Chapter 2 (Present Day Cont)

My staff is already outside standing in horror watching as the windows to my floor blow up and sends debris and glass flying everywhere. Danny quickly runs to his girlfriend Lindsay who's trying to clean up a few cuts she received from the flying debris. She looks up at him in horror seeing his bloody shirt and bruised face. Reassuring her that he's fine they briefly share a kiss as the EMT tends to the both of them. Don is holding Stella in his arms as tight as he can, as she's frantically shouting my name over and over with tears streaming down her face. We are all partners after all, we're a family. Although my relationship with Stella is what anyone would say is mysterious, I just tell them all that we are great friends and we have been for over 10 years now. She's managed to help me with the loss of my late wife Claire, and with the years she's managed to slowly make her way through my heart. I care deeply for her. We take care of each other, it's what we do.

I finally make my way outside soaked from the sprinklers, shirt slightly torn and I have a few bruises from when the bomb went off and I dove to hide and shelter myself. Stella finally manages to get out of Don's grasp and runs towards me. She throws herself on top of me and just holds me tight, burying her face in the crack of my neck. Her lips unconsciously teasing a sensitive spot. "I thought I lost you" she's whispers softly holding me tighter if that was even possible. I can feel her body tense up and she just takes a deep breathe and grips my shirt tighter afraid to let go. "I'm ok Stel," I whisper softly. The more I hold her the more I feel my body betray itself to her. This isn't Peyton I try to tell my brain which won't listen to me at all. Dammit I curse myself mentally. Why is my body responding to her touch, it's so wrong but feels so right. I look up slowly and from a distance I see a woman running in our direction and I quickly let go of Stella and make my way towards the person realizing that it's Peyton. She jumps on me instantly and quickly kisses my lips. I don't really give into the kiss at the time and I find that strange but much to my dismay she didn't react on it. She'd figure it was due to the traumatic events that just happened. I slowly walk to Don who is now being hugged and kissed by his girlfriend Jess, Stella slowly making her way back to his side. "You're in charge" I say to him as I gently pat him in the front of his chest. I try to briefly make eye contact with Stella but she is avoiding my gaze at all cost. I start to walk away with Peyton who has now hooked her arm around mine and placing her head on my shoulder. "Hey Mac, where are you going?" I hear him ask me just before I went to far. I turn back around with a smirk on my face and simply reply

"London."