DISCLAIMER: I don't own CSI: NY or any of the characters of the plot lines. This is just simply a writing practice.

A/N: This takes place sometime in the episode 'The Closer' after Stella asks Mac why he stills wears his wedding ring. Its Mac's POV in case you get confused.
Okay on with the one-shot now!


It's Not Time
He sat in his office chair, twirling the gold ring that lay on his finger over and over, getting lost in his thoughts of his old life. Everything was so different know, so much different from how it was when Claire was alive. Everything seemed so much brighter and more clear. Now it was just one big blur after another all of the blurs running together.

Mac took off the ring and held it up in the light, as the conversation that was held between him and Stella flashed in his mind.

"Why do you still wear your ring?" She has asked him.

Mac stared back at her trying to collect his thoughts together. It had been four years, that's a long time to wear a ring after one had died. But something in him couldn't let go of her, she was the one that he loved. It seemed to harsh to throw away the one thing that connected them and spoke their love. Even if Claire was gone, Mac was still in love with her. "I'm not ready." He said giving her the only answer he could come up with.

Why was it so hard to let go anyway? It has been four years, long enough to be able to let go. But something in the back of Mac couldn't let that happen. He had spent years along side Claire, he had to many memories just to throw away.

Dying sucks. Mac decided right then. People leaving and you having to let go and being left to pick up all the pieces. It sucks.

Mac sighed, and rubbed his eyes tiredly. All he really wanted to do was go home and sleep it all off. But work called.

Mac looked at his wedding ring that he still had in his fingers and silently started to fight with himself. Just put it on the table. Put it on your finger. Put it on the table. Put it on your finger.

He sighed half angerly and half annoyed and finally decided to go with the latter.

He took the ring and slowly slid it onto his finger where it sat like it was made to sit there forever. Sighing again Mac stared at his finger and realized it was the right decision.

It was just too soon to let go of Claire, her memory and their marriage.

It's not time yet. It's just not time.

Happy with the decision that he made Mac stood up and left his office ready to get back to his work.