Finally! Yes, finally the next chapter of this story is done! I am truly sorry that this takes sooo very long to update, but please remember that I do have to concentrate on my university stuff and it is very important to me. But please also know that you guys, and I mean each reader and reviewer is important to me, too and that I'll never forget about you and my stories, although they have the second place in my life right now. I hope you understand that and won't give up on me, my stories or our SMacked!

I just wanted to let you know, that it has several reasons why it takes so long and one of them are sadly dropping reviews which makes the muse struggling for new ideas... but I hope that I can keep this up as I did so far and it'll be back to business now. I know this chapter is a bit shorter than the ones before, but I hope you'll like it, too!

Enjoy!

Chapter 11: Back to Work – Part 2

~ M ~ T ~

"See you Tuesday, Stella. Bye you two and thanks again for coming." Michelle Laslow said as Stella and I left their house to go home. We stayed till the last one had gone home and now it was our turn to go home, as I had to admit, that I was quite tired now. Looking at Stella I noticed that she tried to stifle a yawn as well, besides she looked tired anyways.

"It was a nice evening and thank you as well for inviting us." Stella said and we both smiled slightly and then were off to walk the short way home.

"You know, I think there is something more about Allyson. Did you notice the look she gave us?" Stella said quietly.

"I felt like she was watching us intently. What's your impression?"

"Well, she actually seemed to be a nice fellow, but very quiet. She wasn't really telling us anything about herself. Well, I guess the others know her story anyways, but it seemed that she was kinda suspicious or somethin'."

"That's what I am thinking, too. Think you can find out a little more about her?"

"I'll see what I can do, but Michelle seems to trust me and I think we're already friends, so I guess it won't be too hard."

"Well, you're working at the lab, maybe Steve lets you look up a few things about her in the computer."

"I'll try." Stella said. "What about the men? Anyone who seemed suspicious?"

"Actually they seemed to be very nice and not much rowdy or criminal. But then we mostly talked about sports and private things. They seem to be a nice little group of good friends. Although they were talking about a man named Cody and that they miss his company at times. But I couldn't get any other information about that Cody. Just that he was a friend of them."

"Maybe Michelle knows more about him. I'll see what I can do. Besides, I wanted to ask her about the murders anyways."

"I think that's a good idea how to start. I mean the victims where living close by, so maybe she knew one of them. Not to forget that she works in the small supermarket in this area."

"Maybe they had a few more things in common we don't know about yet. That's what I am thinking. There has to be some other kind of connection between them."

"Maybe there is one and if there is one I'm sure we'll find it." I said as I unlocked the door and let Stella step inside, before I followed and locked the door behind us. Since we both had to get up early tomorrow I thought it would be best to go to bed and get at least a few hours of rest. Even thought the things we learned today were keeping my mind busy as well.

"You wanna shower now or tomorrow morning?" Stella asked after she put her jacket onto the wardrobe and slipped out of her shoes.

"You can go now if you want to." I said and she nodded.

"I think I need that now…"

"What's up? You know, I wanted to ask you earlier, but I figured with all the others around… you just didn't seem to feel that well."

"Well, just have a small headache from my wonderful nightmare, but it'll be gone soon." She said with a small sigh.

"I'll let you take your shower and get ready myself." I said and watched her as she walked up the stairs in front of me, before I quickly followed her into the bedroom, where I intended to change into my pajamas. And while I undressed and put my pajamas on I was thinking about the events of this evening. The look Allyson Farrel gave us and the way she seemed to observe our every move still made me feel uncomfortable and caused a cold shiver to run down my spine. I listened to the sound of the water coming from the bathroom and hear Stella slightly hum to herself. And suddenly my mind wanted to picture her under the rays of water, causing me to shake my head in confusion. Never did something like that happen before, although I'd be lying if I say I never thought about her and tried to imagine what a life at her side would be like. But I always came to the same resolution: it'll be just as amazing as my marriage and life with Claire had been, as they are different characters, but both had that je ne sais quoi that I found myself attracted to. But somehow it felt scaring to think about that. Wouldn't that kill the great friendship we had? Or would it take us to eternal happiness?

~ S ~ B ~

I turned off the hot water and got out of the shower to dry myself and slip into my pajamas. While I did that I thought about the day's events and the look Allyson gave me and how she would watch me all the time and it still made a shiver run down my spine. I don't frighten easily, but this was putting my mind and heart on alert. Anyways this woman seemed strange to me. All I was hoping for was that Michelle could and would tell me more about her and maybe something about our victims.

I quickly start to brush my teeth and my mind drifted back to the moment that Mac came walking to us. The way he stood behind me, his hands gently resting on my shoulders and giving them a soft squeeze and how amazingly and convincing he played my husband today made me imagine how it could be to have him as my husband. But that thought also seemed a little frightening, as he was my best friend for so many years and I feared that maybe trying to take another step toward him and trying that romantic water with him would kill that amazing bond and friendship we had. But on the other hand if we didn't try we'll never know.

I finished brushing my teeth and put everything away before I walked over to the bedroom. As I stood in the doorway I watched Mac sitting on his bedside and noticed that he was obviously lost in thoughts. Somehow he looked cute when he had a small, thoughtful frown on his forehead and his head rested on his hands, his elbows resting on his knees. He looked like a pouting small boy and that picture created a smile on my face. I didn't really dare to breathe, fearing I could startle him, but if I didn't I guessed I'd be standing there all night. So I cleared my throat and gave him a soft, sheepish smile as he looked up at me.
"Do you know that you just looked like a pouting small boy?" I teased him as I walked over to my bedside.

"Now that you told me, I do." He replied with a sheepish grin, before he got up and walked out of the room. I heard the door to the bathroom being closed and start to snuggle into my covers, my headache now almost gone. As I was in bed, tucked into the covers, lying on my side, facing Mac's bedside, I soon fell asleep without even noticing when Mac came back and turned off the light.

xXxXxXxXx

To my surprise when I woke up the next morning Mac was still asleep. It was only 6 am and I knew I had about an hour left before I needed to get up and get ready. As I still lay on my side I watched Mac's peaceful expression for a while. He was on his side, too, facing me and we were so close to each other that I could feel his warm breath on my face, softly tickling my nose. His short, dark hair was mussed up and stuck out in all directions.

After a few minutes that felt like an eternity I finally found myself able to get my eyes off him and quietly sneaked out of the bed and the bedroom, without waking him. I quickly changed in the bathroom and got ready for the day, before I walked down the stairs and started to make us a modest breakfast. I just finished the toasts I heard Mac coming down the stairs. When I heard him coming closer I turned around with a small smile.

"Good Morning." I greeted him.

"Good Morning. Smells good here." He said with a shy smile. He was already dressed and ready for work and my nose picked up the slight scent of his cologne.

"Thank you. Did someone ever tell you that you smell good, too?"

"Claire did…" he said as his face slightly flushed. "Thanks, Stella."

"You're welcome and I mean it."

He gave me a shy smile as he quickly helped me to set the table and we sat down to eat our breakfast and drink a cup of coffee. We spent the rest of the time cleaning up and then talk about last night again and of course what we expected from our time here and what he expected from his job at the music school. And soon we both had to leave for work, me expecting to get new information about the case and Mac expecting to get to know a few more people and a better overview of the neighborhood and its people.

please don't forget to tell me what you think, okay? It really means a lot to me and it won't hurt you to press that little button and write a few lines for me. ;-)

PS: for those who are interested... I added a new link to my profile here, showing you guys a drawing of the necklace Stella got from Mac in "Mac's Christmas Carols". I did that drawing myself and figured it'll be nice to share it with you. :)