Hey guys! Well I have managed to get the internet where I am for 24 hours so I will update tonight and try to update again tomorrow but after that, I won't be updating for a while or replying to your lovely reviews so I am very very sorry for that but I hope that the updates are worth it :D Thanks to everyone who has been reading and also to those who have been reviewing and I am so so glad that you all like this story :D Here you go!


Mac ducked under the yellow tape which separated him from the crime scene using his now healed arm to pull it over his head. This particular scene was a double murder, a man and a woman. He walked over to Lindsay who was taking pictures of the man lying awkwardly on the floor, his white shirt covered in blood.

'So what have we got so far?' He asked.

'Nothing much yet, just documenting the scene. Looks like it could be a crime of passion though. The woman –'she nodded over to the female who was lying on the bed in the room next to the one they were standing in 'she's dressed in nothing but lingerie, and this guy's tie was on the floor. By the looks of things, we could be looking for a jealous partner.' Lindsay concluded before turning back to the camera.

Mac's eyes had not moved from the bedroom. Stella was standing next to the bed, her camera pointed upwards but her fingers frozen. Here eyes were staring blankly at the woman on the bed and Mac went over to her.

'Hey.' He greeted her quietly and placed one hand on her shoulder. She jumped at his touch and her curls swung around her shoulder as she span around.

'Oh. Hey Mac, you scared me there.' She commented before turning back to the victim. Her fingers finally unfroze and she began to take the crime scene photos. Mac knew what was bothering her but he let it go, knowing that she needed time to get over this herself.

If she needed him, then he would be there for her.

He turned back to the male vic and, when he reached the body, placed his kit on the floor, taking out his gloves. With one deep breath, he cleared his head of all thoughts and the side of Detective Mac Taylor took over as he worked the scene.

*

Stella was staring at the glass in front of her which looked into the interrogation room. There sat at the desk was a woman with short blonde hair. It had been tangled from the amount of time her hands had ran through it, messing it up. Her blank eyes were stained with the black make-up that had been smeared down her face from past fallen tears. Her clothes did not match the rest of her appearance. They were glamorous and obviously expensive. She sat in a dark purple dress that was covered in sequins. Her shoes were high heeled and matched the purple of her dress.

Stella stared at her. She knew that she had to interrogate her as she was their prime suspect for the double murder but her feet wouldn't move.

The door swung open and she was taken aback by the sudden loud sound. Don stood in the frame with worry on his face.

'Do you want me to do the honours Stella? I don't mind if you – ' He began to say.

'No.' She interrupted, 'it's fine. I'll do it. Thanks Don.' She whispered before walking out of the door and into the interrogation room.

'Cathie Mitchell?' She inquired as she made her way to the table. Cathie looked up at her through dead eyes.

'Yeah.' She answered in a croaky voice.

'I just have a few questions to ask you.' Stella waited for a response but none came and so she continued. 'Where were you between 9 and 10 pm last night?'

'At my boyfriend's house. Killing him.' She replied calmly. Stella didn't let the surprise she felt show on her face.

'Are you admitting to the murders of Paul Sandford and Elizabeth Perry?' Stella continued in a steady voice.

'Indeed I am.' Cathy responded, 'and nothing you can say can make me feel bad about it. I did nothing wrong.' Stella raised her eyebrow sceptically which did not go unnoticed by Cathie. 'Don't you look at me like that. If it was you in my position you would have done the exact same thing.' Her previously dead eyes began to be filled with life. 'Imagine walking into your boyfriends apartment, the man that you love's apartment, and finding him with his tongue down another woman's throat with his hands all over her. That bitch.' She shook her head angrily. 'He made me believe that he loved me. He made me think I was the only person he cared for and yet there he was with her.

'Well I lost it. He didn't even realise I was there but when I took out his gun from the draw, he looked round and knew instantly what I was going to do. He got up and walked towards me, one arm in front trying to calm me down' she laughed bitterly at the thought 'and one arm behind him trying to protect her. So without another thought I shot him straight in the heart. The little slut behind him started screaming and so I put a bullet in her just to shut her up. Thing is, I liked it so I shot her again.' Stella flinched at what was being described and the gleeful smile on Cathie's face from the memory. 'You probably think I'm a monster but she took him away from me so I took him away from her and then some.'

It was quiet for a moment as Cathie sat back in her chair. Stella stared at the table motionless, staring at her fingers that were trembling.

'They deserved it.' Cathie whispered. Stella looked up suddenly and her eyes met Cathie's cold ones.

'They deserved it?' Stella repeated quietly. 'They deserved it?!' She repeated again, this time shouting it across the table as she stood up. 'They deserved to die for a mistake? Is that the bull you're trying to make me believe? They could have loved each other more than you could possibly imagine, they could have got caught up in the moment and not realised what they were doing and yes, it was wrong what they did to you and selfish but did they deserve to die for it? No!' Stella felt her eyes fill with tears at the sudden hysteria that had overcome her. The interrogation room door opened and Stella felt a pair of hands take her shoulders and lead her out of the room.

The tears started to stream down her face and her whole body was shaking. The hands led her to her office and she sat on the couch. She lent in to the man who was sat next to her now and realised at once that it was Mac. She cried into him as he held her, rubbing her back softly. This was becoming a routine.

After a while, Stella began to calm down and as the realisation of what she had just done hit her, she began to feel extremely stupid. She tore herself away from Mac's arms and stood up facing the window.

'Why did I let her get to me like that?' She whispered into her hands.

'I shouldn't have let you go in there. I'm sorry.' Was his answer and Stella turned around to look at him.

'Mac, she wasn't Cathie to me. She was Abigail. Elizabeth and Paul were you and me. That crime scene could have been us dead on the floor Mac.'

'But it wasn't Stel. We're here, alive.' He stood up and walked over to her, his hands now resting on her shoulders. Stella turned her face away from him.

'But she's not. She's dead Mac and I killed her.' It was the first time she had admitted it out loud and it gave her no relief, it only confirmed in her mind what she had done. Another tear escaped her eye.

'But you did it to save us Stella and for that I will be forever grateful. What happened to Abigail was a tragedy and I blame myself for what happened everyday but I've learnt not to let the guilt control me. You said yourself that Cathie had no right to kill them just as Abigail had no right to threaten our lives. You acted out of self-defence and no-one judges you for that.' He pulled her towards him as he talked softly. 'You can't keep beating yourself up about this Stel otherwise the injuries you'll give yourself will kill you and I can't bear the thought of that happening.' He whispered towards her ear.

Stella wrapped her arms around his waist and he tightened his hold on her. She knew that she had to let this go, for him, for herself but she just didn't know how to.

'I'll try.' She whispered almost inaudibly.

'Thank you.' He replied before placing a kiss in her curls.


Well, I hope it wasn't out of character. I could imagine Stella reaching breaking point, I mean, shooting someone is bound to take it's toll. Anyway, let me know what you think as all ideas and reviews are of course very welcome! :D

thanks for reading!

Reviews make me smile so much it hurts :D