Disclaimer: CBS owns me…I mean CSI:NY lol…I own the other characters.

A/N: There's some graphic stuff down below so please read with caution. I'm totally surprised by the response of this one so thank you!!!

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She looked at Mac curiously as they watched Sullivan get on the elevator.

"Everything okay, Mac?" she said concerned, as she noticed Mac tighten his grip on the file. He smiled.

"Yeah…you got a minute?" he said as he headed into his office with her following.

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Stella stood in Mac's office shocked at the news as he leaned on the front of his desk across from her.

"Daughter?...So let me get this straight…Chief Sullivan's adopted daughter is your biological daughter? " she said.

"Yeah…" he said amazed.

"How did that happen!? Have you met her yet?"Stella asked intrigued.

"Not yet…I'm not sure if I should wait for her to come to me or if I should go to her."

"I'd wait, Mac…wait until she's ready…then she'll come to you." she said rubbing his shoulder. He nodded fiddling with the file in his hand.

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Sam sat in the driver's side of the squad car annoyed with traffic as her partner, Eddie Rafferty, continued his zealous attempt on a crossword puzzle, mumbling possible answers.

Her thoughts about her adoption had been clouding her brain for the past week and she was becoming extremely impatient with herself. Her usual skill of being rough and tough at work was beginning to interfere with her emotions, as she was becoming harder on herself than usual.

She sighed harshly and honked the horn in frustration.

"Come on!!!" she yelled impatiently.

"That's not gonna help, Sammie," he said, not taking his eyes off the puzzle.

"Shut it, Rafferty," she said.

"I'm just sayin'…"he said defensively.

"Well don't say." she finished in annoyance.

Her temper had usually been an obstacle that she faced with ease and kept it hidden well. But not even years with a psychologist could completely diminish the scars from her past, leaving her frustrated with herself and her thoughts.

Aside from a select few, nobody knew about her adoption, let alone the fact that both her real father and adoptive father were head administrators of the NYPD. That wasn't something she wanted broadcasted, she just wanted to do her job as an equal. As far as everyone knew, she was a Sullivan through and through. Tough exterior, experienced in martial arts, and not taking any bullshit was just a few of the things people thought of when they heard her name.

"Finally!" she said gratefully as the traffic began to move fluidly.

Traffic had been hell all day and they were now stuck in rush hour as people were urgently making their ways home.

"Unit 217. Please respond to a possible disturbance on 1221 Ashland. Apartment B1. Copy." Rafferty reluctantly grabbed the receiver, turning his attention away from his puzzle. Sam hit the sirens and blazed her way through the mess of rush hour.

"Unit 217. En route. Over." They arrived at the brick apartment building about eight minutes later. They stepped out of the vehicle only to hear a gunshot from one of the open windows above. Rafferty raced into the entrance and up the stairs as Ava took an alternate route up the fire escape.

"Dispatch, this is Unit 217. Shots fired, we need back-up!" she said firmly into her walkie.

She stopped by a second floor open window where she could hear Rafferty yelling through the door. She crouched down outside the window and peered into the apartment, taking out her firearm. It was dark save for the sole window that she looked through. Most of the windows had been covered, but she could see that the front door to the apartment had been blockaded with large pieces of furniture. Suddenly, a dark figure moved from the front door toward the hallway away from her. She could see the glimmer of a handgun that was held tightly in his grasp.

"Dispatch, be aware the suspect has barricaded the front door." she whispered just loud enough. She could hear faint sirens in the distance getting louder. It'll be too late. What if someone else is in there…I have to go in alone. She peered thoroughly in the apartment one last time before quietly sneaking through the window. Crouching down close to the wooden floor, she moved out of the light and stealthily down the same hallway the suspect went in.

Walking with her gun drawn, she saw blood smeared on the walls and signs of struggle on a nearby chair that was broken on the floor. On her right there was what appeared to be a bedroom with the door cracked open. Sunlight was seeping through the open parts as she slowly pushed the door fully open. Oh my god…There was blood everywhere. The sheets on the bed were slashed all over what she assumed to be a body. Sam made her way to the bed, heart racing. She slowly peeled the sheet down to reveal a young girl with her eyes closed. She couldn't have been older than 15. Sam swallowed loudly and tightened her grip on her gun with one hand as she checked the pulse on her bloodied neck. Nothing…Slightly unnerved at the amount of blood on her hand, she regained her stance with both hands on the gun and made her way to the door.

She heard a stumble over the chair and quickly slid against the wall behind the door pulling her gun to her chest. The figure moved into the room to reveal a barefoot little girl about five years old with streaks of tears and blood down her face. Sam tapped on the wall to get her attention. The little girl looked relieved as she held out her arms to her. Sam grabbed her and hid her in the closet. She could hear officers outside in the hallway trying to get in.

"I'll be right back, sweetie." she whispered calmly. "Can you do something for me?" The little girl nodded. "Can you close your eyes and count slowly to a hundred in your head?" She nodded. "Good girl." She smiled and closed the door quietly.

Sam made her way back out into the hallway where she heard a racket coming from one of the rooms. The door was closed, but she could hear someone crying. A young girl about 10.

"Please don't…" she sobbed. Sam prepared herself to enter. Taking in a deep breath, she kicked in the door violently, gripping her weapon.

"NYPD!!! FREEZE!!!". She roared. The young girl was sitting on the bed with a ripped t-shirt and tears flooding out of her eyes as she convulsed in fear of the man that stood next to the bed. He was tall and toughly built. He froze in place and dropped the knife.

"Where's the gun?" Sam asked firmly. He smiled sinisterly.

"I don't know what you're talking about…."he smiled.

"Don't fuck with me! Where's the gun!" she yelled. He whipped out a handgun from his waistband and shot in her direction, grazing her in the arm. She fell to the floor as he came at her, thinking he hit her more accurately. She kicked his feet out from under him sending him to the floor as he dropped the gun. She sat up to get a grip on him but he came on top of her wickedly, gripping her throat. Grasping a bat that lay nearby, she socked him on the forehead with the butt of the bat, sending him off of her. She dizzily tried to get up but he swung a violent blow directly to her cheek, knocking her onto her back. He tried making his way to his feet when she sent a vigorous kick to his groin, sending him on his knees. On her feet, she cuffed him forcibly, trying to ignore the dizziness from the hit to her cheek.

She could hear a swarm of officers invade the living room as the furniture that blocked the door came crashing down. She stayed kneeling, catching her breath. Sam stood up as two SWAT officers entered into the bedroom, gaining a grip on the suspect and began to search him for other weapons as another officer took the little girl from the apartment. The other little girl. I have to get to her. Sam struggled to keep her balance and started falling forward when she suddenly felt two arms strongly grasp her around the waist as she dizzily struggle on her feet.

"Woh woh woh…take it easy.." a gentle male voice said worriedly. Sam tried with everything she was to keep herself on her feet but she couldn't do it. The only thing that was keeping her up was his arms.

"Just relax a'right…I got ya." Giving in, Sam softly collapsed into his chest, laying her head on his shoulder. She felt him move her towards the wall and carefully slid her to the floor. She blurrily looked around but couldn't make out a clear image. She could tell that the man in front of her was tall and had dark hair. His hands were surprisingly soft for a cop, and his touch was gentle. She closed her eyes, praying that the dizziness would be gone when she opened them again. He kept his grip on her shoulder to keep her steady, and placed his other hand on top of hers.

"Do you know who the president is?" he asked, making sure she was responsive.

"No one I voted for." He laughed.

"How about the score of the Yankee's game last night?"

"Who are the Yankee's?" she joked. He laughed in response.

"She's fine guys, EMS is on their way up." he said to the other officers. She suddenly remembered the little girl.

"Little girl. There's a little girl in the closet in the bedroom…she…" she started urgently.

"We got her already, just relax. You took one hell of hit." he said impressed.

His fingertips grazed the flesh of her cheek gently. She could feel the heat from his masculine body radiate onto hers, it was intoxicating. Sam opened her eyes to find herself staring into the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. He was extremely attractive and had a tender look on his face. Don felt his stomach flutter a little bit when she opened her eyes. Aside from her being amazingly beautiful, she had the most bewitching brown eyes he'd ever seen. They stared at each other for a moment, before two voices threw them out of their reverie.

Mac and Sullivan.

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A/N: So…I totally was worried about the president comment…stupid I know…just realize it's not meant to offend anybody but this is written for during the second season…lol Review!!! Thanks!!!