Hello. Sorry for the long wait, but I was kinda busy. I'm going to college now. Communication & Multimedia Design. It's so cool.

Chapter 6 - You

I kept running, dragging Millie with me, until we reached the precinct. When we finally got there I looked around for Jessica Angell. I needed someone I could trust, but after a few glances I saw that she was busy.

Not long after Millie and I barged in, so did Mac and Lucy. The little girl was hysterical. The gunshots most likely woke her up and then Mac had to run with her through half of New York City. She was terribly confused. I walked over to them and took Lucy from his arms. Her little arms clutched around my neck when I walked over to Don's desk to sit down. Lucy was crying into my shoulder and I softly rubbed her back, trying to calm her down. From the corner of my eye I saw Mac talking to his mom.

X

I must say I was kind of relieved when Stella took Lucy from me. She had been crying nonstop since we left the apartment and nothing I did could calm her down , so it seemed. For a couple of seconds I just stood there. in the middle of the precinct. Until my mother walked up to me.

'Stella already called Don and ordered him to pick up Reed from school,' she explained.

'Yeah, I know. I called him with the same request and he told me he was already on his way,' I tell her. 'Why is this happening to us!'

Suddenly I have this urge to throw something against a wall, but instead I settle for a hard kick against a desk. It doesn't budge and all I got from it is a black toe I believe. Stella shoots me a warning look and points at Lucy, who had looked up when she heard the loud bang, and I hold up my hands as a sign that I won't do it again. Of course my mom had to see our little interaction and immediately calls me upon it.

'You know son? Sometimes you and Stella really do act like husband and wife.'

'Mom,' I groan.

'What? I'm sure I'm not the first to say something like that, and besides, I don't get the impression that Stella wouldn't want to be called Mrs. Taylor either. She's just waiting for you to take the first step.'

Somehow I believe there is a truth in what my mother is saying. The last couple of days Stella has indeed been hinting at something. Small touches here, little looks there. Maybe I should make that step soon. I'm quite sure Reed wouldn't mind if Stella became a permanent fixture in our lives. He has asked me about it enough times. I look at Stella again and see that she was able to calm Lucy down.

X

After I shot Mac the look when he kicked the table, Jessica walks over to me and Lucy. After a quick explanation as for why we were here, she sends a couple of uniforms and Danny and Lindsay to Mac's apartment to start processing. As Jess walks away again, Lucy finally pulls her face away from my shoulder. Her wails are now subdued to small hiccups. She is out of tears. I hold her comfortably against my chest and rock back and forth.

After a couple of minutes I hear soft snoring. An indication that she has fallen asleep again. Continuing her rudely interrupted nap from earlier.

I look up at Mac and with a nod of my head beckon him over.

'Angell has send Danny and Lindsay over to your place to start processing. When they're finished they'll meet us here to inform us and to pick up Lucy,' I whisper.

He nods.

'I think it would be for the best if we just stayed in a hotel right now. No matter what Danny and Lindsay find. Just you, me, my mom and Reed. We should get one room so we can keep an eye on each other,' Mac suggest and I can only agree with him. That's probably the safest thing for us now.

We sit in silence for a couple of minutes before Don comes in with Reed.

'Daddy,' Reed comes yelling and running at Mac.

Mac easily hoist him up in the air.

'Daddy? Why did uncle Don get me out of class?'

'Well, something bad happened at our apartment and I was afraid something bad would happen at your school as well. I wanted you save with me, so Stella asked Don to pick you up,' Mac carefully explains.

Reed turns his head towards me.

'What happened?' he wants to know. 'And why is Lucy sleeping on you?'

'Lucy's parents had to work,' I tell him.

Just then, Lucy starts to stir. Apparently, sleep isn't on the agenda today. She tiredly rubs her eyes, but they light up when she sees Reed in Mac's arms.

'Reed,' she is awake immediately. 'Now we can play together.'

Both children try to wriggle free from the arms that are holding them. I put Lucy down.

'Lucy, Reed?' I ask. 'Will you promise me that you will stay somewhere where either I, or Mac, will be able to see you'

'We promise,' Reed answers for the both of them.

Then he takes Lucy by the hand and together they walk off towards an empty desk to play.

X

As soon as Stella and I are alone, my mom walks over again. Probably with the intention of embarrassing me.

'They seem to get along really well,' my mom points to the two kids.

'Yeah, I know. Reed loves to play big brother when he is around Lucy.'

My mom then looks over at Stella and I see she is blushing as she turns her head away. Does that mean anything?

'Excuse us for a second,' and I take Stella by her arm to lead her to a, relatively, quiet corner.

'Stell,' I ask, but she doesn't look at me.

With my finger I lift her chin, so I can see her face. She is still blushing and biting her bottom lip.

'Stell? What have you and my mother been discussing?'

'What do you mean, Mac?'

God, why does this woman have to be so difficult?

'When my mom was talking about Reed and Lucy just then. She gave you this look like you two had already discussed something secret. I saw the uncomfortable look on your face Stell. What's going on?'

'Well… A few days ago, your mom asked… she wanted to know… how I felt about children' Stella ended her sentence in a whisper.

'What did you say to her, I mean, is this a difficult subject for you?'

'No, it's not. And I told her that I really wanted children of my own, but that there was no man in my life,' she laughed at that, 'I meant that there was no significant other in my life.'

I beckon her to go on. This wasn't the real reason the was so embarrassed just moments ago.

'Alright, alright. She eh… she asked if there was at least someone that had caught my interest. And I said yes. I think she knew who I was talking about already, but she let me continue anyway.'

'Who were you talking about?'

'You…'