Oooh another chapter in one night. I'm on a roll lol. I was wanting to get another chapter done so I wrote the last one and then it just kept flowing…so I went with the flow. Hope ya'll like it.

Btw does anyone know what happened to Danny's glasses? Did they suddenly give him contacts? Cuz I miss his glasses. He looks hot in them!

Also I have to say…I watched last night's episode…again lol. It's amazing. I love seeing Flack play big brother and I just wanted to hug him when he played that song for his sister and she didn't answer him. He looked sad when he walked away…and again when he was standing outside the door watching her talk about her alcoholism…he looked so sad! But I'm loving that they are focusing on him…cuz more Flack is awesome! And he deserves to get some action lol. Well someone does cuz they aren't doing anything with Danny/Lindsay…so it might as well be our resident hottie detective right? Ok im done…onto the story!

Don held Stella's things for her as she fished through her purse for her apartment keys. Finally locating them she unlocked the door and pushed it open almost expecting Frankie to come jumping out at her again. Don followed her in watching her with that intense all seeing gaze. When she stopped at the blood in the bathtub he gently took her hand and pulled to the kitchen. Setting her things on the table he grabbed a glass from the dish drainer on the counter and filled it with water before handing it to her.

Shakily she took the glass from him before draining most of it. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath only to open them to meet cobalt blue eyes watching her with concern.

"You sure you'll be ok Stell?"

Nodding quickly she lied, "Yea. I'll be fine. I'd rather be here than in a hotel living out of a suitcase ya know?" she tried to laugh but it caught in her throat and came out sounding like she was desperately trying to hold it together

Flack watched her knowing she was barely holding it together, but was refusing to lean on someone for fear of being seen as weak. He would never see her as weak; she was the strongest person he knew. To go through all of this… and with everything that had happened to her in the past.

She gave him a weak smile. "I'll be fine Don. Don't worry alright?"

Sighing he wrapped her in a hug. "Alright Stell. You know you can call me anytime no matter what right? You need anythin' you let me know ok?"

She nodded against his chest. "Ok." Pulling back she looked up at him. "Thank you for everything Don. You're a great friend."

"That's my job Stell. And my job as a friend." He flashed his dimples at her. "Guess I'll see you later then. Get some rest, and remember if you need anythin' you call me."

"Thanks Don."

He turned to leave and she went to close the door behind him when it was suddenly stopped by his hand. Startled she pulled the door open again.

Stella looked at him questioningly as she moved aside to let him in again. "What is it Don?"

"Stella…Stell. I—" he cut off abruptly. Moving forward he grasped her arms and pulled her towards him. Her eyes widened and she gasped in shock as he slid his hand into the hair at the back of her neck and his mouth covered hers. She resisted for a moment before surrendering to him and wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer. Time seemed to slow, and Stella felt like they were moving in slow motion. The kiss was unlike anything she'd ever felt before. It was passionate, loving, and explosive, but gentle at the same time. She'd never had this with any other man, not even Frankie. She felt so safe and protected in his arms, more than she'd ever felt anywhere else.

They slowly separated and Flack leaned his forehead to hers, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves before he spoke. "Stella I'm in love with you. I've been in love with you for a long time. It started a long time ago, soon after we met. And then it slowly developed into love. I look forward to seeing you everyday. It's like a ray of sunshine suddenly brightened everything around me. When I'm having a crappy day, all I need to do is see you and it makes the day seem like nothing bad happened."

Leaning back to see his face better she started to say something. "Don…"

"No, please let me get this out Stella. I never told you because I told myself it was better this way. We were good friends and we work together. I didn't want to mess up either of those relationships, especially our friendship. I told myself that you were out of my league and why you go for a guy seven years your junior. But…" his voice cracked, "When I saw you laying there on the floor, so still…I had no idea if you were alive and all I could think of was…I didn't tell her. Why didn't I tell her?"

Stella gently placed her hand on his cheek. He covered her hand with his leaning into her touch and closed his eyes. She waited for him to pull his emotions together so he could speak. When his beautiful blue eyes opened she could see the love swimming in the depths of his gaze. It shone out at her, wrapping around her battered heart, healing the broken pieces to make it whole again.

He spoke again. "I knew if I didn't tell you how I feel, and something did happen to you I would regret it for the rest of my life. And now even though I know you are ok, I have to take the chance because I know letting you go would be a mistake and I would regret it forever." Taking a deep breath he let it out slowly. "So here I am. Taking this chance. My heart is in your hands Stella. It belongs to you…it has for a long time. And I know it's soon. After everything you have been through in the last couple days…I don't want to rush you or push you into anything. We can take it as slow as you want to. Just know that I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

With that he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before turning to go their hands gently sliding apart. Stella watched him as he closed her front door quietly, before sinking down on her couch. She raised her hand to touch her lips and a smile spread across her face. He loved her! He really loved her…he could have any woman he wanted and he had picked her. But how did she feel about him?

She sighed as she looked around her apartment. Chairs were still overturned and things were out of place from being processed. It didn't feel like her place anymore. It had been invaded and she felt vulnerable here. Whereas it had always been her haven…now it felt cold and unwelcoming. It hadn't felt that way when Don had been here with her. She'd felt safe and protected, but now…she wanted to feel that way again. To have him wrap her up in those strong arms and just hold her.

She certainly had feelings for him…had for awhile. But she never would have thought that he returned them, so she had gotten together with Frankie. And well…that went south. Fear spread through her at the thought of what had happened. Stella struggled to push it away. The only person she trusted more than Mac was Don. She trusted him with her life. He would never hit a woman. He was a wonderful, loyal, strong, honorable man, a little old fashioned in some ways, but a total gentleman. She'd seen his reactions to her story, the anger that had been in her eyes when he heard what Frankie had done to her. She'd seen his frustration at not being able to take care of Frankie himself. She could come to love him quickly she knew.

Looking around her apartment again she had the overwhelming need to go to him, to be with him. So she followed her instincts.

Making her decision quickly before she changed her mind, Stella stood from the couch and headed for her bedroom. Pulling on some comfortable jeans and a plain white tank, she then grabbed a sweatshirt out of the closet and her sneakers. After dressing she grabbed her purse and keys and was out the door.

Please review! Thanks to all my reviewers and supporters of this story. You guys encourage me with everything you say. I'm so glad you like the story. Love ya'll!