If Sarah was not worried as it was about losing her job, the next day at work Mac sent everybody out in the field except her. Danny and Lindsay had a DB in central park and Stella and Hawkes were processing a hit and run in Queens. Sarah tried to tell herself that it was just an over sight or just luck of the draw but the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach told her it was something more. She had been staring at her computer for about a couple hours when her cell phone rang.
"Scott."
"Sarah, it's Mac. Could I see you in my office?"
"Uh, yeah. I be there in a few seconds." Sarah hung up the phone and began to panic. This is it. He sent everyone else out so that he could fire me in private.
A few seconds later Sarah knocked on Mac's office door.
"Come in Sarah. Have a seat." Sarah thought for a moment she might get sick. "You okay, you look a little pale?"
"I am fine. You wanted to see me about something?" Her tone was a little harsher than she would have liked, but the thought of him being concerned about her when he was about to fire her was infuriating.
"Well as I am sure you know, today is your six month anniversary with the lab. As required with all new hires I am obligated to give you a six month evaluation. It is really just a formality. It is basically something that goes in your file. I can go over it with you if you would like but there is nothing in there that you don't already know. It just says that in the six months you have been here you have proven to be a valuable asset to the team and that it is my opinion that you be taken off probation and placed on immediate permanent status. Which means you can work crime scenes by yourself now."
"You know Mac, all this crap about the lab being a family was just, what? Some kind a cruel... Wait a minute did you say permanent status?" Sarah who clearly had not been listening to what Mac was saying was sitting on the couch with a very confused look on her face.
"Yes, Sarah, permanent status. What did you think I was talking about, because you were clearly not listening to me?"
"I am so sorry. I just thought, well I thought that with Lindsay back and everything..."
"You thought that with Lindsay back what?"
"I can do the math Mac, you currently have one to many CSI's on you staff."
"So you thought that just because Lindsay came back full time, that I was going to fire you?"
"Well..." No matter how many times Flack told her she was crazy and no matter how many times she told herself that she was wrong, it was not until Mac said it did she realize that how dumb it sounded.
"Lets clear this up right here and now." Mac cleared his throat. "Yes there is one extra person in the lab now, but that is not a bad thing. The truth is, even before Lindsay was shot," Mac paused, he still found it difficult to discuss that day, "I was planning on hiring someone else. That day just sped up the process and it still took me almost a year before I found the right person for the job." He shot a smile at Sarah.
"I am sorry Mac. I just let my imagination get the best of me."
"Just remember you belong here, I choose you and I only choose the best and the brightest." Sarah stood up and Mac pulled her into a hug. "Promise me that the next time you have concerns that you will come see me."
"Okay, I will Mac."
"I tell you what, it is almost lunch time. Why don't I take you across the street to celebrate you new 'permanent' position as the New York Crime Lab?"
"That is not necessary Mac."
"I know, but I want to. It's my treat."
"Lindsay once told me never to say no when Mac is treating, because you never know when it will happen again." They both laughed.
"Well Lindsay is a very smart woman." With that two left the lab and headed across the street.
When the walked in the door, Sarah almost passed out from shock. There in front of her was the entire team. They were all standing below a giant 'Congrats Sarah' banner. She immediately felt tears forming in her eyes. Lindsay was the first to approach her.
"Congratulations Sarah. I remember how tough the first six months can be." Lindsay gave her friend a hug.
"Come here Newbie, let me get you a drink." Danny shouted from the bar.
"Daniel Messer. I told you to quit calling her 'newbie.' Surely you can come up with something better. Like, I don't know, her name."
"I don't know, not everybody can have the perfect nickname. Montana" Danny laughed and he left the bar and headed back to the table.
Sarah and Lindsay walked to the table, where Lindsay proceeded to slap Danny on the arm. Sarah pulled up a chair and sat next to Flack.
"Did you know about this?" Sarah whispered into his ear, once she realized that everybody else was busy in there own conversations.
"Not till this morning." Flack let out a small chuckle. "I told you that you were worried about nothing."
Stella, although in a conversation with Mac and Peyton could not help but spot the interaction between Sarah and Flack. It is time for a girls night out. It is time I find out what is going on between those two, Stella thought to herself.
Several hours later the entire team was back at work. Mac had treated again. It was the second time in less than six months and the lab was getting very accustomed to the idea.
A little while later, Stella found Lindsay and Sarah in the Lindsay's office.
"Hey Lindsay, how is your case coming along?"
"Not to bad, Danny is down in the AV lab with Adam going over some video from one of the traffic cams. I am waiting on some DNA results."
"That's good. Well, I was thinking that maybe we should plan a girls night out this weekend. It has been forever since we have done that. I can see if Peyton wants to go with us."
"Sounds like fun Stella." Sarah replied.
"I don't know. I will have to talk to Danny."
"What, being married now, means you cannot have any fun?" Stella smirked.
"Trust me when I say that staying home with Danny is more fun than anything we could possibly do." Lindsay said pointing to the three of them.
"That good, uh?" Stella laughed and Sarah blushed.
"You have no idea, Stella. No idea!"
A/N- Next Chapter is girls night out!!!!!