A wonderful start into this week everybody! Hope this chappy helps to make it a good start!

A/N: with now 2 active stories, updating on a regular basis will get a bit harder. Even though I finished the last chapter of this story I also need to fine a balance between those two stories. So... which one will update more regular or not depends on how my writing for "Undercover Romance" goes. And... as some of you may have seen on my profile or elsewhere... I am going to study soon, so time for writing and also for updating will be a bit less then. Hope you understand that. I'll do my best to find enough time for both of my stories.

Chapter twenty seven: Sharing The Good News

I leaned against Don's desk and waited for him to follow me. About ten minutes later he finally arrived, a small, but satisfied smile on his face as he saw me waiting for him. As he arrived at his desk he slumped down on his chair and looked up to me. For a few seconds we just locked eyes, trying to read our thoughts. I knew what he thought and it was exactly what I thought, too.

"It's over now, huh?" he said, his satisfied smile reappeared.

"Finally." I agreed.

"What do want to do now? Going home and take some time for yourself?"

"I dunno… honestly I would love to go home, but on the other hand I would love to go back to the hospital and spend my time with Mac."

"You should take some time to calm down and relax. You've spent the past 2 days at his side. Never went home, barely slept or ate."

"Did Mac tell you to say that?" I joked.

"Nope. But I'm sure he did tell you to take some time for yourself. Go home, have a shower, or whatever…"

"He did. Just haven't been at my apartment for more than 2 weeks. Just feels odd to go back there."

"Yeah, I know. But you need some time for yourself. I mean… you could also go to his place, which basically had been your home for those weeks. I'm sure he offered that, too." Don said a bit unsure.

"He did, but I think I should go back to my apartment. Just doesn't seem right to be at his place without him." I said with a heavy sigh.

"Okay. C'mon I take you home."

xXxXxXxXx

After we arrived at my apartment building Don insisted on walking me to my door. Honestly, I was glad that he did, because somehow it felt strange to be back home after all the time I lived with Mac and called his place my "home". I opened my apartment door and turned around to Don.

"Want me to stay?" he asked carefully.

"No, thanks. I think I'll be safe here, now. Just feels strange. Brings up old memories I wanted to forget." I said with a small smile.

"'Kay… call me if you need somethin'." He said.

"I will, thank you."

Don offered a small smile before he turned around and walked back into the elevator, leaving me and my thoughts and memories all alone. But right now, I wanted and needed to be alone. After the past two days I just needed some time for myself. Time to think, calm down and realizing. After the doors of the elevator closed I turned around again. I took a deep breath and stepped into my apartment, closing and locking the door behind me.

Walking into my apartment for the first time in weeks felt like it felt after I stepped into my apartment after Frankie attacked me and I killed him, but this time it was a lot easier to feel home again. It was "just" a break in and I didn't kill anyone. But there were similarities.

I shook my head to get rid of those depressing thoughts and made my way to my bedroom. I opened the closet and took the items I wanted to wear before I walked out of the room and into my bathroom. I placed the clothes on a nearby shelf and let hot water into my tub. While I was waiting for the tub to be ready I took my cell phone and called Lisa. I just needed to tell her that everything was going to be okay now, because I knew exactly that she worried and I needed someone from outside all that happenings that I could talk to.

"Stella! How're ya doing?" she said as she answered her phone.

"Hey Lis." I said, using the short form of her name. "I'm okay, well as okay as possible."

"You sound much more at ease than the other day."

"Yeah. It's finally all over."

"The case? You got that bastard?"

"Yes, we did."

"You know it's not what I write about, right?"

"I didn't call you to give you a great story and the first info, Lis. I just need to talk to someone outside my friends at work."

"I know. How's Mac doing?" she changed the topic back to what I wanted to talk about.

"He just woke up this morning. He's going to be okay and so am I."

"Good to hear, sweetie. What ya doin' now?"

"Well, am going to take an extensive bubble bath and then I'll head to the hospital again to see Mac and tell him the good news."

"Aw… I envy your bubble bath…" Lisa said with a jealous voice.

"Sorry… Got a busy day?"

"Actually, I just started and it's going to be a very busy day. But I'll take the bubble bath tonight when I'll be home."

"Good way to relax after a hard day."

"Yes. You must know it better than I do. Sometimes your job sounds much harder than mine…"

"Yeah, I feel the same when you tell me about what you're doing. Didn't know if I could do that."

"Trust me Stella, you could. You're a crime scene investigator, so you're just as curious as I am. You would do the job as good as I do. Well as I hope I do."

"You do a great job, hon."

"Thank you. Well… sorry, I would love to talk to you longer, but I gotta run now. Talk to you later?" Lisa said with a sad tone.

"Sure. Whenever you have time." I said and then we finished our conversation. I placed my cell phone on the shelf next to my fresh clothes and then started to undress and took my relaxing bubble bath, falling into a slight slumber as I relaxed in the tub.

xXxXxXxXx

Nearly an hour later I suddenly wake up from my slumber and realized that I spent much more time in the tub than I first wanted to. The bubbles were long gone and the water almost cold. Shiver bumps covered my arms after I realized the cold feeling, so I reached for a towel and got out of the tub, dried myself and then dressed. Looking at the clock on my cell phone I was surprised. It was almost 2 pm. Time to go back to Mac and see how he was doing. As I wander into my kitchen to prepare myself something to eat first, I somehow picture Mac leaning against the counter, smiling at me coming in, but the image quickly faded.

"Oh Mac…" I whispered in misery, as I already missed him around me. "And I didn't even tell him…"

My fridge of course was empty, since I wasn't home in a long time, but I found a frozen TV dinner in my fridge. Not quite a proper and healthy meal, but it was better than nothing.

After I finished my meal I headed back to the hospital. Softly I knocked on his room's door and then opened it. I wasn't really surprised as I found him asleep, so I sneaked to the chair I've been sitting on the past 2 days, but didn't sit down. I watched him for a few minutes before I hear his still a bit hoarse voice.

"You smell good, Stella." He said and then opened his eyes to look up at me with a shy smile.

"How'd you know it was me?" I asked him surprised.

"Felt it and… recognized the scent."

"Wow."

"Are you impressed?"

"Yes I am." I answered and smiled at him. "And thanks for the compliment. How're you feeling?"

"Better. Much better, but still tired. Dr. Hendricks came by and freed me of my IV tube and all that stuff I don't need anymore, just leaving the heart monitor for another day. Just in case." Mac said. I noticed that he didn't pause in between his sentences anymore and his voice didn't sound as croaky as earlier.

"Glad to hear that. What about the fever?"

"Still a bit higher temperature than normal, but I got some more antibiotics and Doc says it'll be gone soon. Now, how was your small talk with that Patos guy?" Mac changed the topic.

"Believe me or not… he confessed." I answered his question and sat down on the edge of his bed.

"Just like that?"

"No, after he realized we have him. Still he believes he'll get is revenge."

"Maybe it's not over yet, Stella."

"Who else should do it for him? His girlfriend?"

"Why not? Stella you know that those people don't give up that easily and maybe they've worked together for a long time…"

"Mac…" I started but he raised his hand, causing me to stop my speech.

"Stella, I just want you to be careful, till we can be sure that it's over."

"I know. Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. What did you do today?"

"I listened to my best friend and took some time for myself. I had a date." I smiled playfully.

"A date?" He asked surprised and somehow disappointed and his expression suddenly was very serious.

"Yes, a date…" I said, hardly trying to hide my mischievous grin.

"With?"

"My tub." I blurt out and started to laugh as I saw his perplexed expression.

"Oh…" he offered and couldn't help it but join me laughing and the room was now filled with joyful laughter for the first time in days. It felt good to hear him laugh again after all those scaring and fear filled hours I spent at his bedside.

"Stella Bonasera, you're one evil woman, you know that?" he asked with a playful smile.

"Yes, I know." I said. "So… What did you do while I wasn't here?"

"Well… had some time to relax and get some sleep… My mother was here, too. She kinda talked some sense into my brain and says she wants to meet you again."

"She will." I smiled.

So this was a lighter chapter again. After all the tension of the chappies before they could use some happy moments, right? :)

I'm sorry... I know you guys wanted to see Millie here, but I just couldn't figure out how to do it right here, but I promise (!) you will see Millie again! :)

So... I hope you liked this chapter and please let me know what you think, okay?

blackrose538