Chapter 8: Appointments

"I can't take a day without you here

You're the light that makes my darkness disappear"

"Stella," he says in a warning tone.

She sighs, pulling her hand away. Minutes later, however, her hand is back on her stomach, scratching.

"If you don't stop, you'll pull the stitches out," Mac grabs her hand.

"So? They're going to take them out in a few moments anyway. And it really itches."

The doctor enters, "Ready for the stitches to come out?"

"Finally," she says, lying back on the table.

He carefully removes the gauze and examines the wound. "It looks much better. I'll removes the stitches, and it may heal some more, but you're always going to have a scar."

"Okay."

Five minutes later he's finished. "You still need to take it easy because everything inside might not be completely healed. Have you gone to see your doctor yet?"

"That's tomorrow's appointment."

"I wish you luck."

"Thank you," Stella shakes the doctor's hand. Mac does so as well, then they leave. "Told you."

He ignores her. "You're not clear yet."

"He said to take it easy. I can process scenes without hurting myself."

"Sure," he hides a chuckle. "That's what got you into this in the first place."

"I was told the scene had been cleared. Obviously the officer didn't do too good a job, or I wouldn't have been shot."

"What will you do if you have to chase a suspect?"

"I won't be processing by myself; you guys always run after them anyway," she argues.

"Three days, Stella. Give me three more days in the lab, and I'll let you out in the field," he decides to compromise.

"Fine." She gets in the car and refuses to look at him.

Here

"You didn't have to come with me. I'm off my painkillers; I could have driven myself."

"I want to make sure you're okay," he walks beside her to the entrance.

"It's a doctor for women. You'll be the only guy in there."

"Isn't it the doctor you go to when you're pregnant? There'll be guys there with their pregnant wives."

"Well, I'm not pregnant, and you're not my husband," she steps in front of him, cutting him off. "I probably can't even get pregnant."

"I, uh, don't there's anything wrong with that part of you. You just can't carry the baby."

"Go sit in the car. You're not coming in with me."

"What's he going to do? Look at you naked? I don't think that'll tell him if you can carry a baby or not," Mac tells her.

"First of all, my doctor is a she. No, I don't think I'll need to undress, but I still don't want you in there." He glares at her, refusing to move. "You're staying in the waiting room.

"Alright."

Half an hour later the pair is exiting the office. "I want to go to my own apartment tonight, Mac."

"Okay," he surprisingly doesn't fight this. "So?"

"I'd rather not discuss it."

"Bad news I take it."

Stella closes her eyes and leans back in the passenger seat. "She can't be sure until I try to have kids. But it doesn't seem hopeful."

For once he doesn't know how to express himself to her.

"Drop me off at the lab, and I'll drive myself home."

"But your stuff is at my place."

"I'll get it sometime."

He pulls into the parking garage. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you."

A/N: So... we got our chairs today in band. I'm in the same band I was in last year, which I'm not mad about. But I'm last chair... which, considering there are only like twenty-five flutes maybe, not including the freshmen since they're all in the same band, I probably didn't move down any... But there's a lot more people in front of me that were like behind me. And I guess there's no need to play my piccolo any more... since they're not going to let a last chair person play that... I didn't even pay attention to who was at the top of the list. Unless nobody else has one or wants to play it... But my one friend that I know I play better than and the directors must know too because I played second flute for marching and she was supposed to play a mix of second and third is still ahead of me. She even says I play better than her. Anyway... the levy didn't pass... we might not even have band next year. Or it'll be like five hundred dollars and no one will want to pay that. Even if it passed in May they won't have the money to pass for things to back to normal next year. They're cutting a lot of stuff... like the musical. But we didn't really have any changes other than our one concert is at like four-thirty in the afternoon. But they cut high school bussing. What else did I have to say... both CSI and NY were boring this week... I slept during both. I missed like twenty minutes of NY, woke up when Mac and Stella were arguing, and then watched the rest. Why is it that whenever they argue she comes in carrying a big gone when they talk again? I thought Stella would be the one who wanted to keep Adam and Mac would want to but had to listen to his boss or he'd be fired. And, Stella, it's not a good thing to walk into the room and tell someone that they could be fired for arguing with their boss. Although ironically, she goes on to argue with her boss. I still think they shouldn't pay their CSIs a hundred thousand a year. I guess that's all I have for now... Please review. What's next... Mac's got to convince her that he still loves her even if she can't have kids... I think. Then it's gets sad again... then it ends happy... only seven more chapters.