A few days earlier.

Mac picked up her badge, squeezing it. He could still feel the warmth from Stella's grip on it.

His eyes followed her down the hall, until she went out of view.

"I just don't get it..." he threw his now weakened body into his chair.

Present Day.

"Come on, Stell, talk to me!" Mac nudged her arm.

Her head dropped between her legs, "I can't." Her voice was a whisper.

"Why? Why can't you?" Mac's voice started to pick up. He was becoming restless with her short answers. Anger brewed inside him.

"Because...Just because, ok Mac? That's just going to have to be enough for you right now!" Stella's head whipped back to him, pure fear and anger in her eyes.

"No, it's not going to be ok. You need to talk to me. You can't keep this secret, whatever it may be, any longer!" His hand grabbed at her wrist and pulled her up.

In one swift movement, Stella was now in Mac's arms, being carried in the direction of his apartment.

"Put me down, Mac!" Stella kicked and struggled to break free from him, but she soon learned it was useless.

Mac ignored her pleas and continued walking, keeping a tight enough grip on her so she wouldn't get away.

At Mac's Apartment.

Mac struggled to unlock the door, but when he heard the click, he let Stella down, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her inside with him, despite what she wanted.

"What are you doing, Mac?" Stella angrily questioned.

"Helping you out. Even if you quit, we're still partners. Always have been, always will be," Mac looked over his shoulder to her for only a moment.

Stella only sighed in repsonse, her tired, aching body feeling as though she were going to collapse.

"Now go sit down, I'll make us some dinner, and you can start explaining.

"I'll eat," Stella paused, "But I can't promise to tell you anything, Mac. I just can't."

Mac frowned, but went about his business in the kitchen.