Title: All I Need is You
Chapter 16 - Fade to Black

An hour before their alarm went off, Stella slowly opened her eyes and glanced at her sleeping husband, happy he had fallen asleep beside her with just his underwear on. Knowing it had been some time since they had any kind of adventurous early morning make out session Stella reached for the black fuzzy handcuffs; her playful desire for her husband already starting to grow.

Mac's body gently stretched, which amazingly allowed her to gently wrap one of the fuzzy cuffs around his wrist and then carefully lift his other arm so that in a matter of seconds it too was trapped above his head, leaving his nearly naked body at the mercy of his loving wife.

Stella smiled as Mac's body flexed once more as he finally started to pull himself from sleep, warm fingers teasing his bare skin. Mac felt tension on his wrists and as his eyes slowly started to open, his mind flashed images of him being at Ella's mercy while she forced sex on him and he started to struggle in vain.

"NO! Stop..."

"Mac, it's okay," Stella urged as she put a warm hand on his cheek and forced his eyes to lock with hers. "Sorry I thought that..." she stammered as she went to release the cuffs.

"No, it's..."

"Hold on a sec Mac."

"Stella, I'm sorry," Mac stated in haste. "Please leave them on."

Stella looked at him with a small frown. "Are you sure?"

"Sorry to ruin our fun," Mac lamented as he tried to shift to a better position.

"I should have let you awaken first," Stella said in a sad tone. "I'm..."

"Stella, please...I like being like his before you," he assured her with a warm smile. "No more bad thoughts. I had promised you that I wouldn't let Ella ruin anything for us and I meant it."

"I'd understand Mac."

"Make love to me Stella," Mac begged.

"I..."

"What?"

"I know this is stupid and selfish but I don't want you to see her. And I worry that you being like this you'll see her and...Mac, I'm sorry," she frowned as she turned away.

"Damn it, I'm sorry Stella," Mac replied in haste. "Please look at me. I don't see her face unless it's when I am writing up a report for her arrest. I want you to believe me," Mac begged again. "I love you Stella and even in my mind, I would never betray that love, especially when we are making love. I only see you, I only want you. It was just an initial reaction. It's over now, I promise."

"I love you Mac. I'm sorry to..."

"No Stella, nothing to be sorry for. It was just an initial reaction; you have to believe that's all it was. Please make love to me. My amazing and beautiful wife."

Stella looked into the loving expression of her husband's face and smiled before she finally nodded. "Kinda hard to have you like this before me Mac and not want to take advantage of you."

"That's my girl," Mac smiled as he watched Stella slowly remove her sleep shirt, his eyes hungrily devouring the tempting sight of soft flesh before him. "Second thought, let me go so I can hold you."

"Nice try Mac, you are staying right where you are," Stella purred as she slowly freed Mac of his underwear and eased herself onto his waist. She noticed his body slightly sag under her increased belly weight and frowned.

"Stella, if I couldn't handle you on me, I would tell you and we could try something else. Please make love to me," he assured her with warm urging.

Stella leaned in, her lips inches from his. "I love you," she whispered before she silenced his next words with hungry kisses. Her warm tongue forced its way between his teeth, exploring the warm crevices of his mouth, forcing his body to respond in kind. Mac's body naturally arched further into hers as she started to suck his bottom lip, her ears taking delight in the soft moans he was automatically offering.

However, with the size of her protruding belly, once their union started their kissing had to stop as their lips couldn't reach. With his arms once again trapped and her weight bearing down on him, it took longer for their rhythm to increase, but neither seemed to mind.

"Odd not to kiss you," Stella whispered as she moved in time with her husband. "How does that feel?"

"Oh Stella," Mac groaned as his body was once again forced to experience new sensations thanks to the baby moving around inches above him. "Damn that feels good..."

"Stop cursing," Stella playfully teased. Stella's fingers grasped his taut arms as they flexed once more as his body arched into hers.

"Mac!" Stella gasped as their rhythm increased further. Sweat dripped down Stella's sides, splattering on Mac before coming to rest on the bed sheets beneath them. Mac's body went hard once more as their climax neared and his smiled grew from ear to ear as his wife once again called out his name before the room was quiet; once again three rapidly beating hearts and two mouths lightly panting as they finally came to rest from their journey.

Stella quickly released Mac and lay at his side; wanting to get the added weight off his frame but always taking delight in his strong naked arms wrapping around her and holding her close against his firm chest.

"Love how you feel against me Stella," Mac breathed into his wife's ear before he planted a warm kiss on her cheek, bringing her to rest beside him; her weight not allowing her to linger on top of him any longer. But as was their after sex routine, Stella would spoon up beside Mac, his arm holding her lose and her head on his strong shoulder.

"Did I hurt you Mac?"

"No just tired me out a bit," he smiled in return. "How are you feeling?" Mac asked as his fingers played with some stray curls.

"After that? Pretty good, and you?" She countered and he rolled his eyes. "No more mild morning sickness Mac and the anxiety from the past few days has subsided. Baby and I are back on track."

"I for one am glad to hear that," Mac stated with a slight frown as his finger touched her flushed cheek. "And you're just going to take it easy today right?"

"Mac..."

"Half day Stella, please promise me."

"Hmmm you'll have to bribe me," Stella stated playfully as she twisted herself onto her side to look at Mac face on.

"Bribe you huh," Mac pondered.

"That's right Taylor. Now whadda ya got?"

"Stella..."

"Come on Mac, I'm waiting," she urged.

"I'll make you a deal," Mac started in a low tone. "I'll make you dinner, in only my underwear if you eat it only in yours."

"Hmm I like that suggestion," Stella smiled. "I approve. Tonight?"

"I will be off work early so..." his voice trailed off as the alarm clock finally buzzed to life. Mac quickly shut it off and then looked at Stella with a heavy frown. "You know I did tell Sinclair that I am taking a few weeks when the baby is born and during that time I am going to purposely lose that damn thing," Mac grimaced as he pushed the small clock radio aside, Stella laughing at his actions.

"Well I guess that's our wake up call. I'll start breakfast."

"Stella, you can shower first."

"Mac, I don't mind if you go first."

Mac smiled as he kissed her once more and then regrettably pushed himself out of the warm bed and headed for the bathroom to get his day started. Stella slowly eased herself out of bed and rested on the edge as she felt a hunger twinge in her stomach.

"Soon baby," she rubbed her belly. "We'll eat very soon." She quickly pulled on a robe and headed into the kitchen, starting the coffee maker for Mac's coffee and the electric tea kettle for her tea to go. Breakfast had become something she looked forward to, talking softly to their baby as she went about the motions.

"Does baby want oatmeal for breakfast?" Stella smiled as she reached for a small cooking pot. Mac finally finished his shower and then headed into the bedroom to dress, entering the kitchen with his dress shirt open and smiling as he listened to Stella explaining to their baby the steps on how to make instant oatmeal.

"Maybe our baby will be a chef," Mac teased as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. "Let me finish the rest."

Stella simply nodded as she headed for the bathroom to have her own shower and get ready for the day. Even with woman on top working for them in the bedroom, having sex in the bathtub was out of the question due to the hard and unforgiving surface. A smile played upon her lips as her mind showed her Mac's naked body trapped and at her mercy. She felt a pang of guilt when he first opened his eyes and his mind must have forced him to remember his being trapped at Ella's place. But she was more than delighted when his actions and words, begged her to believe that he wasn't about to let Ella ruin their sexual adventures and their session was filled with the same passion as always.

She finished her shower and then headed into the bedroom to change. She remembered the first time she had to go maternity shopping and asking the woman how the clothing worked; the tummy panel something that was completely new to her. The sales Lady had taken just as much delight in her new look as she did. And while she only bought a few every day pieces, she decided she would hold on to them. The fact that Mac suggested they have two children was something that made her love for him grow even more than she thought possible.

"Mmm I do miss the smell of coffee," Stella lightly moaned as she walked up to the breakfast table just as Mac finished dressing it.

"How long do you have to wait?"

"Well I'll talk to Dr. Marsh about coffee and breast feeding and see what she says, but I'm sure she'll tell me to limit the caffeine. I'll just have to make due with lots of chocolate," she smiled as Mac squeezed her hand.

"Well we do have a fondue set," Mac reminded her of a wedding gift they received.

"Ah that's right. Well maybe if you're good we'll bring it out for a special occasion."

"Like the sound of that."

XXXXXXXX

Mac and Stella exited the elevators into a barrage of people waiting for them.

"See you at lunch time," Mac told Stella as he followed after Flack, Stella going with Sheldon and Adam to help with a new case.

"Stella Hollister is going to be just fine," Flack informed Mac on the stabbing victim from the day before.

"Anything on Ella?"

"No. Did she call you?"

"No," Mac frowned. "I thought for sure she'd at least call to confirm that I was worried about her. The fact that she didn't, is even more troubling."

"How so?"

"Means she no longer wants to listen to reason and that means reality could be gone completely."

"Damn it!" Flack cursed. "But where the hell is she?"

Ella neared Mac's apartment, tugging her disguise down further. Without a code she knew she couldnt get in; so she'd have to wait until someone came who lived there, a fake key in hand just to make it look real. She had put on some darker foundation to give her pale skin a darker glow and added some brown to her blondish eyebrows, also adding a few darker features.

She narrowed her eyes at the two policemen parked outside and cursed.

"Nice try Mac, but I'm very persistent," Ella hissed under her breath. She nervously paced back and forth, cursing once again each time someone neared the apartment but then failed to go inside. Finally about half hour later, an older woman finally approached the door and that afforded Ella the opportunity she needed. She casually walked toward the older woman, keys in hand, heart racing.

"Please hold the door," Ella smiled at the older woman.

"Sure deary which apartment are you in?"

"1023. My husband and I just moved in. I'm Ella Taylor," she lied openly with a broad smile. As the older woman headed for the mail boxes, Ella noticed that she took note of the name on the mail box plate and then offered Ella a nod. Ella nodded back before she quickly got on the elevator, not waiting for the older woman who kindly allowed her to enter the forbidden apartment.

Ella's heart continued to race as the elevator slowly climbed to the ten floor and then finally deposited her on Mac's floor. With a small pick for the lock in her hand, she hurried toward the front door and then got to work, cursing herself for the amount of time she was seeming to take. Finally the lock popped and the door slowly opened.

Ella pushed herself inside and then locked the door once again, offering a deep breath as she leaned against the door, wiling her heart to slow down.

"I'm home Mac," she mumbled as she finally opened her eyes and looked around the Taylor household. "Very neat," she frowned as she looked into the living room. She noticed Mac's bass guitar beside a book about being a parent and felt her anger rising once more. She wandered toward the bedroom, pausing by the kitchen and pressing forward. She reached the doorway to the Master bedroom and stopped, her grin widening as she glanced at Mac's side of the bed. But as she moved her eyes and noticed the black fuzzy handcuffs her anger rose once more as she pictured Mac enjoying adventerous sex with his wife; sex she wanted to have with him.

"I hate that woman!" She hissed as she turned to leave. But as she did, she noticed a spare set of police issue handcuffs and a gun. Her fingers danced around the cold steel of the weapon as she carefully picked it up and held it in her hand. "I could just shoot her and be done with it," Ella whispered to herself as she snatched the set of cuffs and sat down on the edge of the bed to wait for whoever came home first.

"I'm guessing Mrs. Taylor will tire faster, now that she's expecting and come home...and when she does...she'll find me...and then she'll die."

"Yeah that's it," Stella smiled as she hung up the phone and looked up as Mac walked into her office. She leaned back in her chair and let out a heavy sigh. "That was Morrison."

"And?"

"He's decided to drop the charges."

"What a relief. I'll call Flack to let Page know. We can finally wrap this damn thing up. How are you feeling?"

"Anxious," Stella frowned. "Just a strange feeling inside."

"I think you should go home and rest."

"You are making me dinner tonight...remember...just your underwear," she reminded him with a playful smile.

"I remember," Mac downplayed with an embarrassed expression.

"Good," Stella added with a firm nod of her head as she pushed herself away from the desk, slowly stood up and headed for her husband. She offered him a small kiss on the cheek and squeezed his arm. And despite the fact that people knew they were happily married, with a family on the way, they never took liberties with their public displays of affection; knowing the work place was not the place for such behavior and they needed to set the proper example.

"I'll be home as soon as I can. I love you," Mac told her as he helped her with her coat, giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze before he planted a warm kiss on her cheek. "See you soon."

Stella offered him one more smile before she took her leave, heading for the police escort that Mac had arranged earlier in the day. Having been informed that no one matching Ella's given description was seen around their apartment, they figured all was safe.

Stella made small talk with the older officer in the police car on the way home, but her mind was now distracted by the thought of Mac making dinner with only his underwear on.

"Thank you, I got it from here," Stella told the officer as he escorted her to the front door. Stella made her way inside her apartment building and then into the elevator, the anxious feeling still lingering. She made up her mind as the elevator came to a stop that she would have a hot bath and just relax before her husband got home. She neared her front door, but once again her brain was too distracted and tired to notice the faint scuff marks from the lock pick and so entered her home under the guise of safety.

Once inside she locked the door and quickly removed her coat. But as he turned around she stifled a gasp as Ella McBride stood before her gun in hand, pointing it at her belly before she raised it to her face.

"Welcome home Mrs. Taylor," Ella stated in contempt as she pointed the gun at Stella's belly.

Stella gulped hard but knew she had to down play her terror right now or she could force herself into premature labor. Her hand instinctively went to her belly to shield whatever she thought was coming. Ella looked at the woman before her in surprise. The small protective gesture finally was able to penetrate some of the hatred that Ella had been festering for Stella Taylor, and just like the small stray cat in the alley from earlier, she found herself unable to just pull the trigger and kill an innocent child and its protective mother.

"Drop your purse and walk over to the table and sit down on the floor."

"Ella, please let's just talk," Stella tried.

"I don't want to talk to you!"

"I'd like to talk to you," Stella tried again with a weak smile.

"I said move!"

"Ella..." Stella started as Ella cocked the trigger.

"Just MOVE!" Ella finished in a yell.

Stella offered a soft nod as she slowly made her way over to the table and then turned and looked at Ella with a frown. She tried to control her breathing, but terrifying images of women having their babies cut out of their bellies started to flood her senses and her breathing started to shallow.

"Now close your eyes and turn around."

"Please don't do this," Stella stated in a firm tone.

"I..." Ella tried as Stella's hands gently shielded her belly once more.

"Whatever you want..."

"I WANT MAC!" Ella stammered.

"Okay, so why don't we just talk about it like two mature women."

Ella looked at her and frowned. She had expected to be cursed at and belittled, making the job of killing Stella Taylor much easier and more satisfying. But the woman before her was controlled and talking to her in a respectful tone; something that was now forcing her to have second thoughts about actually committing murder.

"I...I can't...now sit down," Ella instructed and Stella could to little more than comply and pray that Mac arrived home before it was too late.

Stella eased herself to a sitting position only to have Ella come up behind her and press the gun into her back. Stella felt Ella grab one of her wrists and lock a handcuff around it and for a split second thought about fighting her to get the gun away from her. If she hadn't been pregnant, it would have been a no brainer, but now she had to think about protecting the life of her unborn baby at all costs and so could only offer a small curse when Ella wrapped the second handcuff around the table leg, leaving at least one hand to soothe and protect her belly.

"Ella, please tell me what is going on," Stella tried to talk to her in a calm tone as Ella slide down to the floor, her back resting on the center island wall.

Ella looked at the woman before her with an angry glare. "I'm going to kill you so that Mac and I can be together," she simply stated.

Stella swallowed hard and knew she had to not only keep her emotions and breathing under control but also her words and tone so as not to escalate an already volatile situation. Oh Mac, you have to hurry, Stella moaned inside. Thankfully the cuffs were on the loosest setting and her wrist was small enough to squeeze through if she had to, not even worried about the skin that might tear along the way; it was now a fight to stay alive.

"Mac is really worried about you Ella," Stella tried in a calm tone.

"He loves me," Ella simply stated.

And as hard as it was for Stella to even try to contemplate the reason behind the lie thrown in her face, she could only offer a weak stare and try to keep her heart rate calm.

"Doesn't that make you mad?"

"No," Stella lied. "I'm sure there is a lot about you that he could love."

Ella looked at her in anger. She's not supposed to be saying nice things to me. Damn it! I just want to kill her. But as she raised the gun once more and cocked it, she was once again taken aback by Stella's free hand immediately going to her belly to protect it.

"Aren't you afraid to die?" Ella asked angrily.

Stella looked at her and her eyes started to well as she slowly nodded her head in truth. "Yes," she managed in a deathly whisper.

"You know I could just kill you and not your baby," Ella stated in anger, not really thinking about what she was saying. She moved a few inches closer to Stella, the gun nearing her stomach and Stella felt herself automatically backing up; but with the chair behind her, she was trapped.

"I could JUST DO IT!" Ella shouted, forcing Stella try to pull her knees up to protect herself further.

"Please don't, I don't want my baby to grow up like me."

"What?"

XXXXXXXX

"Very happy to get this scum off the streets," Flack sighed as he slumped down in a chair before Mac's desk. "How's Stella?"

"Resting at home. An officer drove her there."

"She actually listened to you?" Flack teased and Mac just frowned and shook his head. But a few seconds later a timid knock was heard on the glass door and both looked up to see a young man standing staring at them.

"That's Carl Franklin," Flack informed Mac who quickly gestured for the young man to enter; remembering the name of Ella's so called boyfriend.

"Detective Taylor?" Carl asked in hesitation.

"Everything okay?"

"Have you heard from Ella?"

"No, have you?"

"No," he answered with a sigh as he nervously shifted from foot to foot. "I um heard about the woman who was stabbed and...your wife's name is Stella right?"

"That's right why?"

"I think she might be in danger or something."

"What did she say Carl?" Mac asked directly.

"Well it's been a few days since I talked to her and...I'm really worried that she's going to do something stupid. She said she was going to ensure her future happiness by getting rid the one person that stands between her and the man she loves," Carl confessed in sorrow, his eyes slightly watering. "I um...I guess I thought that was me until yesterday."

Mac looked at the tormented man before him and felt his heart ache. He loved her; inside Carl Franklin truly cared for and loved Ella McBride.

"Can't imagine that was easy for you to admit but I do thank you for the truth. I wish she could see that," Mac huffed as he exchanged worried glances with Flack.

"Why do you still care for her?" Flack wondered.

"I just do. Is your wife okay?" Carl answered Flack and then looked at Mac and asked his question.

"She's at home resting," Mac stated with a feeling of uneasiness starting to develop.

"I know you want to call her Mac, why not do it so that all of us can hear," Flack suggested.

Mac offered a simple nod before he pressed speaker and dialed their home number. When he got voice mail, he hung up and tried Stella's cell, thinking that if she was in the bath like she said she would be then she might not be able to get their home phone but would answer her cell.

"Voice mail," Mac stated in anger as he quickly dialed police dispatch and asked to be put through to the officers outside his apartment.

"No one looking like Ella McBride has been seen so far Sir," the uniformed officer answered.

"Any young women at all?"

"Earlier this morning a woman with darker features entered with an older Lady. The older Lady seemed to know her. Talking like they were close and such."

"Damn it!" Mac cursed as he tried his home number again. "Come on Stella, pick up," he urged as he hung up and then tried Ella's number before he looked at Flack in a panic. "She's there."

"I'll call Sully and Jess."

"Flack, we go on silent alarm," Mac warned. "If Stella is a hostage I don't want to escalate this...worse than it may be already."

"Think she's still alive?" Carl dared to ask as the three of them hurried for the elevator.

"Thinking anything less is not an option right now!" Mac finished in a growl. Stella, I pray you are alive and safe. God I pray you are not dead.

XXXXXXXX

Stella's body automatically flinched as Mac's empty rings kept filling the now quiet Taylor apartment.

"Mac is very persistent," Ella whispered as she stared at Stella's baby bump. "What did you mean when you said you didn't want your baby to grow up like you? A cop?"

"An orphan. An unloved and abandoned orphan."

Ella heard the two tormented words and tried to fight back the rising compassion that was once again trying to force it's way into her subconscious; reminding her that the scared young woman who was able to befriend, if for even a few seconds a scared cat, was also capable of sparing the life un an unborn child and it's worried mother.

"My mother died when I was two and I never knew her."

"What happened to your father? He some no good bastard like mine was?"

"Never knew him. I assume for him not to come looking for me, meant he didn't want me," Stella explained, not wanting to have Ella dwell upon the rational explanation that maybe her mother never told her father. "He probably was a bastard."

"Mac would make a good father," Ella stated with a half smile.

"You should call him Ella, he's worried about you," Stella urged, wanting to try to get a warning message to Mac before he arrived home; not knowing that Mac was already on his way to their apartment.

"I know you love him, but he's MINE!" Ella shouted in anger, her eyes slightly watering. "He's the only man who ever showed me love and compassion!"

"Carl loves you."

"Carl just wants to get laid on a regular basis!" Ella spat in contempt. "He doesn't love me."

"For a man to share something so intimate with you, means he loves you," Stella once again tried to reason, trying anything to get her to lower the gun.

"He just used me!" Ella stated loudly as she pushed herself back a foot, her eyes watering a little bit more. "Just like everyone else! My mother used me; my father used me; so did Molly and Carl...Mac is the only one who ever did something just for me!"

"He's worried Ella," Stella told her again; not actually able to get the words, Mac loves you or Mac cares for you passed her lips.

"Think I will make a good mother?" Ella suddenly asked, her watery eyes resting on Stella's stomach.

Stella's hand gently flinched under Ella's gaze and she felt her heart rate starting to rise. "I think you'll be a very caring and protective mother."

"I'll probably kill my child!" Ella laughed as she looked away in misery. Kill her now! One part of her brain argued. Just leave town! The other part argued. "I really want to kill you," she whispered in agony.

"You are not a murderer Ella."

"I want to be with Mac!"

"If you kill me, you'll never be with him. They'll put you in solitary for a very long time."

"I can't...go back there..." she shook her head no in anger and frustration. "That would kill me!"

"You're not a bad person Ella."

"Yes I am! Maybe I would deserve that, but if you were gone, then Mac would come and visit me!"

"You don't deserve that kind of treatment."

"Yes I do! I killed that woman!" She shouted as she raised the gun and cocked the trigger once more.

"She didn't die Ella, she survived," Stella told her firmly.

"NO! You're just saying that," she shouted in anger.

"I am not lying to you Ella," Stella tried to assure her in a calm tone; which to her own ears sounded shaky and terrified.

"I'm to blame," she cursed herself as she gently rocked back and forth on her heels. "I'm to blame."

Stella studied the young woman before her and actually felt sorry for her mental state; she could sense by her words that a real battle of hatred and compassion was waging war inside her, but that made her a dangerous opponent as that meant she could go either way.

Stella watched as Ella reached for her purse and then much to her horror watched as a small knife was pulled out and held in her palm. She felt herself swallow hard, her eyes nervously shifting back and forth between Ella and the blade.

"Ella, why not take off that hat," Stella suddenly mentioned forcing Ella to look up in wonder.

"What?"

"Your hair is so beautiful Ella, I'd like to see it. I always wanted blond hair."

"I think Mac likes blond hair," Ella mumbled as she finally pulled her hat off and let her unruly locks tumble down her back. She was about to say something more when a knock was heard at the door, causing Ella to quickly scamper over to the side of Stella that was cuffed to the table leg. But in doing so she stumbled and nearly thrust the knife into Stella's belly.

Stella tried to grab at the knife and sustained a cut to her arm. Determined not to give up she tried once more. But Stella's hand caught the blade but when Ella pulled back, the blade cut her palm causing Stella to offer a painful gasp and quickly pull her hand back. And as with the other day, when Ella saw the blood that had now transferred to the base of Stella's stomach and saw the cut on her flesh her mind yelled at her to stop, which is why the woman in the laundry from the day before didn't die; she just couldn't go all the way.

Mac turned the key in the door only to have to duck as shot rang out inside his apartment, embedding itself into the wall beside the door.

"Stella!" Mac shouted.

Stella looked at Ella, trying to control her tears, her cut hand firmly clutching the bottom of her maternity shirt to try to stop the bleeding.

"Don't come in here Mac!" Ella warned.

"I just want to talk to you Ella," Mac stated firmly. "I am here alone and I give you my word, I'll come in unarmed. Please don't fire off that gun anymore. Is Stella still alive?"

"I am Mac," Stella replied firmly, forcing Mac to look at Flack with a small expression of relief. He quickly pulled off his coat and suit jacket, handing his gun holder to Flack, praying Ella would listen to reason.

"Ella?"

"Not ready for you yet Mac," Ella swallowed nervously as she turned back to Stella with angry eyes. "Your wife is still ALIVE!"

"Mac will want to see you at your best Ella," Stella tried once again to try to get her to listen to reason and at least lower one of the weapons she was now holding.

"Mac loves me!"

"Ella?" Mac's voice was heard again. "Can I come in?"

"NOT YET!" She screamed as she fired off another shot into the wall, forcing Stella's body to automatically jerk in response to the nearness of the gun; praying the loud sounds and tension wouldn't cause further strain to the baby than she feared it already had. Her heart was racing and her stomach starting to cramp and she prayed she wasn't experiencing premature labor pains.

"Okay Ella, you are in control. You tell me when, but I am here alone and not going anywhere."

"The shots...your neighbors will call the cops!" She shouted.

"No one could hear them but me Ella," Mac lied, praying in her highly charged emotional state, she'd believe him.

"I just want you to love me Mac," Ella mentioned in a defeated tone.

"Ella, I'm here because I'm worried about you. Please let me come in?"

"Do you love me Mac?"

"Ella, I'd like to tell you something that important face to face," Mac begged through the closed door.

"You love her," Ella offered as she looked at Stella in anger and misery. "HE LOVES YOU!" She shouted.

"Ella, Mac wants to come in and talk to you," Stella tried again.

"Your wife is bleeding Mac," Ella mentioned and Mac felt his fists automatically tighten and his stomach to lurch. He grabbed his gun and reached for the door handle only to be pulled back by Flack's strong arm.

"Ask her where first," Flack mentioned.

"Where is she bleeding?"

"Looks like from the baby," Ella stated.

"Mac, our baby is fine!" Stella called out, wanting to assure her husband that their child was still safe, at least she prayed it was.

Ella heard Stella's words and then Mac's 'thank god' outside and knew her attempts were all in vain; her attraction one sided. She slowly pushed herself up and then looked down at Stella as she raised the gun and cocked the trigger.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

BANG!

A/N: okay so don't hate me as you know I'd never kill Stella but what do you think happened? Please review and let me know and thanks in advance.