When Mac walked into Dr. Johnson's office, she could tell he was completely stressed out. "Have a seat, Mac," she said.

Mac sat down on the couch. "I think I'll just lie down," he said.

"Whatever makes you comfortable."

Mac lay down. "I have more stress now than I did before."

"Why?"

"Not only was I abducted by these people, a friend of mine was too. Her name is Anita."

Mac paused. "What about Anita?" Sandra asked.

Mac didn't want anyone to see him as a womanizer. "She and I have gotten close," he said. "I don't know what to do. I told Stella that I loved her when she was in the alley and now…I don't want to hurt her."

"So, you are going out with two women?"

"I haven't been out with either one of them yet."

"So, you're going to try and choose between the two of them?"

Mac covered his face. "My head hurts," he said.

"Tell me about your ordeal."

Mac told her about everything that happened. "So, you walked through the water," Sandra said. "You felt panicked?"

"Yes. I was so scared, I thought I would die. If Anita hadn't pulled me along, I would have stayed there."

"And that made you feel close to her?"

Mac nodded. "She saved my life."

"Has Stella ever saved your life?"

"Yes. More than once. I've known Stella ever since I came to New York. She was there when I lost Claire. If it hadn't been for her, I might never have come out of my apartment."

"I remember."

Mac looked at Dr. Johnson. "I really like Anita. She makes me feel happy, and I want to be closer to her."

"You think you should hide this from Stella?" Sandra asked.

"If I hurt her again, she'll never forgive me, and what if it doesn't work out with Anita? I could never get Stella back."

"So, you're worried about losing Stella."

Mac frowned. "I'm not a two-timer."

"No. You're wanting to pick the right person."

Mac nodded. "But I don't want to hurt Stella. She could be the right person."

"That's something you'll have to figure out for yourself, Mac. But, as far as the water goes…I think you made some progress. You went through the stream."

"I did, but I was scared to death."

"That's to be expected. But you did it because you had to. You wanted to protect your friend."

"I knew they would kill her if we didn't keep going."

"She helped you."

"Yes. Then she took the bullet out. She was so scared, but she did it."

Sandra smiled. "I don't know how you should handle that situation, Mac. But I know that women do not like to be in a triangle."

Mac nodded. "I know. I'll lose both of them if I keep playing around like this."

"Good luck. Why don't we meet at the pool tomorrow morning at eight?"

Mac nodded. "Yeah. I want to see how I feel."

"Don't go by yourself."

"I won't."

Mac walked out of the doctor's office not feeling much better. The only time he felt better was when he was with Anita. He felt relaxed when he was with her. Just then, his phone beeped. He looked at the text message. It was from Anita. "How about dinner?" she asked.

Mac smiled. He texted, "I'll order something in."

Mac went to the office to see what was going on. "Mac!" Danny said. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here," Mac said.

"Yeah, but I thought you were on leave."

"Something going on that you don't want me to see?"

"Absolutely not."

"I wanted to see how things are going around here."

"Going fine. There's one case, but it's coming along."

"Any reports I need to look at?"

"Yeah. They're on your desk."

Mac went to his office. He sat down and looked at the reports. He read and signed them for the next two hours. By that time, it was after 5:00. Anita would be at his apartment by 7. He had to get home, get ready and order dinner. He went into the lab. "I'm out of here," Mac said.

"Take it easy," Danny said.

Mac went out and got a cab. When he got home, he freshened up and changed clothes. Then he ordered a pizza. He hoped that was a good enough dinner for a date. He supposed this was a date, even though they were staying in. Mac thought he wanted to stay in anyway. He wanted to be alone with Anita, without an audience. He wondered if maybe he should have gone to her apartment. What if someone came over? Why did he always have to feel guilty? All he wanted was one woman to love. Was that too much to ask for? He would still have that if Claire had not died. Then he wouldn't be in this situation.

Mac lay down on the couch. He soon fell asleep…

Mac was awakened by the doorbell. He looked at his watch. It was already 7:00. He got up and went to the door. Anita was there. "Hi," she said. "I was beginning to think you weren't here."

"I'm sorry," Mac said. "I fell asleep."

Anita kissed him. "I'll wake you up."

"Come on in."

They sat down on the couch. "I don't know why the food hasn't arrived yet," Mac said. "I ordered a pizza."

Anita put her arms around his neck. "I think we can pass the time," she said. "I've been thinking about you all day."

"Me too."

Mac pulled her to him and they shared a passionate kiss. Anita got over into his lap. Mac tightened his embrace around her. He felt so full of desire, he didn't want to stop. The doorbell rang. "That must be the pizza," Anita said, breathlessly.

"Let them take it back," Mac said.

"No, I want the pizza."

"Okay." Mac got up and went to the door. He paid for the pizza and went back to the couch. Mac looked at Anita.

"What? Are you not in the mood now?" she asked.

"I think we should talk," Mac said. "There's a lot of things about me that you don't know."

"Like what?"

"You and I…we have a lot of chemistry between us, but I need to tell you about some things."

"I'm listening."

Mac started with Claire and told Anita about everything that had happened to him since he came to New York. "Now, I feel insecure when I try to start a relationship," Mac said. "I don't want it to be for nothing."

Anita rubbed his hair back. "It doesn't have to be for nothing," she said. "I want someone to love too." She could see Mac was uncertain. "What is it? You have feelings for Stella?"

"I'm not sure."

"You're not sure?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel like I'm using you."

"Aren't you?"

"No."

"You can't have two. I certainly don't want to be a play thing."

Mac frowned. "You would never be that."

Anita opened the pizza box and took out a slice. She took a bite and looked at Mac. "Tastes good," she said.

Mac got himself a slice. "A little cold," he said. "We must have been the last on the route."

"I'm hungry, so I don't care." Anita took another bite. "So, did you rent a movie?"

"Actually, I thought we would be occupied."

Anita stared at him. "I was hoping we would."

"Maybe we shouldn't rush into anything."

"Maybe we shouldn't, or maybe we should. Even if it doesn't work out, we can have a lot of fun together."

Mac frowned and took another bite of his pizza. He had a lot of fun with Aubrey, but it wasn't that kind of fun. "Just friends, right?" he asked, with a frown.

"Kissing friends?"

Mac scowled. "No." He leaned back on the couch. "I know this won't work." He dropped the slice of pizza back in the box. "I'm destined to be alone for the rest of my life. I think I'll just leave New York and become a hermit on a mountain somewhere."

Mac stood up and paced over to the window. "I am so tired of being alone," he said.

Anita walked over to him. "You don't have to be alone tonight," she said. "How can we know if it will work or not if we don't try?"

Mac looked at her. "Everybody in the lab knows that I told Stella I loved her," he said. "They heard it. At the moment, that was how I felt."

"So you wouldn't want them to know about us."

"I don't know what I'm saying."

Anita massaged Mac's shoulders and neck. "You're so tense. Come and sit down and I'll give you a great massage."

Mac smiled at her. "Sounds good."

"Just lie down."

Mac went over to the couch. He lay down on the couch. By the time Anita was finished, Mac was totally relaxed. He thought he would go to sleep. "How was that?" she asked.

Mac turned over on his back. "Great," he said. "I think all my stress is gone."

Anita smiled. "I told I gave a great massage," she said. "Lets don't play with each other's feelings," she whispered. "We know what we both want."

Mac ran his fingers through her hair. "This is not the right thing to do," he whispered.

"Why don't we decide after?"

Mac had never had sex just for pleasure before. It was supposed to be for love. "Don't think about it," Anita said.

"No. I'm not doing this." Mac sat up. "I think that I am confused right now and I need time to think about this."

"Okay, but don't wait too long." Anita kissed him and then went to the door. "Call me."

Mac went to bed. He thought he would just go away on a vacation somewhere alone so he could sort all this out. He couldn't keep doing all this. This was not like him. He certainly didn't want to lose himself and become some sex-crazed maniac. What would he do next? Start drinking? He figured it would be next. He had to get away from New York and everyone in it…even Stella. Mac thought about Stella. He really did love her. He thought he would have to move to another apartment now. When he looked out the window, he would see Anita. Before, she had just been a neighbor that he saw if he looked out the window. Now, she was…

Mac turned over on his stomach. He had to get away from all this. He would talk to Doctor Johnson tomorrow morning. Maybe she could give him some advice.