Author's Note: Well, this is what happens when I get left alone with my plot bunnies for a weekend. Two updates and one new story. Thanks to everyone who put this on their favourites and story alerts.
Disclaimer: I own nothing...
Mac shifted in his seat as he felt his phone vibrate for the third time. A peak at the screen informed him that it was Hawkes, but as he was currently being watched by Chief Sinclair and Deputy Inspector Gerrard there was no way he could answer it. He assumed that the former doctor had information about the case he'd been assigned, but it would have to wait.
"Look Mac, I don't want to do this any more than you do, but I'm afraid I have no choice." Sinclair began, sincerely apologetic for what he was about to say. "Detective Bonasera has been missing for almost three days, no demands have been made and other than the letter and package, there has been no contact. As of today the investigation has been stopped. If something new develops then all resources will be available. However I need those agents on other assignments."
Furious Mac rose from his seat, "You mean to tell me that my partner has been missing for less than 72 hours and you're stopping the investigation due to lack of contact?!" He fumed, using every ounce of self-control he learned in the Marines to stay where he was. Right now he would give everything he had to reach across the desk and throttle Sinclair. "This is the two of you getting back at me after blackmailing the department isn't it?"
"It's nothing personal Taylor." Gerrard began, but before he could finish Flack burst into the room, the secretary following in an attempt to stop him.
"Mac, just got a call from Hawkes. He found Stella, she's at Queen of Mercy." He gasped, having sprinted here from his desk on the other side of the precinct.
As soon as Flack said Stella's name, Mac rushed from the room, not caring about the meeting. The homicide detective shot an apologetic glace at his superiors before following his friend. "What did he say?" Mac asked as they jumped into his Avalanche.
Flack grabbed the door handle as they tore out of the parking garage, "All I could understand was that she's in room 416. He didn't say why she was there."
He received nothing in response as Mac flipped on the siren, the first time Don had ever seen him use it for non-work reasons. Mac's worst fear was that Stella was the case he had assigned Hawkes that morning before he left for his meeting with the Chief. As he drove he prayed to anyone who was listening that he was wrong. The ride was silent until they screeched to a stop in front of the hospital. Parking there was illegal, but since it was a police vehicle they wouldn't get a ticket.
Mac leapt out the truck and sprinted inside, heading for the stairs with Flack right behind him. Don couldn't help but think that he was definitely getting his exercise today. Hawkes met them on the fourth floor, stopping them from going any further. "They just took her back to x-ray, it's going to be a few minutes before you can see her." Though he was speaking to both of them his eyes were on Mac, to ensure the older man didn't do anything rash.
"Why is she here?" Mac growled, trying to squelch the fear and panic he felt rising within him.
Sheldon sighed, trying to find that place of detachment he had used during his residency days. It had helped whenever he had to give the worse news to family members, that their loved one had died. But this is wasn't just some unknown person who had died, this was Stella. The woman that had come for him after his night in jail, who was the constant rock for the entire team, who despite growing up in some of the worse circumstances possible managed to become one of the best detectives he knew.
"She's got a dozen cuts to her abdomen, congruent with what we found on her shirt. Bruises on her wrists and ankles suggest she was bound for some time, probably on her back due to discoloration. The forensic nurse had already processed her by the time I got here, overalls are still on my camera." He paused, taking a deep breath because the hardest part was yet to come. "There was evidence of sexual trauma; the assault kit came back positive and ready for us to take. EMT's found her over on Eighth Avenue in only her bra and underwear, it's bagged and ready to go as well."
As he finished he glanced at his boss, trying to gauge his reaction. To say Mac Taylor was furious would be an understatement. His face was blank, but his eyes had turned almost black with emotion. And Flack wasn't much better. "Why didn't we find out when they found her?" He snapped, anger temporarily directed at whoever hadn't informed them.
"The report says that she stumbled out of the park but passed out on the way here. She had just woken up when I got here, but she still hasn't said anything to anyone."
Finally Mac spoke, his voice barely controlled "Hawkes, take everything back to the lab. Find out what Danny knows, get Lindsay and Adam as well. I want all of you on this case. They can know what happened, but I don't want this to become lab gossip. If anyone else asks this is a Jane Doe case so far."
"You got it Mac. Don't worry, Stella's strong, she can make it through this." With that he left, everything from the hospital already waiting for him in his truck.
The two men he left behind didn't speak, each lost in his own thoughts, until one of the doctors came through the double doors. "Excuse me, are you two here for Ms. Bonasera?"
"Yes, how is she?" Mac asked as the other man approached.
"Well, the good news is that there were no bones broken, though her right wrist is sprained and she'll have to wear a cast for a few weeks. CT scan showed only minor swelling, not enough to cause any damage. As for the cuts on her abdomen, they are too shallow for stitches, and should begin to heal within the next few days." He reported, noticing the relieved looks he received from the two men. "Due to her injuries, she will need to stay with someone for at least the next two weeks. Does she have any family in the area?"
Mac shook his head "No, I'm afraid she doesn't."
A slight frown crossed the doctor's face, causing him to flip through what the presumed was Stella's chart. "Well she has someone listed as next of kin. A 'Mac Taylor'. Do either of you know who this is?"
Shock coursed through Mac's system as he answered "Yes, I'm Mac Taylor." He said, unable to believe that Stella had listed him as next of kin.
"Very well then Mr. Taylor. I'm going to need to speak with you alone for a few moments." Dr. Randall said with a pointed look at Flack.
"I'm gonna go and update the others," Flack took the hint and headed for the hallway.
"Mr. Taylor, as you are listed as Ms. Bonasera's next of kin, she'll be released into your care. However, given the cause of her injuries, it may be better to place her in the care of female friend. Does she have anyone she could stay with?"
Mac thought for a moment. The only people he could think of would be either Lindsay or Angell, but neither of them had known Stella for as long as he had. "No, there's not. I'm all she has." It pained him to say those words, but they had to be said.
Randall regarded the man before him for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Ms. Bonasera is awake now if you would like to see her. She won't be released until tomorrow afternoon though, we'd like to keep her overnight for observation."
The Marine headed down the hall after the doctor, pausing a moment before pushing the door open. His heart instantly shattered at the sight before him. Stella lay in the hospital bed, her hair a wild mess on the pillow. She looked so small, so fragile lying there, her eyes darting to him in fear before he saw recognition in them. "Mac…"
In two strides he was at her side, making sure not to touch her as the doctor had suggested. There was no question she was terrified, and he didn't want to cause her anymore anxiety. Dr. Randall had informed him that many times abuse victims couldn't tell the difference between a friend's touch and a vengeful blow. So the best thing to do was to not touch her, and instead allow her to touch him first.
Kneeling beside the bed he tried to give her a reassuring smile "Hey. How you feeling?" It was a stupid question, but he didn't know what else to say.
Fighting back tears she tried to smile back, failing miserably. "Mac, I'm so sorry…I can't remember anything."
"No Stella, it's okay. That's what evidence is for." He assured her, fighting back his own tears. "What's the last thing you remember?"
"I remember us leaving the lab and going to dinner…and something about little green men?" She looked at him in confusion, hoping he could help her fill in the blanks.
"Your dinner date dumped you, so we went out instead. I asked you to call me when you got home and when you did you told me that little green men had come to make you their queen and that you wouldn't be at work." He answered, allowing a slight smile at the memory before turning serious again. "Stella, after we talked your apartment building caught on fire and destroyed your entire floor. No one was hurt, but all of your things are gone." Telling her all this now made him feel like the lowest scum on the earth, but she needed to know. "We think that's when you were kidnapped. You've been missing for almost three days." She didn't need to know about the letter and package, at least not yet.
Stella was silent as she processed all this new information. "Where am I going to stay? The nurse said I would have to stay with someone until my wrist healed." She moved her arm slightly, emphasizing her statement.
Taking a deep breath, he answered "If it's okay with you, I'd like you to stay with me. I've got a spare room, and you'd have your own bathroom. But if you want I'm sure Lindsay or Angell would be happy to have you stay with them." Mac gently suggested, just to let her know she had other options besides staying with him.
"No, no, I want to stay with you. Thank you Mac." She smiled and was about to say something else before a quiet knock on the door interrupted them.
Flack gently pushed the door open, and looked inside. "Is it alright if I come in? I brought a friend." He held out a small teddy bear from the hospital gift shop as Stella nodded, smiling at the gift. "Thought you might need someone to stay with you." Handing the bear to his friend he took a seat across from the bed from Mac, also careful not to touch her.
"I love it, thank you Don." She stared at the bear for a long moment before turning her attention back to her two friends. "Do the others know?"
Flack and Mac exchanged a glance before Mac answered "Hawkes is the one who found you, he and Danny have been assigned your case. I'm sure Lindsay and Adam know now too."
Now Flack spoke up "They do, and so does Sid. They said to please come back soon, they don't want to have to face Mac alone." All three chuckled as the small talk continued before the nurse came in to check they weren't tiring Stella out.
Soon it was time for the two detectives to leave. They promised to be back first thing in the morning to help her break out. As they left, Flack looked over at Mac. "Whatever son of a bitch did this to here better hope that someone else catches him before I do. Cause he's going to pay for what he did to her." The young detective's voice was laced with anger and venom.
"No Don. I'm going to make this bastard pay, regardless of who catches him first."
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