His stomach growled.
Mac had been working non-stop, as per his usual routine, for most of the day without eating. As he stood in the Trace Lab now, examining a piece of evidence for the millionth time, his empty stomach rumbled loudly and reminded him that food was indeed necessary to life—even his.
Standing beside him, Stella giggled. "What'd ya do, swallow a bear? That was loud!"
He smiled shyly, something he had only recently begun doing around her. "I guess it's been a while since lunch."
"Yeah, it has," she agreed, glancing at her watch. "Wanna go grab something when we finish up here?"
His smile widened a bit and he nodded. "Yeah—at that little Greek place you keep talking about. I haven't had a decent gyro since I served in Greece with the Marines."
"You're gonna love it," she grinned. "They have the best baklava…"
Together they finished up their latest round of examination, then carefully packed up the evidence and returned it to the storage locker. Exchanging their lab coats for overcoats, they proceeded out of the lab, arguing playfully over who was going to drive.
"I'll drive," Stella insisted. "I know where the place is."
"Are you sure you want to drive at all?" Mac asked. "It's harder to find a parking place in Manhattan than it is to find a Detroit Lions fan at the Super Bowl."
She laughed. "No kidding. But it's too cold to walk and I don't feel like dealing with the subway today."
They continued to discuss their means of transportation, but Stella eventually won out—partly because she was stubborn and partly because Mac liked to let her have her way, eventually—and drove the two of them to her favorite little Greek restaurant.
"Today must be our lucky day," she smiled delightedly, eyeing a parking space only a few blocks from their destination.
She expertly pulled the SUV into the tight spot and hopped out. He followed quickly behind, catching up with her when she paused at an intersection. Like a true New Yorker, she didn't pause long, waiting only until Mac stood beside her before taking off across the street.
"Come on, Mac," she directed, taking his arm when he attempted to look for traffic.
He chuckled. "Old habits die hard. I'm still not used to just walking out in traffic."
They made it safely across the intersection and continued toward the restaurant, but Stella didn't let go of Mac's arm as he had expected she would.
Is this too weird for him? she wondered, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. It was only a couple of weeks ago that he was saying how awkward he felt on his date with Rose. This isn't a date, of course, but I've never held his arm like this before…
For his part, Mac found himself trying to smother a pleased smile. This should feel weird, he thought. Stella's never taken my arm before. But it isn't weird. It actually feels normal…and kind of nice.
They arrived at the restaurant and she did finally let go, but only when she walked through the door as he held it open for her, glancing at him again out of the corner of her eye and trying to read the expression on his face.
Dinner was pleasant enough, like it always was when they ate together. Both were tired from the long day, and neither expected to stay long, but several hours passed in the blink of an eye and still they sat in their comfortable booth.
She hasn't touched me again all night, Mac noticed with a bit of displeasure as he sipped his coffee. I wonder why…
Stella noted the "thinking look" on his face and smiled. What's he thinking about? How I took his arm on the way in? He hasn't touched me at all since then…I wonder if I did spook him a little…
Finally they decided to call it a night and head home, since both had to be up early for their shift in the morning. Stella paid the check—"I asked you to dinner, remember?"—and led Mac out of the restaurant. He held the door for her as he had on the way in, and walked beside her down the block toward the car, waiting to see if she was going to take his arm again.
They reached the first intersection and he unconsciously held his breath, anticipating her touch with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. They crossed the street quickly, side by side but without contact, and Mac found himself feeling disappointed.
Doesn't she want to touch me? he thought. Or was the earlier instance just Stella's way of hurrying me up? Maybe she didn't mean anything by it at all…
Another voice in his head cut him off. You think too much, Mac. You want Stella to touch you? Then do something about it.
He considered that idea for a moment, suddenly realizing the second voice was right. He was over thinking the situation. Did he want Stella to touch him? Yes. Why, he didn't know, still refusing to believe he might be in love with her, but it didn't matter. He reached across his body and took her hand, wrapping it around his upper arm with a small smile.
She grinned, surprised but thrilled at the same time as she tightened her grip on him and pulled him close beside her.
His smile widened and he rubbed his free hand over hers. Now this is the way it's supposed to be.