Chapter 7: Hanging by a Moment
"Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
Closer to where I started
Chasing after you
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I held on to
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you"
"Come out, Stella," Lindsay calls into the bathroom. "I know you're in there."
"Go away," a muffled voice says.
"I'm not going to until you come out."
"You're going to be there a while."
"I'm not moving. You know, Mac's in a room now."
"I can't look at him."
"But he needs to know you're there for him. And they've covered the injuries."
"I know they are still there. I can't get his face out of my mind."
"I don't blame you. Flack and I were there this morning; we saw him after the bomb went off. I couldn't look at him either, Stella. He's got his friends supporting him, but what he really needs is you."
"I suppose Flack told you about what I did," Stella says softly.
"Yes. Thanks for having my back."
"It's nothing; you weren't to blame anyway."
"And neither are you. It's… hm, how'd you state it… the damn SOB who planted the bombs. Flack says he's sorry for what he said."
Stella opens the door, surprising Lindsay. "I'm sorry for all this trouble."
"It's understandable; your fiancé is in a coma. Who wouldn't be acting weird?" Lindsay leads her to Mac's room where the rest of the team is waiting.
Stella looks anywhere but at Mac. Flack gets up, "Can I talk to you for a second?" She nods and heads to the door.
"I'm sorry, Don. I didn't mean anything I said," she apologizes.
"I shouldn't have talked to you like that. You're a grown woman, not some kid who needs disciplined."
"You were trying to warn me, and I didn't listen."
"And you're right; you've known him longer and have deeper feelings for him. We shouldn't be fighting when he's in this condition. You aren't to blame for running in there; but I promise when we get him, he'll be in jail his whole life after getting beaten by me for hurting two of my friends," Don hugs her shaking form as she cries again.
"Forgetting all I'm lacking
Completely incomplete
I'll take your invitation
You take all of me now
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I held on to
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you"
The team leaves Stella alone for the next three day except to check in on Mac. She had fallen asleep sitting next to him, head on his chest, the past two night. The nurse would wake her up and tell her to go home.
Friday night was the same. Flack walks in a little after nine to find her asleep.
"Stel," he whispers, touching her cheek.
She wakes immediately, sitting upright. "Oh, hi, Don."
"What are you still doing here?" he asks, sitting opposite her.
"I… I don't like to leave him alone."
"Afraid he'll die or afraid he'll wake up and you won't be here?"
"Both, I guess."
"You need to go home, sleep in a bed. How long have you been here?"
"Seven this morning," Stella looks away.
"Come on, I'll drive you. Eat anything since then?"
She shakes her head. "See you tomorrow, Mac. Love you," she kisses him goodbye.
"You know you don't have to stay here all day. They'll call you if anything changes."
"That's what the nurses tell me after asking if I was the crazy one who ran into the operating room Wednesday. It's not funny," she says as he starts chuckling.
"Yes, it is. Surprised they haven't asked for you autograph yet." They walk to the car. "Any dinner preference?"
"You pick."
"Are you coming back to work Tuesday?"
"I think so. What are you doing New Years?"
"Well, we came up with an idea. New Years Eve we'll all go to the hospital so you can still kiss Mac. Stupid hospital won't let us bring real champagne though. Then Monday I volunteered to cook dinner this year. You're invited," he smiles.
"How sweet of you. What time are we eating?"
"Two. And I even bought sauer krout for Lindsay unlike Danny last year. Personally, I think the stuff is nasty."
"I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you
There's nothing else to lose
There's nothing else to find
There's nothing in the world
That could change my mind
There is nothing else
There is nothing else
There is nothing else"
"Happy New Year!" They all clink glasses. Danny and Lindsay kiss while Stella kisses Mac.
"I really miss you, Mac. Come back to me soon. At least by next year."
"Hey, where's my kiss?" Hawkes asks.
"Yeah, I want mine too," Flack puts in.
"If you want a kiss so badly, find yourselves a girlfriend," Lindsay laughs.
"Sorry, guys. Lindsay and I already chose our men. Can't kiss more than one," Stella smiles.
"Oh, I've got an idea: kiss each other," Danny says.
"I don't know about him, but I'm not gay," Sheldon points to Flack.
"Come on, Stella. Just one quick kiss."
"Don, I already kissed Mac."
"He's unconscious; it doesn't count. So if you hadn't kissed him, you would kiss me?"
"No, Flack."
"If you kiss him, you have to kiss me."
Stella downs the rest of her sparkling grape juice before walking over to Hawkes. She quickly kisses him. "I don't want to here it from any of you," she warns.
"Where's mine?" Flack jokes, grabbing her from behind. He puts his lips to hers, not letting her escape for at least fifteen seconds.
"Danny, you need another kiss?" Stella jokes, punching Flack.
"I hate to turn such a beautiful lady down, but I must pass after seeing you kiss them. I don't wanna taste Flack."
"Good, then I'd really need some alcohol."
Ten minutes later they say goodbye. Don follows Stella, trying to elude any suspicions from the others. "Stella," he calls.
She turns, "I'm not kissing you again."
"You shouldn't be alone tonight. Come to my place, stay with me. Maybe you'll sleep better with someone there."
"You're not implying anything, are you?"
"No, I just care about you."
"Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
Closer to where I started
Chasing after you
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I held on to
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you"
"This was supposed to be our first New Years," Mac says sadly.
"I'm sure you'll be able to go back and have more with her," Claire whispers.
"She's my best friend; I've only been gone a week, and already miss her like crazy."
"That's what you felt when I left you."
"Is there someway I can still watch her, at least until I can go back?"
"The binoculars. Look through them, and you'll see her," she points to a pair.
Mac looks through the lenses, which immediately focus on Stella. He sees her kiss his unconscious figure before whispering something to him. Then the guys tease her about not getting kissed. Even though she kisses both of them, he knows she doesn't mean anything by it. Stella kisses his cheek before leaving, and he can feel her lips, soft on his skin. He imagines holding her, kissing her, just talking with her like he used to do. The next scene in front of him startles him. Flack asks her to spend the night with him as they walk to their cars; not surprising to him. He always thought Don had a thing for her. What shocks him is her reply: okay. She's still engaged. What is she doing? he thinks, moving his eyes away.
"Something wrong, Mac?" Claire tucks a strand of brown hair behind her ear.
"If I go back, will I remember any of this?"
"I don't know. Why?"
"Stella's… with Flack. She's spending the night with him."
"Did you see her in bed with him?"
"No."
"Then you have nothing to worry about. She won't do it. Stella's still in love with you."
"She probably just need someone to keep her company; Flack's as good as anyone," he stands.
"She'll go back to you when you return."
"I hope so."
"Don't be so negative, Mac. Of course she will; you're a great guy."
Mac kisses her, "Thanks."
"Isn't that what every wife does? Reassure her husband his fiancé on Earth will go back to him when he is able to return or wake up from his coma?"
"I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you
Just hanging by a moment
Hanging by a moment
Hanging by a moment
Hanging by a moment here with you"
A/N: Lifehouse. Nothing new, I don't think. I failed my trig midterms; seventeen I couldn't figure out. New York wasn't too exciting Wednesday. My mom's sitting there going 'That leg is really fake looking'. She was blabbing about something so neither of us realized it was supposed to be a fake leg. Oh, the idea with Mac and Claire talking and that kind of came from Seventh Heaven. I should go write for a while. All I've done today is read. I'll update again Sunday or Monday. Thanks.