I'm really bad at updating. But I miss this fandom and this pairing. Enjoy.

Prompt; Hug/ Glomp/ Embrace.

It'd been one year.

365 days. 12 months. 8760 hours.

But to Mac, it felt like an eternity.

It'd been a year of him pushing himself to the extremes. He'd working all the hours that he could to prevent the horrible image of the towers haunting his nightmares. But yet they seemed like they'd been imprinted onto his brain. Playing over and over again; in some kind of sick loop that wouldn't stop.

He'd of been dead by now too, if it wasn't for his best friend.

Stella had forced him to sleep when his eyes struggled to stay open. She'd forced him to eat, while being seemingly deaf to his protests. She'd been there to listen when he needed to talk. She'd given him her shoulder when he was ready to breakdown, and she was always there to pick up the pieces put him back together again.

How she managed to do it, Mac didn't know. But he couldn't help but admire her strength.

After all, he wasn't the only one who'd lost Claire. They'd been a couple times where he could have sworn he'd seen Stella breakdown behind her emerald eyes. But it never got further than that, her defences worked both ways, nothing was able to get it, and barely anything was allowed to get out.

-X-X-X-

It wasn't planned. Nothing between them ever was.

It just kind of happened.

He'd caught sight of her just as he was laying the flowers he'd brought down. She hadn't seen him – of which Mac was slightly glad. With sadness he moved himself away from the spot which he'd been rooted to for the past hour. Pulling his jacket tighter to him he followed his co-worker.

She'd brought flowers too, like everyone else had. But as she lay them down she remained crouched. She started speaking to the flowers, as Mac remained silent and within earshot.

"Hey," she started; her voice was barely audible. "Wow, a year already... I, uh." Mac heard her sigh. "Listen, this year's been hard without you. Especially for Mac... I mean, he's lost without you. I've been trying my best but I'm so worried about him. He's not coping without you. None of us are." She commented ruefully. "I don't even know why I'm saying this, I mean, it's not like you can hear me... I just want Mac to be okay. You know what he's like." Mac could practically hear her eyes roll with that comment.

"Stell," he croaked; making the female jump and spin around on her heels. It was only then that he realised that she was crying. Without thinking he walked towards her and pulled her into his arms. He couldn't live without her, not now, not ever. He held her tightly as he whispered a soft "Thank you," into her ear. He owed her his life.