Thanks for the lovely reviews. Here's the next little bit, for Tomate who provided the first trigger-word.

"That wasn't quite what I had in mind for this evening." Stella mutters.

"Me neither." Mac returns, "Sorry about that."

"It's not your fault." she says warmly.

He shrugs. "Maybe not, but I didn't do anything to prevent it …"

"What could you have done to prevent it?" she sounds surprised.

"Talk to Sinclair." he says simply.

"Well, in that case" she's adamant, "I'd rather be stuck here."

"Thanks." He can't help but smile.

After a short pause Stella begins again. "I just don't understand why he even cut the emergency lighting."

Mac's chuckle is sarcastic. "He probably thinks that with what we see everyday …"

"… we'll be glad if for once we see nothing?" she finishes for him, "Well, I find being stuck in an elevator annoying enough even when it's not pitch black! What would I do if I didn't at least have you to talk to? Try to read a book to pass the time?" she snorts.

"And they don't even seem to be in a particular hurry to get us out of here." Mac notes.

"When the bosses are away the lab rats will play." Stella muses.

Mac hears a metallic purr as Stella opens her bag, then a rustling, like plastic.

"Do you have a lighter?" she asks.

"Sure. Need to see something?" Mac fishes the item from his pocket and lights it.

And he's not sure what shines brighter, the flame or the smile on Stella's face as she stands before him with a couple of candles in her hand. She kneels down on the floor and puts them before her. He lights them carefully, and the flames dance like the sparkle in her eyes.

He wonders why she had candles in her bag. Please don't tell me you are going to miss a date. "What … were your plans for this evening?"

She looks him in the eyes. "No candlelight dinner. I was thinking of taking a bath to relax. And candles" she shrugs, "make a pleasant atmosphere."

Mac agrees and he knows how good it would do her. "Why don't you sit down here?" he indicates a spot.

He gets down behind her and begins to let his hands run over her shoulders, her arms, her back. His touch feels like warm water. Slowly she leans into him.


Thanks for reading. Reviews (and trigger-words) are much appreciated, and always replied to if logged.