1Mac's Point of View:
Here I am pacing once again. Waiting to hear what happened to her. I can't believe this, she is so strong and is having to go through this. She doesn't deserve this, no one does. One minute we are laughing and joking, then the next minute I'm by her side, holding her hand as she chokes out the words, "I love you."
Doctor Shepard is coming out along with Claire. Good, I like Claire, she reminds me of well, anyways. Doctor Shepard told me that she would be ok, she just had too much excitment and the pressure was greatly increased on her spinal injury and that caused the nerve endings to overreact ending in a blackout.
I asked if I could go see her and he told me that I could and that she could go home tomorrow, but that they wanted to observe her for a night, just to be sure. I sat back down, outside of her room. Waiting to go in, fingering the box that was in my pocket. I sighed and started thinking about this last month and how wonderful it had been, having Stella at my side everywhere. I smiled to myself and hoisted my tired frame up and made my way into her room.
As I pushed the door slowly open I saw her frantically wiping at her face, hoping I wouldn't see the tears falling from her sparkling green eyes. I did though. She gave me a weak smile and said, "Mac. I'm beginning to think that I need to rent a room here." I laughed softly and said, "Well, let's hope not. Since I enjoy you staying with me. But Stell, you have got to stop scaring me like that."
She gave me another weak smile and it broke my heart to see the woman that I loved hurting so badly. I knew it was time for some good news so I told her to scoot over and let me lay down. She obliged and I laid down next to her and tugged her close to my body letting her fit in all the right places. I found her left hand and started massaging it. Just as I saw her eyes start to close I slipped a diamond ring on her finger and watched with amusement as her eyes flew open with surprise.
She started to speak but I gently placed a finger on her lips and said, "Stell, wait. I have known you for years and you have always made me smile and have always been there for me. I know we haven't been dating that long, but I want it to last forever. So, Stella Bonasera, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"Mac, I...I don't know what to say! Yes, I'll marry you!" she exclaimed as she eagerly closed the gap between our lips and blew me away with a eager passionate kiss. I had just deepened the kiss, when guess who came through the door.
Hawkes, Danny, Lindsay, Flack along with Halle and Melody came crashing through the door. This time they didn't even blink. I continued to kiss her for a couple more seconds and then pulled away reluctantly. We both turned to face the group and wait for someone to start talking when all a sudden Danny exclaimed, "Damn Mac. You finally got it together." I started to ask what he meant when I understood he was talking about the addition to Stella's left hand.
The others weren't so quick and turned to ask what he meant when Stella held up her left hand and said, "I assume this is what you were refering to Danny. Am I right?" Lindsay, Melody and Halle all screamed and started grabbing her hand to look at the ring. Lindsay looked at me and said, "Nicely done, Detective Taylor." I nodded and thanked her for her praise.
Claire came back in to make sure Stella was alright, because she had heard the screaming. When she saw what it was all about she smiled and said, "Congratulations." Then she left all eight of us alone. The group started to disperse with goodbyes, congratulations and "I hope you feel better" statements. Danny and Lindsay left first, followed by Halle and Hawkes and then Melody and Flack.
I turned to Stella to tell her to go to sleep, but she already had. As I pulled the blanket up over her I heard her softly say, "I love you, Mac Taylor and I always will." Now I'm not sure if she was dreaming or what, but that was music to my ears hearing her say those words. I bent down to plant a gentle kiss on her forehead and said, "I love you to Stell." With that I walked out the door and drove back to my empty apartment.