They had a very busy week that week, but they still kept their date night that Friday. Mac picked Stella up and took her to a burger joint. It was a small diner on Staten Island. Stella stared at it a moment, then she looked at Mac. "This is your favorite burger joint?" she asked.

"Yeah," Mac said. "They have the best burgers in New York."

"I hope so."

They got out of the car and went inside. "Well, it certainly is hopping," Stella said, as she looked at the crowd.

"It always is on Fridays," Mac said.

Stella held Mac's arm as they moved up to the counter. Mac ordered himself a burger with everything on it. Stella ordered one without onion. Mac smiled at her. "You don't like to eat onion on a date?" he asked.

"If there was one thing I was taught when I was a youngster, it was not to eat onion on a date."

Mac chuckled. "It won't bother me. I'm eating it."

"I hope you brought mouthwash."

Mac almost laughed at that. He leaned toward Stella. "Are you expecting a lot of kissing later?" he asked.

Stella smiled. "Aren't you?"

They found a table and sat down to wait for their hamburgers. They held hands across the table. Mac blew out a breath. "The way this week went, I wasn't sure we would have time for a date," he said. His voice was still a little hoarse, but much stronger now.

"I've been thinking about this date," Stella said. "What are we doing next?"

"Well, I thought I would take you to a concert." Mac held up two tickets to a country concert with a well-known Country singer.

Stella stared at them a moment. "A country concert?"

"Yeah. You said you like to get a little wild, so why don't we go to this concert and go wild with everybody else? Besides, it'll keep us warm."

Stella smiled. "Are you gonna dance?"

"Of course I am. I can do the tush push and the boot scootin' boogie."

Stella laughed. "I want to see that."

Mac held his foot out from the table. "See? I even wore my boots."

Stella just stared at him a moment. "You're really different than what we see at work," she said.

"At work, I'm the boss; out here, I'm myself."

"So, since you're the boss, you can't have fun?"

Mac smiled. "I have to be serious to keep everybody focused."

"Oh, I see. If you were goofy, we might forget what we're supposed to be doing?"

"Something like that."

"So, where is this concert?" Stella asked.

"It's right here on Staten Island," Mac said. "Out there at the Auditorium."

"Great. So we don't have to go far."

"No."

The waitress soon came and brought their burgers. Stella looked at the burger for a moment. "I hope I can fit that in my mouth," she said.

A big smile spread across Mac's face. He thought of what he could say. Stella looked at him. She knew what he wanted to say. "Go ahead and say it," she said. "I know I have a big mouth."

Mac chuckled. He took a bite of his burger. "I guess I do too," he said.

"How did you find this place?"

"I was on a case one time and I got hungry, so I stopped here to get a burger, and it just went from there."

"So, it was just by accident."

"A lot of good things happen just by accident."

When they were done eating, they went over to the auditorium, which was already crowded. Mac held Stella's hand as they went in to find their seats. "I got us pretty close to the front," Mac said.

"Oh, so we'll be deaf tomorrow," Stella said.

Mac smiled. "I like it loud."

They finally found their seats. It was a huge auditorium, and when the music started, it was plenty loud. Stella had never seen Mac let loose like this. There was plenty of room between the rows of seats though, so they could dance. Stella didn't think she had ever had so much fun in her life. Mac had not had this much fun since Claire died…he knew that.

When the concert was over, they went to Stella's apartment. She was still practically laughing at Mac. "Hey, I have a right to act crazy if I want," he said. "I love music. You can just let loose and release all your stress and frustrations into it."

They stopped at Stella's door. She put her arms around Mac's neck and they shared a passionate kiss. "Why don't you come in?" Stella asked.

Mac thought a moment. "Sure," he said.

They went inside. "I'm thirsty after all that jumping around and dancing," Stella said. "You want some water?"

"Yes," Mac said. "I could use some."

Stella brought two bottles of water, and they sat down on the couch. Mac felt a little nervous. He loved being with Stella, but he wasn't sure how far he wanted to take it yet. He drank some of the water and looked at Stella. She set her bottle of water on the table and moved closer to Mac. She ran her fingers along his jawline. "I have never had as much fun as I have with you," she said.

Mac couldn't say that. He had spent 14 years with Claire. He could remember every moment of happiness they had. Stella kissed him gently, jolting him back to the present. "I'm sorry if I'm disappointing to you," Mac said.

"You're not," Stella said.

Mac leaned into her kiss. He thought he could lose himself in that kiss. He thought maybe he 'wanted' to lose himself in that kiss. Yes, he wanted to, but should he? He didn't know if he was ready to go that far. He pulled away from Stella. "What's the matter?" Stella asked.

"It's been a long time," Mac said. He could remember the last time he and Claire had been together. He wasn't sure he wanted to tarnish that memory yet.

Stella stroked his hair. "We need each other."

Mac thought of Claire. He had loved her so much. He wasn't sure he loved Stella like that. He was sure he could with time, but he knew it wasn't there yet. Stella put her arms around his neck and hugged him to her. "I love you, Mac," she said. She felt his embrace tighten around her.

"I love you too, Stella," Mac said.

"We have all the time in the world, my darling."

Mac bit his lip. Claire had always called him that. Stella felt Mac tremble in her arms. She didn't know that Claire called him that. She had never heard it. Stella looked at him. "Something wrong?" she asked.

"I just need to go," Mac said.

"I didn't say something wrong, did I?"

"No." Mac touched her face. "I just need to think."

Stella kissed him again. "Sleep well."

Mac nodded. "You too."

Mac went back to his apartment. He collapsed on the bed. He looked at his wedding ring on his nightstand. He wanted to love Stella. How could he get past this aching pain in his heart? Why did his darling Claire have to die? It had only been three years. Was that long enough to wait? Mac didn't know if there was a time limit. He didn't suppose there was. His heart had to decide. What would Claire say if she knew he was dating Stella? Would she think he had been looking toward Stella all the time? Those were always the crazy thoughts he came up with. Mac knew that was just his heart not wanting to let go. He had discussed all that with the psychiatrist. He couldn't let all this stand in the way of his happiness. He had felt happy tonight. He had danced at that concert and Stella had enjoyed it with him. He loved the feeling of her in his arms. She belonged in his arms. He would tell her that tomorrow. He would take her to breakfast in the morning, and he would confess his love for her, and he wouldn't let his heart get in the way.