Prompt: fear
Stella had worked really hard to stay strong even as she walked through her burnt out apartment. Everything was gone, all her things.
It shouldn't matter, they were just things. She was alive and that was all that should matter, but….but her home was gone.
She'd lived for so long without a home, without knowing where she'd sleep every night. She'd barely had anything that was just hers, because all she could carry from one home to another was whatever could fit in a garbage bag.
Then she'd turned 18 and she'd gotten herself through school and she'd become a CSI and she'd had her own place, not a palace, but a home. She'd had a comfortable bed, the softest blanket ever, and a collection of ceramic pigs. They were ugly and useless, but everyone had to have a collection and they were hers.
Now, they were dust.
Of course, she'd said none of this to anyone. She acted like she wasn't afraid and she was okay and it was all fine.
Most everyone bought it, but then Mac wasn't just anyone.
"You settled in okay?" he asked, as he came in to the guest room.
She nodded, "I'm fine. Thanks again for letting me stay here."
"Oh please, Stella," Mac said, "you know my home is always yours. Now, I don't want you feeling like you have to rush to find a place either. Take your time and find one that you really like. You can stay here as long as you want."
Stella bit her lip and just managed to hold in the tears. Mac just kissed her forehead and pretended he didn't see. He was just that kind of friend.
Then he stood to leave, but stopped suddenly, "Oh. I forgot."
"Forgot what?" she asked, but he was already heading out the door. She waited, getting comfortable under the covers and finally he returned with one hand hidden behind his back.
"What's that?" she asked.
"Something for you. To start over in your new place."
"Oh Mac, you didn't have to," she said, expecting him to give her a plant or a something practical like a coffee pot. Instead, he pulled his arm out from behind his back and held out the ugliest ceramic pig she'd ever seen in her life, "Oh," she said, unable to hold the tears back this time, "Oh."
"Everything's going to be okay, Stella. You're strong, you'll start over."
"Thank you," she said, "I can't believe you did this."
"Really?" he said, "I thought you'd have figured it out by now…I'd do anything for you, Stel, anything at all."
Stella's eyes widened, "Mac."
She said nothing else, because the way he was looking at her made her shiver with unknown pleasure and then he was leaning towards her, his lips pressing softly against hers.
The kiss was light, sweet, but it was very clearly not a kiss between too friends. There was too much heat behind it.
Then Mac's hand slid behind her head and the kiss stopped being light and sweet. His tongue slid along the seam of her lips, his teeth nibble gently on her bottom one until she opened her mouth to let him in. He kissed her slowly, his tongue thoroughly mapping out every inch of her mouth.
When he pulled away, she was gasping for breath, her fingers digging into his arms. He felt so strong, so solid over her, and she unconsciously leaned back, pulling him with her so his body covered hers. He took her mouth again, soft nips against her mouth and then lower, his teeth digging into her chin, his tongue sliding along her jaw.
"You're upset," he said, even as his hands trailed down her body, touching her in a way friends didn't touch.
"Shut up," she told him, "and kiss me again."
The last bit of hesitation left him as he rolled, pulling her on top of him as they continued to kiss.
Stella decided she was definitely going to like her new bed, and her new bed partner.