Chapter 2: Kryptonite

"I took a walk around the world
To ease my troubled mind
I left my body laying somewhere
In the sands of time
But I watched the world float
To the dark side of the moon
I feel there is nothing I can do, yeah"

"You don't have to stay up. I understand you have to work tomorrow. It just bothers me that I'll never get these questions answered because I killed the only person who could answer them," Stella continues.

"I don't mind, Stella really, it's okay I'm used to getting little sleep," Mac assures her.

"Alright, did Frankie want me to find the website, or was my discovering of it just a mistake? But why then would he name the statue aresanob and give me clues on how to find the website?"

"Well, I think he wanted you to find it, or he wouldn't have given you the key, the name of the website. Unless he seriously thought a detective wouldn't do research," Mac jokes, but Stella doesn't know what to think.

"Was the website really just a celebration for our love, or was Frankie really some sick sex predator or something like that?" she shivers at the thought; she was a trained detective yet somehow she had become a victim of domestic violence and possible sex crimes like many victims she brought justice to everyday.

"I think it was definitely more than a celebration. Who celebrates by putting videos, private moments, on the internet, especially when the person doesn't know about what is being done? Nothing came up on the background check we did, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen before. Why didn't you call me or someone when you found the website? We could have arrested him before he attacked you," Mac asks softly trying not to sound angry. It was, after all, her choice to press charges. Mac still couldn't believe this had happened to her

"I don't know, Mac. I guess I was embarrassed. Honestly I had no idea he would react like that when I broke up with him. I remember going into work the next couple days wondering if any of our colleagues had seen the website for some reason."

"You couldn't have known."


"I watched the world float
To the dark side of the moon
After all I knew it had to be
Something to do with you
I really don't mind what happens now and then
As long as you'll be my friend at the end"

"Did Frankie really come to my apartment to kill me, or did he think he could sweet talk me into getting back together? Until I went to call the police, he didn't show any signs of violence."

"Maybe Frankie did think he could get you back. You say he was setting the table when you came home?" Stella nods. "When he figured you really were leaving him for good, he decided to threaten you into getting back together with him."

"I had no idea if he had been planning on killing me all along or if he decided to when I broke up with him or while he was attacking me," Stella said frustrated.

"It could have been any of those really. But going back to what I just said. He knocked you out so maybe he was just going to leave you. Because you lied trying to convince him you loved him, he could have decided to kill you. What was it he said when you regained consciousness?" Mac asks.

"'I'm going to teach you a thing or two about crime scenes.' I still hear it. That's when he told me he was going to kill me." Mac wipes away a tear that fell onto her soft cheek. "It just hurts so bad to have someone I trusted and loved try to kill me. He almost succeeded. Do you have any idea why he had a key to my place if it wasn't planned for a while?"

"Well, he had never been to your place. Maybe he was going to give you a surprise or something that needed to be set up ahead of time; your birthday is next month and maybe he was planning something. It wouldn't have been all that hard to figure out where you live."


"If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman
If I'm alive and well, will you be
There a-holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might
Kryptonite"

"I've got a few questions I'd like to ask if you don't mind," he waits for her okay before continuing. "If he had been stalking you, why'd you go home?"

"I had no idea he even knew where I live, let alone had a key. Nor did I think he would physically hurt me," Stella answers.

"What's with the statue? Did Frankie make it out of love or what?"

"Last week I was with him when I got called in. We were, um, in bed. He was mad that I had to leave, maybe because he wouldn't have anything to put on the website. Frankie brought me the statue at work right after I finished the case. I googled aresanob when I got home – that is what he called it – and found one website. I was horrified when I saw what was on it and threw the statue out. He was upset that I had thrown it out, which he mentioned before tying me up. It's still sitting on my dresser; I forgot to destroy it."

"Why did you go for your gun instead of just getting out?" Mac asks gently touching her shoulder.

"I have no idea, Mac, I would have been better if I just got out. The door was actually closer than my gun. Then he'd probably still be alive too, and I would be able to have my questions answered. God, I'm so stupid. I wouldn't be having these nightmares. I loved him, Mac. And I killed him," Stella breaks down crying again.

Mac pulls her to him. "You're not stupid, Stella. He tried to kill you, and you did what you had to, to protect yourself."


"You called me strong, you called me weak,
But still your secrets I will keep
You took for granted all the times
I never let you down
You stumbled in and bumped your head,
If not for me then you'd be dead
I picked you up and put you back
On solid ground"

"What do you think would have happened to me if the doorbell wouldn't have rung or I hadn't gotten free? And don't lie, Mac. I want the truth, or your whole opinion," Stella says, tears still falling down her cheeks but she wasn't sobbing any more.

"Well, I think Frankie would have cut you up, making you suffer for hurting him – ending your relationship. Maybe he would have… sexually assaulted you before. I guess you could have agreed to it, but… he still would have forced you. Since there wouldn't have been a gunshot the neighbors probably wouldn't have called 911. So Flack and I never would have saved you. We would have sent people over when you didn't show up for work or answer your cell. I guess that's when we would find you, all cut up and stuff," Mac says. After a few minutes he adds, "You might have had another chance to escape, but I don't think so."

"Nice to know I'd probably be dead if I hadn't escaped. If Frankie had checked the safety on my gun I'd be dead," Stella starts crying again. Mac pulls her into a hug.

"Stel, everything will be alright in time. Frankie didn't kill you, and he can't. It's okay," Mac whispers.


"If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman
If I'm alive and well,
Will you be there a-holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might
Kryptonite
Yeah!"

"I have one last question," Stella says, pulling back. "What were you thinking when you heard the call to dispatch and then when you found me?" Mac pulls her back to him before he answers.

"I was so scared that you were hurt or dead. I kept thinking that I can't lose you too. You're my best friend, Stella. Without you I don't know where I'd be. When Flack and I were in your apartment I know we were both thinking 'what the hell happened here'. Then when I saw Frankie, I was sure he was dead. It was hard to see you where you were passed out. I couldn't help but think you were gone, especially when Flack confirmed my thought. I had to fell for your pulse, and I was so relieved to find one. It was sort of odd for your first words when you regained consciousness to be 'Where's Frankie' but I guess you needed to know, make sure you were safe. The whole time investigating I couldn't help but wonder how you managed to survive. You're amazing, Stella, really. I couldn't figure out why it happened to you of all people. Everyone was so relieved when the sexual assault kit came back negative. When I was taking you home I knew you shouldn't have seen your apartment yet. But you wouldn't take a hotel," Mac explains. "Geez, Stel, it's three. We both need to get some rest."

"See you in the morning. Later in the morning," Stella says laying back down.

"I'll always be here for you, Stella, no matter what. Sure you don't want the bed?"

"No, I don't. I'll be there for you too, Mac."

"We're partners. We look out for one another. Good night," Mac whispers.


"If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman
If I'm alive and well, will you be there
Holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might
Kryptonite"

Mac went to his bedroom to change into his pajama pants, deciding to keep his shirt on tonight for Stella's sake. As he left the bathroom with his teeth brushed, ready for bed, Mac couldn't resist going to his doorway to make sure she was okay. 'She's too fragile. I can't let her sleep on the couch. Since she's already asleep I'll carry her to my bed,' he thinks to himself as he watches he sleep peacefully. Well, maybe not after what she went through, but she looks calm for once since the attack. Mac carefully took the blanket off her and put one arm under her knees and the other around her back. Stella, not being fully asleep, woke up. Before Mac could walk away after her laying her down and covering her with the blankets, she grabs his hands.

"Stay in here with me. Please, I know you'd be just in the other room, but I can't be alone," Stella pleads.

The fear in her eyes convinces him. "Okay," Mac lies down next to her. Immediately Stella moves closer to him, resting one hand on his shoulder, the other on his chest opposite her head. Mac puts one arm around her waist and rests the other hand on hers over his heart. Almost instantly Stella is fast asleep with him protecting her.

"I love you too, Stel," he whispers, knowing she most likely didn't hear him, and presses a kiss to the cut by her eye. 'This is how it should be every night. I need to tell her. I hope what she said was true,' Mac thinks before falling asleep as well.


"If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman
If I'm alive and well,
Will you be there a-holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might
Kryptonite
Yeah!"

A/N: 3 Doors Down "Kryptonite". Thanks to my beta Pandy Roxy Chick. If you have time make me happy by reviewing. Thanks for reading.