So, I know this is fast, but I needed to do it. Just created a forum for those who want to keep our Smacked alive in our stories. You can join me if you want, because I'm planning on keep writing those stories. I can't believe that actually so many people here want to give up on their favorite hobby just like that. I respect every opinion that you guys have, but I have my own one. Sure I'm going to miss Stella, but is that reason to let them take away our hobby? Our dreams? Our hopes? I don't think so.

A/N: Sadly I got a review for that story from someone who isn't registered here on fanfic, so I can't reply to that review. But I want to ask that person a question: How many seasons of CSI NY have you seen? I'm not letting someone telling me that I changed Mac's whole character without defending myself, because I didn't change him AND Mac really offered his extra room to Stella in season 4 (episode "Right Next Door"). (I meant no offense. If it sounded like that, I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you that I know everything I need to know.) I would have liked the idea of telling you in private better, but since that wasn't possible I had to do it that way. I'm sorry.

So for everybody who is still reading: THANK YOU! I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think afterwards, okay? THANKS!

Chapter Fourteen: Step Three

Again I saw Mac's blue eyes searching my green ones for the right thing to do. Somehow I felt what he was about to so and I felt like a teenage girl with her first boyfriend. Well, soon to be boyfriend. I could feel the small sparks flying between us and I felt kinda excited about what Mac would do now. I took a step closer to him and our bodies were only a few inches from each other. Mac took the final step to close the gab between us. The look in his eyes told me that I did the right thing in making the first move toward him, but he wanted to take the first step to something else. His arms now wrapped around my waist he was holding me close to him. I was just about to wrap my arms around him as his cell phone rang and pulled us out of the magical moment between us. He cleared his throat and pulled away to answer his cell phone. The parts where his body touched mine were instantly cooling as he pulled away.

"Damn it." I whispered somehow in misery. I listened to Mac talking on the phone and heard him offering the last words to the caller who obviously was Don.

"We'll be there, soon." He said before he hung up. While he had talked on the phone he had turned his back toward me and was now turning around and looked at me in remorse. Why was he looking at me that way? Did he regret his actions or was the phone call that interrupted us? I looked at him with a questioning expression.

"Sorry." He offered, nearly in a whisper.

"Sorry for what, Mac?" he dared to ask.

"Got a new crime scene. Seemingly the same person who killed Harris Worthfield and Jennifer Grace." He quickly changed the topic, leaving my question unanswered. Damn it! I cursed in my thoughts. Well, the reason for that wasn't the crime scene, but the fact that Mac refused to answer my question. Does he regret what he wanted to do? Will he do it again? Why the hell did he apologize to me? Those thoughts were racing through my head as we were on our way to the crime scene. Sad thing was that the way there was spend in silence which nearly got me killed. As we reached the Crime Scene Mac only gave me short glance and then started into work. Knowing that I couldn't do something about it now I follow him as he walked up to Don Flack and ask him about the details.

"So? What do we have here?" Mac asked Don and stopped next to them.

We were now standing in front of a small mansion. The yellow police tape was tied to both doorposts and blocked the way inside for people without the authority to pass it. Some journalists where already standing nearby and watching our every move, only waiting for the right moment to break through the barricade and see the dead body behind the hedge and the police and other people standing on the way to the house.

The house was whitewashed and had a dark read roof. It had 2 floors and an attic floor with one bigger mansard in the middle and two smaller ones to the left and the right side of it. Well, it was one on the left and one on the right side.

"Jamie Lawson 39. He was Judge in the nearby court. His wife found him. She's inside, now and one of my men is already talking to her." Flack answered.

"Lawson… He worked on a few cases with us. What happened?" I asked him.

"His wife said he wanted to go out for a meeting with two friends and was on his way to the nearby restaurant. He had said goodbye to his wife and kids and left the house. A few seconds later she heard a shot and went to see what happened and found him, dead."

"He was shot? Why did you call us then? What does that have to do with our case?" I asked and Mac was already heading over to Sheldon.

"His wife found that lying in front of the door." Flack said handing me a white envelope. Nothing was written on it. I took it from his hands and opened it. Again it was a picture of the victim. I pulled it out and turned it around. I found the Greek words on the back, again.

"Βήμα τρία. Σχεδόν τελειώσει τώρα. Μόνο κόσμημα μου λείπει." I read out loud and then looked up at Flacks bright blue eyes looking at me in sorrow and confusion.

"Well, you don't know Greek, I know. Βήμα τρία means Step three. Σχεδόν τελειώσει τώρα means almost finished and Μόνο κόσμημα μου λείπει means only my gem is missing." I translated the Greek sentences for him.

"That means he'll come after you now." Flack stated with a worried tone and his bright blue eyes which are normally friendly and mostly happy glimmering are now filled with concern.

"Exactly." I stated firmly and glanced at Mac in sorrow.

"What happened with you two, Stella?"

"What do you mean?" I asked and looked at Don in shock.

"He wasn't waiting for you when you got here he's now processing the scene and barely dares to look at you. What happened?" he asked and his voice was filled with sorrow.

"I don't know, Don. Sometimes it seems as if he wants to take the next step and the next moment he pulls back… but… I have a job to do now, sorry. Maybe I can tell you later." I said and started to head over to Sheldon and Mac who were now processing the body and the crime scene. I nearly reached the yellow police tape as Flack called to me again, causing me to turn around to look at him.

"Be careful, okay?" he stated worried.

"I have Mac to protect me." I started loud enough for Mac to hear us. "And a bunch of other nice people helping me and taking care of me."

"I know. Just needed to say it."

"Thanks, Don. I will I promise." I said and then turned to leave and started helping Mac and Sheldon.

One time I looked up to look at the house and as my gaze moved to one of the smaller mansards I saw a small face watching us through the window, but it was too far away from where I was processing the scene to recognize it, but I thought it was a little girl, probably Jamie Lawson's daughter.

We finished processing the scene and I was still standing on the way that lead from the gate to the house, looking to the house. I was thinking about going inside and talk to Mrs. Lawson, something we needed to do anyways. For a moment I was so lost in my thoughts that I nearly jumped when I feel a hand touching the small of my back. I turn around and saw two warm sapphire eyes looking at me in concern.

"Mac…" I whispered quietly as I recognized him.

"You want to talk to his wife, don't you?" he asked in a soft tone.

"We need to do that anyways. I saw a small face watching us from one of the mansards… probably his daughter. I just want to know how they're doing and if she knows something that might help us."

"Flack gave you an envelope earlier. It was the same guy right?"

"Yes."

"What did he write this time, Stell?"

"He nearly finished his job, Mac. I bet he's coming after me now. Said that only his gem is missing, so…" my voice trailed off. He knew what I would say now and so it wasn't necessary to really say it.

"He threatened you again and warned you, but still things he'll get you." Mac finished my sentence.

"I'm curious how he wants to do that."

"Come on, let's go and see what Mrs. Lawson can tell us about this mess." Mac suggested and I nodded my head and followed after him to knock at the door. The police officer were already gone and nobody else than us was left now. Mrs. Lawson opened the door.

"Thought you would want to talk to me, too. Come in." she said in a sad but friendly tone, her eyes were red from crying and her body was still trembling lightly.