Disclaimer: Whatever. If I need to point out CSI: NY doesn't belong to me then I should seriously be selling deeds to the Brooklyn Bridge on eBay!!!

Rating: K

Spoilers: Past Imperfect and um, season 2 finale (forget title). Post ep for Past Imperfect.

Category: Mac and Stella friendship.

Author: Traci

Summary: Stella tells Mac the results of her test.

Nobody's Perfect

Stella stood outside Mac's office watching him through the glass. Everything had happened so fast after Adam told her she was negative that she had yet to tell Mac. Never had she imagined that one of the happiest days of her lives would end with extreme worry over him. She knew Mac would never kill anyone, no matter what buttons the suspect may have pushed. How were they going to prove it, though?

Taking a deep breath, she pulled open the door and stepped in.

"I was wondering how long you were going to stand there," Mac said without looking up.

"And I'm wondering how long you are going to sit in your office and ignore everyone," she replied.

His head shot up and he glared at her. "You're really great at making people feel better."

"Mac…" She walked around the desk and sat on the other side, facing him. "You didn't do anything wrong. We all know that. Let Flack do his job."

"There's not exactly evidence to prove otherwise. I was there. He didn't touch anything. I handcuffed him and before I could do anything he ran backwards and jumped. I knew immediately he was trying to frame me and I couldn't stop him."

They sat in silence for many moments before Stella softly said, "Earlier, when you yelled at Adam, he was finishing up the HIV test on me."

Mac looked at her then closed his eyes briefly. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…"

"I'm not the one you owe the apology to."

He reached out and took her hand in his; meeting her big green eyes with his sad, blue ones. "No, I owe you an apology, too, for forgetting. I promised I'd be there and I wasn't. And?"

As hard as she tried to fight it, a smile spread across her face. "Negative."

In an instant, he stood up, bringing her with him and enveloped her in his arms. "Thank God," he mumbled into her hair.

She held him just as tightly until she felt something she had only felt with Mac Taylor once before - his body trembling in her arms. Pulling back, she bit back her own tears upon seeing his. "I thought I was the one who was supposed to be scared about the outcome." She gave him a small smile.

"I… I'm sorry. I…"

"Mac, when was the last time you got some sleep? Real sleep?"

He shrugged.

Stella's heart was breaking at seeing Mac falling apart. It scared her when the one who gave her so much strength and so much hope was so lost himself. "Let's get out of here. We can grab takeout."

They stepped away from each other and Mac grabbed his jacket. "You're place or mine?" he asked.

Stella grinned. "Why, Mac Taylor, that could be taken as a rather indecent proposal you know." When he failed to acknowledge her teasing, she simply asked, "Where would you be most comfortable?"

"Honestly? Yours."

"Then mine it is." She took his hand once again and squeezed it. "We'll get through this together. We always do."

For the first time in days, he graced her with a small smile. "It's what we do."

"We take care of each other," she finished.

The End.