A/N: First of all, I'd like to point out that my Microsoft Word has vanished without a trace from my computer, so if there are any spelling errors at all in here, I apologize for them. Secondly, of course, these charcters aren't mine. Big surprise there. Thirdly...I don't have any rights to the movie Forrest Gump. It's kinda interesting, though...Gary Sinise plays Mac on CSI: NY, and Mac's last name is Taylor, just like Lieutenant Dan's last name in Forrest Gump, also portrayed by Gary Sinise, and then there's another Danny Taylor on Without A Trace, which I still don't own, and I believe one episode had a character named Mac... Whatcha staring at me for? G>
It was a beautiful night in New York City. The stars glimmered brightly, as if they were transferring their heavenly light to the city and making it shine like the jewel it was. The waves of New York Harbor lapped peacefully onto both the shores of New York and its neighboring state, New Jersey. The Statue Of Liberty, graceful withall its mysterious beauty, watched over as the night life of the city flourished. It was such a wonderfultime to live in the city that never sleeps...
Yeah, that's probably the way you'd like a story to begin. A sugar-coated description of how the world is moving about its business. No evil, no violence, nothing criminal to worry about. Don't we all wish that's how the world could be?
Unfortunately, this isn't the real beginning of this story. The real beginning might be much more serious than your liking.
"Knock, knock."
"Come in, Danny."
Danny Messer, eyes alarming bright tonight, greeted Stella with the one question she'd been asked all shift.
"What are you doing in Mac's office?"
Stella groaned and banged her head onto Mac's desk numerous times.
"Sorry," Danny said, noting Stella's discomfort. "Maybe I shouldn't have asked."
"He has the night off," Stella explained, rubbing the throbbing forehead that had just come in contact with the rusting metal.
"Why are you -- ?"
"He asked me to fill his position -- just for tonight. He didn't tell me where he was going or why."
Danny shrugged. "Good enough for me. Maybe having Mac out for once will take a good load off all our shoulders."
Stella smiled. "I'll tell him you said that."
He pointed an accusing finger at her. "You'd better not."
"Do a good job on your case and this conversation won't have even happened."
He was halfway out the door. "Ooh, black-mailer, are you?"
"I try," she said.
After he had left, Stella actually took deep thought to Danny's words for once. Mac was always bearing down on his CSIs. She knew it, being the one he was around the most. Plus, the atmosphere had lightened without him. I guess it's true, she thought, but it's not like we'd be better off without him.
We would be better off without Jane Parsons, Stella continued to think. I wonder why she's out sick today, too.
Little did Stella know that her questions were to soon be answered. Right...about...
Her cellphone chirped. She had set it down somewhere on Mac's desk, but what with all the clutter that had already been there, she couldn't exactly reach for it and instantly pick it up. A few seconds went by with Stella shoving papers aside, but her search was so far fruitless. She became a bit restless and started throwing papers off the desk, not caring where they landed. Mac, you really need to get more organized.
When her hand finally closed on the device, she flipped it open and put it to her ear.
"Bonasera."
"Oh, thank God, Stella. I didn't know if you were gonna pick up."
Stella recognized the heavy accent right away.
"What's up, Flack?"
Flack's words were speedy, with an urgency she'd never heard in him. "Stella, you've got to get to New York Downtown Hospital ASAP. We've got a huge problem."
"How huge?"
"Gigantic. Mac's been hurt."
Once he spoke those words, Stella felt as though her stomach had dropped out. Her jaw fell open, and her round eyes widened even more as they darted around the room. She went silent.
"Stella? Stella!"
Stella shook her head and came to her senses. "Say no more. I'm on my way."
"Stella, he's been -- !"
She hung up. Flack's last word was drowned out by the click of her finger on the END button.
Grabbing her coat draped neatly over a plush chair, Stella ran out the door.
New York Downtown Hospital was buzzing with the attack of the CSI. Almost every person Stella passed on the third floor was talking about it.
"How's that cop doing?" one nurse said.
He's not a cop, he's a CSI, Stella thought, but she didn't bother to listen to the rest. She was going straight to the source.
The reception desk sat practically invisible in one corner of the floor. There, a young woman with auburn hair and piercing green eyes sat, flipping through files with her back to the passing traffic. Stella raced to thedesk and slapped the counter to stop herself. This sudden noise startled the receptionist and caused her turn and face Stella.
"May I help you?" she said, bright and cheery as if she didn't know what was going on.
"I need to know what room Mac Taylor is in. It's an emergency."
The receptionist spun on the swivel chair to a computer.
"What was the last name again?"
"Taylor. Like the lieutenant's last name in Forrest Gump."
The redhead typed quickly, and the screen instantly beeped.
"He's in room 7A. There's no word yet on his vitals. Doctors are examin..."
But Stella was already halfway down the hall.
Slowing to a stop outside of 7A, Stella drew her I.D. and cautiously knocked on the room.
Oh, screw it.
She walked in. There were three people aleady there, not counting Mac. Stella didn't dare herself to look at him yet, afraid of what she might see. Instead, Stella looked to a man whom she assumed to be the doctor, an aging nurse in teal scrubs, and a blonde woman sitting inthe corner. Stella couldn't see her face at first.
Apparently, though, the blonde could see Stella.
"Stella? Is that you?"
The accent was British. Stella recognized just as quickly as she'd recgnized Flack's over the phone.
"Jane Parsons?"
The woman sat up and came into the flourescent light, and it was indeed Jane. The DNA lab tech's face was reddened and blotchy, and her bloodshot eyes were enough to tell Stella that she had been crying.
What Stella wanted to know, however, was why she was here...more importantly, why she was here in a far-from-casual sequined dress.
"Jane, what happened?" Stella asked, walking over to Jane.The doctor looked at her questioningly, but Stella simply held up her I.D. and said, "Detective Stella Bonasera, from the crime lab."
"W-We were out to dinner," Jane said, her voice wavering.
That familiar pang of jealously spread through Stella before she could stop it. She didn't have any time to mask it, however, because Jane kept going.
"He took me out to d-dinner, just a c-couple blocks from m-my apartment. We p-passed an alley and someone...someone d-draggd him in. I h-heard a gunshot. T-They ran off before I could g-get their faces."
Jane obviously looked shaken, so Stella turned instead to the doctor for questions.
"You're his doctor?"
"Yes. Dr. Cunningham."
"Is he stable?"
" 'Fraid not," he replied with a northern New Jersey accent. He montioned for her to join him on the other side of Mac's bed, where he pointed to her fallen colleauge's abdomen. "Take a look."
Stella took a look, alright; just not at the wound. She finally saw Mac, and regretting looking. His face had been beaten to a bloody pulp. She could see through the layers of bandage the blood that was continuing to flow, trying to dry and begin Mac's healing process. His breathing was labored, even with the oxygen mask over his mouth. He was a mess.
After a prolonged look at his face, Stella's eyes moved down to whereDr. Cunninghamhad been holding his finger for more than a few seconds. "Ms. Bonasera, your colleague has been shot, and the offending bullet has been lodged somewhere dangerously close to his lungs and heart. We're going to hold back surgery until it's traveled to an area with less consequences when removed."
The news hit Stella with less shock than she'd imagined. She emitted a quiet "Okay".
"Would you like to...be alone with him?" the doctor asked.
Stella looked to Jane, who said, "They've already given me my time. It's only fair."
Stella looked back to Doc and nodded. "Yes, I'd appreciate that very much..."
Within seconds, the room had been vacated. Jane seemed a little reluctant to leave, as she eyed Mac with a longing look. Stella saw this and took note of it.
OnceJane had left, Stella took a lone chair and pulled it to Mac's side, the side minus the gunshot wound, trying to ignore the horrid screeching noise it made being dragged over the tiled floor. She sat and went into a daze.
The first thing she did was hold his hand. It was dirty and bloody and smelled of sweat, but she couldn't have cared less. She stroked his skin with her thumb and for some reason could not take her eyes off his hand.
Being as careful as possible, Stella laid her head on the side of his abdomen, looking up at his face.
"Mac, please come back," she whispered. "Please come back. I need you."
Her eyelids drooped and finally closed, and right there in the hospital room...Stella Bonasera prayed.
She didn't know how it had happened, but Stella had fallen asleep. She'd fallen asleep praying for him, for his security and for him to awaken. All she wished for now was to see his smiling face.
It was just then that Stella realized she'd been awoken by a hand slowing caressing the base of her skull. She looked up. She stared. She gasped.
"Hey there."
Mac was up.
"Oh, my God, you're awake," Stella breathed.
"Of course..." he groaned, straining to push himself up. "Not gonna let...a bullet...stop me."
Stella lightly pushed him back down. "For now, you actually do have to stop. We can't risk any other complications. I'm going to get the doctor."
"No!" he said, voice raspy, grabbing her arm. "I don't want them...pampering me."
"Mac, you need -- !
"No, Stella, please...just wait."
"Fine. If you start convulsing, don't ask me to help."
"C'mere." He beckoned for her to come closer to his face. She did. His hand regained its spot around the back of her neck, and he pulled her into his bandaged neck, planting an affectionate kiss in her hair.
"I thought I'd never hear your scolding me again."
She forced a laugh, despite the awkward position they were in.
An uneasy silence passed between them.
Finally: "Mac, I promise I'll get this guy."
"Don't make promises you can't keep."
"Oh, look who's scolding now!"
He laughed and coughed furiously.
"Mac," Stella repeated, staring straight into his eyes, "I promise you...I will find out who did this."
"I trust you more than anyone."
As Mac and Stella shared their sweet moments together, they failed to notice Dr. Cunningham moving silently, almost sinisterly, down the hallway out side the room. He had a call to make.
TBC...::cue suspenseful music::