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Fourth chapter

"I can't wait for the night to come". Mac said leaning his forehead on Stella's.

"Me neither". Stella closed her eyes not wanting the hug to come to an end.

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Stella opened her eyes and heaved a sigh. "I guess I need to answer that". Mac nodded in agreement.

"Bonasera… Hey Linds…" Stella took a step back from Mac.

"I'm in the locker room, why, what's up?...Mac? He's in here, too." Stella answered calmly. She didn't think it was too awkward for them to be together, they were partners after all and everybody knew how close they were. But what Lindsay said next caused her to look at Mac worried. She said out loud what Lindsay had just said to her, so Mac could hear, "Danny is on his way here?"

Mac decided to turn and take something from his locker.

"Okay, Lindsay, thanks". Stella ended her call with Lindsay saying "Danny wants to update us about the case. He didn't reach your cell so he asked Lindsay to call me and see if I knew where you were." Stella smiled to herself and then looked shyly at Mac, who had turned to her blushing.

Just at that moment Danny opened the door and looked at Stella and then at Mac. "Wow, did you two have a fight again? You both have red faces…" The Italian detective folded his hands across his chest.

"Danny? Did you want to update us about the case?" Mac cut the moment.

"Oh, yeah, right" Danny answered and rubbed his forehead looking down and then back at Mac. "Flack and I went to arrest this guy Sanz, but he wasn't at his home and neither at his work. Flack put two units in every spot to make sure we know when he comes back".

"I hope he doesn't know we're on to him" Stella said anxiously.

"Me too" Danny said opening his locker. He took his wallet and his coat and closed it again. "See you two tomorrow".

Mac and Stella nodded and Danny stepped out the room. Mac was going to say something to Stella but Danny came back too fast, "I hope you didn't fight … I love you more when you two agree on everything, and especially when you're mocking me".

"Goodnight, Danny" Mac said with a smile.

"Night." Danny smiled his naughty smile and closed the door.

Mac waited to hear Danny's steps walking away "I think I still want to keep our relationship a secret if you don't mind" he said leaning on his locker. "Although Sinclair knows and agreed to it."

"I know what you're talking about I feel that if we tell them it will be a pressure on us and we wouldn't be natural like we are now" Stella said and stood close to Mac again arranging his jacket.

"Good. But you have to be careful and stay away from me, because you drive me crazy and I won't be able to control myself…" Mac took hold of one stray curl that blocked her eye and put it up.

Stella couldn't help but blush at his comment. "I'll try, although it's difficult for me, too" she said in a low tone near Mac's mouth. Then she took his hand "Now come on we have a suspect to find".

XXXXXXX

Mac entered his office and found his cell on the table. He looked at it and saw 3 missed calls. Just when he put his phone on the table again it rang.

"Taylor."

"Finally, Mac! One of my guys said he saw Ricardo Sanz come back to his house. They said he looked drunk. Do you want to join us?" Flack asked without wasting anther second.

"Yes, of course. I can't wait to put my hands on that creep." Mac already had his gun in its holster.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I'll text you the address."

"I'm on my way."

XXXXXXX

"NYPD, open the door!" Mac told Ricardo from outside, holding his gun in his hands.

Then he, Flack and the two other cops heard something like a window opening.

"We got a runner!" Flack said looking at Mac.

Mac signed, and then broke down the door with his shoulder. They could see only his feet through the window, when the door opened.

"Dylan. Come with me, we'll try to catch him downstairs." Mac nodded to one of the uniforms and entered to the apartment. Running over to the window, he saw Ricardo hurtling down the emergency stairs. He decided to run after him. He could see he was drunk but still moving fast.

"Stop right now!" Mac yelled.

Mac couldn't see Flack yet so when he was on the first floor and Ricardo on the ground, he decided to jump to stop him.

And succeeded.

"I've got you." Mac put his gun in its place and released one hand to take the handcuff. In that moment, Ricardo tried to resist his grip punched him in the face and scratched his cheek. Although Mac was hurt he managed to control him and cuff him, before standing up and pulling up Ricardo.

Flack ran gasping to them just in that moment. "Oh God, Mac, you're bleeding."

Mac touched his wounded cheek and looked at his hand. He'd barely noticed the scratch "I'm fine, get this creep out of here." He passed Ricardo to the other cops and brushed the dust off his clothes. They took Ricardo to their car.

"Come on, I've got some Band-Aid in my car." Flack put his hand on Mac's back and led him to his car.

When Flack looked for the Band-Aid, Mac took his cell and texted "Sorry Stell, I think it's going to be a long night, don't wait for me, see you in the morning."

XXX

Stella sat near her desk in the office. She took her flashing cell and read the massage below. Mac never called me Stell before, she smiled to herself and sent back "Be careful, love you."

XXX

Mac read her message and his lips curled into a warm smile.

"Secret admirer?" Flack asked mischievously, sticking a Band-Aid onto Mac.

"Give me that" Mac took it from Flack's hand, "and stop already with your nonsense".

Flack grinned.

XXXXXXXX

Ricardo sat in the investigation room with his hands cuffed. They knew how dangerous he was. Mac and Flack looked at him through the window outside the room.

"Let me talk to him," Flack said "You had enough for one day."

"Okay, I'm going up to the lab. I want to bring the fist-box, to compare it to the victim's wounds" Mac agreed with Flack and left him alone.

Flack entered the investigation room and sat in front of his suspect.

Ricardo looked at Don with his red eyes. He was tired and couldn't think straight. He had a headache, he was pretty drunk. He also was hopping that he wouldn't have to see the other detective after the punch he'd given him. But sure he was happy he'd punched him a little.

"Why did you run away from us? Did you do something wrong?" Don asked making him jump.

Ricardo didn't answer him. He put his hand on the cold table and just wanted to sleep. "I don't know what you want from me, let me go" he answered.

"Oh, so now we arrest people just for the fun of it?" Don got up from his chair and leaned on the wall opposite Ricardo, "You know the guy that was jumping on you is the head of the crime lab. You still don't know why you are here?"

Ricardo didn't answer. He felt his eyes close and just wanted to rest, he remembered that he drank in his usual club and nothing else.

XXXXXX

Back at the lab, Mac went straight to the storage equipment room and took one small box. On his way back to the elevator he stopped only for a second to look into Stella's office, seeing that she was gone already. Sorry Stell, I promised I'll make up to you and I will. He entered the elevator and pushed the button.

XXXXXX

"Are you hearing what I'm saying?" Don shook Ricardo's shoulder, and couldn't believe his suspect had fallen asleep right there on the table.

Shaking his head in disgust, he left the investigation room just as Mac appeared with a box in his hand and asked, "What's wrong?"

"You're not going to believe it, I started to ask him questions and he just fell asleep right there, look! He's really busted I think we should let him sleep and continue tomorrow."

Mac nodded and looked at his watch. "Okay so I guess I'll see you tomorrow, update me if there's something new."

"I will. Good night." Don closed the door after him.

Mac didn't want to wake up Stella now, so he decided to go to straight home.

XXXXXXXXXX

Next morning, Mac was sitting concentrating in front of his computer when Stella stepped out from the elevator. She got closer and closer to his office; she leaned on the glass door "Morning…" she said.

Mac recognized her voice immediately, "Hey you" he said while turning to her smiling. Then she saw his cut.

"Oh my God! What happened?" she approached him, her face full of concern Mac stood up facing her.

Stella put her gentle hand on his cheek caressing it a little, "Are you okay?" She looked at his wound.

Mac put his hand on hers, "Yeah, it's just a scratch. That creep tried to resist his arrest, don't worry about it, I'm fine."

Knowing she couldn't stay like that for long, Stella gave him a weak smile and after a few seconds she nodded, and went to sit on the chair in front of him.

Mac missed her touch right away but he couldn't help it. "How are you? How was your sleep?" he asked.

Stella crossed her hands on the table "It was good, although I missed you…" She smiled.

Mac blushed at her comment, "I know what you mean…"

"So tell me, after he had the courage to hit an officer, did he explain his actions with our victim?"

Mac sat again in his chair and leaned backward, telling Stella what had happened. He was very drunk" he finished with a wry look. Inhaling deeply he continued; "Now I'm waiting for Flack's call to tell me Ricardo's woken up."

"Let me do the interrogation" Stella suggested. "I think he has a weakness for women, I think I can make him confess in minutes."

Mac didn't like the idea, "I don't think it's a good idea; he's dangerous, Stell…"

Stella blushed for a moment, looked down on her hands and then back to Mac's eyes, "I like the way my nickname sounds from your lips…"

Danny interrupted the moment when he entered Mac's office, "Hey, boss, Flack just called, 'Mister' Sanz is awake now. Mac, do you want me to come with you, I can't wait to put my hands on him"

Stella stood up, "Mac, let me question him".

"Stella…"

"You know what?" she asked "Come with me to the investigation room, but let me do the talking. I can handle him".

Mac knew he could trust her, his best detective, so although he was worried about the consequences he agreed "Fine, but if he goes crazy, you leave the room right away."

"Okay, let's go." She turned to go and suddenly she felt Mac's hand companion hers. They exchanged glances and left his office.

"You two be careful" Danny called after them.

XXXXXXXXX

Ricardo held his head with his hands cuffed. Flack was watching him from the glass window.

The investigation door opened and Stella and Mac entered. Stella held a few pictures and a folder. Mac held the sample box.

Their suspect lifted his head looking at Mac "Oh no, not you again…"

Mac didn't say a word, instead he leaned on the wall opposite Ricardo and Stella sat on the chair in front of him.

"I can see you have here an elegant detective and beautiful too. "Ricardo said looking all over Stella, leaning back on his seat.

"Watch your mouth" Mac said angrily.

Stella didn't give any attention to his comment. She started to put the pictures on the table, one by one and after she finished she asked "What can you say to me about those pictures?"

Ricardo leaned forward and didn't believe his eyes, he brought closer one of them "Oh God, Paulina!" He looked desperately at all of them. Suddenly he got up from his chair almost knocking the table on Stella. "What happened to her? Is she dead?!" he asked yelling.

Mac stood up to help her but she lifted her hand to stop him.

"Sit down!" she ordered Ricardo pointing at his chair. Ricardo looked at her terrified.

"I said sit down!" Stella said again.

Ricardo still couldn't believe his eyes. He sat back in his chair; tears filled his eyes in seconds.

"Don't tell me you know nothing about what happened to her" Stella continued.

"I saw Paulina two days ago in the morning. Someone hurt her but she didn't want to tell me who it was... I swear to you. I didn't understand why she protected him. I was in love with her and she was in love with me. I really thought I'll marry her."

Stella looked at Mac and then she looked again at Ricardo "Paulina was killed with a baseball bat" she said quietly.

"What?!" Ricardo stood up again holding one of the photos "You thought I did it? That I had killed her with my bat?" he screamed. "You are wrong Lady! I just told you I LOVED HER! Do you know what love is?!I don't know what is your problem, but I'm telling you I would never hurt her and she knew it." Then he threw away the picture angrily. The picture almost hit Stella but it fell right next to her.

"I recommend you to calm down and sit" Mac said to him.

"Are you her bodyguard? Go away. I wouldn't hurt your 'girlfriend' if that's what you're afraid of" Ricardo said in disrespect to him.

Stella was beginning to lose her patience with both men but she continued. "The fact Paulina worked at the Lulu club, didn't disturb you?"

"I knew she worked at that club but I didn't care, she loved me and I trusted her." Their suspect answered calmly again.

"And now?" Stella asked showing him the inappropriate pictures they had found in her cell. "Do you trust her now?"

Ricardo turned upside down the pictures, he couldn't look at it "I didn't like it and she stopped doing it when she knew it disturbed me."

Stella looked him in his eyes and was beginning to believe him but she still had to ask her last question "Where were you Thursday night?"

"I can't believe you're still thinking I did this!" He hit the table with his leg.

Stella didn't give up "I'm asking you again, where were you Thursday night?"

Ricardo looked at her then at Mac who was just waiting to jump on him.

"Home, alone." He knew he was in trouble. "But if it's helping you, I lost one of my bats last week."

"How?"

"I came back after practice to my locker and it wasn't there. I asked my guys and nobody saw it."

Mac and Stella looked at each other, they both somehow believed him.

"Why did you run when we came to your house yesterday if you didn't hurt her?" Mac asked trying to understand his point.

"I was drunk. I hate cops especially those one who want to accuse me of something I didn't do!" He answered looking at Stella.

Mac put the box on the table. "Make a fist."

"What?" Ricardo didn't understand.

"He said make a fist." Stella repeated Mac's words. "If you didn't kill Paulina we want to compare your fist to those one on her body."

Ricardo obeyed her and punched his fist like it was Mac's face again.

XXXXXXXXX

"I believe him, Mac." Stella said after their suspect left the room accompanied by a policeman.

Flack entered the same moment. "I noticed it, too."

"I can honestly say I agree with you two. But I guess I'll let the evidence have the last word" Mac said lifting the box in his hand.

Stella nodded.

"Well I'll leave you to do your science job." Flack turned to leave but he returned to add "By the way, Mac, you've been over protective about Stella. She could handle it perfectly, right Stell?"

Mac smiled shyly looking down on the floor. Stella glanced at him for a split second and then nodded to Flack who added his big smile.

"See you…'girlfriend'…" He said while he walked away laughing.

XXXXXXXX

Mac and Sheldon were together in the lab comparing Ricardo's fist to the ones on the victim's body. It took them a while, the size, the angle... Mac was just about to lose his patience when the screen opened a new window with the phrase "No match".

"He was telling the truth, Mac" Sheldon announced "Ricardo touched her that's why we found his fingerprint on her body but he didn't hit her. And if we find the murder weapon I'm sure his fingerprint wouldn't be on it."

Mac's phone rang. "On my way back with Danny and the murder weapon. Someone found it in a dumpster".

"I guess we'll figure it out shortly" he said showing Sheldon his phone.

XXXXXXXX

"We're back to day one" Mac said to his team after they found out the fingerprint on the baseball wasn't a match to Ricardo.

"True," Stella continued his statement, "But we have found a match on the bat and Paulina's body."

"We know it's the same guy" Lindsay said.

"Maybe we could ask the owner of the club if he knows the other two guys in our victim's cell pictures." Adam suggested.

"Me and Flack on our way" Danny said and punched Don on his back.

Mac rubbed his eyes, he was tired already.

"Go home Mac, if we find something I'll call you as soon as possible." Flack told him.

"Yeah, Mac," Stella looked him in his eyes, suggesting something nobody noticed. "Go home, it's been a long day, for me too"

"Okay. But promise me you'll…"

"…Tell you ASAP" they all finished together his sentence and laughed.

Mac cherished his team so much. "Good night guys."

Each one at the team went to his occupations. When Stella and Mac were alone again, Stella turned to Mac. "Can I invite you to a drink, at my hotel room, boss?" she caressed his shoulder.

"Certainly" he said gladly.

XXXXXXXXX

The door room opened, Mac and Stella almost falling through it, still kissing. While Mac guided Stella to the bed they threw their bags and coats on the way. They almost fell down. They were laughing while kissing, they were happy…when they eventuality got to the bed Stella held Mac looking into his blue eyes. "I missed you".

"I missed you too." he said and continued kissing her.

"Wait!" She stopped the kiss again "I'm sorry but…I really need to go to the bathroom."

Mac put his head on her shoulder and let go all the air that was in his lungs.

"Sorry." she said again and moved away until she could go.

Stella closed the door behind her and leaned on it, breathless.

I can't believe it's actually going to happened…she thought to herself.

After a few minutes in the bathroom, she came back and found Mac sleeping peacefully on the bed…

Stella smiled a little wistfully to herself and walked over to him, kissed him on his forehead. Then went to change so she could sleep next to the man she loved the most.

XXXXXX

Mac wake-up in his undershirt and his boxers. He didn't remember how he got to this situation but he was glad to see his sleeping beauty next to him. Smiling to himself he just looked at her, admiring how beautiful and elegant she was even in her sleep. And like he touched her with his look, she slowly opened her stunning eyes.

She stretched a little bit "Hey you." she said in her sleepy voice.

Mac kissed her on the lips, just one gentle kiss. "Hey". He definitely wanted more.

"I hope you slept well," Stella murmured. "You were exhausted last night. I came back from the bathroom and found you asleep." One more idea appeared in her mind. "I would have loved to strip you while you were awake but…"

"Mmm…." Mac stopped her with a kiss "You could do it now…" and there was more than a suggestion in his kiss.

Mac rolled Stella on top of him and kissed her hard. He could barely wait another second to feel her body. Her moans motivated him to continue.

She had never experienced so perfect a kiss with anyone. The softness partnered with an amount of passion that he tried to keep under control so it wouldn't scare her. That kiss made her stomach flip. As their confidence grew, her tongue inquisitively brushed across his lips. With a groan of pleasure, Mac slowly parted his lips to give her access. She knew how to kiss, yes she did.

One hand was slipping under her shirt and Mac was going to pull it off, until…

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

"No way!" Mac cursed, dropping his head on the pillow like he surrendered. Now it was Stella's time to put her head on his shoulder disappointed.

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

"Maybe we need to fly to the moon to make sure nobody disturbs us… Please Stella, don't answer it."

She lifted her head from him and gave him a small kiss. "Just a second, I'm starting late today, so I'll get rid of whoever it is and quickly." Stella took hold of her phone.

"Bonasera."

"Hey Stell! It's me, Lindsay." Lindsay said joyfully.

"Hey Lindsay, what's up?" Stella narrowed her eyes.

"Don't tell me you forgot about our meeting…remember? To look for an apartment, shopping…?"

Stella looked at Mac like she was going to hang in seconds "Oh right, I just woke up so I'll call you as soon as I'm dressed, and we'll set where and when, okay?"

Mac was smiling, believing the call was about to end.

"Oh…no, no," Lindsay continued "I decided to surprise you I'm right here, in your hotel. I'm coming up."

TBC

Please don't hate me!