Chapter 5: Let's Be Us Again

"Tell me what I have to do tonight
'Cause I'd do anything to make it right
Let's be us again
I'm sorry for the way I lost my head
I don't know why I said the things I said
Let's be us again

Here I stand
With everything to lose
And all I know is I don't want to ever see the end
Baby please, I'm reaching out for you
Won't you open up your heart and let me come back in
Let's be us again
Oh us again"

"So, Mac, what's with you and Stella? You guys looked so happy together for a while and now you're barely talking to each other," Danny asks as Mac drives them to a crime scene to process.

"What goes on between Stella and I is none of your business, Danny. Drop it because I'm not going to talk about it," Mac says. Danny hoped Lindsay was having better luck with Stella.

---CSI: NY---

"Hey, Stella," Lindsay calls across the table.

"You have something?"

"No, I'm still working on it. Are you and Mac going out? Danny and I saw you together a couple of weeks ago in his office," Lindsay says softly, not wanting the lab techs to hear their conversation.

"Oh, I hate these glass walls. And no, we are no longer going together," Stella replies, trusting Lindsay not to tell everyone.

"Did you guys have a fight?"

"Yes, we fight about the stupidest things."

"What was it this time?"

"Well, I'm always begging Mac to loosen up and talk, but he has apparently realized that I don't follow my own advice. He asked me about my childhood and that's something I prefer not to talk about."

"Oh, too bad. I hope you get back together. You are perfect for each other. And you know what else? Danny said it would be hard to talk to you, but it was actually very easy," Lindsay says with a smile, then realizes what she said.

Stella chooses to ignore the fact that Danny and Lindsay are trying to get them back together.

"Look at me, I'm way past pride
Isn't there some way that we can try
To be us again
Even if it takes a while
I'll wait right here until I see that smile
That says we're us again

Here I stand
With everything to lose
And all I know is I don't want to ever see the end
Baby please, I'm reaching out for you
Won't you open up your heart and let me come back in
Let's be us"

Mac and Stella are the only ones lab; the day shift had left and everyone on night shift was out. Stella was researching something for a case in her office while Mac did paperwork in his; neither of them could concentrate. Mac decided that he had better apologize and get it over with now without everyone watching them; he couldn't take not being with her any longer. As he walks to her office he thinks about how to say it without making her leave again. Because the walk to her office was so short, he had to stand outside her door for a while.

Getting the feeling someone was watching her, Stella looks up. She scowls at Mac when she sees him but motions him into her office. They sit looking at each other silently for a while, not even communicating with their eyes, until Mac works out what he is going to say in his head.

"Baby baby what would I do
I can't imagine life without you

Here I stand
With everything to lose
And all I know is I don't want to ever see the end
Baby please, I'm reaching out for you
Won't you open up your heart and let me come back in"

"Stella, I'm sorry I asked you about your childhood. I know that you haven't told anyone about it. I do hope that you eventually, when you are ready, tell me."

"It's okay, Mac. You didn't know," Stella says softly.

"Yes, but I kept asking you," Mac says looking into green eyes, hoping they forgive him.

"I'm sorry too, Mac. I got all upset and you didn't know how I felt about telling you. And it is not fair that I can get you to open up, but I don't tell you anything in return."

"Life isn't always fair, Stella," Mac says, a smile creeping into his face now that she has forgiven him. He stands up and she does the same. Mac walks around the desk and hugs her tight.

"Thank you for understanding, Mac," Stella whispers in his ear. He pulls back slightly to see the smile on her face that he thought he would never see again.

"Are you hungry? I haven't eaten since last week," Mac asks and she nods.

"Oh, we better call Danny and Lindsay to tell them we're back together. They were worried about us. And Lindsay thinks we are perfect for each other."

"Does she really?" Mac asks as he pulls Stella close to him as they walk to the car.

"Oh, here I am
I'm reaching out for you
So won't you open up your heart and let me come back in
Let's be us again

Oh let's be us again"

A/N: Lonestar's "Let's Be Us Again" I tried to get this up sooner but I couldn't log in for some reason. The ending of "All Access" should have had more Mac and Stella, but maybe there will be some in the nest three episodes. I kind of understand why they wouldn't have done more 'cause I'm sure Stella's still getting over Frankie. Please review.