Sorry this is a little late. I wrote it a while a go but it needed a bit of tweaking and haven't had the inspiration to do it until just now. I'm working on a few other fics so hopefully they will be up soon, despite the computer eating my first attempt. Please review, they really spur me on and I reply to them all.

Thanks to Lily Moonlight and Crysalis Escapist for your great reviews.

Don't own CSI and this is not recommended for the anti-Smacked!!

Chapter 5

Stella's eyes were closed but she was not yet asleep, it was not that she couldn't, but her mind was wandering as it so often did. She was nestled into Mac, holding his hand tight as she felt his arm securely around her, holding her in a protective embrace that made her feel totally at ease. Her thoughts were slightly jumbled but made perfect sense to as she replayed them in her mind. It had been a strange night. Her hot bath and 'Friends' marathon had been replaced with playing nurse and having two extremely important but unexpected conversations. It was sort of ironic to Stella that such a frightening event had turned into something so positive, the things Mac and she had talked about weren't exactly topics you brought up in your lunch break or even on one of the many times it was just the two of them whether it be at work, at dinner or just round at one another's apartment. They needed to be in the right frame of mind, the right place, somewhere and some time they had nothing else on their mind and there was no one else around. When Frankie had attacked her, she never thought she'd be able to trust a man let alone attempt a relationship because she was too scared the man might turn on her again. Mac had been her rock, her best friend and someone she could turn to no matter what. He was the reason she had gotten through and she knew he was right with what he had said earlier, he usually was right, that's what made him Mac! If someone had a problem or a question they needed answering it was Mac they turned to, he was the boss and incredibly good at his job and of course he looked out for his team, although they respected him, he was their friend, their good friend. But to Stella he was more than that, they had a different relationship, she didn't need to be cautious around him or be worried she had over stepped the mark, she could ask him anything, even if he didn't like it, but at the end of the day he would do everything in his power to answer the question and ultimately be there for her.

Mac sat on his sofa, the TV remote in his hand, channel hopping lazily. It had been a long day and he should probably be in bed at this time, there wasn't even anything on the TV at this time, but he wasn't going to sleep, he was worried. He wasn't sure what he could do, maybe that was what worried him the most? Stella had put on a brave face, covered the bruises with make-up and got on with life, but she was different. It had been less than a week a go and the act was faltering. When someone came into a room her head snapped to their direction the second she heard them, she went to the morgue as little as possible and was even finding excuses not to look at the dead bodies and her gun rarely left her side, even when it was not needed. Turning the TV off and picked up his phone and dialled the number which was speed dial number 1.

"Hello?"

"Hi Stel it's only me."
"Oh hi Mac, why are you calling me at this time?"

"I was wondering if you are ok."

"I'm fine."

Suddenly she let out a little gasp.

"Stella?" Mac asked quickly.

"What, erm, sorry, I just thought I heard a noise but I didn't."

She went silent and Mac could hear her breathing heavily.

"I promise you no one is there Stel."

"No you're right I just, there it is again!"

"What?"
"The noise, I swear I heard it again."

"Stel ,no one is there."

"Yeah I know, sorry." She said shakily.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, thanks Mac, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Ok,bye."

She wasn't fine at all thought Mac. He stood up and grabbed his coat, he should be over there in 20 minutes. He parked his car and got out, as soon as he stepped out he was soaked by the rain which was falling heavily from the dark sky above. Wrapping his long trench coat around him, he ran into the building, cursing that he didn't bring an umbrella. When he reached Stella's apartment he called loud enough that she would here but hopefully the neighbours wouldn't and used a tone that was reassuring but gentle.

"Stella, it's me Mac, are you still awake?"

He heard footsteps and then the unlocking of several newly installed locks and the door opened. Stella stood there in a pair of dark pyjama trousers and a t-shirt Mac thought might have been his, with a dressing gown sitting on her shoulders and open. Her hair was pinned back and her face was pale but her eyes were red. The bruises she had been left with were fading but there were two prominent ones on her eye and on the side of her face near her jaw.

"Mac?" Her tone oozed relief but also surprise.

"Can I come in?"

"Of course, you don't need to ask."

Mac went in and Stella locked the door, checking each lock twice before turning to him. He had a long sleeved black top on and causal trousers. As he went to hang up his coat which was soaking wet he said with an apologetic smile "It's still raining." He kicked off his shoes and brushed back his soaking wet hair, which was sticking slightly to his face and was dripping onto his shoulders.

"You didn't have to come."

"I wanted to."

Her eyes filled with tears and her lip quivered, she went to Mac and practically fell into his arms and burst into tears, her body shaking as he held her tight, gently stroking her back and hair.

"I'm sorry," Stella sniffed, "I don't know what's the matter with me."

"Nothings the matter with you." Mac said and he held her had and walked towards the sofa, which they sat down on. "You've been through a terrible ordeal Stel it's only natural for you to be upset."

Stella merely nodded and sniffed again, wiping her face on her dressing gown sleeve.

He held her hand and said, "I've made your dressing gown wet, I don't want you to get sick, you better change."

"You're the one soaked through, 'll be fine." She smiled slightly and said, "You braved the storm for me."

"I'd brave anything for you." Mac blushed slightly at what he said then stood up quickly, "I know what will warm us up" He said, "Hang on a second," He went into the kitchen and started bustling around, finding things and putting ingredients together. After a few minuted he said, "Do you have whipped cream?"

"Erm, there might be some in the fridge. What are you doing?"

"You'll see!" Another few minutes later Mac returned to the living room with two mugs. There was a large mound of whipped cream on top and the smell of chocolate was delicious.

"Now you know I can't cook," Mac said, "My hot chocolate makes up for it."

Stella took a sip and said, "This is amazing! You're a man of many talents!"

"Just don't go telling anyone Detective Taylor is famous for his hot chocolate making skills, it doesn't exactly scream respected boss!"

Stella laughed, the first time she had laughed properly for weeks and squeezed Mac's hand, "Thank you, thank you for coming."

"You sounded scared on the phone."

"I was, I am." She sighed, "I am scared, I keep thinking about what happened and I know it's over but it doesn't feel over."

"He's gone, I promise you're safe now. He won't ever hurt you again."

"I just can't get it out my head, at night I can't sleep because I'm scared, I'm afraid of being alone." Stella muttered tearfully.

"I'm going to see you through all this Stel, I'm going to do anything I can to help you. I don't want you to be afraid."

"Will you stay with me tonight?" She asked in a tone which made her sound lost, like a small child who has lost their way.

"Of course." Mac put an arm around her and she snuggled into his embrace. They sat together in a comfortable silence and Stella yawned tiredly.

"I need to get to sleep." She looked towards her room, "You'll stay won't you?" She asked quickly.

"Of course." Together they turned the lights off and drew the curtains. Stella's eyes were watery again but she didn't let the tears fall. She shut the door, turned the lights off and climbed slowly into the bed, her body shaking slightly, the darkness of the night taking her over as it had done every nght since the attack. She looked at Mac and he got into the other side and put his arms around her. Wrapping her own arms around his waist she felt her body relax and she whispered, "thank you Mac." He kissed her on the head and said, "I don't want you to be afraid."

"I'm never afraid when I'm with you."

She rested her head on his shoulder as they lay down and keeping one arm around Stella who had one arm over his body, Mac looked at her and made sure she was soundly asleep before closing his own eyes without letting Stella go.

Stella knew Mac had not slept that night. If she began to moan he would gently shake her until she awoke from the persistent bad dreams that hounded her sleep. He made sure she was not reminded of the terrible event and she awoke from the best sleep she had had in a long time with her arms still over Mac who was holding her tight. Stella opened her eyes briefly to take in the surroundings of the empty staffroom. Mac's arm momentarily tightened around Stella and she felt safe in his protective embrace.

"I love that he always looks after me," Stella thought to herself, "I love that even when I deny it and shoot him the look that says 'touch me and you die', he still looks out for me when he knows something is wrong. He's a great man, not to mention great at what he does and I love working with him, he's so good at his job and although I'd never tell him, men can't handle ego inflation, I admire him very much. Whilst I don't approve of his insistence to work all hour of the night, he always gets the job done, and gets it done well. He'll sit in his office and when something gets his attention, his brow will furrow and he'll hunch over and stare at the evidence or case file. I always know if he's found something or not because if he hasn't he lets out a sigh and pouts his lips for a moments before continuing, whereas if it is important he'll raise his eyebrows, re-read it and then smile. He never grins, it's a cock-eyed smile that's as subtle as the man himself, but when he means it you can see it in his eyes, I love to see that smile! I couldn't ask for a better friend, I never like getting too close to people in case it back fires but with Mac, that simply isn't possible." Snuggling close to him, Stella muttered almost inaudibly, "night." and felt herself drift off into a world far away, feeling safe and secure as she always did when He was around.