It's a little later than I said it would be, but I'm hoping you'll forgive me since I spent the better part of Monday night/Tuesday morning in the ER due to dehydration. I'm feeling much better though, thanks to about two gallons of Gatorade, and I'm now glad to bring you chapter two. Thanks for the support for chapter one. So awesome. Enjoy!

VVVVV

Mouth agape, Stella stared at the woman who'd played a major role in Mac's life a decade ago. She reeled, her brain unable to connect the supposed evidence of the past with its obvious antithesis in the present.

Claire offered a small smile. "Hi, Stella. Long time, no see."

"Uh…yeah," Stella finally muttered, still wondering if her mind was playing tricks on her.

"Stella, are you okay?" Mac called, concern in his voice, as he hurried down the hall, dress shirt half-buttoned over his white t. "I heard the crash, and…" he trailed off when he entered the room and saw Stella at the door, the mess on the floor, and a woman who looked very much like his wife.

Stella, finally aware of Mac's presence, turned and met his gaze, though no words were exchanged.

Mac crinkled his forehead in confusion and took a tentative step toward the two women. "Claire?" he asked, his eyes sliding from Stella's to Claire's.

"Mac," she sighed, her smile widening. "Could I come in?"

The initial surprise subsided, and Stella found her voice. "Yeah, sorry," she said as she stepped aside and opened the door wider.

Claire dodged as much of the coffee and broken ceramic as possible as she stepped into the apartment.

"Sorry about that, too," Stella told her as she shut the door. "I didn't expect to see…you."

"No, I can't imagine you would," Claire said, understanding Stella's surprise.

Stella thumbed over her shoulder. "I'm gonna go get something to clean up this mess." She left the room, aware that both Mac and Claire's eyes tracked her movements.

She got a cleaning rag and a small dustpan from under the sink and went to clean up mess. When she walked back into the room, she found Mac and Claire staring awkwardly at each other. Tension crackling through the air, she glanced from Mac to Claire, then back to Mac. Apparently neither had spoken in the short time she was gone, though Mac had finished buttoning his dress shirt. Stella quickly swept the ceramic shards into the dustpan and mopped up the liquid with the rag before going back to the kitchen.

Still Mac and Claire said nothing.

In the kitchen, Stella deposited the contents of the dustpan into the trashcan and rinsed out the rag, careful not to cut herself on any errant ceramic pieces. She wrung out the rag and turned off the water. Outside, sunlight glinted off a window, drawing Stella's attention.

So much for everything heading in the right direction.

She sighed wryly at the absurdity of the situation and stared out the window a little longer, lost in her thoughts. Everything had changed in the last ten minutes, and she had no idea what to do.

VVVVV

"So, I like what you've done with the place," Claire said as she looked around the living room, obviously avoiding the main reason for her appearance.

Cautiously, Mac crossed his arms across his chest and eyed Claire. "I really don't have time for this right now. I have to go to work."

"Right, work," Claire sighed and averted her eyes. "It's kind of comforting to know that you haven't changed."

"You're wrong. I had no choice but to change, Claire." Anger. Hurt.

"I know what you're feeling, Mac," Claire said as she moved toward him.

"You can't possibly know what I'm feeling." He paused as he gathered his thoughts. "I'd like you to leave."

Claire stopped in her tracks, surprised and hurt. "But you invited me in."

"You asked if you could come in."

"I see," she replied softly. "I guess I can't blame you for not wanting to talk to me." She noticed a notepad and pen next to the phone on the nearby table. She walked to the table, picked up the pen, and quickly wrote on the notepad.

Meanwhile, Mac walked to the door and opened it, waiting for Claire to leave.

Claire slowly made her way to the door and stopped in front of Mac. "If you change your mind, that's the number where I can be reached," she said, indicating the notepad by the phone. "I hope to hear from you."

Mac stared at her expressionless.

Finally, Claire gave Mac a slight nod, then turned and left the apartment.

Mac closed the door behind her, letting his eyes close as his forehead rested against the door.

This is not good. Definitely not good.

He gave Claire enough time to exit the building, then he grabbed his keys from the key hook by the door and left the apartment, too.

VVVVV

After realizing her slacks were splattered with coffee, Stella headed to the bedroom to change. Though she couldn't hear the conversation going on down the hall, she could tell from Mac's tone of voice that he was angry. No one wanted to face the wrath of angry Mac.

She was still in the bedroom when she heard the apartment door close. Guessing that was Claire leaving, she was surprised to hear the door open and close again a few moments later.

"Mac?" she called.

Silence.

Her eyebrows crinkled in puzzlement, and she turned off the light switch as she left the bedroom and walked down the hall toward the living room. She peeked into the kitchen and noticed Mac's coffee still on the counter, but no Mac.

"Mac?" she called again as she entered the living room.

Also empty.

She noticed his keys were gone from the key hook, and she made a face as her fists landed on her hips.

What the hell is going on?

VVVVV

Thanks for reading!