The next morning, Mac rented an SUV to go on this trip with. They would be going out to the mountains, and that trail was anything but smooth. Mac had been there once. He had taken Claire up there not long before…

Mac shook his head. He had to let his past go. He wanted to live here and now, but he had missed Claire terribly the last few days. He had dreamed of her every night and thought of holding her. He had asked Stella to go on this trip with him. He thought maybe they could get better acquainted. He wasn't sure he could get into a relationship yet, especially after what happened with Quinn. He had nightmares about that too. She had taken advantage of him by using drugs.

Mac got his duffle bag and headed out to the SUV. It was chilly outside, but not cold. He drove over to Stella's apartment building and went inside. He knocked on the door. Stella opened the door. "Come in," she said. "Sorry, I'm still trying to get everything together. I realized this morning that I didn't even pack my toothbrush."

Mac smiled. "It's easy to forget things," he said. He went inside and closed the door. He waited for Stella to come out. Stella soon came out with a light pink duffle bag. Mac smiled. "You're such a girl."

Stella folded her arms. "And don't you forget it."

"Don't worry."

Stella was dressed in faded jeans and a purple t-shirt with a white leather jacket on. Mac was wearing a red t-shirt and black jeans with his beige jacket. "You sure you want to wear that jacket up there?" Mac asked. "That's a rough trail."

"You mean you think I should wear something old?" Stella asked.

"I don't think you want to mess that up."

Stella dropped her duffle bag and went back into her room. She soon came out with a white sweatshirt jacket on. "How's this?"

"Better."

They went out to the SUV and threw their duffle bags in the back. "How big is this cabin?" Stella asked.

"Not very big," Mac replied. "It's just a little cabin up there beside a lake with plenty of trout and catfish."

Stella smiled. "I can't wait."

They got on the road and Mac stopped for gas when they were on the outskirts of the city. "How long will it take to get up there?" Stella asked.

"About four hours," Mac said.

"Oh, so I guess I better get something to snack on." Stella got out of the SUV. "This is the best part of a vacation. I get to eat all the junk food I want."

Mac smiled. "Get me a bag of Bugles and a Pepsi while you're at it."

"I'll be right back."

Mac watched Stella go into the store. He was glad he was taking her with him. He thought he could talk all this out with Stella and get past it. She always understood him and never judged him. Yes, he had made the right decision to take her. They would have a lot of fun too. He couldn't wait to see Stella fishing. He grinned as he remembered what kind of bait he brought. He had picked up a can of crickets and a box of nightcrawlers. They would last for three days if he took care of them.

Soon, Stella came out with a bag full of chips, cookies and snack cakes. She also brought a six pack of water. "I figure we'll have to wash all this out," she said.

Mac chuckled as he got back into the SUV. "I want to do more than run to the bathroom," he said. He tried to hide the mischievous grin threatening to spread across his entire face. He knew there was no bathroom in that cabin, and Stella had no idea.

"I saw that," Stella said. "What is that grin about?"

Mac looked at her innocently. "What grin?" he asked.

Stella gave him his bag of Bugles and his Pepsi. "I think you're hiding something from me."

"I can't just give everything away."

Just then, Stella heard a cricket sing in the back of the SUV. Mac pretended he didn't hear it. He cranked the SUV and headed on up the road. "What was that?" Stella asked.

"What?" Mac asked.

Stella stared at him as she heard the cricket again, and it sounded like it had company this time. "There are crickets in here," she said.

"Maybe they crawled in."

"Mac Taylor! You are taking crickets for bait?"

Mac looked at her. "Well, they're good bait when you're fishing for trout." He glanced toward the back. "Noisy little critters." He supposed if he wanted to keep secrets he shouldn't get bait that had a voice.

Stella folded her arms. "I can't believe this. I can see this is going to be an eventful trip."

"Well, just so long as they don't get out of the can."

Stella's mouth dropped open. She looked around her and then at Mac. She hit his shoulder. "Stop that!"

Mac laughed. "I didn't know you were afraid of bugs."

"I don't like things that try to jump on you."

"I'm sure they'll want to explore you with that sweet smelling perfume on."

"That is not for them."

"Who's it for then?"

Stella looked out the window. "I'm just going to have a blast."

Mac smiled. He would get great pleasure out of the way she was acting now and out of baiting her hook for her. He was sure she would not touch a cricket and when she saw those night crawlers, she would probably go back into the cabin.

Stella could see Mac's mischievous grin. She knew he must have more up his sleeve. She was glad he was having fun though after what happened to him. She sighed. She hoped he could forget that ordeal. Then again, she knew he couldn't 'forget' it, but maybe he could push it down enough that it would not hinder his life so much.

When they arrived at the cabin, Stella just stared at it a moment. Mac looked at her. "Lets go," he said.

Stella looked at him. "You said small," she said.

They got out of the SUV and got their duffle bags and went inside. "Where is the bathroom?" Stella asked.

Mac tried to avoid looking at her. "It's outside," he said.

Stella folded her arms. "Outside?"

"Yeah. There's an outhouse out there."

"I assume there's toilet paper?"

Mac went over to one of the cabinets in the kitchenette and took out a roll and handed it to her. "There you go," he said.

Stella took the roll. "Are you going to point me in the right direction?"

They went outside. Mac pointed to a little building about ten feet from the house. "Right there," he said. "If you see a bear, just give me a holler."

Stella stared at him. She went on outside. When she got into the outhouse, it was not at all what she had expected. There was no toilet. It was just a hewn out place in the rock of the mountain. She told herself that she would make him pay for this.

Stella soon came back into the cabin. She set the roll of toilet paper up on the counter of the kitchen. "Remind me never to take a trip with you again unless it is to a luxurious hotel," she said. "What is that out there, a bottomless pit?"

Mac almost laughed. "I don't know, but it is sufficient."

Mac had taken all the food stuffs out of the SUV. "I brought us a few things so we won't have to eat only fish and in case we can't get any fish."

Stella looked at all the fruit and veggies Mac had brought. He had also brought junk food. He put the perishable stuff into the refrigerator. "This should get cold in a little while," he said. "I brought sandwich fixings too."

"Sounds better than that toilet," Stella said.

Mac grinned mischievously. "Well, that's just for after you eat."

Stella chased Mac around the counter. "Hey, now, don't get violent," he said, as she tackled him on the couch. Mac swallowed as he looked into Stella's green eyes. She was lying on top of him.

"What's that look about?" Stella asked, as she caressed his face. She started to kiss him, but he turned his face.

"I'm not ready for this yet," he said.

Stella sat up. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be too forward."

"No, you're not." Mac didn't think this position was any better. She was sitting on top of him.

Stella got up. "I was just playing with you," she said, feeling guilty.

"I know," Mac said. "That was fun, actually."

Stella smiled. "You're a real piece of work, you know that?"

"I try to be."

"So, are we eating or fishing?"

"Lets go try our luck." Mac took his jacket off. It was quite warm outside now. He went to the refrigerator and took out a white Styrofoam box.

"What is that?" Stella asked.

Mac opened the box. "Worms," he said.

"Oh, Mac!"

Mac laughed. "Come on. I promise I'll bait your hook."

"Are you sure it's them?" Quinn asked, as she was making her only phone call for the day.

"Yeah," Walter answered. "I followed them. They never even saw me."

"Let me know when it's done."

"Sure."

Quinn hung up the phone and smiled her evil smirky smile. She still wanted Mac to suffer, although she figured the news she would deliver to him next would devastate him even more than losing his beloved Stella. Quinn glared as she thought of Stella. She hated her. She would not let Stella have Mac if she had to kill them both.