Hi guys, sorry for the wait :/ Been studying for the AP Biology test (FINALLY, it's over XD )

I changed the title, i think you'll figure out why at the end of this chapter. (:

As always, i am just borrowing. SMacked forrr-ever. _

Please, pretty please hit that review button once your finished and leave me some feedback! Much appreciated!

Enjoy! (:

She hadn't been to Milo's for a year. It had been where Mac would take Stella for her birthday every year. But unfortunately this year she had left New York before her birthday had come up. Leaving her last trip to Milo's at her last birthday.

"So how's it being the boss?" Mac asked in seriousness.

Stella didn't want tense situations just yet; those could be saved for the lab. She answered, "my subordinates aren't as afraid of me" and added a wink for good measures.

"Fear is a good thing; keeps everyone in line." He commented back, nonchalantly.

The light banter went along as they ate, acting like nothing had changed. Acting like she wasn't just visiting from New Orleans till they caught the killer. Acting like they weren't hiding their biggest secret from each other.

When the food was all in their stomachs, the check came and Mac grabbed it right away claiming his credit card's spot. Stella had insisted she pay, but Mac wouldn't let her do that. Because that's not what momma taught him. So he just shoved his credit card in the folder, calling the waitress over right away, and leaving a defeated Stella in her seat.

XX

They were almost to Mac's apartment when Flack called Mac, saying "DB, Queens. From what Stella told us, looks like this Jeremy Markes guy is our killer." People like Mac and Stella always go where they're needed, even if there's a hot tub sitting in front of them. So that's what happened. Mac's apartment was less than 10 minutes away. But that meant being 10 minutes late to the crime scene.

When the two former partners arrived, everyone was already there; the Big-Apple team working along-side the New Orleans team.

Mac was a little hesitant about having the New Orleans CSIs at the scene, but thought differently about telling them to back off when he remembered they were trained by Stella; she said they were exceptional CSIs, so let them do their job he thought to himself.

As Mac's team saw Stella arrive, they all rose from their crouching positions and greeted Stella with a quick "I missed you, welcome back", a hug, and then continued with their work.

"So what do we got?" asked Taylor and Bonasera in unison.

The team gave out a little laugh, remembering the good ol' times when the two were actually partners.

Stella gestured him to continue as she remembered her promise of letting him lead the team. He gave her a small smile, almost apologizing for having to take the lead and then continued digging for answers.

"Our vic is LeeAnn Olson, 22 years old, no boyfriend, moved to the city at the age of 18 for college, attended NYU. She's originally from Jersey, parents still live there. I've contacted Jersey PD to tell the parents. She was finishing up her last year of college, chemistry major. Smart girl." Reported Don, after trying to get some sort of direction from the neighbors.

"Female. College. Single. Someone that Markes would definitely target." Added Alana.

"And she most definitely drowned. In someplace where the water isn't the cleanest. I would guess maybe a lake or river?" said Hawkes, making Jeremy Markes look more like the killer.

"Jeremy Markes is in town and he's now starting to kill New Yorkers. We better catch him before we get another vic." Said Mac in his "boss-voice", trying to motivate the team.

XXX

The weather pleasantly contrasted the somewhat depressing mood of Stella Bonasera. The sun shined through the glass walls, no clouds in the sky, and if they weren't on the 35th floor of a huge skyscraper in the middle of Manhattan New York, she would hear birds chirping.

"Stella!" shrieked Lindsey in an excited voice, as Stella walked into the room.

"Hi Lindsey, I missed you" said Stella, after Lindsey had taken off her latex gloves.

"Oh Stella, I missed you too! So so much! It's just not the same without you here! But I'm sure you're being a great boss to your team in New Orleans, you sure deserve it" Lindsey started rambling, "but gosh, it's been so different. Especially Mac."

That really caught her attention. Mac was a no nonsense man, a man of business, a true boss at heart. She was just a partner. He could go on without her as his partner, easily! Couldn't he?

Stella's confusion and surprise must've been clearly shown in her expression because Lindsey seemed to clear her confusion, somewhat.

"You really don't know how much he misses you, do you?" said Lindsey quietly, as if she was guilty of spilling a secret.

Stella shook her head slowly and cautiously from side to side, afraid of hearing her answer. She had been a cause of Mac's displeasure, and that was something she never wanted to hear.

"Stella…" Lindsey started, unknowing if she should be telling this to his former partner, "Stella, he's been in hell since you left.."

No. No. NO. She thought. She had made the right decision. She couldn't live with being just a partner and close friend to Mac. She wanted to become really close. That would be better for the both of them, right? She could find someone in Louisiana, someone not in the business of death and he could find someone else here, someone that would bring as much pleasure to him as Claire had once done.

"… We had a case one time, about a month after you left… She was Greek; looked just like you actually… And I swear I could see tears forming at the corners of his eyes. He finally left the room when he had to lift up the vics curly haired head…" The Montana native continued, "Mac's the big Mac-Man. But he's been losing it ever since. He's lost 2 important women in his life already Stella. What's gonna happen to him if he loses you too?"

Lindsey cared for Mac; not like the way she did for Danny, but she cared for him. He was her daddy away from home. The man she looked up too, someone she can rely on, he was her daughter's godfather for crying out loud! And she'd tried her best to comfort him and encourage him, but it wouldn't go through. She wasn't Stella.

"The family's breaking apart.." Lindsey said looking down, a lone tear rolling down her cheek. She shook her head in shame for losing control of her emotions, "I haven't really told Lucy that you've gone away to New Orleans for good. But in Lucy talk, I don't want Uncle Mac and Auntie Stella to divorce."

The Lucy comment broke Stella. Tears were running down her cheeks, and she didn't care who saw. Auntie Stella loved her family, she didn't want to leave. Stella took a couple steps forward, hugging Lindsey as tightly as she could; both of their eyes beat red from tears.

"Lindsey, I need you to compare the rope piece Hawkes found on the vics pant leg and com-…." Mac said, still looking at his files in his hand, unaware that the two ladies in his lab were crying about him.

"Stella? Lindsey? What's wrong?" He asked with all of his concern now on them. If Danny did anything to hurt Lindsey.. boy he ought to get running.

Stella and Mac's eyes connected while Lindsey was looking back and forth at the two, seeing the intense connection going on.

Stella made up her mind; the family is not going to break up, not if I can help it.

Stella Bonasera NEEDS to come back to the show. Or else i fear the cancellation rumors will come true :/

Oh, BTW... I feel like i should've added the Osama Bin Laden stuff in.. but felt like that would've been TOO much drama. And it would push back the Stella and Mac relationship.. ): But! Don't think i'm unaware (; PS- Jo Danville; she doesn't exist (^_^)

Please PLEASE review! (: Thanks guys, hope you enjoyed it!