Thank you so much to everyone who read and reviewed the first chapter! I hope y'all like this one just as much.
Off to write more to chapter 6 lol Becs x
Mac Taylor pulled to a stop outside of Sullivans. He killed the engine and sat back in the seat, taking in the surroundings.
Did he really have to go in? There was more things he could be doing with his time.
Was there? In all honesty, was there anyplace else to be? The only people he knew in New York were probably packed into that bar. Where would he go? Drive the streets for the sake of it? Go to Claire's grave again?
Accepting defeat, he locked the car door behind him and took a breath before opening the heavy door to the bar.
"It's Mac" he heard somebody say, before the large group of familiar faces broke out in applause. He was sure his cheeks had flushed, so he just graciously smiled and dropped his head a little.
Stella walked up to him, a smile on her face and her drink in her hand. "Well, that colour's a first on you" she patted his arm. "C'mon, we'll get you a drink"
He let her lead the way to the bar, "Just a water"
"This is your last day in New York, Mac" Danny grinned, slapping his back, "Loosen up a little." He looked like he might be loose enough for the both of them, or getting there at least.
"Water's fine" he said, telling the bartender more than Danny.
"Put it on my tab, Joey" Stella said. She watched Mac give a sheepish look to the large gathering. He recognised them, but wouldn't have necessarily said he knew them well enough to warrant a Goodbye. "They're not going to bite, Mac" She grinned, bumping shoulders with him.
"You sure about that?" he asked, taking a swig from the bottled water Joey had set in front of him. He turned around and braced his back against the bar, watching the congregation.
"Hi, Mac." A voice said to his side.
"Aiden" he managed to say, not expecting to see the brunette. After the debacle, which resulted in her departure, he hadn't seen her at all.
"Yeah, Danny brought me" she said, reading his mind. She set her drink on the counter "I just wanted to…clear the air"
"I'll leave you two…" Stella whispered, moving over to the pool table. It was Danny vs. Flack, and Flack wasn't looking too happy for himself.
"I just wanted you to know…that I understand why everything happened," Aiden said, bracing her arm on the bar, "and that I blame myself, never you." Her head dropped in residual embarrassment
"Already forgotten" he smiled, "So what are you doing with yourself now?"
"I'm actually working at the Museum" she smiled. Mac noted she looked happy, he was glad. "I've been constructing faces on the skeletons in the exhibits. Making displays of what they would have looked like in their day." Now she looked proud.
"That sounds really good, Aiden. You'd do well there" he nodded his approval, adding a genuine smile to the mix.
"Okay, I'm going to get back before Flack takes a cue to Danny's head," she chuckled, seeing a jubilant Danny by the pool table, "Be safe okay?" she enveloped him in a quick hug. It ended before either could feel uncomfortable.
X
Mac couldn't believe that only two hours had passed. It felt so much more. He'd spoken to practically everybody in the room. He looked around to check. Yes, he'd spoken to everyone there, all except Stella and Danny, and the latter was headed straight for him. Maybe he'd be able to slip away soon. Away from the same questions; same wishes; and same people. They meant well, but he was tiring quickly.
"You sure you don't want a drink, Mac? A proper one that is" Danny grinned, only slightly slurring more than before.
"I'm fine, thanks, but I will have a quick word, if you don't mind" he guided him off to a quieter corner
"What's up, Mac?" he bounced on his heels slightly.
"I just wanted to apologise. I admit I've been hard on you recently, what with the homeless man case, then the shooting, and how Aiden's leaving affected us all. I just see so much potential in you as a CSI, and I pushed you the only way I knew how, but I see now it was maybe too harsh."
"Mac, you've nothing to apologise for. I know I need to reign myself in sometimes, and I'm working on it." he nodded. "But, anyway, you're talking here like it's your last conversation with me. It's not. You'll be back in no time, advising me out of my latest screw up, okay?"
Mac couldn't help but smile at the slightly inebriated (and swaying), but earnest look in Danny's baby blue eyes. "Okay" he said, still unable to shake the feeling that it just might be last time they talked. The possibility was still there.
They shook hands, slapping each other on the back in a one-armed hug.
"Sure I cant tempt you…?" Danny asked, gesturing with his glass.
"I'm good. Save it for Aiden"
Danny winked, before rejoining the crowd again, this time cheering Aiden in a pool competition against lab tech Chad. Aiden was winning, naturally.
Mac stayed in place, smiling ever-so-slightly at the dejected, but amazed, look Chad bore.
"How you holding up?" Stella asked, joining him. Her hand on his arm breaking his reverie.
"I'm good. Going to take off soon, I think"
"You sure?"
"Yeah, early morning"
Stella nodded, a smile at the corner of her mouth. "Pick you up tomorrow?" He looked to her confused. "You didn't think you were driving yourself to the airport did you?" she said with a chuckle. "I'll pick you up at 8."
X
The doorbell rang at exactly 8am; Stella Bonasera was never one to be late.
Mac made his way from the kitchen, straightening his clothes on the way. He swung the door open, instantly silencing Stella from her greeting.
"I know- wow" her eyes bugged as she took in the sight before her. She hadn't seen Mac during his Marine years, only pictures and the odd story. But seeing him in front of her, suited up in the Marine dress, was a sight for sore eyes. She scanned his uniform: the dark blue trousers with a red stripe, set off by the navy blue over-coat with stripes and pins. They all meant something that Stella didn't understand, but felt a strange pang of pride and patriotism towards. When her gaze reached Mac's face, she realised she hadn't spoken for a while and, to her embarrassment, her mouth was open just slightly. "Hi"
"Hi" he said, a bemused smile on his lips.
"I brought breakfast" Stella smiled, holding up the carrier bags in her hands. Mac moved to the side, allowing her to go in.
She made her way to the kitchen, saying to Mac behind her, "I figured you wouldn't have eaten, so I went to your diner and grabbed some food. I got your usual" she put the bags on the table, taking some plates from the cupboard. It didn't really surprise her that she knew Mac's kitchen almost as well as she knew her own. She'd cooked there enough in the past, forcing him to eat something. Anything. "as well as some not so usuals"
Mac watched as she plated blueberry pancakes, French toast, and bran muffins. He wasn't too sure if he was up for eating so much, especially with the day that was ahead, but his stomach decided otherwise when it loudly growled at the sight of New York's finest bagels. Stella raised an eyebrow at the noise. "Tuck in"
They ate in silence. It wasn't that they had finally ran out of things to say, which in all honesty, had to be soon, but they were just comfortable in each others presence. They had the ability to converse in silence, probably expressing more with looks than their mouths would ever be able to keep up with.
"Can I ask you a favour?" Mac eventually asked
"No"
"Oh"
"Mac, c'mon!" Stella giggled. It was a cheap trick, but never failed to work.
"I've left some money on the side, would you be able… to put some fresh flowers on Claire's grave every now and again? I don't want-"
"Consider it done" she smiled. She hadn't thought for a second that Claire would have been very far from his mind.
They finished their food in the comfortable silence they had already enjoyed. When the last bite was eaten, not a scrap left, Stella screwed up the papers and containers and threw them in the trash. She'd get rid of it later.
"Packed? Ready to go?"
Mac took a final look around the home, mentally-photographing it, before giving a final nod. With a deep breath, he picked up his white hat, his small backpack and handed the key to Stella. "Lets go"
X
Stella pulled to a stop at the departures gate of the airport. She killed the engine, unbuckled and twisted to look at Mac. "End of the road"
Mac nodded, his face only showing a slight glimpse of the smile that he bared occasionally. They got out of the car, staying on their respective sides. He spun to her with a smile, "I'll see you soon" he said, turning to leave
"Mac, Wait!" she called, running the length of the car. She slipped her hands around her neck, undoing the clasp of her necklace. She brought it forward, slid the pendant from it, and put it in her pocket. She took the ring from her finger and dropped it onto the chain.
Without a saying a word, she put her arms around Mac's neck, clasping the chain. "There. Now, that is my favourite ring and I want it back, you hear?" she smirked, though it quickly turned sad. "I know you think you have nothing to come back for" another silently conversed fact, "but now you do"
Mac chuckled, fingering the jewellery before eventually slipping it beneath his collar. "I'll see you in 3 months"
"Stay safe soldier"