okay, how long do you need?"

"The funeral is the day after tomorrow, our flight is in the morning. After that I don't know."

"We don't need more than a week." Lindsay told him firmly.

Stella rolled her eyes at Mac who threw her a knowing look back.

"Okay, but if you need longer you just have to let me know."

"Thanks Mac." Lindsay said standing up. "I'll see you in a week."

"And I'll see you later." Stella told him with a smile before leaving with Lindsay.

"Remember Lindsay, if you need more time..." Mac called to her.

"I know Mac, I'll tell you."

I know endings aren't my strong point but there it was anyway :)