Disclaimer - I do not own CSI New York or any of it's characters.
Chapter Fourteen
The beeping sound of Madeline's heart monitor was still ringing in Stella's ears as she walked away from her room. As she turned the corner to go towards the doctor's office, a familiar smiling face greeted her. Mac didn't say anything; he just pulled Stella in close and hugged her tight.
"How is she?" Mac asked, as he broke away from Stella.
"Better. I still don't really know what happened. I'm just on my way to talk to the doctor now." Stella couldn't bring herself to look Mac in the eye, she felt like she'd start crying if she did.
"What happened exactly?" Mac's voice was filled with concern.
"We were eating dinner and she just." Stella struggled to compose herself. The tears were welling up in her eyes. She took a deep breath and carried on. "She just collapsed Mac. I couldn't stop her, I couldn't catch her. I was totally useless."
She couldn't stop it this time, the tears just came. Mac grabbed Stella again; he pulled her in closer, tighter. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to make everything right for her. Mac eventually let Stella go. He wiped the tears from her eyes. He held onto her face and looked her directly in the eyes.
"You're strong, Stella. You'll get through this. I'm here for you." He kissed her forehead and dropped his arms to his sides.
"Thank you, for everything." Stella smiled softly at him. "I better go speak to the doctor now. Could you keep an eye on her?"
Mac nodded and smiled. He watched as Stella walked away from him. He turned away and walked towards Madeline's room. He sat down on a chair next to Madeline's bed.
"Guess you weren't expecting this when you came to New York?" Mac smiled.
"No definitely not. Did you see my mum?" Madeline asked.
She carefully turned her head to face Mac. She didn't want to move to quickly, she was worried all the wires would rip out of her.
"Yeah, she was on her way to see the doctor. She's worried about you Madeline."
Madeline's brow furrowed. Mac had seen the same look on Stella. They were so alike. Mac was amazed at how similar they were despite the fact that they barely knew each other before this week.
"Is she mad at me?" Madeline asked. She looked concerned.
"No, why would she be mad at you Madeline?" Mac looked at her carefully.
He could see in her eyes that something was worrying her.
In the doctor's office, Stella sat down on the chair across from Doctor Rayleigh.
"After examining Madeline, I have a few concerns."
Stella's heart was hammering. Her hands felt clammy and her breathing was rapid.
"Concerns?" Stella managed to stammer out.
"First of all, do you know anything about the bruises on her hips?" Doctor Rayleigh put his hands together and looked at Stella.
"I knew they were there, but when I asked about it she got so mad at me. She told me it was from walking into a table. I knew she was lying, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Damn it, I'm a detective, I should've done more!" Stella got frustrated with herself. She slammed her hands down on the desk.
Stella shook her head in disbelief. How was this all happening?
"Well they're definitely not from walking into a table. They look like marks from hands. They're not quite fist shaped though, so it's possible they from being pushed or shoved quite violently. Did she ever mention anything like this?"
"No. It's complicated with us. She's my daughter but I gave her up for adoption when she was a baby. Last Friday she came here to find me. I'm still just getting to know her." Yet again, Stella was close to tears.
Back in her room Madeline lay quietly, trying not to look at Mac.
"Madeline, what's going on? Why would your mom be mad at you?" He kept his eyes locked on Madeline.
Madeline shook her head, her bottom lip quivered and the tears started to fall.
"No, no, no, no. I can't tell you." She continued shaking her head.
"Why can't you tell?" Mac tried to press her for answers, not for his sake, but for Stella's.
"I can't tell you. It's not fair. I should've told her. Why didn't I say anything?" Madeline's crying got more intense, her whole body was shaking.
Mac put his hand out and held onto Madeline. He passed her a tissue, which she quickly used to hide her face.
"I should've told her." She whispered again and again.
Mac leant forward in his chair to get closer to Madeline.
"Madeline, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong." Mac stated.
Madeline was shaking; tears were rolling down her cheeks. Mac thought about Stella, sitting in the office, he wondered what kind of news she was about to receive. Mac held on to Madeline's hand. She looked so vulnerable, so innocent. He wondered what was going on inside her head.
Stella couldn't stop fidgeting. She was taping her feet, wiggling her fingers and twirling her hair. She was aware the doctor was talking, and she knew she should have been listening but she just wanted to be with Madeline. It was comforting to know that she was alone in her room. Mac was with her and she was going to be okay, but part of her wished that Mac had come into the office; she could really use the support.
"Ms Bonasera?" The doctor said.
She snapped out of her trance.
"Oh I'm so sorry, what did you say?" Stella blushed; she should've been paying attention.
The doctor chuckled.
"It's quite alright Ms Bonasera. As I was saying, we do need to keep her in overnight and run a few more tests. I would like to do a CT scan but it could do more harm than good, an MRI scan would possible be better for her."
"A CT scan? Is she going to be okay? Why can't she have an MRI?" Stella felt like she was talking at 100mph, but getting no answers.
"Ms Bonasera, the scans are just precautionary. Since it's still early, we can't perform an MRI scan, theoretically it won't cause any harm but it's still a risk. A CT scan will be safer for them both."
Stella's ears began to ring, her heart dropped into her stomach and her breathing became erratic. She was hoping, praying to God that this wasn't happening. It wasn't possible, but everything made sense. It suddenly felt like her emotions were out of control. She felt angry, worried, scared and helpless all at the same time. It took all of her will-power to stay sitting in the chair, to not run out to Madeline's room.
"Oh my God." She eventually managed to whisper.
Mac stayed sitting with Madeline. She had stopped crying but everyone few minutes she would sniff and whimper.
"She told you, didn't she?" She eventually muttered.
"Told me what?" Mac asked, though he thought he already knew.
"You know, about the bruises on my hips. I lied to her because I didn't want her to worry and I didn't want her to get angry at me." Her lower lip trembled again, as if more tears were about to come.
"Why don't you tell me what really happened. If you don't feel up to telling her, I can tell her." Mac offered.
"Jack did it." Madeline looked like she was going to cry but she managed to stop herself.
"Jack is your boyfriend?"
"No, Jack was my boyfriend. We had a huge argument. When I went to leave he grabbed me and pushed me up against a wall." Madeline said through her tears which she had now lost control of.
Mac handed Madeline a tissue and leant forward in his chair.
"Did he do anything else to you?" Mac was deeply concerned about her.
"No, never, it was just that one time. That's why I didn't say anything." She wiped her eyes with the tissue. "I didn't want Stella to worry over nothing."
"Madeline, she's worrying anyway. He hit you. Madeline, that's assault."
Stella sat in stunned silence. Doctor Rayleigh was confused by Stella's shocked expression.
"Ms Bonasera, are you meaning to tell me you didn't know? She didn't mention anything?"
"I had no idea. Does she know?" Stella couldn't look the doctor in the eye. She couldn't sit still.
"I assume so. Is it possible she just didn't tell you?"
"We've only really known each other less than a week, but surely she would've mentioned it if she knew." She wasn't exactly talking to the doctor but it was impossible to keep her thoughts inside.
"Well, her blood work confirms it. Madeline's almost 2 months pregnant."