Hi there, How are we all? I know this has taken longer than my last updates but I have been trying to perfect this chapter as it was hard to write and I hope it will make a bit of an impact and you enjoy it. Anyho, thank you to all who reviewed, I'm sorry if I didn't reply I have had awful trouble with my internet.

Disclaimer- Blatantly don't own it, would be nice though!

Chapter 6

Mac stared into the darkness before him, his eyes becoming heavy as the shapes and silhouettes around him blurred a little. Stella stirred slightly and he automatically tightened his arm around her shoulders, making sure she was comfortable and warm. The night had not gone according to plan, not that Mac really had a plan in the first place, but of all the things he thought might happen, that was not on the list. Chances were he would have worked another hour or so, driven home, watched a bit of TV, played his guitar, maybe read a bit of his book, fairly average things to do after a long day. But Mac Taylor didn't do things by halves. His Thursday night had been spent saving his best friend from a sleazy thug, getting hit in the face, cutting his hand open and having the same best friend patch him up and then the two of them talking about rather deep topics into all hours of the night. Mac smiled slightly, not an average Thursday night at all. Mac was glad he had told Stella about what was playing on his mind, Stella understood, he didn't have to explain himself to her. When Claire had died on that horrific day, his world fell apart, his reason for living cruelly snatched away from him. He didn't think he would ever recover. But Stella had helped him heal. Stella got him through and made him realize he could carry on. Stella always had the answers. Everyone trusted her with their problems because although she didn't mince her words, she spoke words of truth and reassurance. When she was having a bad day, you didn't mess with her, but when she was on her usual form, she lit up the room and would go out of her way to listen to people. Lindsay often confided in her, they had an almost sisterly relationship. Hawkes had always been close to her as had Flack, whom always looked out for her like she did for him. Danny had blossomed under her wing and the team would never complain if they were working with her. Mac on the other hand, had a different relationship with Stella than any other member of the team. They connected on a level that no one else on the team did, words didn't need to be spoken, a look or a gesture made do. Mac wasn't one to make a song and dance out of things, he kept himself to himself and that's how he liked it. But even so, just like Stella did with the rest of the team, she had this wonderful ability to dig deep into his soul, understand what his problem was and solve it. Never had a scene been made, nothing had ever been forced by her and not once had she gotten cross if he didn't tell her straight away. All she had to do was be there, give him that smile, touch his hand, remind him she was his best friend and was there for him.

The lab had lost it's spark. Nobody spoke much unless it was about work, nobody smiled much unless they cracked a case, and nobody laughed, at all. It had been just over a month since the towers fell and like the rest of the city, the lab had not recovered. Many had lost loved ones, most who had, had not returned back to work, even those who hadn't lost could feel the darkness pressing down on them, the despair and loss that hovered in the heart of every member of New York City, Stella Bonaserra was no exception. She had no family to lose and luckily none of her friends had been killed, except one. Claire Taylor. Beautiful, funny, caring Claire Taylor, Mac's wife and purpose. Mac had broken that day. He had taken just 2 days off and was back. Stella had been keeping the lab together, stopping the women bursting into tears not just for their own losses, but every time he passed. She had made sure the men allowed themselves to grieve and to try and include Mac in the process, despite it being in vain. Stella had cried, cried for NYC, cried for Claire and cried for Mac. But at work she was strong, strong because she had to be, for herself and for Mac, who was doing a remarkable job of carrying on, making Stella wonder just how long his act could last. Leaning against the reception desk Stella ran her hands through her hair after she had passed in some files to the receptionist. A woman approached them, she was pretty and in her early thirties and like the rest of the city, looked somewhat hollow.

"Excuse me, where might I find Detective Mac Taylor?" She asked.

Stella turned to her, "I'm Detective Stella Bonasera, Detective Taylor's partner, may I help you?"

"I'm Fiona Goldman, I'm Mac's sister in law."

"Oh," Stella was taken aback at this and rather unsure what to say, "let me take you to him."
As they walked Stella said carefully,"I'm so sorry for your loss, Claire was a wonderful woman."

"Thank you, I miss her very much." Fiona said quietly

"So does Mac, it will be good for both of you to see each other."

Fiona said no more until they arrived at Mac' s office. Stella knocked and entered.

"Hi Mac." Fiona said quietly.

"Fiona?" Mac said, surprised at who was standing in his office.

"I'm going to leave you to it." Stella said and slipped out. She walked away hurriedly, but glancing back she saw Mac and Fiona in a tight embrace, Fiona crying into his shoulder. Stella could see Mac trying to hold it all together, not only for himself, but his distraught sister-in-law, typical Mac, a tower of strength. It soon became dark and Stella thought she should see how Mac was, but he wasn't around and Stella was surprised to find out from the receptionist that Fiona had left the building nearly an hour a go. Panicking a little Stella went into his office. There was nothing out of the ordinary apart from a large cardboard box sitting on the desk. Stella's instinctively looked in it and tears filled her eyes as she realized what it was. Pictures, memoirs and miscellaneous objects filled it. They were all Claire's. It became apparent some where childhood objects, apparently given to Mac as a small token of comfort. Some were pictures, dating back to when she was little to the present day. There was one just outside the box, sitting on the desk face down. Stella picked it up carefully and looked at the photograph it encased. To the right was Fiona, with a man Stella thought to be her husband. On the left was Mac and Claire. He had his arms around her waist, holding her tightly as she held onto his arms, making sure they were as close as possible. Their heads were tilted towards each other as the looked at the camera and both wore happy smiles. A silent tear fell down Stella's cheek, what was going to happen to Mac? Briskly wiping her eyes, Stella knew what she must do. Taking a minute, she composed herself, this would need the strong façade she had armed herself with for the last few weeks. As she walked to the door Danny approached her, "You all right Stel?" He asked.

"I'm doing ok, you?"

"Ok I guess, have you seen Mac, I've been looking him for like an hour?"

"I think he had dome stuff to attend to. I'm heading off myself, I'll see you tomorrow."

Not wanting Danny to ask any questions Stella hurried out of the lab, but she wasn't going home. She was going to find him, she was going to hold him, she was going to be there for him, she was going to let the barrier fall at last.

Sitting in the back of the yellow taxi, Stella willed it to go faster. She was worried. It was approaching one in the morning now and no one had heard from Mac since Fiona's swift departure. Stella only hoped he was where she was heading, if he wasn't, she had no clue where to look as he was not answering his phone or pager. Stella cursed when the taxi stopped at a red light. She needed to get to Mac, he had been holding it all in these last few weeks but now he had broken. Allowed himself to mourn, allowed himself to grieve and miss his beloved wife. But he'd done it alone, he needed someone, he needed his partner,he needed his best friend. The taxi pulled up and Stella got out quickly after paying him. She blinked back the tears as she saw the devastation in front of her. The pile of rubble, a mountain of death, still surrounded by pictures of those who were missing. Stella approached Ground Zero. There were a lot of people there, many on there own, not disturbing the others who were also sharing their grief. Stella saw him, standing in front of the debris, quite still. His hands in his pockets and his head down. She walked to him and gently put her arms around him and said softly, "It's ok Mac, it's ok." Mac didn't flinch or move away, it almost seemed like he didn't realise Stella was there. But he removed his left hand from his pocket and put it around her waist. Stella looked at him and saw silent tears falling down his pale face. Tiny droplets spilt from his striking blue eyes that seemed to have lost their life and dripped down his cheeks. They stood there for a while, not moving not speaking, just standing there together.

"Let's go home." Stella said. Her voice no louder than a whisper. Mac didn't say anything but turned to leave, he held Stella more tightly for a moment then put his hand back in his pocket before they walked to the nearest taxi rank in silence.

Mac didn't like to remember that day. On the day he found out Claire had died he had cried, tears of anger and tears of unbearable pain. Since then he never shed another tear, trying to stay strong, in fear that if he let his emotions take over he wouldn't be able to function. If Stella hadn't have found him, he wasn't sure what he would have done. She had taken him back to his apparent and they had sat on the sofa for hours, not talking, not doing anything, just sitting. Stella stayed with him all night and when the tears fell again, had held him close, letting him bury his head in her shoulder as she hugged him. Eventually he had drifted off to sleep on the sofa. When he awoke there was a fresh pot of coffee waiting for him, along with a few days holiday. All he could manage to say to Stella was a meek, "thanks." But it was enough, that was all that needed to be said, she understood, she always understood. Mac let out a quiet sigh and Stella's hand that was still in his, squeezed tighter for a moment. Whether she was asleep or not, Mac wasn't sure but it was as if she could tell what he was thinking. A small smile played on his lips. Typical Stella, she can make you feel so much better without even realizing it. "I love how she always understands," Mac thought to himself, "even when I'm being a complete jerk and hardly say a word she is there for me. She knows if something is wrong and can somehow manage to get it out of me. Even stupid little things that don't really matter she'll listen to. She's a wonderful woman and one of the most gifted CSI's I've worked with, I sometimes have to stop myself putting her on the same case as me, I can't show favouritism as the boss! Sometimes she gets a little carried away, jumping in before we have sufficient evidence, but I know it's because she cares. She cares about what she does, the people involved in the case, and the people she works with. If Stella Bonaserra interviews a suspect you know chances are they will confess, that woman could get blood out of a stone! You can tell she means business when she's in an interrogation because she'll slam her hands down on the table and lean on it with determined force. Her head tilts from side to side and the more worked up she gets the more it tilts. When her hair is down it falls ever so slightly across her face but always seems to land back in place when she's finished!If the suspect isn't cracking she'll bow her head for a few minutes then pace around the back of the chair, willing them to challenge her. If the confess their guilt, she'll cock her head and fold her arms with a satisfied smile. She walks out of the room, a little strut in her step and if she catches my eye when we pass she'll give me her trademark smile which instantly lights up my day! What would do without Stella? If there's one person I can count on it's her, it goes without saying." Closing his eyes Mac relaxed further down into the comfy sofa and absent mindedly ran his thumb up and down Stella's hand before he too fell into a much needed sleep that seemed so natural whilst She was in his arms.