A/N: Last time I checked I still don't own them, except on DVD. Thanks again to Lisa for the prompt of "sick Stella."

Stella was miserable. The sun was shining outside, birds were chirping, a cool breeze was blowing…and she was miserable. Spring had always been her favorite time of the year in New York. All the flowers starting to bloom, the green leaves on the trees. Even the air felt better this time of year. It was the first nice weekend they'd had in the city, and she was stuck indoors being sick.

Despite the comfortable weather, she was curled up in a ball on her couch, the down comforter from her bed wrapped securely around her as she alternated between feeling chilled and over-heated. The TV was on, though more for background noise as she realized how terrible daytime programming was. It was times like this feelings of loneliness seemed to be magnified. Though she had never known her parents, she remembered how the nuns had comforted the children when they would get sick. One in particular had taken a special liking to Stella; Sister Frances. She would sit with her, holding her in a comforting embrace, stroking her curly strands of hair while whispering soothing words to her fevered mind.

All Stella wished for now was someone to comfort her that way again. Someone to hold her and tell her things would be better soon. Someone to fight off the loneliness she was feeling. She groaned as she heard a knock at the door. She was definitely in no mood to have someone try to sell her something, and if the stack on her counter was anything to go by, she had plenty of phone books. Undeterred by her lack of response, the person on the other side of the door knocked again. She realized the only way to get back to resting was to deal with the intruder. Throwing off the comforter, she made her way to the door, ready to lay into the person disturbing her peace. Pulling the door open, she opened her mouth, a string of Greek and Italian curses just on the tip of her tongue when she quickly shut her mouth at the sight in front of her.

Mac Taylor was standing at her door holding a large Styrofoam container that she instantly recognized as the ones Massimo always put the soup in when she would get it to go. In his other hand he had a large bouquet of bright spring flowers. He was dressed comfortably for the spring weather, a black sweater she remembered buying him a few birthdays ago, and a bashful smile on his face.

"Hey," he said with a grin, taking in his normally impeccably dressed partner and her current state of undress. A large NYPD sweatshirt hung off her petite frame completed with dark gray sweatpants and large fuzzy slippers. He dropped his head as he felt his face grow warm. She looked adorable, even sick. "I know you've been sick and I thought you could use some taking care of."

"Mac, it's your one day off and it's beautiful out there. You don't have to spend that inside my apartment with me."

"You make it sound like that's a bad thing. Besides Stell, we take care of each other, remember?"

Stella could only grin in response as she stepped aside from the door, making room for him to enter her apartment. As he passed by her, Mac handed her the bright bouquet of flowers, his eyes warm as he watched her inhale the fragrance of the arrangement.

"They're beautiful Mac, thank you so much." She reached out with her free hand, placing it on his bare forearm where he had rolled up his sleeves.

Her touch burned hot against his skin. "Stella, you're burning up! When was the last time you took your temperature?"

She thought for a minute, trying to think through the haze her mind seemed to be stuck in. "Maybe a couple hours ago? I'm not entirely sure."

"Here, sit down. We need to get some medicine in you. I'll put the flowers in water. You feel up to eating something?"

Stella nodded, suddenly feeling very tired and chilled. She sat back down on the couch and wrapped her comforter around her body again as the chills overtook her. Mac quickly moved around her kitchen with practiced ease, grabbing a vase from the cupboard over the oven. Soon he had a pot on the stove with some of the soup from Massimo's heating. He walked back into the living room, carrying a glass of orange juice and some cold medicine.

"Here you go," he said as he handed her the pills, watching as she swallowed them dry. She then took the juice and slowly sipped on it. "Soup should be ready in a minute or so." Stella nodded in response. As Mac turned away to go check on the warming food, Stella reached out, grabbing his hand, turning him back towards her. She noted the surprised look on his face. She remained quiet for a moment, not quite sure how to put into words what she was feeling: her love for this man and his loyalty or how grateful she was that she wasn't alone, that she had him by her side. She saw the warmth in his eyes as she realized she didn't have to say a word. He could read everything and more in her eyes, just as she always could read his.

He opened his mouth as if to say something but quickly shut it again. He cleared his throat and offered her a small smile. "I should go check on the soup. I'll be right back." He gave her hand a squeeze before heading back into the kitchen. Stella sighed and leaned back against the couch, closing her eyes as she listened to the sound of Mac moving around her home. A few minutes later he came back out, carrying a tray with a steaming bowl of Massimo's famous chicken soup as well as some of the homemade bread that was always served with the meal. He placed the tray in front of her before sitting down on the couch next to her. He noticed the empty juice glass on the coffee table. "Did you want more juice? Or I could make you some tea with some honey if you'd like…you need to keep up on the fluids Stell."

She shook her head, "No, I'm good for now. Thank you."

Mac nodded in response as he turned his attention to the TV that was still playing in the background. From the looks of it, some sort of melodramatic soap opera where the main star was on a hospital bed resting or in a coma while others were fussing around the bed. He turned to Stella and gave her a look of surprise at her choice of entertainment.

She grinned in response, tossing him the remote. "I hadn't actually gotten around to finding anything to watch, besides, most daytime TV is terrible. Feel free to change the channel. Sometimes the Science Channel has some good shows on it."

He smiled in response as he started flipping through the channels. He looked back over at her and noticed she was still looking at him in amusement. "Eat," he said with a small laugh, "I can't have my best detective out of commission for too long, don't want the criminals to get away."

Shaking her head in mirth, she went back to her soup, savoring the warmth as it spread throughout her body, helping to relax her.

Mac's eyes were on the television, but he was attuned to the woman sitting next to him. She had finished her soup and was now leaning back against the couch, her eyes closed. "How you feeling now, any better?" He moved his hand to brush some stray curls away from her face, tucking them behind her ear. He placed his hand against her forehead, noting that though she was still warm her fever seemed to have gone down considerably. He knew he should let her rest some more, though he was reluctant to leave her. It was nice to have someone to take care of, especially her. "I should go, you need to rest some more and you can't if you have to entertain me."

She opened her eyes to look at him, turning her head that was still leaning against the couch so she was facing him. "Stay? Please Mac?"

"You sure?"

She nodded, dropping her gaze for a minute as if steeling herself for something. When she looked back up he was thrown by the honesty of her gaze. "It's nice to have you here, to not be alone. Even if only for a little while."

He kept his gaze locked with hers for a moment; she could see his mind working, weighing options and possible outcomes. Finally she saw the decision in his eyes. "Come here," he said softly, placing his arm around her shoulder as he pulled her to him, her head coming to rest in the crook of his neck as he leaned back against the arm of the couch, making them more comfortable. He turned his head and placed a soft kiss to her temple. "Now rest. I'll be here as long as you want me to. Ok?"

He looked down as he felt her nod, seeing the shine in her eyes, before she let them slowly close. He closed his as well, focusing on the feel of the woman in his arms as they both drifted off.