This story was inspired by a song called "Never Went to Mexico" A song about a couple who broke up and she wanted to get away from thoughts of her ex so she went to Mexico where nothing could remind her of him. This story is mildly based on that idea. But to not give too much away... this can be considered a sequeal to "Get Togethers"...Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Stella stormed into the apartment. She marched down the hall towards the bedroom. She fiercely tugged open one of Mac's drawers. She threw one of his white t-shirts on the floor and slammed the drawer shut. She pulled one of his button up shirts from the closet, scooped the t-shirt from the ground and left the apartment. Once she slammed the door, she leaned up against it and let her body slide to the ground. She took a deep breath to calm some of her anger and ran a hand over her face, recalling the events of the morning.
Mac was at a crime scene playing superhero again. As usual, he sent himself in first and ended up with a gun in his face. After somewhat of a fight, he took the suspect down. However he ended up with some substantial scrapes. That was the second time that week, hence Stella grabbing an extra set of clothes for him. He had already used his spare set earlier that week after saving some lives.
Stella knew it was his nature to put his life on the line for others, but the truth was she didn't know what she'd do if something happened to him. She was frustrated that he was so wrapped up in saving others that he didn't think about what would happen if he were to get hurt. Stella pulled herself up off the floor and went to her car.
Still fuming, Stella flew into Mac's office, finding him in his slacks and his forensic jacket since he had no shirt.
"Here" She grunted, shoving the shirts in his direction.
"Thanks" he mumbled, sensing she was upset. "Sorry I had to pull you away from your scene." He added, hoping it would help.
"That's not it" she grumbled.
"Then what is it?" He wondered, pulling on his under shirt.
"Do you ever think about what would happen if something happened to you? Who it would affect?" Stella asked. Mac was confused. "What happens if you lose your life saving someone else's?" She pressed on.
"That would be unfortunate, but I wouldn't have died in vain I guess." He shrugged. Stella's eyes widened, she couldn't believe he'd actually said that.
"Don't you understand that if you die saving lives, that you'll destroy mine?" she started. He only stared at her. "this is the second time this week you've put yourself in danger and you've come back from a crime scene injured. It's gotten to the point where I wonder is you're even going to make it back. I end up worrying about you and getting distracted at work, it's ridiculous." She raised her voice.
"Stella! Our jobs are to protect the citizens of New York. I'm simply doing my job, just like you should be doing yours. If this thing between us is affecting your work…"Mac stopped his rant abruptly, realizing what he just said and watching the hurt flash through Stella's eyes.
"This thing between us is real Mac. I'm wearing your ring and planning a wedding and I believe it was you who called me away from my scene to bring you clothes." Stella screamed, marching out of his office. For a moment she considered leaving her ring behind, but she really didn't want to do something so final. She headed towards he office where Flack was standing in the doorway going over the case with Lindsay. "Flack move!" She growled. Flack jumped and sent a look in Lindsay's direction. "Where are we on our scene?" Stella asked sharply. Lindsay rattled off a few details then sped out of the room to check on lab results. "Is there something I can help you with, Flack?" Stella snapped. Flack nervously toyed with his wedding ring, he wasn't sure if it was his place to step in, but he decided to take that chance.
"Is something wrong, Stel?" Flack wondered, a little scared of his coworker. Stella looked up at the blue eyed detective, debating whether or not to tell him.
"Mac told me this thing between us is affecting my job" She huffed. As a man, Flack knew Mac had taken a horribly wrong turn. He wasn't sure what to do.
"How did this come up?" He inquired.
"He was injured at a crime scene this morning" Stella sighed.
"Again? Wasn't he injured the other day?" Flack asked.
"Yeah and he's so busy saving the world that he doesn't realize that I'd have no idea how to function if something happened to him."
She added with a slight waver in her voice. Flack felt awkward and out of sorts as he entered into his coworker's personal life.
"Stel, Mac loves you, you know that. It's just his nature to be selfless. I mean I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for him." Flack tried to console her.
"I know and trust me I'm glad you're still with us, but I'm really tired of that being his excuse. I know it may sound selfish but I want him to come home to me every night. I didn't have a family growing up and now that I have the opportunity to have one, I don't want to give it up." She admitted, allowing herself to cry. Flack's heart went out to his friend, he understood where she was coming from and her point was valid. Stella had been through enough, now that she found a promising future in Mac, it shouldn't be this hard.
"I don't know what to tell you Stel. I guess this is something you and Mac need to work out, and I hope you do." Flack sighed. Stella nodded and Flack made his exit. She dropped her head onto her desk and tried to pull herself back together so she could finish her shift. After that, she was putting in for some personal time.
Stella slowly filled out the form to ask for the next few days off. She knew he have to face Mac when she turned in the form, but she would cross that bridge when she game to it. Lindsay flew into the office announcing they had found the guy they were looking for.
"Awesome , Linds" Stella congratulated, plastering on a fake smile.
"Hey are you alright? You seemed pretty upset earlier" Lindsay pried just a little.
"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks" Stella replied with a nod, knowing her friend was concerned. Stella gathered her confidence and headed to Mac's office to turn in the form. Maybe she'd get lucky and he wouldn't be in there. As she advanced down the hall, she realized she had no such luck. There he sat behind his desk.
"Did you solve your case?" He asked, his tone void of all emotion. He knew he had hurt her, but he had to be the boss at work.
"We just wrapped" Stella answered, sliding the piece of paper in front him. She quickly spun on her heels to leave as she saw him study the form.
"You're taking personal time?" Mac was terribly confused. Stella swallowed hard and turned back to face her fiancé and boss.
"Yeah, I need a few days off" she replied calmly.
"Is this a new development?" He wondered, trying to remember if she had this planned before their fight. Stella didn't know how to answer that question, she thought for a minute.
"Yes, sir" She decided to just be honest. Mac's blue eyes blazed ever so slightly, not only because she was taking time but also because she referred to him as sir.
"Is this about this morning? " He pressed on doing his best to keep his temper under control. How was it that he had hurt her only hours earlier and now he was making her feel guilty for her reaction? Stella pulled herself back together. She was taking some personal time to cool down and sort this out and that was that.
"Yes, I need a few days so I can make sure I can live without you if you get yourself killed." She spit out. "this way, it's not affecting my work" She added, throwing his words back at him. She knew it was uncalled for, but she was hurt. If Mac was affected by the statement, she couldn't tell. His expression left her no hints. Tension hung between them. "so can I have the time?" She said like and annoyed teenager asking for the car keys.
"Sure" Mac allowed dismissively. Stella took a deep angry breath and left the office, not looking back once.