Title: Time's Up
Chapter 4 - One step closer, to each other?

As they near the back entrance to the lab, Stella quickly pulls her hand out of Mac's grasp and stops.

"What is it?"

"Mac if we go in there and are well anything less than..."

"Friends?"

"Mac we can't..."

"I don't care," he says firmly. "I'm not going to treat you like that."

"But we aren't..."

"Stella you were with the other me for about five minutes and in that time he hurt you...I can't be that man," he insists. "Even in pretend."

"I'll know it's an act," she tries.

"It will still hurt," he admits softly. "I can't hurt you on purpose, I never could."

"But this means getting us back to our reality. I won't be mad...I promise."

"Will you be hurt?"

"I can't lie,it does hurt a little but..."

"Stella..."

"Well you were a little turned on by other me," she counters.

"That is not fair," Mac quickly replies with a frown.

"So we are affected by these counterparts," she tells him.

"I just can't."

"Mac..." she starts. "Trust me, I get the feeling this me isn't going to treat you much better. So I can't just hurt you either. Are we stuck then? Mac, we can't trust anyone else to do this for us."

He looked into her eyes and knew she was right. As much as it would hurt them to treat each other so poorly, they had to for the sake of keeping them both alive until they were free of this mess.

"Fine...but you better not hate me after this," he resigns.

"I might punish you," she teases.

"I knew you were enjoying this," he replied. "Okay give me five and then..."

"I'll be there," she tells him with slight hesitation and nervous anxiety. "Just be careful."

Mac takes a deep breath and then heads back upstairs. Once there he suddenly feels his nervous tension starting to build even faster. This is his lab; his staff and yet it's a world he doesn't belong in; neither of them do. He has to keep him and Stella safe but he has to find out who Stella's attacker was and where Jacob Prince is; reasoning inside that he's the only one who can right this obvious wrong.

Mac rounds the corner and notices Lindsay berating Danny for some reason. Seeing his staff that are normally kind and helpful to each other; arguing and yelling like children was unnerving.

"What's going on?" Mac asks quickly.

"Four eyes here didn't do this!" Lindsay huffs as she holds up an evidence sheet.

"I said I was sorry," Danny resigns. "She didn't say it was a rush."

"I didn't think I had to. All my stuff is a rush. I don't give a damn about the rest of the lackeys around here!" Lindsay snaps.

"Lackeys?" Mac questions. "My staff."

"Your staff? Stella's staff."

"Lindsay I said..."

"Shut it Messer!"

"Is that all you two ever do is argue?" Mac retorts angrily, upset this team isn't the cohesive group he is used to.

Both Danny and Lindsay look at him in shock. "Yes," Lindsay snaps.

"Well get your asses in gear and work it out like adults instead of bickering like children," Mac huffs as he turns and quickly takes his leave. He glances back and notices the shocked faces and then looks away. But he didn't linger to see if they had worked it out, as his mind was focused on getting him and Stella back home where his team was normal and not the evil counterparts this reality was displaying for him. He heads into the evidence lab to see Sheldon working away.

"Yo TT, what's up?" Sheldon asks, not looking up; not caring if he addresses his boss in such an informal tone.

"Nothing," Mac sighs as he pulls out the clothes, not wanting to engage these people in conversation any more than he has to.

Mac goes about carefully examining Stella's clothes; the faint scent of her already starting to play tricks with his tired brain, forcing him back into a world he was trying so desperately to escape.

Stella waits for a few more minutes before slowly heading up to the main office area. Her heart starts to beat a bit faster and she knows it will be easier to just avoid Mac altogether until he has figured out the prints of her attacker and she has found where Jacob Prince is; telling herself that if her other half was mean to him then she too couldn't hurt him on purpose.

Stella emerges into the main area and pauses before heading for her office; her heart now racing. Once inside she glances at the things the other Stella chooses to keep close; which was basically nothing. In her reality she keeps a small picture on her desk of her and Mac that was taken at a staff party. That was gone. She looks around in sorrow and wonders what this Stella actually does for work around here as there are no case files, no field notes, and no work logs to be seen. She slumps down behind her computer and gets to work; a mission to escape this hell the only thing on her mind right now.

Mac, however, works as fast as he can to get the prints off Stella's clothes before he's asked which case he's working on. He had noticed when she walked into the main area but told himself that it would probably be best to avoid her so he wouldn't have to be mean or make cutting remarks; things he knew would hurt. He hopes the day will pass by without incident but that hope was about to be shot down by someone he thought would be an ally.

"What's this about you cutting the Dolenz case?" Flack demands in anger as he storms up to Mac.

"Uh oh..." Stella mumbles in a panic, as she abandons her search and hurries to see what is going on. She offers a quick prayer that it doesn't involve Mac, but that prayer won't be answered.

Mac doesn't look up, thinking Flack was mad at someone else.

"Taylor!" Flack shouts, forcing Mac to finally look up and acknowledge him. "What the hell did you do?" Flack growls as Stella rushes toward the group and watches in horror as two usually good friends square off in heated anger.

"What's the problem Don?" Mac asks in controlled anger as Flack nears him. He didn't know the relationship between himself and this Don, but guesses it was just as strained as everyone else he works with; that and the fact that Flack has basically insulted him earlier tells him this isn't going to end peacefully.

"You know what is it Taylor...you are my problem?"

"And why is that?" Mac asks crossly, bringing the room to a silent stop. "Want to tell me? Or is asking for a complete sentence too much for you?"

Stella glances around at the wondering faces and knew her Mac was either going to betray himself or earn respect. She hopes it will be the latter, but she doubts it.

"My problem is you!" Flack growls poking Mac in the chest. "Always sticking your nose in my damn business."

"Maybe it's time someone did," Mac counters; unable to play the wimpy pushover his alter ego obviously was. "In fact I am getting tired of all your shady dealings."

"Is that a fact?" Flack shoots back in anger.

Stella watches Flack move in closer and feels her heart rate starting to rise. She knows Flack is strong, but he would be no match for Mac. Mac had training...she just hopes Mac would go easy if it came down to an actual physical fight.

"Yes it is," Mac answers, as he stands his ground; the rest of the team watching with baited breath. "Do you want to make something of it?"

"You are challenging me?" Flack smirks. "What, like to an actual physical fight?" He snorts.

"Afraid I'll kick your ass in front of all your paid-off informants around here?" Mac shoots back.

"You're really asking for it this time aren't you!"

"You want to fight me Don?" Mac asks with a frown.

"Ha! I'd probably kill you," Flack smiles.

"I was a Marine," Mac huffs. "I doubt it."

"You couldn't hit a fl..." Flack taunts as he goes to hit Mac. But he wasn't ready for Mac to punch him in the gut; not extremely hard but enough to make him stand back and think.

"Don't push me Don."

The whole room utters one gasp and looks at Mac in shock.

"Now unless the rest of you have nothing else to do and the criminals have decided to take the day off, get your asses back to the job and get out of my face!" Mac finally snaps in anger. "I'm busy."

Stella watches as everyone just sort of laughs but as Don gives them all a warning look they offer a shrug and finally go back about their day; as if this sort of thing was normal. But as she looks back at Mac she knows inside it was killing him to be in this world.

Mac looks at Flack and frowns. This is so wrong, he laments inside. This needs to end and fast before Stella and I really pay the price.

"This isn't over science geek. You might have won this round Taylor, but I swear to you right now, I win the next. And I promise there will be a next time. And next time you'll have no one around to witness what I do to you," Flack warns in a low tone, as he turns and storms out of the room.

"Bad ass Taylor," Sheldon laughs. "Yeah right...must of had your Wheeties for breakfast today."

Mac watches him leave and then glances up, catches Stella eye and quickly looks back down; his heart racing and his anxiety high.

Stella walks back to her office and sits down, resting a few minutes to make sense of what happened before she pulls out her blackberry and sends him a text.

'Are you okay?' Mac reads her text with a small smile.

'I will be when we are back home. Glad I'm not alone in this hell,' she reads his reply with a nervous smile.

With those encouraging words they each went back about their task. However, what they failed to realize was their counterparts would have to make another appearance sooner or later.

Mac finally finishes gathering all the prints and looks at the machine he would need. Sheldon was still hovering around and he needed a distraction; knowing if he just asked, he'd probably be told where to go.

Stella's blackberry buzzes to life once more and she quickly opens the message from Mac.

'Need help, Sheldon is at the prints machine.'

"Say no more," Stella whispers to herself as she lays down her blackberry, rushes into Mac's office, grabs a file from the top of the pile and goes in search of Sheldon.

"Hawkes!" Stella snaps, making him quickly look up. "Why am I still waiting? The uh...Franklin case!"

"Right, just finishing this up" he mumbles to himself with a quick look at Mac, who doesn't look back and hurries out of the room. Mac wastes no time in rushing for the machine and scanning the prints he found on Stella's clothes. He quickly dismisses Stella's and his own, waiting on the third. When the third match finally comes up, he sends the information to his blackberry and clears the search just as Danny walks into the room.

"Done yet or what?" Danny asks impatiently.

"Yeah here," Mac replies as he pushes his blackberry into his pocket and turns to leave.

"So what's up with you today?" Danny asks quickly.

"Tell me the truth and I swear I won't be mad. Have I always been...well..."

"Afraid?"

"Yeah, but of what?"

"Is this like a self reflection thing or something else?" Danny frowns.

"Just tell me."

"I guess...ever since I was hired at least. Don't know a reason as no one knows anything about you."

"Why?" Mac mumbles to himself as he turns to leave, not expecting an answer. However, when Danny does prolong the conversation, he has no choice but to listen and respond.

"Like me...I like Lindsay but she thinks I'm a loser," he sighed. "What's a guy to do?"

"Ever just asked her out?"

"No."

"Then how can she know you like her?"

"What about you? You don't date...why not?" Danny counters. "Deep down inside I know you are turned on by Stella."

"She's way out of my league," Mac replies in sorrow; applying that statement to both his Stella and her forceful counterpart in this tormented reality.

"Ever just ask her out?" Danny smiles.

Mac just offers a frown but doesn't reply.

"Yeah same as me," Danny huffs in sorrow as he turns and walks over to a machine and starts to work on it.

Mac watches him but knows inside he was right. Why didn't he just ask Stella out? In truth he had been trying to build himself up for it but when he built up the nerve and tried he always backed down. I should try again; he tells himself with an inward sigh. If I don't, I'll never know...and I need to know.

XXXXXXXX

Mac1 finally feels his world coming back to him and forces his angry eyes wide open. He looks around with a frown and then quickly pushes himself up and hurries for the door. It was locked.

"HEY!" He yells; banging on the door in anger. "SOMEONE...HELP!"

Stella finishes up with Sheldon; grabs her blackberry and the small overnight bag she had packed for her and Mac and hurries for the backstairs, hoping to meet Mac in the alleyway as they had planned.

"Hold on a sec," a maintenance worker says to Mac1 as they work to open the sealed door. Mac1 finally pushes himself into the rapidly falling afternoon daylight and rushes past the maintenance worker just as Stella emerges outside. He hurries up to her; grabbing her by the arm and yanking her back.

"What?"

"Nice try!" He growls, grabbing her arm and forcing Stella to turn and face him.

"Oh no..." Stella whispers as she is spun around to see the one man she was hoping they would both be able to avoid. "Mac I can expl..."

"Explain? I don't give a damn what you want to tell me. Think that was funny?" Mac1 snaps in anger.

"No it wasn't..." Stella tries with a frown. "Let go you are hurting me."

"Yeah like you care when you hurt me!" Mac1 counters.

"Didn't mean to hurt you," she offers in haste.

"Yeah right!"

Stella looks into his face and feels remorse starting to cover her. "Let go."

"Since you liked trapping me, it's my turn," he said dragging her toward the small room he was in before.

"Stop this," she begs, trying to pull herself free. "Mac...please," she tries again.

Back upstairs and finally finished, Mac hurries past Stella's office, sees she's not there and heads for the back stairs; assuming she's already waiting for him in the alleyway as they had planned. He pushes the door open and feels his heart stop when he hears Stella's next words.

"Mac stop this...you're hurting me!" She tries again in vain.

"Like to play games. Well see how much you like my GAME!" He shouts as he drags her for the open door; his strong hand gripping harder, bruising the tender skin beneath it.

"Help me!" She calls as she tries to twist herself out of his grasp, but is unable. "Mac stop this! Please...you're hurting me."

"I don't care!" Mac1 snaps.

Mac sees his counterpart dragging Stella for the room he had put him in earlier and charges after them; not caring if his other self sees him. When he heard Stella asking him not to hurt her, anger took over his mind and dictated only one course of action. Mac rushes for them; lunging at his other self and forcing him to the ground, Stella falling to the side.

Stella rolls to the right as Mac attacks the other Mac. She watches as her Mac punches the other Mac1 in the side and then again in the face. She could tell his anger was taking over as she watched Mac punch him again.

"Mac!" Stella gasps as she watches her Mac start to really pound the other Mac1. "Don't kill him!"

Mac hears her words and finally feels himself starting to slow in his attack. He looks down at his other self and finally notices he's not moving and stops his attack. Still on his knees, he lets out a deep breath and then looks up at her in concern. Without saying a word he quickly picks himself up, carries his other self into the small room and locks it once again. He leans against the door and looks at Stella in anguish before hurrying to her side.

He gently helps her up and looks at her in concern. "Stella I..."

"Mac its ok," she says quietly, as she rubs her throbbing arm.

Mac slowly pushes up her sweater sleeve and gazes upon the red bruise mark that his other self had inflicted. He looks at her in misery. "I would never..."

"I know...it's just..." she tries as her eyes water.

Mac pulls her into his strong embrace and holds her lightly trembling body close to his. "I am so sorry Stella. I would die before I would ever hurt you," he whispers into her ear. They stand for another few minutes before he takes his sports jacket off and wraps it around her.

"I'm ok..."

"Please?" Mac pleads. "I can't handle you like this...Stella he hurt you...I would never...you have to believe me," he states in a panic.

"I know it wasn't you," she whispers sadly; staring into his worried face. "You saved me from..."

"Me," he offers sourly, looking away in anguish.

"Mac..." she starts gently, turning his face back to hers. "It wasn't you."

"But..."

"We should leave here...if we are found then we might cause more trouble," she mentions.

"I wanted to kill him...when I heard you begging him to stop hurting you and saw you struggling, I would have," Mac admits with a frown. "I would have killed him, anyone that would hurt you," he confesses, pushing a curly strand from her forehead.

"I wouldn't have let you," she tells him.

Mac wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her close as they start to walk out of the alley into the setting sun. Mac allows silence to build, his heart racing and his mind in torment over his other self's harsh actions.

"That doesn't come from within me Stella. The power to hurt him yes, but not you."

"Mac, these people aren't us; that team upstairs, even inside they aren't like that. Just like I could never go from guy to guy, thinking of them or more importantly you as nothing more than an amusement, I can't see you hurting me because we argue."

"Right," Mac replies in misery, forcing Stella to stop them and look at him in concern. "I hurt your arm right?"

"Mac, you saved me from him," she mentions, bringing his face to hers and kissing his cheek. "Please don't allow your anger and hatred to cloud your thinking on this. I need you sharp and focused. We need to be alert to figure this out and get back home."

Mac looks at her and knows she's right before finally rewarding her words and actions with a soft smile and a nod of his head.

"Okay so where to first?" Stella asks.

"Well I found out the man who attacked you is Gavin Seven."

"Seven? Prince's right hand..."

"Man. That's right. So much for a solid alibi, he paid that woman," Mac informs her. "I tried his number but he wasn't there. I tried his business but he hasn't been seen for a few days. So he's either on the run for something he did..."

"Like murder a female science professor?" Stella notes.

"Possibly. Or he was trying to destroy what Prince built...or he was trying to go back and..."

"And right a wrong?" Stella frowns. "So where does that leave us?"

"Looking for a place to spend the night. Since we can't go back..."

"To my place?" She teases.

"We are certainly not going back there," Mac offers in haste, making her lightly smile. "But I was able to find another address that is owned by Prince Industries. It's near a seedy side of town so if we get a hotel close to that thenwe both need to eat and rest," he tells her. "You more so," he states as he hails a cab.

Stella gets into the cab and sits beside him in silence. "Thank you," she finally mentions. "For rescuing me."

Mac takes her hand and gives is a gentle squeeze. "We will get through this," he sighs.

"Think our team is looking for us?" Stella wonders.

"No idea," he replies. "This is my first time travelling adventure, and hopefully my last."

Stella just smiles and then leans her head on Mac's shoulder and closes her eyes. By now she assumes that her counterpart has come to and has probably figured out a way to get free. She knows the Mac1 of this world will have hell to pay but that wasn't her issue. Getting back to their own reality with her Mac is their main priority and that's all her mind will entertain. They finally reach the part of town they wouldnt venture unless they had to and find a small hotel and check in.

"I want you just to rest," Mac tells her as they let themselves into the small hotel room. Thankfully it has two beds so it immediately solves the sleeping problems. Mac, however, knowing inside he never sleeps well, worries that he will keep her from much needed rest by being up all night. Usually in his world he has normal everyday stuff to worry about but in this world he has a whole new set of issues to occupy his brain.

"What do you want to eat?" Stella asks as she slowly flips through the phone book for nearby delivery places.

"Not very hungry," Mac huffs as he slumps down on the other bed, looking up at the ceiling, trying to keep his emotions in check.

"You have to eat something," she tells him in concern. "Please? I don't want to eat alone."

"Surprise me," he tells her with a slight frown.

Stella calls a nearby Chinese restaurant and orders them some items. When she finishes she takes off her shoes, turns the heat up a bit and then walks over to the other side of the bed, opposite Mac. He watches her, thinking she is going to sit at the table, but instead she slowly gets onto the bed beside him and curls up next to his right side. Mac puts his arm around her and pulls her closer.

"This side of you...this strong side," he mentions softly. "It's an act right?"

"What?"

"You don't have to pretend around me. I admitted my weakness."

"You said I was your weakness," she frowns.

"You are. I know that I'm not..." he starts and then stops, making her look up at him.

"Why do you do this...make assumptions about yourself and about us? It's to protect yourself right?" She probes.

"When Claire died I locked myself away; I had told myself then that losing someone hurt too much and I would never do it again. And it worked...well for a bit. Then you and I started working closer and at first I could handle it. I would make excuses for myself about you and..."

"What? What excuses," Stella wonders.

"Stella I am not stupid. I hardly doubt that a beautiful woman like you would spend her nights alone, much less wondering what I'm doing," he admits, looking back up at the ceiling in sorrow.

She hears the hurt in his voice and knows inside there is a lot of feeling and emotion locked away, begging to be let out.

"Well you might be surprised," she says slowly. "And trust me my apartment doesn't look anything like mine here," she lightly laughs.

"Too bad," Mac smirks and she playfully swats his arm. "When I was...I mean when you found me...were you...I mean...oh never mind," he quickly stops.

Stella reaches up her hand and touches his handsome face, making him look down at her in wonder. "Was I turned on when I found you like that? Trapped and half naked?"

"You don't have to..."

Stella puts her hand around his neck and pulls his lips to hers and offers him a warm but firm kiss and then pulls away. "I was very turned on," she whispers, making him smile.

Mac is about to lean in for another kiss when they hear a knock on the door.

"Dinner."

"Saved by the bell," he sighs as he pushes himself off the bed and hurries for the door.

Stella watches him with an amused smile. That was his real fear, if she found him attractive and desirable. She thought it was fear of something else; commitment even, but inside he was just as insecure as she was. Having the same fears and insecurities as every other man on the planet. Does the woman he's attracted want him that way in return. Doesn't he know what he does to me?

Mac pays for the food and then places it on the small table for them to eat. The talk during dinner was minimal as each was too nervous to explore a further discussion about what they wanted from each other and so just talked about their team's odd behaviour.

"I don't need another shower so if you want to change in the bathroom first..." he suggests.

"Okay," she replies, taking the small bag and heading for the door.

Mac stops her and gently pulls her back against his chest. "I don't want you to be nervous around me," he frowns and then he lightly laughs.

"What's so funny?"

"Me, telling you not to be nervous when I am," he admits. "That's kinda hypocritical."

"Sounds pretty human to me," she replies warmly. "But thanks. I was a bit nervous."

"A bit?" He moans as he watches her walk into the bathroom. He takes off his jacket and unbuttons his shirt, leaving it open. He thought he had taken out an undershirt but when he took his dress shirt off he noticed it wasn't around and it was too late to cover up when Stella walks back in the room

"I uh...sorryI was," he stammers as he goes back for his shirt.

Stella stops his actions and rests her hand on his bare chest, her fingers touching the scar over his heart. "Will you ever let me in?"

"All you have to do is ask," he admits, placing his hand over hers and holding it against his rapidly beating heart. "Do you know how hard it is for me to be this close to you?" He whispers in torment.

"I think I have an idea," she admits in return. "Probably just as hard as it is for me."

He looks at the bruise on her arm and immediately feels sorrow consuming him once again.

"It wasn't you," she insists.

Mac looks at her in sorrow. "I would never hurt you. I promise. Please believe me."

"I do," she smiles warmly.

Mac holds her close until he knows the next step he was about to take is one he just isn't ready for. Go for it, part of his brain tells him. Wait until you are back in your world, the other part insists. The latter wins out.

"I'll uh...use the bathroom," he stammers as he regrettably pulls away. He turns and heads to the bathroom and closes the door, leaning against it in distress. His heart was racing and his face flushed.

"Trained professional?" He scoffs at himself. "Mac, you are sad." He quickly splashes cold water on his face and then finishes getting ready for bed.

Stella puts her few things aside and then climbs into one of the small beds. She wasn't going to presume they would share one bed and so lets him have his space; saving them both needless embarrassment. Mac finishes and then walks back into the dimly lit room. He looks at the empty bed and lightly frowns, but she had done the right thing; this wasn't the time or place for contrived or pity sex.

"Goodnight," Mac offers softly as he climbs into his bed and turns out the light.

"Goodnight," she whispers in return, flipping onto her side, facing him in the darkness.

Mac lies on his back, knowing he'd have another rough night ahead of him. He tells himself that even if he can't sleep, he would just lay still and let her rest. But as he closes his eyes he is whisked into a world nightmarish fantasies and tormented images. He would see himself at Stella's mercy before she shoots him and then sees himself hurting Stella when she begs for her life.

"Oh man" he mumbles as he slowly opens his eyes and squints into the darkness around him. He listens intently and hears Stella slowly breathing; thinking falsely she is asleep. "This is crazy," he lightly moans as he slowly pushes himself out of bed and wanders to the small window and looks outside. His eyes slowly start to scan the around before them when he feels Stella's hand touch his shoulder. Mac slightly jumps but turns around to face her. "Did I wake you?" He asks in concern.

"No," she lies. "Are you okay?"

"I don't sleep well," he confesses. "Sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" She asks in a low tone.

"Just am," he frowns in the darkness.

"Come with me," she offers.

"Stella I don't think we should..." he states in haste.

"Just come here," she insists in a friendly tone. She takes his hand and leads them back to the bed and let's him get in first and then curls up next to him. "I know what your problem is," she whispers as she pushes herself into his arms and makes sure he is holding her, pulling the covers over both of them.

"What is my problem?" He asks quickly, his heart rate starting to beat faster as her body presses up against his. As if I don't know, he laments inside.

"You sleep alone."

Mac has no reply; she is right. And as he feels her start to fall back asleep, his heart starts to slow to a normal rate and he feels himself starting to calm. His arm gives her a gentle squeeze and he once again closes his eyes; this time taken into a world of happy thoughts and pleasant dreams; at least for a few hours.

A/N: okay so what does Don have planned? Will they find their suspect and get back home? Please review and let me know what you thought of this chappy! thanks