They sat there. None of their minds working. Nothing that just happened seemed real. She had to make it. It had taken them too long to stop their resentment for her abrupt departure. But given time, they realized that they missed her. She had been their rock when they needed it; she'd make them calm down and focus. Most of all, she had managed to get Mac to some state of happiness. There he sat; alone and withdrawn.

His mind wasn't working properly. It kept replaying the moment; the devastating shooting. He kept wondering if it was his fault that she was hurt. She was after all in surgery. Minutes passed and he had time to think about his past with her. Stella. He had kept any thoughts of her in a compartment buried deep in the depths of his overworking mind. He had noticed the way Jo acted around them when Stella was mentioned. Jo would get up and leave, almost as if she couldn't bear to hear about the past member of the team.

The only member, that Mac cared about more than life and Lucy. As his train of thoughts continued to drift through is mind, Don was arguing with a nurse. It wasn't going well. Anyone could notice that. Jess was shaking and holding Lucy in her arms. Lucy was crying for Stella. They knew how attached Lucy was to Stella. After all, Stella had called on Lucy's birthday to wish her a great day and tell Lucy that she sent a special package.

Last years gift had been great. It was a small box. Wrapped in purple ribbons and paper. Lucy had ripped it open, with the help of her parents, of course. She had squealed in excitement at what it was. The box contained a scrapbook of the times Lucy and Stella were together. The first page was about Lucy's newborn year. Then continued on, all leading up to how old she was then. The next day was Lucy's birthday party and she was disappointed that Stella couldn't come.

Little did she know, a better present was coming. After some party games, they ate. Next it was time to open presents. Danny had told parents NOT to get her any play-dough or paint. Last time that had happened it was a humongous mess. The present Lindsay and Danny were giving Lucy was last. It was finally time for their gift. They had carried Lucy out with a blindfold over her eyes. She was excited to see her big gift.

Mac and the team brought cameras, to take pictures of the reunion. They set Lucy on the sidewalk and everyone crowded outside. Stella stood there, tears in her eyes. Lindsay undid the blindfold and it floated to the ground. Lucy screamed and ran straight for Stella. She practically tackled Stella. They sat on the sidewalk crying and laughing. Lucy was babbling to Stella and Stella was nodding and smiling. That rare smile that was only reserved for Mac and Lucy. The one that meant they were the whole world to her.

But it wasn't like it this time. Lucy knew there was a possibility that Stella might not make it through the surgery. Thoughts about Stella dying bombarded her little brain. She knew Stella wouldn't want her to think like that. A nurse pushed open the double doors and headed straight for Sid.

"Stella Bonasera?"

Everyone in the room stood up. They looked at her expectantly. She cleared her throat.

"Miss Bonasera is in critical condition. One of the bullets nicked her femoral artery. We managed to stop the bleeding. Another bullet grazed the ascending pharyngeal artery. She suffered blood loss. But she may be able to pull through."

"Thank you," Mac's raspy voice said. The woman nodded and walked away, leaving them to figure it out.

"What are the odds Sid?"

"Honestly? Not good. If they managed to prevent the ascending pharyngeal artery to stop bleeding, she'd have a larger chance of making it." Sid answered.

"Oh. But could she make it, even with significant blood loss?"

"Maybe. Depends on who's leading the surgery."

"Who's the best surgeon?"

"Doctor Thomas Quieten."

"Thanks."

"No problem. I can go and talk to the nurse to find out."

"Yes. Go do that."

"Mac," said Don. "I'm gonna take Danny and Hawkes to go find the guy who hurt her."

"Okay."

Don left with Danny and Hawkes. Jess set Lucy on the ground so she could get coffee with Lindsay. Lucy toddled over to Mac and held out her arms. Mac smiled and stooped down, gathering Lucy into his arms. She smiled at him and placed a soft kiss on the tip of his nose. He rubbed her back and rocked her back and forth. Jo stood next to him, watching this exchange.

A soft smile flitted onto her face as she thought about her and Mac having a child.

The surgeon bowed his head down. He knew Stella. She was like a cousin and knew that Mac would get the guy who did this. He took a deep breath and walked out the doors. Ready to get to Mac and relay the news. The news about how the surgery had gone; the news that would tell him if she made it.

He stopped outside the doors and peered through the tiny slots called windows. Mac was standing there, quietly talking to Lucy. Jo stood beside him, and the surgeon growled under his breath. He absolutely, positively hated Jo. He loathed the way she looked at Mac. The way she stole him from the team and Stella.

A tiny head, glanced up and looked at the surgeon. She pointed to the door and Mac turned. The surgeon walked over, ready to give him the information on the surgery.

"How was it?"

"She's fine. She is tough. Nothing that bad happened. We managed to stop the huge amount of blood loss, before it could do any real damage."

"Thank God," Mac said.

"Yes. Stella is very lucky to be alive, Mac."

"I know, Tom."

"Good. Now, as much as I love the fact that Sid would be able to care for her, I think she should stay with you."

"Why me?"

"Because I know you'll take care of her. Plus, Sid has a family, Don and Jess have Elly to take care of, Danny and Lindsay have Lucy, Hawkes is living at a hotel, and Adam is utterly incapable of taking care of someone."

"Okay," Mac gave in to Tom's persistence.

"Good."

"Can I-" he started, only to get interrupted by Lucy. "Can we go see Stella?"

"Of course." Thomas led them to the room and disappeared.

Mac slowly stepped in and looked at Stella. She was a bit pale and had gauze around some wounds. Not to mention around her head. Lucy squirmed in his arms and he sat down next to the bed. He grabbed Stella's hand and held it in his.