It's been so long but I had to find the time to type it out, enjoy!
Thank to my dear dear Lily !
I don't own the characters, they belong to CBS but boy I'd LOVE to own them, they could use some of my advice ;) See you in the comments.
Chapter 1
The La Guardia airport was full of hurried people this morning, some of them with big suitcases and others just with briefcases. People waited to meet their love ones and screamed with joy when they saw them coming, some were hugging without words, and of course there were the people nobody was waiting for.
The PA system didn't stop for a second and the noise was unbelievable it was only possible to talk with the people next to you.
In the middle of the crowd stood a bunch of great co-workers: the crime scene investigation team of New York. They waited for the New Orleans flight because on this flight was their dear Detective Stella Bonasera.
Seven months had passed since she had last been in New York. Tonight there was a big party for all the officers that had been in New York since 2005 and Lindsay had succeeded in convincing Stella to come, to take a break from her role as the chief of the Crime Lab in New Orleans. It wasn't easy but Lindsay didn't give up easily either.
They all knew Stella was engaged with an officer she had met there, it was really fast but when Lindsay told all the New York team, they all were happy for Stella. Her husband-to-be was invited also as her companion. But there was one member of the New York team who really didn't care about it at all, the person who hated parties and those big events – Mac Taylor. From the moment he had received the invitation he had wanted it to be over. Yes he'd thought about calling in sick but before he could do that, Sinclair had warned him not to. He had come to the airport only because Lindsay had begged him to come, so Stella could see all of them together. So Lindsay, Danny, Flack, Hawkes and Mac stood there waiting. 25 minutes had passed since the PA system had announced the arrival of the flight Stella was on.
"I can't wait to see her…" Lindsay said out loud.
"Baby, just relax OK? They should be here in a few minutes." Danny tried to calm his wife.
"Wait a second," Flack suddenly broke into their sentences, "I think I can see her curly hair." He pointed.
They all tried to stand on their toes to see through the crowd but only Flack could really see.
"Yes! It's her! Stella!" he shouted with enthusiasm "Look, she's is wearing a red coat!"
Mac's heart skipped a bit when he understood he was about to see Stella and tried to look at the pointed direction without anybody noticing. But the thing he saw when he finally noticed her, he didn't like and made him disappointed - she really was with someone, and they looked like they were very happy while holding hands. Did she find her new soul mate?
Stella heard someone calling her name. Although it wasn't his voice, she somehow noticed Mac first, but tried not to look at him. Instead the minute she saw Lindsay, she ran to her.
Stella hugged her but not too hard "Hey, kiddo, how are you?"
"I'm good, so happy to see you" Lindsay replied. "You remember my husband, Danny?" she teased her.
Stella hugged Danny "I think so," she said smiling. "I hope you're taking good care of your wife."
"Yes mom, of course" he grinned.
From Danny, Stella went to Sheldon and Flack and hugged them together. "How are you boys? I missed you so much".
"Now that I see you, I feel much better," Flack said releasing the grip. "I hope you really enjoy your new job, we're missing you a lot."
"Thank you Flack, it's all really great." Although she smiled as she said that, Stella knew that wasn't true.
Finally she turned to the other person present. "Hi, Mac." Stella didn't really want to but she turned to Mac and hugged him just for a moment.
He hugged her back and in a second his mind threw him to the past, his face was without expression but his heart was rapid like a tornado and he was scared she would notice so he didn't stay much longer in the hug.
The second she left Mac's hands her smile came back to her.
"Everyone," she took the hand of the man beside her. "This is Jim, my fiancé."
Everyone congratulated them, besides Mac, who only smiled a fake smile. He just couldn't believe she hadn't called him once since she had been there. How could that be? Did she forget?
"And we have another surprise for you," Stella said while smiling at Jim. She took a big breath, "We're going to have a baby!"
WHAT?! Mac was speechless. He really was going to lose his cool, he was certain, at that news.
"Oh my God! Stella, are you serious? How far are you?" Lindsay was so happy.
"Five months and a week, it surprised us but we love it." Stella tried to avoid Mac's face, she could feel it like fire on her, but now she didn't care.
"That's why you didn't hug me like you always do! You really surprised me, I can't believe it didn't slip from you in one of our conversations."
"I knew I wanted to tell you in person." Stella suddenly felt like she couldn't stand any more, she felt her legs trembling, and, she knew why. "Hey, listen, I'm really tired from the flight, so we'd better go to the hotel and see you all later in the evening, Jim?"
"Sure, honey." the handsome man next to her replied.
Jim picked up their suitcases and they began to walk towards the exit. Stella looked all round her excitedly. "Wow, I can't believe I'm in New York City again!"
Flack put his hand on her shoulder like a buddy again. "And it didn't change at all." And while they exited the airport, they all laughed together.
Except one.
-CSI: NY-
The evening came fast. They were all set to meet at 9:00 PM so they could spend the most of Stella's visit together, as tomorrow night she would leave for New Orleans again.
In the cab, Jim looked at Stella. It was obvious she was starting to regret coming to New York, it made her remember so much, it was too much.
"Are you OK, Stella?" He looked worried. "Do you want us to go back to the hotel? You're not in a condition to…"
"No, no," she cut him off. "Don't you worry about it, it will be fun. And I needed to be here so I can close this part of my life at last." She wanted to cry, but she hold her tears back so good, she even surprised herself.
When they arrived, Jim exited the cab first and took Stella's hand to help her get out from it too. She wore an ankle length black dress with sequins, cut in a way that made her look so beautiful and glamorous. Although she was pregnant her body was still thin and if you stood behind her you couldn't know she was pregnant. However, from the front, the dress made her look bigger than five months.
"You look beautiful, Stella".
"Thank you Jim, you too".
Jim was wearing a suit without a tie, she looked at him and was so glad he had come with her.
They entered together into a room full of people, some of them she knew in person and some she knew only by the stories.
Stella noticed the team at one table, Danny sat near his love, then a young girl she assumed was Flack's girlfriend, Flack, Mac, the new detective Jo Danville, who Lindsay had told her about, Hawkes and Adam. Stella took a deep breath and pulled Jim by the hand to their direction.
Flack was talking to Mac when he noticed Stella and elbowed Mac.
Mac looked up at her and thought to himself she looked stunning, like always when she wore her party outfits. But he continued to talk with Flack like he didn't care at all.
"Hi, Stella, Jim, how are you guys? Did you manage to get some sleep?" Lindsay got up to welcome them.
"Of course, the flight was exhausting."
"Good." Lindsay turned to the table, "Stella I want to introduce you, to Jo."
Jo gave her hand to Stella's. "Hey, I heard a lot about you, it's so nice to finally meet you."
"You too." Stella said with a warm smile.
"Come on, sit next to me, I want to know if they were lying when they said you were such a magnificent person." Jo said with a wink.
Hell, she was nice, Stella thought to herself, I bet Mac found in her a great friend like they used to be.
Stella took the seat next to Jo, and Jim sat next to her and Lindsay.
Between the speeches, Jo and Stella talked a lot, Stella told her about her job and Jo updated her about the gossip in the office. In all of this time Mac couldn't ignore the musical voice he missed so much. He really wanted to talk to Stella, alone.
Although Stella enjoyed talking to Jo and the others, she was really nervous. She wanted to clap her hands and disappear. Mac was so close to her and at the same time so far. He looked like always, lost in those big parties, suffering from all those crowded places. She missed him. If they could only talk for a few seconds it would make him feel better, but she didn't want to wake old memories.
Stella you have to control yourself, please, tomorrow you'll be back at New Orleans, back to your reality, to the new chapter you've opened with Jim, she said to herself.
"Thank God the speeches ended." Danny said without politeness throwing his hands in the air.
"You really suffered, huh, Messer?" Flack laughed at his comment.
Soft music began to play from the band by the stage.
"Do you want to dance, baby?" Danny asked his wife.
"I'd love to." Lindsay took his hand and after them, Flack and his girlfriend joined the dancing.
Jim looked at Stella and like they agreed without saying anything, he stood and took her hand and guided her to the dance floor.
Mac and Jo accompanied them with their looks.
"I can see why you are all so in love with her," Jo said. "I entered into big shoes".
Mac nodded, he didn't want to let his heart take control. In all of this time he had succeeded so well. Stella was part of his past, he hoped.
"You are extraordinary you know that, Jo. We make such a good team together." Although he knew that, it didn't sound right to him.
"Would you like to dance?" she asked although she already knew what the answer would be.
Mac blushed. "You know I don't like these events." While that was true, the real reason was that he couldn't stand the picture of him dancing and more than that, dancing near Stella and not with her like he used to in the past. For a moment, it made him smile when he remembered how she had finally converted him to do so over the years. How much power she had over him, but not anymore. The smile disappeared. He was a fool, and now he wanted to get some answers. He looked at the Stella he didn't know, he didn't believe that this person was his Stella.
In the meantime, Stella's mind fooled her completely. She imagined herself going to Mac and convincing him to dance just one minute with her, and in the next song two minutes, until they finally danced one full song.
Stella felt weak again and needed to sit, her mind succeeded. "I want to go back to the table." she said looking at Jim.
"Sure." He kissed her forehead and they went to sit. In that moment the song finished and the rest of the guys went back after them.
They all continued make small talk while eating their dinner. From time to time some of her ex-colleagues approached Stella and asked her how she was doing. She felt for a second so good.
"What is happening to you two?" Flack at last asked Mac quietly.
"What do you mean?" Mac didn't understand what he was talking about.
"You haven't exchanged a word with Stella since she got here. Are you two okay?"
"We talked," Mac lied.
"I was sure she would ask you to dance and we would all enjoy the game you play until she succeeds." Flack paused before he continued "I guess the distance made its effect on you two. Well, she looks happy and with a baby on the way…"
At that same time, Stella caressed her belly and the little guy in it kicked her hand. She smiled at that feeling and wished she could share that feeling with the man who once was her best friend. She wanted to talk to him so much but she was afraid the past would be back to face her.
Later that night the dances continued until the evening was about to end.
In the last slow song Stella and Jim, Flack with his girl and Danny and Lindsay danced next to each other.
Jim stroked Stella's back and in that moment Mac knew he had to have some closure.
He asked Jo to dance and although she was surprised she understood him, well, all night he had been looking at Stella and her fiancé, Jo had a sense he needed to talk to her.
Stella noticed them coming in their direction so she looked the other way.
Even so, during the dancing Mac and Stella's gaze met several times.
Leave me alone, Mac please, she begged with her look.
I just want to talk with you Stella, his look pleaded.
Mac took another breath like he really needed air.
"Go…" Jo demanded.
"What?" Mac didn't understand.
"Let me help you, boss." Jo took his hand and guided him to Jim and Stella.
Jo interrupted the dancing couple. "Jim, I heard you were such a good dancer, would you mind, Stella, if we exchange partners for a few minutes?"
Stella and Mac were confused but Jim cooperated in a second. They soon disappeared among the couples on the dance floor.
The couple left had to pretend, so Mac gently took Stella in his hands and they started to dance without looking at each other.
He missed her touch, her smell, her gentle movements, how much he missed his soul mate.
To Stella, it was like a torture, how much she missed his hands, so protective and at the same time so sensitive. She felt that shaking feeling again.
They slowly without intent, hold each other closer and closer, like they don't want to let go. Their bodies were a perfect fit.
A few seconds passed until Stella took the courage.
"Mac…"
Mac turned to her, looking at those eyes that made him weak like in the old times.
"Mac, I really need to take some fresh air." She slowed her body and started to move away from him.
"Come on, there's a balcony here."
"Alone, Mac." She let go of his hands and disappeared in the crowd.
It took him less than a second to follow her, he wanted to face her at last.
The balcony was empty and a light wind welcomed him when he exited the big crowded room.
He saw her standing near the edge, she was with her back to him.
She really tried to control her emotions but in vain.
"Stella…" He got closer and closer.
"Mac, please, go away." She only just held her tears back.
He felt anger and at the same time he felt souring. He wanted to get some answers but he just couldn't do it in one, although his heart was about to explode. "I just want to talk to you, I miss our talks, I … I missed you."
She closed her eyes and the tears fell on her cheek. Only God knew how much she missed him, but how could he be so unaware?
She wiped fast the tears. "Mac, please don't talk nonsense."
"Stella, look at me, please…"
"We have nothing to talk about, all the talks finished 7 months ago".
"Look at me," he begged, touching her left shoulder.
She wiped another tear and turned around, she couldn't look at him. She was too hurt.
Mac could see she was in tears and he hated it so much, how could she be so fake? But again it was hard for him see her like this.
He touched her chin so she would meet his eyes. "Why are you crying?" He really wanted to understand.
She moved his hand from her chin. "Mac, I moved on 7 months ago."
"I can see that," He looked just for a second to her belly and turned to the side. "It was just a play to you, hey?"
She looked at him trying to understand. "Don't try to be a victim, I was played. What a fool I was, in believing you when, it was all a lie!"
"I really thought I knew you, Stella." He turned to her again with his tense jaw. "All that you made me believe over the years with your man policy."
Her voice got louder and tears filled her eyes. "Don't you dare to talk to me like that Mac! I trusted in you! And you made me feel such an idiot!"
Mac needed to take it out of his system, "The only idiot here is me! You…you run to New Orleans and… laid down with the next man you meet?!"
TBC
I know it was rough, please DON'T KILL ME!
I Can't wait to hear what are you thinking about the first chapter...please review!
