Author's Note: Thank you for the kind reviews. I have ever intention of finishing this story. It's handwritten through Chapter 7 already and typed through chapter 3. As for where I got the spoilers, the one that gave me the idea was the episode summary at . There are a few more spoilers in the message board at the CSI: NY site on under the thread for episodes.
Disclaimer: Still don't own.
Blown Apart
Chapter 2
Mac and Danny left the crime scene with the police officers and raced to Mac's Avalanche. Turning on his blue lights, Mac sped through the city, unmindful of the traffic laws. Danny meanwhile was on his cell phone trying to reach Lindsay. After several unsuccessful tries, Danny shook his head.
"It keeps going to voice mail. You don't really think someone would try to blow up the lab do you? I mean, how would they get an explosive past security?"
Mac didn't take his eyes off the road. "I don't know. I hope the note was just a joke but what would be the purpose of it? And if nothing is wrong at the lab, why didn't Lindsay answer your call? Try calling Jo or Hawkes. Maybe they can tell us what's going on."
"Hawkes had court this morning. His phone will be off. Didn't Jo work last night? Would she still be at the lab?" The fact that Danny seemed to remember everyone's schedule better than Mac did told the blue-eyed detective just how concerned Mac really was.
Mac nodded. "She was working a triple last night. She still be there. Try her."
Before Danny could pull up Jo's number in his cell phone, Mac's phone rang. Taking one hand off the wheel, Mac retrieved the phone and handed it to Danny to answer. A glance at the caller ID showed that it was Jo calling. Danny flipped the phone open and pressed a button.
"Jo, it's Danny. I've got you on speaker. Are you at the lab? Is everything okay?"
In the background Danny could hear the sound of sirens and alarms before Jo could answer. "No, something major is going on. I was with Sid in Autopsy when the fire alarm went off. Everyone's evacuating the building. I cornered a couple of lab techs who said something about an explosion in Trace. Security won't let me back in to check things out. I'm trying to account for everyone who was in the lab but so far I can't find Adam. Danny, when I left for Autopsy, he was in Trace working on my evidence."
Danny's heart skipped a beat. "What about Lindsay; have you seen her?" He prayed she would say yes.
"Sorry, Danny; not yet. If I see her, I'll tell her to call you. Are the two of you still at the scene?"
Mac answered giving Danny time to collect his thoughts. "We are almost to the lab. I was sent a note that someone was going to blow up the lab and it looks like it wasn't an idle threat. Make sure that one of the detectives sequesters everyone from the lab and questions them. Find out what they saw before the explosion. I want this guy. I'm going to park in the loading bay. I suspect Danny and I will be able to bypass security from there and get up the stairwell." He nodded to Danny who canceled the call.
"I'm worried, Mac. Why hasn't Lindsay come out?"
"I don't know, Danny. We'll find her and Adam though." Somehow the grim expression on Mac's face didn't meet up with the reassurance of his words. This served to strengthen Danny's fears rather than eliminate them. After what seemed like hours but was really only about ten minutes, Mac pulled haphazardly up at the loading bay. Had it only been just over three years since Hawkes had blocked this very door to prevent Irish gang members from leaving the lab with stolen cocaine? That day had ended with an explosion as well.
Without speaking, both men raced through the door and up the stairwell. It seemed to take forever before they reached the 35th floor. The fire alarm claxon was the first sound to greet them as they surveyed the damage. A smoky haze covered the floor but there didn't seem to be any fire. A figure stumbled toward them and as Mac caught him to keep him upright, he recognized Adam.
"Adam, are you okay? What happened?"
The lab tech looked at the two men dazed. He had a large cut over his left eye and he was covered in soot and grime. When he recognized Danny, he paled even more and almost fell over. "Danny, I'm so sorry. I never should have left out. She was being so nice and I was so tired. I just wanted a cup of coffee. I tried to get back but… Oh God, Lindsay… Danny…." Tears streaked a path down his cheeks.
Danny wanted to shake him and make him make sense but recognized the poor guy was traumatized. Yelling at him wouldn't help. Instead he took the lab tech's head in both hands and forced him to face him. He willed his voice to sound calm and reassuring.
"Adam, listen to me. It's okay. Nobody blames you for anything. I know you want to help Lindsay, so take a deep breath, Buddy, and tell me where you last saw Lindsay."
Adam wouldn't let his eyes meet Danny's but cut them back to the destroyed Trace Lab. He took a deep breath but it wouldn't pass the lump in his throat. "In there."
Danny released Adam and raced to the damaged lab. Mac was torn between the need to get Adam to medical help and his desire to find Lindsay. His decision was made for him as Adam struggled out of his grasp and stumbled after Danny.
The explosion had blown itself out leaving no fire but a wake of destruction in its path. Nothing was even recognizable. Danny stood just inside the doorway searching for some sign that would tell him where his wife might be. "Lindsay? Babe? Can you hear me?"
He heard nothing. He called again and then reached for his cell phone. Perhaps hers survived the blast and he could use the ringing to locate his wife. Instead it went straight to voicemail. He hung his head as Mac stepped around him starting to sort through the debris.
"Come on, Babe. Don't do this. Let me know where you are."
"I tried calling for her when I first regained consciousness. Maybe I was wrong and she got out before the second explosion." Adam stood dazedly in the doorway leaning on the frame for support.
Mac looked up sharply. "There were two explosions?"
Adam nodded despite the waves of pain it sent through his head. "About a minute apart. Damn it, why did I leave her alone? Danny…"
But Danny said nothing. He was lost in a memory of not being able to find Lucy in a game of hide and seek. Unlike most children his daughter's age, Lucy was exceptionally good at not only hiding but remaining quiet. After several panicked tries of finding her, Lindsay and he had finally taught Lucy a new rule that would help them locate her when they got desperate. He was certainly desperate now and willing to try anything.
"MARCO!" He shouted into the room. Both Mac and Adam looked at him like he was crazy but he held up his hand silencing their questions. "Come on Babe, you know the rule. MARCO!"
After a second he heard a faint voice that sounded something like 'lo coming from the other side of the room. He raced toward the sound with Mac on his heels. Once he was close to where he thought the sound came from he cried out again. "MARCO!"
The answering half came weakly from beneath a fallen file cabinet. Danny knelt down. "She's under here. Help me."
With Mac's help, he gripped the edge of the file cabinet and lifted. The two men moved it to the side and looked back to find the crumpled half-conscious body of Lindsay Messer underneath.