AN: Sorry about the wait- had writers block over this fic. This chapter probs ain't my best work, but anyhoo...hope you like it : )
"What do you say to a round of drinks?" Danny suggested, remembering, "I found this great little bar not far off from here. It's usually quiet around this time." He looked around the table to the group who all seemed to nod in agreement.
"I better head home," Stella admitted, sounding only vaguely disappointed. "I've got things to do before tomorrow." She nodded her farewell to the group as she rose from her seat.
Mac did likewise, following Stella out of the restaurant leaving no excuse, only some cash on the table towards the cost of the meal. He caught up with Stella just outside in the street, reminding her, "Your things are in my car. I'll give you a lift home."
"Thanks, Mac," she smiled quietly, leading the way down the empty street. Mac remained a few paces behind her, seeing she was too involved in her own thoughts to really appreciate his company.
She turned back to face him for a few steps, wandering backwards towards the car as they approached the vehicle. Her expression remained almost blank as she told him, "I think I owe you an apology for earlier…possibly an explanation as well." She let out a low chuckle, a smile gracing her face as she continued, "I shouldn't have snapped at you…I definitely shouldn't have used my gun."
Mac cut her short, telling her gently, "Stel, you don't have to explain yourself to me. Friends never need an explanation, enemies never believe them."
Their journey was spent in comfortable silence, Stella watching absent-mindedly out of the window as Mac weaved his way through the traffic. Finally they pulled up outside her apartment building, Mac shutting the engine off and studying her as she collected her things together.
"If you need to talk," Mac began, eyeing the folder held tightly in her hands. He trailed of, his eyes conveying his meaning as they locked with hers.
Stella nodded acceptingly, smiling graciously, "I know. I'll see you tomorrow, Mac."
"Keep safe," Mac wished her well. He waited outside the block of apartments until he could see Stella's light flickering on, roughly half way up the stack of homes. He didn't want to leave her alone, but she had made it pretty clear that she wasn't up to talking about what was going on her life at the moment, especially not about the contents of the folder she protected so fiercely.
Stella sat down at the table crammed into the corner of her living area, usually reserved for case-file storage but now being used as a layout table for the multiple pieces of paper she had managed to print off and cram into the folder.
She picked up the first one with wavering hands, looking down at the small picture of herself that stared back up at her from the corner of the page. Her eyes scanned the page, quickly absorbing the information that she already knew.
Name: Bonasera, Stella
Rank: First Grade Detective
Next of Kin: Detective Mac Taylor
She continued to read, finding nothing of interest on the page, just a list of dates and a brief summary on her education and complaints made against her. Nervously she glanced up towards the general direction of the door, half expecting someone to be watching her as she proceeded to rummage through the file she never should have had access to.
The doorbell rung, making her jump out of her seat in surprise. She shook the uncomfortable feeling from her body and mind, standing up and swiftly making her way towards the door. She heaved it open, her eyes widening as she saw Mac waiting now only a metre away from her. "Mac?" Stella stumbled, "What…what are you doing here?"
Mac seemed equally unsure and confused as he replied slowly, "I just…I wanted to make sure you're ok…you don't seem right today." He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, looking down to the floor as he was unable to meet her eye. "You've helped me to get where I am today; I can't just leave you to struggle through on your own. I know you said…"
"Thanks for coming back," Stella smiled gratefully, stepping back from the door to let him in, closing the door behind him as he entered. Stella knew that Lindsay had been right when she said she ought to talk to Mac. All she could do now was hope that Mac wouldn't be cross and that he would understand. "Can we talk?"
"Of course," Mac responded, his tone a little surprised as he made his way towards her sofa, sitting down. His gaze fell on the table, still covered in the documents Stella had accessed and taken. He rose, making his way towards them, glancing at Stella for confirmation before moving within reading distance.
Stella nodded, her eyes slipping shut as she gave him permission to continue.
Mac's fingers ran over the pieces of paper, flipping through the pages at the top of the pile, taking his time to scan read the first few documents. He questioned softly, "Stella?" He waited expectantly for her reply.
"I'm sorry," Stella whispered, "I had to know. I realize I've jeopardised my job…the integrity of the lab…our friendship…"
"Nothing can jeopardise our friendship," he stopped her apology, meeting her eye meaningfully. She smiled sadly back at him as he couldn't tear his eyes away from hers. "Even using your position to find out your own background information."
"I just thought if suspects have all their information stored in the system, surely we would too. As it happens everything's there- about my parents, why they abandoned me- everything." Tears formed in her eyes at the harsh mention of her parents.
Mac stepped forward, enveloping her in his arms. They stood like that for some time, slowly swaying back and forth in a comforting fashion. Stella's hands made their way up onto Mac's back, clutching gently as she buried her face against his neck.
Tentatively Mac pressed a quick kiss to the top of her head as she pulled away. Their eyes met as she began to ramble, "I know you fired Aiden for something like this…I was just afraid you'd do the same to me…I know it's wrong but…"
"Aiden was contemplating setting someone up; changing their life by sending them to jail, and even if he was guilty we had no evidence; we don't have the power to decide who is wrong and who is right, just to determine the events that happened. This is your life you investigated, and we'll make no more of that."
Stella nodded in silent thanks, remaining in close proximity to Mac, their toes still touching where they stood. She smiled gently as she allowed him to pull her into another embrace, this time much looser and relaxed than the last, simply holding each other as they spoke in soft tones.
"You know…they didn't want to leave me…they just couldn't afford to keep me," Stella murmured, her voice slightly muffled by the material of Mac's shirt. "They were young when they had me and already had a daughter to support…they had no other choice."
"I can't imagine anyone ever wanting to leave you, Stel." The comment was more to comfort her than to add to the conversation. Mac didn't know how to respond to her findings; he'd never been abandoned, never left to live in an orphanage, never found out the truth behind his parents and discovered an unknown sibling.
"I have an older sister," Stella laughed quietly, her tone brightening, "I've always wanted an older sister. There was this girl in the orphanage…at first I used to follow her everywhere. One day she was taken away though- sent to a foster home and never came back. After that I stopped depending on others; stopped accepting them into my life in case they were taken too." There was still a touch of sadness to her voice.
"You know I'm never going to leave you?" Mac checked with her, kissing the top of her head again in reassurance.
Stella nodded, her eyes slipping shut, "I know, Mac…I know…"
I'm always interested in your opinion, as long as it's not a flame...
: ) Ciao xxx