Title: M is for Mentor
Author: stellaluna_
Rating: PG
Pairing: Mac/Riley Finn
Note: CSI: NY/Buffy crossover
Summary: Written for neviditelny.
Disclaimer: None of these are mine. Characters are the property of Anthony Zuiker, Jerry Bruckheimer Television, CBS, and Alliance Atlantis.

***


Mac goes out for a drink with Riley Finn against his better judgment. "A half-hour," Finn says. "Just listen to me for that long," and Mac figures it's the least he can do for a fellow Corps man.

When Finn finishes talking, Mac sits back and shakes his head. "Are you out of your mind?" he asks.

Amazingly, Finn smiles. "I knew you would say that." He pushes the manila folder full of photos back across the table. "But can you deny the evidence?"

Mac doesn't look; he knows what's there, and thinking about it too much makes him feel sick. "You know how easy this sort of thing is to fake?"

"Yes. But these aren't fake."

"Even if I accept that -- " (And he can't, God, he can't, not ever in a million years.)

"Come with me," Finn says. "See the research facility. Hear the rest of my proposal."

"I'm a cop now. I'm not -- "

"But you're still a Marine, sir," Finn says. "And I have no intentions of taking you away from New York for good. That's the point. I need a police department liaison, someone I can trust."

This day has become far too surreal. "And that's me?"

Finn leans forward. "That's you."

"But I don't even know...know how to deal with any of this. What the protocol is."

"I'll teach you everything you need to know." Finn taps the folder. "I'm trained in this. I'll be your Yoda."

Mac almost laughs at the idea, but then he looks into Finn's eyes, really looks, and those eyes are much older than the rest of him. Finn can't be more than 28, 30 at the most, but his eyes are deep, and somewhere in those depths, Mac thinks there are trapped screams. Old eyes, young face, and Finn's hands and arms are covered with twisted scars. One on his bicep looks like a healed puncture wound, like it was made by something with big teeth.

"All right, I'll come," Mac says. "I'm not saying that I'll say yes or even that I believe you yet, but I'll come."

Finn's smile grows wider. "That's all I ask. Let me buy you another drink."

He touches Mac's arm, and even his fingertips feel like they're covered in scars.

***