Stella felt like something bad was going to happen with Mac. She feels bad about the way they left things. What if they kill him? Stella, keep yourself together, think positive things… Mac is strong enough to take care of himself. There is nothing to worry about.

"How should we kill him?"

"No, we shouldn't kill him, just make him suffer and wish he was dead."

Miles away Stella gave up with her handcuffs and grew tired, so she slowly feel asleep.

They decided on what they wanted him to do and waited until he woke up, which wasn't until six in the morning.

"I think he's waking up boss."

"Good," he smirks as Mac slowly opened his eyes. "Hey sleeping beauty."

"We decided that we aren't going to kill you… but under a few conditions." Mac nodded not knowing what was coming. "One once we release you can't tell anyone… not even the cops what happened… you understand?"

"Yeah… I do, and what else?"

They turn to each other and smirked. "You have to dump your precious girlfriend."

"Why… and how would that affect you?"

"Oh, it would affect YOU very much… you will be like slowly dying inside."

"And we like that… and you should also hide evidence from everyone. So they will hate you and quit their jobs. Then we will be in charge of the lab…"

"Man, slow down, you had better ideas last night."

"I'm sorry, I just need some sleep," he said and left the room.

"We will be watching you Taylor… and one thing goes wrong we'll shoot the shit out of you."

Mac nods quickly and they threw him out of their hideout. He calls a cab blocks away and tells him to drive to the Italian Place.

The team at the lab started getting worried.

"I'll go search for Stella," Lindsay volunteered.

Lindsay along with Danny go out searching for her and they ran into Mac on the way.

"Hey Mac, why isn't Stella with you?"

"I don't know…" he gave her an 'I don't need to tell you anything' look.

"I've tried calling her, but it said her phone was out of service."

"I'll go this way…" he said heading towards the lab. They shrug and follow him. Five minutes of searching they saw Stella's broken pager. They rush to the scene and sees Stella by the trash can. Mac goes to her, Stella's face was bruised and she was handcuffed to the pole. She slowly woke up and Mac is happy but he has a frown on his face.

"Mac, you're still alive?"

"Yeah, let's get you out of here. Where's the key to your handcuffs?"

"Um… the man threw them somewhere in the trash."

Lindsay and Danny help him look after twenty minutes of searching Danny had found something. He hands it to Mac and Mac kneels down next to Stella and unlocks the cuffs. She slowly stood up, he held her so she didn't fall. Stella hugged Mac.

"I'm sorry about last night, I can't risk losing you."

"Okay everyone, let's go back to the lab," he said sternly.

Why doesn't he seem concerned?

They reach the lab and Mac took Stella into his office.

"Stella, we need to talk…" he pulls out a chair for her and she sits. Mac sits in his chair across from her. "Last night was miserable Stella, we have too many issues in our relationship."

"What are you getting at?"

"I need to get my mind straight… I need to break up with you."

"Wait over something stupid we're breaking up," she frowns as Mac nods.

"I mean well."

"Fuck you," she got up. "Why are you so stubborn, you don't have any courage to make this relationship to work… so I want nothing to do with you."

She walked out of the room and slammed the door. Lindsay saw and ran after Stella.

"You were a little harsh on Mac. It was probably something that happened last night and he had no choice."

"Everyone has a choice Lindsay… he's just a stubborn jackass."

"Stella, you don't actually mean that… do you?"

"No, because I'm in love with that stubborn man. Sometimes I wish I wasn't so it wouldn't tear my heart in two every time we fought."

Lindsay hugged Stella, "It will be all right Stell."

Mac wish that the three men would leave them alone… he hated losing Stella, but he doesn't want her to lose him. It's all a matter of life and death.

He sighed and went for a walk. He ran into one of the guys.

"I see you broke it off with your chick, what a joy seeing you in pain,' he chuckled. "And the bad thing is that she seems more hurt by this than you.'

"How do you know this stuff?"

"I have my resources."

"Don't tell me his name is McDonald."

"Nope, even if it was I wouldn't tell you."

Mac grunts, "Well, tell me something."

"One of our men died today; he died in his sleep, so now there is only two of us left," he smiles.

"Well, thanks for the news, I should get going…"

"Not so fast Detective," he gleams and Mac sighs loudly.

"Don't get too upset… I know about your new M.E. Michelle…"

"And, what does that have to do with it?"

"Ask her out or your precious girl dies."

"Okay, you guys are horrible criminals… what's the whole point of this?"

He slapped Mac, "Just leave the dirty work to us, now go back inside to your lab."

"Fine, but this is far from over…" he said and was heading inside.

"You bet'cha it is, my little bitch…" he chortled.

Mac quickly turned around and jumped on the man strangling him. One of the criminals arm was free and he pulled the gun out of his pocket. Mac didn't notice that the guy had his hand on the trigger and the guy shot once. Mac collapse to the ground he got shot in his left arm. The guy got up and ran off with the gun. A few people ran outside and looked in shock. Flack pushed through, and quickly lifted him up.

"Don't just stand there, call the ambulance!" everybody pulled out their cell phones and called. Moments later they ambulance came coming. "Mac, everything will be okay, I'm coming with you."

"No Don, I'm fine, just put me on the gurney and let them take me…" he said weakly. Flack nods and the ambulance drove off.

"Okay, there's nothing to see here, go back inside."

They all left and went inside. Stella was the only one left, tears rolling down her face.

"It'll be okay Stella, he was only shot in his left arm."

"That's not the problem… I should have stopped Mac, when he broke up with me… it's a long story."

"Wait, he broke up with you?"

"Yeah, but knowing Mac it was probably a life or death situation."

"We'll go check up on him later… okay?" he said and hugged her.

"Sure."

So how did you like this chap… good enough for you : ) review and make my day…