Chap 2: A long day

A/N: All right, here is the next installment of this fic.

I would like to thank first, every one who reviewed this fic and gave me their expectations as well. Considering your questions, you all know what to expect as I answered privately, so as I said, this fic deals with a case and needs the basis for it, so why these first parts will go into the details of Mac and Stella's vic. Thanks to all who put this fic as well in alert or fav or even read it :) you've all made my day more than once.

This story hasn't been beta-ed, so all mistakes are mine.

Summary: Sequel to Journey of the Broken Hearts. Mac and Stella start to take things toward a common future while a deadly killer piles up body in NYC. But as the CSI close in on him, his anger starts to shift toward our team. Whole team whump in a deadly game between the killer and the team...Smacked, DL and the whole team.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, besides the characters I created for this story. CSI NY belongs to CBS and Jerry Bruckeimer.


This chapter is dedicated to AIP and SBT.

I hope this helps you a bit through what you're living my friends.

Mac entered Sid's morgue with a large smile on his face, which he quickly hid the minute he saw the ME bent over a body. He knew how good the ME was to read him, and right now he didn't need anyone to interfere with his new relationship with Stella. No, he wanted to keep his head clean and out of any comments that could jeopardize their fresh commitment. But again, he seemed he hadn't been quick enough as he read the amused smile in the crystal, blue eyes of his friend.

As always, Sid was wearing the usual blue coat required in the morgue, and as Mac approached he split his glasses and let them dangled around his neck.

"Your vic died of poisoning," stated Sid, his eyes still smiling. "But you already knew that since you got my preliminary report from Danny," he quipped.

Mac nodded. "Yes, we got the tox results." He looked down at the corpse of Marlyn Delaney. She was too young to have enemies already. Mac tightened his lips. Although he knew damn well the monster that could lurk into a dark alley to take away a life, it still hurt to see how fast and how unpredictably life could be taken away. Poison was not a nice way to die. He sighed and met Sid's eyes staring back at him. "I wanted to know if you had found something else."

"Well, her organs have slowly bled to death, if it's the kind of details you were up for," quipped the ME, although he pouted from the painful death his vic had to endure. "I'd said it took her quite sometime to die, maybe five to eight hours." He pouted in disgust as he focused on Marlyn's ashen face. "She must have been in terrible pains, her organs slowly failing her." He looked up at Mac. "With a proper treatment she would have survived if only she had been taken care of on time."

"How long?" asked Mac with a small pout.

Sid shook his head as he lifted the blue sheet and pulled it to her waist, revealing her naked frame already marked by the characteristic Y from the autopsy. "I'd say about an hour prior to her death, she could still have made it, if only she had called 911."

"It was late at night and we found her outside, so she probably tried to get some help."

"Well considering her state, her swollen tongue and lips due to the poison, and her pulmonary embolism, it would have been hard for her just to breathe, so speaking I can't imagine," Sid said bitterly.

Mac's gut twitched inside. Even though he had made a point to always keep his emotions at bay for no one to see it, it was always hard to listen to the way his vics had struggled till the end to live. Whoever had done that was a monster, and he would make sure he wouldn't get away with it, and would be put behind bars for good.

"It would have been a real challenge for her to walk and even call for help," continued Sid. "Says like three hours after being poisoned."

Mac frowned. "So she did fight hard to get out and find some help since the camera from the street taped her almost half an hour before she was found." Mac bit his lower lip. "But besides her hard struggle to walk she ended up dead at the entrance of the park."

"Am afraid so," finished Sid.

Mac nodded, deep in his thoughts. He didn't like that. It meant the killer had been careful to choose a vic that would be alone for sometime and wouldn't get help that easily. He had chosen the perfect time when she would be vulnerable. His lips tight, he didn't see as the ME was staring at him, and especially at his clothes.

A small grin grazed Sid's lips. "So, the rumor's true." Sid said, interrupting Mac's trail of thoughts.

"What rumor?" asked Mac, bewildered.

Sid raised an amused smile toward his friend, and let dangled his glasses around his neck. "You, having really taken days off and dressing like everyone else," he quipped as he pointed at Mac's leather jacket and dark jeans.

Mac quirked his brows a little irritated. "Does my life has to be gossiped by everyone in this lab?" He sighed in frustration. What the hell was going on here? Couldn't he get his life back in order without having everyone looking over his shoulder? He felt a small anger rising inside him, though it wasn't against Sid.

"Ah Mac, you know people, they're busy gossiping about celebrities and the next target is their boss. So for them, you're kinda famous," teased Sid, his crystal, blue eyes gleaming with amusement.

Mac's tension faded at his friend's words and gentle look. He slightly huffed, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Why am I surprised?" He dropped. He knew this was coming, so why was he bothered by it? Don and Danny had already gotten their share and he had to admit that he had expected Sid's comment. He sighed, giving up.

"You shouldn't. So how was your weekend? Seeing your look I'm sure it was good. You got a name for me?" tried the ME with a small grin.

"A name?" Mac looked straight into Sid's eyes. Was he really serious and expecting him to answer to that? Of course not. "No, why do you think it had to be someone?"

"C'mon Mac, you never take days off and when you do it's for working." Sid smiled and observed as Mac's face changed to be unreadable, taking his poker face. So the subject was sensitive to Mac to change this way, realized the ME. "And this time you took a whole weekend, and when you're back you hadn't got the time to change. Humor me, Mac."

"I got the call early," Mac dropped still frowning. No way, he was going to say anything to Sid. No, the first priority was to settle the bases with Stella, then, they might tell the team. Not before.

"Sure." Sid stared at Mac, still waiting. "So you're not gonna tell me, huh?"

"There's nobody, Sid." Mac finally sighed as his eyes looked down. He knew his friend got the hint about him being with someone. So whatever answer he would give would just keep Sid more curious. He had to change his strategy and find a plan.

"Huh? She must be pretty important then." The ME remarked.

The question took Mac aback. "What?... No... I mean...what about our vic's marks on her hand?" He let out a small sigh, changing the subject. Of course Stella was important, but no, he couldn't tell that to the ME. Gee, his friend was good but he was better to this kind of poker game. So, if the team wanted to know about his life then he would have to come up with a plan.

Sid's smile widened. "So very important," remarked Sid as he put back his glasses and bent toward Marlyn, grabbing her right hand, and opening her palm.

Mac sighed and looked at the body. Why everyone wanted to know about his personal life? He sighed inwardly.

Sid lifted Marlyn's hand and showed her palm to Mac. "You were right, something stung her fingers and the cut looks like thorns, though I send a sample of the shards I've found to your lab, and blood sample too to tox, just in case."

"Thanks, anything else?" He hoped Sid was done, because now, he really wanted to get back and finish with all he had to do before he could join Stella back at her apartment.

Sid raised his eyes toward Mac with a small grin. "Nope, unless you give me a name." Sid's smile widened, knowing that his try had no chance to work right now. Mac wasn't gonna tell him anything about his private life. But he had to try. He grinned inwardly. No really, he was happy if finally his friend had found someone. Though he had thought for a long time that his partner, Stella, would be just fine for him. In fact, the two looked a lot like an old couple sometime.

His lips tight, Mac watched the crystal eyes of his friend amused. Knowing the more he would deny the more he would get Sid on his back he opted for a new strategy. "She doesn't leave in New York." He dropped as if he was yielding to his friend's demand.

He knew this way he was going to feed the gossip, but he hoped, he and Stella would get some time off until the next embarrassing question. With delight he saw Sid's eyes gleamed like a kid at Christmas and his jaw slowly dropped as if he was trying to say something. Good. Choosing the moment the ME was too stunned to talk, Mac turned to head to the lift, his broad smile curving his lips at the new plan he had in mind. Fight the fire with the fire, his mind shot with a sweet revenge. If they were so busy to learn with who he had spent his weekend with, then he was going to give them something to talk about. His smile widened as he entered the lift and his thoughts drifted instantly to Stella's shining face as he had left her in the locker room. Surely he could get used to interrupt her this way. He grinned inwardly, lingering in his luck that they shared the same feelings.

xxx

A wide grin plastered on her face, Stella headed to a lab to analyze their vic's clothes. She felt like a warm shield had enveloped her since Mac had kissed her. And nothing was going to change that.

When she entered the white, clean room, she quickly walked toward the evidence bags placed in the middle of the table, trying hard to hide her growing smile from her glancing colleague. She knew Lindsay was curious about her weekend and she couldn't blame her friend for being concerned about her, but her personal life was...well, personal. And she didn't need anybody to start give her advices or her two cents about Mac and what she should do or not. Their relationship had finally evolved to the point she had craved for years and she didn't want it to blow up in her face because her concerned friends wanted to give her advices, even if they had good intentions. No, she wanted to have time to think about it by herself before being harassed by gossip and questions that could threaten her or even Mac. She cringed at the idea. He was already keeping a lot of things private about his personal life, so she couldn't imagine how he would react about hot gossip going on around them. No, it would probably screw their relationship before it started, or even damaged them. So when Lindsay looked at her with an insisting gaze, she feigned to ignore it and focused on the evidence before her.

Lindsay grinned. She knew something was up with Stella, she was just burning to know the name of that mysterious man. Was it someone she knew and who worked here? Or a total stranger that had mesmerized her friend? Glancing at Stella with a mischievous smile, she saw her picking up the vic's pants and started to process it. With a small sigh, she focused on her own work. Taking a transparent tape, she stuck it to the shirt spread on the white, glowing table and stuck it on a plastic sheet for further analysis.

"So where did you go this weekend?" asked eagerly Lindsay. At least this question wasn't too personal.

Stella narrowed her eyes, wondering about the best strategy. "Ah, just shop for some stuff."

"Stuff, huh? Like what?" enquired Lindsay, wondering what kind of shopping she had done to get this smile. No, she had already admitted a man was behind it. Did she go shopping with him? She smiled. That would be a first, even with Danny and she knew how much he loved her, she had to drag him out to shop for Lucy's clothes.

Like dressings for a wounded, amazing man, shot Stella's mind, thinking back at her weekend. "Stuff, ya know," she replied, avoiding the question. "And what about your weekend, Linds? Did you finally go to the zoo with Lucy?" she knew her friend couldn't stop talking about her little girl.

Well, she had to admit that Lucy was so cute that even her couldn't remain without giggling at the little girl when she was around. She smiled inwardly. Even her godfather had been mesmerized by the small Lucy since day one. And to mesmerize Mac Taylor it had to be a hard work, she knew a lot about it. Though she wondered sometimes if she hadn't been able to get under his skin like Lucy since day one, as he was always giving her his charming smile, while to others he could remain like a dead stone. She smiled, yep, but never to her. Even the time she had pissed him off, he had looked at her with fury in his green, ocean eyes but yet with something so deep that at the time she had wondered what it was. But now she knew, as he had told her yesterday; he loved her. The word made her grin inwardly and she hid the small smile grazing her lips.

Lindsay smiled. Okay, nice dodging. She had to admit if Stella didn't want to talk, then, she would have to be smarter to get her information. "Yes we did." Lindsay replied to Stella's question. "And the wild animals weren't always in the cage, I tell ya."

"Oh so, you have a tiger in your bed," quipped Stella, referring at Danny.

Lindsay's smile widened. "Make it more like a lion," she added with a smirk. "Needs his sleep after the action." She chuckled lightly at the mention of her husband's private habit.

Stella grinned at the comment of her friend. "Well, that must be comforting to know you tired him up so much so he needs to rest."

"Yep. Do ya know someone like that?" asked quickly Lindsay, not ready to give up her quest for information.

"Yeah, I mean..." Stella raised her eyes to see a grinning Lindsay. "One of my exes," corrected Stella. "kinda always slept after." She sighed, realizing that it had bothered her somehow that he had never checked on her afterwards. But with Mac, even if they hadn't crossed that line yet, she knew she wouldn't be disappointed by him. Of course, he was so tired by his usual lack of sleep that if she was witnessing him sleeping right after, it would be with a great satisfaction. But something told her that when he would be up and about, she would discover new sides of him. She grinned inwardly as her mind started to imagine herself with Mac and no cloth for any of them. Suddenly her core began to warm and she had to take a slow breath to keep her composure. Her heart beating a little too fast at the mention of her partner in a less dressed manner. Okay, so even without him beside me he's turning me on. Gee, Stella just calm down! Her smile widened sheepishly. Mac, her mind lamented, wanting already to be the evening and have the time to discover more of her partner.

Lindsay's eyes gleamed at the light she could see shining in Stella's eyes. Yep, who ever he was, had already a special place in her friend's heart seeing how her eyes sparkled thinking of him.

Stella shook her head, realizing she had let her mind wandered too far and that Lindsay was now smiling, gazing at her like the cat who had finally found a mouse. Okay, that wasn't the best answer to get her friend out of her hair with her weekend. Now she was sure, she would hear about it for at least a week. She sighed and her eyes went back to the pants before her. Focus Stella, you got a job to do.

xxx

He dropped his last reports in the done bin and slumped back in his chair tiredly. Thank God he was done with that. He sighed heavily, and checked his watch. He had arranged an appointment with Dr Shen in half an hour and if he didn't want to piss off more the physician he should better go now. Pushing on his desk wearily, Mac stood up with a small wince as his stitches shot a slow burning pain. He muffled a groan and headed for his leather jacket. In the whole day he hadn't had the time to change and get a shower, and now he was really feeling tired and wanted more than anything to see Stella and abandon himself in her arms. He caressed the idea of going back to his place first to get a quick shower and change his clothes, but he knew if he was doing that he would be late for his rendezvous.

Sighing, he left his office with a quick glance toward Stella's desk. Unfortunately, she was still in a lab and her empty chair was the only thing that greeted his tired eyes. He hoped everything would be alright tonight. She had gently invited him to come over and he was already excited about it, though he was so tired that honestly he didn't think he would make a good company. But he had said that he would come, and frankly he needed to see her. The only moment they had been together had been almost stolen from their own agenda and if they were starting this new relationship by seeing each other ten minutes each day he wouldn't blame her if finally she would change her mind about him and dropped him. So, no, tonight he would definitely go to her place, though he had the feeling he wouldn't remain awake too long. His lips tight, he left the Crime Lab.

He exited into the underground parking lot and headed for his car. He definitely needed to take a rest if he wanted to be of some good company for her. Tomorrow, l...yeah right! shot his brain. When do you think you're gonna sleep? While the working hours? His brain smirked. He shook his head as he got in his black SUV. If only he could get a full night sleep to charge his battery then things would be better for sure. He nodded slowly. Yep, that was the right solution, and with Stella he knew he wouldn't have any trouble to achieve that. He frowned as he pulled into the heavy traffic. That is if she wants me to stay tonight. She could want company only for dinner, after all they had said they wanted to take things slow. His lips tight, he focused on the road ahead. Whatever she would want he would comply anyway. Again, the most important thing right now, was her to be happy and okay. That he had the luck to be the one she wanted to spend her evening with, was already good enough for him.

Twenty minutes later, he pulled over the Queen of Mercy, already preparing himself for the lesson Shen would give him. But to his surprise, the surgeon invited him to go inside a small room to check his wounds. Quietly, he took off his jacket and sweater with small winces, and seated on a bed. His lips tight, he saw the doc pulled a face as he took the dressing off his chest, revealing the caked blood stuck with the black stitches.

"Fought against three men this time Detective?" Dr Shen said with a smirk as he looked at the chewed up skin.

Mac sighed. "I wish." He was tired, and didn't want to argue right now. His arms on his sides, his fingers deepened in the white sheets and quietly supported his frame on the bed, hindering him to sway as exhaustion was kicking in.

The doctor raised a frown on him. "You getting any sleep?" asked Shen, noticing the heavy dark bags under Mac's eyes and his slanted posture on the med bed.

"Depends..." let out Mac with a sigh.

"Well, that's still better that none. Whatever you're doing to sleep even a little, I'd advise you to keep doing it."

Mac nodded as Shen administered him a local painkiller with a syringe.

"I need you to lie down Detective that I can take out the reopened stitches and put new ones."

With a heavy sigh, Mac complied and slowly lay down, his right arm nestling under his head. He stared before him, tiredness starting to pull him under. The ceiling light was so bright and shiny that he chose to close his eyes for a minute. He smelled the disinfectant Shen was using to clean his wounds and heard the doc telling him that he would be quick. Then, he felt the small prick of the stitches entering his skin but the pain was kept at bay by the painkillers. Then the little sounds of Shen moving and his coat rubbing against the sheet of the bed faded away, and everything went silent. He tried to open his eyelids but they were too heavy and the world finally shut down around him as he fell into a deep sleep.

xxx

The faint smell of alcohol and perfume mixed together as four pairs of lungs breathed in the air of the small comfy bar. Don smiled as he glanced at his friends around him, remembering that not all of them were here today as Sheldon had to finish a case; Adam was out with his girlfriend; and as always Mac and Stella were so hard to find that he had given up the minute he had seen their empty offices. Their beers clinked over the table as the four friends mouthed a small Cheers! and grinned toward each other. He watched with happiness as Danny snaked his left arm around Lindsay's waist and winked at her with a grin. A small smile played over Sid's lips as he crossed Don's eyes and nodded happy to be here and for once with living people; not that he did mind the quietness of his morgue.

Don smiled inwardly. Nope, everything was fine, except a little bit than a year ago, Jess would have been with them, joking and grinning like the rest of them. He smiled bitterly and for a moment his sight escaped the playful group to stare outside and into the quiet evening starting; although the night hadn't settled in yet, since they were in the middle of July. His lips tight, he felt Sid's gaze resting on him and he forced a smile over his lips. It's been a year now, and he had struggled every day to get up from bed and go to work as the life around had seemed so dull since he had lost her. A year so long and so painful that he had crumbled one night, giving up, but luckily his friends had been there for him. Especially Mac who had risked his ass to check if he was alright at Terrance's place. He sighed remembering the heated pain mixed with disappointment he had read in his friend's eyes.

He never would forget that gaze; that flushed face coming from a man he thought would never show his real emotions to anyone. But that day he had showed what the real wounded Mac Taylor looked like. Even if it had been for a brief moment, but Don had seen it in Mac's eyes; the pain. The same pain he had felt when he had lost Jess. His fingers squeezed around his glass of beer and his gaze was lost in the golden sparkling liquid. Mac had come for him and from that day he had started to climb up the ladder of life and now things looked a little bit brighter than before. But one question remained in his mind since that day. How did Mac have been able to cope with Claire's death for so long? While him was finding this first year almost unbearable? Nine years. Nine years his friend had fought with the same pain that inhabited him and he was already craving for that comforting, reassuring presence to push away the shadow of loneliness. How did his friend have managed to remain alone for so long without falling, was just beyond his understanding?

There's a lot of thing people doesn't know about me, Don, had said Mac this morning. And now he was wondering if he hadn't been too quick to judge Mac over the years; sticking stereotypes over him as he had met him after Claire had died. Maybe there was more into Mac that awaited to be reawaken since he lost his wife. He frowned, knowing that the only person that could answer to that was Stella. Both had been tight before his life was put into hell. A small smile played over his lips as he wondered what would happen if those two decided to get together. Maybe she would let the best of his personality resurface slowly? He grinned inwardly. Yeah, Stella had a way with people to make them give the best of them. So if they finally found each other, then the old Mac Taylor as she used to talk about him sometimes when he had surprised them once or twice, would probably reappear quickly.

The playful banter of his friends around him brought him back to reality as Danny's voice broke suddenly Sid's lame joke.

"So what a day, huh? With Mac we didn't get the time to take a break." He looked at everyone with a tired stare and then at Lindsay with small puppy eyes, hoping to get comforted by his wife.

Lindsay pouted as she put her hand over his chest and patted him lightly. "Ah poor Danny," she teased. "But tonight it's still your turn to change Lucy," she quipped with a big smile.

Sid and Don started into a laugh at Lindsay's grin and Danny stunned face.

"Nice try, Messer," smirked Don as he took a swig of his beer.

"Well considering Lindsay has the same amount of work, I would say it was a dumb move to try to mess with a girl like yours, Danny," quipped Sid as he sipped at his beer and give a warm smile to Lindsay.

"Thank you, Sid," Lindsay replied with a big grin.

Danny looked around with a frown. "Thanks a lot for the support guys. I thought you came here tonight to help me out, not to help her hang me."

"We're always there for friends," retorted Don with a big grin.

"Ah, Ah, I'll remember that," said Danny faking a forced laugh.

"And what was so tiring about today anyway?" Lindsay asked, her brows rose. "I got a vic too and it was pretty messy."

Danny frowned. "Nah, ya know me, just wanted to see if you'll have mercy of a poor man like me." He looked at her with a grin, he didn't want her to worry for nothing now. Though he would have like to skip the baby change for once.

"I did. I married you." She quipped, and Sid and Don chuckled loudly at Danny's shocked face.

"See that," he retorted with a fake hurt voice, his hand pointing at Lindsay. "She stabbed me twice, and you're all laughin'. What kind of friends are ya?" he said playing the wounded man.

"The ones that are here to share the end of your restless day. Should take some days off if you need rest," added playfully Don, his smile lighted by their nice banter.

"Yeah well I got work and a family to take care of," replied seriously Danny.

"Looks like Mac, except for the family part," said Don with a gentle smile. "Speaking of which, did you see his biker look today?" He grinned as his friends' eyes widened with a smile.

"Biker look? What ya mean? I only saw him quickly as we exited the lift with Stella, but his look was fine by me," said Lindsay as her lips curled upward and she smiled, remembering the glance of her boss she had taken as she had left Stella.

She grinned inwardly at the image of Mac in leather jacket and dark jeans while she was imagining him on a bike. No way, her mind shot. She was used to Mac formal well-dressed style that honestly fitted him very well, but his look today and adding a bike to that, she realized quietly that her friend could make quite an impression even by just changing his clothes. "Even more than fine," she added aloud and Danny gave her a small frown before he turned smiling to his friends.

"Yep," Danny said. "Seemed to me he had a busy weekend," he added on a confidence tone.

"A long busy weekend," retorted Sid with a small wink.

"Wow, ya know more about that than us, Doc," asked Danny as he saw the ME's smile growing on his face and his eyes gleaming with a new light.

"Well, I'd say with a long weekend like that, and knowing our Mac, he had to be pretty busy with someone special enough to drive him out of town and have no time to change for work," stated calmly the ME.

"Oh Sid, you know more," Don smiled as he nudged his friend. "What's her name?"

Sid shook his head. "I just know she's not from New York."

Lindsay frowned. "Gee that's bad. I mean with Stella being off at the same time we could have assumed they had finally found each other, but if Mac is getting along with someone else and Stella got a mysterious man too, I guess the fairy tale ends here." She sighed and looked down at her beer.

"What ya talkin' 'bout, Montana," replied Danny. "Stella got a date too?"

The three men stared at Lindsay with a small grin, ready for more gossip.

"Well, she didn't want to tell me, but I can bet she was with someone this weekend and she had a good time." She finally surmised.

"Well, Mac had a good time too. He spoke weirdly about the fact that it was coming from the heart to buy flowers and..." Danny stopped dead, seeing the look in Lindsay's eyes. "Huh, I mean...ya know me, I'm not a flower buyer and..." his voice trailed off, realizing he was digging the ground under him.

"Yeah I know, Messer," she replied bitterly, but a small smile grew on her face as she snuggled closer of his chest. "Don't worry, that's not the flowers that count."

Danny swallowed as his eyes widened. "Ah, that's just what Mac said." He frowned. "You sure you haven't talked to him today?"

She grinned and winked at him, as his face softened.

"Hey guys," intervened Don. "So Mac talked to you about buying flower?" Don's eyes widened. He had never thought Mac was the kind of romantic to buy that kind of thing. Though he didn't know he could ride a bike as well. He bit his lower lip. So yeah, maybe there was really more he didn't know about Mac Taylor. Don smiled inwardly.

"Yeah," replied Danny as he grinned at Lindsay. He knew now that if he wanted to make amend he would have to buy her the thing he had never done before. So maybe some flowers would be nice, soon.

Lindsay shot a small frown to her husband. She wasn't mad at him, but it was nice to see him wondering if buying flowers wasn't the best thing to do. She didn't care about the flowers. No, in fact she just wanted him to think about it. Seeing his mischievous grin appearing she couldn't resist any longer and her smile grew on her face.

Sid looked at his friends. "Well, although I'm not a detective like you guys, I found it quite strange that our favorite boss and second in command found someone at the same time, and that both their lovers seemed so mysterious. Calls to me for a small investigation."

Don grinned as he raised his glass in the middle of the table and his friends joined him. "Well, let's open this case with our eyes and ears in work mode."

They all grinned mischievously, taking the silent pledge that they would know who were these mysterious dates.

xxx

With a silent groan, he knocked at the door before him. He was late. Damn it! Really late. Twenty minutes ago, he had woken up with a start in the hospital and Shen nowhere around. And when he had checked his watch it was to discover with dread that it was close to 9pm, and his cell phone had missed three calls from the same ID; Stella. His heart squeezed in his chest, knowing that she was probably really worried by now. That was bad. First official appointment/date with her and he was down to two hours. Surely she was gonna be pissed off. He sighed, looking down at his boots and his bouncing feet in front of her door, anxiety creeping inside his whole, tired body. He wouldn't blame her if she said that she was tired and that she would see him tomorrow. After all, he had been the jerk that had made her wait almost three hours. That was why, instead of calling her right away after he had woken up, he had preferred to come over and see her. This way it would be easier to explain why he was so damn late. He groaned inwardly. If now fate was against them, then things were going to be pretty tricky. He tensed as the door opened and he swallowed his small nervousness. But with relief, he saw her face graced him with a beautiful smile as she discovered him. She gave him a warm smile and let him in. His lips tight in remorse, he stepped in and looked at her, his green, ocean eyes conveying as many apologies that he could muster.

He watched her closed the door and stepped back before him. His hand rubbed at his neck in misery. "Sorry, I..."

But before he had the time to finish, he found himself pressed against the entrance door and Stella against him. Her hands had grabbed at the lapels of his jacket, and was keeping his back gently stuck to the door, her body leaning against him. He swallowed as her warm breath tickled his face and her face leaned toward him. His core started to burn the minute her hands reached around his neck and pulled his face toward hers. Her lips gently brushed his and he wrapped his arms around her waist. She deepened the kiss eagerly and a flow of emotions flooded his mind, unable to think. His desire for her instantly betrayed him as she rubbed against him and he moaned softly in quiet expectations. Oh God, his mind pleaded in delight, as he was trapped between the door and her. The most wonderful trap ever, his brain admitted silently. Finally releasing his lips, she locked her shining emeralds with his eyes as her face remained inches of his, their warm breath mixing together.

"Didn't know you were turned on that easily," she smiled, referring at certain body parts she had felt revealing themselves.

"Can't control myself with you," he whispered with a growing smile as his hands gently cupped her face and his lips tasted hers once again.

But this time she was the one to moan in delight when he sucked her breath away and gently pressed her back against him to keep her close. His hands gently wandered over her soft back, her skin starting to burn beneath the thin layer of her top. He could feel her heart beating and echoing with his against his chest. His face moved slowly as their lips broke their burning kiss and his head sagged slowly in the crook of her neck to rest. He sighed in content, her sweet perfume enveloping his senses like a warm shield of love surrounding him. He closed his eyes and relaxed there for a moment, his body yielding to his tiredness, and holding her comforting frame in his arms. He would have remained like that for hours, even fell asleep if she hadn't started to talk. But maybe it was because of the latter reason that she had finally moved.

"I missed you, Mac." She gently whispered to his ear.

Her soft voice caressed the side of his face, and small ticklings ran down his body with delight.

She broke their warm embrace and took a small step back, giving him a warm look. Her right hand nestled around his neck with a sense of deep belonging. With a smile, her fingers played with the small hair on his nape and he smiled back, his green, ocean eyes sparkling in pleasure. Her eyes finally noticed that he was still wearing the same clothes from this morning. She tightened her lips at the tired look he was giving her, though he was trying hard to hide it.

"I left some towels in the bathroom," she said with a smile.

Their eyes locked and he smiled again as if he couldn't stop now that she was there. "Thanks but I got nothing to change and..."

She gently pressed a finger over his lips and he stopped, mesmerized by her shining emeralds. "I picked up your bag in your bike that you left at the Lab. And I took the liberty to take some of your clothes from your locker, in case you had no time to change." She paused observing his reaction.

She had wondered if she was right to do that. After all they weren't officially together and they had said that they wanted to take things slowly. She knew that any of her ex-boyfriends would have freaked out if she had done something like that with them. But again, Mac wasn't like them. This weekend again had proven that, if proof she ever needed. So she relaxed instantly when she read a smile mixed with relief in his green, ocean pools, confirming her that she had been more than right to do this.

"Thanks." He tightened his lips, his eyes thanking her with sparkling lights. "I...I stayed a bit longer with Shen and didn't get the time to come to my place and take anything." A small frown creased his face. "Though I didn't know if it would be okay if I..." His voice trailed off. It wasn't easy to ask her what he really thought about tonight, and his desire to stay. Her invitation could have only meant for him to stay for dinner and then leave. But since yesterday they had taken the pledge to tell each other everything and not let one thing get into the way of their love. So it was why he was so hardly trying to explain his assumptions for tonight, though he didn't want to hurt her by doing so. But in final he was glad when she cut him off again.

"I'd like you to stay tonight, Mac." She paused as she observed his posture slowly relaxed from her words. So he had wondered if she had invited him to stay only for a dinner. She sighed inwardly. She couldn't blame him to feel awkward about all this. As he had run late she had wondered if he was really going to show up; and when he would, if it would be okay to ask him to stay for the night.

"I know it's hard for you...and well, I'm not gonna lie to you, it's hard for me too. I still have those fears running in my head and I'm worried about us. But we promised to each other that whatever happened we would be honest from now on." She gave him a warm smile to reassure him that she was understanding his inner conflict. "I mean, you were the first, Mac, to take that pledge by revealing what was inside your heart, and I agreed to do the same." She sighed as she stepped back to give him some space. Feeling his breath tickling her face had been a torture not to act on her impulse and even now she had to fight her body not to kiss him furiously and ask him for more.

"I mean, I'd like you to stay with me tonight." She looked away, feeling her cheeks blushing as she was speaking. "I don't promise you anything. I'm just thinking about dinner and unwinding in front of the TV. I know it's selfish of me, but I'd like to have you for myself without anything in mind." She looked back to see him smiling warmly and their eyes connected gently. Even without his touch she could feel his warmth invading her heart and reassuring her that she would always be loved, no matter what she would say to him.

He took a step closer to her, a genuine smile gracing his face. Gently, he slid his hand around her neck. Slowly, he caressed her soft skin with his thumb. His eyes sparkled from the beautiful view his senses were mesmerized by as she smiled back. Then, his face softly leaned to deposit a warm kiss on her forehead. "I'll be in the bathroom," he whispered into her ear as his warm breath, stroking her neck, achieved to make her melt. And gently, he took a step back and headed for the bathroom.

Her hand gently pressed on the cheek where his hand rested few seconds ago. She could still feel his protective warmth there. She grinned sheepishly as she let out a soft sigh of content. He was surely the most delicate, and caring man she had ever met. Even with his small, friendly kiss, he had sent sparkles dancing all around her body and she was now furiously waiting for him to exit that bathroom. Calm down, Stella. He's here now. She raised her eyes to the ceiling with a broad grin. Yes, thank God, he was here now.

Mac smiled in content as he entered the bathroom and discovered his gym bag and a pair of towels set over it. He closed the door, and started in the delicate mission of undressing. Soon, he looked in the mirror and took the clean dressing off his chest. He would ask Stella if she could put a new one. He smiled at how easy it was now to think of her like that and helping him for this. She knew so much about him that there was nothing he had to hide and somehow it was a relieve. He could be himself with her. No lie, no fake smile or excuse, just them and the plain truth that they loved each other.

He rummaged through his bag and he was glad to find she had brought his razor. Quickly, he began to shave his growing stubble as his eyes wandered over the mirror and his weary frame. He sighed, pushing aside any dark thoughts and lingering only at the idea of the amazing woman waiting for him.

He slipped inside the shower and after he had washed, he lingered a bit under the warm water. It felt good, even more than good to be at Stella's place and knowing she would be on the other side of that door waiting for him. He grinned like a kid. He was lucky he had found her, really lucky, and couldn't really realize that he wasn't in a middle of a dream again, and that soon he would wake up alone and miserable. He swallowed lightly as the warm water slid over his body and over his stitches. The slow, burning pain coming from his chest quickly reminded him that it was the reality. He couldn't suppress another smile at his luck. They had finally found each other, and he wasn't going to lose her as he had lost Claire. Water dripped into his closed eyes as he faced the ceiling and he brushed his damp hair back, a small smile grazing his lips again. They loved each other, and right now it was all that really mattered.

After ten minutes, the water stopped running and Stella smiled at the perspective of her partner getting out. And in fact, he wasn't very long, as the door opened quickly, and she saw a cloud of steam gusting out.

Mac stepped out of the bathroom his hand nestled before him. His heart accelerated when he arrived in the main room and spotted Stella in front of the TV, her medkit already unpacked and ready on the small table.

"Sit over here, Mac," she said, turning her back to him and pointing at a small, rounded cushion in front of the small table.

But as she turned a warm smile toward him, her heart immediately stopped in her chest as she noticed Mac's appearance. Wearing his black, sweat pants, and his feet bare playing with the thick carpet, she realized with delight that his feet weren't the only thing bare. He was holding his navy t-shirt before his naked chest, and his lips were tight with a shy expression.

He raked his throat. "I..." he hesitated. "I knew you were going to ask, so..." His brows creased as he looked down at the carpet before he looked back. "And well, since I need your help to put a new dressing, I thought that..." he started, trying to explain why he hadn't judged important to slip in his t-shirt right away. And to add to that, slipping into it and taking it off was pulling on his stitches and right now, he really wanted those to heal properly. After all, if they wanted to get serious in their relationship, having his dressing over him permanently wasn't something he would be proud to show her. He swallowed the small knot of unease in his throat.

"Would be my pleasure, Mac." She grinned and he instantly relaxed. His hand holding his t-shirt dropped to his side as he sat, revealing his bare chest and his wounds. Stella warmly smiled as she sat on a corner of the small table right in front of him. Her eyes locked with his green, ocean pools. He smiled back at ease and let her access to his wounds. "Looks a bit better with the stitches in place," she quipped with a warm smile.

He gently huffed. "I know."

Rubbing her hands together to avoid cold fingers on his skin, she bent a little to look closely at the stitches. Gently, she patted around the wound and he flinched under her touch. "Did I hurt you?" she asked worried, her eyes wide open.

He tightened his lips at her delicate touches had sent sparkles of excitement flying through his body. He swallowed slowly, and his eyes caught her worry. He smiled to reassure her. "You can't hurt me, Stell." Their eyes connected as they observed with delight each other. "Besides, it was more the contrary." He admitted.

He winked at her and her heart instantly filled with joy at his words. With a smile, she carefully began to wrap a new dressing over his stitches. When she was done, her eyes lingered over his naked chest, caressing the soft curves of his shoulders and slowly lowering to the center of his chest. She gave him a sheepish smile as he caught her enquiring stare but remained silent. Only the sparkling light behind his ocean pools was telling her that he had probably appreciated it as much as she had.

"Now turned around that I take care of your back. Did you show that to Shen?" she asked.

He pondered if he should avoid answering that question, but again, they had promised to each other that they would remain honest, no matter what, so now he had to stick with that.

"Huh, no," he admitted. "But it's just bruises," he added as to reassure her. He heard her sigh as she was behind him and her warm breath send chills over his body. Then, he froze and shivered lightly the moment her fingers touched his skin and began to gently rubbed his bruised back. He bit his lower lip, trying to control the warmth growing inside him. Oh God. He closed his eyes and felt his mind slowly drifting off. Her warm fingers gently caressed his skin, going in circles over his kidneys, and before he knew it, her soft arms had enveloped his bare chest and she was calling his name with worry.

He blinked, realizing he had dozed off, and she was holding him to be sure he wouldn't fall. "Sorry," he said, as his head sagged tiredly against her face snuggled over his shoulder. Her warm breath tickled his neck and he had to shake his mind not to fall back to sleep.

Stella smiled, lingering in the soft, bare chest she had wrapped her arms around. Mac pressed his warm cheek against hers and his soft cologne permeated her senses. Her core burned with a sudden desire for the man she had in her embrace, but as his upper body slanted heavily on the side, she smiled lightly. "Mac?" she called again with a warm voice. She had seen him fight sleep at the office, and he had never lost the battle so quickly. Though he was really drained lately and it worried her, she delighted in the fact that he had abandoned his shield because of her. She smiled, meaning he wasn't worried anymore to let her see who he was.

"Hm, yes," he muttered, blinking and sitting up straight.

She stepped before him, and smiled sheepishly. "You okay, Mac?" She frowned, hoping he was just tired and it was nothing else.

He let out a small sigh and rubbed his face tiredly. He could read some concerns lingering in her emeralds. "Just tired, I guess," he added to reassure her. His lips tight, he gave her a weak smile. She nodded lightly, and pointed at the couch.

Wearily, he stood up, pulled his t-shirt on with a small wince and after a few steps, slumped back in the smooth couch. Then, he felt her weight deepening beside him and he opened his eyes again. He could see she had brought a tray with white boxes of chinese food on the table while he had obviously dozed off again. C'mon, Mac! His brain scolded. Can't you stay awake?

"C'mon, you need to eat, Mac. You had lunch today?" she asked with worries, her sight not leaving him.

"I think so," he answered as he picked in his food and started to eat.

Think so, in other words, he had nothing, she realized bitterly. Just as usual. She sighed inwardly, and watched him eat with pleasure the food she had ordered while she had waited for him. She had been worried for him running late. Mac had always been on time and although she hadn't told him, after her third unanswered calls, she had tried the Queen of Mercy to get a lead of his whereabouts. She hadn't been surprised when the nurse had put her through the office of Dr Shen. The good doctor had then explained that Mac was still there but had dozed off during the small surgery. Considering his current state and lack of sleep, he had preferred to let him sleep to get some rest, and honestly if it could allow Mac to catch up with some much deserved sleep then she was fine with it.

"How was your day?" he asked, glancing at Stella as she grabbed a small box too.

Her lips tight, she gave him a warm smile. "Fine, yours?" He began to answer to her but his voice faded as she observed every little move of discomfort that escaped to his control. Like the small wince he had hidden with another smile. She sighed inwardly. Thinking of him now still fighting to remain awake as he was trying to make conversation about her day, was filling her heart with more joy than he could realize. She could see that he was drained and wanted more than anything to close his eyes and rest. But he was pulling a lot to remain alert for her, and if it was even possible then she loved him even more because of that. Then, he put his food on the tray.

With a shy smile he slipped an arm around her shoulders and noting she was done too, he gently pulled her closer against his chest. He lovingly wrapped his arms around her and she let her back sink against his chest.

"I'm sorry I was late," he whispered as he caressed her soft, golden curls, his chin resting on top of her head.

"I know it's okay. I'm glad you're here now," she replied with a small smile.

"We have to make some real plans," he muttered and she felt his arms loosening around her, clear signs of sleep calling him.

Nestled against his chest, she shifted slowly and careful not to disturb his stitches, her cheek now rested in the crook of his shoulder.

"What 'bout... diner?" he mumbled, his eyes closed and sleep pulling him into darkness. He fought for a minute the heavy slumber pressing over his eyelids. It was hard to remain awake. He tried to speak, but his whole body had abandoned him. In another place, he would have worried, but as he felt Stella's warm body tenderly snuggling against him, he knew he had nothing to worry about. Tomorrow he would be graced by her beautiful face and that was enough to let him drop his last barriers.

She smiled, knowing he was drifting off to sleep and still thinking about making plans with her. She couldn't help but love the way he cared about her and was taking so seriously their relationship. Carefully, she pulled the blanket she had kept on the couch, and pulled it over them. Her arms slipped under the covers and snaked around his arms resting over her chest. With delight, she pressed his warm hands over her stomach to keep him close, and as if she belonged to him. She smiled, in truth she did feel belonging to him, though she knew he would never pretend something like that. She closed her eyes, lulled by his breathing even, and the regular beat of his heart. She was happy. Although today they had been busy, they had found time for each other, and for a first day of work together, it was something she wasn't ready to forget. A smile crept over her lips as her cheek softly rubbed the tender spot of his warm shoulder. She knew that each day with him would be a blessing, and she intended to make the best of it. Forever.

...TBC


A/N: Well, hope you liked that chapter. It was a bit dark because of the case, but again I had to set the action, so hope it worked for you and feel free to let me know what you thought of this and review. :)

Coming soon...Darkness closing in