Chapter 10: Seasons of Love
"525,600 minutes
525,600 moments so dear
525,600 minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylight, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strike
In 525,600 minutes
How do you measure a year in the life?"
Stella runs after him. The man turns and runs, trying to get away from her.
"Stella," Mac calls, trying to stop her. Flack comes up behind him, running after Stella. He follows, hoping she doesn't get hurt.
The man leads her to the Brooklyn Bridge, turning around halfway across. Stella stops abruptly and pulls out her gun. "NYPD, put both hands in the air."
He does so, and Stella moves around him to cuff him. The suspect sees Mac and Flack approaching and knows this is his chance. He turns as Stella grabs his hand and puts his arm around her neck tightly.
"Turn around slowly, and let Detective Bonasera go," Mac orders.
The man turns to face them rather quickly but doesn't let Stella go. "I'm not releasing her until I get what I want."
"What is it you want?" Flack asks.
"I want my father released from prison and brought here. If I fell nice, I might let you detective friend go."
"What are you going to do to her if we don't bring your father here and release him?"
Stella looks at him, astonished. Mac couldn't just stand there and let this guy do whatever he wants to her. "How dare you?" she says, fighting to get free.
"Was that for me or him?"
"You can't just stand there and watch while he does this to me." The suspect tightens his arm around her neck, blocking her air way. She coughs, struggling for oxygen.
"Why don't we test him and see what he does? Will he come rescue his beloved partner?" the man whispers in her ear.
"Loosen your grip on her, or I'll shoot," Mac threatens.
"No, you won't. You care too much about her." He loosens his grip, allowing her to get air. "Obviously you don't want to save her."
"How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love
Seasons of love"
"I've got plenty of these," he holds up a small bomb. "There are plenty of places for me to put them on her body."
"No," Stella says.
"Open your mouth." She doesn't listen to his order. "Make the call, or I'll force her to swallow it and put others on her body."
Mac opens his phone and dials the station. "I need a prisoner brought to the Brooklyn Bridge right away, or Detective Bonasera will be killed. You've got half an hour."
"She's dead if he doesn't come in that time." Stella looses consciousness, sinking down in his arms. He puts her down and cuffs her to the railing of the bridge. Before standing, he puts two of his miniature bombs in her mouth, knowing she'll swallow them when she wakes. "You won't shoot me," he tells Mac and Flack, "or I'll set off the bombs, killing her slowly. They are of no harm unless activated."
The two detectives look at each other. Stella coughs, eyes opening. "Don't swallow," Mac warns, too late. She looks up at him, still coughing. He rushes to her, Flack going for the suspect. "You okay?" he asks, reaching to undo the handcuffs.
"No," she tries to say, shaking her head lightly.
"He made you swallow two of his bombs," he watches her face turn to horror. "You're fine as long as he doesn't set them off. As soon as we get him, I'll take you to the hospital to have them removed."
"Okay," she says clearly, sinking into his embrace.
"Stay right here while I help Flack," Mac kisses her forehead before joining Don. Surprising the man from behind, he pushes him into the railing, cracking it. When the guy recovers, he punches Mac hard in the stomach, making him bend over in pain. She can't watch this and, not listening to what she was ordered to do, goes to help.
He sees her coming up behind Flack, "You're lucky I dropped the remote into the river." She pushes past Flack to get to the guy, who easily picks her up. Grinning, he throws her over the railing, sending her plunging toward the river below.
"525,600 minutes
525,600 journeys to plan
525,600 minutes
How do you measure the life of a woman or man?"
"Stella," Mac yells, watching her fall. He frantically looks for her to reappear after she hits the surface of the water; no sign of her. As Flack cuffs the man, Mac pulls off his coat and kicks off the railing where he pushed the guy into it earlier. Then he jumps off the bridge, diving into the freezing cold water.
He surfaces, looking around for her. Someone calls his name, barely audible above the sound of rushing water. Mac tries to follow the voice, and soon he is rewarded: Stella is visible, desperately trying to cling to a rock.
"Somebody help me," she cries out.
Mac swims to her, "It's okay, I've got you."
Stella grabs him, relieved. "I can't swim," she shivers, curls clinging to her skin.
"Don't worry. I'll get us to shore. Just hold on tight to me and keep your head above the water," he tells her, pushing off the rock.
By the time they reach the shore, there is a whole crowd of people waiting for them. They graciously accept the blankets offered to them by the paramedics there. Mac takes his coat from Flack and puts in on after taking off his blue button-down shirt. Don offers Stella his, but she declines. The paramedics offer to give them a lift to their car.
Luckily they both have a change of clothes in the car. Stella crawls in the trunk to change while Mac changes in the back seat. When she finishes, she pokes her head over the back of the seat to see him button his shirt. He looks up at her, and she smiles.
"You feel okay?"
She sneezes, "Yes, but I think I need a bath."
"I think you have a cold," he kisses her forehead as she sneezes again.
"Probably. Thanks for saving me, Mac."
"No problem. I'll teach you how to swim sometime."
"In the truths that she learned
Or in times that he cried
In bridges he burned
Or the way that she died?"
"You can go first, Stella," Mac says, opening the door to his apartment.
"No, you go. I'm planning on soaking for a while. You won't take that long." Stella puts their dirty, wet clothes from the river in the washer while he showers and makes them both hot chocolate as he comes into the kitchen, buttoning his shirt.
"Your turn," he whispers in her ear. "Eleven-thirty already?"
"Time flies when you're having fun."
"You call getting held hostage and thrown off a bridge fun?" he looks at her.
"No," she smiles, heading to the bathroom.
Mac lets her be for the next half hour, then decides to prepare lunch. He knocks on the bathroom door. "Lunch in the bathtub."
"Hm?"
He opens the door, "I brought you lunch."
"How sweet, Mac. But I was about to get out. Give me five minutes to dress, and we can eat in the kitchen," she grabs her towel, standing up.
"Okay, as long as you leave this visible," he kisses the scar by her eye before running his thumb over it.
When she comes into the kitchen, she is surprised, "What's all this?"
"Did you forget what day it is?"
"You didn't have to do all this."
"Happy Valentine's Day," Mac kisses her lips slowly. "Sit. Lunch is getting cold."
"Very… romantic, Mac. Soup and sandwiches."
"You're sick. Soup is good for you when you're sick."
"It's just a cold."
"Besides, I saved the romantic stuff for later," he smiles.
"Not to spoil later but if you don't mind, I'd like to get whatever it is he made me swallow out of my stomach. How would they get them out anyway?"
"Pump your stomach. Or surgery."
"I'm eating."
"You asked."
"Can we go to the hospital now and still have our romantic evening together?"
"It's time now to sing out
Though the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends
Remember the love
Remember the love
Remember the love
Measure in love
Seasons of love
Seasons of love"
A/N: This song is from Rent. I hope you guys who're still reading the story liked this chapter. What was wrong with Stella cheating on Mac other than she'd never do that if they start dating? It's like Catherine on CSI last night; you wouldn't think she would betray the team but she did.