Title: Hunted
Chapter 2 - Two are Better than One!

Stella's body involuntarily jerks in response to each hit that Mac sustains at the hands of the two brothers. She had managed to get herself into a hidden alcove just as Derek pushed his way out the back of the shack. However, with Mac now as their prisoner and given his injured condition and the fact that the temperature is dropping as each minute passes she has to get him free as soon as possible. And while her mind tells her that if she's caught, death is the last thing she'll have to fear from them; assault more likely, she knows Mac won't be treated any better.

She watches Mac being gagged and curses as he tries to call her name and is silenced. He's then roughly hauled to his feet as they near her hiding place. Praying the pounding from her rapidly beating heart doesnt give her away, she holds her breath as all three men walk past; two hunters and one prisoner. She knows if they looked hard enough they would have found her; but she also knows she can't allow them to set up a trap with Mac as bait and knows she'll have to take at least one of them out in order to give them a fighting chance.

Mac's painful grunts ring in her ears, as they pass and thankfully overlook her hiding spot. Knowing Mac would rather die than tell him anything or let himself be used voluntarily as bait to draw her in; she knows he'll sustain a lot worse if she doesn't even the odds and fast; and by evening them she means two left standing, her and Mac.

Stella waits for what seems like eternity before she takes a deep breath and ventures a move from her secure hiding location. Hold on Mac, I'm coming.

Mac's eyes dart around in hopes of seeing his partner or something he can use as a distraction. His body is starting to really feel the cold and with his hands tied tightly behind his back, he has no way of keeping the heat loss to a minimum. He grunts once more into the gag as he sustains a hit to the side.

"Just making sure you're still with us," Randy laughs as he looks over at his limping brother. "Can you make it to the spot?"

"Just make sure you keep him on a short leash," Derek sneers at Mac who looks at him with narrowed eyes. "I owe him for the blood on my new shirt and hold in my damn leg!"

"This way," Randy roughly directs as he yanks Mac by the arm in a new direction; forcing Mac to offer one more grunt as his body absorbs the new painful sensation. With his head still pounding and his chest on fire, he now wonders if he'll be of any use to Stella when they finally arrive at their intended destination; hypothermia already making itself known in his aching body. Despite the fact he hates the feeling of the tight gag stuffed in his mouth, the thick cloth is keeping his teeth from chattering together, however, swallowing is still painful.

"Not cold are ya Taylor?" Derek mocks as he slaps Mac hard on the back.

Mac loses his footing and stumbles to his wet knees but is thankful that another hit isn't followed, only mocking laughter at his helpless predicament.

"Get up," Randy grumbles as he pulls Mac by the arm once more, forcing him back to his feet and then on with their present course.

"Can't wait until we have your partner with us," Derek starts to goad Mac.

Mac offers a silent curse but knows if he gives in to what Derek wants then when it comes time for him to help Stella in any way he can, he'll be too injured to do so.

"I mean no offense to you Taylor, but we'd rather party with her," Randy starts. "Her body is a bit more appealing to us than yours."

"Yeah sure there is something soft and warm that we could force ourselves to enjoy," Derek continues to taunt.

Mac swallows hard and closes eyes for a brief second but refuses to flash them an expression of hatred for even a second.

"Soft and warmand very womanly," Randy taunts, leaning into Mac's ear. "Would you like to hear her scream? Call my name instead of yours?" He laughs. "No?"

"Maybe he doesn't care."

"Then he might not care to watch either. Or maybe he would."

"Think you'd like to watch a threesome Taylor?"

"Yeah would it bother you that you weren't included?"

Sadly as Mac's brain flashes him images of Stella being raped, his head snaps to the side, catching Randy in the nose and causing blood to immediately spring forth.

"Bastard!" Randy shouts as he punches Mac hard it the back and Mac stumbles to his knees, before landing on his side. "You'll pay for that later!" Randy shouts again.

"Let's just kill him now."

"NO! Just for that I'll make sure you get to watch every second while I pleasure myself at her expense!" Randy growls at Mac, but doesn't kick him again. "Get him up," Randy dictates to his brother as he wipes his nose. "Bastard..." his angry voice mumbles as he pushes Mac further into the darkening forest.

Stella, following a good distance behind, hears the loud angry shouts and feels her heart start to quicken pace. "Mac!" She softly whispers as she starts to pick up the pace, one hand still applying firm pressure to her bandaged wound. She stays behind whatever coverage the unfriendly landscape will afford, which sadly at this time of the year isn't much at all.

I need to draw one away, she tells herself. Get one of them to come to me.

Stella nears a place that has a thicket and a tree alcove along with some large boulders and her brain starts to formulate a plan. "Hold on Mac...just hold on."

Knowing hypothermia is probably already starting to take hold of him, she has to work as fast as she can before she loses the one man she knows she'd willingly give her life for; the one man she knows she loves. She frantically looks around for something she can use as leverage against the man she'll draw to her in hopes of securing her partner's freedom. Her eyes spy a few sharp branches and an idea finally starts to formulate. She puts her phone into the first aid kit and places those out of harms way, knowing she'll need them when this ordeal is all over.

Mac feels his body starting to shut down, the cold now taking hold of his exposed extremities and his fingers are starting to tingle. He needs warmth and fast; preferably that of his partner's body and not that of a sheltered trap. But just as they take another step a broken branch is heard behind them and panic seizes his brain.

Stella! Mac's brain shouts in horror as Randy looks at Derek with an angry scowl. "Bring her to me," he sneers as he quickly wraps his arm around Mac's neck and pulls Mac's struggling body back against his own.

"I'm shot damn it!"

"She's a woman!" Randy sneers. "You gonna let her beat you? I'm staying here with him. Now move your ass!"

"I'll just get her nice and warm for me," Derek smiles at Mac. "See you real soon Taylor with our party favor."

Not caring about the added warmth that Randy's body wants to offer him, Mac kicks backward, taking both him and Randy to the ground once again. Mac tries to twist himself out of Randy's grasp but with little energy and Randy pulling him back by his shirt, he can do little more than curse his captive state.

"Have it your way Taylor," Randy laughs as he presses down hard on Mac, ensuring that Mac's struggling is kept in place as his prisoner. Mac yells into the gag, which only forces Randy to taunt his helpless situation once again; his heart now racing at the fact that Stella might soon be joining them.

"Very soon Taylor," Randy smiles as he pushes himself up and looms over Mac's captive body; his boot on Mac's back keeping him down. "Soon we'll have company. Then you'll have a real reason to panic."

Mac watches Derek disappear into the darkening forest, his heart rate nearing critical. Stella! Oh god, please let her survive, he offers a panicked prayer as his head slumps back to the cold ground. Please.

Stella readies herself after the branch she snapped on purpose. Much to her small relief, its the injured brother she sees heading toward her with an angry scowl on his face and a gun in his hand. Pushing aside the pain from her throbbing side, one hand holds her gun firmly and the other a sharp rock; two items she'll use in a fight to the death. This is for us Mac.

"Oh pretty detective," Derek mocks as he nears the spot Stella is waiting, out of the clear view of his waiting brother. Derek nears the spot Stella wants him and pushes forward, his body displaying obvious signs of Mac's marksmanship. He takes a step and stumbles on the crude trap that Stella set, forcing him to his knees, the sharp sticks opening a small tear in his other leg and arm; forcing foul curses from his cold breath.

"Where are you bitch!" Derek yells in anger.

"Right here asshole!" Stella growls as she swings the rock at Derek's face just as he turns around. Derek cries out in pain as his body falters but he's quick to recover.

"Damn you!" He curses as he throws himself at her, taking them both to the ground; both of them losing their guns in the process.

Stella feels the wind knocked out of her and her gun displaced but quickly recovers and is able to use the stone she is thankful she managed to hold onto. She quickly ducks a blow that her cheek would have sustained and hits Derek in the nose with the stone, breaking it in an instant. She grabs a handful of dirt and flings it into his face, temporarily blinding him.

Derek cries out once more in pain, drawing the attention of his brother and their captive. But its Stella scream that forces both Randy and Mac to look up quickly.

"Sounds like Derek's having himself some fun right now," Randy laughs as Mac struggles to get up. "Just getting her warmed up for me."

Mac kicks at Randy once more, but Randy easily steps out of the way and looks down at Mac with an evil grin. Stella! His mind yells in misery.

Stella manages to twist herself, freeing her hair form Derek's hand as Derek frantically wipes the blood and dirt from his eyes. She offers a backward kick and his grip finally loosens. She spies the gun and throws herself toward it, not caring that she's torn the bandage holding her side together. She feels Derek grabbing at her legs and pulling her back toward him. Despite the agonizing pain in her side, her fingers dig into the earth and she summons one large burst of adrenaline and manages to grasp the gun in her dirty fingers before Derek's rough hands pull her back toward him.

"I think I'm gonna pleasure myself right now because of that," he growls as his hands reach for the waist band of her dress pants.

Spurred on by horrible thoughts of being attacked, Stella twists herself onto her back, kicks him hard in the groin, sending him backward onto his knees. But just as her finger reaches the trigger, Derek lunges toward her.

"So Taylor, think your little partner is enjoying it as much as my brother?" Randy laughs. However, the smile is short lived as both he and Mac hear a loud scream followed by a shot and then silence.

Mac yells into the gag as Randy grabs him by the back of his shirt collar and yanks him to his feet. A few minutes when no one appears Randy starts to fear the worst.

"Time to go," Randy growls as no one appears. Mac struggles in Randy's grasp, needing to know if it was his partner who was shot or did the shooting. "Fine we'll do it the hard way!" Randy shouts as he turns and punches Mac once more, causing Mac's body to double forward. However, it allows the large man to pick him up and sling him over his shoulder, taking him away from the last place he figures his partner was.

STELLA! His mind calls as he struggles to blink away angry painful tears; telling himself it was her that did the shooting and not the one now at Derek's mercy.

Stella allows herself to breathe heavily as she rolls Derek's lifeless body off hers; thankful he wasn't able to make good on his threats. "Mac..." she gasps as her hands rests on her side and comes away with fresh blood. But as much as she'd like to go back for Mac's coat she knows that darkness is rapidly falling and she needs to free him of the other vengeful brother before Randy Turner uses the darkness to his advantage.

"Hold on Mac..." she pants as she rolls to her knees, takes a deep breath and pushes herself up to her feet, allowing a few extra seconds for her heart rate to slow and her world to stop spinning. But a few seconds later, she's back on her feet and in pursuit. She clears the thick hedge and boulders, just to see Mac on the back of Randy Turner being carried further into the forest. Hoping to be as quiet as she can she starts her pursuit.

Mac continues his struggling on Randy's shoulder, which finally forces the large man to dump him back to the ground, cursing as he lands with a hard thud.

Randy looks back in the direction of the shot, no movement as Stella has wisely hidden herself when she saw Mac fall but also noting his brother isn't coming. He offers an angry curse before he looks back down at Mac, who narrows his eyes in anger.

"I can handle both of you," he growls as hauls Mac to his feet and pushes him in the direction he wants. On his shoulder, Mac had spied a knife in Randy's back pocket and knows he needs to try to get it, if anything hoping to stall for time in case Stella did survive and is now on her way after him.

Mac turns around, determined to stand his ground and stall for as much time as possible; his body starting to shut down the longer he's exposed to the biting cold, the darkness starting to ascend.

"You are really asking for it, AREN'T YOU!" Randy shouts at Mac, who simply looks back in anger. Mac braces himself for another blow, which thankfully doesn't come. "You can stall for time all you want Taylor," Randy smiles as he pulls the knife from his back pocket and presses the cold blade up against Mac's cold skin. "But you can't fight fate and you die tonight."

Mac swallows hard from the cold, his body not wanting to react as his brain is directing. Thankfully the cold has slowed the blood from the wound on his forehead but the longer his limbs start to tingle the more he knows he'll be in danger of dying from exposure. His cold weather survival training never entailed him to be bound and gagged and at the mercy of not only the elements but the mercy of a man bent on his and Stella's personal demise.

Mac back's up a foot, pulling himself away from the blade but looking at Randy with a firm glare. Randy shakes his head, but just as the knife is about to deal Mac a new painful wound a shot rings out and Randy's hand drops to his side in agonizing pain; Stella's bullet meeting it's mark. Mac steps back kicks Randy hard in the knee, sending Randy to the ground in pain.

"Mac!" Stella shouts and Mac's body instantly offers a thankful sigh of relief before he takes action.

The knife, now spattered with his blood from Stella's bullet, lands on the ground and Mac is quick to drop to his knees and fumble to get it. However, just as Stella rushes up toward them, Randy dives into Mac once more, landing a bloody fist to his cheek, snapping his head back to one side.

But knowing that Stella is almost at his side, Mac brings is knee up and connects with Randy's jaw, this time his turn to snap the jaw of the large man back in pain. Just as Randy is about to hit Mac again Stella uses whatever large branch she can find, bringing it down on the back of Randy's back, sending him to the earth on his stomach.

However, it doesn't do much to deter the large man. Randy turns around and lunges at Stella, who manages to sidestep his attack and kick him in the side, forcing him back to his knees.

Mac's fingers fumble with the blade, cutting his hand in the process. Cursing his own clumsiness, his drops the slick blade before he turns around to see where Randy went. He hears Stella offer a small cry and watches in horror as Randy manages to get himself on top of her.

Driven on by pure rage, Mac pushes himself up and throws his shoulder into Randy's side, taking both of them to the earth, off Stella's frame. With a heavy gasp of air, Stella rolls onto her stomach, her fingers frantically grasping for her gun.

Mac knees Randy in the stomach once more, not caring about his dwindling energy. Randy tries to land another blow to Mac's tender chest, but Mac quickly rolls to the side and kicks him in the leg, his adrenaline feeding his need for survival and Stella's safety. Mac loses sight of Stella, but figures if he can keep Randy busy, it'll give her time to find the gun and take Randy out for good.

"Be right with you detective," Randy calls back to Stella as his fingers finally reach the knife Mac was trying to free himself with earlier. He grasps it in his hand before he looks back at Mac with an angry scowl just as he grabs a handful of Mac's dirty hair and painfully jerks his head back. "Sorry Taylor, I don't have time to wait. You die now."

"You first!" Stella growls in anger as she fires off two shots, sending Randy Turner to the ground dead in an instant; his body landing a few feet from her partner's.

Mac breathes another sigh as he looks up at Stella in relief.

"Mac!" Stella gasps as she hurries to his side, on her knees and starts to free him. She gently cuts the damp cloth from his mouth before getting to work on his trapped wrists. "Hold on..." she whispers, her eyes watering as his cold cheek connects with hers, his body resting on hers while she cuts him free; his energy almost gone. She feels his body falter and knows time is now against them.

"Stella..." Mac states with a hoarse whisper. "Th-thought I lost..."

Mac finally feels the ropes starting to give way and then when he's finally free he wraps his arms around Stella, holding her close.

"God I th-thought I lost you," he whispers in misery. "When I h-heard the shot..." his voice trails off in a painful intake of air.

Stella quickly looks at him in concern. "We need to get back to that..." she starts only to hear a snap behind them. Both twist themselves around to see Derek Turner standing before them with his gun raised, his shirt blood soaked from the wound that Stella's gun inflicted earlier.

"If I go...you two do also..." he wheezes as he prepares to fire.

"You first," Mac growls as he quickly pushes Stella to the ground in the opposite direction, grabs her gun that had fallen at her knees when she was freeing him and fires off two shots, taking Derek Turner down for good before he can even fire off another shot.

"Mac!"

"It's...over..." he gasps as he sags to his side, his shivering body spent of adrenaline and now feeling the cold starting to take over. Stella offers Mac an appreciative look of thanks for saving her life once more before she hurries to his side and helps him stand up. Mac offers another cry of agony as his body straightens, his weary frame now forced to feel every painful hit from the past few hours.

"Damn it Mac, you're freezing," she mumbles as she works to remove her coat. "Take my coat."

"No...y-you'll be..."

"Mac, unless you want that gag back in your mouth, shut up and let me help you get warm," Stella replies in haste with a soft smile. "You're shivering and going into shock."

Mac can only nod in agreement as he allows Stella's coat to be draped over his shoulders. He pulls her close into his grasp but knows they need to get to shelter and fast if they are going to last the night. She quickly grasps the cloth that was used as his gag and wraps it around the hand he cut on the knife.

"N-need...to get to...the sh-shack..." he manages, as the cold starts to seize his throat and lungs.

With a firm nod, Stella pulls out her small flashlight, helping them to see their way back to the shack for some much needed shelter. She wraps her arms around Mac and together they slowly head back in the direction they pray shelter is waiting.

"Mac, you're really shivering."

"S-sorry."

"Don't be sorry," she huffs. "Just stating a fact. Hold on a sec."

Stella quickly stops in the place she left the first aid kit and then hurries back to Mac who has fallen to his knees.

"Go for...h-help," he instructs in a soft whisper.

"Mac, you have to get up...have to keep going...you are going into hypothermic shock," she states frantically as she tries to get his shivering body back up right. "Please Mac..." she pleads in misery as he falls back to the hard ground. "Your body is soaked from sweat and shivering and you are losing heat fast. Please get up...don't leave me alone out here. Get up damn it!"

"Okay..." Mac tries again.

With one more painful breath of air, Mac pushes himself into the open arms of his partner and slowly walks back with her toward the waiting shack, his body rapidly shutting down.

"Mac?" Stella starts, knowing she needs to keep him awake and talking. His steps start to really slow and stumble, he's shutting down faster than expected.

"T-tired...Stella..." he whispers softly.

"I know but you need to stay awake," she tells him, her body also feeling the cold now. "We are almost there."

Mac squints into the darkness ahead, his eyes ahead of the small concentrated beam, praying the shack will soon present itself. But with matches in the first aid kit and given the fact it's not raining, he knows they'll at least be able to start a fire and keep warm.

"I see it," Stella exclaims as she pushes them a bit faster to get out of the harsh elements. Her heart starts to beat faster as Mac's weight starts to increase on her side, his body cold and still shivering. She pushes the door open and both of them merely fall to the ground in sheer exhaustion.

"I have to get your coat Mac."

"No...don't go..." Mac starts as she plants a warm kiss on his cold lips. Mac squints at her with a slight frown.

"Well you did that to me earlier and it worked," she smiles as she touches his cold face; he tries to smile but only a grimace is offered. "Be right back," she tells him as she pushes herself up, leaving him huddled in her coat in the darkened shack. His body starts to lightly convulse from the pangs of hypothermia but he tells himself he's not going to leave her alone; not after all they just survived. So with a painful gasp he tries to calm his shaking body, moving himself upright, pulling his cold knees to his chest, rubbing it as best he can and praying for some warmth to return.

Hoping his coat is just a few meters away, Stella frantically races for it, knowing he'll need all the warmth she can offer. She stumbles once, her foot catching on something in the darkness. But with Mac's very life on the line now, she is up on her feet, ignoring the pain in her side and presses on, finally finding both is coat and suit jacket and a few other things he had on him, before racing back to the shack.

Mac curses the darkness he's forced to wait in, his ears picking up various sounds, his heart racing in misery that something else might happen to Stella; hindering her arrival and safety. But thankfully a few minutes later, a small beam of her flash light is seen under the door and Stella reappears with his cold suit jacket and coat in hand.

"They are both cold Mac but not wet and right now better than nothing," she states in a soft tone as she places both their flashlights on a small ledge and huddles down beside him, pulling him close, wrapping her coat around them both, praying she'll also warm up so she can build a fire.

"Thank...you..." Mac whispers as he rests his head on her shoulder.

"My turn to save you Mac," Stella whispers as she looks at her partner's handsome face. "But you saved me in the end."

"I love you..."

"What?"

"I mean...I had to..." he frowns heavily, giving his head a quick shake and looking at her in misery.

"Liked the first part better," she whispers as she kisses his lips once more.

"Like...when you...kiss me..." he mumbles softly and her lips can't help but smile.

"Me too."

"How...is your...side?" He asks slowly, his body finally starting to receive some of the heat hers was offering, but still shaking from the cold.

"Sore. How's your head?"

"Hard," he grimaces and she offers a concerned smile. "You fight...pretty good...for a girl," he gently teases and she just shakes her head.

"Red neck," she teases him. "Can I say I told you so?" She queries and he softly nods his head in agreement. "I told you so."

"Sorry for...earlier," Mac manages weakly.

"Mac please don't," Stella begs in sorrow. "Don't start with the sad talk."

"But..."

"We are allowed to argue and you are allowed to be wrong," she states and he tries to smile but is unable.

"Thank you...for not...leaving."

"Never an option Mac," she tells him. "I don't listen to everything you tell me. Besides I wasn't about to leave all alone out here, with them," she whispers as she presses her cheek against his, praying his face will warm up. "Wasn't going to lose you."

"Proud...of you...today," he mentions as his arms around her try to tighten. He offers a small cry of pain as his ribs absorb the pressure from her body and he quickly withdraws.

"Just rest okay. Hug me when we are found."

"Okay."

"We need some heat in here Mac," Stella tells him.

"L-look...for a hole...in the floor," Mac instructs.

"What?"

"Trust...me."

"Right."

Stella quickly grabs one of the small flashlights and tries to look for a hold to start a small fire in. She finally finds one and then looks at Mac in wonder. "How did you know?"

"Smart."

"More like smart ass," she counters with a wry smile. "Won't we smoke ourselves out?"

"S-small fire...open the...back door," he tells her slowly. "No...other choice. Too...cold."

Stella knows he's right as outside there is no shelter from the wind and dropping temperature. With her back to Mac, she starts to pull away at the boards but then stops when she feels her warm coat being draped around her shoulders and back, stopping her shivering. She looks back at Mac in only his dress shirt and makes a move to take off the coat, but he stops her actions.

"You...need it. Don't...argue," he frowns as he quickly pulls back. "Just...h-hurry."

Stella finally nods, leaving Mac to try to rub some warmth back into himself. He takes his coat that isn't as cold as before and pulls it over him, but not tightly. Then he starts to rub his chest with his hands, trying to get some heat back into his bruised and freezing frame. He watches Stella with pride, knowing in a fight for survival, there is no one else he'd rather have at his side than her. And despite the heartache both had to endure earlier, is glad he's not here, facing this alone.

After what seems like an eternity for both, Stella manages to get a small fire started, opens the back door to allow the smoke to exit and then hurries back to Mac's side, pushing her body up against his and using both their coats and his suit jacket for protection from the cold; wrapping her arms around him and holding him close.

"How is...your side?" Mac asks softly.

"Bleeding has stopped," she tells him in truth. "Your head has stopped bleeding also."

"Did the...message get out?"

"I think so," Stella huffs as she searches for Mac's hands under the coats. She finally finds his cold fingers and wraps her hands around them, stopping his trembling in an instant. "I'd offer you to put them under my armpits but you might get the wrong idea," she teases and his lips try to tug into a smile.

"I know...I would..." he manages with a slight wince. "After...earlier...don't deserve it..." Mac frowns and Stella looks at him in wonder.

"Stop beating yourself up already," Stella tells him softly as she brushes some dirt off his face. "I am not mad at you."

"Were...earlier."

"Mac, you nearly died today."

"And?" He smirks and she kisses his cheek.

"So I forgive you. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"Nearly lost...you today," he manages in a firmer tone.

"I nearly lost you," she reminds him. "Kinda makes you think."

"About losing...someone you care...about."

"And not taking them for granted."

"Will you...have dinner with...me sometime?" Mac asks softly and Stella looks at him in surprise.

"Did you just ask me out?" She asks with a growing smile.

"Yes," he replies with a heavy sigh. "But don't...agree...out of pity," he adds and she just shakes her head.

"You have a lot to learn about me, Mac Taylor."

"I know," he finally manages a whole smile. "Tired."

"I know you're tired, but that's hypothermia talking. Mac you're body is still cold. The shaking has eased but you need to keep talking to me and stay awake. You still have the concussion effects. So where will we go?"

"Home."

"What? On our date? Not what I expected, but I like it."

Mac's face crunches into a frown. "No sorry...meant...want to go...home."

"We will Mac, soon enough," Stella tells him as she gently rubs his arm under the coats. While the throbbing in her side has slowed, she knows to open up the coats would mean losing precious body heat and so decides she'll just have to wait until either daylight and they can chance another walk down the road, or hopefully be rescued. But when Mac's breathing is almost non existent panic seizes her once again.

"Mac!" Stella exclaims and his eyes struggle to open as she gently shakes him.

"Tired..." he mumbles as his head wants to fall back to one side again.

"I know, I am too, but you have to stay awake. Talk to me. How did you know about the hole in the floor?"

"Tired..."

"Please Mac, please you have to stay awake. Now tell me. How did you know?"

"Redneck," he smirks and her lips want to tug upward. But as she gazes upon his tormented condition she has to quickly bit back her anguish in order to keep him awake and talking.

"You are the furthest thing from a red neck."

"Cold..."

"Fire is going out," Stella mentions.

"Put more...wood on," Mac instructs.

"If I leave you..."

"I'll...be right...here," he tells her as his blue eyes lock with hers. "You...saved me."

"I love you," she whispers before she plants a warm kiss on his lips and then pulls back.

"That's...my line," he manages and she finally smiles.

"Can we share it?" She asks with a smile.

"Sure."

"You still haven't told me where you want to go on our date?"

"To...bed," Mac mumbles as his eyes close once more.

"Sex on the first date Mac? Very forward," she smiles and his eyes fly open immediately.

"I meant...I want to..." he starts in a frantic ramble before she quickly interrupts.

"I know what you meant," she tells him and he nods his head.

Thankfully his body has almost stopped it's shaking but he's still cold and his hands haven't warmed as much as she'd like. But as the night progresses she knows it's going to get colder and if it starts to snow she worries that they'll never warm up and she'll lose Mac for good. She feels his head fall onto her shoulder once more, the movement forcing him to jerk himself awake. But just as she's about to ask him another question, she hears shouting in the distance and looks at Mac in a panic.

"I hear...it," Mac states with a slight cough. "Put out...the fire..."

"But."

"Could be...another...Turner."

"Could be Flack's help," she counters. "Just wait here."

"Stella...no," Mac tells her in a panic as he tries to get her to stay. But Stella quickly pulls herself away, tucking his jacket tightly around his body to preserve his heat.

"Stella..." Mac tries again as he watches Stella struggling to get her coat on. He knows by her facial expressions and how she's wincing every time her body moves that she's in more pain than she's admitting. "Don't...go."

She hands him his gun and flashlight. "Be right back. Mac I have to believe this is help for us."

"But..." he tries in a panic as he tries to push himself up to go with her. She gently pushes his weary body back down and kisses him on the lips.

"Stop being so damn stubborn and just wait here. I'm going to be fine and I believe it's help. Besides, I'm not going anywhere."

"Promise."

"I promise Mac. Now please just rest." Without allowing him to utter another protest in reply, she pushes herself back up, grabs her flashlight just as Mac turns his off, just in case and slowly heads outside the cabin.

"DETECTIVE TAYLOR! DETECTIVE BONASERA!" She hears a familiar voice calling her name.

"Deputy Whitaker?" Stella calls in return.

"Stella!" He replies back in haste. "Detective Flack got your message!" He qualifies his appearance. "Where are you?"

"The hunting shack. Mac has hypothermia and is going into shock!" She shouts back. "Hurry!"

Stella offers a heavy sigh of relief, blinking away anxious tears and turns on her flashlight. She watches as three more dancing lights appear before she pulls open the door to the shed and rushes to Mac's side.

"They're here Mac. We're safe!"

"Good...girl," he manages with a weak smile.

The seasoned Deputy reaches the shack and looks at the two huddled together before he gestures to his two men to hurry and help them. Both officers offer their jackets to Mac, wrapping him tightly as they slowly help him to his feet, Stella taking the Deputy's jacket and pulling it around hers to add some more heat to her cold frame.

"We have blankets in the waiting ambulance. We found your truck. What happened? Why didn't you just stay with the truck?"

"Derek Turner shot out the tire and then forced us into this situation," Stella explains as they slowly head back to the waiting ambulance and police cruisers.

"Stella...is shot," Mac pipes up as he walks between the two young men giving him aide.

"Stella?" Deputy Whitaker asks in surprise.

"Just a graze," Stella insists. "Please just get us to warmth."

"Where are the bodies?"

"A few yards past the shack," she tells him as they finally near the edge of the forest, the comforting glow of red, white, and blue lighting their path to warmth and safety. Stella gets into the ambulance first and cringes when Mac's body offers an automatic grunt as he's helped onto a waiting stretcher and a few heavy blankets draped over him.

"Help...Stella," he tries to protest the blankets.

"I'm okay Mac."

Stella gently touches his rough cheek and his actions subside. She tucks his hand under the blanket and then pulls hers tightly around her, looking down at him with a soft smile. "Now you can rest Mac. We are both okay."

Mac pushes his hand out from under the warmth of the blanket and then smiles when her fingers intertwine with his. He finally closes his eyes and rests for the trip to the hospital. Stella allows a female medic to tend to her side as she turns back to Mac.

Stella watches with a slight frown as the medic starts to clean away the dirt and dried blood from his face and head before applying a clean bandage to the wound on his head and then starting on his hand. They finally reach the small country hospital and both Mac and Stella are taken into the ER. Stella goes with a female nurse, who works on her chewed up skin, while Mac goes with one of the doctors to get his head, hand and chest tended to. About half hour later, both are reunited in a small, private room.

"Boy takes some tough characters to survive these woods. Gave me new respect for city folk," Deputy Whitaker mentions.

"Believe it or not the city is pretty scary also," Stella retorts. "But we are both glad this is over."

"Well we also arrested our Sheriff and a few others the Turner's had paid off. But it's over now and you two just need to deal with getting better; well handle the rest of our own affairs."

"That works for us, Deputy," Mac replies.

"If you want to take a warm shower, we have a private washroom in here for you and this door locks," Deputy Whitaker tells him as he hands them some warm, dry clothing. "My wife said you might want these for later."

"Thank you for all your help," Stella thanks the man before her.

"Thank you," Mac offers with a slight frown.

"We have your truck already on its way back to New York and we'll have you taken to NYPD Headquarters via police helicopter in the morning. But I wish you would stay at least the day tomorrow to recover. We don't mind."

"Thanks but we need to get home," Mac states with a slight smile. "Work awaits."

"You took quite alot out there Detective Taylor. You sure you want to just rush out of here?"

"Yes."

"He always this stubborn?" Whitaker asks Stella.

"Always," she smiles.

"Or maybe you are just tired of the country?"

"Not much of a red neck," he smirks and Stella just shakes her head.

"Very well. Please just relax and enjoy some warmth and country hospitality then for the night. My wife is going to bring something over for you both to eat a bit later."

"You're too kind," Mac tells him as he offers his hand.

"Just happy to help detective Taylor," Deputy Whitaker states in truth. "Oh by the way I have a message from Detective Flack."

"What did he say?" Mac asks with a slight frown.

"Next time just ask her," Deputy Whitaker tells him and Mac just shakes his head as he watches him leave; Stella locking the door for some privacy. He turns to Stella, who has an amused expression on her face. "What?" He asks with an innocent smile.

"Nothing."

Stella walks up to Mac and before he can react she wraps her arms around him and holds him close, her eyes finally watering and her body starting to sag into his. Mac holds her tightly, delighting in the feel of her pressed up against him; allowing her to express whatever emotion she can offer. He slightly pulls back and looks at her with a warm smile before he kisses her on the lips; brushing away a stray tear. "Sorry."

"Mac...I almost lost you."

"We're safe now Stella," Mac whispers as he gently strokes her back, almost humbled that she's chosen this moment to show him a more vulnerable side; something he'd never take for granted.

"Stella, you saved my life today. How can I ever thank you."

"You are my life Mac, as I said before leaving you behind wasn't an option."

"Well you fight pretty good, for a girl," he teases only to have her lightly swat his arm. "Not to sound condescending but I was proud of you today; I never had a doubt you'd bring them down. And what I said earlier was..." he starts only to have her gently press a finger to his lips and stop his speech.

"Felt good to save your life Mac."

"Well despite the hell of today, I'm glad you were with me."

"Well it wasn't an ideal first date but it had its moments."

"First date?"

"That's right Mac."

"It had moments?" He asks with a frown, before she lowers his lips to his once more and then tenderly tastes them before pulling back.

"This is one of them. So Flack..."

"Told me earlier today to just ask you out."

"And what did you tell him then?"

"That it would take a near death experience for you to say yes," he answers with a sigh. "I guess I was right."

"I would have said yes no matter what," she admits in truth.

"Really?"

"Yes really," she whispers as she lowers his lips to hers once more. "And as I recall tomorrow is Saturday and we both have the day off."

"Stella, I think we both need to rest tomorrow."

"I couldn't agree more," she mentions as she kisses him. "Remember what you told me earlier?"

"About time being too short?" He answers softly.

"Time to act on that, don't you think Mac? Or don't you want to?"

"Stella I still want to go out with you."

"I would love that, but that's not what I was referring to."

"You weren't?" Mac arches his brows in wonder.

"No."

"What then..." his voice trails off as his brain finally gets what she's hinting at. "Oh what I confessed in my hypothermic state."

"That would be it."

"How do you know it wasn't something I said in error," he mumbles as his lips near hers.

"Did you?"

"No," he smiles as he gently cups her face. "I love you Stella Bonasera, I said that in truth."

"I love you too Mac Taylor," Stella states firmly. "Think you'll be well enough to show me how much tomorrow."

"Wouldn't mind a little nursing back to health right now. Or..."

"Mac..."

"Yeah?"

"Shut up and kiss me," she playfully demands and Mac is all too happy to comply.

THE END!

A/N: Okay so hopefully you liked this ending (and our smacked have to have a happy ending!) and please leave me a note if you did. Thanks in advance and more SMACKED stories and updates on the way for you guys!