Chapter 11: Someday
"How the hell did we wind up like this?
Why weren't we able to see the signs that we missed
And try turn the tables
I wish you'd unclench your fists and unpack your suitcase
Lately there's been too much of this
But don't think it's too late"
"Move out of the way," Stella orders, but Mac doesn't move from the front door.
"You're not leaving, Stella," he says angrily.
"Yes, I am," she insists.
"No, you're not."
"Yes."
"No."
"Let me through, Mac Taylor, or I'll smash the ring to pieces," she threatens, pointing to her engagement ring.
"You wouldn't dare."
"Yes, I would. Now move out of my way," Stella uses all her strength to get through the doorway he is blocking.
"Where will you go?"
"It doesn't matter to me as long as you're not there," she shouts over her shoulder. "So long, Mac."
He watches sadly as she walks out of his life. They always fought, mainly over stupid stuff or evidence on a case. But this was different; it ended their relationship. As the doors to the elevator close, Mac knows she isn't coming back to him.
What have I done? He walks back into his apartment, looking at the shredded remains of their wedding plans.
CSI: NY
"I'm sorry I just showed up like this, but can I stay here for tonight?" she asks Lindsay.
"Sure, Stella. What's going on between you and Mac? You can't be fighting," Lindsay lets her inside.
"We… broke up. It's over. No wedding," Stella's eyes tear up as she thinks about it.
"Nothing's wrong just as long as
You know that someday I will
Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now
I know you're wondering when
You're the only one who knows that
Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now
I know you're wondering when"
"Don and I finished our case," Stella says, watching him work on his case.
"Put the folder on my desk."
"What do you want us to do now?" she asks, moving beside him.
"Why don't you go sleep with him?" Mac looks at her angrily.
"That was over eight months ago, Mac. There's no reason for you to bring it up just because we're fighting. And I'm just trying to help you so you don't spend all night here."
"Aha, you're the one who ripped my heart out since you seem too generous today to have just one."
Stella doesn't back down. "It's your own fault your heart was ripped out."
"You took it with you when you left last night."
"Maybe I wouldn't have left you if you didn't say what you did to me."
Mac smacks her across the face, leaving a small cut next to Frankie's. He can't meet her eyes as she stares at him in disbelief. She pulls off her ring and throws it at him before walking out.
"What was that, Mac?" Hawkes asks, entering.
"I don't know. I really didn't mean to hit her. It just… happened." Mac looks outside his office. Flack is trying to comfort her. "You aren't sleeping with her again, are you?"
"No. Flack isn't either. I believe she spent the night on Lindsay's couch."
"I can't believe it's over."
"She'll come back to you. She always does. Just apologize."
"Well, I'd hope that since we're here anyway
That we can end up saying
Things we've always needed to say
So we could end up staying
Now the story's played out like this
Just like a paperback novel
Let's rewrite an ending that fits
In stead of a Hollywood horror"
After three days of arguing, the team gets fed up. Finally, they lock Mac and Stella in an interrogation room, forcing them to talk… or rip each other to shreds. They stare at each other for ten minutes, neither of them moving except to breathe.
He decides to make the first move, "Stella, I'm really sorry I hit you the other day. I didn't mean to."
"What, you think I'll take you back now?"
"I hope you consider it."
"No way in hell after what you said to me."
CSI: NY
Outside, the others watch.
"How long are we keeping them in there?"
"Hour, unless they're back together sooner."
"What did he say that made her leave?"
"They won't tell anyone."
CSI: NY
Mac stands, coming around to her. Softly he kisses the injury he caused her, "I'm sorry."
"Well, I accept your apology for hitting me."
"Don't you want to say anything?"
Stubbornly she shakes her head, "I wouldn't have left you if you wouldn't have said what you did. It's your own fault, Taylor." She stands and leaves him there.
"Nothing's wrong just as long as
You know that someday I will
Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now
I know you're wondering when
You're the only one who knows that
Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now
I know you're wondering when"
"Stella?"
"Yes, Don?"
"What did Mac say to you? What made you leave him?" Flack prepares to duck in the event she decides to throw something at him as she had become very irritable lately.
"He said… never mind. You don't need to know. It's better just between Mac and me."
"Must've been pretty bad."
"He tried to keep me from walking out, but I threatened to smash the ring. I wore it until he hit me, after which I threw it at him."
"You know, Mac really misses you. He holds your ring whenever he thinks no one's watching."
"I can't forgive him, as much as I love him. We just weren't meant to be after all." Stella looks away, tears shining in her emerald eyes.
"Don't say that," he pulls her into a half hug. "Would you ever take him back and marry him?"
"I don't… I don't know. It won't be the same if we do get back together."
"But just think of that night after you make up…"
"Flack," she warns.
"Spend the whole night in each others' arms, making up…"
"Don."
"They say make up sex is the best."
She punches him, "Do you ever shut up?"
"I'm sorry, but I got the short straw… which meant guilt you into -"
"Tell the others to leave Mac and I alone," Stella scowls.
"How the hell did we wind up like this?
Why weren't we able to see the signs that we missed
And try turn the tables
Now the story's played out like this
Just like a paperback novel
Let's rewrite an ending that fits
In stead of a Hollywood horror"
"Stel," Mac softly says. "I'd like to talk to you."
She pulls her knees to her chest, "Go ahead."
"I've missed you the past two weeks," he begins, sitting next to her.
"Forget it. I'm not coming back."
"Just listen to me, Stella, and keep your mouth shut, or I'll tape it closed," he threatens. She stops what she was about to say and closes her mouth. "I love you, Stella. I didn't mean to hurt you with what I said, and I didn't mean a word of it. I'm sorry I did."
She opens her mouth, but Mac puts a finger on her lips to quiet her.
"I can't talk about it now though," he looks away. "Please take this back. I'm not proposing again right now, but just take it; show me I'm not the only one who wants this to work."
Stella holds out her hand tentatively and takes her ring back. "I want to give this another try. But we have to talk about it."
"We will, I promise you, but give me some time."
"I… I don't know. Did you ever think that we aren't supposed to be together? That it's not our fate?"
"Yes, at first. But I can feel it, Stella. We are, and this is just a test."
"If we get back together, I want to take this slowly. And you have to talk to me about it if I'm going to wait for you. You have to talk to me about these things, and we'll work it out," Stella touches his cheek.
"I'm really sorry I said it."
"I forgive you."
Mac leans over to kiss her. As they kiss and make up, everyone watches and cheers as the couple hugs.
"Nothing's wrong just as long as
You know that someday I will
Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now
I know you're wondering when
You're the only one who knows that"
"No, but I think we decided on February so it gives us a little more time. Bye."
"Now who called?" Mac asks, sitting next to her.
"Lindsay wanted to know if we were still having the wedding."
"Are we still engaged?" he asks, fingering the ring, now back on her finger.
"I guess, unless you want to propose again. And we've already got the date for the wedding."
"So the Father said that date was okay?"
"Yes. What about the food and stuff?"
"Catering company, reception, all taken care of. We should probably order invitations soon so people don't plan something else." Mac takes her phone and turns it off before doing the same with his. Then he unplugs the three house phones.
"What if there's an emergency?" she asks, a bit confused by his actions.
"Then someone will interrupt again at the door, but we won't answer it."
Stella smiles, "So I finally got through to you that work can wait."
He takes her hands and pulls her to the bedroom. Softly he kisses her lips. "I just want to have a nice, quiet, uninterrupted night with my fiancé."
"You know that won't happen."
"It will tonight."
"Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now
I know you're wondering when
You're the only one who knows that
I know you're wondering when
You're the only one who knows that
I know you're wondering when"
A/N: Nickelback. Two more chapters to come. I'll go ahead and warn you: there's character deaths at the end. Please tell me what you think.