Chapter 3: Then I Did

"I thought about calling you when I got off the plane
Every time I see this city through the clouds I get that way
Call me crazy for missing you like this but I do
By now I figured you had all your numbers changed
It's been at least a year since I called you up to say
We need to talk I got this job and I think I'm going to take it"

Mac got off the airplane and immediately wondered where Stella would be. At the lab maybe, considering all the paperwork she now had to do in his former supervisor position. He was still shocked that the chief had appointed her to fill his position with all the marks on her record. Who knew, maybe after three months Stella didn't even want to see him. Mac never knew how much he loved Stella until he took the job in Chicago and left her in New York. By now Stella might have a boyfriend, but he just had to see her. Mac hailed a cab and decided the lab would be the best place to look for her. And even if she wasn't there he could talk to the chief about getting his job back.

"I can see clear to the mountains as I head up our old street
I remember how we'd call in sick on days like these
And turn the music up roll the windows down and just drive
You talked me outta givin' up on myself so many times
Convinced me to get in while I could regrets hang heavy on the mind
But you never doubted me you kept pushing me"

After everything Stella had done for him, Mac had left her. He remembers now that Stella had saved his life even when he wanted to end it shortly after Claire's death:

"Mac, I know you're in there. Open the door or I'll break it down," Stella had been knocking on his door for the past five minutes. Mac just sat on the couch with a knife in his hand and tried to ignore her. "Mac, please, let me in." Mac made no move to let her inside, but just continued to stare at the knife.

Outside, Stella had grown very impatient with him and was afraid something had happened to him. She decided to go look in the back door for a sign of him inside. When she saw him sitting on the couch with the knife in his hand, just above the wrist, she paniced, afraid of losing her best friend and threw all her weight against the door, willing it to open before did something to hurt himself.

"Mac, stop," he hadn't looked at her yet but finally did when she spoke, mot making eye contact with her. "Give me the knife," Stella held out her hand and takes a few steps closer to him. He made no move to give her the weapon, but instead moved it the other way, and it made contact with his wrist.

"Mac, don't do this to yourself. You will make it through this, and I'm here to help you. Just give me the knife," Stella has tears in her eyes as blood appeared on his arm. Her legs instinctively took her to him. Mac moved the knife so it scratched her hand, but she got it away from him. Stella got her phone out and called Hawkes for help. While he was on his way, Stella hugged Mac tightly to her. "Why did you do it, Mac?"

"I miss her, Stel. I can't live without her," Mac said as he tried to keep the blood from leaving his body.

"We're all here for you, Mac. Don't give up. Claire wouldn't want you to."

"Stella, why did you stop me?"

"Mac, you're my best friend. I can't lose you. I love you, Mac," Stella gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Soon after that Hawkes arrived. Mac and Stella both got a few stitches, and Stella never let Mac out of her sight for the next month.

---CSI: NY---

'Stel was right. She never gave up on me; the only thing I regret is leaving her. Now I realize, though, that I love her,' Mac thinks as he walks into her office.

"Saying you've been waiting all your life for a break like this
It's your chance of a lifetime you just know it is
You gotta go find those dreams
Was the last thing that you said
And then I did

But you were wrong
Love was what I wanted all along
And now you're gone"

"Mac, what are you doing here?" Stella asks when he opened the door to her office.

"I decided that I belonged here in New York. I always wanted to work in Chicago, but after being here for so long I couldn't move. And I forgot how annoying parents could be," he says walking around the desk to hug her. She was still not used to being hugged, and stood stiffly with his arms around her. "And there is another reason.'

"And what would that be Detective Taylor?"

"You. I discovered that I love you while away," Mac's eyes twinkle when she kisses. "Do you think I could get my job back?"

"Please take it back. I guess you weren't lying to me when you always said you had to do paperwork. But I suggest you don't mention me as a reason you came back," Stella smiles stepping out of his embrace.

"You want to go to dinner? I'm getting kind of hungry," Mac asks as Hawkes enters.

"I have the results. Flack is bringing in the guy now," Hawkes says before noticing Mac. "What are you doing back?"

"I guess I belong in New York. We'll discuss it tomorrow at dinner. Tell Flack, Lindsay, and Danny for me," he says as Stella grabs her jacket and purse.

"Hey, where are you going?" Hawkes asks Stella as she and Mac leave her office.

"I've got a date. I think you can handle it," Stella calls over her shoulder as Mac puts his arm around her waist.

"But you were wrong
Love was what I wanted all along"

A/N: Rascal Flatts "Then I Did". I'll try to get another chapter up tomorrow. Thank you for reading.