A/N, next chapter, thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter am so glad that you waited for my update and still came back to read after 6 weeks, that makes me happy you all rock, anyways happy reading...

Opening her eyes wearily Stella slowly looked around the room, she quickly realised she was in a hospital bed, lifting her head she felt a sharp pain tear threw it, wincing she lay against the soft pillow and quickly closed her eyes, "Stella honey are you Ok" asked a familiar voice, re opening her eyes Stella glanced to her left and saw Mac's mom sat on the chair next to her bed.

"What Happened?" "You fainted you have been asleep for almost 24 hours" replied Mac's mom, "How is Mac" Stella quickly asked, "No change I have been spending a hour with you both making sure that you are Ok" taking Grace's hand Stella smiled, "Thank you for being here" just then the doctor walked in, "Miss Bonasera nice to see you awake, we ran some tests to see why you fainted I have the results" looking from the doctor to Grace, Stella felt nervous, "Is it serious" she asked, "No the results came back to show you are pregnant a few weeks gone, I might add"

"What pregnant oh my" Stella replied in shock, "I take it by your response it was not planned" asked the doctor, "No It wasn't" looking at Mac's mom Stella watched as tears fell from her eyes, "I'm sorry" she whispered, "Is the baby Mac's" asked Grace, "Yes it is, I need to go and see him to share this news"

Moving from the bed Stella stood unsteady on her feet, "Here let me" smiled the doctor as he took Stella's hand, walking down the hallway towards Mac's room Stella thought about their situation, Mac was in a coma and she was pregnant. Reaching Mac's room she walked towards his bed, taking his hand in hers she leaned towards his face, "Hey Mac you need to wake up I have some news you are going to be a daddy, you hear me we are having a baby" with tears forming Stella continued to speak, "You need to wake up Mac I need you, we need you we can't do this alone, now please open your eyes" feeling a hand on her shoulders Stella turned to face Grace.

Falling into her arms Stella sobbed, "What if he never wakes up what if I end up raising our baby alone" she cried, "Shhh it will be Ok, everything will be Ok, you will see, I won't let anything happen to either of you" Grace soothed as she rubbed Stella's back, pulling away Stella wiped her tears and looked at Grace, "You are going to be a grandmother" she smiled, placing her hand on Stella's still flat belly she smiled proudly, "My grandchild, be strong little one and help daddy recover soon" hearing a soft voice in the room Stella and Grace turned to face the bed, Mac's lips where moving he was trying to speak, as the both rushed to his side they held his hands, "Mac its mom" Grace smiled as her son slowly opened his eyes, "I will go get the doctor Stella said as she left the room, she returned moments later followed by the doctor.

"Mac keep calm and when I say take a deep breath and I will remove this tube from your throat" with his gaze blurred Mac tried to focus on the images inront of him, "Take a deep breath" said the doctor, as Mac did so the tube was quickly removed causing Mac to cough deeply, taking a breath he panted, as he tried to speak, "Try not to speak your throat will be sore for a few days" said the doctor, nodding Mac leaned his head back against the pillow, glancing around the room he looked at two female faces that where smiling at him, "Welcome back" Grace smiled, as Mac looked at Stella a smile crept upon his face, "Baby" he said in a low voice, standing up Stella placed his hand on her tummy, "Yes Mac our baby" seeing the tears fall down the bandages that covered his face Stella leaned into wipe them away, she could just see the damage the blast had done to Mac's face, gently kissing his lips she whispered "I love you"

As the days went past Mac's test showed no real damage had been done to his brain after the shrapnel injury the doctor was impressed on how fast he was recovering, it was the physical injuries that where taking longer, "Can you take these off" Mac asked as he pulled at the bandages on his hands and face, "You sure you are ready" asked the doctor, Stella and Grace looked at each other then back to Mac, "Yes I need to see" Mac replied.

Watching as the nurse removed the bandages from his hands Mac looked down the skin was burnt and blistered, knowing that his face would be just as bad Mac sighed and closed his eyes, "All done" said the nurse as the last bandaged was removed, opening his eyes Mac looked from his mom to Stella they both had tears in their eyes, "How bad is it" he asked, taking her son's hand Grace smiled, "it will take time to heal" Stella stood wearily at the end of the bed she absorbed the image that was in front of her, Mac had burns to most of his face.

"Stella please say something" Mac pleaded, his voice was low and desperate, taking a step towards the bed Stella took his hand, "Sorry" she cried, "Hey don't be I must have been a shock for you" Mac said as he held her hand, "So what one of you lovely lady's has a mirror then" Mac asked jokingly, "Mom you always have one" Mac smiled as he looked at Grace.

Rolling her eyes, grace reached into her handbag and lifted out her compact mirror, handing it to Mac she watched as he placed it in front of his face, seeing the damaged that had been done Mac quickly closed the mirror, pulling his hands away from the two women in his life he turned his head, "Please leave I would like to sleep" Mac said as he closed his eyes, "Mac are you Ok" Stella asked concerned, "Yes I'm fine I want to rest now please both of you just leave" Mac said once again.

Grace stood up and knew her son needed space, she looked at Stella who was sobbing, "Stella lets go, we will come back later" she said looking at Mac, taking Grace's hand Stella stood up and followed her from the room, just then the doctor approached them, Grace explained what had happened, "It is normal for burns victims to react like that, it will take a while for Mac to get used to the scars on his face" "How long will that take" asked Stella, "We don't know time will tell, you should both go home and rest and we will see how Mac is tomorrow" nodding Grace bid a goodnight to the doctor, "Lets' go home" she said to Stella.

Leaving the hospital they travelled in silence to Grace's apartment, Stella kept her hand rested on her tummy, thoughts of what the baby would look like and what the sex would be flooded her mind, she only hoped that Mac would be there to share the magical moments with her.

"I will show you to the guest room" Grace smiled as they entered the apartment, "Thanks for letting me stay" Stella smiled as she sat on the bed, her bag was placed on the floor, "Its my pleasure please make yourself at home, there is fresh towels in the bathroom, closing the door Grace left Stella to unpack.

Opening her bag Stella pulled out the picture of her and Mac, sighing she rubbed her fingers across his face, placing the photo on the night stand she undressed and headed to the shower, stepping under the steaming water she washed her hair and body, switching off the water she stepped out and wrapped a towel around her, hearing her cell phone vibrate she smiled when, Lindsay's name flashed upon the screen.

"Hey Lindsay" Stella answered

"Stella how are you, how's Mac" Lindsay asked

Not being able to hold back the tears Stella sobbed down the phone, "he is alive but he has sustained serious burns to his hands and face, he saw them for the first time today and" Stella cried more as she pictured Mac, "Stella are you Ok what happened" Lindsay asked.

"He asked me and his mom to leave the room" Stella replied, "That's not a bad thing is it" Lindsay asked, "No it was the way he reacted and said it, like he was ashamed to let us see him, It broke my heart Lindsay" Stella said, "He will come around he loves you, It will be a shock for him and you having to see him like that"

"Yes I know I just wish I could be there"

"Mac knows you are there for him Stella, just be patient" Lindsay said in a comforting voice.

"How is everything there" Stella eventually asked, "All good the lab is still standing" Lindsay smiled, "Lucy misses you" she said, "I miss her I miss you all, Lindsay can it tell you something but you can't tell anyone not even Danny" Stella asked, "Yes of course you can" Lindsay answered, "I'm pregnant" Stella said softly, "What Oh wow" Lindsay half screamed but toned it down as Danny was in the next room, "that is amazing news Stella I'm so happy and I promise I won't say anything, as hard as it will be I won't" Stella laughed at the last part, "Thanks Kiddo" she smiled, hearing Lucy's cries in the background Stella decided it was time to let Lindsay get off, "I can tell madam wants your attention so I will let you go, goodnight Lindsay take care love to everyone" Stella said, "You too take care Stella" Lindsay replied, before hanging up.

Placing the phone down Stella slipped on some night clothes and climbed into bed, hugging the picture of her and Mac she kissed him good night and fell asleep.

Back in the hospital Mac sat alone in his room, rubbing his fingers across his face he turned to face the window it was a full moon, closing his eyes he was back in Afghanistan in his jackal,

"Sir we have spotted some enemy activity just south of us, spoke one on the men in Mac's company, Ok just approach with care we don't want them knowing we are on our way, stay focused and on alert,"

Travelling down the dusty road Mac could hear over the radio that the ground troops ahead of them had come under attack.

"Enemy fire to the south, cover your markers" shouted one voice.

"This is Lt Taylor we will be with you soon, keep low and keep firing"

Placing the radio down Mac turned to face his men, just then a loud explosion ripped through their vehicle, screams could be heard as smoke and flames took hold, then it went dark"

Opening his eyes and dripping in sweat Mac looked around the room, seeing the white walls and machines he knew he was in hospital, taking a deep breath he sighed and laid his head down, covering his face with his hands "Please let them go away" Mac whispered, the tears started to fall as flashbacks of the accident invaded his mind, his body shock as panic rose, "Stella" he whispered into the night.

"Mac" Stella shouted as she suddenly jolted awake...

Ok how was that, you are all so clever knowing Stella was pregnant, but what does the future hold for our lovely couple, will Mac be able to move forward and let Stella in, or will she end up raising their child alone,,, RnR please xxxxx