"We have proof that she was not the last person to handle the gun!" Mac shouted at the commissioner.

"But it's not proof she wasn't the last person to fire it!" he yelled back.

"Damnit, this is Stella we're talking about. I know her. I know she wouldn't do this."

"You know her well enough to know she wouldn't try to get rid of competition?"

Mac froze in his spot trying to control his bubbling anger. "How… dare… you!"

"Mac, everyone knows how close you and Stella are. Now that Peyton is in the picture, maybe… maybe Stella felt like she was losing you."

Slamming his fist on his desk, Mac walked right over to the commissioner. "I am not going to get into this again. Not with you, not with anyone. The evidence proves reasonable doubt. You can't hold her anymore."

"I can do whatever I want," the commissioner hissed back. "And Detective Bonasera is being brought up on attempted murder charges. The hearing is set for four o'clock." He slammed the door behind him.

His team was standing outside the office watching. They stepped aside as the commissioner stormed past then Lindsay gasped when Mac threw a book against the wall out of frustration.

The team sat together for Stella's initial hearing - each having their own heartbreaking moment at seeing the liveliest one of them all standing before the judge looking broken. Danny took the stand and valiantly fought to prove the prints were reasonable doubt and in the end, the judge offered to release her on bail but only if Mac agreed to be responsible for her.

An hour later, Stella signed out, collected her things and allowed Mac to lead her out of the building to his waiting SUV.

"I hope you don't mind but I ran over to your place and packed a few things," he said as he pulled out onto the streets. "The press has your building surrounded so I'm taking you to mine, if that's okay with you?" He glanced briefly over at her to see her affirming nod.

"What about Peyton?" she asked softly. "You should be with her. She needs you too you know."

"I'm going to stop by the hospital after I get you settled."

Stella smiled. "I'd like to see her but something tells me that wouldn't go over well for her right now. I can't say that I blame her, either."

Mac reached over and took her hand in his. "Everything will get sorted out then you and Peyton can go back to ganging up on me over dinner." He felt good when he heard a small chuckle coming from her.

"Thank you for everything, Mac. I couldn't have made it this far without you."

"I hear they let her out on bail," Peyton said softly when Mac stepped into the room.

He nodded and sat on the edge of her bed.

"Is she staying with you?"

Again, he nodded. "It's not safe for her at her place right now."

Peyton swallowed hard. "Mac, I have to know. Why me? Why did you choose me instead of her?"

Mac took her hand. "What do you mean?"

"Dating. Why me and not Stella?"

"Peyton, I…"

"I'm not angry, Mac. I'm just curious. You two act like an old married couple and I never did understand why you never asked her out. Heck, half the lab doesn't understand that."

He sighed. After everything, she deserved an honest response. "It's more complicated than that. We've been friends for a long time. She and Claire were good friends too. I guess…. I guess we both would feel like we were betraying Claire somehow. And there is always that fear of ruining what we already have, which is something most people never experience in their lifetime." He shrugged. "I guess that's a big part of the reason we never took it beyond friendship. As for you…" He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. "You're smart. You're beautiful. You haven't run away from me yet."

She smiled with tears in her eyes. "I'm not trying to talk you out of our relationship but… you and Stella could have something amazing."

"And we could find we hate each other in a relationship," he countered. The following silence spoke volumes. "Peyton, I'm not going to let her to deal with this on her own," he softly told her.

"I know. And I'm really trying to give her the benefit of the doubt but… Every time I close my eyes I see her standing there with the gun pointed at me telling me how I ruined everything."

"What exactly do you remember this woman saying to you?"

"She said that I took you away from her. That you were never around when she needed you anymore. That you were supposed to be with her not me. It didn't make any sense coming from Stella but, Mac, it was Stella. It's not like Stella looks like your average woman."

"No, she doesn't," he admitted.

Mac pulled out the key to his apartment and turned the lock. To his surprise, it wasn't locked. Something wasn't right. With gun in hand, he slowly opened the door and stepped into the darkness.

"Stella?" he called.

No response.

He turned on the light in the living room and looked around. The place was a mess. After checking the rest of the apartment, he returned to the living room and called Flack. While he waited for Flack, he tried to piece together what happened and where Stella might be. It was then he saw the small pool of blood that sent a chill down his spine. His fear elevated when he saw several strands of curly, brown hair stuck to the same pool of crimson.

"Mac, what happened?" Flack asked, walking in followed by backup. "Hawkes, Messer and Lindsay are on their way.

"Stella's hurt, that much is obvious," he said, pointing to the blood. "I was at the hospital. When I left here, Stella was settled in. I was gone for about three hours tops."

"I guess we can figure she really was framed, then."

"I shouldn't have left her alone."

"Mac, you couldn't have known. Stella's smart and she knows how to take care of herself." Flack knew it wasn't much but it was all he had to offer at the moment.

Mac looked at Don. "You saw her in court today. I don't know how much more she can take right now."

Flack merely nodded and both men stepped back when the CSI team arrived.

Tbc……