A/N: So what did Kyle tell his dad? And will Horatio listen to him? And how is Stella coping anyway? You're going to find out in this chapter. Thank you all for your reviews.

Chapter 15

"Hey Stella are you okay?" Adam Ross asked his colleague and gave her a worried glance. Since she'd come back from her vacation, she hadn't been the same as before. At first he'd thought that she was still angry with Mac because he had actually forced her to take this vacation, but after 5 weeks, he seriously doubted that. No one was this resentful.

"I'm sorry Adam, what did you say?" Stella looked up from her file.

And did he mention that she always seemed to be far away? Well she was. Normally, Stella was always attentive but now it happened with increased regularity that she didn't listen and that you had to repeat yourself. Just like now. "I just asked if you're okay?"

"Oh, yes," she gave him a smile to reassure him, but it didn't really work. "I'm sorry, I was miles away." Literally. "But yes I'm okay, thank you."

Giving her a worried smile, Adam knew that he couldn't force her to tell him what was wrong with her. They were just friends and nothing more, though he had to admit that he'd always had a crush on her. And how could he not? Stella was a beautiful woman and she always had an open ear for everyone. "Well, if you need me then you know where you can find me."

"Yes, I know, thanks Adam," she squeezed his arm. "But now I need to talk to Mac about the case. Do you know where he is?"

"I think he was in Trace when I last saw him." Maybe he should talk to Mac about this. But then again, Mac wasn't always such an easy person when it came to personal things.

"I'm sure I'll hunt him down sooner or later," she waved at him and then left the room.

Well even if Mac was a bit weird about personal things, he would talk to him, Adam vowed to himself. Stella was too important for him to just stand there and do nothing.

"Hey Mac," Stella called when she found him leaving the trace lab. "I have some good news," she waved the case file.

"Really? I love good news," he grinned and opened the door for her again. "Care to fill me in?"

"For once," she smiled back. "We've found some DNA on the victim's trouser and even better, we've found a match in the system."

"That's like Easter and Christmas on one day," he joked and had a quick look on the results. "That's great."

"Yeah, I just wanted to show them to you before I call Flack and let him arrest our suspect."

"Good, you do that. But before that," he stopped her by grabbing her arm, "there are some things we need to talk about."

"There are?" she gave him a questioning look and had no idea what he was talking about.

"Yes there are," he nodded. "You know, when I told you to take a vacation, I thought that you'd be more relaxed and less stressed when you come back. But what I see now, is certainly not a relaxed woman. No, what I see is a woman, who's working too much and too long and who hasn't given me a real smile for like...forever actually," he arched his brows.

"Mac, this isn't really the place to talk about this."

"Well since you practically sleep in the lab, I can't approach you at home, now can I?"

"It's not really a home anyway," she mumbled to herself and bit her lip.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing," she replied quickly. "Can I call Flack now?" she tried to change the subject.

"Nope, we haven't talked about what's going on with you yet," he shook his head sternly. "So tell me Stella, what happened in Miami?"

"Nothing."

"You can fool yourself, but you can't fool me. Now try again please." When she didn't say anything, he sighed and tried again. "I'm asking you as a friend, Stella. You're important to me and I want to help you."

"You can't help me, Mac. I wish you could, but you can't. I don't even know if I can help myself."

Hearing the despair in her voice, he drew her a bit closer. "What happened between you and Horatio?"

Looking down, she took a deep breath before she answered his question. "We fell in love."

Somehow he'd known all along. He had probably known it before both of them did. Still it was a weird feeling to hear those words out loud. "And he knows that you're in love with him?"

"Yes he does and he told me the same, so yes...we both know about the other's feelings."

"And you miss him?"

"Of course I do, Mac," she gave him an icy glare.

If he wanted to leave this lab alive, he really had to select his questions more carefully; or his words in general. "I'm sorry, this was a stupid question. When was the last time you talked to each other?"

"It's been a while," she sighed deeply. "At first we talked every day, but it became less and less…"

Unknown to them, a visitor stepped out of the lift and was almost immediately approached by Danny. "Now this is a nice surprise. What makes you come to New York?"

Shaking Danny's hand, Horatio just smiled. "A private matter actually. Do you know where I can find Stella or Mac?"

"Stella or Mac? Yes, I think I saw her heading to the Trace Lab," Danny nodded. "It's the last lab down the hall. No way you can miss it."

"Thanks, Danny. Oh and by the way, congratulations. I know it's a little late, but-"

"Ha, don't worry about it Lieutenant. It's not like we see each other every day," Danny just waved him off.

"I hope I can also congratulate the mother," Horatio smiled gently in response.

"Oh, I'll call her if I need to," Danny shrugged easily. "We'll make it happen, that's for sure."

"That sounds good, thanks Danny. Now I'll see if I can find my reason of being here. Talk to you later."

"Yes, later," Danny called after him and smiled. He really wanted to know why Horatio was here, but he couldn't think of any reason. "Well, you're a CSI Messer and you'll find it out, sooner or later," he said to himself and was about enter the lift, when he heard Adam's voce.

"Sir, hey…Sir…Mister…you can't just walk around here in the lab."

Sometimes, Adam Ross was just too overeager. "Adam," he called and walked towards him. "It's okay."

"But he-" the other man started to babble.

"…is a very good friend of Stella and Mac; plus he's a CSI Lieutenant down in Miami," Danny explained.

"A Lieutenant?" Adam stuttered.

"Yes. So don't worry about it."

"Okay..I guess…I just saw him and he didn't wear an ID and.."

"Adam," Danny sighed a bit irritated. "It's fine, you did the right thing; it's just not necessary this time. It seems like Horatio is on some important mission."

"Any idea what it's about?"

"No," Danny shook his head and watched the redhead turn around a corner. "But I'm sure we'll find out sooner or later. And now it's time to work. So let's get something done. Come on," he motioned Adam to follow him. Whatever Horatio's mission was about, it really had to be important and something to do with either Stella or Mac or maybe both. He just hoped it was something good.

"I'm not sure about anything any longer," Stella sighed. "It's like a piece of me stayed in Miami.."

"Your heart maybe?" Mac asked and tried to hide his amusement. Stella was completely in love with their redheaded friend and lovesick. Not a good combination with her temper.

"Probably," she just mumbled and pulled a face. "We had a great time together and I also got along with Kyle. It was like a family actually," she snorted. "So surreal."

"Or the way home feels like." He had heard her comment earlier about her place not being a real home.

"And only heaven knows when we'll see each other again. Knowing my luck…never."

"Oh," Mac started and looked over her shoulder towards the entry of the lab. "I wouldn't be so sure about that, Stella. I think you two will see each other sooner than you think." At her questioning look, he gave her a small smile and nodded towards the entry.

At this moment, Horatio entered the room and just stood there.

"Horatio," Stella exclaimed surprised.

"Stella," he said softly.

"What...what are you doing here? Did something happen?" she asked worriedly and walked to him.

Shaking his head no, he reached for her hands. "I missed you, Stella. I need and want you in my life. Always. You said that all good things come in threes when you left. First we had Boston, then Miami and now…New York. I love you Stella, please come back with me. Please come back home."

Stella didn't hear Mac's slight gasp, she didn't feel the light trembling of Horatio's hands; she just saw his pleading blue eyes, so full of emotions. "Horatio…I…."

tbc