Here you go: Chapter 3! Oh, and sorry if that chapter's a bit long. It seems that I just couldn't write shorter chapter anymore :)

Thank you for all your lovely reviews! I really appreciate them and it's really supporting me and I am truly honored! So... I hope this chapter will worth the trouble Stella had at her home again. It's the first step closer to what I planned for her and Mac. So I hope you'll like it and stay tuned for more!

But now: Enjoy chapter number three!

Chapter Three: Worrying

After Mac freed me from my bed we went back into the living room.

"He must have been hiding right there close to the wall so I couldn't see him, because he came jumping on me from the right as I left the corridor." I explained what I remembered. Mac nodded and turned around to face me.

"How did he look like? What do you remember?" he asked in a soft tone.

"Well, he was about your height and a bit stronger built than you. He was wearing black jeans, a black sweater with a hood and he also wore a ski mask and black gloves. And… from what I remember, he was wearing white sneakers. That was the only bright thing on him. When he cuffed me I could look into his face. I remember that he had a scar above his right eye and he had grey eyes…" I said thinking for a few seconds and added "That's all I remember."

"Think you will recognize him?" he asked as he kneeled down next to his Crime Scene kid.

"With that little I remember? I'm not sure if I… no, probably I won't recognize him. Sorry."

"Don't be. Wasn't really expecting you to recognize him." He was now putting on the latex gloves and handed me one pair of them, too. He placed his hand on my shoulder as he stood next to me again.

"We'll find him, Stella."

"I know, Mac. Let's see what we'll find that helps us finding him."

Mac chose to check the door for any traces of violent access. Looking at the doorframe and the door itself he found a few scratches in the wood. He continued his search and I was trying to find something that guy had left. Looking at my coffee table I found an envelope lying there that I'd never seen there before. I went over to it and took it. Nothing was written on it, but something was inside. Carefully I opened the envelope and looked inside. I found a picture inside and pulled it out of the envelope. It was a picture of Harris Worthfield.

"What do you found here?" Mac asked from behind me. I winced lightly, because I hadn't noticed him nearing.

"Found that inside the envelope on the table. I haven't put it there so the perp must have left it here." I said turning the picture around.

Something was written on the back side of it. It was something Greek. I was looking at Mac in a questioning way.

"What? What does it mean?" he asked me.

"υπ 'αριθμόνένα. Δενέχειτελειώσειακόμα. Είστετοκόσμημα! αριστούργημάμου." I read out loud and then stopped looking at Mac.

"And in English?" he asked arching his brows.

"υπ 'αριθμόνένα means number one. Δενέχειτελειώσειακόμα means it's not over yet, or not finished yet. Είστετοκόσμημα means you are the gem and αριστούργημάμου means my masterpiece or masterwork, which is…"

"A threat to me." He interrupted me. I was looking into his worried eyes, nodding my head.

"Think he's our killer?" I asked.

"I don't know. Maybe he is the killer of Mr. Worthfield or he works for him."

"But if he is the killer and he obviously wants to kill me, too, why hadn't he killed me? He could have killed me easily."

"He said it's not over yet and you are the gem in his collection. He can't kill you, yet. There must be someone else he wants to kill before he comes after you."

"True… Can't just think like a murderer." I said. I had my strong face put on, not wanting to show what I really felt, but I knew Mac was able to see behind that façade. I didn't really know what I should think about that. Every other woman would already be scared to death and maybe would be crying, but I just couldn't be that weak. Honestly I was scared. That man could have killed me easily and he would come back to do just that. But what should I do about that? I knew Mac would insist on protection for me and I couldn't blame him for that. Actually I didn't have any choice this time. If he was the killer I probably wouldn't have much of a chance.

I was concerned and I was confused. Why me? And who's behind that? And why did he kill Harris? Think straight Stella… stop asking questions you can't answer right now. I demand myself.

"Do you have any idea who could do that to you?" Mac asked me. His voice was quiet and gently. I looked at him knowing that he could see the helplessness in my eyes, but I didn't care this time. He wasn't just any officer doing his job, but he was my best friend. Someone I can trust.

"No… I have no idea… who would want to…?" my voice trails off. I just couldn't speak out the word knowing that after it I would say "me".

"We'll find out." He said looking into my eyes. I could see in his bright blue eyes that he's worried about my safety and that he's thinking about something he could offer. "Stella… you know I am not going to let you just stay here since that guy was able to get in here… he could do it any time again. But I just… well… just don't feel much more comfortable knowing you're watched by some officer the whole time… and I know you don't like it either…"

"It's the only way, Mac. I know you can't let me stay here knowing that I am a target and I know I can't stay here. I'll be watched by officer anyways. No matter what I'll chose to do. I could move to a hotel and would have someone around me and I could stay here and someone would be outside my door the whole time. I have no choice, Mac." I said.

"Maybe you have…" he said his voice more a whisper now.

"Pardon?"

"You know… I still have that extra room… I could offer it to you. You wouldn't be alone, but you wouldn't have an officer around you the whole time." He offered.

I wasn't sure what to think about that right now. He offered his spare room to me when my apartment burned down and I didn't accept it, telling him I snored. And still he was offering it again. Truly, the fact that no officer would watch my every move was really tempting. Why do you hesitate? He's your best friend and you can trust him like you can't trust anyone else… you would trust him with your life. My mind told me.

"I don't know, Mac… you really don't mind?" I asked him hesitatingly.

"No I don't mind. And I also do not care about snoring or not. You could be snoring right next to me and I wouldn't care as long as you're safe and okay." He told me and I knew he was telling the truth.

"Okay… I just need to get some things packed before we leave."

"I'll wait here. Just take your time."

"Thank you, Mac." I said taking a step closer hugged him and placed a kiss on his cheek. Then I left him standing in my living room and went back to my bedroom to the things I'll need.

So please don't forget to tell me what you think before you leave! Reviews are most wanted and most appreciated! Stay tuned and stay SMacked! :)

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