Toasty here,

Hey guys! I thought I'd get writing this as soon as I could, if you've noticed a change to the first chapter that's because I rewrote it, it seemed from stats I lost about 80 visitors between the 1st chapter and the others, so I figured a better start might be in order! Well, ok it hasn't changed much but ya know. Anyways, as I've said to my wonderful reviewers, this chapter is the chapter we find out the fate about Don!

BIG NOTE: I am so sorry I reposted chapter 18- huge apologies and thanks so much to jessicaflack for pointing that out to me, I wouldn't have noticed otherwise :)

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI New York, which should be pretty clear by now :)

Roz walked into the hospital room, a sad look crossed her face as she noticed Jess was still in the same position she'd been in for days. Unmoving, tear stained and weak- the way she'd been since Roz had spoken to her for the first time.

"Hunny, really. Go down to the café and get some coffee or something, tell the server it's on me. I'll stay here and watch him for you," Roz smiled weakly as Jess lifted her head and gazed at the woman.

"I'll wait right here I promise," Roz continued before she walked over to Jess and helped her up slowly, watching the young woman's pain filled expression.

"Okay, I won't be long… thank you," Jess spoke emotionlessly, her eyes unmoving from Don's frozen body, his breathing steady but his eyes stuck shut. Walking as slowly as she could, Jess opened the door and disappeared from the hospital room for the first time since she'd heard from Sam. The door clicked firmly shut and Roz looked around the small room with a sigh.

"You're a lucky man- though I don't think you'd imagine it right now. You were badly injured… but that's not why you're a lucky man. She loves you more then anything…" Roz trailed off as she gazed at the cards beside his bed. Feeling slightly intrusive, she thumbed through them. One from the NYPD, one from Samantha Flack and one from 'Jessie'. Jessica Angell.

She shuffled around the room, arranging the flowers in the vase and opening the curtains to let light flood into the previously dim room. The sun was at its highest point in the sky, casting shadows over the hospital's car park from the scrum of cars lined ordered in random.

"I know, I love her too, more then anything," A voice croaked from the other side of the room, a brief cough and splutter. Turning slower then a turtle, Roz turned and looked upon a grinning Donald Flack. Nearly dropping the second vase, Roz quickly placed it on the shelf and ran towards the door, pure delight spreading across her face. She paused as she opened the door and turned once more to the still grinning man.

"Give me one mo," She cried happily, not waiting for his reply and only just catching the start of his rough, low chuckle. Roz tumbled into the café, not caring about what the other relatives thought of her as she barrelled towards Jess who sat alone cradling a mug of coffee.

"Miss Angell, come quickly! He's awoken!" Jess's head shot up, a smile filled her face and she scrambled to her feet, knocking the coffee right over her leg. With only a mild curse word- mild as there was a 5 year old child behind her and she was an officer of law after all- she sprang to her feet and ran towards his hospital room like there was nothing else in the world. At that moment, there wasn't anything else in the world- not that mattered anyway.

"Don!" Jess cried, pulling the door open as she ran into the room, fresh tears of happiness washing away the remains of her old. Don's grin widened- if possible- as he saw her, his eyes dancing with inner emotion as a small tear dripped down his face.

"I love you so much," Jess tried to wipe the falling tears with the back of her hand, but they fell faster and faster until she simply gave up and walked quickly over to his bedside.

"I love you too," Don murmured in reply, his arms engulfing her tiny frame, his fingers knotting in her hair, her body intoxicating him. He kissed her harshly, pulling her on top of his chest, loving the fact he could just touch her again instead of hearing her pain filled sobs. For a while, it all seemed like a blur of colours, a blur of beautiful colours.

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Stella stood solemnly on the bitter New York streets, her face a twisted grimace as she observed the note in front of her. The body lay stone cold in a small alley way, naked but her face drenched in make up. A few yards from the body, a tight dress lay, printed on it a union jack. Stella turned and slowly passed the note to Mac.

Dear Mac and Stella,

I hope you found her all right; she is a sight to see is she not? I thought the rest of Manhatten might like to see too. Ah yes, a woman of the night, even with all my skills I could not bring myself to cover such beauty, though I am sure you are far more beautiful like that Stella. Have fun with this one,

The dress maker

Mac turned passed the note back without a word and bent down to look at the young woman. She wasn't especially beautiful but there wasn't anything that was un-pretty about her. She had straightened black hair and eye liner rimmed brown eyes with big red glossy lips. Feeling a pang of sympathy for the girl, Mac pulled a medical blanket over her while Sid arrived at the scene. Standing up Mac walked straight over to Stella, a glint in his eye.

"We've got to catch this person before they do any more damage," He whispered angrily before flicking his phone to his ear, listening to someone carefully on the other line. A brief smile broke across his face, he said goodbye and looked at Stella, practically beaming from ear to ear.

"Don just woke up, Angell is with him now, he needs a couple more days resting but the doc says he'll be as good as new," Stella laughed before throwing her arms around his neck.

"Oh Mac, that's great! I was so worried about him; after all they've been through…" Stella stopped as she studied something behind Mac, her eyes squinting to see a dark figure running through the streets. Suddenly the figure turned around to reveal a young boy no older then 7 with a little girl following close behind him, playing tag. Shaking her head gently, Stella only hoped her head wasn't really going as crazy as she felt it was.

Toasty here,

Okay I know it was such a short chapter but I figured I could be forgiven for that :)

Review!

xxxx