A/N: Apologies for the uber short chapter8. But hey, it was emotionally charged. I just gave Stella her moment and then we can move on to more things. Hahahahah! Good thing I had a writer's spree last night and I managed to write a fairly long one for you guys.

Enjoy! And thank you!

Peyton came running in my office crying. "That woman Stella just slapped me, Mac," she said against my chest. Everybody passing by my office paused and stared. I don't care what they think now. "Mac, she slapped me. Do something!"

I wrap my arms tighter around Peyton. She was sobbing violently which meant whatever happened between her and Stella was serious. Just then, the woman in question walked passed my office and around the corner to the locker room. For some reason, my blood began to boil. I couldn't believe she could sink that low.

"Okay, you stay here and I'll go talk to her," I said giving her a kiss and sat her down on the couch. I went out with several eyes following me. But I couldn't see a thing; everything is a blur. I was burning inside, very mad. Everything is a fiery red blur… until I saw a head of wild curls.

Stella was sitting on the bench staring at her open locker. She heard my footsteps coming near her. She said, "Whatever she said to you, Mac… she started it…" I wasn't hearing any of it.

"What the hell are you thinking, Bonasera?" I almost yelled. "Lifting a hand to a co-worker? What has Peyton done to you to make you do that?"

"Well, Mac, like I said she started it. I just stood up for myself when it was proper," she was cool as can be.

"It is never proper to hit anyone regardless," I firmly said. "There is not one reason to hit anyone."

She visibly shrunk when I almost shouted my last sentence. "You should tell that to your little prima donna," she said barely enough for me to hear.

"Do not place the blame on her! Have you forgotten who hit who, Detective Bonasera? Or should I remind you? All she wanted to do was to make friends with you on the team and this is how you respond to that?" without thinking, I grabbed her elbow and pulled her to stand up. There were tearstains on her eyes but no emotion in them.

"Then file charges; I don't care," she yanked her arm away from my grasp. "I grew up with no father, no mother, no siblings… not even real friends. I learned to stand up for myself because no one ever took my side!" Her shoulders were shaking, trying to stifle sobs. "Before you could ask me how I could sink so low…" she sat back down and continued in a whisper, "I've already sunk." Then sobs took over her body. At that moment, she was looking very fragile.

All my anger towards her flew out the window. I wanted to hug her and apologize but someone beat me to it. Lindsey shouldered her way to Stella and encased her in a big hug and tried to sooth her.

Something in what Stella said stuck to me. Not even real friends. It was like a bucket of cold water was dumped over my head. That's not true. "Stella, I …" my voice was about to fail me. "I'm your friend…" I managed to whisper.

From her sobs and Lindsey's embrace, she said, "If this is how you treat a friend, then you've just lost one."

It was like a blow to the chest. Even Lindsey was shocked. "Stell, you're not saying that. You're not…"

Stella began another bout of sobs. I was about to walk to her when Lindsey gave me the look saying, "Just go, Mac."

The walk back to my office seemed like forever. I felt eyes burning as I walked past them. Danny had his glasses off, scratching the bridge of his nose. Flack was beside him, with his hands in his coat pockets. Sheldon was standing beside my office doors, unsure of what to say. Only Peyton was smiling after the whole ordeal. She was sitting on my office chair with a Cheshire grin on her face. When I entered, she flung herself against me and thanked me for all I'm worth. I didn't hear anything… just a constant replay of 'you've just lost one' over and over in my head.

I lost my best friend. I lost Stella. All because of this woman in my arms.

So how's that, people?

mj0621 – hahahaha, yan hinabaan ko na. My mom saw this page and she thought it was funny coz I keep on code-switching. Sige, bolpen, lapis, crayola, ano pa? Hahahahah! Ang sama. Hahahahahah!

AliasCSINYFriendsER – well, Peyton did tell Stella. And what did Mac do? I'm evil

ChocoBetty – sorry it was so short. I didn't notice lol. But this one's fairly long. I don't know how Peyton is portrayed in the series yet but she's the antagonist in the SMACked ship hahahah.