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"What's this?" Mac asked softly, tapping his finger against the top of the file in Stella's hand. He sat down opposite her as she sat her desk in her own small office, so immensely involved in whatever she was reading that she didn't notice her boss and closest-friend entering.

Stella looked up at him, jumping slightly in shock at his presence. A natural smile quickly graced her face as she realized Mac had joined her. She lowered the folder to her desk, closing it up as she answered simply, "It's nothing."

"You certainly seemed interested," Mac pressed, suggesting, "Inexplicable case?"

Stella shook her head, repeating in a calm tone, "It's nothing." She looked him meaningfully in the eye, warning him that she'd soon become much less tolerant if her persisted with the matter.

"If you need to talk, I'm here," Mac reminded her with an understanding nod, slipping away from the subject. "Everyone's heading out for pizza if you wanna come with."

She laughed gently, sending him straight back into confusion. She replied to his unspoken question, "It's been a long time since you've tried to drag me away from work. A matter of years I believe." She stood up, picking the file up and clutching at it between her fingers as she gathered together her things, shoving everything she needed into her handbag.

"Things change," Mac pointed out, commenting, "Maybe it's time for me to return to my equilibrium…I think I'm finally moving on." They locked eyes again as she paused to check whether he was being serious.

"In that case…Welcome back," she grinned, leaning forward to press a light kiss to his cheek as she brushed past him, holding the door open and reaching for the light switch, waiting for Mac.

He smiled to himself, shaking off the momentary loss of control after Stella's sign of friendly affection, dismissing it as just that and nothing more. He walked through the door, stopping outside as she flicked off the lights and locked the office.

She looked to him, her eyes catching the glint of car keys in his hand. She stated with a playful smirk, "I'll drive." She carefully snatched the keys from him, heading off in the direction of the car park, Mac following quickly behind, catching up so that he could place his hand against the small of her back like he was so fond of.

"Do you even know where we're going?" Mac pointed out, his smile clear through his tone as they reached the elevator, leaning forward to press the down button.

Stella turned to him, raising her eyebrows at him incredulously, scolding him for questioning her. She stepped inside the lift, saying with a false curt voice, "Well, Detective Taylor, I was rather expecting you'd direct me a little. You're my boss; you're meant to give me instruction."

"Since when have you ever followed that rule?" Mac challenged her, glancing sideways and unable to prevent the huge smile that formed across his face as he saw her look of pure disbelief.

This was her Mac back again; her Mac from before Claire, before the depression, before the impromptu death and falling of a nation. He was laughing and joking with her openly once more; he was living a second life. "What've you done with the new Mac? You wait until I'm all settled again and then you transform back," she told him with a clearly fake annoyance. She took a moment to think, something clicking in her mind as she pointed out, "You're gonna give the guys the shock of their life. Lindsay's never known you like this…the others have probably forgotten…"

"I'm sure they'll cope just fine," Mac argued gently, meeting her eye for a brief second before the doors pinged open and they stepped out in unison. His hand moved to her back again, resting comfortably against her as they walked out of the lab and towards his car.

"So, are you gonna tell me what inspired this change in spirit?" Stella asked with a slight tease as she started up the car, swiftly driving out of the car park. She headed straight out into the heavy New York traffic, squeezing her way through the cars towards a nearby deserted street where she knew they'd be able to park up and walk to the restaurant from.

"Someone I spoke to today made me realize something," Mac responded vaguely, keeping his eyes on approaching cars to help avoid the high chance of collision in the overcrowded city.

"They must have said something pretty damn good," Stella sighed, "I've only been trying to get through for the last five years." Stella glanced at Mac, seeing his attention wavering as he reached down for the file that had been placed near his feet.

Swinging into the road they had been heading for, Stella pulled over, lifting her gun from the holster and aiming it at Mac's hand, showing immediately that she wasn't fooling around. "You make one more move towards that file and I'll have to call out the others to investigate your assault."

"Stella put the gun down," Mac ordered her softly, keeping his tone unthreatening as she slowly pulled the gun away from him. He withdrew his hand from the file, telling her, "I'm just trying to help; there's something in here that you obviously don't want me to see but it's clearly been on your mind all day. Talking can help."

"Don't spin that crap," Stella warned him, a menacing layer still to her tone.

Mac held his hands up in defeat, "Your words not mine."

"Come on, we're meant to be going for pizza," Stella moved swiftly away from the topic, pulling the keys from the ignition and climbing out of the car, shoving the door shut with a loud thud.

Mac sighed heavily to himself, shaking his head softly in disappointment before following her lead and joining her on the pavement. "Stel, you're not cross with me are you?" His focus remained on her as they went along the street at each other's side.

"I thought you trusted me enough not to invade my privacy…I thought I could trust you enough not to invade my privacy," Stella said pointedly. She didn't look at Mac, staring at the path ahead of them instead.

"I'm sorry." He spoke sincerely, covering her hand with his, linking their fingers gently. "I trust you, and I value your trust in me greatly. I don't like to see you so on edge and unhappy though…when you don't tell me something I find it frustrating. There are so many things I never found out about people; colleagues and family, and before I realized how much it meant to be it was too late."

"Maybe we should talk about this later." Stella was clearly exhausted, the argument fading from her. She gripped Mac's hand, hoping that he could understand how difficult the subject was to her.

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