Ridiculous Ways of Saying Important Things
Chapter 1: Twenty Questions
Stella sits across the table from Mac, studying him as he reads her report.
"You're a good writer," he compliments, closing the case file. "This guy will definitely be convicted."
"Huh?" she comes out of her trance.
"Nothing. Why don't we take a break from work?"
She looks at him, confused. "Okay."
"How about a game?"
"Like what?"
Mac puts his hand in his pocket, feeling the velvet box with his fingers. It's time. This might not be the most romantic spot, but she won't care, he thinks to himself. Smiling, he replies, "Twenty Questions."
"You can go first."
"I've got a phrase. For each word, you'll get to ask twenty yes or no questions to figure it out. When you have all four words, you will have to unscramble them to get the message."
Stella thinks for a second, "I thought it was only one word."
"I made it a little more complex for you."
"Okay, is it a person?" she asks.
"Yes."
"Do they have brown hair?"
"Yes."
"Are they in this room?"
"Yes."
"Do they have blue eyes?"
"No."
"Is it a female?'
"Yes."
"Is it Stella?"
"No."
"Is it me?"
"No."
"Oh, it'd be backwards because it's your thought. Therefore I'd be you and you would be me. Is the first word you?"
"Yes," he smiles. "Three more to go."
"Next one. Hm, is it a place?" she asks.
"No," he shakes his head.
"A thing?"
"No."
"Another person?"
"Yes."
"Do they have blond hair?"
"No."
"Brown hair?"
"Yes."
"Are they in this building?"
"Yes."
"Is it a female?"
"No."
"Is he tall?"
"Not really."
Stella stares past him, thinking about all the men in the lab, missing the obvious choice right in front of her. "Is he a cop?"
"Yes."
"Have I met him?"
"Yes. You know him very well."
"Is it Hawkes?"
"No," Mac laughs at her stupidity.
"Is it Mac?"
"No."
"You're confusing me with all this point of view stuff. Is it me?"
"Yes. I thought you would have guessed that a long time ago."
"You and me. Doesn't make sense yet."
"It will soon enough," Mac's heart starts to beat faster in his chest.
"Hey, what're you guys doing?" Hawkes walks into the break room.
"Playing a game. Twenty questions."
"Not going to comment," Sheldon shakes his head, getting an orange before leaving. "Have fun."
"Is it a thing?"
Mac thinks, trying to figure out what this word would be. "Yes. For the next two words, go by the actual word once you figure it out, not the answers to the questions."
Stella frowns, puzzled. "Whatever. Is it rectangular shaped?"
"Yes."
"Does it involve words?"
"Yes."
"Is it black?"
"No."
"Is it a document of some kind?"
"Yes."
"Does it involve a lawyer?"
"Sometimes."
"Does it have to do with something illegal?"
"No."
"Are we involved in this document with our jobs?"
"Not really."
"Is money involved in it?"
"Most of the time."
"Does it have to do with death?"
"Yes."
"Is this document written before the person dies?"
"Yes."
"Is it a will?"
He nods. "One word to go." Mac hopes that she can't hear his heart pounding loudly with nerves as the moment gets closer.
"You, me, and will."
"You'll get it soon," he assures.
"Is this word a place?"
"No."
"A thing?"
"No."
"It can't be another person."
"It is."
"Do I know this person?"
"No."
"Are they a historical figure?"
"Yes."
"Is it a male?"
"No."
"Does she have to do with a war?"
"No."
"Is it a biblical character?"
"Yes."
"Does she have to do with blood and gore?"
Mac thinks for a moment. There was someone by this name who was a yes, but the biblical figure was a no. He settles for yes, just to confuse her more.
"Was she a religious woman?"
"Very."
"Did she personally kill someone?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Then was she killed?"
"No."
"Did she order for these people to be killed?"
"Yes."
Stella sits there, racking her brain to remember her history lectures. "I really don't know. Was she royalty?"
"Yes."
"Does this royal person have to do with the Bible character at all?"
"No."
"Oh, that's why I'm so confused. Did the royal woman have to do with… England?"
"Yes."
"Bloody Mary. Is it Mary?" she asks, finally figuring it out.
"Yes."
"You, me, will, and Mary. You said to think of the word, not the questions." She plays with the words in her head, trying to get them to make sense. "You will marry me."
Mac shrugs, "I don't know that."
"Is it will you marry me?" she asks, not thinking of the actual phrase.
He slides the velvet box across the table. "Will you marry me, Stella?"
She watches him kneel beside her chair, sitting there in total shock. "I… I… yes, Mac." Stella lifts the lid of the box to find a ring inside.
He puts it on her finger. "I love you, Stel."
"I love you too, Mac." She leans down to kiss him, letting her tears of joy fall. "What a creative way to propose, considering why we started dating."
A/N: Little title change. Contests didn't exactly fit with all the games in this sequel are for, minus the next chapter. That one is a contest or whatever. Wednesday's episode was so awesome, well the Mac and Stella scenes. I really wasn't expecting her to tell him so soon in the episdoe. And that hug returned my faith that someday those two will be together. They just looked so cute together. And I hope to God they don't make her positive 'cause it sounded like she's going to commit suicide if she does. So we know Stella's on this week, but on Melina's name is left off the credits for the episode after that supposed to be aired in April. Then the week after that, she's back on. Where'd she go? She told Mac that work was the only thing keeping her sane, so she wouldn't take a vacation or whatever. Hm... anyway, please review. I'll update Tuesday.