"I'm finally holding what I've been hoping for…" ~ "Could It Be" by Charlie Worsham

Two Days Earlier… Manhattan, New York

"You missed a phone call, sleepy head."

Mac groaned as a smile slowly started to form on his face and he opened his eyes to find her over him, black hair pulled back in to a ponytail. She giggled as he looked up at her.

"Who was it?" he asked as he stretched, stopping when he felt his hands graze the headboard of the bed.

She sat back with her legs folded under her and Mac knew he had to change the password on his phone. Again.

"Stella," she reported promptly, spinning the thin smartphone around in her hand to show him his screen.

Sure enough, it said,

"Missed Call

Stella Bonasera

7:28 AM"

"Duty calls," he muttered, sitting up.

She giggled again and ran a hand through his slightly disheveled hair, making him smile softly.

"You should get a shower before you go," she advised as she stood off the bed.

He nodded and stretched again, hearing a satisfying crack from his back as he stretched his arms above his heads and letting out a soft groan of pleasure at that.

She smirked as she meandered to the window, his smartphone still held in her hands. He couldn't help but note how good she looked in her black and white patterned long sleeve shirt and jeans.

He stood and joined her, noticing she looked a little confused.

"What is it, Angie?" he asked as he joined her, laying a hand on her shoulder and looking out the window. She seemed to be looking at a certain figure wearing a dark hoodie that was eyeing the Avalanche in the parking lot below. He frowned. That seemed rather suspicious to him.

"Mac…I think that's him," Angie said, taking a tiny step back so that she leaned against him and laid her head on his chest. Mac wrapped an arm around her shoulders protectively and eased his smartphone out of her hands.

"I know, baby, I know," he murmured, calling Stella back with one press of a button. He kept a close watch over the hooded figure by his Avalanche as he listened to the ringing of his phone.

"Mac…I just called you. I was wondering where you were?" Stella answered his call after a few moments.

"Sorry, I must've slept in, but I'll be in soon, alright?" he responded. As he spoke, the figure turned and strolled casually away from Mac's truck in the parking lot and Mac kept an eye on him until he could no longer see the figure.

"Sure thing, Mac. See you soon," he heard Stella tell him.

He nodded. "Alright. Thanks Stell, and I'll see you soon." He then hung up and just kept a hold of his phone as he stood with Angie. He thought she was shaking and he looked down at her in concern.

He sighed softly and kissed the top of her head softly. "I'm gonna get a shower and head to the lab, but you call me if you need anything, alright?"

Angie nodded and looked up at him. "I'll keep you posted on him. He's not supposed to be anywhere near me," she said.

Mac nodded and looked out the window one more time. "Yeah, I know. I'll see what I can dig up about his recent activity if I've got a few clear moments while I'm at work," he said.

Angie nodded again. "Be safe, Detective Taylor," she said, back to her usual teasing of him and smirking.

Mac smirked a bit. "Yes, ma'am," he said, snapping off a quick salute, which made her burst in to another round of giggles before he and her split up to prepare for the day ahead, her going to the kitchen to prepare him a cup of coffee and him heading off to the shower.

About 35 minutes later, Mac and Angie shared one last kiss and Angie held his gaze longingly for one moment longer.

Mac offered her a soft smile and gently brushed a strand of her hair out of her eyes and caressed her cheek with his thumb. "I'll be home as soon as possible. Promise."

Angie smiled softly and her brown eyes sparkled. "I'll miss you, but remember we've got plans tonight," she reminded him, giving him one last kiss on the cheek and Mac smiled, catching one last breath of that sweet smelling lotion she used on her normally dry skin.

"Don't worry. I have a reminder set on my phone just for that purpose," he said.

Angie giggled softly. "Be home soon, my love," she said as she finally stepped back and let him start for work.

Mac paused in the doorway to send her a smile and one of his looks. "I will, darling."

He took the stairs instead of the elevator down to the parking lot that morning, thankful for Angie having coffee ready for him after he'd raced through a cool shower to wake him up.

He still hadn't forgotten about seeing that hooded figure looking at his truck. He had a very deep impression that it had been Angie's ex-boyfriend, Darian Huchardson.

Mac knew Huchardson's rap sheet like the back of his hand. Weapons charges, drugs, rape, assault, breaking and entering, grand theft auto… It was all on Huchardson's long history. The thought of the sick and twisted convict sent a chill through Mac that stuck with him even today.

He looked around almost suspiciously as he reached his Avalanche. He didn't see anything wrong with the truck as he unlocked the door with his keys and jumped in the driver's seat, laying his jacket on the passenger seat and making sure he had his .40 caliber safe in his holster.

He was soon on his way to the lab. Seeing Huchardson that morning troubled him. He was supposed to be keeping away from Angie since she had a restraining order against the creep.

And…. Angie had been living with Mac for a while now. Not at her old place. How the hell had he found her living with him?

He frowned and thought over this as he navigated the traffic before pulling the truck safely down in to the parking garage below the New York Crime Lab.

As he stepped out, keys and jacket in his hand along with his phone in the right side pocket of his pants, he shook his head to rid himself of thoughts of Huchardson until a later moment. It wouldn't help him if he was distracted on the job. He could worry about Huchardson later if he had the time to check up on his activities with his Parole Officer, a decent man by the name of Daniel Long.

Yes, Mac would definitely would have a look in to Huchardson. There was something fishy about him showing up near Mac's place, showing a strange interest in the Avalanche.