CSI: New York – The College Years
Chapter 9 – Young Love
A/N: Thanks again for all the great reviews!! So glad you're all enjoying this story so much!
...
As Mac and Stella re-entered the club they noticed the dance floor near empty again and their friends had made their way back to their table already. They casually strolled over to the table and each took a seat, not bothering to offer an explanation for their absence, and hoping it wouldn't come up either.
"What happened to you two?" Danny was the first to question, and neither were really all that surprised by how fast the interrogation began.
"Stella just needed to get some air" Mac quickly interjected; trying to play it off as innocent as possible.
"Uh huh..." Danny replied with a smirk which garnered him an elbow to his side from Lindsay.
"I know what you mean Stella" Lindsay began, trying to justify their situation. "It's really warm in here, I could use some air too, come on Danny"
"Now?" Danny quickly wondered, and Lindsay shot him a stern glare. "Fine" he huffed as Jess and Don stood up to let them out of the booth.
...
"It's freezing out here Montana!" Danny whined, jumping up and down in the same spot with his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
"Well who wears t-shirts in October?" she countered and he frowned as he looked down at his poor choice in clothing.
"What are we doing out here anyway? It's not that warm in there..."
"Just don't bring up anything more about Stella and Mac okay?" she lightly warned and Danny offered a look of confusion.
"Why?"
"Because first of all, you don't know if there's any truth to it; and second of all, did you forget that her brother is sitting across the table from her?"
"So" he quickly countered.
"So... okay, obviously you don't have a sister, but having three brothers myself I know all too well how brother's react to new boyfriends"
"What! Mac is Stella's boyfriend?" Danny immediately questioned with his mouth still hanging open, missing Lindsay's point entirely and causing her to roll eyes.
"No" she exclaimed with a heavy sigh. "Pay attention. If there is something going on between them; and I'm not saying there is; then now would not be the time or place when she'd want him to find out"
"Why not? Mac's a great guy"
"Yes, and Don knows that, but brother's need time to digest this kind of thing. Trust me" She explains, emphasizing the last sentence and rolling her eyes.
"Alright, fine. No more wise cracks"
"Promise?"
"I promise"
"Good. Are you still cold?" she asked as she slowly walked up to him and draped her arms around his neck.
"Maybe a little" he shrugged. "Think you can warm me up?" he asked, playfully arching a brow.
"Come here" she whispered, pulling his head down to hers and offering a deep kiss. Danny let out a soft moan as her tongue swept into his mouth; he quickly grabbed onto her waist and turned around forcing her against the wall; bodies pressed together as his hands caressed her hips.
"Danny..." Lindsay mumbled in the short breaths they took between hungry kisses as she felt his hand going underneath her shirt and gripping onto her waist. "Danny..." she mumbled once more but Danny's overheated brain failed to comprehend her light protest as he deepened the kiss and thrusted his body against hers. Lindsay gripped tightly onto Danny's t-shirt; her body instinctively reacting to the passion he offered her.
"Danny, stop" she contested firmly as her brain finally managed to react. She pushed his hand out from under her shirt and he immediately took a step backwards.
"Sorry" he managed with a weak frown.
"No, I'm sorry. I know, I started it, it's just..."
"Too fast?" he wondered.
"A little" she frowned. "Is that okay?"
"Of course that's okay" he finally smiled as he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "I can wait. As long as it takes okay?"
"Okay" Lindsay replied with a sigh of relief.
"Now let's get you back inside before you freeze to death" he smirked, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her closely against him to place a kiss on the top of her head before leading her back inside.
As they made their way back inside and towards their table Danny was quick to notice Mac's hand linked with Stella's underneath the table, out of sight from anyone who was sitting down.
"What were you two doing for so long?" Don now wondered and Danny smirked.
"Just getting some air..."
"I have to go to the washroom" Lindsay mentioned quickly and the women instinctively looked at their respective dates, signalling them to let them out from the table.
The men all stood up, Don huffing as he did, and let the women exit as they all headed towards the washroom.
"What's with that?" Adam chuckled as they sat back down and Don was quick to roll his eyes and shake his head.
"Oh, don't even get Don started on the 'bathroom train'" Mac quipped and Don let out a small laugh.
"I just don't get it"
"Yeah, we know Don" Mac smirked. "I don't think we're supposed to get it"
"One of the many female mysteries" Danny added.
...
Inside the washroom Lindsay and Kendall actually headed into the stalls to use the facilities while Jess and Stella just stood in front of the mirror, Jess making sure her hair was still perfectly in place and Stella reapplying her lip gloss.
"So is it just me, or did Mac's lips look a little shinier when you guys came back inside?" Jess teased, nudging Stella in the side.
"I have no idea what you're talking about..." Stella tried and Jess playfully slapped her arm.
"Liar! Come on Stella, tell me!" Jess begged and Stella let out a small laugh.
"Fine, he kissed me" she whispered with a grin.
"I knew it!" Jess exclaimed, displaying a similar grin.
"Knew what?" Kendall called out as she stepped out of the stall and made her way over to the sink.
"Nothing" both Stella and Jess answered simultaneously.
"You kissed Mac!" Kendall gasped and they both exchanged perplexed glances.
"How does she do that?" Stella laughed and Jess shrugged.
"It's a gift..." Kendall remarked with a confident nod.
Lindsay stepped out of the stall as well and stopped beside Stella before reaching the sink.
"Don't worry, I told Danny to keep his mouth shut in front of Don" she explained and Stella threw her hands up in the air in defeat.
"Was it really that obvious?" she wondered.
"Yes" the others all echoed.
"But don't worry" Kendall immediately continued. "Guys aren't that perceptive, I don't think any of them have a clue"
"Danny figured it out" Stella huffed.
"Yeah, after I practically painted him a picture" Lindsay chimed in and Stella finally felt some of her anxiety ease as they all let out a hearty laugh.
After finishing up with washing their hands the women filed out of the bathroom and ventured back out through the dance floor and finally found their way back to the table where the young men were patiently waiting for their return.
"Miss me?" Jess teased as Don stood up to let her get back to her seat.
"You know I did" he snickered in return, holding her close against him and eventually stealing a quick but tender kiss from her waiting lips.
Kendall flashed Adam a warm smile as she slid in next to him in the booth, her side pressing against his filled his head with more nervous anxiety and he felt his face beginning to flush from the feeling of warmth her body offered his. He lifted his arm to the back of the seat so it was resting behind Kendall, allowing her frame to snuggle in closer to his; if she so wanted. Much to his surprise she grabbed for his hand, wrapped it around her shoulder and scooted closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder; causing Adam's grin to widen even further.
The moment everyone had returned to their seats, Mac's hand quickly went in search for Stella's under the table; interlacing his fingers with hers when he found it and rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. The simple contact his strong hand offered sent a tingle through her entire body as she tried in vain to downplay her widely growing grin.
The blissful group of friends remained at their table for the rest of the show, which came to an end a few songs after the girls had returned from the restroom. The men, now smart enough not to make the same mistake twice, headed straight to the coat check to receive the jackets for the ladies who waited for them in the now near empty club.
"So, when are you going to tell Don about Mac?" Jess immediately wondered once the guys were out of sight.
"Maybe there's not even anything to tell yet Jess" Stella sighed, once again feeling her insecurities creeping up on her.
"Please!" Kendall interjected with a scoff. "I wish I could get Adam to look at me like the way Mac looks at you, but he's too busy staring at his own feet. Lucky for him nervousness is adorable on him, and I'm a sucker for his boy-next-door charm" she finished with a smirk.
"You really like him don't you?" Stella wondered and Kendall's grin grew wider.
"Consider me smitten" she quipped.
"Good for you, Adam seems like a nice guy"
"Yeah, and trust me, with my track record I could use one of those" Kendall sighed. "And so could you Stella" she continued, placing a hand on Stella's shoulder. "Mac is nothing like that loser Frankie"
"Not to mention way cuter" Lindsay added, nudging Stella in the side and breaking the tension as the girls broke out into laughter once again.
"That's never good..." Danny smirked as the guys re-entered the room. "What were you guys talking about?"
"Oh, just girl stuff" Lindsay remarked and Danny quickly rolled his eyes.
"Like I said, never good" he chuckled. "Come on, let's get out of here"
They all headed outside and to their cars, keeping the same arrangements as the ride up. In the back seat of Danny's car Kendall had burrowed herself into Adam's warm grasp and fallen asleep with her head on his shoulder during the ride home; a blissful smile on Adam's face as he relished in the feeling of her closeness.
"She's a great girl" Danny mentioned softly as he noticed the two of them in the rear view mirror.
"I'm a lucky guy" Adam smirked, kissing the top of Kendall's head, who was still asleep.
"Yeah, me too" Danny confessed, gripping onto Lindsay's hand and offering her a warm smile.
"Geez one pop concert and you boys turn into total saps" Lindsay teased, leaning over to place a kiss on Danny's cheek.
"Just don't tell Don" Danny warned, attempting at a serious facial expression that just turned back into his famous smirk as Lindsay arched a brow at him.
"You are too cute" she chuckled, shaking her head slightly.
...
"So Stell," Jess began as Don's car rolled to a stop outside their dorm building. "Do you have your key? I'm going to stay at Don's tonight" she finished, with a slight grin tugging at her lips.
"Yes I have my key" Stella nodded.
"Night Stell" Don smiled as she went to reach for the door handle.
"I'll uh... I'll walk you up. Make sure you get in okay" Mac mentioned with a shrug. "You guys can go ahead, I'm just going to walk home from here"
"You don't have to do that Mac, it's no big deal" Don tried to protest.
"Nah, don't worry about it. You're place is right around the corner, you don't have to drive me back to mine. Besides I've been sitting for way too long anyway, need to stretch my legs" he shrugged once more.
"You sure?" Don wondered.
"Babe, he's sure. Now come on before I change my mind and you'll be sleeping by yourself tonight" Jess intervened, shooting a quick wink towards Stella that had gone unnoticed by the two men.
"Goodnight Mac" Don was quick to blurt out as he started his car again.
"Goodnight" Mac chuckled as he and Stella stepped out of the car.
...
"Who says chivalry is dead" Stella lightly laughed as Mac rushed to open the door to her building before she had a chance to reach for it.
"It won't be if my mother has anything to say about it" Mac countered and Stella laughed once more.
"So, needed to 'stretch your legs' huh?" Stella asked abruptly, offering a sideways smirk at Mac as they made their way up the stairs to the 3rd floor.
"Thought it would come off as more innocent then the real reason I wanted to get you alone" he admitted in a low tone, reaching out and grabbing her hand.
"And that reason would be...?" Stella questioned with a flirtatious smile as they stopped at the stairwell door to her floor.
"This..." Mac began before quickly wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her tightly against his chest and crushing her lips with his. Their balance faltered slightly as their passion increased and Stella nearly stumbled backward into the door; Mac reaching his arm out and pressing it against the glass window of the door as leverage to keep them both steady, his other arm still wrapped around her waist and holding her close.
Finally breaking apart for air, Stella looked up at Mac with a curious smirk; "yes, I think I'm glad you didn't tell my brother that" she teased.
"About Don..." Mac began, letting out a soft sigh at the end.
"I know, I have to tell him; and I will"
"What do you think he'll say?" Mac wondered and Stella smirked once more.
"Probably something along the lines of 'I'm happy for you' and 'if he ever hurts you it'll be the last thing he ever does'. You know, the average big brother speech"
"Right" Mac chuckled. "God I couldn't imagine having a sister" Mac sighed, shaking his head slightly. Stella laughed at his last comment, picturing him being pretty much a carbon copy of Don if he had a sister of his own.
"I give Don full permission to beat me senseless if I ever do anything to hurt you, okay?" Mac stated jokingly, wanting to believe that he could never allow himself to hurt her. Unfortunately for them; fate often had a plan of its own.
"I'll be sure to tell him that" she smirked.
"Make sure you do" he added with a small laugh.
"Well I'm glad you decided to come tonight" Stella confessed with a warm smile as they lingered at the door.
"So am I" he offered with a bright smile of his own.
"See you in the morning?" She wondered.
"See you in the morning" he confirmed with a firm nod. He watched her head through the door and stop outside her dorm room as she fished her keys out of her pocket. Waiting until she was safely inside, Mac let out a content sigh as he regrettably took his leave and headed down the stairs and back outside.
...
"Mac Attack, what up!" Adam greeted enthusiastically; his voice in a high pitched tone as Mac had returned home to their dorm.
"Let me guess, you had a good time?" Mac chuckled and Adam's face lit up like a kid at Christmas who had just been given a puppy.
"Amazing time!" Adam corrected. "I uh... I kissed her" he continued, his smile growing wider with each passing second.
"You kissed her?" Mac asked, feeling it necessary to clarify.
"Hell yeah" Adam boasted victoriously. "Adam Ross in the house, what-what!" he exclaimed; his high pitched tone returning and Mac had to laugh as he shook his head.
"That's great Adam. Well goodnight..." Mac offered as he turned to head towards his room; ready to call it a night.
"Hey, wait!" Adam mentioned in haste, causing Mac to turn back towards him.
"What?"
"You never told me if you had a good time..." Adam stated, provoking an immediate grin from Mac.
"I had an amazing time" Mac confessed before stepping into his room and closing his door.
"You what? Wait... Mac! What happened?" Adam questioned immediately, looking for details.
"Goodnight Adam" Mac called through the closed door and Adam let out a defeated sigh before heading back to his own room.
...
**Sorry, this chapter was a little shorter than the other ones but it's been forever since I last posted (had a crazy week) so I wanted to give you guys something. Anyway, hope you liked this chapter, tried to throw in some moments with all the couples, and hopefully didn't disappoint. Leave a review and let me know what you thought**
P.S. Be sure to check out my latest fic "Family Ties"; a story about Mac and Reed with lots of SMacked!!
