Mac woke up the next morning lying on the couch under a blanket. He wondered where Stella was, but then he smelled coffee and…bacon? He sat up. He had slept all night without waking up. Mac felt guilty about lying around off his job. He would go in to work today. He rubbed his eyes.

"Good morning," Stella said, as she came in with two cups of coffee.

"Morning," Mac said. He looked at Stella, who looked like she had already been up quite a while. "Did I snore last night?"

Stella smiled. "If you did, I didn't hear it." She gave him a cup of coffee.

Mac sipped the coffee. "Mmmm, delicious." He looked at Stella with a mischievous grin. "Nothing like a cup of coffee fixed by a beautiful woman."

Stella's smile brightened. "You charmer."

"So, how do I look first thing in the morning?"

"Wonderful."

"You cheated."

Stella laughed. "I didn't want you to see my bedraggled hair," she said

"I wouldn't mind seeing it."

"Maybe you will. I have to get back to our breakfast."

Mac drank some more of the coffee and then went to the bathroom. He looked in the mirror. He rolled his eyes. He had stubble and he looked rough. He shook his head and used some mouthwash. At least his breath could smell good. He went back to the living room and retrieved his cup of coffee and went to the kitchen. Stella was standing at the stove with an apron on.

Mac had to smile at that. Stella put her hands on her hips. "What?" she asked.

"I don't think I've ever seen you like this," Mac said.

"You better enjoy it because I don't usually have time for this."

"I'll savor every moment then." Mac sat down at the table and sipped his coffee while he watched her.

"You know, everybody at work has never seen the real Mac Taylor."

"They see the one I want them to see."

"I think you have a wild side just like everybody else."

"Maybe I do."

"I'm almost sure you do."

Mac smiled. "I think I have to go in to work today. I don't like laying out of work."

"Are you sure?"

Mac nodded. "I want to go in and get into something. Not that I don't enjoy spending time with you."

Stella pouted her lips a little. "But you would rather go and chase those big, bad criminals," she said, in a pitiful voice.

Mac shook his head. "Don't you want to?"

"Yes, but I would rather be here if I didn't have this broken arm and all these bruises."

"Well, maybe you'll be okay after a few more days."

"Four more weeks on this arm."

Mac grimaced. "Yeah, I know."

"What about your wound?"

"It seems to be healing well. It doesn't bother me too much anymore. It aches sometimes, but not much."

Stella finished their breakfast and brought it to the table. "I hope you're hungry," she said.

"I am," Mac replied. He smiled at her. "I didn't know you cooked."

"I don't usually, but I decided I would today since I have a man in the apartment."

"I should have cooked for you."

"Shut up and eat."

Stella sat down at the table. Mac grinned at her. "I like your little apron," he said.

"Do you?" Stella asked.

Mac tried to keep that mischievous grin off his face, but he didn't succeed. "What are you thinking about, Mac Taylor?" Stella asked, seeing his cheeks blushing.

"Nothing," Mac said, and took a bite of his food.

"Yes you are."

"It's nothing I care to discuss."

Stella stared at him. She had a feeling she knew what he was thinking. "You are just like any other man," she said.

Mac sipped his coffee. "I guess I am," he said. "I'm human."

Mac remembered Claire wearing an apron once. She had it on with nothing else one night when he came home from work. Mac had a slight smile on his face, but also a little sadness. "Are you going to tell me what you're thinking?" she asked.

Mac looked at her. "No," he said. He had the fleeting thought that he wondered what Stella would look like with only that apron on. He couldn't believe he thought that. He had all those memories about Claire, and sometimes things reminded him of them. He couldn't expect Stella to be like her though. He just wanted to love Stella like that.

Stella could see Mac had drawn up inside himself again. She wondered if he would ever open up to her. She knew he had things inside him that no one knew. She wanted to know it. He was so quiet now, she could hardly believe they had been talking a few minutes ago. She could hear his fork gently scraping the plate as he picked up bites of food.

"So, do you know of any cases they have at work?" Stella asked.

Mac shook his head. "I haven't heard anything. I'm supposed to be on leave, so they don't tell me."

"Maybe I'll just go in today too."

"With a broken arm?"

"Yes. Why not?"

"I guess you can if you want." Mac looked at his watch as he took his last bite of food. "I have to get home and get a shower."

"You could take one here."

"I don't have any clean clothes."

"Oh, right."

"I think I'll wear a suit to work today."

"Hmmm, maybe I'll wear a dress."

Mac looked at her. "A dress?"

"A sun dress."

"I don't think I've ever seen you wear a dress to work."

"I don't think I ever have."

"You might shock everybody."

Stella smiled. "I might."

They finished eating and cleaned their plates. Mac put his plate back in the cabinet after he washed it. He looked at Stella. "That was very good," he said.

"Thank you," Stella said.

Mac leaned over and kissed Stella. She put her arms around his neck and moved closer to him. Mac pulled her even closer. Stella didn't want him to ever stop, but he finally stepped back. "Are you sure you want to go to work?" Stella whispered.

Mac thought about that a moment. "I guess I better," he said, and kissed her again. His heart pounded in his chest, but he backed away again. "I better go," he said.

Stella moved against him again, and Mac realized he was up against the counter. "You don't have to go," Stella said.

"I need to," Mac said.

"Why?"

Mac remembered that crazy dream he had. It had been so vivid. He couldn't get it out of his mind. "I don't want to rush into anything, Stella," he said.

"Everybody deserves a little pleasure, Mac."

Mac stared at her. "What?"

"You heard me."

Mac sat straight up on the couch…or he would have, but Stella was lying on his chest. His side was aching. He was wet with sweat again. "Mac, are you alright?" Stella asked.

Mac realized he was still on Stella's couch, and it was still night. He rubbed his face. Stella stared at him. "Did you have a nightmare?" she asked.

Mac nodded. "Yes." Mac covered his face. "I think I'm losing my mind, Stella."

Stella sat up. "No, you're not," she said. "Everybody has nightmares."

Mac looked at her. "Are they so vivid that you think you've already gotten out of bed and had breakfast and everything? Do you dream that…" Mac sat up. "I didn't tell you about that nightmare I had."

"Why don't you tell me now?"

Mac sighed. His clothes were wet. He felt like he had been in the water with them on. Stella touched his face. "Just tell me about your nightmares."

"We have conversations and everything!" Mac said. "I'm talking to myself! I'm imagining conversations!"

"Mac, calm down."

"You calm down!" Mac stood up. "What if it was you?"

Stella stood up. "Don't get mad at me," she said.

Mac looked at her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. I don't know what I'm doing anymore."

Stella didn't know what to think of all this. She had never seen Mac like this. He seemed to be really rattled. "Tell me about your dreams," she said.

Mac looked at her a moment. "Okay, I will," he said. He told her all about his two crazy dreams he had.

Stella was shocked. She stared at him. Mac raised his eyebrows. "Now, does that sound like me?" he asked.

"No," Stella said. She had not expected that. "Are you having sexual fantasies?"

Mac stared at her. "I call it nightmares." He sat back down.

Stella didn't know that much about what trauma did to people. She knew it caused nightmares and other things, but she had never actually been this close to it. She sat down beside Mac. "But we love each other, Mac," she said.

Mac gave her a puzzled look. "You think I should act on my impulses?" he asked.

"No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying, we love each other."

"It doesn't matter. That doesn't mean we should go wild."

"I wouldn't mind going wild with you."

Mac frowned. "This is not funny."

"I'm sorry."

Mac looked at her. "Don't apologize. I know this sounds crazy."

"There you go with that word crazy again."

Mac looked at Stella to see her reaction to what he was about to say. "I think we should wait until we're married," he said. "Then we'll know it is for love."

Stella stared at him a moment. "What if we don't get married?" she asked.

"Then we'll know it would have been for nothing, won't we?"

Stella shrugged. "I don't guess it matters to me. Who knows whether we'll get married or not?"

"Right. And if we don't, we won't have any regrets, and we won't feel awkward around each other at work."

Stella knew he was serious. "I 'do' love you."

"I love you too, Stella. I want it to last forever."

"I think it will, Mac."

Mac kissed her. "I better go home. I want to go in to work this morning." Mac shook his head. "There's that déjà vu again."

Stella touched his face. "You can stay on the couch if you want. I can go to bed."

"You 'do' have a comfortable couch."

Stella smiled. "I like having you here."

"I like being here."

"It's up to you."

Mac considered. "I guess I'll stay."

"Great."

Stella turned the light out. Mac lay down on the couch and pulled the blanket over him. "I hope when I wake up again, I'll really be awake," he said.

Stella smiled. "I'll pinch you," she said. "Then you'll know you are."

"Thanks."

Mac was standing in the desert. The wind was blistering hot. Sand particles were stinging his face. He looked out across the sand. He could only see heat waves dancing. He thought he saw water out there. Was it water? He walked toward it. It was so hot out here. Mac stopped. He couldn't be in the desert. He was on Stella's couch. He felt like he was trapped in this dream. "STOP!" he yelled. "NO! I won't go along with this! I know it's not real!"

Mac felt dizzy, and then he was standing beside the ocean. The waves were crashing on the beach. He tried to back away, but he couldn't move. The water swirled around his feet. "Help me!" he yelled. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He felt like his feet were stuck in the sand.

Then he saw Stella. She was standing at the edge of the water. "Come on, Mac," she said. "The water is great!"

Mac watched her run out into the ocean. "NO!" he yelled. "No! Come back!"

"You're not afraid, are you?"

"Stella, come back!"

Mac struggled to get his feet loose from whatever was holding them, as he saw Stella disappear in the water. "Stella!" he yelled. He lost his balance and fell.

Mac woke up as he hit the coffee table and then the floor in Stella's apartment. He sat up. Stella came running in there. "Mac, are you alright?" she asked.

Mac swallowed. "Another stupid nightmare," he said.

"Come on, I'll help you up."

Mac gave her his hand and got up. He was even wetter with sweat now. "I think I need to go home," he said. He looked at the couch. "I even wet your couch with sweat."

"It doesn't matter."

"I want to go home."

"Only if you really want to, but Mac, I don't think you should be alone."

"Why?"

"You keep having these nightmares."

"It doesn't matter."

"What if you start walking in your sleep?"

"I've never done that."

"Have you ever had nightmares like these?"

Mac shook his head. "You have a point."

"Just sleep here. It will make me feel better."

"Okay."

Stella went back to her room. Mac lay back down on the couch. He stared at the ceiling. Maybe he would just stay awake…

Mac got up off the couch. He went out the door and out on the sidewalk. He didn't want to stay at Stella's apartment. He walked down the street. He heard music coming from a Blues Club. He walked in and sat down at a table. The guy on stage was jamming on an electric guitar. He started singing "You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now". Mac thought of Stella. He knew he had found his good thing. He felt so sleepy, he just lay over on the table.

Later, someone was shaking him trying to wake him up. "Hey, buddy, you gonna have to get out of here," the man said. "We're closing."

Mac sat up and stared at the man. "Huh?"

"You want me to call you a cab?"

Mac looked around him. "How did I get here?" he asked.

"You're really messed up."

"No, I'm not drunk."

"You're something."

Mac stood up. "I must have…" He looked at the man. "I'm sorry." He walked toward the door.

"Hey, be careful out there."

"Thanks."

Mac went outside. He must have walked down here in his sleep. How could he do that? He looked around him. How far had he walked? He thought he was at least five blocks from Stella's apartment. He started walking back that way. Just then, a patrol car drove up to the curb. The officer let the window down. "Hey," he said. "Where you headed?"

"Back to my girlfriend's apartment," Mac said.

"Haven't I seen you?"

"I'm Detective Mac Taylor."

"Oh, yeah. What are you doing down here this time of night?"

"Walking right now."

"You better be careful. This area is rough. You want me to give you a lift?"

Mac looked at him a moment. "Sure."

Mac got into the car and the officer drove him to Stella's apartment building. "Thanks," Mac said.

"No problem, Detective."

Mac went into the building. He tried the door to Stella's apartment, but it was locked. It must have locked when he left. He didn't want to disturb Stella again, so he went outside. He would just walk home or take the subway. He went down to the subway terminal. He lived across town. He got a ticket and sat down to wait for his train. It had been a long time since he rode the subway. He wondered what Stella would think when she woke up and he was gone. He supposed he could call her in the morning. He hoped he could get through the rest of this night without dreaming. He remembered a case once where a woman was sleepwalking because of a horrific event she had experienced when her son died.

Mac knew it would do no good to try to put himself to sleep. According to her, nothing worked. He definitely needed to go on that vacation. But what if he did all this down there in Australia? What would people think of him? They might put him in jail. They wouldn't know him down there.

Finally, Mac's train arrived. He boarded and sat down. There was only one man on the train. He nodded to Mac and looked back at his newspaper. Mac leaned back on the wall of the train. He felt miserable. He couldn't believe he had been sleepwalking and went down to the Blues Club. Why did he go there? He thought the music must have helped him sleep. Mac thought a moment. Maybe he should keep the TV or the radio on. Maybe it would help him not to dream.

Mac closed his eyes and drifted off while he sat on the train…

He was drifting on the ocean. He was surrounded by water. Mac looked around him…water, as far as he could see. He was sitting on a tiny raft. There was no sign of land anywhere. How did he get here? He didn't want to be anywhere near the ocean, especially in the middle of it. Then he realized the raft was leaking air. He noticed one side was getting soft and water was starting to leak over the top and into the raft. "No!" Mac said. He tried to move to the other side, but then a hole sprang in that side and the air came out in a whoosh!

Mac watched with horror as the raft sank and he was plunged into the water. He struggled to get to the surface. His lungs ached for air. His side was aching. He couldn't yell for help.

Then he heard someone say, "Hey, you alright, Mister?"

Mac looked to see someone under the water with him. "You alright?" he asked.

Mac screamed…

Mac found himself in the floor of the subway train. "Hey, you alright?" the man who was on the train asked.

Mac stared at him. He knew he had been dreaming again. Mac rubbed his face. "I'm sorry," he said.

"Hey, come on." The man helped Mac up. "You must be having a lot of trouble."

Mac sat down again. He felt exhausted. These dreams seemed to be coming all the time now. The man looked at him. "You okay now?" he asked.

"Thank you," Mac said.

The man could see the weariness in Mac's eyes. "Hope you find your answers."

Answers. Mac didn't know what answers he was looking for. He had thought he was getting better. Now, he thought he was getting worse than before. Suddenly, his phone rang, making him jump. He reached for it with a shaky hand. He dropped the phone, and it slid up under the bench and on toward the back of the train. Mac went after it and found it under the seat. He picked it up. It had already stopped ringing. The call was from Stella. He called her back.

"Mac, where are you?" she asked.

Mac explained to her what happened. "I didn't want to disturb you again," he said.

"Mac, what do you think love is?" Mac was quiet. "Do you actually think that I would rather you to go home on that subway than wake me up to let you back in?"

Mac frowned. "I'm sorry."

"Just be careful."

"I will."

Mac put his phone back on his side. He folded his arms. He would be glad when this train got to the right station. He was getting sleepy again. He felt so tired.

Finally, the train stopped and Mac got off. He walked the three blocks to his apartment. By the time he got there, he was really exhausted. He went into his bedroom and got undressed and just got into bed. He figured he would dream and wet the whole bed with sweat anyway. Why should he mess up more clothes? Then again, what if he went sleepwalking again? Mac got into bed. He didn't think he would have anymore of those episodes…