Heart Of Glass
The night before Stella finds out her HIV status, she seeks comfort in Mac. They then go to the lab the next day and find out the answer.
Stella POV
I'm pretty sure it doesn't happen to everyone, no matter what anyone says. Not everyone goes through a HIV Scare in their life. Maybe they mean a rough patch, I've had a lot of those recently. From my 4 complaints to Frankie, now this. My adulthood is no better than my childhood but the difference between my adulthood and childhood is that now, I have someone to care for me. Well he doesn't care for me in the sense we go out, it's more because he's my best friend. Mac Taylor. The man of NYC. The man I love. Woe! I can't love him, he has Peyton and besides he doesn't feel the same way about me because he's dating Peyton. Right?
I heard a loud knock on my front door and grabbed my gun out my holster and walked slowly and cautiously to my door. Sighing with relief as I seen the friendly face (through the peep hole) , who was in my thoughts. Still holding my gun, I opened the door and seen his dazzling smile turn to fear.
"Should I be worried?", Mac asked with his smile returning. Stella was pretending to think about that then shook her head.
"No but it is 1:30am!", she half yelled "Now get in here before I kick your butt!"
Mac laughed then followed her into her apartment. He took off his jacket and shoes then walked into her living room and sat on her couch, admiring her photos on her wall. Stella walked in with a steaming mug of coffee for Mac and her HIV reduction medication.
"Are you ready for the answer?", he asked her curiously as she took her pills then placed the medication on the table. She nodded and sat beside him on the couch.
"I need to know the truth and Adam said he'll do it tomorrow, if I want", Stella said smiling for the first time in weeks "Why aren't you with Peyton".
As much respect as I have for Peyton, I always find a spike of hate for the English ME and I can't quite place why. After all she had done nothing wrong. Yet?
"Um …she decided to go back to London, Stella", he sighed with a devastated look on his face, I suddenly felt bad.
"Mac I'm so sorry, Why?"
"She thought I cared more for you than I did for her", he said quietly as I tried to hide the look of happiness from my face. Peyton was right, he does care about me more than her, the whole of the lab knew that.
"Oh.."
"It's alright", Mac whispered "I think I'll go, you have a big day tomorrow".
"No please stay with me tonight", I pleaded "I'm so nervous about tomorrow, I may throw up!"
I seen him nod with no hesitation. Why was I acting this needy?
"I'll get you a pillow and a set of sheets, you can take the couch", I say "If that's ok".
He takes a step closer to me and nods "No matter what happens, I'm here for you".
I feel tears well up in my eyes, Peyton was right. I pull him into a hug and let my tears pour then after what seems like hours I slowly released.
"I'm going to bed, you have a key. Lock up", I laugh as I went to get him covers and a pillow.
Stella POV
"Adam", I ask as we walk towards a busy Adam in the AV lab.
"Hey guys almost done", he said then clapped his hands together "Done".
I look at Mac nervously and he rubs my shoulder then turn my attention back to Adam who is holding the sheet ready to tell me. My eyes begin to fill with tears and I look up to the ceiling with the tears rolling down my cheek.
"Your HIV…. Negative", he tells us, my world spinning. I jump straight onto Mac almost screaming with excitement while hearing him laugh puts a smile on my face. Now I can live my life and actually dream again.
