Title: All I Need is You
Chapter 17 - Two Roads to Recovery
"NO!" Mac shouted as he grabbed his gun from Flack's hand, charged his front door and allowed his body to burst through the wood, forcing it to splinter in all directions.
"Stella!" He stated in horror as he looked at the scene before him. Stella's tears had forced black mascara to run down the sides of her cheeks, some blood on her chin; her faced flushed. She was still cuffed to the table with what appeared to be blood coming from her pelvic area, her free hand covered with blood and resting on her belly, she was lightly shaking.
"Mac!" Stella breathed as Mac hurried to undo the handcuff, Flack and Angell tending to Ella, who had tried to shoot herself in the abdomen, wanting so desperately to end her pitiful existence but not being able.
"She's still alive! Call it in Sully!" Flack shouted to veteran Detective John Sullivan who quickly called for two ambulances.
"Oh god Stella, just lay down and rest...where are you bleeding?" Mac asked with watery eyes as he eased Stella onto the floor, Jessica now helping her while Sully and Carl helped Flack stop Ella's bleeding. Mac ripped part of his dress shirt to wrap around Stella's hand and then got her to apply pressure with the other hand to her arm wound, stopping the bleeding.
"My hand and arm Mac they are okay. The baby..." she sobbed. "Mac the baby...it hurts so much," she continued as Mac pulled his phone and called for a medic for Stella; telling them to notify Dr. Marsh to meet them at the hospital, Stella might be in early labor.
Mac carefully gathered his wife into his arms and firmly held her, his heart racing in panic as her body temperature started to rise. They both glanced over at Ella's still body and cursed the futility of the situation.
"Damn you Ella!" Mac cursed under his breath, not caring if she heard or not.
Ella's eyes slightly fluttered open and she looked up into Carl's concerned face. "Mac..." she whispered which caused Carl to frown.
"Carl, Ella," he told her and her eyes blinked once more. "It's Carl."
"Carl," she whispered.
"Gotta fight now Ella," Carl gently begged. "For me okay," he said as he firmly held her hand.
Ella closed her eyes, praying for death to finally take it's hold; releasing her from this cruel existence. But fate is not without a sense of irony and wasn't about to let her get off so easily for all the pain and suffering she had caused; it was her turn to experience the pain she had inflicted.
Mac looked back down at Stella's belly that was now stained with her blood and felt his stomach wanting to give way. But as her body continued to tremble in his, he knew his strength was something she needed right now more so than his own personal anxiety and fears. Finally after what seemed a slow painful eternity the first set of medics arrived and started to work on Ella McBride; losing her once but finally stabilizing her enough to get her to the into the ambulance and then to the hospital. Jessica went in the ambulance with Ella and Carl while Flack remained behind with Mac and Stella.
"Stella talk to me," Mac begged as the medics, specialized in pre-natal transfer, finally arrived, never allowing Stella's words to be heard. Mac regrettably stepped aside and allowed the two paramedics to get Stella ready for transport, worried that their baby now might be born prematurely. Flack gave orders for the two officers to remain behind and guard the Taylor residence as he followed after Mac in his own car, already calling the landlord to get a new door installed as soon as possible.
Mac held Stella's hand and looked down at her in misery. The medic had bandaged her hand but he could tell that when she flexed her palm the pain she was biting back was from her stomach not the knife wound. Her other hand gently rubbed her belly, the baby inside anxious and not knowing what was going on.
"Our baby Mac," Stella gasped, trying to get her breathing to slow. "Our baby is coming."
Mac leaned down, gently lifted the bloody fabric and kissed her belly, pressing his warm lips on the cool skin. "Hello little one, its daddy," his voice finally broke, gentle tears running down her flushed skin. "You can't come out just yet okay. You have to wait until mommy's ready," he said in a calm tone, thankful that when he looked back up into the face of his beautiful wife, he was rewarded with a smile instead of a grimace.
"Stella Taylor, I love you so much," Mac whispered as he pushed some damp curls off his face and then moved back up and kissed her lips, gently wiping some mascara away. "You are safe now, it's over. You just need to try to relax."
"Trying Mac," she sniffled. "Really...trying."
"I know. You're doing great," he replied with a tight smile as she squeezed his hand once more and he felt her anxiety transfer to him. They finally arrived at the hospital and Mac hurried after Stella into a small ER room where Dr. Marsh was already waiting for them.
"Just hang back Mac," Dr. Marsh kindly instructed.
"Right," Mac huffed as he stepped back a few feet and allowed Dr. Marsh and two other nurses to tend to his wife. He watched the look on her face and felt his stomach tighten as she felt another false contraction and the small room was filled her gasps of pain.
"Stella, you are going to be fine. You just need to relax and do what I tell you," Dr. Marsh instructed.
Mac listened to her words and about thirty minutes later was more than relieved when the vitals monitor finally started to return to normal; their baby and its mother would both be fine; delivery would be on the date expected and not sooner.
"Dr. Marsh?"
"Your wife is a strong, determined woman Mac."
"I know. Is she okay? Our baby?"
"She's going to be fine Mac, they both are."
"But..."
"Just a few stress contractions. But your baby will be born when it's due, not today," Dr. Marsh told him as she finally motioned for him to come forward. Dr. Marsh squeezed his hand and offered a kind smile. "You two have quite the active social calendar," she gently teased. "Stella, needs no work or excitement for the next few days. Please promise me that or this night could become a reality."
"We both promise," Stella piped up in a soft tone.
"If you wait just a minute Mac, I'll have a private room for the night and a sleeping bed for you. I insist you take advantage of it."
"I'm not going to argue," Mac stated in haste as he leaned back down and planted a warm kiss on Stella's lips.
On the walk up to the room, he got a text from Jessica, stating that Ella was still in surgery, her will to live almost gone but she was still hanging on; Carl still nervously pacing outside. Dr. Marsh finished up with Stella and then quietly took her leave, allowing Mac to finally hover over his wife as he wanted to earlier. He pulled up a chair and eased himself down, never unlocking his eyes with hers.
"Stella I'm..." Mac started as his eyes watered once more. Stella's hand gently touched her husbands face and brushed a tear away as it threatened to run down his face.
"Sorry for scaring you," Stella whispered and Mac shook his head no.
"Stella please don't," he begged in remorse. "I'm um..." he wasn't able to get the words out. His eyes wandered up to the monitor that was following the baby and he closed his eyes in anger.
"Our baby is still fine Mac," Stella assured him, forcing him to open his eyes and look back at her in misery.
"I love you so much I can't even tell you how much right now," he huffed in frustration. "Carl um...he came and told me about Ella and...and when I called and you didn't answer..."
"I also owe him my thanks then," Stella whispered again, her voice hoarse from crying.
Mac leaned closer once more and rested his head right beside hers, allowing his body to dispel another heavy exhale.
"We're free now Mac," Stella stated in a low tone.
"Came at far too high a price Stella," he confessed as his fingers played with some stray curls around her forehead as he looked into the green pools before him. His own body would offer a sympathy wince every time she felt a small twinge in her belly. But her uninjured hand continued to gently rub her belly, offering soothing touches as Dr. Marsh instructed. Mac's hand too took turns, as he would tenderly massage her stomach and talk to their baby in a soft loving tone.
"Stella please just close your eyes and try to rest okay," Mac suggested as he watched her struggling to stay awake.
"Mac..."
"I'm going to stay here all night with you both. Please?"
"I love you Mac Taylor, more than anything," she told him. Mac lowered his mouth to hers and planted a warm but firm kiss on her flushed lips.
"Just rest okay? For me?"
"Enough with the sad face. I'll have to use the cuffs if you aren't a good boy," she stated weakly and he finally rewarded her with a warm smile instead of a worried frown.
"Like the sound of that."
"But you still owe me dinner in your underwear," she reminded him and he gently smirked.
"Yeah didn't forget that," Mac stated as he kissed her once more. "Now please just close your eyes and rest."
Stella nodded her head and allowed Mac to completely cover her with a warm blanket before she finally allowed herself to fall into sleep, trying to get her brain to focus on images of their baby instead of the last few terrifying hours. Mac finally heard her starting to lightly snore and looked up to see Flack hovering in the doorway.
Mac carefully left Stella's side and headed for Flack, gently closing the door behind him, half way. Flack offered him a hug and Jessica did the same.
"How is she?" Flack asked in concern.
"False labor but thankfully the baby is deciding to stay put for now. But she'll be off work for the next few days and then it's the weekend so five days of solid rest should really help. I already called Danny and told him that neither of us would be until Monday and he was in charge," Mac replied with a heavy sigh and a deep frown.
"Brave man," Flack teased.
"Was worried she'd lose it or it would be born premature and um...die."
"Kids a fighter Mac, just like its parents."
"It was Stella's calm head that kept her and the baby alive Mac," Jessica assured him. "Lindsay called again," Jessica smiled. "She's taking up a collection for flowers."
"Tell her to send it to the apartment."
"The landlord will have a new door for you guys tomorrow and Danny and Lindsay are there right now cleaning it up," Flack informed him. "Sully is working on Ella's paperwork right now. She'll be going to actual jail this time Mac."
"I doubt another stint in simple rehab would have worked," Mac replied in remorse. "What a waste."
"Carl is still with her," Jessica said. "He really does care for her."
"At least someone does," Flack frowned. "But Sullivan was able to track down an aunt in Texas. The woman asked if he would be able to get her transferred to the women's prison out there. Maybe if she's away from here and around real family, she'll be able to get some kind of closure and at least move on with...well whatever."
Mac talked to them for a bit longer before he headed back into the room to be with his wife. Although he was worried if Ella would pull through, as he would be with any one in that situation, he wasn't about to pay her special heed; once again holding true to the fact that his love, time and attention would only ever belong to one woman and one woman alone; his wife, Stella Taylor.
Mac planted one more kiss on her cheek before he removed his shoes and carefully climbed into the bed that was beside hers. He reached under the blanket and breathed a huge sigh of relief when her skin was warm not cold in his fingers. He looked up at the baby monitor and smiled; his child was going to be okay. They all would be okay now.
Ella slowly felt herself coming out of her drugged stupor and forced her eyes to open. Instead of seeing the man she wanted she cast her gaze upon the man she needed; she just didn't realize to what extent just yet.
"Hey," Carl whispered softly as he offered her a tight smile.
"I screwed up big time didn't I?" She managed weakly.
"Yeah, you did," he frowned as he swallowed hard as he looked past her to the police guard outside her door. "But um...you are going to be okay now."
"Am I going to jail?"
"Yeah for a bit I guess...not sure how long."
"Okay."
"Ella, I care about you, do you believe me?"
"Part of me does," she confessed in soft truth. "Do you hate me?"
"Part of me does," Carl retorted and Ella tried to smile but it came across as a wince.
"I guess I deserved it," Ella tried in a soft tone. She closed her eyes and tried to picture Mac's face smiling at her. But when she opened them, it was Carl who was at her side, Mac was with his wife, where he always belonged.
"Molly called the other day," Carl started as Ella closed her eyes once more. "She said..." his voice rattled off the news as he held her hand and just sat at her side. He didn't care that he didn't have money or much else to show for himself, possession wise but inside he loved her and would continue to try to make her believe that she needed him.
Mac awoke an hour later by a scream from Stella and quickly turned on the light and looked at his wife in a panic. "Stella? What is it? Are you okay?"
"Just a nightmare Mac," Stella gently gasped as she eased herself back down. "Sorry to wake you."
"Please don't ever be sorry Stella," Mac whispered softly. "You need to let it out somehow. The baby monitor says our baby is still fine. Are you?"
Stella's hand gently massaged her stomach under the blanket as she looked over at her husband with a weak smile. "I was scared Mac."
"I know you were. So was I," he confessed as his finger tenderly caressed her cheek. "You know when I was in Beirut and sustained the wound when the base was attacked, I remember lying in that field hospital thinking I would never feel that scared again in my life. When Claire died, I was more angry than anything but today...damn Stella when I heard that shot and your scream and then...saw you I um..." Mac's voice broke as a stray tear escaped the corner of his eye and was quickly brushed away by his wife's hand. "And I saw the blood on your belly I thought...I thought I lost you both or would watch our child die and be unable to help save it. I was scared."
"Your love gave me strength Mac. Those few terrifying hours with her...it was your love that kept me strong," she assured him and was rewarded with a soft smile.
"How are you feeling now?"
"My anxiety is gone and the baby is finally at peace," she told him in truth. "I think my husband needs to rest also. Did you sleep at all?"
"You're kidding right? Stella you almost went into labor tonight. I might never sleep again."
"I'm fine Mac," Stella tired to assure him as she guided his lips to her and tenderly tasted them. "I love you, now get some sleep."
"Waiting for the or else," Mac teased and was finally rewarded with a gentle smile from his wife's lips.
"Not tonight. Please? For me?"
But knowing she'd worry further if he wasn't resting, he pushed himself back under the blanket, turned off the small light and grasped her uninjured hand once again. He whispered good night and then tried to force himself into sleep. However, as the night progressed and her lips would offer angry curses or soft gasps of terrified pain he knew sleep was something he would never get a hold of. Finally when all was quiet for at least half hour, Mac allowed himself to fall into sleep and didn't open his eyes until the sun was just starting to rise.
Stella had awoken before Mac and gazed at his handsome face at peace, asleep and finally the heavy frown was gone. She smiled as his lips would slightly purse as he breathed but a sound didn't escape past them and for that she was thankful; he needed his rest as she assumed he was probably up all night in worry and wonder.
She cast her glance to the baby monitor and smiled when she noticed the vitals were as they should be, hers included. She finally looked back at Mac and found him watching her in silence.
"What?"
"You, nothing more," he answered with a warm smile. "Hungry?"
"Very much," Stella answered in truth. "This protein drip just isn't the same," she mentioned as she fingered the IV tubing that was going into her stomach to keep her and the baby fed. "I just didn't feel like eating last night."
"Well Jessica left us some fresh clothes so whenever you are ready, there is a Denny's right around the corner."
"Could actually go for a Grand Slam," Stella teased as Mac pushed himself up and then helped her sit up also. She felt a slight twinge but remembered Dr. Marsh told her that the pains would come and go over the next twenty-four hours and that was normal; only to call her if they lasted longer than one continued hour in a row. The nurse came in and gently removed the tubing and then left so Stella could get ready to go.
"Are you going to see Ella?"
"No," Mac answered firmly. "Not because I don't want to but because I know it's pointless. I don't care about her Stella. I was worried, as I would be with anyone who was shot in my proximity but that's it. I am angry that she did what she did and I think to see her would just offer me an outlet for hatred that would harm me as well. I do hope she gets the help she deserves but this time it's up to the courts, not me. I'll have nothing more to do with her."
Stella placed both hands on his face and planted another warm kiss on his inviting lips. While she wouldn't have held ill will toward him if he did want to say something to Ella before she was gone, his actions just cemented his devotion to his family in her mind and heart.
"Come on, let's get dressed and go home."
Mac closed the door for privacy before he walked back up to Stella and helped her remove the hospital gown. He was thankful the blood had been cleaned off the night before and so bent down and planted a warm kiss on her belly, resting her hand and offering a sigh of relief when their child moved in delight at the warmth it's father's hand offered. After Stella was dressed she rested while Mac also got changed and then they slowly headed to the parking lot where Flack had the Avalanche waiting.
Mac told her about the door and the clean up as they neared the restaurant, nothing else was mentioned about Ella McBride. They took a small booth near back, away from the noise and ordered two hearty breakfasts; talking about the upcoming Messer wedding and things that needed to be either fixed or changed at home.
As they neared their apartment sometime later, Mac felt Stella's hand tense in his and couldn't really fault her for feeling anxiety about coming back home to a place she nearly died in a few hours earlier. Mac stopped at the new door and looked at Stella with a frown, stopping her from entering.
"Mac?"
"Stella, when I had picked this place for us, well finalized it...you know what I mean, I had every intention of it being a place that was safe and full of love. But after yesterday, if you want to move, I'll understand."
Stella touched Mac's cheek with her hand to which Mac then took that hand and tenderly kissed it.
"Mac, this is my home; a place I fell in love with the moment my eyes first fell upon it. This has been the place that I had wanted you and I to make a new start in, that feeling and desire hasn't changed."
"Stella, you could have died in there, when you are here alone will you be okay?"
"Much like you, I refuse to let Ella McBride destroy my future with you Mac; to destroy something I worked so hard to build. I love you and I love our home. I will not lie to either of us and pretend yesterday's horror didn't happen or say it won't affect me for a few more days; but I am also not going to allow a very disturbed person to keep me an emotional prisoner in my home, a home I have wanted with you all my life," Stella confessed as she kissed his cheek. "I survived Frankie with you at my side and I will survive this."
"We'll go in when you're ready," Mac told her.
Stella took a few deep breaths, offered Mac a small smile and then pushed the door open. Her mind instantly flashed images of herself, handcuffed to the table with blood on her hands and Ella's dying body a few feet from hers just before Mac rushed in with panic written all over his face. But as she blinked away the tears and felt Mac's hand gently squeezed her shoulders she allowed herself to see that the room was clean, not even a speck of blood, the room smelt fresh with a few beautiful bouquets of flowers from the team in various places, further adding to the soothing aroma of their newly sanitized apartment.
"They did a great job of cleaning up," Mac whispered in Stella's ear as he helped her with her coat. "I'm not going to go all dictator like on you but..."
"Mac, trust me I want to take it easy, yesterday really gave me a good scare. So I'll tell you what, I'm going to go and rest and since I know you just won't sleep with me right now, bring your laptop into the bedroom and keep me company."
"I like the sound of that," Mac stated warmly as he slowly removed his coat. He watched her eyes nervously dart around and found his anger starting to rise automatically toward Ella McBride. But he knew in his mind, if she hadn't tried to kill herself, he would have burst through the door and put a bullet into her no questions asked; Stella's safety the only thing that mattered. Thankfully it didn't come to that but as he watched his wife slowly trudge toward their bedroom, it took more than a few minutes for his anger to subside.
Mac busied himself with putting things away that he didn't get to do the night before and by the time he slowly wandered into their bedroom, Stella was on her side asleep; a peaceful expression on her beautiful face. But as he looked at her bandaged arm and hand, his heart started to beat painfully in his chest as this time it was his mind that flashed terrifying images of when he burst through the door and saw the blood on Stella's stomach and figured that something bad had happened to her or their unborn child. And despite the fact that he had work that he had to get done, he couldn't help but slowly crawl into bed and gently wrap his arms around his wife, taking delight in her whispered words of love as she curled into his embrace and took him into the dark realm of sleep with her.
Mac's sleep as he suspected was light and mostly disturbed as Stella's body gently jerked with a bad dream, forcing him to quickly awaken to make sure she was okay. But she never did full awaken, her body still pressed up against her husband's in the warm nest of covers.
Finally an hour later as the sun was starting to set, Stella slowly opened her eyes to see Mac sitting beside her reading.
"Hey," she mumbled with a sleepy tone, making him look down and plant a warm kiss on her forehead.
"How did you sleep?"
"You know it was fitful. Did you sleep at least a little bit?"
"A little bit," Mac assured her. "But you needed it more. I want you just to rest tonight, I'm ordering in."
"Mac..."
"Stella I love you and I think that if I were to make dinner for you while you were wearing nothing but your underwear, I would want to make love to you right there. As much as I would love to have sex with you in our kitchen, I think we should wait until the memories aren't so fresh and your pain has for the most part subsided."
"How do you know I am still in pain?"
"The winces you are hiding from me tell me the whole story. But I expected as much and would feel selfish for even wanting to suggest that we make love tonight. So tonight I'm going to order in, draw you a bath and then play for the two most important people in my life," Mac told her warmly, her eyes watering at his use of the words two most important people in his life. "How does that sound?"
"Perfect," Stella agreed as she gently lowered Mac's lips to hers and tasted them. "Just like you."
Mac beamed under her words and helped her ease into a sitting position, putting his laptop away; work now finished for the day. He handed Stella their baby book, pulled her up against his shoulder and took delight in the sound of her soft voice reading to him. An hour later, the food Mac ordered in was on the table, some soft candles lit and both were able to sit at the table and enjoy dinner, soft music playing in the background. Their conversation focusing on each other and their coming family instead of the one person who had worked hard to destroy it.
Carl paced Ella's ICU room, listening to the officer explain to the court appointed lawyer what charges she was facing and the fact that she had agreed to the transfer to the women's prison in Houston, where her aunt was located nearby. After the room was quiet again, Carl wandered up to Ella's bedside and slowly sat down.
"He didn't come did he?"
"Nope," Carl answered absently.
"It's for the best."
"What?" Carl asked in shock as he looked over at Ella.
"It was my fault," she whispered and he quickly took her hand and held it.
"You are going to get some real help, Ella."
"I'm going to jail like a criminal!" She stated in contempt.
"You are a survivor Ella," Carl tried to comfort her. "You got through the rehab center and..."
"Harassment, kidnapping, unlawful confinement, attempted murder!" She spat in anger. "This is a bit different than a simple suicide attempt," she finished in a sad moan.
"Do you um want me to come and visit?"
Ella looked up at him with a frown. "You'd want to?"
"I could come up a few weekends," Carl told her. "Take the bus or something."
"I'd like that," she confessed as she squeezed his hand, her eyes watering in misery. "I would really like that," she started into a sob.
Carl looked at her in misery before he bent down and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll be there for you. No matter how long."
"Baby is back to its active self," Stella smiled as her hand felt their child move as Mac gently played for them. Mac reached his hand out and felt the movements and smiled.
"At least we'll know they'll like Aerosmith," Mac smiled as he put his guitar back in its case and just looked at his wife in concern. "Is our baby behaving?"
"A few more twinges here and there but Dr. Marsh said it's the prolonged pains I need to be worried about. I think I'll forgo the bath until the morning. I just want to sleep."
Mac nodded and helped Stella to her feet and slowly walked arm in arm to their bedroom. He watched with a smile as she changed, taking much delight in her appearance; their child was safe.
"You are so beautiful," Mac whispered as he hugged her close and planted a warm kiss on her cheek. He helped her into their bed and then eased himself in beside her. Much like the night before however, her sleep was fitful and his was light and disturbed. But knowing that he too needed rest, Mac carefully removed himself from their warm bed and slowly wandered into the living room and slumped down on the couch.
Stella awoke a few hours later and slowly opened her eyes, the nightmares had subsided a bit, along with the stomach twinges allowing her to get at least a few hours solid rest. When Mac's side of the bed felt cold she lifted her head and looked toward the hallway to see if he was in the bathroom; but no light was seen. With a small yawn she carefully pushed herself out of bed and went in search of him, only to see him fast asleep on the couch. She smiled at his handsome face as he slept in silence and wanted more than anything to wake him up and lead him back to bed. But as much as she wanted to feel him beside her, she knew he needed his rest and had taken refuge on the couch due to her movements keeping him awake; or his nightmares keeping her awake.
"I love you Mac Taylor," she whispered before she slowly headed back into their bedroom and eased herself under the covers once more. She remembered the terrified look on his face when he burst through their apartment door, his eyes instantly watering as he gazed upon her bloody stomach. But the strength and support she needed from him at that moment were offered without selfish thought of his own panicked concern.
"I love you so much Mac," she whispered once more before she closed her eyes for the second time and allowed herself to be carried right through until morning. Finally she woke up with the sun and carefully made her way back into the living room to see Mac gently stirring. She wandered into the kitchen to start his morning coffee, knowing that the next few days she was off, he'd be at her side, ensuring she didn't do anything to strain herself or their baby in any way.
She finally looked back out into the living room to see him awake and watching her with a warm smile.
"Morning beautiful."
"Morning handsome," Stella greeted her husband who rewarded her with a gesture to come to him. Mac moved himself up on the couch and pulled up the blanket so Stella could nestle herself in beside him. Mac hands started to gently massage Stella's shoulders, forcing her to smile with delight and pleasure.
"Got a text from my mom last night," Mac informed her. "Told her everything was okay."
"I'll call her today," Stella offered as her body slightly tingled from a stomach sensation. "Mac I'm sorry you had to sleep here last night."
"Don't be," Mac told her in haste. "I was able to sleep a few solid hours and I hope you did also."
"We both slept just fine," Stella smiled as her hands rested on her warm belly.
Mac pulled her backward onto his chest as he eased himself back a little further onto the couch. His hands replaced her on his belly and he tenderly rubbed it. "Morning baby," Mac spoke to their child, receiving the kick of approval he had come to cherish from their baby. "Are you going to behave for mommy today?"
"I can't wait until you actually have to ask our child that in person," Stella teased.
"What? Why?"
"Or when our child does something wrong."
"Stella?"
"All that child will have to do is turn down that bottom lip and offer you a sad face and I'm willing to bet you'll fold like a house of cards."
"Are you saying I'm weak?"
"A pile of mush Mac Taylor," she smiled and he lightly chuckled.
"What? I am not."
"A big ole pile of mush."
"Great. Better hope we don't have a girl then."
"If we have a boy, he'll have your sad face."
"I do not have a sad face..."
"Oh you know you can turn on the pathetic routine with me when you need to," she giggled as she looked up into his amused face. She gently lowered his lips to hers and tenderly tasted them. "It's the real you, the person you hide away from the rest of the world and are not afraid to show me that makes me love you all the more."
Mac's arms carefully tightened around his wife's shoulders as he leaned down and kissed her once more.
"Bacon and eggs for breakfast?"
"Stella..."
"Mac, I don't mind. You can help us if you'd like though."
They lingered on the couch until the coffee maker dinged, letting them know it was time to get the day started. Stella headed into the kitchen to get breakfast started, while Mac cleaned the living room and then headed into the bedroom to make their bed and then went to set the table.
"Don?" Stella asked some time later as Mac hung up the phone.
"Just an update on Ella. She has been officially booked on a number of charges and the court is reviewing the petition to have her moved to the women's prison in Houston, where her aunt is living. Carl is back at work and Ella is still under police protection until the judge has made her decision."
"Such a waste," Stella shook her head. "She could have died and for what?"
"For something that wasn't even real," Mac's fingers played with her uninjured hand. "I just don't understand what drove her to such lengths."
"Your kindness Mac. She misconstrued it in her brain as love and affection and that's what she always wanted. I think at first it was more fatherly and then become obsessive."
"I did not give her any reason..."
"I know you didn't," Stella was quick to assure him. "She did all on her own. Maybe if she had been helped earlier, and I mean as a child, things might have turned out differently. But hard to say."
"Right," Mac agreed and then changed the subject; neither wanting to dwell on a woman that caused them so much pain. The rest of the day was spent relaxing, Stella for the most part sleeping and Mac either working, reading or resting with her. They had both agreed to wait one more night, until Stella's pain had completely subsided before experimenting with a new sexual technique.
"Didn't know you wanted a bath," Stella smiled as she walked into the bathroom as Mac was adding some soothing smelling soap to the warm bath, knowing she wasn't allowed to have hot baths due to the stage of her pregnancy.
"This is for you," he said pushing himself back up to face her.
"Are you going to join me?"
"Hardly," Mac smiled as she pouted. "Stella be serious. Your perfect naked body pressed up against mine? It would take a lot more than handcuffs for me not to want to make love."
"Whatever happened to self control Mac?"
"Never had it when it comes to you," he replied warmly as he kissed the top of her forehead and turned and left the room. He allowed her whatever time she needed to change and then slide under the hot water before he reappeared with a book in his hand.
"Mac?"
"Well not all quality time has to be sex you know," he teased.
"Oh really?" She arched a brow. "So then..."
"I am going to read to the two of you," Mac stated as he slowly eased himself onto the floor, his back to the wall, his right side to her and looked at her with a loving smile before he allowed her to guide his lips to hers and kissed them.
"Sounds perfect," Stella smiled.
Mac started into his reading, Stella's fingers playing with his hair and gently massaging his head as she continued to relax in the warm water. In between reading on what to expect from a newborn, they would talk about how they would handle certain things, sleeping arrangements mostly, with Stella needing to be up for feeding times and then Mac being up if the baby needed to be held or changed, allowing her her much needed rest. Finally it was time to call it a night and both exited the bathroom and once again fell asleep in each other's arms, happy and content and for the most part praying that the memory of Ella McBride would continue to fade into black.
The next morning Mac awoke and looked at Stella and smiled. It was the first night in days that both had slept together solidly through the night; the nightmares and painful twinges all but spent. Mac leaned forward and kissed Stella on the nose, smiling as her face gently creased with delight.
"Morning beautiful," he whispered as green slowly revealed itself to blue. "I'm glad you slept through the night."
"Me too. A few twinges and another nightmare but thankfully none bad enough to send you to the couch."
"I didn't mind," he assured her as his fingers pushed some curls out of her face. "You know what we haven't done since Greece."
"What?"
"Had breakfast in bed."
"You're right...well what are we waiting for?" Stella suggested with a playful smile.
"Very well then," Mac agreed as he pushed himself out of bed and hurried into the kitchen to get their day started. Stella lingered in bed, talking to their baby before she too finally pushed herself up out of the cozy nest and went in search of her husband. About ten minutes later, both were back on the soft surface with a bed table between them.
"Watch this Mac," Stella giggled as she moved her shirt and placed a small grape on her belly. "Come on baby, show your soccer skills for daddy."
Mac watched in amazement as the baby kicked and sent the grape teetering off the edge and landing on the quilt. He gently laughed as he reached for the grape and put it back in the same spot before making the same request. Once again the baby's movements, caused the grape to disappear and both exchanged small laughs.
Mac retrieved the grape and ate it before he brought Stella's mouth to his and crushed her lips with passion and desire.
"Tonight Mac...tonight you are making me that dinner."
"And for dessert?" Mac arched his brows.
"Well let's see," she smiled as she reached for their brochure on sex and pregnancy. She flipped it open and then looked at Mac with a wicked smile.
"Which one?" He queried.
Stella opened the brochure and pointed to the new position she wanted to try and looked up at Mac's expression.
"Really? Are you sure?"
"As I said before Mac, I'll never let anyone destroy my love for you or my future happiness. No one."
A/N: okay so hopefully not to tense for mommy and baby but you knew I couldn't let much harm come to either as that would be wrong! Please review and tell me what you thought and thanks again! Oh and if you want to flame or question/argue the point about Ella allowed to be transferred take with a grain of salt. This is fiction!!! To the rest, I hope you liked it.