Disclaimer: Not mine. At least not in this universe. If this were a Dr. Who universe perhaps I would own them – maybe I do own them… hmmmm…. So if I could find Dr. Who and switch universes… Apparently I also don't own my mind either.

Rating: K

Category: Mac and Stella

Spoilers: Post-ep Hostage (season 4 finale) and some mention of Peyton from season 4. Leading up to season 5 premiere spoilers.

Author: Traci

Summary: Mac's missing and Stella feels guilty.

Waiting

"He lied to Mac," Stella softly admitted fearing the worst as she stood in the empty house.

Danny and Flack glanced at each other.

"I let Mac believe him and now…" The dark-haired detective swallowed hard and quietly walked out of the house.

"If anything happens to Mac…" Danny began.

"Stella will never forgive herself," Don finished. "See what you can find, if anything, in here. I'll go talk to her."

He found her leaning against the side of the SUV. "Stel?" When her eyes met his he never remembered seeing such worry and defeat in them… not even when Frankie had attacked her.

"I let him go, Don. I trusted this monster because Mac did." Tears formed in her eyes despite her best efforts.

Flack rested a hand on her arm. "You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't do anything Mac wouldn't have wanted you to do. We'll find him."

"The news helicopters lost him when they were called off. There's no way…"

A small smile grew on Flack's lips. "Actually… I had them put a tracker on the SUV before they brought it over." His phone rang before he could go on.

"What? Are you sure?" he hissed into the phone. "Do what you have to but find him!" When he hung up he looked at Stella.

"They switched cars, didn't they?" She asked.

He nodded. "Carjacked. Victim's body was found in the SUV."

Stella closed her eyes and didn't fight when Flack pulled her into his arms. "We'll find him, Stella."

Flack walked past Mac's dark office and was not the least bit surprised to see her sitting at his desk, in his chair. Slowly he opened the glass door. "Stella?"

"I'm fine, Don," she responded from the darkness.

Allowing the door to close behind him, he stepped closer to the desk only barely able to see her face in the light coming in from the hallway. "Don't do this to yourself. Go home. Get some sleep."

Slowly she looked up at him. "Would Mac go home if it were any of us missing?"

Admitting defeat, Flack sat down. "Then at least let me lock the door and you get some sleep on the couch in here."

"Even if I said yes I wouldn't be able to sleep." She sighed.

"Stel, can I ask you something?"

With the smallest hint of a smile, she nodded.

"What's going on with you and Mac?"

"Nothing. We've been through a lot together. He's my closest friend, you know that."

"Yeah," Don agreed halfheartedly.

"Why? Is someone saying something?"

Flack chuckled. "Stel, I hate to break it to you but there have been rumors about you two for a long time. It just… it seems as if things have changed between you two since he broke up with Peyton." He shrugged. "You two would be great together, you know."

"Don?"

"Hmm?"

"When did you become so concerned about my love life?"

"When you became like a sister to me."

Stella smiled at him from behind Mac's desk. "I'll let you slide on that answer then."

Flack's phone rang and moments later he and Stella were running out of the office to get in the police chopper…

The endish until next season