Disclaimer: If the other whoknowshowmany stories I've written aren't an indication – none of this belongs to me. Sadly.

Rating: K+

Category: SMacked, Drama, angst, DL established

Spoilers: Um, go with first 3 seasons – but random stuff.

Author: Traci

Summary: A long day goes horribly worse for Mac and Stella. Will Stella survive the most recent attack on NY? Will Mac survive if she doesn't?

Author Note: I love fluff but don't usually write it. This is definitely NOT a fluff piece but may be a bit out of character for Mac – although, given the circumstances, it wouldn't surprise me if he did react the way he does here. Oh, and took a bit of creative liberties on the medical stuff involving Stella :D. It's been soooooo long since I wrote real angst – I soooo missed it!!!! Oh, and the misquotes of Stella's lines are all my fault – I'm too lazy today to go back and watch the eps to get them 100 right. Sorry.


A Hairsbreadth Away


It had been a very long day for CSI's Mac Taylor and Stella Bonasera. It started with an early morning call about a murder that had sent Stella back to the lab and Mac across the river to New Jersey. Once there, he found he needed Stella there so, leaving things to the other very capable lab techs, Stella drove through the tunnel and met up with her partner.

Rush hour had already begun by the time they finished up at the extended scene enough to leave.

"I'm sorry you got stuck driving too, Stella," Mac had offered as she opened the driver's door.

She turned and grinned at him. "You owe me one and don't think I won't make you pay!" With a laugh, she climbed in, closed the door and rolled down the window. "Are you following me?"

He nodded. "If I lose you, I won't be far behind. Dinner after we get back?"

"You'd better believe it!"

Mac got into his own SUV and waved for her to go first. Amidst the traffic to the Lincoln Tunnel, he ended up being about fifteen cars behind Stella. It took them nearly an hour just to make it through the tolls of the tunnel only to be met with more standstill traffic. Another twenty minutes and Mac was only a few car lengths into the tunnel. He figured Stella was at least halfway through if not more. Picking up his cell phone to call, he found little to no reception. With a sigh, he yawned then froze in an instant.

A loud explosion resounded through the tunnel followed by a bright flash of light.

"No, not Stella, please not Stella," he muttered pushing the driver door open and running towards the scene, fighting his way through the masses that were forcing him further away from Stella. With determination, he managed to make his way against them to find the burning remains of a van and numerous cars all piled atop each other.

"Stella?" he cried. "Stella?" He coughed and covered his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt. "Stella?"

His heart stopped as his eyes fell upon a mass of curls lying face down on the road in a pool of blood. Please, don't be Stella. Kneeling down, he carefully moved her hair from the side of her face and sighed. It wasn't her. With a bit of guilt over his relief, he continued walking around. Thick smoke impaired a clear view.

"Stella?"

Mac finally found Stella standing against a wall among the wreckage. As he approached her, his heart pounded faster. She looked a bit woozy but, more than that, her face was red with fresh blood.

"Stella?"

She dazedly looked towards the voice but barely registered it.

Reaching her, Mac cupped her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. "Stella," he repeated. The blood was warm and sticky against his palms but he did not care.

"M…Mac?" she asked, still seeming confused. "What happened?"

"We have to get out of here, are you okay to walk?"

Stella took a step and nearly fell over. "No."

With a sigh, he searched for somewhere they could sit and he could attend to her wounds. "Come on," he gently told her, sliding an arm around her waist to help steady her. He led her just a little away from the burning cars, far enough to be able to take a look at her wounds but not far enough to wait for help. He was grateful the explosion had not stopped the large exhaust fans from working thus bringing in some air at least.

Once seated, Mac pulled out a few of the napkins he had retrieved from the car and began to wipe away the blood from around her eyes then her cheeks. Finding only a few slightly large gashes on her forehead that had already stopped bleeding, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Stella, stay with me."

Her eyes found his. "Mac? When did you get here?"

Mac froze for a brief moment before covering his own fears and realizations so as not to upset her. Forcing a smile, he replied, "A few minutes ago. Do you remember anything?"

Her tired, green eyes focused upon the wreckage behind him. "I… Uh, there was a…" She gently shook her head. "There was a backup in the tunnel."

He nodded, encouraging her to continue and praying that her short term memory loss moments ago was merely due to her confusion.

"A van. There was a white van that stopped halfway through the tunnel in the middle of the two lanes so no one could get by." Her eyes found Mac's again and grew wide. "Mac… was it…?"

He again nodded. "I think so. I was far enough back not to get the full impact but you…" He caressed her left cheek. "You were only a few cars back. I thought… I was sure…"

Stella reached up and covered his hand with her and squeezed it. "I'm still here." She looked around at the mass crowd of people and cars. "We're lucky the tunnel didn't collapse."

Mac nodded, reluctantly sliding his hand from her face. "But apparently the exit to New York is completely blocked."

"Which gives us two options, neither of which I like," she said quietly.

"Are you okay to walk to the other end?" he asked, standing up.

She looked up at him. "Do I have a choice? I'm certainly not staying in here." Taking hold of his hand to help her stand up. She felt his arm slide around her waist as she swayed a bit. "I'm sorry, Mac. I don't really mean to be so snappy."

Gently he pulled her forward with him. "Blame it on the probable concussion you have," he said.

Along the way, they stopped to help those they could and were relieved to see a few EMTs helping out. Mac had wanted Stella to be seen by one of the EMTs but she would have nothing of it, telling him that there were others who were far more seriously injured.

Nearing the New Jersey side of the Lincoln Tunnel, Stella and Mac heard the loud, terrified screams of the people still in the tunnel. A few ran past them shouting the tunnel was collapsing. Before Stella knew what was happening, Mac dragged her running as quickly as they could to higher ground.

If it had been only him, he would have risked drowning to help the others but he was not about to lose someone else he loved to another possible terrorist attack.

Realizing the overpass would most likely not hold, Mac knew they had only a few precious moments to make it to the other side so he tightened his hold on Stella's hand, praying she was holding up, and ran with every bit of energy he had, weaving in between the stopped cars and anxious drivers who were walking about.

"Mac!" Stella cried, tugging back on his hand.

He turned to face her, still too close to the collapsing tunnel. "We have to keep going. It's not going to hold."

Tears fell from her eyes. "Mac, I can't. I can't go any farther. I'm sorry. Just go."

"You know damn well I'm not leaving you." He wiped away her tears. "Stella, please. Just little further."

The pleading in his eyes gave her that extra strength she needed so she nodded and took hold of his hand once again, allowing him to lead her away from imminent death.

Once far enough away, Stella collapsed in his arms. He caught her and helped her to the grassy area they, and many others, had found.

"Stella?"

She was barely able to keep her eyes open.

"Stella!"

She looked at him but barely registered who was there.

"Stella, stay with me. Please. I can't lose you too," he pleaded and cradled her in his arms as she slipped from consciousness.

Tbc……