Alright, here we go with chapter number 29 :)

A/N: I just want to let you know that from now on updates and new stories will take longer, because I started my distance studies and have a lot of work to do, so I hope you'll understand that I won't have much time to write or post any updates or new stories.

Enjoy this chapter! I hope you like it!

Chapter twenty nine: Something You Can't Hide

The rest of the week passed quite fast. Dr. Hendricks had insisted that Mac would stay one and a half week instead of just one, just to make sure he got some solid rest. Neither of us talked about what I said to him and what I wanted him to tell me. Inside it was driving me crazy to know that he knew what I told him, but not knowing what he thought now. He said he wanted to share his thoughts, but not there, at the hospital, so… why not?

I figured it was the best not to start that topic again until he would be home again in a more private setting. I had also talked to Millie about it and she also said it was best not to argue with him and not to press any further. She knew his son needed some time to think about everything and she also knew that he was a very private man. So I spent my time with him and Millie taking walks in the small hospital park, when the weather allowed it, or I would just tell him what he missed at work. Otherwise I just talked about happy things to lighten the mood.

Now it was Wednesday and Mac was released from hospital. The team and Don had insisted that I took the day off, so I could pick him up and spend the first day in "freedom", how Don had called it, with him. Honestly I didn't want to do anything else, since I knew that Millie would be there to say goodbye. She said she was going back home to Chicago now, after she spend one and a half week in New York. As I arrived at the hospital and opened the door to Mac's room, Millie was already there. Mac sat on the edge of his bed and she sat on the chair, where I used to sit whenever I spent my time at his bedside. Both were looking at me as I walked up to them, Millie smiling happily at me and Mac had a smile that was happy but also loving. I haven't had the chance, or better the courage to tell him how I really felt about him, but somehow things were changed between us. Mac was a bit quieter around me than he usually was, but I figured that the hospital wasn't really the right place to call him on that. So I decided to wait till we were back at his apartment, in a private and secure setting.

"Morning Millie." I greeted Mac's mother first. Both of them were now standing before me. Mac's mother gave me a friendly, yet motherly hug and I didn't mind because I really came to like her during the time she was in New York.

"Mac." I also greeted him and he, too, as usual hugged me, holding me close to him a few more minutes than normal.

"So… take good care of my son, Stella, will you?" Millie asked.

"Always." I answered.

"So… I have to call you nurse Stella now, huh?" Mac asked with a mischievous smile.

"Only if you want to." I said playfully. Millie just smiled knowingly as she said: "We only tease the ones we love."

Both of us, Mac and I, instantly blushed and looked down to our feet, sheepish.

"Mom… flirting with my best friend doesn't mean we're in love…" Mac said. I didn't dare to look at him, because somehow his words hurt. I knew he probably was embarrassed, but his voice was serious.

"McCanna, love is something you can't hide. You might not realize it a long time, but people around you do. And mothers know anyways." Millie said.

"Ready to go?" I asked them as I could feel Mac starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. They both agreed and we walked down to the main entrance. Millie hailed a cab and got back to her hotel to pack up her things and fly back home in the afternoon. Mac and I walked to the parking area and got into the car. The day was grey and quite cold, but luckily it didn't rain, yet.

xXxXxXxXx

The ride to Mac's apartment was spent in torturing silence. I didn't dare to call Mac on his statement and he didn't seem able to say something about it. Somehow it seemed as if we were both afraid of what might be the outcome. Honestly, I was afraid, but was Mac? As I knew him he probably was just as scared as I was, about whatever I actually was afraid of. Thankfully the ride to his place wasn't that long and soon we got out of the car again and walked up to his apartment building.

"Want to come in?" he asked. The first time I heard his voice since we left the hospital.

"Actually, I have to. Still need to pick up my things. Just didn't want to go here without you." I answered in truth and we both stepped into the elevator and then walked into his apartment. He closed the door behind me and made his way first into his bedroom and then he came back into the hallway where I was still standing. He stopped and looked at me with a slight frown, but in his beautiful blue eyes I could see regret.

"Want coffee or tea?" he asked me.

"Tea would be nice." I answered with a soft smile. He walked into the kitchen and I followed him. I leaned against the doorframe and watched him as he busied himself in his kitchen. My lips automatically curled into a soft smile as he turned around and looked at me. The first time since we arrived he rewarded me with a smile. He quickly finished his task and then walked up to me, stopping right in front of me. His eyes had a deeper blue now and were looking seriously.

"I'm sorry about earlier. What I said to my mother… I didn't mean to hurt you. Just didn't think about it." He said seriously.

"Yes you did think about it, Mac." I said a bit more huffy than planned.

"What?"

"You know exactly what I mean, Mac. It's not the first time you pulled back like that. And yes, I was hurt by you saying that."

"I know you were and I said I'm sorry." He defended himself.

"Why? Tell me why you always pull back after taking a step closer toward me?" I asked him, but he looked back down, his shoulders hanging.

"Why did you pull back after that damn phone rang that very fateful day?" I asked again, this time quietly and close to tears. He looked up at me and his eyes were sad.

"I… I was afraid of crossing the line." He finally admitted.

"Don't you think I am scared, too? I am just as afraid of being hurt again as you are, but if you always pull back after trying to take the next step, you'll never know if you could have been happy again."

His blue eyes locked with mine as he took a step closer to me, but he didn't say a single word.

Please let me know what you think! What will happen next? Will they finally admit their feelings? What do you think?

only 3 more chapter to go from now on... hope you're still interested...

Have a great week! blackrose538