Does this bastard son of a bitch even do anything other than sit behind his severely cluttered desk at DOJ? I mean, this man could — no, should DIE right now. Dialysis could be given to more deserving souls. And you tell people that you hail from a Catholic university.

Come on, saying stuff like these only gives them a bad name. Remember, it only takes ONE PERSON. I hope they can compensate for the negative. Because we can.

Gonzalez: UP breeds destabilizers, naked runners

By Armand Nocum
Inquirer
Last updated 02:25am (Mla time) 08/27/2006

Published on page A5 of the August 27, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THIS time Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has picked on the University of the Philippines school system, saying it mainly produces militant protesters and fraternity men and women who run around the campus naked.

“That school breeds the destabilizers that haunt the country year after year. They are acting as if they are the only ones who know how to run the country,” Gonzalez told the Inquirer yesterday.

He made it clear, however, that he was not assailing the entire university population because “there are many students there who are bright and good.”

Interviewed by phone while he was with President Macapagal-Arroyo in Guimaras, Gonzalez pointed to the Oblation run of the APO fraternity as another indication of the kind of students that came from UP.

“I doff my hat to them because they initiate the running of naked people… That’s also one kind of culture that they develop there,” he said, noting that women had begun to join the naked run as well which is held in December.

“Maybe we are going in that direction… there are now women running naked. I will not be surprised if they will go to school with only their books, nothing more,” he said.

Gonzalez made the statements while lamenting that UP was the site of numerous protest rallies and symposia calling for the resignation of President Arroyo.

“In every storm that takes place, UP students are in the forefront,” he said. “As a matter of fact, our history will show that since the martial law years, students from UP were the ones who went underground and fought the government. In fact, many of them went to China and never came back.”

Bomb-making in labs

Gonzalez said he came to see the militant activism of UP students first-hand during the First Quarter Storm of 1970 when then Sen. Genaro Magsaysay formed a panel to look into the violent protests there and he saw pillbox bombs being assembled in the school laboratories.

He said this was not the way the students should repay the government for giving them a world-class education.

“They should consider the fact that the state is the one paying for their schooling. Why fight the state? Why try to bring it down. I think some degree of gratitude should be there also,” he said.

He noted that UP had always been known as a “cradle of leadership” but he was worried that with the way some students there were acting, some serious questions would be raised about the “kind of leaders we will have in the future.”

But he said he was “not degrading UP per se,” but was only questioning the kind of students that came from it.

‘I am well-behaved’

He said the matter of the high “tolerance to education freedom” should be raised to UP officials and teachers during the annual budget hearing for the school.

Asked what school he graduated from, Gonzalez replied: “University of Sto. Tomas… that’s why I am well-behaved.”

Gonzalez is known for speaking his mind on most issues and creating controversy.

Earlier, when he was asked if he was going to arrest the widow of the late presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. for inciting to sedition when she spoke out against President Arroyo, he said she was too pretty to be arrested.

Another time when it was revealed that he was undergoing dialysis for kidney stones, he said that was not what made him launch verbal tirades against critics of Ms Arroyo.

“What does [having the] balls [to say things] got to do with that?” he said when he was asked if the painful passing of stones in his urine was the reason he was grouchy to critics and media people.

Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=17434

[You know what, step on one -- you step on all of us. Bright and good don't even cut it. It's not our fault that we can speak out without being expelled.]

You cannot understand what the Oblation Run is for until you pass UPCAT, walk the halls of Palma Hall, tread the streets under the university avenue trees. How dare you disgrace a tradition? Is that a trait of someone from *your* alma mater? Hell, I have an uncle who is a dean from UST, all my mom’s cousins are from UST and even both my parents were Tomasians and quite frankly, they are worlds apart from you.

Do you know that almost 75% of both administration and opposition politicians are products of the same university you are insulting? Insult one, insult us all. You’re lucky to be alive, man. You have a very twisted thought of being ‘well-behaved’. Tell it to the judge.

Disclaimer: Anyone you can recognize, not mine. I don’t know Aiden’s preference on pizzas but I know Danny’s. I won’t mind taking the CSI:NY team out on a power lunch though.

Always There

©Toni

Hey, Aiden, you got a minute? Great. I just need to get these things off my chest. Mac and Stella are too busy to play mommy and daddy to me, Hawkes is focused on getting on the promotion list… yeah, the one I unceremoniously exited. And the new girl, Montana, I mean, Lindsey – well, she wouldn’t understand.

I’m not feeling good lately. I don’t show it but it gets harder and harder to wake up in the morning and clock in at work everyday. It almost painful to stare down the same microscopes, walking on the same hallways, shutting the same locker door after all these years. Do you think I need a change, Aid? I’m not quite sure myself. You know you have to haul my ass over to the department shrink before I’d set foot in his office – no way I’m going there. I’m not even sure if it’s the work I’m stressed out over, among other things.

It all started when I got ‘trapped’ in that god forsaken panic room with that madman some time ago. Man, you should’ve been there! You know how I feel every time new equipment comes in the lab, right? Stop laughing! I still know my Flintstones forensics. We had the guy right there under our noses after all. But that’s not why I’m complaining… the bastard knew the master code all the while he was burning holes through the door. Can you imaging how hot it is in a room with no AC, not even windows? Er… I take that back.

I have told you about my brother Louie, have I? Well, that day, after two years with no peep from him, he calls me up, asking if I can meet him for a beer. At first, I ignored all his calls. Why would I talk to him anyway? I have my own life, a job… I’m not going to take in some slob with a perpetual open hand. I know, I know – he’s family, yet, two years? Not even my Mommy knew where he was during those times. Then poof, he calls me up. I didn’t even know he had my number. In the end, Stella talked me into it. Yeah, took her that long. Wonder how long it would take if you were the one talking to me at that time. Or better yet, what if we were trapped in there together? At least, I have someone alive there with me. You’re right… I wouldn’t trap myself at the first place if you were with me.

Aiden, I remember you telling me that we are what we are because of the things we experienced in the past. Brooklyn made you ‘Aiden’. Tanglewood made me ‘Danny’. I never really agreed with you on that; yet I know better than to disagree with Miss Aiden Burn. I still don’t. Okay, before you hit me again, let me explain. I simply think that no matter how you try to shun the past, it finds a way to catch up and overtake you. I wasn’t very good in that department, facing the past. You know me as headstrong, always going forward – not looking back. I still am.

Quite frankly, I wanted to join the gang. Louie was my hero. My old man wasn’t really the ‘superhero dad’ every little boy dreams of. Sure he took me out fishing and stuff, but I always envisioned pop and son out camping or hunting game and such. My brother was that for me; growing up as a scrawny little boy with glasses – Louie was Clark Kent and I was Peter Parker. I got this tattoo over here to prove to the gang that I was ready, even if I was barely 16 at that time. I was a week away from initiation… and they got busted. I got busted as well – by my Dad. He ‘confiscated’ my license and drove me to and from school to be sure that I won’t “end up like your good for nothing brother”. You can just imagine how embarrassing that could be for a 16-year-old.

Well, enough about that. You know, partner… you would have liked the new girl. Her name is Lindsey Monroe from Bozeman, Montana. She’s this little lady, brown-eyed, blonde. But don’t let looks deceive you – she’s a good CSI and scary in interrogation. It’s nice to have more females on the team. Hey hey, I didn’t mean it that way so don’t hit me. It hurts, you know.

No, go on… hit me. I need it. Nobody hits me anymore, sans the bitches and bastards we catch everyday. This passed year has been a constant downhill for me. First Tanglewood, then you had to go, then Tanglewood again, then Flack gets into an explosion.

He’s recovering now, but he was in a coma for about a month or so. Everyone here was pretty much down in the dumps since then; Stella had her own crap named Frankie. Yeah, I know… he’s been taken care of now, if you know what I mean.

Then you had to go… for real. Aiden, I told you that I’d take care of that prick Pratt for you. Me and Mac promised. You didn’t have to worry about him at all. But I guess, the Aiden Burn had the burning desire to throw his ass in jail and put that needle on his arm, am I right or am I right? I remember we’re supposed to watch a movie that day… on that day we… we found you.

I sat in the break room that afternoon, unmoving – in denial. My best friend’s gone… you’re gone… Aiden’s gone. Only now that I can cry about it – over you. It hit me like a baseball going 96mph. Right on the face. I couldn’t look at you, or what was left of your body. Even your picture was hard to look at, no offense. When that prick was finally caught, it took every fiber in my body to restrain myself from wringing his neck. Him being in jail doesn’t even justify what he did.

I apologize, Aid, for not saying anything at your funeral. We saw each other differently than the rest – I want to keep it that way. You’re Aiden and I’m Danny to everyone else. But for you and me, the only thing missing is we sleeping together… KIDDING! Alright, I’m joking.

You’re right, you’re too good for me. But even you have time to listen to blabber of someone like me. For that, thank you. For everything… thank you. I hope you’re alright up there. Until the next time, Aiden.

Bye.

CSINY CSINY CSINY CSINY CSINY CSINY CSINY CSINY CSINY CSINY

“Hey Danny,” Lindsey’s not so bright smile greeted me on my way back in.
”Where have you been?”

“I just met up with an old friend,” I said giving her my own sad smile. She understood.

“I see. Anyway, it’s a slow day so far. We’re ordering pizza – extra pepperoni for you?” she asked. Aiden used to give me all the pepperoni on her pizza and I exchange them for pineapple.

“Yeah, thanks.”

Lindsey walked away to Mac’s office and took his ‘order’. A few minutes later, the whole team, including Flack were crammed in the break room. We were laughing and joking – it’s like nothing happened.

Before I realize it, I was putting all the pepperoni of my pizza slice back in the box. Mac and Stella followed, then Flack and Hawkes. We explained to Lindsey that Aiden hated pepperoni. She smiled in understanding and removed hers as well.

Then, cases started coming in. We left the box and the two slices of pizza in the break room and went on to work. Getting my first coffee, I came back in, checked the pizza (if it’s still there) – and found that one slice was gone and pepperoni from that pizza was piled neatly on one side.

“Just like what Aiden would do,” I said to myself.

She’ll always be here… always there.

06.20.2006

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Anything you can recognize, not mine. The sports center is for real though. It’s in Brooklyn. The rubber ducks in this story is inspired by my little niece who just loves those cute plastic toys in her bath.

Enjoy my little story Jamalot-inspired fic. Though I didn’t provide an answer as to whom Mac was with the first time he watched a roller derby, I provided Smackers a second date. Please R&R and THANKS A LOT!

Rubber Ducks on Skates

© Toni

There was no girlfriend.

He insisted that his trip to the roller derby wasn’t a date. After all, who would consider a trip to a roller derby a ‘date’? Mac can do better than that. Yeah, Stella – he took you to a dog show once. But hang on, that wasn’t a date. It was a treat… and you made him pay up because he lost in your bet. You never went out on a date with Mac; he’s your boss, your friend.

And yet, his smile said otherwise when you asked him which was fun… the game or the date. So it was a date. Dang, with whom? With that ‘Rose’ woman you questioned and he sort of saved in a case last year? Well, she’s pretty – blonde, motherly, smart – his type. But she’s not the roller derby type of woman. Hell, for all I know she could’ve taken him to a bake fair or some flea market of some sort.

Wait a sec, Stella… why are you even asking these questions? You’re not jealous, are you? The lack of information after his supposed date with her drove you mad after all. It wasn’t like Mac to withhold such info from you; you were open (slightly) with him when it came to your personal relationships. He went to cry on your shoulder when Claire died. He stayed at your place for a week after her funeral. And he kept you safe during all your vulnerable moments. And a simple date, he wouldn’t spill? That kept you awake at night, did it, Bonasera?

You knew Mac since he and Claire moved to New York. They were your next-door neighbors in your old apartment complex. He still lives there now… alone… not even a pet to accompany him. In fact, you rarely see him out of the lab. It’s the lab, a crime scene, Sullivan’s, that secret place he hangs out in, or cooped up in his office. Sometimes a colleague would invite the team over at their place for a drink or dinner but Mac only came with you guys a handful of times… or if you’re the one who invited. The ‘old’ Mac never came back after he promised, “Just give me some time. I’m sure I’ll get through this.” Yeah, right.

There was no girlfriend.

Then who took him? Danny? Sheldon? Donny? Sid? Or maybe it’s Jane. They’ve been very chummy lately. Plus, Mac listens to her, talks to her. Bonasera, stop it before you pull your hair straight. Enough with these theories about who went out with whom. Especially, who went out with Mac. Concentrate on the evidence you’re processing. Listen to the song on the iPod (‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’ – not really a good choice considering the things swimming in your head right now). Answer your phone.

“Bonasera,” you answer out of impulse.

“Since when do you answer my call like that, Stell?” his voice says over the earpiece. “Your phone have been ringing a full minute and I have called you two times before you finally answered.” Find your voice, Stella. Say something. “Are you alright? You seem a little out of breath.”

Finally! “No, I’m good. Just a little distracted from the iPod. Hawkes let me borrow his. So what’s up? Any leads?”

“Turn around,” Mac says. And like an obedient cat, you do. “Hi there.” For a rare moment there, he was smiling and he waved.

“Hi,” you wave back. Both of you click off and he enters the layout room. “What’s with the light mood?” The particular case you both are working on is pretty heavy… a ten-year-old boy found in a dark alley being feasted on by cat-sized rats, brutally beaten and sodomized. Seeing Mac smiling like this – on a case like this – is uncommon.

Pulling on a lab coat, Mac sits down beside you. “Flack caught the guy who did this to little Todd. Guilty conscience got the best of him; he confessed an hour ago. We have more than enough evidence against him.” He’s still smiling. “Now, you’ve been so engrossed in this case that you forgot something.”

You? Forget something? “Uh… I guess, I have been occupied. What did I miss?” Yeah, you have been busy thinking about something… or someone. And that someone is sitting right in front of you.

“Think harder, Stella. Dig deeper,” he says. “What day is it today?”

“A Friday,” you say, not really in the mood to play guessing games. The iPod in your ear is now playing ‘My Funny Valentine’ (Gee, Sheldon has good taste in music). “It’s not Valentine’s Day, is it?” He shakes his head no. “And certainly it’s not the 4th of July because I’m working.” You reserved ALL your 4th of July days your entire career for your official ‘bum out’ day. “Spill.”

“Come on, Stell,” he says smiling, “you can do better than that.” You raise your eyebrow and pout. “Tell you what, why don’t you head on home, worry about paperwork tomorrow. I’ll clean this up for you. And in about two hours, let’s meet up at this address,” he says handing you a piece of folded paper. You don’t look at it right away.

“Alright then, Mac. If you say so,” you exit the layout room and pack up your things in your locker.

Stella Bonasera. Hey, it’s just a night out with Mac. It’s not like this is your first time out with him. In fact, this was your routine not long ago. Once a week, every week. So why are you having trouble deciding on what to wear? This. Is. Not. A. Date. Tell yourself that because it isn’t. You haven’t even looked at the paper yet and here you are throwing your closet apart.

Maybe reading the address of your rendezvous can calm you down… or not. Oh no, this can’t be the right place. Maybe Mac gave you the wrong address. Here? Tonight?

“What are you up to, Mac?” you say to yourself right after you read the note. Dress casually, it said on the bottom part of the note. This address can’t be the right place… no way.

The Schwartz Athletic Center

You pick out your favorite pair of jeans and a dark green tank top with a yellow rubber duckie decal on the front. Flack gave you that for Christmas after you told the team that’s something you still have in your tub over Truth or Dare. You thought it was cute of Donnie, Jr. Of course, Mac laughed like crazy when you answered the door not long ago wearing that. So you know he’ll like your get-up.

You put some fragrance and a bit of make-up on yourself and head out the door. It’ll be a long drive to that place he picked for this da… uh, treat. As Danny likes to say, “Traffic if murder.” Tonight is not an exception.

Mac’s already there when you arrive. And for the most unusual of days, he’s wearing faded jeans and a white t-shirt under his NYPD jacket. Yeah, that’s Mac… there’s a piece of work everywhere he goes. He sees you and almost bites back a laugh.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want, Taylor,” you snap at him giving him your stare. His shoulders are shaking violently and he gives out a loud guffaw. “So why here of all places?”

He stops laughing finally when you start to blush. Maybe wearing the duck shirt isn’t a good idea. Bleah, what the heck. He’s seen you in worse. One day he’ll get that this is one of your favorite shirts. And besides, it’s nice to see Mac laughing again. Catching his breath, he manages to point to the sign above the stadium gates.

Bronx Babes Roller Derby

A look of disbelief spread on your face. “Mac, are you frickin’ serious?” He nods and hands you a ticket. He takes your hand and starts to guide you to the gates. Your feet carry you to where he’s leading, and it’s starting to get cold. The only warmth you’re feeling is his hand on yours… then it moves to the small of your back as he leads you to your seats.

“Stella, are you okay?” he shakes you out of your trance. “Hey, if you don’t like it here, we can go some place else. I got these tickets for free anyway.” He’s still holding your hand, his face too close, almost touching your curly hair.

Your neck muscles finally work and you meet his gaze. He seemed really concerned. Yeah, Bonasera – you would too when someone clams up just like that over a roller derby invitation. Your voice works a few moments later, “Yeah, Mac. I’m fine. Just a bit… uh… shocked. I mean, a roller derby?”

“Oh come on, Stell,” he reasons, handing you a flag. “It’s not like you haven’t been in one before.”

“Haha, I have. But during that time, it was a crime scene. Not a real game.”

“I rest my case,” he smirked. “Besides, I know you’re familiar with the team we’re here for,” he said pointing on the flag he just gave you. Manhattan Minx.

“Oh yeah, how’d you know that I won’t be cheering for the Bronx Babes?” you tease, batting your eyelashes. Wait a minute Stella; you’re not flirting with Mac, are you? He didn’t have time to reply because the game was about to start.

Flashes of red and white zoom on the rink as the Manhattan Minx appear one by one. Almost all of them are familiar… with a new face, probably to replace ‘She Hate Me’. You always thought there’s something grammatically wrong with that name but hey, who cares? Leave the Stella the Scientist for a while; have fun. You smile at Mac when one of the girls (Lindsey refers to her as Mac’s girlfriend, right?) winks at him and he blushes.

Then the Bronx Babes fill the other end of the rink. The crowd goes crazy as both teams start the jam. And boy, who knew watching girls on roller skates, trying to bring each other down is so much fun? “Mac does,” you say to yourself sneaking a glance at him and smiling because he’s genuinely having fun, screaming himself hoarse as the Minx score once more. You avert your attention back to the jam and like him, scream and yell your support for the Minx.

In the end, your bet won – the new girl “Roller Betty” proving to be as popular as her predecessor. It was early that night (for both of you anyway), and you decide to have dinner. Mac was babbling how great the game was as if you weren’t beside him, losing your mind. He even bought you those red headbands with cat ears on them and M-I-N-X at the middle in big white letters. “Looks good on you,” he said pausing to take a picture on his phone. You were too tired to chase him around the block for that. Yeah, and he thought the duck shirt was bad.

“Just don’t let the whole lab see that picture, Mac or you’re dead,” you laugh along with him. “I’m a pretty good CSI and I know too well how to commit a perfect crime.” He picked the ever-delectable McDonald’s to get food. “And by the way, it’s nice to finally meet your girlfriend. Lindsey and Flack have told me a lot about her.”

“Hey, easy there partner,” Mac said surrendering. Partner. It’s been a while since he called you that. “Okay, tell you what – if you tell me what day it is today, we’ll forget all about the picture. Deal?”

“Mac, I told you. It’s Friday. What with today anyway?” you’re getting frustrated. “Deal or no deal, Mac – we’re forgetting that horrid picture.”

He pouts. Mac Taylor actually pouts. “Oh I’m sure Danny and Sheldon wouldn’t let it die when they ‘accidentally’ see this in the mug shot database. Not to mention, Flack would probably put this on his PC wallpaper.”

“Oh it will be a mug shot after I’m through with you, Taylor,” you laugh flicking a French fry at him. “Come on, spill. What’s with today?”

He puts a medium-sized pink box on the table between the both of you. “You’re working way to hard, Stella Bonasera.”

“Look who’s talking,” you chuckle. Then it dawns on you. “Oh crap, I forgot! I can’t believe I forgot!”

“Happy birthday, Stella,” he says softly with a wide smile.

With shaking hands, you untie the big bow on the box and inside are eight different colored rubber duckies. “Mac, what’s this?”

There is a note under each of the ducks. You pick up the pink one, from Lindsey: Thanks for the warm welcome. And thanks for fending Danny off sometimes. Happy birthday. And speaking of Danny, Hey how are you doing? Happy birthday! Stella, you don’t look your age. Stay beautiful. Ever the flirt, Danny Messer. He picked the green duck. I know Flack beat him to the blue. He picked the one as blue as his eyes. The other ducks are from Sheldon, Jane, Adam, Sid and the red one is from Mac.

“So why did you pick red,” you ask before reading his note. You turn the duck over and it simply read: Thanks for going out with me. “That’s all, Mac? Lost for words?”

He was silent, looking at you with familiar eyes. You’ve seem that look before… it’s the same look you see him give his late wife. “Stella, I…” he starts taking your hand in his. “I was thinking about this for a long time.” He sighed again and his thumb drew circles on your palm. “After the towers fell… I realized how short our time here on earth is. That day, I didn’t have the chance to tell Claire I love her. It was all a blur to me and it was too late when I saw it. Anything can happen in a blink of an eye – too many lost moments. Stella, I…”

You knew what he was going to say. The tears threatening to spill from his eyes were enough to tell you what it is. You took that moment. The place was nearly empty; with the Ronald McDonald mascot as your only witness, you two shared a long-awaited kiss.

07.08.2006

A LITTLE MAC MAN

© TONI

It’s not all the time Mac gets time off from work. I mean, of course he does have the mandatory week-off every quarter, but he seldom avails of them. He loves being in CSI, being in the force – it’s his life. I remember before he would work even on his off days. Danny would trade off Mac’s off days in exchange for extra workdays. The younger CSI would not get it but he gets kicks out of being in Mac’s hair all the time.

Now, Mac makes sure that he’s making most of those days off. Especially since three years ago; his life changed – our lives changed – for the better.

We’ve been friends since he and his late wife, Claire, moved to New York. We were next-door neighbors. They were the perfect couple: loving, understanding, and caring. Mac was happiest with her. Until 9/11 took her away from him. He never smiled the same smile again. His work became his life – rarely rested or slept. It took him a while to accept the fact that he needs to be taken care of too. I tried to be there for him as much as I can, and I think I did a pretty good job. Year after year, he learned to smile again. I admire this man very much. He said he admired me too. I don’t know why, but he did. Somewhere inside me said that maybe he’s ready… but for what? I don’t want to be Claire’s replacement. She still held his heart.

I remember working one case with Mac; he found a kid in a museum without his parents. Mac took him in, even delaying the report to child services. He played ‘daddy’ to that kid Sam, giving him a proper lunch before giving him candy, getting him clothed. Lindsey thought she’ll never see the day. Quite frankly, me neither. Sam looked at Mac with a smile – and he smiled back. After the case, after Sam left with his parents, Mac and I were having a late dinner. He had a dopey smile pasted on his face. I asked him why and he brushed the subject off.

I know what that smile was for. He and Claire didn’t have kids. Sure they tried but I think Claire was the one who gave up. After all, she was a career woman. But deep inside, I felt that Mac wanted to have a kid. I saw – we all saw – how he was with little Sam. I personally saw how his eyes lit up when I asked him if he pretended to be a super hero when he was a kid. Imagine a little Mac man!

I never brought the ‘kid subject’ up again. Okay, once I did. But instead of smiling, Mac had the look of longing instead. Cases with children were particularly hard for him, so he let me handle it. But he’ll be breathing down my neck all the time. He’s busy with his own cases but he would have time to check up on my case… or just checking up on me, if I was okay.

One of the traits I admire about Mac was being self-less. He gives everything for his loved ones, leaving just a little for himself. That’s why I have appointed myself to be the one caring for him… until he tells me to quit it. (As if I would.)

Through the years, I accepted that fact that he’s untouchable. From me anyway. He likes women who are motherly, who knows her way around the kitchen, smart and pretty. Okay, I have one – smart – but as for the others? Er… I was told that I was the only one who could bring a M16 in his office in rage and he’ll be cool with it. And I’m better with mixing chemicals than cooking food. Never in a million years did I imagine that I’ll be where I am now…

“You guys be careful, okay?” I yell over the happy chatter of kids playing in the park this wonderful Sunday morning.

“We will, Mom! Because I’m a super hewo!” my three-year-old son Michael cried back. “Come on, Daddy.”

I settle myself on an empty park bench, a picnic basket on my left and my husband’s bag on my right. I finally am on my maternity leave, something I was looking forward to. I can spend time with my son and that means my husband, Mac would gladly max out on his days off so he can be home with us.

Yeah, Mac Taylor. My husband. Although at work, he insisted that I still use ‘Bonasera’ to avoid confusion. You can’t have two Detective Taylors in the same team. We have come a long way from being neighbors to being a happily married couple. We have been for five solid years now. And we have a little boy already. His name is Michael David and he’s three years old.

Mac and I getting married came as a surprise for the whole lab – even for the both of us. When our ‘more-than-friends’ relationship blossomed, we tried to keep it under wraps, testing the deeper waters and acting as natural as before. Until maybe we realized that we have known each other enough that a long engagement wasn’t necessary. So one summer day after shift, we secretly passed around invitations to our closest friends. Mostly just the people in our shift: Danny, Sheldon, Lindsey, Sid, Flack, Adam and Pino. We had some – emphasis on some – friends outside the job who came to our wedding that same afternoon. Mac was scared that they had something planned for the day already but they all attended our ceremony held at our new, recently bought house.

The next day, we went back to work. So much for a honeymoon. But he did treat me to a nice dinner at the Hilton that week! Then took me to the zoo. We both agreed that we’ll enjoy our first year of marriage, just the two of us.

But trying for a kid was a bit harder for us. It took us two years before we conceived Michael. Mac was so involved during those nine months that he even used his sick leaves to be with me. It was a fairly easy pregnancy for me but labor… was hell. Mac and Danny were out on a case then where they had to go to Albany to catch the perp. I was talking on the phone with him when the contractions kicked in. The good thing was they were already on their way back.

He had Flack rush me to the hospital. Don’s sweet like that, staying with me when I need somebody. It took Mac six hours to get back and we waited six more hours until I was ready to deliver. I probably broke one or two of Mac’s metacarpals during the whole ordeal but it was well worth it. Michael was born exactly 8lbs.

During those times, I was thinking of taking a break from CSI. Mac gave me a green light on it so I became a stay-at-home mommy for Mike. Only when he turned three did I decide to go back to work.

Everybody in the lab loves Mike. My little one especially has a fondness for Danny. I’m not exactly sure if that’s a good thing but at least we have a free babysitter. Mike would be sitting by Danny’s feet playing with his trucks, blocks and army men while the Danny’s typing up his report. He likes Flack too. Oftentimes, he’ll be in the break room on Flack’s lap playing airplanes and copters. Lindsey would amuse him by telling him stories about horses and showing him pictures of the ones she has on their ranch in Montana. He would run to Hawkes as soon as we arrive at the lab asking for a cherry-flavored Tootsie pop.

I would always ask Mac if he would want another baby. He said, “It’s up to you, Stell. I mean, Mike’s a handful already. Just settle back to your job and we’ll talk about this again, okay?”

You know what, we never did talk about it. A few months after I went back to my old post in CSI, I got pregnant again. It was unexpected but to tell you the truth, I really wanted to have another baby. I asked Mac about it because I wasn’t sure if he felt the same way as I did. I’m glad that he did. We both wanted a girl this time.

“Daddy, this way!” I could hear him say. My boys are in the sand box, pretending to be on the moon and chasing duck-shaped aliens (the stationary rides). “Zap! Take that you alien ducky!”

Mac tied a little red towel around our son’s shoulders and was carrying him around like he was flying. They wore identical smiles and the same twinkle in their eyes. He waved at me and I waved back, my right hand caressing my bulging tummy. I could feel our little baby move around a bit. A few more months and there’ll be another little one with us here.

“Hi Mommy!” Mike calls from Mac’s shoulders. “I’m a superhero! Whee!” Mac sat him down next to me and the little guy snuggled closer. “I can fly, Mommy!”

“Oh yes, you can, baby boy,” I coo to him. Mac held me closer. Being sandwiched by my two boys is the best feeling in the world. “Save the world for me, hun?”

“Yesh, I will,” he said looking up with his big twinkling eyes. “But I will save you first, Mommy! And Daddy, too.” I couldn’t help but hold him closer and rain him with kisses. Then he jerks back, “Ooh, something’s moving,” he cried out putting his palms on my tummy.

“Mikey, that’s someone,” Mac said ruffling our son’s hair. He has his chin on my shoulder. “It’s your little sister in there.”

“Huh? How’d she get in there?” he asked, having the same ‘how did this happen’ look in his eyes as his father.

I looked at my husband and just smiled. He’s not even in his teen years and we were feeling very uncomfortable with the very thought of that subject. “Uhm… let’s just say, Mikey that,” Mac stammered, “that your Mommy and I told someone that we wanted a baby sister for you. And that guy said okay.”

Still with that look, Mike asked, “But why izzit inside Mommy?”

“Well, Michael,” I said. Now, he knows that he has to stop with the questions. “Uh, do you want a pretzel?” Lame, I know.

“Yes, mommy. Thank you,” he said defeated – but still cute. Mac chuckled from behind me. He was caressing my tummy and it felt so good. “Daddy, save the world?”

Mike was munching on a cheese muffin on his left fist and his right hand extended in a Super Man position with his daddy swinging him around. I pretended to be scared of the butterfly flying in front of my face. My baby boy decided to play superhero again.

Finally, both of them got tired and we decided to go home. In the car, Mike was at the verge of sleeping. He said, “Mommy, I know my super name now.”

“What is it, baby?” I asked caressing his brown and slightly wavy hair.

“Mac Man!” he said in a sleepy voice. And he dozed off, sucking one corner of his red ‘cape’.

I look at my loving husband and then my son and down to my pregnant stomach. Mac takes my hand and gives me a kiss. “My hero,” I murmur before taking a nap of my own.

27.08.06

This is my first Flaiden fic.  So be nice.  Thank you!

TOKENS

© CATE

Detective Donald Flack is staring at a box in front of him.  It was his first day back at his apartment after a three-and-a-half-month stay in the hospital.  His wounds are still healing; painful at times, but Danny or Stella promised they would drop by from time to time to help him get back on his feet.  As he was sitting there, Danny was in his scarcely used kitchen plating the Chinese takeout they bought on the way to his apartment.  As usual, he was babbling away on how lucky Don is that he’s on a paid leave and the city mayor will award him and Mac honors.  But Don wasn’t hearing any of it.  He doesn’t even care.  His attention is to the box on his bare coffee table.

It was taped shut but he knew what was inside.  It was unmarked but he knew where it’s from.  Danny brought it with him in his car, having stopped over one more apartment before picking him up from the hospital.  Don hasn’t even touched it – but he was feeling the weight of the box.  It’s from her… this is what she left him with.  A heavy heart and this box.

^Flashback^

It was Stella’s birthday and she decided to take them, including Mac to the most unlikely place imaginable… the arcade.  Danny, Aiden, Sheldon and Flack were elated by the change of venue this year (last year was in an art museum courtesy of that guy Frankie).  Mac was hesitant to join them but well, he can’t say no to Stella.

After a light lunch, they went straight to the arcade.  Stella gave them $50 each to blow on tokens and the one with the longest and most number of tickets at the end of the $50 would receive another gift from the birthday girl.  She insisted that she’ll do the gift giving this year.  Yet, that hasn’t stopped Mac from giving her a teddy bear.  As much as he denied it, Danny’s insistence caused the former Marine to spill.  Mac was blushing the whole afternoon.

After exchanging the money for tokens, Sheldon went straight to the fighting games.  He loves boxing.  Don was successful in luring Mac to the racing games.  Aiden was unsure where to go, her pockets heavy with tokens.  Before Danny walked away to the basketball hoops, he said, “Hey, Aiden… Whack-A-Mole and Hungry Betty just around that corner, past the Dance Dance Revolution machines.  I’m sure you’ll have a blast!”  Then he walked away winking and smiling.

“Yeah, Messer… tell me if you want a one-on-one on DDR, okay?” she yelled back.  He’s the only one who got into her nerves like that.  But it was all friendly banter.  He’s her best guy friend after all.  Stella was busy playing hyper hockey already with a teenager (and winning), which left her at the verge of following Danny’s directions.  She wasn’t much of an arcade girl; she’s more reading and music.  So she decided to give in, “Damn, that Danny has the ability of persuasion,” she said to herself as she slipped a token in the Hungry Betty machine.

Hungry Betty is a kiddy arcade game where you throw plastic balls into the mouth of a mascot ‘Betty’.  The mouth is moving left to right as well as opening and closing.  All you have to do is to throw as many balls to beat the previous player’s score.  Aiden looked around, she was the oldest in the room, sans the parents looking after their kids.  In no time, she won ribbon after ribbon of tickets just playing machines and machines of kid games.  Standing up to stretch her legs, her pocket still heavy with tokens.

“Hey miss!” a little blond girl cried out.  “You have a lot of tickets with you there.  You must be a good whacker,” she said, ringlets of hair framing her chubby face.  “Can you help me whack those moles?  I really want to win enough tickets for that chemistry set.”  She clambered up Aiden’s leg while babbling, “Pretty please?  I can see your police badge so I know you’re a good person.”  Oh, she forgot to take off her badge.

Aiden was surprised.  “Why do you want to win the chemistry set?” she asked placing the girl, Shiloh, on her lap. Shiloh’s mom was watching not far away, waving at them.  “There is a nice Pikachu doll over there and I think you have enough tickets for it.”  Pokemon was one of Aiden’s guilty pleasures.  She told no one about it.

“No, I already have one like that. My Daddy bought it for me on my 7^th birthday,” she smiled.  “I want to be like Catherine Willows!  CSI!” the little girl cried out.  CSI is a TV show set in Las Vegas doing something like what Aiden does for a living.

“You know what, Shiloh,” Aiden said bouncing her up and down, “I’m a crime scene investigator, too,” she showed the little girl her ID.  “Alright then, let’s win those tickets!”

^End of Flashback^

Danny placed a plate of food on the spot beside Don.  He sat on the lounge chair opposite his friend and tried to make a conversation.  But everything seems to end up being about her. 

“I miss her too, you know,” Danny finally said.  “We were actually planning a surprise birthday party for you a week before she…” he trailed off, tears threatening to spill from his eyes.  “She suggested a trip back to the arcade.  And… she challenged me to a DDR match.”

Don was quiet, chewing his food slowly.  Downing his red iced tea and pouring himself another glass, he finally talked.  “Did she say anything about the UFO machine?”  It’s the machine filled with stuffed toys and you have to use a crane to win a toy.  “She never got the hang of that.”

The CSI chuckled, “Yeah, she told me that she had been practicing.  Maybe she was already good at it, she could barely contain herself when she was telling me about it.”

Don just smiled.

^Flashback^

After she accompanied Shiloh back to her mom, complete with the chemistry set, Aiden decided to cool off for a moment.  Her arms were sore from whacking almost a hundred moles and her thighs were a bit tired from the bouncing 7-year-old. 

On her way to the soda bar, she saw Danny and Sheldon in a heated 12-round battle in Tekken Tag with Flack watching. She bought four colas and brought it over to the boys.  Round six and Sheldon has the upper hand.  Flack was cheering for the Doc and taunting the CSI.  “Aiden, how about a little love?” Danny pleaded as his character received another blow.

“Fat chance, Danny – I have sore arms from all the moles and crocs to whack,” she joked back.  She was standing next to Flack, feeling the warmth of his chest against her back.  The low-pitched chuckles from the detective felt good.

“Concentrate Messer,” Sheldon joked as Danny lost again.  “Or do you need a soda?”  When he didn’t receive an answer, he looked up seeing the two CSIs and the detective staring at the exchange counter… at Mac giving Stella a huge stuffed pig.  “So they’re official then.”

“I guess so,” Danny smiled.

Aiden finished her soda and threw away the can.  She left the boys to their game. She knew what she’ll play next.  “Stella’s not the only one who’ll have stuffed toys today,” she said to herself.  Her machine of choice glowed cheerily in front of her… The UFO Machine.

^End of Flashback^

“She busted almost $10 on her first try on that machine,” Don said chuckling a bit.  “She wanted to get that pink round thing… I forgot what name she called it.”

“That Pokemon thing?” the CSI continued.  Don nodded.  “D’you know that it held a special place in her locker?”

“Did it?”

“Yeah… right on top.  Where she’ll easily see it.”  Danny finished off his plate.  “Who got her that anyway?”

Don smiled again.

^Flashback^

“Damn it!” Aiden muttered under her breath.  “Stupid frickin’ machine.”

“Hey, watch the language, Burn.  There are a lot of kids here,” Flack said from behind her.  “How much?”

“$9.50.  Has anybody beaten this game before?  I mean, all I want is a Jigglypuff,” she huffed. 

Flack leaned on the UFO Machine beside Aiden’s.  “A what puff?” he asked.  Her cheeks glowed pink while she glared at the taller detective as if threatening him.  “Alright, between you and me.”

She sighed and gave up.  “A Jigglypuff.  It’s a Pokemon.”  She turned to face the machine and pointed to around pink thing at the middle. “That stuffed toy over there.  It’s the only one left and I want it.  But I can’t.”  She was fishing out another token from her pocket when Flack snatched it from her.  “Hey, hey…that’s mine!”

The taller detective just smiled as he put the token through the slot.  Aiden let him play.  “Watch the master in action,” he said suavely.  The CSI could just watch in awe as Flack operated the crane, got the toy amidst the yellow Pikachu and light pink Chansey, and dropped the bright pink Jigglypuff into the chute.  “Here you go,” he said picking it up and handing it to Aiden – who has her mouth hanging open.

“Thank… you… Don,” she stuttered.  “How’d you…”

“Be one with the crane, Aiden… one with the crane.”

Aiden got her remaining tokens and handed it to Don. “Do it again.  I want that one,” she smiled pointing at the Pikachu.  “Please?”

Don laughed out loud.  “No need to give me your tokens… I have my own,” he said slipping another token into the machine.  “Pikachu, right?”  Aiden looked at him and grinned.  “Try having 2 nieces.”

“Don’t worry about it.  I have 5,”she said as she watched the master do it one more time.  Don handed her the toy.  “Boy, I could just kiss you right now.”

“Hey… no one’s stopping you,” he joked.  “Pucker up then.”

“Nah, too many kids…” she said back at him.

“And Danny…” they said in unison.

^End of Flashback^

Don just laughed all of the sudden.  Danny rushed back from the kitchen, surprised at his friend’s sudden burst.  “Don, you okay?  Head hurt?”

“No, Dan – I’m okay,” he said coming down from his high.  “Need help with the dishes?”  Danny shook his head and sat back down on the couch.  “Danny, it’s getting late.  You have work tomorrow.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it,” he said.  “Unless you frog march me outta here, I ain’t budging.”

They laughed.  “I don’t think I’m up to that right now, Messer.  But I would appreciate some time alone, if you don’t mind.”  Danny understood.

“Speed-dial number 4, okay Don?” he said before going out the door. 

Now alone, the detective decided to see what’s in the box.  Breathing deeply despite of the sharp pain on his side, he peeled off the tape holding the box together.  He nearly laughed out loud when several stuffed toys fell out of it and bounced off the coffee table.  Pink, purple, yellow, green, red, blue – a myriad of colors, of different sizes and shapes now cluttered his floor, table and lap.  “What were you up to, Aiden?” he asked himself picking up a very familiar Jigglypuff off the floor. 

Everything smelled like her.  Especially this particular toy – “Maybe she hugged this puff when she’s sleeping,” he thought to himself, hugging it as well.  There were more or less 30 toys in the box, and she left all of it to him.

At the bottom of the box, was another.  It was wrapped in colorful paper and it had a bow on it.  He remembered what Danny said, “We were planning a surprise birthday party for you.”  This was her gift.

He read the card on it… it simply read, I’ve been practicing.  He ripped the paper apart and smiled; it was a heart-shaped pillow.  There was a message written on it:

I’ve always loved you.

“I do, too, Aiden.”

08.09.06