Thank you so much for all of your wonderful reviews and moment suggestions. Please continue to review and suggest Mac/Stella moments. This chapter was a suggestion by talkstoangels77. It takes place on the plane ride home from Greece, after the episode Grounds for Deception. Please R&R! Thank you!

The plane leveled out and the fasten seatbelt sign dissolved off the screen above their seats. Stella had been itching for this moment, barely being able to control the shaking in her hands and the urge the scream, vomit and weep all at that same time. She had been fine at the airport, and for the first part of the flight, she had remained cool and detached. She had let Mac take care of the travel arrangements; simply saying she wanted to be out of Greece as soon as humanly possible. He had guided her through the terminal, her bag over his shoulder, bringing her coffee while they waited for the boarding call, even gently massaging her hand when the plane took off; something she would have reveled in had the circumstances been different.

She leapt over his legs immediately after the disappearance of the fasten seatbelt sign, making a b-line for the lavatory, not noticing that he was right behind her. She attempted to close the door behind her, only to be stopped by his hand.

"Mac I need to…" Her voice trembled. The door clicked behind him, and in a swift motion he had her cradled against his chest, arms wrapped around her slim frame. With his touch the dam broke, and the full force of losing the last link to her biological family crashed like waves over her and she began to tremble uncontrollably, the tears now coming of their own accord.

His heart broke with the tremors that now shook through her as she choked out painful sobs. His right hand moved to massage small circles in between her shoulder blades, as his right arms encircled her waist and pulled her even closer to him. He could feel her tears staining his shirt where her face was buried in the fabric, but knew he would give up a million shirts, possibly dispose of all clothing if it could make her feel better. But he knew that simply being there for her was all he could accomplish, he would try his upmost best at it, and be whatever she needed. Yet deep down he was fighting off the clenching uncertainty that it may not be enough this time, that just maybe, she might not be able to pull through this one. Shut it, Marine! You love her; hell knows she's sacrificed for you time and time again. You'll get her through this. That's an order.

Stella's crying was now ebbing down to small hiccups as he continued to rock her gently.

"Stella I'm so…" His words were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. Stella pulled away from him and nodded towards the door, desperately trying to wipe the tear tracks from her face. Mac nodded and opened the door a crack.

"Sir, there are other passengers who need to use the lavatory." A nasally flight attendant droned at him.

"I'm very sorry. If you could just give us a few more minutes I would be…" He watched as the flight attendants eyes widened at the word 'us'.

"Sir, inappropriate lavatory conduct with another passenger is…" Mac scowled at where this conversation was going, Ms. Desperatley-Needs-Her-Deviated-Septum-Fixed, thought they were inducting themselves into the Mile High Club. Feeling awfully annoyed and slightly embarrassed he cut her off.

"Ma'me I'm with the NY Police Department, my partner isn't feeling well, it would be greatly appreciated if you gave us a few more minutes." His tone was forceful, when he needed to be he was very capable of becoming the commanding military man that he was. The flight attendant's eyes shimmered with anger and embarrassment before she gave a stiff nod of her head before turning away without offering an apology. Mac once again shut the lavatory door.

"What was that all about?" Stella asked shyly, though he was happy to hear she had more of her voice back again. She sat on top of the toilet seat and dabbed her eyes with sheets of toilet paper. Mac bent to roll another sheet of toilet paper around his finger, before wetting it in the sink. He decided not to answer her question, feeling that if she was dazed enough to have not heard the encounter, maybe in a few moments she would forget it ever happened. He knelt as far down in front of her as the small space would allow and began gently wiping dried mascara stains from her face.

"Mac?" He looked up at her, she was cocking her eyebrows at him in that way she does when she knows you're not telling her the whole story. Damn, even after a breakdown she can still be cute. Get a grip, Marine! Mac's hand stopped wiping away the remnants of her grief.

"The uh flight attendant…she thought…well…I mean she misunderstood…and…well…she thought we…" Mac felt a surge of joy at the sound of Stella giggling at his sudden loss of words. Screw the heat that had crept up his neck as he had tried to explain the situation, she was almost laughing. Announcing over the intercom they had joined the mile high club would have been worth it to see the smile that was beginning to bloom on her face.

"Well she thought we were…you know." He supplied.

"Oh…I see." The pink hue that was now spreading over the bridge of her nose was far better than her earlier sheet white, and he was almost glad for the sign of normalcy. Suddenly she stood, drawing him up with her, and wrapped her arms around him in the warmest hug he had ever experienced.

"Thank you Mac. For following me to Greece, for helping me close this case, for following me to the bathroom, for being my best friend, and for always being there for me. I don't know what I would have ever done without you." With that she kissed him lovingly on the cheek, and shimmied past him and out of the lavatory. Leaving him somewhat stunned.

"Come on Mac," Stella exclaimed, grabbing his hand, "Smile, apparently you just joined the Mile High Club!"

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