August 2009

It had been about a month since Sienna had passed away. Stella and Mac had both taken a leave of absence. Stella had lost way to much weight, like she always did when someone from her family passed away. She was also fearful and easy to panic. Sienna had been her best friend and they had shared everything and talked about everything. Sienna had always been there for her and Stella had always been there for Sienna. Mac was starting to worry about her. He knew that she had loved her family and her sister but he also knew that she and her sister had had a very tight and special bond. She barely ate and had sleeping problems.

While Mac was preparing dinner and Stella was on the porch with watching the children play, their 15 year old daughter Haily came to him. "Dad!" "Hey Haily!" "Dad I need to talk to you." He and Haily sat down at the kitchen table. "Alright." "Dad tell me the truth. Is mom alright?" Mac was surprised to hear that question but he knew that it would come earlier or later because she was already 15.

"Haily your mom is still grieving. She is grieving badly but she will be alright." "Dad. How was she when she was grieving after her grandparents and her parents died?" "Haily. When her grandparents died I did not know her yet but Sienna told me it was bad. When her parents died you were little and it was bad, too. Believe me she will be alright." "I hope so. Please take good care of her." "I will. Come here." Haily walked around the table to him and Mac wrapped her into a hug. "Haily I love your mom. I give you my word that she will be alright. Now go play and take care of you younger brothers and sisters. I think I need to talk to your mom." "Thank you."

Mac went to join Stella on the porch while Haily went outside. "Hey!" He wrapped ana arm around her and pulled her into his chest. "They are growing Mac up." "I know." He kissed her temple. "Honey how about I go get you a little piece of cake that Haily baked. I think she would be sad if you do not eat a piece." She shook her head no. "Come here." He pulled her into his chest and just let her rest.

When the kids were in bed and they were sitting on their bed Haily entered their bedroom. "Haily." "Hey!" Dad, could I talk to mom alone for a minute." Mac looked at Stella questioningly. "It is alright Mac." Mac left his wife and their oldest daughter alone and went to check on their other children. "Mom, talk to me." "About what young lady?" "Mom I talked to dad earlier in the kitchen. I know what is going on." "Haily I am alright. The only thing that is wrong is that I am tired. Honey I assure you that I am alright. Now go to bed sweetie." "Fine." Stella knew that her daughter just wanted to help her but she did not want to put that weight on their daughter.

Haily ran into her father on the hall. "Are you alright?" "Yeah but mom is not even if she told me she was alright." "Do not worry." "Alright. Goodnight dad." "Goodnight Haily." He re-entered their bedroom and joined his wife on their bed and let her rest against his chest. "Haily is worried about you honey." "I know Mac." He kissed her temple and stroked her back. "Honey I am worried, too. I brought you a piece of Haily´s cake. You did not eat any dinner or anything else today. Please just a little bit." Stella pulled back a little. "Mac I cannot keep anything down right now. It is too painful."

Mac reached for the plate and broke of a very little piece of cake. "Stella just one little bite. Please for Haily." "Alright." Stella ate the little bit of cake and hoped that she would not through up again. She was happy when she knew that she would not have to through up the cake. At least a little improvement.

About a weeka later Mac found her on their bed in state he did not like. She was lying crumpled together, with a tear stained face, tears running down her face, shaking and she seemed to be in an other world not acknowleding him. He called 911 and then he called Danny and Lindsey to pick up the kids. He sat down next to her on their bed while doing that. "Stella it will be alright." He stroked her back.

When the ambulance arrived Mac rode next to her in it holding her hand never leaving her side and always talking to her. "Honey you will be alright. I promise you that. I am right here honey."

At the hospital she was brought to the exam room and checked out. After that the doctor talked to her. "Hey Mac!" "Hello Doctor Sarah Maiers." She was Stella´s doctor who was present during every time Stella gave birth and has been called to the emergency room on Mac´s wish. She is also a good friend of Stella and knows about the current situation. "Mac I sedated her and she is sleeping right now. I had a nurse bring her to my station so I can have an eye on her and so she is not so alone." "Thank you Sarah. Will she be alright?"

"Mac she has been through hell." "Sarah she does not eat or barely eat, she has sleeping problems." "Oh my God. I think I will put an IV on her." "Thanks." "Come with me to my station so you can visit her." "Alright." Mac followed the doctor worried about Stella.

When he entered her room he was happy to see her sleeping but he was also mad at himself that he was not able to prevent it from happening. He sat down and held her hand. "I am right here Stella. Get some rest and when you wake up I will be right here."

When Mac went to do a few calls on the hall he ran into Haily. "What are you doing here?" "I want to visit mom." "Haily she is sleeping right now. They sedated her. She will be alright. I will call Danny to pick you up." "Dad no. I am staying right here. I am a big girl. We will both stay here. Tell Danny that I am staying here." "Haily you will go back to Danny´s and Lindsey´s house they need your help with your siblings. Besides they have three kids of their own." "Dad I am staying." Mac did not want to argue with her and called Danny.

The next morning when Stella woke up she saw Haily and Mac sitting at next to her on either side. "Hey!" Mac lifted his head to look at her and so did Haily. "Do not ever scare us like this again." "I am sorry." "The most important thing is that you get well again mom." "I know Haily. How long have you been here?" "As long as dad has been here." "Go be with your sisters and brothers." "No. I am staying." Stella was surprised by Haily´s decision, but she definitely did not want her here at the moment.

Stella looked at Mac "Mac!" he could see the pain in her eyes. "Stella she is just worried." "Haily you promised me that you would take care of your brothers and sisters and I expect you to keep that promise. Mac call Danny now." Mac knew better than to argue with Stella at the moment and called Danny. Then he and Haily went to the hallway to wait for Danny. "Haily you have to understand your mother. She is grieving and is scared. Your mother does not know how her future will be like. She just wants something to as it usually is." Haily looked at her father a little shocked. "I just want to help mom dad." "I know Haily and at the moment the best thing you can do is to help Lindsey and Danny by taking care of the kids who miss their aunt incredibly. The kids are heartbroken too Haily."

Now Haily looked down a little guilty because she knew that her father was right. Her brothers and sisters all loved their aunt. "Please Haily do not try to make this harder for her. She barely talks to me and I know that she is worried about the children." Haily sight deeply. "Alright dad I will go back to Danny´s house. Just promise me that you will help her. She needs help." "I will help her." He pulled her into a hug and held her tight.

Mac helped Stella sit up a little. "Mac I want to go home. Please do not make me stay in the hospital. It just brings back to much memories of Sienna." Stella had tears running down her checks now. She tried to hide them but Mac got up from the chair and sat down on the edge of the bed and wrapped his wife into a hug. He held her while she cried over her sister.

A moment later Dr. Sarah Maiers entered her room. Mac and Stella broke apart and Sarah walked to Stella and wrapped her into a hug. "Stella, please listen to Mac. He has your best interest at heart." "OK." Sarah pulled back. "If you need someone different to talk you know where I am." "Thank you." After Sarah left the room Mac sat down on the bed again. Mac wrapped his arms around Stella and hoped that she would be alright.

Two weeks after Stella had been able to come home again Mac was happy with her improvements and knew that she was on the road of recovery. She spent a lot of time with the kids trying to be happy and sometimes she is happy. She also talked a lot with Mac but she also cried with Mac. Stella had talked Mac into visiting the cemetery with her. On their way to the cemetery Mac was holding Stella´s hand trying to comfort her.

At the family grave of Stella´s family Mac and Stella put knew flowers in the vases and he then wrapped an arm around her and laid his other hand on her lower arm. She let the tears fall and laid her head on his shoulder. After a while she turned around and cried into Mac´s chest. He just held her and let her cry. After she had composed herself a little he led her to the car and they went home. When they came home Stella went to rest on their bed while Mac took care of the children. Mac knew that they were on the right way and that Stella will be the old one again someday.