I'm thinking this is the penultimate chapter...Thank you all who reviewed! They're my happy pills I swear lol

"Stella?"

"How is he? Is he alright?" She asked, springing from her seat to face the doctor. She said a silent 'Thank God' that is was this doctor working on Anatoli. Charlie Morgante was well-known within the hospital and CSI unit. He was a nice guy and a damn good doctor.

"He's fine" he smiled. His Australian accent adding to the relieving quality of his baby blue eyes. "He had quite a scare, but he's going to be fine. Unfortunately, he's going to get more of these as his condition develops. He…He hasn't got long"

"I know" she sighed. She rested a hand on his arm, "Thank you, Charlie"

"No problem. He's been delighting all the nurses with your story. That's one hell of a tale" he said with a chuckle, his blonde hair falling about his face slightly

"Don't I know it!" Stella chortled. "Can I see him?"

Charlie's pager sounded from his hip. A quick glance had him saying, "Yeah, go straight in. I'm going to have to shoot though"

"Sure, go. Thanks again, Charlie"

He gave a wink before running off down the corridors.

Stella breathed deeply and opened Anatoli's door. "Knock knock"

"There she is" he grinned, before turning to the nurse who was checking his blood pressure, "this is Stella, my granddaughter"

"We actually know each other, hi Judy" Stella nodded to the young woman.

"Stella" Judy smiled. She ripped the band from around Anatoli's arm and rubbed a hand across his shoulder, "I'll leave you two be. I'll be back to check on you in a little while"

Stella watched Judy leave, and then tentatively turned her attention back to the frail-looking man lay in front of her. In the four days she'd known him, he'd always seemed like an energetic, active man. Now? With wires and tubes coming from all places, he'd never seemed so…old. "How're you feeling?"

"Oh I'm fine. It'll take a lot more than that to scare me" he smiled, reaching for her hand. "How are you? I'm sorry if I scared you"

"It'll take a lot more than that to scare me" she sassed. Reaching back for a chair, she pulled the plastic 'seat' closer to the bed. "I take it that happens a lot?"

"It can do" Anatoli shrugged. "Not usually as severe, but it has been known"

Stella nodded, attempting to prepare herself for a similar event in the future. A moment of silence had passed before them, the adrenaline and shock finally settling.

Anatoli stroked at Stella's knuckles, her hand still enclosed in his. He whispered, "You called me Grandpa" his heart skipping slightly with pride.

She didn't say anything. Just ever-so-slightly nodding. She was still weary of heartbreak by fully admitting she had the family she'd always dreamed of. Even though deep-down she knew there was no mistaking Anatoli as her grandfather, her own instilled survival techniques made her question everyone and everything.

Anatoli knew not to push.

Stella and Anatoli's attention was soon focussed on the door, as Mac stood watching the touching scene. "Hello, Sir"

"I've told you, its Anatoli" he mockingly scolded

Mac chuckled, nodding. "How do you feel?"

"I'll be fine, son. No worries"

Mac smiled. "Stella, can I..?" he asked with a nod to the corridor

"Sure" she stood up, "I'll be right back" she told Anatoli

"Take your time, child"

Stella chuckled lightly as she followed Mac. You wouldn't believe he'd just had a near-death-experience.

"Hey" Mac smiled facing her, once they'd found a quiet-ish spot.

"Hey" she breathed.

"How are you holding up?"

"Well, I've definitely had better experiences"

"Here" he said, handing her a plastic grocery bag

"What's this?"

"I figured you wouldn't have had time to grab lunch, so I bought a couple of those bagels you like on the way over"

Stella looked into the bag, instantly recognising the smell of the Mediterranean fillings from the little store on 12th. "Thank you" she smiled, a little bit of disbelief evident in her voice

"Listen, take the rest of today off, and tomorrow if you want. Spend some proper time with Anatoli"

"You sure? What about the case?" she'd just started on a new case the day before

"Danny can take it"

"Solo!" Last Stella knew, Mac didn't trust Danny fully after the whole Minhas shooting incident. Suddenly he was trusted enough for a solo?

"When is anyone really on a solo?" he asked, a mischievous glint shining in his blue eyes.

Stella chucked, "Thanks"

A few years ago, Mac would never dream of hugging anyone. He'd always seen that as an intimate embrace, usually between boyfriend and girlfriend, or man and wife. But he saw that look in Stella's eyes: A mix of fear, hope and unshed tears in those chocolate brown swirls. He knew all she wanted to do was sink into somebody's arms and relinquish all responsibilities for as long as possible.

Had they been alone, in either's home, he wouldn't have thought twice about wrapping his arms around her. But they were in the hospital, so the act was instigated with a bit of hesitation.

Stella hadn't realised just how tired and exhausted she was. She hadn't exactly done much, but emotionally, she was drained. When Mac finally brought her into his arms, she sighed deeply and closed her eyes.

His hands lazily rubbed at her back, soothing her as he whispered "He's going to be fine. You've still got plenty of time together. Enjoy it"