Spoilers: 4.02 The Deep, 4.03 You Only Die Once, whichever episode Stella receives the parachute and any other of Drew Bedford's gifts, 4.16 Right Next Door

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of this franchise and any views in this story are those of the writer and reflect nothing on the franchise.

A/N: I wrote this about half an hour after watching Right Next Door trying to forget about Danny's indiscretion.

She couldn't believe she'd gotten away with her lie to Mac. He knew she didn't snore from the times that she had stayed over at his after Claire had died. He thinks that it's because I'm trying to be strong to hold it all together after my life has once again been turned on its head. What he didn't know, what they'd managed to keep to themselves unlike Danny and Lindsey is that she had another place that she could stay where she would have a pair of safe arms to help her through her newest trial.

A strong pair of arms jolted her out of her thoughts, she relaxed back into the embrace continuing to stare out of his apartment window. They'd skirted around the issue for too long but when she'd seen him in that tuxedo at the party with the rich blonde dangling off his arm it really hit her that she could lose him if she didn't make a move to let him know she wanted to move on from Frankie get away from Drew Bedford's attempts. She knew that no one held her heart like the blue eyed homicide detective from Queens.

"You OK Stell?" she smiled slightly as his concerned tone.

"Thanks to you I am. Thank god you have a power shower." He laughed.

"Yeah and a bath tub for you to soak in afterwards." She joined him in laughter.

"You didn't seem to complain when you joined me." She could feel him smile against her neck as he placed feather like kisses along her exposed collarbone.

"Who could ever complain about having a beautiful, intelligent, amazingly strong woman in their arms?" She turned in his embrace and hooked her arms around his neck.

"I'm just glad I have you to lean on this time. So many times I almost gave in…" he heard the hitch in her voice.

"Stell…"

"No let me finish. I almost gave in to the need to call you and ask you to be there but I've had to be strong since I was a kid and I let Frankie in and he hurt me so bad more than what he did to me physically. I was scared to let my guard down again and ask for help but I knew if there was anyone I would ask it would be you because despite what Frankie had done to me when you hugged back in the hospital I felt safe in your arms. It just took me seeing you with another woman that there was a chance that you would find someone and I would lose that safety I realised I had to take the step."

"Stell, I wouldn't… couldn't hurt you, I love you."

"You can't say that. Look at Danny and Lindsey." She sighed a deep breath. "I'm just glad that I have somewhere safe to stay and with some clothes for me to wear tomorrow."

"It'd be intriguing to see the reaction to a naked you in the Lab." She swatted the back of his head lightly, laughing.

"I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and not hurt you. Come on. Back to bed. Mac'll have my hide if you don't some sleep." Her head whipped up to look him in the eye.

"Yeah we obviously weren't as discreet as we wanted to be." He said kissing he forehead.

"I trust Mac to not say anything but how do you know he knows?"

"He came over to me before I found you again and he told me to look after you and to make sure you get some sleep as he knows you'll want in on the investigation." She smiled lightly at him as she pulled him in the direction of his bedroom. She settled into his bed, her head on his shoulder as he placed a protective arm around her. She started to trace the scar on his torso from when she'd almost lost him.

"I love you too Don."

"I know Stell, I know." He kissed her head gently as her hand settled over his beating heart.

Fin