Chapter 7: Show Appreciation

"Say what you need to say

Say what you need to say

Say what you need to say

Say what you need to say

Say what you need to say

Say what you need to say

Say what you need to say

Say what you need to, say what you need to"

Stella parks in front of his apartment building and gets out to help him. He is already out of the car by the time she gets to the other side. "Mac," she glares at him.

"I'm perfectly capable of getting out of a car, Stella." He reaches out to take her bag from her only to be scolded with another frown. "Sorry. It's just habit."

She puts the bag on her shoulder and walks inside with him. "What would you like for dinner?"

"Anything but more hospital food."

"A better question is what's in your fridge."

He shrugs, pushing the number for his floor. Surprisingly she doesn't reprimand him for doing so. "How do you plan on cooking with one arm when I can't help you?"

"I'll manage."

Mac sighs, "Why don't we order something? Or let me take you out."

"Okay," she gives in, realizing how limited they are with only one arm to lift things.

"Stel, are you sure you don't want me to come stay at your place? It'd be a lot easier on you."

"It's fine. Besides, you're the injured one."

"So? I'm not going to sit in my apartment for the next three weeks until I've recovered."

"You can't go to work," she blocks the doorway into his apartment.

"I'm not going to go climbing into any dumpsters; that's Danny's job. And the evidence we collect is generally tiny. It's not going to injure me to pick it up." She doesn't move. "You're working, and you have an injury."

"How many times do I have to tell you that mine isn't life threatening? I can't do anything with my arm anyway if it's in a sling. They have nothing to prevent you from doing things you shouldn't."

"Yeah, they do… You."

"You're still not going."

"What if I promise not to leave the lab?"

"Fine," she concedes. "But I'm going to have Lindsay keep an eye on you so you're not doing anything you shouldn't be."

Mac rests his hands on her shoulders. "Thank you, Stel. For volunteering to take care of me."

"Well, I'm the only one who'll stand up to you. You'd tell everyone else to go home, and they'd listen to you."

"You're too stubborn for your own good."

"And you're not?"

He ignores her comment, gently pushing past her to get inside to avoid the desire to kiss her. "The guest bedroom is all yours since I know you won't negotiate that with me."

"There are two beds and two of us; does it matter who sleeps in what bed?"

"Anyway, what would you like for dinner? Italian, Chinese, Mexican, or something else?" he picks up the phone to order.

"Whatever you want," she says nonchalantly and wanders off.

Minutes later he finds her staring out the window, watching the cars pass by on the street below. "What's wrong?" he wraps his arms around her waist from behind.

"They caught Diakos today," she says quietly.

"You weren't helping?" She shakes her head. "Did you talk to him?"

"Flack didn't think it was a good idea."

"I agree with him," Mac pauses. "I thought you'd be happier about it."

"I was thinking about all those innocent people he killed just to get those stupid coins."

"At least you don't have to worry about him anymore. And he can't kill anyone else."

Stella turns to look at him. "I feel guilty. For surviving."

"I really don't think he intended on killing you, Stella. Everything shows he acted quickly with the other victims, no hesitation in snapping their necks. But with you… he didn't even try. Maybe he thought threatening would be enough… which means he didn't do his homework very well."

"I was sure he was going to come back for me because I was trying to catch him."

"I'm glad you're okay, Stel," he can't stop himself from leaning forward and kissing her. Once their lips meet, he refuses to separate from her.

A/N: One more chapter to go. Will she give in to him? I'll post it probably Thursday... if I don't have tons of homework. That English that I told you about that I had to do over the weekend took like eight hours to do. And it took me three hours just to do my English last night. Luckily today's essay was only like two pages long so it took a little over an hour. And then I had to do two nights of math homework. I really don't understand yesterday's... I can't wait for the new episode tomorrow. Ella is back I think. Even though she is gone in my story. Of all the places for that eyeball to land, it goes in Stella's coffee. But she's talking to Mac about Ella when it happens so... I guess I can forgive that. That's like the one essay we had to read over the weekend about eating babies to get rid of the poor people in Ireland. Gross. Anyway... I guess that's it for now. Please review.