A/N: Oh hey, what do you know, still don't own the characters, just the idea (I hope!) As usual, this is for Lisa who can be quite demanding for drabbles...not that I mind when I can come up with something....hope you enjoy!
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"Deep in my heart I'm concealing things that I'm longing to say. Scared to confess what I'm feeling - frightened you'll slip away." - Evita
All day long he had been quiet, even more than was normal for Mac Taylor. While they had processed the scene he had seemed so far away, lost in his thoughts. He had barely even responded when Flack had pulled out his best one-liners, leaving everyone else fighting fits of laughter. On the way back to the lab, Stella watched him out of the corner of her eye while she drove. A few times she opened her mouth to talk to him, ask him what was wrong, but something told her now wasn't the time to push, to let him be.
He surprised her later when he stopped by her office that evening and asked her if she wanted to grab something to eat. He still had that pensive look on his face but he no longer felt a million miles away. She smiled at his thoughtfulness as he helped her with her jacket; amused at the way he blushed when she turned and brushed her hand down his arm as she thanked him.
After they had placed their orders Stella watched the man across from her as he sat there, fiddling with the empty sugar packet for his coffee. Just when she thought she couldn't take the silence any longer, Mac lifted his eyes to lock with hers. Stella was taken back for a moment at the intensity in his gaze, but still she remained silent.
"There are many things that I would like to say to you, but I don't know how." Quickly, Mac dropped his eyes back down to his hands which were still fiddling with the sugar packet.
Cautiously, Stella placed her hand over his, stilling his movements. He looked back up at her, their eyes locking once again. Without breaking eye contact, Mac twisted his hand around until their fingers were interlaced. He watched as her smile grew, her face beaming at what she saw in his eyes. Soon he felt a matching grin start to grow on his face as well. He brought their connected hands up to his lips as he placed a chaste kiss on the back of her hand. He had been so worried about what to say to her; how to try and explain that his feelings for her had grown, had become so powerful that every time he was around her he felt his heart could burst with how much he loved her…but this was Stella. She was his partner and his best friend. With her, words weren't necessary. They spoke with their hearts.