Chapter 6: Adapting to the Environment

"And if you give me a chance

And give me a break

I'll keep us together

I know you deserve much better"

Mac looks at his watch. Five-thirty. Time to leave work. He closes his file and straightens his desk before heading out.

As he walks to the elevator, he looks in at Stella still working on her case. She looks up as he passes, and he hopes she realizes that this is the fifth day in a row he's left shortly after his shift is over. He gives her a small smile before stepping into the elevator.

"Was that Mac?" Hawkes asks, frowning. "Is he sick or something?"

"He's trying to prove that he can change," Lindsay informs him. "Stel, what'd you do to him in there?"

"I… kind of told him he was like… Frankie. And that he had to want to change for anything to happen."

"I can't imagine him taking that well."

"No, he tried to hit me but thought better of it."

"Mac?"

She nods, "I probably deserved it after what I said. It isn't true; or at least I thought so before he almost hit me."

"I told Danny it was a bad idea," Lindsay shakes her head.

"Mac would never lay a hand on you," Sheldon assures. "And if he does, he'll have us to answer to."

"Thanks." Stella yawns, "It's been a long shift. Why don't we let this go until morning?"

The other CSIs agree and follow her out of the lab. "See you in the morning," Hawkes leaves the two women alone.

"Stel, don't worry about him. He'll come back when he's ready."

"I don't know anymore. I love him so much, and I know he'd never do anything to hurt me if things are okay. But after that I'm afraid he will actually do it if we're fighting like that again. And he can hurt me a lot worse than Frankie."

"After last week, I think he had a wake up call because of both your words and his actions. He's trying to change so you're both happy. Mac is crazy about you. But if anything ever happens, you are always welcome at my place," Lindsay offers.

"Thanks," she smiles. "I have to get home and rest. Being woken up at four in the morning isn't fun."

"See you tomorrow." The two friends part.

Stella drives herself home, getting her mail before heading up to her apartment. She opens the bills while walking down the hall, opening her door automatically. Looking them over, she sets her keys on the table by the door and enters the kitchen.

Suddenly she freezes, realizing the light is on even though she hadn't touched it since turning it off that morning. Slowly she looks up, reaching for her gun in the holster still on her hip.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she glares at him but is internally thankful it is anyone else.

"I came to talk to you. We need to move past this," Mac takes a cautious step toward her.

"You can't just break into people's houses in order to get them to talk to you."

"If I remember correctly, you gave me the key. I'm not breaking and entering."

"I don't want you here if you're not going to be serious about this relationship."

"Stel, I'd do anything for you," he motions to the counter where he put a vase of a dozen red roses. "I've fallen in love with you."

A/N: Will she accept? I completely forgot about updating yesterday with only having like three hours at home before band. Too much stuff to do. Actually most of my homework was getting stuff signed and covering books and getting supplies. I think I only had like math homework. Which was to correct summer work and read a section in the book. And since it's AP I kind of expected to have something in that. School... physics teacher seems nice, health teacher... seemed okay until she threatened to hurt us for misbehaving, I like the AP calc teacher. Then... I go all the way across the building to chemistry II. She's a lot better than my chem I teacher. And the Brit Lit guy's okay. He actually did stuff with summer reading this year... we had a test over the books today. And then spanish... I think that everybody just said yes to everything she said without understanding any of it. She didn't say much in English. Unless she knew we hadn't learned anything like that. And I made it so I only have to carry two subjects at a time... and it still doesn't fit in my bag. But I think the physics teacher said we could leave our books at home and for health our humongous binder can stay in the classroom. So that should fit now. And calc and chem fit. But brit lit and spanish don't... it doesn't help that I still have my calc book with me 'cause that's going to come home like everyday I assume. Maybe when I drive next week I can go back to my locker after band and get rid of my spanish book and brit lit stuff I don't need. I'll update on Saturday... I guess it's kind of good that I forgot 'cause I probably wouldn't have time tomorrow to update with band. Please review.