I do not own CSI:NY or any of the characters you recognize. For my own use, I take the liberty to assume Adam was originally from Brooklyn but moved away at a young age. It just makes this make more sense.

This takes place season four, post Playing with Matches

Enjoy. Review. Have fun.

Chapter One:

If Mac's impressed, then this girl must be something

It was a big day at the New York City crime lab. Anticipation and excitement hung in the air like a house full of little ones on Christmas Eve. For two weeks, since that announcement went up through inter-office e-mail and via sign posted the staff break room, all the talk had been about the new girl. From the basement to the trace lab to the detectives over at the 12th precinct, speculation and rumour had run rampant. What would she look like? What experience did she have? What was she going to be like to work with? It didn't help that Mac kept his lips clamped tighter than Fort Knox, only revealing that the new detective CSI was a female. He offered no further information and deflected all curious questions. He did however, offer up one little morsel to the masses: she was a New York City girl. Originally from Brooklyn.

"She's gonna be like Aiden!" Danny had enthused excitedly, practically bouncing on his heels and unable to contain a twinkle in his eyes. He missed Aiden. Personally and professionally,and he hadn't been the same since she died. He didn't laugh nearly as much or smile or crack jokes as often as he used to. Losing his little friend Rueben had really done a number on him as well, and he'd been looking for something, anything, to bring him out of the funk he'd found himself in. He was excited at the prospect of working with someone knew. Male or female. And the revelation that she was from Brooklyn had put him on cloud nine. Because it was something that reminded him of Aiden and brought her a little closer.

"You know what this really means, don't you." Lindsay said snottily over her iced cappucino. "The entire lab is going to be thrown off. Its going to be too distracting having a new person around. All the focus will be on her instead of the work."

"You were the new girl once, too." Danny reminded her pointedly. "And no one got all bent out of shape over it."

"All I'm saying is don't get your hopes up. I hate to see ya get let down. Just 'cause she's from the same borough as Aiden, doesn't make her Aiden." Lindsay was insanely jealous that a strange woman he'd never met had put a genuine smile on Danny's face and put a spring in his step. Something she hadn't been able to do in months.

"Hey, if she's from Brooklyn, its gonna be all good." Danny vowed, and to spare himself any more jealous Lindsay diatribes, put the ear phone to his I-Pod in his ears and turned the volume up as far as it could go.

Hawkes, in his usual quiet, professional manner, hoped and prayed that whoever Mac had hired, had some sense of what working in a a crime lab was all about. He'd been excessively overwhelmed his entire first year on the job and didn't want someone else feeling the same strain. He was determined to give whatever help, support and knowledge he could to make the New York Crime lab experience a positive one for the new girl. And who knows? he thought, as he printed off a lab report in the bull pen. Maybe she's even cute.

Stella had been a little skeptical to say the least. When Mac had been given the go ahead to hire a new body, that Brass had said the budget could take it, she had been hoping to have some say in who he picked from the possible candidates. Mac had always sought out and valued her opinion before. So when he passed her a copy of the girl's resume and announced he'd gone ahead and tossed out any others and hired her after a brief telephone call to Phoenix, Stella had wondered if just maybe Mac had lost it just a little bit. Rash decisions were totally unlike Mac. She hoped he didn't regret it.

"She has a masters degree in forensics and a b.a. in criminal profiling." Mac said excitedly. And Mac never got excited. "From an Ivy league school, Stella. Two years in the Phoenix crime lab. Two prior with K-9 and ESU. She's a qualified and respected expert in ballistics and explosives. What is there not to be excited about. Someone like this," he held up the resume. "comes along few and far between and I'm not missing that boat."

No one had ever seen hm so outwardly and visibly impressed.

In the trace lab, Adam seemed more jovial than usual. And that was nearly impossible for someone as bubbly, warm and insanely funny as Adam. Danny had asked him what the hell he was so excited about. Not like he'd really benefit from a new CSI. If anything, a new body meant more work thrown in the lab tech's already over burdened lap. Adam just smiled. A sly, you don't know what I know smile and went about his business. Downstairs, Sid was intrigued. It was always nice to meet new faces. And judging by the impression this young lady had already made on Mac, Sid was all the more curious about what this new face brought to the table. Pino, all he could think about was that a new female face -hopefully a pretty one- meant one new ocean waiting to be conquered. He wondered if she liked Porches.

At the twelfth precinct, bets were being taken by the detectives that worked hand in hand with the crime lab at which one of them would get the first crack at the new girl. Flack had 10-1 favorites but steadfastly refused to put any of his own money down. For all he knew, the new girl could be another Lindsay. All up on herself for no reason. All me, me, me drama queen. That he didn't need. And besides, after the disaster that was Devon, he wasn't exactly looking for a repeat. And seriously, how the guys know she'd even be remotely attractive. She could have been the Bride of Chucky on a good day. Nope. Flack wanted no part of that. Unless she turned out to be insanely beautiful and crazy intelligent. The woman of his dreams. Yeah, right, he thought as he headed for his squad car, on his way to the crime lab for Mac's little meet and greet the new girl. Mac had never done that before. Flack wondered what had gotten into the former Marine. The woman of my dreams does not exist, he thought forlornly as he started up the ignition and pulled into traffic. It ain't ever gonna happen. I'm going to die miserable and alone. A woman like that does not exist in New York. In the free world for that matter. So keep dreaming, Flack.

At the end of all the wondering and all the speculation, one thing was for certain. Whatever she looked like or however she acted or whatever she knew, Mac Taylor had a badge and nine millimeter Glock in his desk with her name on it.