Coming Home

CSI: New York

Smokinhottie

Summary: Mac Taylor is recalled into the military and sent into Iraq. How will he and Stella keep their new relationship alive?

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. Nor do I own the song. It's called Coming Home by the amazing John Legend!

Authors Note: I'm writing this now but may add it into a story later on. I want to know what you think! I've got a few ideas I'm playing with!

Chapter One

A father waits upon a son
A mother prays for his return
I just called to see
If you still have a place for me
We know that life took us apart
But you're still within my heart
I go to sleep and feel your spirit next to me

Stella sighed as she looked out the window of her office. It had been 3 weeks since Mac had left for Iraq. She couldn't believe that they had called him back after all these years of being gone from the Marines. Last night had been the first time she had been able to talk to him.

Flashback

"Bonasera" She said as she rummaged through the refrigerator looking for something for dinner.

"Hello Stella." Was all that was said to make her stop in her tracks.

"Mac?" she said softly after recognizing the voice.

"Hey honey." He said gently "How are you?" Stella couldn't speak. She slowly sat down at the kitchen table.

"You still there?" he said thinking she had hung up.

"Yeah, I'm still here. It's just…I'm so glad to hear your voice." She said as she fought back the tears. "I miss you."

"I miss you too. More than you will ever know." Mac said. He could tell this was hard for her. All he wanted was to reach through the phone and hold her. "I don't have long Stel. Is everything ok at home?"

Stella was fighting hard not to cry.

"It'd be better if you were here." She said softly. "Other than that, everything is fine. You've got enough to worry about being safe over there. I need you to come back to me in one piece!"

"I'm fine. The troops I'm with are some of the best. We are working hard to come home as safe as possible."

"I know. I still worry." She said softly. "You never know what might happen. I couldn't bear the thought of …." She said unable to finish voicing the unthinkable.

"Don't think like that. I'm coming home. I'm going to make it back to you and we will be together soon." He said firmly. "You haven't replaced me have you?"

"No. You still have a place here." She said with a small laugh. "You're pretty irreplaceable."

"Good to know!" Mac said with a laugh. Just at that moment, Stella heard talking in the background.

"Everything ok, Mac?" she said dreading the end of the call.

"Sweetheart that was one of my fellow commanders. It's his turn to call his wife. I've got to go." He said with a sigh. He felt like their conversation wasn't near as long enough. He had so much to tell her. Just hearing her voice after all this time was some comfort. Not much but some.

"I wish we had more time." Stella said as she twirled her fingers in the phone cord.

"I know. But look at it this way, I'm almost done with the first month of my tour. I've only got 17 more months to go!" he said not even feeling comforted by this fact himself.

"I miss you so much. Please be careful." Stella said wiping the tears from her eyes.

"I will." He said.

"Promise?" she said.

"I promise. I love you Stella." He said softly.

"I love you too." She said. "I will write you soon."

"Ok. Bye sweetheart." Mac said as he forced the words out.

"Bye Mac." Stella said as she heard him hang up. She still held the phone in her hands after the call was over with, hoping that Mac would call back. She felt the tears fall down on her face and heard them land on the kitchen floor.

Flashback

Stella sighed as she wiped her eyes again. If she kept thinking about that call, she was bound to get more upset. She couldn't let her friends and coworkers see her cry. She had to be strong and run the lab while Mac was gone. She sighed as she sent the email she had been typing and shut down her office. She didn't really want to go home and sleep in the empty bed that she and Mac shared. Nor did she want to be in their apartment surrounded by his spirit but she had no choice. There wasn't any place that didn't make her think of him. As she walked into the parking garage and got into her car, she heaved one last sigh as she tried to think of a way to pass the time until work the next day.