Kind
"Ma'am, we need you to come with us so we can-" Flack tried to reason with the short elderly woman, but she cut him off with a teary cry.
"No, no, no, I know what you are trying to do and I'm not going back!" she said, holding up her arms defensively. Stella could see the desperation in Flack's eyes as he struggled to reason with the woman. She was nearly in her eighties and appeared to have either dementia or Alzheimer's. She also had a large cut over her left eyebrow and needed to be taken to the hospital for a full checkup. Stella was about to step forward to help when the woman suddenly smiled as she looked over Flack's shoulder. The woman visibly relaxed as if a wave of calm air had hit her.
"Oh, Henry! I knew you'd come to get me!" she cried joyfully, a pure smile lighting her face. Stella followed the woman's gaze and found Mac walking up to them, his brow furrowed slightly. They all exchanged looks as the woman rushed to him and wrapped him in a desperate hug. Mac hesitated for a moment before gently returning the hug.
"Henry, these people are trying to take me back and I don't want to go," she pleaded once she released him. She stared up at him earnestly, her face full of trust and love. Mac nodded carefully before taking his jacket off and wrapping it around the woman, who was visibly shaking from either fear or cold.
"Well, how about I go with you? I'll make sure you make it home safely," he offered gently.
"I don't want to go anywhere but home, Henry," she sobbed lightly. Mac wrapped an arm around her, shared a glance with Flack and began guiding the woman to Flack's truck.
"I want to go home too, but I'm worried about you and I want the doctor's to make sure you aren't hurt," Mac explained as they walked. The woman let out a small laugh.
"Oh, you've always been such a worrier, Henry. You don't need to fuss over me," she said.
"Will you let me though? It would make me feel a lot better," Mac reasoned gently. The woman hesitated for a moment but her face relaxed into a warm smile.
"If it'll make you feel better," she said. Mac smiled at her and helped her get into the truck. Mac shut the door once the woman was safe inside. He jogged over to where Stella stood.
"I'll go with Flack to the hospital to make sure everything runs smoothly," Mac said. Stella simply smiled at him.
"What?" he asked as he walked backwards towards Flack's vehicle.
"Nothing, Henry," Stella teased as she watched him with a soft smile. Stella knew that it would be a few hours before he returned to the lab and also understood that he would stay late because of this delay. Stella wished she could be upset but this inherently kind part of Mac Taylor just made her love him even more.