Trust and Friendship

Chapter 1: Jealousy

As Mac passes by Stella's office, he spots a man inside, not someone he knows, but the man does look oddly familiar to him. He enters. "Are you looking for Detective Bonasera?"

"Stella told me to wait for her here," the man stands. "You must be Mac."

He nods, "Mac Taylor. Does she know you're here?"

"Yeah. I'm Christopher Trompack," he holds out his hand.

"Do I know you from somewhere?"

"I'm a defense lawyer. Probably had a case against me."

"So she's helping you on a case?"

Stella chooses this moment to enter. "I guess you two have met now."

"Yes. So why are you trying to defend criminals? And who exactly authorized this?" Mac asks.

"I'm not. He's… we're kind of…"

"Stella is my girlfriend," Chris clarifies.

"Oh. I… sorry," he mutters, turning to leave.

"I'll be right back," she kisses his cheek and goes after her partner. "What happened?"

"I just didn't realize you started dating again. Let alone someone who tries to help the people we put away each day."

"I like him, Mac. He doesn't seem like he's going to hurt me."

"You had no idea Frankie would come after you."

"I don't know what your problem is, but I'm happy, and it's not going to affect the way I do my job."

"Maybe he's just dating you so he can get information on cases from you," he suggests.

"What is wrong, Mac?" Stella tries to control her frustration. "Are you jealous because I have a boyfriend?"

"No, just forget it. Go have fun with him."

"Whatever," she walks away in anger.

"Ready?" Chris asks as she returns.

"Yeah."

"What was wrong with him?"

She shrugs, "No idea."

"Stel, what will we do if we have to go to court against each other?"

"Stay professional. I'll present my evidence, and you'll try to twist what I say to your advantage to win. But you never will succeed," Stella smirks.

"Oh, I doubt that."

"I'm just too good for you."

Chris kisses her, "Prove it."

"So we have this dinner party thing for work next Friday," she begins. "Do you want to come with me?"

"Is it a nerd convention?"

"No," she punches him lightly on the arm. "It's for the police department so not everyone will be a nerd."

"Okay. Pick you up at seven?"

"Sure."

The couple remains silent for the rest of their walk to the restaurant. "I don't mean to be nosy, but did anything ever happen between you and Mac?"

"Like what?" she frowns; the partners had a long history.

"Like did you ever date or anything?"

"No! I work with him; that would be a little unprofessional."

"So you don't like him at all?"

She sighs, "Mac and I are close, or used to be. I care about him."

"You don't… love him, do you?" Chris asks.

"I do love Mac but in a different way than I love you. What would make you think I do?"

"Just thought it could explain his behavior earlier."

"Mac's not a jealous guy. I think he was just trying to protect me after… well, you know."

"Are you sure his feelings don't go deeper?"

"Don't worry; you don't have any competition."

A/N : Yes, I'm all done driving with the instructor... now to get my license. I don't know when I'll be able to get in. Anyway... I guess nothing else has really happened. My mom's been cleaning still... now we're on the downstairs. I really should watch the movie for Eaters of the Dead... I hope it helps me get a theme and symbols... and I have to remember my foreshadowing; I forgot to write it down. I so wish they had sparknotes on the book... and there's no cliffnotes either. So... after I finish the forms for the two books I've read already, I have to read Ivanhoe. And if I have time, I might reread Beowulf, although that might be the most thorough sheet I'll have. I hate the sheets we have to fill out... you have to write so small that no one probably can read it, especially the plot. I don't even have enough dots for Beowulf. I'll quit complaining now and post this. I hope you like it... nine more chapters to go. Please review.