Ok the idea for this came into my head and I just had to post it somewhere. It is inspired by a quote from a play in a game called 'loveless' from 'final fantasy VII'. "Of course...I'll come back to you. Even if you don't promise to wait. I'll return knowing you'll be here." The couple lines before that are also from the play but I reworked them so that they work for this. I own nothing but the idea. Anyways... enjoy. Reviews would be awesome. *Hint hint*

It had been three years since she had last seen him. three long years. Stella cursed and slammed the papers she was holding down on her desk; her eyes caught on the clock on the wall 03;48. Cursing once again she rose from her chair and looked around her office. The pictures of the previous owner still occupied the walls. She missed him, missed him so much. Every single day she mentally kicked herself for not telling him how she felt before he left. She quickly grabbed her coat as she headed out of her office; flicking the light off as she done so.

"Stella" a voiced called as she pressed the button for the lift. Stella heard a set of running footsteps coming towards her and was quickly joined by Sheldon. "Heading home?" he asked as the lift gave a ding to let them know the doors were about to open.

"Yeah" she answered simply before walking into the lift followed closely by Sheldon.

"I'm heading home too" he stated trying in vain to start a conversation with her. The truth was she hadn't been the same since Mac had left. Since he had gone she had closed herself off from other people. She had worked more and slept less. She had become Mac. "How are you holding up?" Sheldon asked bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Oh... I'm fine" Stella lied deciding to look down at her feet as the lift started its decent down to the bottom floor. Sheldon sighed and an awkward silence filled the air. Stella fiddled with a loose strand off her hair while she watched the lift display panel slowly go down. 5...4...3...2...1. The lift let out another ding as the doors slid open. "Bye" she said curtly and practically sprinted out of the lift into the main foyer of the lab. The foyer was completely empty, just the way she liked it. No-one to bother her by asking her if she was ok. She pressed the palm of her hand against the door and took in a deep breath as the cold winter air hit her face. Hearing the door close behind her she stepped out into the windy New York night. 'Three years exactly' she thought to herself. She let her eyes glaze over as she thought back to the last time she had seen him.

XXXX

Flashback

Mac braced himself. He wasn't ready to tell her this; but he had no choice. He had to tell her. He couldn't just disappear and hope she would understand; no that wasn't an option. He had to tell her now. His hand hovered over the door for a couple seconds before he finally brought it down and flinched at the resounding sound it made.

"Come in" Stella yelled from inside office. Mac pushed his shaking hand down on the handle and let the door swing open. "Mac" Stella grinned spotting him as she lifted her head up from the paper work she was previously concentrating on.

"Hi. Stella. We need to talk." He said, looking down at his shoes like a child who had been caught doing something wrong by an adult.

"Sure Mac, what is it?" she asked, her green eyes sparkling as she got up from her desk and walked over to him.

"IhavetogoundercoverbutIdontknowwhenIllbeback" Mac spat out all in one breath.

Stella let out a small laugh. "Can you say that again; but this time don't say it all in one word" she advised him.

Mac took a deep breath. "I'm being made to go under cover... I don't know when I'll be back" Mac sighed and looked up to Stella. Her face had fallen and he could see her heart breaking. "I'm sorry" he breathed.

"Do you really have to leave?" Stella asked tears quickly forming in her jade-green eyes.
"I promised, Sinclair. There are people that need help." Mac almost whispered; his own heart was breaking seeing her like this.
"...I understand." She gave a nod and sniffed. "But...please take care of yourself." She continued and Mac enveloped her in a hug. He planted a kiss to the top of her head.
"Of course...I'll come back to you." He said into her hair. "Even if you don't promise to wait. I'll return knowing you'll be here." He finished refusing to let her go. Stella had been the one constant thing in his life since Claire; and now he had to give her up. Sometimes; he really hated his job.

XXXX

Stella jammed her key into her front door and twisted it hard; resulting in her almost breaking her key. She sighed and chucked her keys down as soon as she stepped into the apartment closing the door behind her. Nothing had changed. She dumped her coat on the sofa and headed to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine. This was her normal routine. Come home, have wine and pass out in front of the TV watching some boring documentary. She downed one glass of wine and pour herself another then headed to the front room only pausing to switch the TV on. She collapsed back onto the couch and took a sip of wine; she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to relax. She jumped in surprise when the phone started ringing. Hastily she gulped down the rest of her wine, maybe this time it will be him she thought to herself placing the glass down with one hand and picking up the phone with the other.

"Bonasera" Stella said placing the receiver to her ear.

"Stella...It's me" a deep male voice said on the other end. She knew who it was at once, her heartbeat tripled in speed. "Long time no speak" she could hear the false humor in his voice. "It's been too long... I need to see you" the desperation is his voice was evident.

"Yeah" was all Stella could manage.

"Ok... meet you at central park in an hour? I know it late but this is all the time I have" ok now Stella was worried. Mac wanted to meet her at four am in Central Park. Something was going on.

"Meet you there" as soon as she had said that she could hear his smile over the phone; she managed a small smile before the line went dead and she was left listening to the dialing tone.