'If you've just joined us then we have breaking news concerning the hunt for the serial killer known as the Taunter. The New York Police Department have just confirmed that they have arrested a thirty-nine year old man believed to be responsible for the murders of twelve women in the city over the last decade and ending one of the most high profile murder cases in the city's history. Police Chief Sinclair confirmed in a press conference that the suspect was detained following a police standoff in which a female NYPD detective was injured and is in critical condition in hospital. This arrest ends what has been a terrifying police hunt for the citizens of New York…'

There was widespread jubilation across the city when the arrest had been announced. Some had questioned why the police had bothered to spare the murderer's life, particularly in the face of the expense of a legal trial. But Mac knew it was what Stella would have wanted. She would have wanted Damian Thomlinson to pay publicly pay for his crimes and to have been brought to justice in a court of law. Already a memorial to the victims of the Taunter was being proposed and the families of the victims had been calling for the yet unnamed female detective to be awarded for bravery in taking the murderer down. Mac and the others watched the scenes on the television with great pride at Stella's involvement and it lessened the terrible blow concerning the torture she had endured.

The hours of hellish waiting had passed slowly since Stella's arrival at the hospital. Mac had accompanied her in the ambulance, holding her hand tightly as the EMTs worked on her around him, trying to stem the bleeding from the wounds carved into her back and from the stab wound in her side. On arrival at the hospital, Stella had been whisked away straight into surgery and as much as Mac had wanted to follow, he knew it was beyond his control. All he could do was wait and pray for the woman he loved to survive.

The wait was agonizing. Mac had only ever felt this way once before, back in the search for Claire through the rubble of the World Trade Center. He had felt completely helpless then but back then he was able to share his grief with the thousands of others who had lost their loved ones on that day. Stella had comforted him and made sure he was eating and sleeping. She had been his rock during those dark days and now it was strong and fiery Stella who was battling for her life in the theatre.

The nurses were kind, stopping by and offering him coffee but he refused each time, too immersed in the devastation of Stella's suffering. Eventually the team arrived, having finished processing the scene and dealing with Damian Thomlinson, knowing that Stella would have wanted them to continue building the case against her torturer. It was a great comfort for Mac to have the team there, to know that Stella had their support but yet it did not lessen the pain or the gut-wrenching worry he felt as he waited.

Mac prayed for the first time in a very long time. Although he kept his crucifix on him at all times as a lucky charm, he was by no means a religious man. He believed yes, but he was a scientist first and foremost. But this did not stop him clinging onto any hope that praying could bring for Stella's survival. Time continued to tick on and yet there was still no word. Mac and Don were the only ones remaining now in their wait; Danny and Lindsay had returned home for Lucy- deriving comfort from their beautiful daughter to help them cope with the horror they found themselves in. Sid, Hawkes and Adam had all gone home to rest, exhaustion having claimed them now that the adrenaline had died. Jo and Angell had both disappeared outside for fresh air, to relieve themselves from the encroaching madness they could feel being trapped for so long in such a sterile and lifeless environment. All members had begged to be contacted if there was any change and Mac had agreed to this, as after all they were equally family to Stella.

Finally after twelve hours of no news from surgery, a doctor appeared. The two men immediately rose to their feet as the doctor walked wearily towards them.

'I take it you are here for Detective Bonasera.'

They both nodded; having suddenly lost their voices as they feared what was about to be said.

'Is she...?' Flack spoke quietly, swallowing deeply.

'She's alive.' The doctor confirmed, smiling slightly at the obviously relieved faces of the two men. 'However, I'm afraid it is very touch and go. She flat lined twice whilst on the table.' He grimaced sympathetically with the two detectives' looks of horror at this news. 'As you know, Detective Bonasera suffered significant bloodloss both from her stab wound and the lacerations upon her back. We managed to stop the bleeding from her back but she suffered severe internal bleeding and has slipped into a coma.'

'What are her odds Doctor...?'

'Todd. If she survives the next twenty-four hours then she is likely to have a chance.' Mac couldn't help the wave of horror as he heard this. The doctor continued, 'We've moved her into ICU. You may visit her, but I ask that there is only two at a time. My team will be back to check on her later but for now there is nothing else we can do. It is all up to her I'm afraid. I can take you to her now if you wish.'

'Thank you.' Mac whispered hoarsely before glancing to Flack.

'You go ahead Mac, I'll call the others.' Mac nodded weakly before following Doctor Todd to ICU.

He stopped at the door as his heart hammered painfully. The woman before him was not the Stella he knew and loved. She lay motionless on the hospital bed, whiter than the sheets which were wrapped around her body. Dozens of wires connected her to the various machines surrounding her bedside, all of which let out a mechanical drone as they monitored her condition. Mac could see that her gauze lined her back, protecting the wounds from infection. He felt nausea rise up in his throat as he stared at the heavily bandaged stab wound on her side as the memory of her blood soaking into his shirt threatened to overwhelm him. He collapsed into the chair beside her and carefully took her hand in his. For now, this was all he could offer her in support, and with his voice shaking he whispered to her. 'Come on Stella. Fight this for me, for the team. You're the strongest person I know. I need you to fight this.' But there was only silence in response.

'In my darkest moment when all seems lost, you are at my side.'

'I appreciate you too Stella.' Mac spoke as he walked up behind her. Stella turned to face him as they both smiled brightly at each other.- Oedipus Hex

Flack had never before felt such grief and fear. Never before had someone he loved been so close to death. Seeing what that madman had inflicted upon her had truly sickened him, but somehow, by some miracle Stella had held on. Once rested, he had returned to the hospital and once more begun his vigil alongside Mac, hoping against all the odds for his best friend to survive.

Nurses had checked on Stella regularly, making sure that there was no change in her condition whilst also ensuring her comfort. Stella was dependent entirely on the machines which monitored her every second. Her chest rose and fell at regular intervals due to the breathing apparatus she was connected to and which she was reliant on if she was to live. Flack hated seeing her connected to the machinery as if she was an object and not a person- especially not a person as independent as Stella. It was utterly heart-breaking.

Flack was not a religious man. He had been raised a Catholic but no longer practiced. Yet now, in the hopeless waiting he was confined to, he found himself turning to God for hope that Stella would survive the critical first twenty-four hours. Jess had found him the Chapel and had sat beside him, wrapping her arms around him and offering him what little comfort she could which in turn Flack reciprocated as they prayed together for their friend to survive.

Life would not be the same without Stella. She was one of the smartest and funniest people he knew. Stella was not just a best friend but a sister to him. She had been there, by his side, in the aftermath of the bombing which had nearly killed him and she had been a constant supporter of his since the day they had first been introduced. Of course like any relationship there had been downs where they had held a difference in opinions on a case or in a personal issue but their friendship had soon been strong once more. He could not bear the idea of losing Stella and he knew that the others felt the exact same.

Indeed, Flack had seen in his observations of Mac as they waited together by Stella's bedside that what he had said was true. He genuinely loved Stella and that knowledge had been bittersweet for Flack. Mac had finally come to terms with his feelings for Stella only to face the chance of losing her before he had the opportunity to tell her how he really felt. Flack of course had known for many years that the partners loved each other. It had been there in plain sight for as long as he could remember and he knew that his friend would not survive the crippling grief if Stella died.

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity of agonised waiting and hoping, the twenty-four hour critical window passed and Stella's odds of survival increased. Although Flack had broken up his vigil with visits to his apartment for rest or to fill in a statement for Chief Sinclair regarding the Taunter, Mac had stayed resolutely put by Stella's side. Despite leaving the hospital, however, Flack was unable to stop thinking about Stella and it was not until he was in his apartment did he finally break down in Jess's arms, sobbing uncontrollably as he pleaded with God or whoever had such power to save Stella. But there was nothing Flack could do. It was up to fate and Stella as to whether or not she would survive.

'You can't possibly know this.' Stella looked at him sceptically.

'Someone took me to a game once.' Mac replied.

'No one would have taken you to a roller derby game!' Stella argued before her eyes widened in realisation, 'Unless you were on a date...'

'It was fun.' Mac shrugged.

Stella raised her eyebrows, 'The game or the date?'

Mac merely smirked in response.- Jamalot

Danny Messer was known for his optimism and humour but as the days passed and there was no improvement in Stella's condition, his hope began to diminish. Although she had survived the first twenty-four hours, Danny knew from having worked on cases like these that as time passed the chances of the victim waking from the coma went from slim to none. Danny visited Stella as often as his shifts would allow and when he was not at the lab or with Lindsay and Lucy, then he was with Stella. Knowing that it often helped coma victims to waken by hearing a familiar voice, Danny had begun to speak to Stella; telling her stories about Lucy or about their current cases at the lab or even reminiscing about the past. He tried anything to get her to waken or just to let her know that they were here, waiting for her and missing her greatly.

It was difficult to concentrate on the current cases and even on the upcoming Thomlinson trial, as like the others, his thoughts were with Stella- and Mac- who spent each hour sitting in the sterile and emotionless room. In the aftermath of the revelation that Mac had struck Stella, Danny had actually hated his mentor but now when he witnessed him sitting by Stella's side, holding her hand whilst speaking to her gently, he saw how much Mac cared for her. Of course Danny had always known that the two senior detectives had a spark, it was obvious to everyone, but now that Mac no longer denied it, it was clear for all to see.

All the team needed for a happy ending was for Stella to waken from her coma. They had captured an evil serial killer who was responsible for twelve deaths and Mac had finally admitted his feelings. It should have been a time of celebration but instead it was a time of tragedy and grief. The last person who deserved such torture that she had experienced was Stella. Already she had proven she was a fighter by being able to survive such an ordeal and Danny hoped that this fighter spirit would once again be shown and she would wake. But until that moment, the torturous wait continued.

'What is it you say to me?' Mac asked her. 'You'll always have the strength; you'll always have the guts.'

'Inside, inside.' She smiled. – The Ride-in

Lindsay had suffered a great deal of grief in the course of her life. But nothing would have prepared her for this hell that they were enduring. Stella was one of the most amazing women Lindsay knew and she utterly adored her. She had been an inspiration to Lindsay since her first day at the lab and choosing Lucy's godmother had been no competition whatsoever. And now, the woman who was normally so very alive was lying still and pale in a hospital bed, being kept alive by machines. It was sickening to observe.

Like Danny, when she visited she would speak to Stella and tell her stories about Lucy. She could tell that Mac liked hearing the stories about his goddaughter too, by the way he almost smiled as he listened. Normally Stella or Jo was the mother-figure of the CSIs but with Stella in critical condition, and Jo running the lab in Mac's absence, Lindsay had taken on the role. She had become comforter for the boys as well as looking after Mac by making sure he was sleeping even for an hour at a time or eating down in the cafeteria.

It was one week since Stella had fallen into a coma and Lindsay once again found herself sitting by Stella's side. Danny had taken Mac to the cafeteria allowing their friend a break and a chance for Lindsay to sit with Stella alone.

'...So you missed that at the lab. All the technicians send their love and they can't wait for you to return and kick their butts back into shape.' Lindsay stopped, breathing heavily as tears pooled in her eyes. 'We need you to wake up Stella. We all miss you so much- especially Mac. He loves you Stell. He really, really loves you. I need you too Stell. I could really do with your advice and guidance just now.'

Lindsay swallowed as tears rolled down her cheeks. 'I'm pregnant again Stell but I haven't told anyone- not even Danny knows. I wanted you to be first to know. So now that you do you better wake up because this baby is going to need their Auntie Stella and Lucy needs her Auntie Stella. Alright? So you better wake up Stell.'

But despite Lindsay looking at Stella's face hopefully, there was no sign of her being close to wakening and Lindsay sighed deeply as tears poured from her eyes. Half an hour later when Mac and Danny arrived, Lindsay had long stopped crying and had returned to gossiping about celebrities and the goings on at the lab. Lindsay hated leaving Stella's side but she and Danny had to start their shift and so she kissed her friend goodbye, hoping beyond all hope that Stella had heard what she had said and would waken soon.

Stella's eyes lit up as Mac blew on his hand and then produced a real rose from the paper rose he had held before. She beamed as he gave it to her. 'All right, spill it. How'd you do it?'- Sleight out of Hand

As a doctor, Hawkes had witnessed this situation before and it was never easy to watch a patient's family suffering as hope ever deteriorated. But never in a million years would he have thought that his family were to face the same nightmare. It was much, much different when the patient was a loved one. Finally he could fully appreciate the frustration and anguish of the families as they had to cope with the fact the doctors could do nothing to help their loved one. He had trained to be a doctor because he wanted to help people, but now he had never felt so useless before in his life.

Stella deserved better than what he was giving her. How many times had she been supportive when he had been in a difficult situation? How many times had she given him advice or taught him how to become a better CSI? And now in her hour of need, he could do nothing to return the favour. It was infuriating.

Hawkes had been reluctant to return to the lab but he knew that waiting around at the hospital was not going to help anyone, least of all Stella. And so he had returned to his duties, albeit with a heavy heart. But he knew it was what Stella would have wanted. She would want them to be out in the streets, solving crime and catching the perpetrators and so that was what he did; for Stella; in honour of a great CSI.

Mac looked through the crowd as he continued to play the bass, getting into the rhythm of the jazz music and was immediately surprised when his eyes connected with Stella's. Even in his grief over Peyton breaking up their relationship, Stella's smile lit up his night in a way nobody else's could. It inspired him to play better. Although not a word was spoken between them, Stella knew that Mac was glad she was here and so she stayed for the rest of the night, watching him play and falling utterly under the spell of the music.- Time's Up

Like Hawkes, Adam had felt the same helplessness as he visited Stella in the hospital. He was merely a labrat; a CSI who specialised in computers and technology. He had no medical expertise and for once Adam cursed himself for not choosing a more conventional career path to follow. Maybe then he would have known what to do to help Stella. But that was life and it was never fair. Adam knew that Stella would have wanted them to continue with their workload, especially making sure the case against Damian Thomlinson was watertight and so that was what he did.

Working alongside Jo and his fellow techs, they had gone through the evidence, thoroughly checking that there were no discrepancies in the evidence that the defence team could use against them. Never before had he felt such determination or exhaustion as they worked hour after hour, checking and rechecking but Adam knew it would be worth it. It would ensure that the monster who had put Stella in the hospital in the first place would spend the rest of his life locked up in a cage where he belonged.

'Mac I know I was wrong to keep investigating the case after you told me to step down. I'm sorry I made it difficult for you and for the department.

Mac stopped walking. 'This isn't about my job or the department.' He took of his sunglasses. 'It was difficult because I care about you.'- Grounds for Deception

Jess missed her friend terribly. Stella was the woman who she could always rely on for advice and she had felt incredibly bereft of it over the last few months of Stella's absence. That had been bad enough but now to face losing it all together was just too cruel. Like her lover, Jess had spent many hours at the hospital when not on duty. Sometimes she would speak to Stella like Danny and Lindsay did or other times she would just sit in silence alongside Mac and hold Stella's hands. It was a small gesture but one which spoke volumes: that she was here, that she would always be here for her friend.

Seeing Stella so fragile in the hospital bed had practically broken her heart. It was so unnatural, so very wrong and she hated it. It was an image which would haunt her for the rest of her life, like that of seeing Stella covered in her blood and lying in Mac's arms. It had taken all he restraint when interviewing Damian Thomlinson not to kill him on the spot and save the taxpayers the cost of a trial. It was a good thing that she had stopped Flack from being there otherwise he would be well and truly dead but as much as Jess may wish for such an outcome, she knew that Stella would want the Taunter to be dealt with fairly and in accordance to the law.

And that belief just showed what an incredible person Stella was. A person who would stick to what they believed right, even in the face of stiff opposition or insurmountable odds. It was what had led Jess to risking her career in the Diakos case- knowing that Stella was fighting for justice when everybody else had stopped. And it was what she found truly inspiring. Stella Bonasera was a hero and Jess prayed that her friend would survive to be honoured as such.

Mac walked into Stella's office quietly, watching his partner as she slept. She looked so innocent- almost childlike. He carefully pulled away the letter lying next to her before covering her in a blanket. He gazed at her for a minute, gently stroking her head before leaving her to her slumber.- Rest in Peace, Marina Garito.

Over the course of his career as medical examiner, Sid Hammerback had autopsied hundreds of victims all of whom were unique and were living their lives when death claimed them. It was hard not to get emotionally involved on seeing a person with their lives ahead of them, lying dead in a morgue but years of working had taught Sid that concentrating on the living helped cope with the dead. Often the people that ended up on his table did not deserve their fate, other times death had been a long time coming but Sid treated all his victims with the same deference and respect. He often wished that people would cease killing one another, even though that event would result in his unemployment, but he could not help but think it was such a waste for so many lives to end the way they did.

Sid prayed that Stella would continue fighting and not end up on his table. It would be too cruel on them all if she was to die now, after enduring so much and fighting every step. He knew they had already lost her three times now, but she had to hold on. The lab hadn't been the same since Stella's departure; it was as though a big hole had been torn in the lab and he knew that if Stella did not live then the lab would never been the same again. It would have the same happiness or liveliness as it did before. Everywhere there would be reminders of Stella.

Like the others, he had visited Stella and had been horrified at how pale and fragile she looked, hooked to all the machinery that was keeping her alive. It was terrible to see such an independent woman as Stella be reduced to such a state and it caused a wave of fury within him that Sid directed towards the fiend who had caused it. There was no doubt in his mind that Damian Thomlinson deserved to rot in hell for what he had done. Stella could not let the beast be victorious. She had to survive; she could not end up on his table. Sid glanced up as another body was wheeled into the morgue and sighing deeply, he got to his feet to begin the job performed on countless others, all the while praying for Stella to live.

Stella marched into his office, wearing a beautiful figure-hugging black dress. Her hair was pulled back but with ringlets falling about her face. Mac appraised her outfit, his eyes trailing up and down lustfully, causing Stella to redden slightly.

'Do you like it?' She asked him. 'Hopefully my date will too.'

Mac began rummaging through the files on his desk, trying to keep his mind off the woman in front of him as otherwise he feared he would lose control and kiss her passionately. 'Yeah...ah.'- What You See

As the days passed and it became less certain that Stella would ever wake from her coma, Jo assumed control of the lab on behalf of Mac. Although all the CSIs thoughts were with their friend, there was still work to be done and still murders to be solved. It was unfair to ask Mac to come into the lab when all he would think of was Stella.

Jo ensured that the case against Damian Thomlinson was airtight by going over all the evidence with the team and ensuring that they would nail the psychopath for what he did to Stella. Jo also managed the ever-growing paperwork pile on Mac's desk and although the added responsibilities limited the time she had with Ellie and Tyler, she was happy to take on these as the team were her new family and in times of hardship and tragedy, family looked after each other.

Although she had only met Stella once, Jo too felt the devastation and grief of the team's. When she had joined the lab, she had become a part of the CSI family, a family who adored Stella and who had told Jo all about her. She had eagerly listened to the stories, having heard of Stella's incredible reputation as a CSI and having heard some of the story the technicians had spoken. Although back then she had not yet met Stella she could tell she was her kind of woman- the sort who was strong-minded and who could take care of herself.

This had all of course been confirmed when Jess had introduced the pair and Jo had immediately liked Stella's friendliness. Jo already considered Stella a friend and part of her new extended family and she too would be heartbroken if Stella did not survive. But Jo believed she would by what she had heard about Stella and if there was one woman who could survive the odds then it was her.

Mac and Stella laughed joyfully at their CSIs dressed up and at the hyper children milling about, excited at the prospect of seeing Santa. Mac and Stella exchanged joyful glances and then Mac pulled Stella to him, she beaming as he did, before planting a kiss on her head as they embraced.- Second Chances

The medical teams in ICU had become used to Mac sitting with Stella day and night and he had become a familiar sight. Even for the experienced nurses, it was a tear-jerking sight to be witnessed to as the devotion the Detective had for his partner was plain to see. And so, like everybody else who knew and loved Stella, the nursing staff also began to pray that she would survive, for her own sake and for the sake of the handsome and distraught man who obviously loved her so. Ever since Stella had lost consciousness in his arms, Mac had been in a cloud of grief and agonising worry. Nothing else in the world registered to him. His world had shrunken to the hospital room where Stella lay. It was where he spent every waking minute, hoping and praying for a miracle. He had barely ventured outside of the hospital out of the fear that if anything should happen to Stella he would miss it. It was like being imprisoned. There was an ache, every moment of every day and it never dissipated. Mac was losing hope of Stella ever wakening. He could not lose her. He could not survive it.

'Come on Stella. Save my name. Come on. Just say my name. It's all I want Stell.' He whispered to her over and over, day after day. But still there was no response.

'You know I don't need coffee grounds to see how lucky I am to have you in my life Mac.'

He smiled, shifting slightly, uncomfortable at how personal the conversation had turned. 'Ok, ok what have you got in here?'

'See there you go...See that there...That's an S. That would be Stella. The woman in your life who sometimes you adore and who sometimes drives you crazy.' They both laughed.- Grounds for Deception

Exactly two weeks since Stella arrived at the hospital, an orchestra of alarms began to blare, shortly after the lunchtime period. Immediately Doctor Todd and various nurses rushed into the room, pushing Mac to the side who looked on in panic at what was happening.

'Doctor what's going on?' He shouted urgently over the noise as the nurses began to pull apart some of the tubes linking Stella to the various machines.

'I'm not sure. Her heart-rate has started accelerating.' Just as he had finished speaking, the dreaded sound of shrieking alarms burst into life as Stella flat-lined.

'SHE'S CRASHING!' Doctor Todd yelled and a nurse quickly pushed over a crash cart as the team began to work on Stella, trying desperately to save her life.

Mac was pushed to the door but he refused to leave the room. This could to be happening. His worst nightmare could not be happening. Not Stella. Take him instead, not her. Anybody but her.

'Come on Stella.' Mac begged quietly as the professionals worked on her. 'Please don't die. Say my name. Just say my name it's all I need to hear. Say my name so that I know you're still here. Please don't leave me. Say my name.'

'Charging again...' Doctor Todd's voice came.

'Come on Stella. You can fight, Just say my name.' He pleaded again as tears rolled down his face.

Another shock was delivered to Stella's heart and suddenly there was a loud gasp followed by a choking sound as Stella jolted back to life.

Immediately she sat up, her eyes flying open wide and terrified as she looked around her, trying to fight the tube in her throat. A great wave of relief erupted through the room and the doctor quickly worked to relieve her from her tube as Mac looked on in utter amazement as finally the nightmare ended.

Stella was alive.