A/N: This one is actually a modified version of a piece of a chapter in my fic "It Could Happen to You", but I think it works nicely as a one-shot on it's own. There is a brief reference to the female lead, Maddie Parrish, but you don't need to have read "It Could Happen to You" to read this one. I'm rather proud of this one, so read, review, and enjoy!
Mac stood behind his desk, looking at a picture he kept in his wallet. She was standing in the sunlight, her eyes sparkling, smiling up at him the way only she could. He remembered the day well—they had eaten lunch together at Battery Park, not far from the World Trade Center, and he had his kit and camera in the back of his car. He'd pulled out the camera when she wasn't looking and snapped the picture of her, knowing it was against regulations, but somehow not really worried about it. She looked so beautiful, his Claire, and something in the back of his mind had whispered how many more chances do you think you'll have?
A week later, the Twin Towers fell and took his Claire away from him. Shortly after, he'd gotten rid of everything that reminded him of her, trying to make the pain go away. But he had forgotten about the picture until he went through the stack of photos from the scene he'd been working that day. He'd cried when he found it, long and hard, until Stella had found him and taken him home.
Stella. She had known Claire, had been friends with her, and knew how much he'd loved her. She was there when Claire died, doing her best to comfort him and help him grieve. She was there for him now, always looking out for him, making sure he didn't retreat too far inside himself, away from those who cared about him, away from her.
He set the wallet down on the desk and shifted his gaze to the wedding band on his left hand, twisting it they way he sometimes did when he was thinking. Stella had asked him once why he still wore it. All he had managed to tell her was that he didn't want to take it off. What he couldn't tell her was that he wasn't ready to. Taking off his wedding band meant letting go of Claire forever, admitting that she was no longer his, and he had been unable to do that.
His thoughts drifted to Danny and Maddie. He'd only seen them together briefly today, but he knew how much they loved each other. He and the other CSIs had known before they themselves had, and he was sure they would be together as long as they lived. He had even teased Danny about it, knowing what a big deal it was for his protégé to admit that he was in love. And what had Danny said to him? Baby steps, Mac…
He frowned at his wedding band, turning a thought over in his mind. He had loved Claire, and always would, but he knew she wouldn't want him to wallow the way he did. She would want him to be happy. He didn't have to take the plunge all at once and go out and get married right away—that isn't how he did things anyway. But little bit by little bit, he should try and find someone who made him happy. Baby steps…
He knew who made him happy. Stella made him happy. He knew he was in love with her. Maddie knew it too, had figured it out the night of his birthday party. She had seemed fairly certain then that someday, when he was ready, love would find him again, perhaps in the form of a curly-haired Greek-Italian CSI.
He looked down at the picture in his wallet again. It was time. He was ready for his first step.
"I love you," he whispered softly, sliding the wedding band off his finger. He slipped it into the plastic holder with picture and sealed the open side with tape so as not to lose it. He let his eyes linger on the photo and the ring for a moment more, then closed the wallet and placed it back in his pocket. When he looked up, he saw her there on the floor below, smiling up at him.
Stella.
He smiled back gently. Baby steps…