Thanks just SO much – you really rock :-) Never thought it would go this way, this is really cool. I enjoy seeing how much fun you have and really enjoy talking to you guys by replying to all those reviews. I'm having a lot of fun with this and with you!

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Chapter 14 – Need To Talk

"Okay, you two…" Lindsay started after Mac had taken off his coat and sat down next to Stella.

"The last couple of days you guys have been acting so weird that it's getting hard to focus on work because we never know what will happen next. One of you is always mad at the other, five minutes later it's the other way round, then you go out together just to fight again the next morning. Not to talk about sharing restrooms, but THAT would be another story… We are tired of it, time to talk seriously!" she commanded while Danny tried his best to suppress a chuckle on her unexpected pushiness. He hadn't expected such a temper being hidden under this 'nice girl from next door' appearance.

Mac and Stella looked at them with eyes wide open.

"So…" Lindsay continued. "WE are leaving now. YOU…" she pointed at them one after the other, "…stay and work it out!"

With that, she grabbed Danny's arm and they quickly left the location before Stella or Mac had a chance to stop them.

Outside on the street, they stopped for a moment to consider where to go next.

"Over there, let's just disappear here, in case they come after us," Danny proposed.

They looked left and right and crossed the street to stop at the other side, a little away from the bistro. Only then they turned around and checked the street and the entrance door of Massimo's.

"Clear," Lindsay sighed in relief. "You think … Did I go too far?"

Danny laughed. "I think you were great, but I also think it don't matter what I think about it… Only thing we can do now is wait what happens now."

Lindsay nodded.

"Guess you're right. What now?"

"Wanna grab a beer or somethin'?"

"I'm gonna need something harder right now…"

He looked over in surprise.

"Whatever the lady desires…"

XXXXX

"Maybe they are right? Maybe we really need to talk...?" Stella whispered after a moment, finally finding her voice.

She leaned slightly closer, secretly wishing he would break the silence with a kiss or at least a little touch. She was certain that Mac was also feeling something, just wasn't sure what it was yet or what he would want to do about it. Neither did she know if he even knew it himself.

Her gaze still remained locked with his, their faces only inches apart.

He wanted with every part of himself to kiss her, but... Would she push him away if he kissed her now? He wasn't sure what to do, what she was thinking, feeling, wanting him to do.

"Wanna order something to eat?" Mac suddenly interrupted the silence, a little too abrupt.

Stella slightly jumped. She paused for a moment, slightly disoriented and confused by what just happened... or what almost could have happened.

More than ever she felt the need to clear things up. If only Lindsay and Danny hadn't put it on the table. Before, she could just pretend there was nothing, claim she was just waiting for the right moment to talk to him on her own.

But now...

TBC

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I promise a faster update for the next chapter – if I don't get held up by having to do too many review replies ;-) Just kidding, you know the drill – be good and review and you get the next one fast. Be prepared – it's hanky time… Coming up: "Teardrop" incl. the same-titled song by Jane Comerford. Emotion at its best (at least the song #gg#)!

xxxlittlesheepxxx