Sorry for the late update! I haven't been able to get on the internet to update, and it might be like that for a while so bare with me.

Becky x

Disclaimer - I do not own CSI New York or any of it's characters.

Chapter Seven

Stella and Madeline spent all weekend catching up on the past 18 years – after all, there's only so much you can say in a card. On Friday evening, Stella took Madeline out for dinner. That night, Stella learnt that Madeline loves to draw, her favourite food is grilled chicken and she hopes to train as a school teacher. On Saturday, Stella took Madeline sightseeing. This included all the typical New York sights, as well as the sights that were personal to Stella, like the street she made her first arrest.

It was Sunday night, Stella and Madeline had spent all weekend in their pyjama's watching movies on the sofa and eating junk food. Stella was sat upright and Madeline was lying down, with her head resting in Stella's lap.

Stella looked down at her daughter and smiled, she ran her fingers through Madeline's hair.

"Do you have to go to work tomorrow?" Madeline asked, turning onto her back so she could look up at her mother.

Stella placed her cool hands on her daughter's forehead and pushed the hair out of her face.

"I'm afraid so. I can meet you for lunch, and I'll do my best to get off early." Stella sighed.

"So what exactly am I supposed to do?" Madeline asked, frowning. Stella patted her daughter's forehead, as if she was straightening out the frown lines.

"Well, you can spend the day here or you can maybe go out for the day? Do you want me to book something, a show or something?"

"Can't I come with you?"

"Uh, no, I don't think that's a great idea. I have to work." Stella said. As soon as she said it, she could feel Madeline's body stiffen up.

Madeline sat up right. She looked at her mother.

"You don't want me there do you?" Madeline asked, looking her mother dead in the eyes.

"What? Madeline, don't be ridiculous. I have to work, I have a job, and I have responsibilities." Stella replied. She was starting to get agitated, and apparently so was Madeline.

"It's not like you've never ignored one of your responsibilities before." Madeline practically whispered. She crossed her arms and looked away from Stella.

The comment felt like a slap across the face to Stella.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Stella asked, though she already knew.

"It means you left me. Whether you did it for my sake or for yours, you still left me. And I'm bloody tired of being left!" Madeline was nearing hysterics as she shouted out the last sentence.

Madeline ran out of the room in tears, she slammed the front room door shut and went into the bathroom. She slid down onto the floor and rested her head on the edge of the bathtub.

"Oh my God." Stella said. She leant forward and held her head up with her hands.

Every part of Stella wanted to be angry. She wanted to scream and shout at Madeline, but she couldn't. She couldn't bring herself to do it; right now Madeline needed sympathy, attention and love.

Stella pushed herself up off the couch and walked to the bathroom. She knocked on the bathroom door.

"Madeline, honey, can I come in?" Stella asked, though she pushed the door open anyway.

Madeline had her knees pressed up against her chest. She was crying quietly, sniffling every few seconds. Stella walked the few steps over to her and sat down by her daughter. She reached her arm around Madeline and pulled her closer. Stella had worked in the NYPD for long enough to realise that something was bothering Madeline and it wasn't just the fact Stella hadn't been there.

"Now, I know I left you, but that's not what's bothering you, is it?" Stella asked her quietly sobbing daughter. Madeline sniffed but didn't say a word. Stella leaned forward and ripped off a few pieces of tissue, she dabbed at Madeline's cheeks, wiping away the tears.

Madeline said nothing; she just lay still with her head on her mother's chest.

"Is it your parents?"

Madeline shook her head.

"Is it school?"

Madeline shook her head.

Uh...friends?"

Madeline shook her head.

"Well, that only leaves one option - boys."

Madeline burst into tears again. It wasn't exactly a yes, but it was close enough.

"So" Stella thought to herself "That answers that question."

Stella could feel Madeline's tears dampening her shirt. She must be really torn up about this. Stella sat and held Madeline, both of them in silence.

"You want to tell me what happened?" Stella asked, as she kissed the top of Madeline's head.

Madeline continued to sob. Stella looked at her watch, it was 10:50pm, and she grabbed some more tissue and handed it to Madeline.

"It's nearly 11, c'mon, let's get you ready for bed, you need a good night's sleep and we can talk in the morning."

Stella helped Madeline get off the floor; she washed her face for her and brushed her hair. Stella held Madeline's hand as she walked her to her bedroom. Madeline climbed into Stella's bed and curled up into a little ball. Stella pulled the covers up over Madeline and tucked her in. She kissed her on the forehead and turned to leave the room.

"I love you mum." Madeline whispered from the darkness.

"I love you too Madeline." Stella whispered back, her voice choking on her tears.