After finishing his phone call with Grissom, Mac had sat unmoving in shock for hours as his exhausted mind tried desperately to process the fact that Stella was not in New Orleans. It had been a little comfort to know where Stella was and to know that she was safe, living her new life. But now all of this had been turned upside down with this discovery.

Mac was seized with a sudden and violent urge to find her. He had to know where she was. He had to find her. And he had absolutely no idea where to start. After so many months she could be anywhere in the US. She could even have left the US and he would never know. Mac felt torn. He knew that finding Amanda Jones and the Taunter were the priorities but finding Stella was something he had to do. He just had to.

A sudden thought crossed his mind and he felt himself sicken; with the Taunter's return he did not even know if she was safe. He desperately wanted to call the team in to his office and inform them of this development but he knew he couldn't. Not when he needed them to be entirely focused on the case. He had no choice but to keep silent, even if doing so killed him.

Ever since Detective Don Flack could remember he had wanted to be in the police. It was a family custom; both his father and grandfather had been detectives and that had influenced him since childhood. And if he was truthful to himself, then he was good at it; rising up to become a Detective before the age of thirty. Most of the time he loved his job and could never think of it not being part of his life. But it was times like these, cases like the Taunter that forced him to rethink his career choices.

Since the investigation, both he and Angell had been working flat out trying to find any leads to help the CSIs with their investigation and now he was utterly exhausted. He had sent his lover home a couple of hours ago to rest knowing that she was close to collapse. Cases like these frustrated him. An arrogant perpetrator and little evidence. It felt like a personal failure that he had so far been unable to wrap up this case or indeed find any lead on the whereabouts of Amanda Jones.

Sighing angrily, he dragged his hand through his hair. He had just returned from interviewing the family of one of the original victims. He always hated interviewing loved ones and witnessing their grief. It made the case personal which could prove dangerous in the case of becoming too involved. He had wanted to provide the family with answers, but in response to their questions he had been forced to admit that he knew nothing. Sometimes life was inexcusably cruel.

The distinct whiff of coffee caught his nose and he sighed appreciatively as he noticed the nearby signage pointing to a coffee shop. Coffee was his drug of choice- always dependable and at this precise moment in time, he would kill for some. Luckily he could see there was only a short queue as he pushed open the door. Joining the end of it, he inhaled the fragrant smell of coffee beans which caused his mouth to water. Finally, after what felt like too long it was his turn to order.

'What can I get you Sir?'

The voice that greeted him was familiar; agonizingly and shockingly so and he tore his eyes away from the pastry cabinet and straight into the eyes of none other than Stella Bonasera.

Her voice was hoarse from her screams which had begun hours ago and she lay in a state of acute and unrelenting pain. Her back felt as though it was on fire and she highly doubted that there was any skin left as her captor once more carved into her back whilst spitting his fury at her. She had long ago stopped fighting; she just wanted it all to end. She would welcome death with open arms. Why would the madman not just kill her?

The Taunter was filled with blood-thirsty rage all of which was directed towards Detective Taylor. He just could not understand it. Why had Detective Taylor not called Detective Bonasera? It made absolutely no sense. He knew, from his observations of her, that she knew of his return and yet still she did nothing. Still she did not pursue him! How much more pain and suffering would she need to be responsible for before she hunted him? Letting out a shrill cry of fury, he carved deeper into his victim's back, screaming the insults and profanities at her as he did. He had stopped having fun with her. Now all he could focus on was his rage against the two Detectives. The media attention was not enough; Detective Taylor pursuing him was not enough. He wanted Detective Bonasera to hunt him. He wanted to be the object of her every thought and every nightmare. He pressed the blade deeper into the girl's back. This had to end.

Using all the force he nowadays could muster, he turned the girl around to face him. He briefly smirked at the absolute terror present in her eyes as she begged him; begged him to end her. For once he was going to oblige with his victim's request. Raising the shard above his head, he laughed cruelly before plunging it down into her chest and ending Amanda Jones' life.

The two friends stared at each other in shocked silence, a million thoughts flying through both their heads as they processed the fact that the other was standing in front of them. Flack was the first to regain the function of voice, his shock at the fact Stella was in New York, working as a barista of all things, and not in New Orleans as head of the crime lab was profound. 'What are you doing here Stella?' His tone was harsh, an effect of the turmoil he felt.

Stella chose to ignore his question. 'Why type of coffee can I get you sir?' Her voice shook slightly.

He could see the difficulty she had in speaking to him and he noticed with some distress that she glanced to the open door as though sizing up whether or not to attempt an escape. Preempting that action, Flack moved slightly, blocking her only exit. Stella groaned, knowing that there was no escape now from the questions that she had dreaded being asked for so long.

'Oh no you don't Stella. Don't ignore the question. I have a right to know, we-the lab- have a right to know what is going on here!' He raised his voice slightly, attracting Kate's attention.

'Stella is there a problem here?' She cast a cool glance in Flack's attention.

'No Kate there isn't. This is a friend. Can I take my break now?'

Kate seemed unconvinced for a minute before nodding. 'Sure.'

Stella glanced back to Flack, shooting him a dark glare. 'Flack let me get you a coffee and then I'll answer your questions.'

Flack nodded and placed his order, watching as Stella expertly made him his coffee of choice before turning back to the machine to make her own beverage. As they headed through to the staff area, Stella signalled to Kate to take over. On entering the staff room, Stella indicated for Flack to take a seat and he did so, watching Stella as she slid into her chair.

The air was thick with anticipation as they waited for the other to make the first move. Eventually Flack's patience gave in and he asked the question Stella had been most dreading.

'Why did you leave Stella?' He demanded.

Stella did not answer straight away. Instead she stared off into the distance, dragging her finger around the rim of the cup. She sighed deeply as she worked up the courage to tell Flack everything; she was sick of lying and holding things back.

What she spoke of in the following minutes caused a furore of thoughts and emotions within Flack as finally he realised the suffering and loneliness his friend had silently endured for years.

'You know I don't think there's ever been a time where I haven't been lonely. I mean growing up in the orphanage I did have friends who were all in the same boat as me but it was still lonely because I had nobody except the Professor but it didn't matter so much because the others were the same. Then, as I got older I focussed on my school work and then my career to try and forget it but I've realised that by doing so my loneliness has only increased. I was happy though; working at the lab I had you guys and you're family to me but it still wasn't enough. Perhaps I'm just being greedy but I want more.'

Stella paused.

'It's so hard being in love with someone and they don't even know you exist. Well I mean they do but they don't know the real you. They like you perhaps, but don't love you, at least not in the way you love them. You just want the best for them and so you put on a happy face every time they introduce you to a new girlfriend even though all the time your heart is breaking. I tried so hard to make him love me; so, so hard but it was never enough. 'You're my best friend Stella!' That's what he'd say to me.'

She spoke quietly, a tear escaping from her eye.

'After all these years I've had enough.' Finally she looked at Flack. 'I've had enough Don. I want a fresh start-try and rebuild my life as much as I can with the time I have left. I'm not exactly young anymore.' She smiled a watery smile.

'I just wanted a quiet bow out from the lab. I didn't want Mac or any of you guys to know so I handed my resignation directly to Chief Sinclair. But Mac...Mac found out and I couldn't do that anymore.'

'What did Mac do Stella?' Flack whispered.

'We fought. He said things and well...you know my big mouth.' Her joke fell flat. 'I said some things and...and...Mac...Mac struck me.' With those words the dam that Stella had been working so hard to maintain broke and tears began to roll down her cheeks as Flack was shocked into silence.

'He...he struck you?' Flack asked carefully; fury building on behalf of his best friend. Never, ever would he expect Mac Taylor to be capable of such harsh and brutal treatment; least of all directed towards Stella.

'Yes but it was my fault Don. I antagonised him- using Claire. I was horrible.'

'That doesn't matter.' Flack comforted her with rage in his voice. 'It was all Mac's fault. He should have never struck you.'

'No Flack. Please don't.' Stella's voice begged and Flack felt his heart lurch as he saw the pain reflected in her eyes.

'What happened after that?' Flack asked quietly.

'You know what happened. I left.' Stella stated as a fact.

'To where? We checked your flat, you sold it.'

'I managed to get another- I used some of my savings. I wanted a completely new life. Then one day I was walking by here and saw the sign for a vacancy and so I took it.'

'You went from a CSI to a barista?' Flack echoed.

'Yes. Like I said, I wanted a new life.' At seeing Flack's sceptical face, Stella let slip the ghost of a smile, 'Yes I know it's not the best or most exciting of careers but I enjoy it. Kate's good to me and I enjoy chatting to the customers and hearing about everyday mundane things- not death, no crimes. Just people, ordinary, good people. It's refreshing.' She fell silent for a moment, staring at Flack intently, willing him to understand her justifications, which, despite his life-long career as a cop, he did.

'And besides, I can now make some killer coffees.' She joked and Flack laughed alongside her, as Stella wiped away the last remaining tears. The pair fell silent once more, both finishing their coffee and waiting for the other to lead on to the next area of conversation. It was Flack who took the first steps. 'Stell...I've heard what you've said about leaving and about Mac...but we need you at the lab. Mac needs you too.'

'No he doesn't.' Stella instantly refuted, shaking her head sadly.

'He does, believe me he does. Things are different now Stella. I mean yes there's Jo and she's great but Mac hasn't been the same since you left. He's been more withdrawn and with all that's happening now, well...' Flack trailed off, unsure whether or not Stella had seen the coverage of the Taunter's return.

'You mean with the Taunter.' Stella finished for him.

'Ah so you know.' Flack sighed in relief.

Stella shrugged her shoulders. 'It's hard not to with all the media coverage. Flack I know what you're going to ask but I can't. Not after everything that's happened between Mac and I. Mac can solve this on his own. He doesn't need me.'

As she said this, Stella was unsure whether she was trying to persuade Flack or herself that Mac was better off alone.

'Mac needs you, Stell. You were his partner on the original Taunter killings; you know the case better than anyone else. We need you Stella. We can't find any leads and he will keep killing unless we stop him.'

'I can't Flack.' Stella stood up at this point and turned away, her emotions all bubbling up to the surface once more.

Flack also stood. 'Can't or won't? You know Stella I never thought of you as a coward before.'

If the words were intended to hurt Stella or to force her to listen then they succeeded as Stella was stunned into stillness.

'I'm not gonna harp on about rights and wrongs Stell. Mac was clearly wrong and I'm sorry you're hurting so much, I really am. And I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. But we need you Stella. Don't think about Mac. Think about us- the team, the people you think of as family. We need you Stell and all these victims, they need you to. But hell, if that doesn't persuade you then I don't know what will.'

The disappointment in his voice further shattered Stella's already broken heart but she stubbornly remained where she was, her back to him.

Seeing that his attempts were failing, Flack sighed deeply. 'It was good seeing you Stell. I've missed you.'

And with those words he was gone. Now alone, Stella made her way back over to the chairs and broke down.