Title: Time's Up
Chapter 2 - Welcome to my Parlor?

A/N: Okay so since there will be two Mac's and two Stella's the imposters will have a 1 after them (ie Mac1 or Stella1) hopefully that's not to confusing but I wanted to make sure you all knew who was talking when. Thanks for all the great reviews and hope you like this chapter just as much!

Mac sits in the back of the cab on the way to Stella's, his mind remembering their earlier conversation about the Science fair. 'Why didn't you just ask?' Stella had told him.

"Why didn't I..." he scolds himself as the cab finally reaches Stella's apartment. "I didn't and now I lost out...she's with Jenkins and..." his voice trails off in misery as he stands before her building. "Why didn't she just admit it earlier? What am I so afraid of?"

With a deep breath he finally pushes himself out of the cab and then rushes up the stairs and into the building. He finally reaches her floor and hears soft music playing. "Damn it, he's still there," Mac lightly curses. "But I need help so..." he sighs as he knocks on the door.

"Hold on," he hears her voice and his heart races a bit faster. Mac watches as Stella1 opens the door and then all he remembers is his jaw hitting the floor. She is dressed in a black leather corset emphasizing her lust breasts, hips and waist, thigh high black leather boots and has more make-up on than he usually notices. But she looks amazing; her body tempting his brain and it has an instant effect on every part of his body. Jenkins got this? Boy am I stupid!

"Stella?" He asks weakly; desires he thought lost long ago starting to rise to his brain quicker than anticipated.

"Timid Taylor," Stella1 smiles.

"Funny," he replies dryly. "I guess Jenkins is still here," he frowns. I am missing out on this?

"He just left," she purrs. "Want to come in?"

"Ah yes but...but no...no I just want to know if...I think I gave you...um...the spare key to my apartment," he tells her with a frown. "I think you have it. The spare...key?"

"Yeah like I'd want to get into your apartment," she snides. "Bo-ring."

Mac looks at her in surprise. "Okay you can drop the act, I'm not buying," he says firmly. "Where is my spare key?"

Stella1 leans in closer and starts to lightly rub her hand on his chest. "Kinda forceful...I like that," she winks. "Showing me a new side...or was it hidden all these years?"

"It was...uh..." he starts slowly, her perfume playing naught tricks with his already over tired brain. "Stella it was..."

"You sure I can't interest you in something in here?" Stella1 smiles at the handsome man before her.

"I uh..." Mac tries as his eyes devour her body and then look back up at her smiling face. Oh I'm interested all right, he inwardly groans. And why the hell can't my damn brain think straight. "I can get it in the morning," he finally manages.

"Too bad, little Stella still wants to play. Does little Mac want to play with her?" Stella1 teases as she starts to tease his lips with hers, her fingers playing with his face and hair.

Mac pulls back with a slight frown. "Trust me I'm turned on but...but you don't have to try this hard..."

"Oh please don't flatter yourself," she laughs as she crosses her arms. "You science geeks are all the same. Think your brains will help bed girls...yeah nice try Timid Taylor, I'm not buying."

"Why do you call me that?"

"Everyone else does," she shoots back. "Besides I invented it so shouldn't I call you that?"

Mac offers no reply as he just stands fixed in her doorway, his anxiety growing. No matter what usually happens at the office, Stella always has his back and takes his side in defending him when he is being put down. That was one of the reasons he was so drawn to her. But this...this was new for her. If she was doing it to punish him it was more than working.

"Are you doing this to punish me?" He frowns.

"Do you want to be punished?" She teases.

"Okay so that's how it's going to be," he huffs, turning to leave.

"Oh sorry did I offend you?" She lightly laughs.

"Are you drunk?"

"No, do you want to get drunk with me?" She challenges.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he offers firmly.

"If I feel like it," she replies with an air of indifference.

Mac only offers a heavy sigh in return and then hurries out of her doorway and down the hallway; stopping at the end in hopes of stilling his rapidly beating heart. "What the hell was that all about?" He asks himself in misery. "Did she dress like that to torment me? Well if she did, it worked," he states sourly as he gets back into the elevator, not realizing that the Stella that he was seeking wasn't the woman he just talked to.

"Has she always been that hot?" He mumbles in a frustrated tone. "Am I that blind? Yes!" He huff as he gives his head a small shake in hopes of erasing her tantalizing body from his memory. But it didn't work. Her image; dressed in the black leather; tempting him, was forever burned into his brain, telling him what he just missed out on for not being more bold and taking the next steps. With that sad thought he heads back home. But as he quickly reminds himself that he didn't get the spare key from Stella, he has no where to go. He tried Sheldon and Danny but both were still at the party and basically told him he'd have to fend for himself. So he finally picks a small hotel next door, gets a room and is asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow.

XXXXXXXX

Stella, however, finally pulls herself from a nightmare of her own and looks at her watch in misery. "Mac..." she lightly moans as she slowly sits back up. She knows it's late but also knows Mac wouldn't be that mad if she phoned; he was always there when she needed help in the past and knows he'll be there for her now, no questions asked. But in truth she just wants to know if he is home so when she dials his number and hears his voice; she hangs up and decides to head for his place to see him in person.

The ride to Mac's seems to take longer than expected in her mind and she knows it is because of Jenkins actions earlier in the parking lot. She didn't know why he did that but knows she owes it to Mac to just set things straight. Plus she needs a proper place to stay and he has a spare bedroom.

She slowly walks into his building, her heart starting to beat a bit faster as she reaches his door and knocks. No answer.

"Mac?" She calls out softly. She finally hears him moving around and then feels her heart start to pick up pace as he nears the door.

"Stella?" He asks softly. "What is it?"

"Please open, I need help."

Stella watches as he slowly pulls the door open and then stares at her with a blank expression. "Hi..." she greets him with a slight frown.

"Stella, it's very late. What the hell do you want?" Mac1 asks gruffly. "What kind of help do you need now?"

"Can I come in?" She asks in hesitation.

"What for?" He retorts in annoyance

"Okay whatever game you're playing, you can drop the act."

"Game?" Mac1 laughs. "That's your department, remember? You like games, I don't."

"You're still mad about the Science comment? Or was it Jenkins?"

"I don't have time for this," Mac1 huffs in anger as he goes to close the door. Stella pushes it open so she can see inside. But as she looks around she notices it isn't the same apartment that she is familiar with.

"I have somehow locked myself out of my apartment and can't find my key and...I had given you the spare after Frankie and..." Stella informs him with a frustrated glance. "I just need my spare key," she extends her hand to him.

"I don't have your spare key and I don't know what you are on...but I am tired, I had a long day as I guess you did and I'll see you tomorrow," he growls, pushing her out.

"Mac...I need help," Stella tries again.

"I don't care. Now get lost!" He snaps as closes the door. "Find it someplace else!"

"Mac...it's me."

"Goodnight!" He growls in anger.

"Mac...did he just..." Stella laments as she stares at the door in misery before turning and slowly heading back outside. "What is going on?"

But she needs a place to stay and knows Danny is nearby and has at least a couch to offer she heads there. So with another wave to a cab she climbs in and is once again heading for what she thinks is a friendly spot.

"Stella?" Danny asks with a sleepy voice as he pulls the door open. "Uh...what's wrong?"

"I need help and a place to stay," she tells him.

"Is this a bet?" He asks weakly.

"A bet? What? No...I seriously need help, please? Just a place to sleep tonight. I'm locked out of mine."

"Did Lindsay put you up to this? She got her idiot boyfriend Dino to trash my truck again...bitch," he mumbles under his breath.

"Pardon? Bitch? I don't get it...I thought you and Lindsay..." Stella's voice trails off in miserable wonder. "Were a couple?"

"You're kidding right?" Danny laughs. "Good girl gone wild? Yeah like she'd go for me."

"Okay I seriously don't know what's going on but I am locked out of my apartment and just need a place to sleep. That's it...I promise," she begs weakly. "Please?"

"Okay...fine," Danny resigns. He shows her to the couch, gets a blanket and pillow and then just leaves her alone before going back into his bedroom and closing the door, all in silence. Stella feels her eyes water as she slowly lies down on the couch and tries to get some sleep. Sadly morning came all too soon.

XXXXXXXX

Mac hurries into the office very early the following morning, hoping to catch Stella before they start their day and get this settled once and for all. He rushes out of the elevator toward her office but it's empty and he's wondering if she's just playing coy from the last night.

"Sheldon, have you seen Stella?"

"Uh check your watch," Sheldon shoots back. "Are you losing it or what?"

"I..." Mac starts only to have Sheldon turn his back and walk away. "What is going on?"

Mac tries Adam who simply stares back like he is a little green alien, asking which planet he's from and if he's lost. He tries a few others who either tells him to take a hike or go find her himself.

"Lindsay," he calls, making her stop. He notices the punk-like outfit but isn't in the mood for another stupid remark or womanly showdown so lets it slide. "Have you seen Stella?"

"Am I her keeper? Are you? You are lucky you can actually get something done around here," Lindsay laughs as she turn to leave.

"What is going on around here? Oh this is not funny," Mac frowns as he turns and heads back outside to wait for Stella. "She's gone too far."

XXXXXXXX

Stella quietly leaves Danny's place and hurries for the office; hoping to catch Mac before he gets into work to try to work this out.

Mac watches Stella exit the cab and then rushes for her. Stella watches Mac approach and offers only a frown. This has to end now, she tells herself.

"You..." they both start at once and then quickly stop.

"What did you do with my spare key?" They once again ask at the same time.

"Okay you first," Mac starts.

"Wher...did you sleep in those clothes?" Stella asks.

"I...yes...I did. But...did you? I saw you last night about an hour after we parted...you...well you weren't dressed like that," he frowns. "Last night you were wearing...well whatever I need..."

"Mac, I didn't see you last night an hour after we parted," Stella tells him. "It was later a..."

"So that's how it is going to be. Fine," Mac huffs; angry from lack of sleep. "I guess what you choose to do on your personal time with Jenkins is none of my business. But pretending that it didn't happen? When I was two feet from your face? Please Stella I'm not a child."

"I wasn't with Jenkins last night," she insists. "I was locked out of my place and then..."

"Stella, this is hard on me enough...after seeing you...well like I did last night and you acting the way you did to me then and ignoring me now...I get the picture, you don't have to make an excuse. But I would like the spare key back to my place. I might be inclined to think with everything else going on around here that you changed the locks but I don't think you would."

"Well I could guess the same thing about you since I had to sleep at Danny's last night!" Stella challenges, folding her arms in front. "What was I wearing last night? What are you talking about? Mac it's me...what is this all about?"

"Right. Maybe you don't notice me now?"

"That is low. Now give!"

"You seriously want me to go through that again?" He frowns. "You wore leather..."

"Leather? Whatever Mac, look that wasn't me...but...but I saw you last night...late last night, I came to you for help and you turned me away! You were mean so don't get after me. You told me to get lost!" She states in anger. "You yelled at me and slammed the door in my face. You want to play games fine!"

"I would never..." Mac starts in shock; knowing inside, no matter how much she tormented him with her body he would never turn her away, much less yell at her. "Stella I would never yell at you."

"Well you did and then I slept on the couch at Danny's" she tells him sadly. "At least he didn't turn me away. I was wearing leather?"

"Yeah...it was hot...and..." Mac mumbles as he looks at her and the slowly looks around with a frown. "You told me...well you wanted me...okay never mind if that's what you want."

"Mac I swear I did not see you last night until really late. I am not trying to be mean either. I would never do that to you," she urges "Please don't call me a liar. I wouldn't lie to you...you know that."

He looks at her face and knows she was telling the truth. After all these years there were certain things she just couldn't keep from him; the truth was one of those things. It was in her eyesshe'd never lie to him and that was always comforting.

"I know that look...what's wrong?" Stella asks quickly.

"I don't know."

"Mac? Talk to me...you have an idea about all this. What else is going on?"

"I think I have an idea but if I tell you, do you promise not to laugh?"

"Yes."

"I think when those tanks blew it sent us somewhere..."

"Oh man you think like time travel thing?" Stella lightly laughs.

"Alternate reality," he quickly corrects. "You promised not to laugh," Mac frowns.

"Mac, you're kidding right? You pull a good fast one on me and that's all you can blame? I am not mad...well maybe a little last night about how you treated me but...how did you get the staff to cooperate? Seriously to get Lindsay to pierce anything? Sheldon the fro? Flack a dirty cop? Did you also change the lock on my door?"

"Stella why would I change the lock on your door and how would I get the office redecorated in the few hours we were missing? Besides the staff basically told me where to go this morning; looked at me like I was an alien and some staff even gave me the finger!."

"What? Mac I would never get the staff to treat you like that," she adds slowly. "This can't be...this only happens in the movies...time travel, parallel universe or whatever."

"How else do you explain all this?"

"Well there has to be a rational explanation," she offers. "I mean Mac we are scientists...there is a rash reason behind everything, you know that. There has to be one for this also."

"We need to find him...Jacob Prince...we need to track him down and see what has happened," Mac tells her as Flack walks up to them. "Maybe he did all this."

"What? Jacob Prince. Mac, don't blame anyone else but..."

"Stella, I swear to you that..."

"Hey get a room..." Flack starts before he sees it is Mac that Stella is talking to. "Oh sorry Taylor, didn't see you," Flack sneers.

"Hey whatever happened to Jacob Prince?" Mac asks quickly.

"Who?"

"Science guy...was a suspect in the murder of that female science professor," Stella adds. "The one we brought in yesterday."

"No idea, is he on the payroll?"

"No," Mac says firmly. "Payroll?"

"Yeah you know payroll," Flack states firmly. "What are you hard of hearing now Taylor?"

"It's Mac and maybe we need to talk about this attitude."

"Attitude? Whatever Mac! You have a problem with guys on the take now?"

"Yes I do but, that is another discussion..."

"You and me...we are going to have a discussion? Are you standing up to me?" Flack mocks. "That's a first."

"And if I am?" Mac shoots back in frustration.

"You? Timid Taylor? You couldn't stand up to the wind if was pushing you around," Flack laughs.

"Yes he could," Stella defends.

Flack looks at her in shock. "You...are actually defending him? Are you on drugs?"

"Watch it," Mac warns.

"Yeah whatever," Flack says turning to leave. "You don't scare me Taylor," Flack snides. "I mean you were what in your earlier days? A minor league hockey coach. Oh yeah really scared. Maybe if I was like seven!"

"I was in the Marines," Mac snaps.

"Yeah in your dreams," Flack shoots back turning to leave. "The Marines my ass. Tell yourself that all you want Taylor, you'll always be a has been."

Mac turns back to Stella. "Believe me now?"

"Okay so this is...Mac it can't be...there has to be another explanation," Stella tries. "Flack wouldn't treat you like that or mehe just couldn't..."

"Jacob Prince is the only one who can help set this straight," Mac tells her. "Just go with me, if we are...somewhere we don't belong and if...just if there are two of us...we need to find who did this and fix it. Or we are stuck in this lame reality."

"Where you're a wimp and I'm a..."

"Dominatrix?" Mac lightly smiles.

"I am no...what?" Stella half shrieks. "Seriously? That's what I was?"

"Well something along those lines. The clothing was..." he lightly blushes.

"You would know Mac Taylor?" She arches an amused brow.

"No...course not, I just mean...you looked...well I mean...as I was saying, Stella give me a break will you?" He stammers with a flushed face.

"Just this once and you better wipe that damn grin off your face Taylor," she warns with a smile.

"Sorry."

"Yeah right you're sorry. Okay so where do we start?"

"We need to get to our places and change and then we find Jacob Prince. Then..."

"Mac I just saw..." Sheldon said as he walks up to them. "Man you're fast. I just saw you upstairs. Stella, what's he in trouble for now," he laughs. "Later."

"Okay so I was going to say I'll go and get Prince's file but...I guess the other you isn't in yet so you go and get the file and then I'll meet you back at your place. Your other self should have left by then."

"Right," she agrees with a feeling of growing anxiety.

"Be careful."

"Can you wait? I mean I'll get the file and then you can....please? This is all too creepy for us to be apart. And no I am not scared but..."

"Stella, I too am a little nervous about all this so I can understand your feelings," he says warmly. "I'll just wait across the street, in the bakery."

"Okay," she smiles as she turns and hurries back inside.

He watches her leave and feels his heart rate starting to rise a bit. He tries to block out the image from the night before but seeing her that...well tempting him...coming on to him...is playing games with his tired brain. Has to be two of them; his Stella wouldn't act that way to him. "I better not run into well her again," he mumbles to himself. "Or I'll be in big trouble."

Stella reaches Mac's office, her heart racing. Then she sees him...the other Mac. It was true there are two of them. Oh this can't be! "Mac," she says slowly.

"What is it now?" Mac1 snaps.

She studies the man before her and frowns. He is the same and yet different. Her Mac is not the hardened, angry, insecure man before her; this one was somehow just wrong...it had only been a few minutes but inside she already missed her Mac; the man she was attracted to and needed by her side in life; especially now.

"I haven't got all day Stella," he huffs. "What is it?"

"I forgot I need to file the Jacob Prince case right away. Do you still the file?"

"Top of the pile. How come you're in so early? Jenkins have something to do this morning?"

"What happened to us?" She finally wonders. "Were we ever friends?"

"Stella you and I are forced to share working space, why do you have to rub it in all the time that I am here because this is the only place that would take me. Don't you have another man's life to mess up? I'm busy."

Stella only shoots him a sad glance and then turns and heads into his office for the file. By the time she's out of the building and reaches the other side of the street, her heart is racing and her mind is in misery. But her face tells the whole story.

"You okay? Why so sad? What happened?"

"I just talked to you...but the other you...this is so...it is true, Mac you're right," she says looking at him sideways. "You are the same as him and yet so very different."

"Not very reassuring sounding," he frowns.

"Sorry, he was just so unsure of himself, timid I guess and angry. Hardened by life...I like you better," she tells him. They slowly walk out of the bakery through the back door and get into a nearby cab. "What was the other me like?" She asks.

"Dressed differently," he smiles.

"Oh come on Mac," Stella counters.

"More forceful," he replies. "Just different from what I normally see."

"Mac!"

"Come on Stella, just different I didn't talk to her that much."

Stella leans back in the seat and stares out the window with a frown. Mac notices the growing silence and remembers her words from earlier: 'came for help you turned me away...told me to get lost,' and it ate at him inside. "I'm sorry," he mentions softly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

"For what?" Stella asks turning to him.

"For not helping, for not answering your calls..." he starts. "For whatever was said."

"I'm sorry too," she smiles. "Is this like the worst part of us or something? Kinda like the ghost of Christmas future showing us what we might have turned out like?"

"Minor Hockey League coach?" Mac counters, making her laugh. "I didn't even play as a kid."

"Dominatrix?" Stella shoots back. "I don't..."

"Well you do have the body for it...and the personality," he offers as they stop in front of her place. He looks at her in horror, finally realizing he just vocalized what he meant to keep inside.

"Pardon?"

"Stella...I...that was...so I'll see you later," he finishes in a weak tone.

"What?" She asks in shock as she follows him out of the cab. Mac pays the driver but tells him to wait. "Oh no, you are not getting out of this conversation so fast. Mac what did you mean by that?"

"Just strong, determined, in control and okay so I'll..."

"Mac!"

"I am going back to my place to shower and change and then I'll meet you back here. I'll just pick the lock or something."

"Mac..."

"Call if you run into...well problems," he tells her with a slight frown. "But stay out of sight and see you real soon and call if you need help."

"Mac..." she tries again. "You can't just say that to me and then ignore it."

"Stella, I was kidding," he lies; knowing inside he was more than turned on by the thought of her with a wild side, wanting him like that. "Please...can we talk about this later?"

"Okay fine but we will talk about this later. Just be careful," she resigns.

"You too."

Mac quickly gets back into the cab and is thankful it whisked him away before he could get himself further into hot water with his stupid comments; once again his well educated brain failing to help him when needed most. He glances back just as she starts to head for the back of her apartment. What he failed to notice was the strange man waiting for her inside.

XXXXXXXX

Stella watches the cab with a frown which quickly turns into a small smile. The look on his face when he told her was more than just an amused expression; he was turned on and she knew it. Was he really that insecure around her when it came to expressing his emotions? Maybe he's not distant, she tells herself as she heads inside. Maybe he really is afraid of getting hurt? But can't he see that I like him too? Dominatrix? Great, no wonder he couldn't talk straight!

XXXXXXXX

Mac reaches his place and quickly sets about picking the lock. When that didn't work he called the super who only laughs at his ineptness; which only fuels his desire to rid himself of this cruel dimension all the more. Once inside he closes the door and looks around. It was his place and it wasn't. No memento's of Claire, no Marine paraphernalia, no guitar, nothing personal that was his; even the picture of him and Stella from an office party was missing from the fridge. There were a few hockey items but otherwise it was like this guy was just there he mattered to no one. It was only a shell of what his apartment should be. He felt deep sorrow starting to cover him, but knew he had to push it aside. So he sets about having a quick shower and then hurries into his bedroom to find something to wear. He expected to find a collection of suits like he has but there are a lot more casual clothes than he is used to. He quickly puts on a pair of dark dress pants, a dark blue dress shirt and a dark sports jacket before heading back to find Stella.

XXXXXXXX

Stella hurries in the back door, her mind still trying to digest all that Mac had told her. Stella walks through the darkened basement area and was about to round the corner when she is grabbed from behind, a damp cloth covering her mouth.

Stella starts to call out but her attacker drags her back into the dark room and slams the door shut, taking her away from the safety of daylight. Just before she falls into darkness she hears the strange man whisper 'sorry' and then falls into oblivion. Then the stranger goes to wait for Mac.

XXXXXXXX

Mac feels his nervous apprehension starting to build as he nears the front door to Stella's apartment. Part of his brain is focused on them finding Jacob Prince but the other part of his brain on wondering what to expect from Stella. He wanted to take things to the next level for some time but always feared rejection. Now he fears he'll lose her altogether to a stale state of friendship. He bypasses the basement where Stella's attacker is waiting for him and heads to the other side stairs and rushes up. He nears her door and listens to his own heart beat starting to rise.

"Stella?" He asks softly, knocking lightly. He tries the door finds it slightly open. "Stella?" He asks again.

"Yeah I'm just..." she calls out as she rushes out to meet him. "Come in."

"I'm h..." he starts.

"Mac," Stella1 said walking up to him with a smile.

Mac looks at her with a slight smile. She was just out of the shower and dressed in more normal clothes. Since it was already middle of the day he assumes it is his Stella, the real one. He would be wrong.

"Nice place," Mac offers, eyeing some of the things she has lying around.

"Thanks. Come on in," she replies walking back into her bedroom, Mac following. "Wow...quite the uh playroom," he notes fingering a black leather cuff. "Didn't know this side of you."

"Does it turn you on?" Stella1 asks; her back to him.

"It uh..." he starts looking around nervously. Of course it does but I can't tell her that, she'll laugh. "How did you get in?" He asks quickly.

"Key," she answers as she turns around and walks up to him and stands inches from his face. "Want to see? Does little Mac want to see some other keys to some of the toys little Stella has to play with?" She flirts openly.

With those tormenting words, Mac knows inside this isn't his Stella. As much as he wants her to be this forward, he knows it just isn't her. Not to me anyways, he laments. But if she did something with his Stella he would have to play it safe and be smart and find her.

"You know I uh...don't think I've ever had the grand tour," Mac lightly coughs, hoping to distract her and find his Stella. The problem was, he was getting more and more distracted than she was, which is what she wanted.

"You want the tour?" Stella1 asks with a growing smile, her nearness starting to affect his thinking, her perfume tempting him. "Well come on right in, don't be shy, I'm not," she winks.

"Right."

"Didn't think you were into anything...sexual," she whispers leaning in close, her fingers once again playing with his face, forcing them into a deeper shade of red.

"Oh I uh..." he stammers; noticing her relish in his nervousness. "Sure...why not," he tries.

"You know Taylor I always suspected you wanted something more," she tries, pushing him back a few feet. "Do you want something more...from me?" She whispers, her lips inches from his.

"I uh..." he starts; trying to separate this copy with his Stella. Of course I want more. He tries forcing his brain to send words to his mouth, but as she dares him with her words, tempting him with her desire, he is completely lost. And as he looks into the warm green eyes holding him captive, he can't deny his desire for her. Inside it was real; this woman was just forcing it to the surface, a place he tried to keep it from reaching until he was ready.

"Ah the strong silent type," she smiles, pushing him back a few more feet. "Do you handle yourself well in high tense situations?" Stella1 baits him, moving in closer, her hands resting on his chest and moving lower, dancing around his waist and fumbling with his limp hand. In fact he was so distracted he didn't realize he is already caught in her trap, as she had planned.

"I was a marine, I'm trained for tense situations," he finally manages.

"A marine? Is that the fantasy that you dream about at night? Sounds kinda interesting," she teases.

"Can be exiting," he offers, trying to play her game. But as sure as he is of his job and his experience in life, this was one area he was completely lost; women and desire.

"Are you attracted to me?" Stella1 asks him directly.

The question to him was real. Inside he knows he is attracted, that much is very evident, but to his Stella; who was still missing. But as he continues to look into the familiar face before him he knows he has to leave before he makes a mistake and betrays himself to this imposter. Of course I am, oh I need help and fast.

"I think I should go..." he mumbles as he tries to pull away. But as he does so, he finds he is unable. He looks down and notices his left hand is cuffed to a small plank that is fastened to the wall.

"Like that device? It's custom, just for you."

"Stella..."

"You're not going anywhere handsome," she whispers.

"Funny...now undo this," he starts in a small panic, finally realizing he has completely fallen into her trap. He tries pulling himself free but it doesn't work, he is caught. "Please?"

"I just want to pla..." she starts.

"Stella...now," Mac tries in a more firm tone.

"Nice try Timid Taylor, trying to boss me around," she counters; challenging his very will power. "That's a change. Like a little role reversal? Maybe that's your real fantasy."

"I have to go," he says quickly; his panic now starting to rise at the fact that his Stella is still missing; that and the fact that she hasn't called, he knows she is in trouble and has to find her. But the further she tempts him, and as his core desire starts to heat up he knows he is doomed.

"Why are you always so uptight?" Stella1 purrs as she slowly starts to unbutton his shirt. "You smell good."

"Stella..." Mac starts; his body starting to betray his brain. If it had been any other women he could see past his own desire and leave; but not with Stella. She was his desire, and that would be his downfall. He was about to say something when she lightly presses her lips against his; stopping his speech, hungrily devouring his lips with hers.

"I really do need to go," Mac whispers as he moves his head, her lips resting on his cheek.

"No...I don't think so little Mac," Stella1 whispers as she starts to unbutton her shirt. "I think you'll be here awhile. I called in sick, so it's just going to be the two of us. And since I'm not expecting company...you're mine for the day...for whatever little Stella has in mind," she starts not realizing that in no time the real Stella would be there.

A/N: hope you are still liking this quirky story and wanting to know what happens when the real Stella shows up. AND BE HONEST! Who didn't want to be STella1 in this situation? hehe (evil grin)...

PS: Also updated "Playing for Keeps" please check it out if you haven't already. THANKS AGAIN YOU GUYS SO ROCK!!!