Title: Deception
Chapter 3 - The Truth Will Set You Free!

A/N: So to be honest when I started this I wasn't sure anyone would like but I just want to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the time to read and review and really support and encourage this angle. I do hope you like how I have attempted to wrap things up...for now. Please enjoy.

3/3

Mac reaches his office, unable to find Stella after her startling confession and stands fixed in time and space in the middle of the quiet space; unable to take another step into the unknown. I care for you...more than a friend...I am falling in love with you...make a choice...me or her...

"She kissed me..." Mac's voice trails off. She's kissed you before, his brain reminds him. "Not on the lips," Mac whispers in torment as he feels his heart continuing to beat painfully in his chest. "And now she's gone."

"Damn it!" Mac gently curses as he finds his breathing starting to shallow. He slowly closes his eyes for a few brief seconds and the past few months come flooding back with such force he actually feels his lips exhale slightly. Was I that blind? He ponders. Or was it the friendship riot act that I have forced her to...

"Stella," Mac groans as he finally takes a step in the direction he thinks she is. But just as he reaches the hallway he's once again called back to reality by a familiar voice.

"Mac!" Flack calls out.

XXXXXXXX

Stella leaves Adam to ponder her cryptic smile as she goes in search of her partner; her brain urging her that he needs to her the truth. She rounds the corner and sees him in a rather heated discussion with Flack at the end of the hallway and hangs back; knowing it's not the time to give him the evidence she has now found to at least back her purported theory.

She gazes upon Mac's tense posture, his fists tight and his words short and curt and now wonders if she should broach the subject at all.

I care too much to hurt him like this, she tries to convince herself. Mac needs to know the truth. But when I tell him will it cause resentment to grow? Will all this drive a further wedge between us? Oh Mac, tell me I haven't lost you for good over all this? Then another terrifying thought crosses her mind. What if Mac confronts her and she asks for the benefit of the doubt?

"I can't let that happen," she whispers as she takes another step toward Mac; her mind and heart now set on telling him the truth and working through the fact that his choice, although a fresh one, will hurt but the damage won't be as irreparable as the damage she feared Peyton had done. I'll not lose you Mac, not now, not to her and not to anyone! I love you and I'm going to fight for what I want most; and I want you.

But just before Mac breaks his conversation off with Flack, Stella hears Lindsay calling her name and turns and heads toward her junior CSI, agreeing to help with something and disappearing from Mac's view, but keeping a careful mental note to talk to him as soon as she's done.

XXXXXXXX

"Adam is working on my phone right now," Mac's lips emit a heavy sigh. "I am sorry about Derek Wentworth, the real one."

"Yeah hard to tell a man's wife with kids..." Flack's voice trails off. "Sorry if I inferred earlier that you might have lapsed or something or that any of this was your fault."

"Dunbrook is the last person I would..." he stops, his brain finishing the thought for him...let my guard down too. But if he was rash, Aubrey's sudden appearance and the recreation of his whole meeting Claire right down to the last detail; did now rouse some amount of suspicion. Dunbrook was able to recreate how he and his wife met...down to the last detail...color her coat...what she had for lunch...everything..he's setting you up...his brain adds the last bit.

"Mac? You okay? You know you and Stella must have the same problem."

"Meaning?"

"Earlier she zoned out also."

"Zoned out? Did she tell you why?" Mac inquires.

"You mean about your date?"

"My date," Mac states with a sour note to his tone. "Was Stella um...upset?"

"Sorry Mac, you gotta ask her that yourself. You know I remember the hesitation that I had when Jessica first asked me out."

"Don..."

"It's funny how we try to avoid the one thing we really want; and then end up losing the only thing we ever really..."

"Stella and I work together. It's complicated."

"So did me and Jess. Trust me Mac, it's only complicated because you make it that way. Now I'm not going to tell you anything, because this is your life but trust me, Stella is one in a million but she won't wait around forever. And when she's gone you know you will have lost out on your second chance."

"Don..." Mac tries again.

"Now you want me to check on Riley Becker. I believe he's transporting Graham to the second safe house; you should have all the details but I'll just confirm to ensure he's on target. If not then I'll have him replaced and then we'll see how Graham's attitude adjusts."

"Let me know," Mac states in defeat as he turns and heads for Stella, stopping in her office door and frowning at the empty space before him. I am falling in love with you...make a choice right now...me or her...Stella's soft voice replays over and over again inside his brain.

"Stella, why didn't you tell me before," his voice trails off in a misery as he turns and heads for Adam, hoping some new information will at least distract him long enough to get what he needs, stop Dunbrook from getting to his witness and then make amends with his best friend.

"Hey boss, got the info you were looking for," Adam looks at him with a slight frown. "So it appears that a ghost call was made on your phone. I was able to trace back to an unknown provider but it was made to appear from a Detective Sullivan's desk to your phone. You never got the call because the phone never rang; at least not so that you noticed. Were you busy?"

"So now what?" Aubrey asks impatiently as she slowly paces the small hotel room she's rented.

"Now you need to up things a bit...but just a bit. Show up at his apartment and offer dinner...tonight that twit Graham will be moved to the second safe house. I need..."

"And you're sure that no one is going to figure this out?" Aubrey demands. "I swear to you Robert, if I am going down for this then so are you!"

"Trust me, no one will care enough to want to check on your background," Dunbrook falsely assumes, not realizing the futility of his words.

"I was so..." Mac starts and then stops, Stella's beautiful face displaying a tormented expression in his mind now stopping him mid-sentence. "What did you find Adam?"

"Right so then the call went right to your missed call log and when you checked today it would just appear as if this guy called you and you simply didn't answer. What is going on? Does this have something to do with Robert Dunbrook?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because Stella was looking for something on him also."

"What did she find?"

"Well the part she left behind was that someone named Riley Becker was college roommates with Dunbrook's son Connor and was most recently linked to a few embezzlement schemes to..."

"Riley Becker?"

"Who is he?"

"Damn it! He's impersonating a cop; I gotta call Flack. Is that is?" Mac asks as he pulls his phone and then stops short.

"I had already told Stella about some woman named Aubrey Hunter who is related to him."

"What?" Mac asks in shock. "Could you say that again? Who?"

"Aubrey Hunter."

"Are you sure that's the name? Aubrey Hunter?"

"Positive why?"

"She u..." Mac turns to leave.

"Who is she Mac? Stella wouldn't tell me either. I mean who is she really?"

"Where is the file?" Mac demands, ignoring the question.

"Stella has all the info. She said she was coming to see you but..." Adam's voice dies out as Mac turns and hurries out of the room not waiting for the rest of Adam's explanation or how Aubrey was related to his chief nemesis. "Boss?"

Mac hurries out of the room toward Stella's office. Aubrey Hunter is related to Robert Dunbrook. Mac didn't care how or in what capacity; it was the fact that he was personally entangled with Dunbrook in a fight to the reputational death and now Dunbrook had managed to effectively distract him by playing with something dear to his heart; a woman who never left it.

"Bastard!" Mac curses as he nears Stella's office and stops short; finding it empty once again and filling the air around him with anther heavy curse. "Lindsay, did you see Stella?"

"Yeah she was looking for you but then said that she needed to do follow up on something and just left."

"Did she say where she was going?"

"Just said it was something to do with Robert Dunbrook and some new lead."

"Damn it!" Mac curses as he reaches for his phone. "Don, where is Riley Becker?"

"With Todd Graham, why?"

"Don't ask any questions, but I want Becker out of there and get Sully to personally escort Todd here to the underground holding cell and keep him on ice until I can personally vouch for his safety. Just Sully and Todd."

"Mac? What is going on?"

"Riley Becker is an imposter. Adam has proof; something we overlooked."

"Damn it," Flack curses.

"What time is the hearing tomorrow?"

"First thing in the morning. You know there will be no further reprieve; not with something this big."

"Damn it!" Mac curses once more as he reaches his office, his eyes scanning for anything that might have been conveniently left behind. "I have to go Don, but call me when you can. Bring in Graham."

"What are you going to do?"

"Personally spend the night watching him if I have to," Mac assures his friend. "Just make this happen. I have to go."

"Does Stella know?"

"She will shortly."

His eyes finally rest on a small pin, something unnoticeable to the untrained eye but to his detail orientated brain and in light of this new information, he knows it was left behind by Aubrey on purpose; another carefully planted object as was the newspaper he guesses.

She came to have lunch just to plant the device. Without saying another word, Mac grabs his coat and heads back into the hallway, gently closing his office door and then looking at his phone in suspicion. He heads to the area where spare phones are waiting and first calls Flack.

"Yeah Becker is gone," Flack huffs. "Sorry Mac he must have..."

"Don, my phone was bugged, I'm on a clean phone now. But if he knows we suspect Becker then..."

"Whoever else is working with them will also be tipped off."

"Aubrey," Mac groans.

"Who?"

"Don, I gotta call Stella," Mac states in haste as he hangs up with Flack and quickly calls Stella.

"Bonasera."

"Why the hell didn't you come to me first?"

"Mac I..."

"You have some information that I need. About my date the other night."

"Mac. I was going to tell you but..."

"But thought you'd just go off on your own and let me find out through th..."

"You were with Don and I needed..."

"Where are you?"

"Aubrey's apartment hotel. Adam was able to find where she's staying and...and it's empty Mac. She's gone."

"What is Aubrey's relation to Dunbrook? What else did you find on her?"

"Did you talk to Adam?"

"Tell me Stella!"

"She's his step daughter thanks to Madame Cleo. It was apparently a short fling they had; something Dunbrook tried to coverup because he was married at the time. I'm guessing that Aubrey got down on her luck and sought him out...blackmail comes to mind. Dunbrook saw a way to get what he wanted, distracting you in return for what she wanted - money."

"I see. Why the hell didn't you come to see me first?"

"I tried and you were busy and..."

"You should have tried harder!" Mac growls, trying to get his brain to force his anger to subside.

"Sorry Mac."

"Doesn't mean.."

"She also has high gambling debts and Adam found a blog that said that she owed him so..."

"A blog? Do you have hard evidence?"

"This is evidence Mac; any other case and we'd consider it. She came forward to blackmail him and maybe this is how he's calling it even."

"By using her to get to me?"

"Oldest trick in the book Mac."

"You know that's pretty creative even for Dunbrook."

"He has the means and more importantly the motive; he needs you distracted. Mac this is his history...wait where are you?"

"I'm going home to change and then I'm heading back here. Todd Graham needs to get to court safely tomorrow morning for the initial hearing and I intend to spend the night in lock up with him. That way I can personally assure Todd his life and testimony are safe. No more phony cops. My phone was bugged and Becker was tipped. Flack is looking for him now but I'm sure that Dunbrook has either shipped him to Hawaii or the bottom of the East River."

"But you suspected Becker before you knew the phone was bugged, right?"

"Adam told me."

"And he left out..."

"I never gave him the chance to tell me about...um Aubrey...he just didn't."

"And if your phone was bugged and Dunbrook heard about Becker..."

"Right then..."

A few seconds of silence pass before Stella dares to break it.

"Do you believe me Mac?"

"She came to have lunch to plant a listening device," Mac's lips emit a heavy sigh. "I believe you. It just..."

"Hurts," Stella's lips also emit a sigh; her brain however, happy that Aubrey will now be gone from his life for good. "Mac I'm sorry you got in the middle of all this; I'm sorry he used your past to try to hurt you."

"It never really started Stella...it was just a...just a memory. I am just glad we found out the truth before Graham had to die like the others."

"Right. Mac do you need me to..."

"I'm just going to go home and change and then head back to the precinct."

"Want come company?"

"Think I just need to be alone right now. Stella I..."

"It's okay Mac. It's over now...that's all that matters."

"It's over. I'm sorry for yelling."

"You needed it," she offers lightly and his lips faintly curl.

"I needed it." I need you, he wants more than anything to add; but telling himself that that kind of confession is best left for in person.

"Right well...I'll see you soon," she states in haste, not wanting him to feel like he needs to force some kind of confession over the phone.

Stella hangs up with Mac and feels her heart sink. I'm sorry Mac...her mind trails off as her phone rings once more. "Adam what do you have?"

"You asked me to check on that cell number right? The one for Aubrey Hunter. I found it and put a trace on it."

"Where is she going?"

"Where are you?"

"Adam just tell me. Where is Aubrey Hunter going? Who else is in danger?"

"She's headed toward...oh my go...Stella you better hurry."

XXXXXXXX

Mac hangs up and then heads for the elevator, his mind and heart now starting to ache. I nearly pushed Stella away...and for what? For an elaborate deception? A bought reality? A lie?

"Damn you Dunbrook. Fifteen rounds!"

Mac feels his anger starting to surge and wants nothing more than to track down Robert Dunbrook and offer him a good old fashioned bit of Marine payback. However, the last thing he needs the eve before the hearing is a mark against his name or the department in any way; not wanting to give Dunbrook's highly touted legal team anything to use that'll count as a technicality.

He heads for home in a state of mental misery. Stella...I'm sorry his mind trails off in sorrow as he remembers her eyes fighting back tears or the look of defeat she offered the day she walked by his office and saw him having lunch with Aubrey. Wanting more than anything for her to call and offer a much deserved, 'I told you so,' he knows his partner will spare his mental anguish and simply offer him a kind smile and that will be that.

"She said she's falling in love with me," his voice trails off as his fist hits the deck of the Avalanche. But the more he thinks about it the more he realizes that his infatuation with Aubrey was just that, a passing interest because she reminded him of his first true love; a woman that had already offered him the same scene in the deli that Dunbrook so crudely tried to create; a woman that never left his heart.

"Damn bastard," Mac curses once more as he finally lets himself into his apartment, tossing his coat aside and then heading for his bedroom under a thick cloud of gloom. "It was a lie..." Mac starts once again into his predicted conversation with the memory of his late wife. "An elaborate hoax. I should have seen it coming I guess," he huffs as he tugs his dress shirt out of his pants. "The woman in the green coat...the one I thought was...well you. She um...Stella knew...even before the evidence," he frowns as he slowly sags down on the edge of the bed, looking over to a picture of him and Stella at team event a few months back.

"I'm sorry Stella."

Mac finally pushes himself off his bed and heads over to the closet to finish changing, wanting to get back to the holding cell and then spending the night trying to convince their only surviving witness that doing the right thing was well worth the non existent amount of money that Dunbrook had offered on faith; an amount that Graham never would have seen a cent of.

"Stella said she's falling in love with me," Mac mentions, his lips automatically curling upward; a habit that seems to come naturally every time her name passes his brain. "I...I think I'm in love with her but...damn it Claire I wish you were here...even just to talk to face to face and...'

'I'll always be with you Mac,' her voice once again echoes in his head.

"With this woman there was...well nothing that I had to worry about when it comes to protocol or propriety or..." his voice trails off once again as he finishes dressing and then looks at the picture of him and Stella once more. "I just don't want to lose you, but I don't want to lose Stella. Can't you see that? Tell me what to do."

But just before he heads into the bathroom, Mac hears a soft knock at the door and hurries to open it, his heart racing with anticipation that it's Stella and he'll be able to once and for all set the record straight about his feelings. But when he pulled the door open, his world stops short.

"Aubrey?" Mac asks with a slight frown.

"Hi, I was..."

"How did you find my address?"

"You're listed," she answers in haste. "Are you busy?"

"I have to work tonight."

"Do you have time for at least something quick to eat? We could even order in if that would be better."

"Why? Because that works better with Dunbrook's schedule?" Mac asks crossly. "Keep me here and distracted?"

"Pardon?"

"Don't play me for a fool!" Mac snaps. "I must hand it to Dunbrook this time. The last two distractions he managed to buy weren't as elaborate or personal. He really pulled out all the stops on this one. Maybe I should be flattered. What was your take on this?"

"Mac, what are you talking about?"

"You are Robert Dunbrook's step daughter?"

"I..."

"Are you!"

"Yes, but I don't understand what my past has to do with dinner?"

"It has everything to do with distracting me long enough for Dunbrook's men to get to the man we are protecting? Especially on the eve of one of the biggest and most sensational trials in this City's history!"

"Okay so clearly I have mistaken you for..."

"For a dupe?" Mac counters, his frustration growing. "What was it? What was the cost to help him murder a man's life?"

"I don't think..." Aubrey starts as she turns to leave.

"Tell me the truth. What did he offer you?" Mac demands as he grabs her arm and forces her back to face him. "He murdered an innocent officer!"

"Go to hell," she hisses as she yanks her arm free. "Have you never given anyone a second chance?"

"Is this what you are seeking? Can you honestly tell me that I'll never be able to find anything that will connect you to Dunbrook in a way other than a birth certificate? And I think you know how well I am able to track things down!"

Aubrey stares at him in anger, her eyes narrowing and her heart racing. "You know I thought that..."

"Seriously? You want to keep going? I go to Rick's deli every week; I have seen most people there on a regular basis and have never seen you. Tell me, did you pick out that color of coat on your own? Not something that most women would pick out voluntarily."

"It's a crime to wear green?"

"It is now," Mac retorts.

"So you don't believe in giving someone a second chance?"

"Yes if they deserve it. What is Dunbrook paying you?"

"Do I deserve it?"

"What is he paying you!"

In the meantime, Stella had quietly made her way out of the stairwell, hovering around the corner and listening with bated breath and a racing heart as Mac makes his painful confrontation. Mac, I'm so sorry...she laments. But at the same time, if she was realistic, she was happy; glad that the woman in the green coat was found out and that enough doubt had been planted in Mac's mind to keep her at bay for good. It's over Aubrey...now get lost her brain childishly retorts! She wants more than anything to confront her female nemesis; but knows that this is one battle Mac has to fight on his own.

"I asked you a damn question! How much!" Mac demands in anger; not backing down.

"Not enough obviously," Aubrey retorts.

"And he paid you keep me distracted because he's going after who? Tell me!"

"That is a grand story Detective Taylor," Aubrey smiles; her loyalty to her step father and his vast fortune a lot stronger than to Mac's sense of personal justice and loyalty. "But you can't prove anything."

"I can and I will."

"Right and when I go before anyone who asks I'll simply tell them that I was just a woman in a green coat that some guy who obviously is hard up started to chase after!"

"I have proof that Dunbrook..."

"You can't make it stick Detective," Aubrey goads.

"But I can," Stella finally pipes up as she slowly walks toward Mac's open apartment door, her lips curled into a triumphant smile. "I have a bank transcript from Dunbrook to your account in the past week that..."

"I needed a loan."

"I also have..." Stella tries again.

"You have nothing," Aubrey shoots back.

"I have two officers on the way up right now; they are going to book you and then we'll see exactly what I have."

"You cannot arrest me. I am out of here," Aubrey starts only to see two officers exit the elevator and walk toward them.

"Aubrey Hunter you are under arrest for suspicion in aiding in the murder of officer Derek Wenworth. You are also charged with conspiracy to aid Robert Dunbrook who..."

"You'll never make it stick!"

"Arrest her," Mac directs the two men; not realizing that they have been called to the address by Robert Dunbrook; a quick intercept by his right hand James, to ensure that Aubrey's existence is secured and her testimony never allowed to come to the light of day; one less hurdle for him to overcome.

"You win this round Taylor; but you won't win this war," Dunbrook hisses as he slams down James's listening device in anger. "Let's get out of here. This is far from over."

Stella and Mac wait in silence for the officers to leave; both feeling their nervousness starting to grow. Once the elevator doors close Aubrey from their view, Stella turns to look at Mac with a tormented expression.

"Mac, I'm sorry."

"Why?" Mac inquires as he turns and slowly heads back into his apartment; Stella still waiting outside. He turns around to see her hovering in the doorway and arches his brows in wonder. "Stella?"

"I should go and follow up with her."

"Please don't go; those officers are capable of doing their job. We need to discuss this."

"Mac I said something in the heat of the moment and...I did something that..."

"You've kissed me before."

"On the lips?" Stella counters.

"Did you tell me the truth?"

"Which part?"

"All of it?" Mac questions further. "Was that all the truth?"

"Depends."

"On?"

"On what you want Mac. You need to make the choice."

"Aubrey is gone."

"The choice is me or nothing Mac."

"Pardon?"

"I love you Mac, I can't deny what's in my heart and I can't pretend any longer that I just want to be your best friend when I want more. I want to be with you; to live with you; to have more than just a simple coffee or take out with you. I know the timing is bad and I wasn't expecting to have to tell you this but..."

"But Aubrey came and..."

"And I thought I was losing something I worked so hard to build."

"Just you?" Mac asks as he slowly reaches out and takes her by the hand and firmly holds it in his, allowing their body heat to grow. "Stella please don't go."

"Mac, I didn't tell you those things to force you into something that you might not be ready for."

"I think you did. You told me I have a choice to make."

"I didn't mean..." Stella starts only to have Mac pull her into his grasp and plant a warm kiss on her lips, silencing her words, brushing her lips for a few seconds and then pulling back with a warm smile; both their hearts racing.

"Mac," Stella whispers breathlessly.

"I choose you Stella," he confesses with a firm tone. "For always."

"Mac..." Stella tries again as a small lump forms in her throat. "I didn't want you to get hurt by this. I just wanted you to be..."

"I am not hurt Stella. I heard the information and I chose to confront her; it was my choice Stella, my choice to take your side and let her go. In the end the truth will come out and I trust your judgment over anyone else's. I know you are not led by petty jealousy and your own personal agenda when it comes to justice."

"Don't kid yourself Mac, I was a bit jealous," Stella adds lightly, forcing his lips to curl upward once more.

"Just a bit?"

"Wipe the smug smile off your face."

"Smug? I didn't expect this Stella. I know over the past few months that things have been developing between us and I guess this was..."

"Was what is really?"

"It was Claire. It was the memory; one of the happiest in my life and I just wanted..."

"You wanted her back," Stella adds softly, as her hand rests on his cheek. "I'm sorry Mac."

"Claire will always be in my heart Stella, but she was my past."

"And your future?"

"I'm looking at my future," Mac admits with a warm tone; his heart racing as to the words he wants to add next. However, just before he can confess his heartfelt love to her, his phone rings and the moment is broken. "Damn it," Mac gently curses as Stella's lips emit a soft chuckle.

"Taylor."

"Mac, it's me," Flack's voice comes to life over the phone. "Graham is here and he seems okay. Could use a pep talk though before tomorrow. I'm going to pick up Maggie as soon as you are here."

"I'm on my way," Mac confirms as he hangs up. "Graham is in the secure holding cell right now; he'll be there for the night."

"And you with him?"

"Stella, the hearing is..." Mac starts only to have her gently silence him with a soft kiss, the warmth from their touching flooding both with hungry passion. But before the moment is allowed to linger, Stella pulls back and the heat quickly dies.

"You go. I have a few things to finish up. Want me to bring dinner?"

"You know I'm not really hungry. I guess I have a lot of thinking to do."

"Dangerous activity for you as of late," she quips as Mac grabs his jacket and follows her out the door, both of them slowly heading toward the elevator.

"I know today was also tough for you."

"Just today?" Stella arches a brow. "I missed out on the green beer thanks to you," she gently goads and he just shakes his head. "And it wasn't easy to see her just show up and...yeah it was tough."

"I guess you can say I told you so."

"Never was a fan of those words," Stella admits in truth. "Especially toward you; usually means something bad has happened."

"Well thanks to you, we were able to stop it before anything really bad happened."

"Why did she come over?"

"She said wanted to have dinner," Mac confesses.

"Good thing she didn't bring a gun. Course poison is very easily hidden and..."

"Not helping," Mac lightly grimaces.

"Sorry. Are you going to be okay from all this?" Stella asks as they stop on the street in front of the two black Avalanches; her mind now thankful that Aubrey wasn't allowed to do anything really bad to her beloved partner. The thought of Robert Dunbrook taking Mac out for good and winning the ultimate battle something her mind races in terror over.

"I will be," he tells her in truth. "As I said before it never really started."

"We've already started Mac."

"And we'll never end Stella."

"Just be careful tonight."

"You going to be joining me?"

"Maybe later, I have a few things to take care of first. But I think you'll be ready for a caffeine pick me up soon."

"I would like that," Mac smiles as he watches her get into the dark crossover before heading for his own. His mind tries to focus on his upcoming conversation with Todd Graham, but all he can replay is Stella's confession of love. I love you Mac she had told him and he could see the truth in her eyes; a look that was both comforting and scary at the same time. I love you too Stella, his brain confirms.

"I need to tell her," he tells himself firmly as he heads for the building where he'll be spending the night. He stops in front of the NYPD side of the building and slowly heads inside; seeing Flack at his desk and heading straight for him.

"Did you already book Aubrey Hunter?"

"Who?"

"The woman who I...the woman who Dunbrook has been using to feed information to Graham via dirty cops," Mac huffs.

"Haven't heard her name...hold on," Flack looks to his right. "Hey Marty, anyone in the holding tank by the name of Aubrey Hunter?"

Both Mac and Flack watch the younger clerk quickly scan the computer before him and then look up with a frown. "No one by that name."

"But she had to get here...who took the call?"

"Where was she picked up from?"

"My apartment," Mac resigns, forcing Flack to look up in wonder.

"She was..." Flack asks as Mac simply nods his head. "No wonder Stella was pissed. Way to go."

"Don't start. Can you please just see who did the pick up?"

"I'll check," Marty pipes up.

"So she was..."

"Don, I said drop it."

"The date?" Flack arches his brows. "Damn that sucks."

"For her. We'll bust her for..."

"An Aubrey Hunter was picked up by Riley Becker and Derek Wentworth..." Marty's voice trails off as he looks up into the surprised faces of Mac and Flack. "Isn't Officer Wentworth..."

"Dunbrook!" Mac hisses in anger. "Damn it! Lock this place down."

"You think she's going to come here and..."

"Dunbrook failed to get this witness Don, I'm not taking any chances."

"Then go downstairs and trust me when I say that no one will get through me. Sully, can you go and pick up Maggie Benson?"

"Sure," Sully reluctantly agrees.

"Damn it!" Mac curses.

"We still got Graham right?"

"You don't know Dunbrook, he's ruthless...and trust me he'll stop at nothing," Mac looks away in misery. "This isn't over. I mean the trial is just starting."

"Where is Stella?"

"Finishing up a few things."

"Does she know? I mean about the date and her connection to Dunbrook?"

"Stella made the arrest," Mac states with a hint of pride in his voice.

"Oh what a tangled web we weave Mac Taylor," Flack teases; but one final warning glance from Mac and he knows to drop it. "I'll put out an APB on Becker, Wentworth and Hunter but am guessing if they work for Dunbrook they are probably on a plane right now with either fake names or their own."

"Or on the way down to the bottom of the east river. I'm going to see Graham."

"Okay, I'll be down in a few hours."

Mac offers Flack a slight nod as he slowly heads toward the elevator and then gives his friend a smile before the doors close him away from view. Mac slowly approaches the holding cell and looks at Graham with a slight frown.

"I still want to do the right thing," Graham pipes up.

"What made you change your mind?" Mac inquires as he slowly eases himself down onto the bench beside the holding cell.

"Maggie," Todd Graham admits with a sheepish smile. "Silly right?"

"What, listening to someone who obviously loves you very much?" Mac asks to which Graham simply nods in agreement. "No...not silly at all; smart in fact," Mac states with a slight sigh. "Women know what is best for us right? Women who love us know what's best."

"You got a good woman?"

"One I don't deserve," Mac confesses.

"Yeah I guess that's all men right? At least that's what Maggie tells me."

"I think she's right," Stella's warm voice makes herself known, forcing both Mac and Graham to look up at her in wonder; Graham's face offering a frown and Mac's a warm smile.

"I know she's right."

"Well trust me, some women are just as lucky," she gives him a quick wink as she enters the area with two cups of coffee in her hand, giving one to Mac and keeping one for herself before she eases herself down beside him. "Detective Flack will be coming down soon with something more to your liking," Stella informs Graham as he leans back in the holding cell, away from their view.

"Maggie will be here soon so he won't have to be alone either."

"He needs her right now."

"I need you right now," Mac mentions softly as he takes a sip of his coffee; his free hand slowly interlacing with Stella's, his brain taking much delight in the warmth her frame was adding to his; calming his nerves. "Thank you for this."

"It's not green."

"I meant spending the night with me."

"Well it wasn't my idea of a first date but it'll have to do," Stella quips, forcing a small nervous chuckle from Mac's lips. "But to be honest there is no place else I'd rather be right now than here with you; it's what we do right?"

"I need to tell you something," Mac leans in closer, his lips near her ear and his warm breath sending small shivers down her spine. "I love you too," he whispers in her ear, brushing her tender skin with his soft lips before pulling back; his heart racing.

Stella's grasp around his hand tightens, her lips mouthing the words, 'I love you too,' and saving them both any audible embarrassment from confessions that their 'guest' didn't need to hear. Stella slowly leans back against the wall, her body finally sagging into Mac's as her head rests on his shoulder, her mind awake and now pondering the new course they'd both be embarking on. A few days ago her romantic life was put on hold; startling actions beyond her control forcing her to a place she never expected. But thankfully, she had found the strength and courage to confess the truth to him and although she wasn't sure forcing him to make a decision was a good idea, thinking back now, it was the only course she had to take; it was a gamble and it paid off.

"Can't wait to see the look on Dunbrook's face when we show up with Graham in the courtroom tomorrow."

"Certainly won't have the smug smile you do now."

"Smug?" Mac arches his brows as he looks sideways at Stella, risking another small brush on her cheek before he pulls back, always mindful of public propriety; especially in this setting.

"Happy?" Stella counters.

"Very," Mac agrees in truth as he too leans back on the wall, his free hand offering his mouth another sip of coffee.

I love you Stella, his brain replays over and over again; his fingers giving hers a small squeeze of reassurance; reassurance mostly for his own mind. She's here...she's here and she loves me, his brain ponders as his lips curl upward once more.

In his heart he's always known his feelings for Stella have been stronger than a simple platonic relationship. And over the past few months, doing social things together and sharing past history, he had to admit that he was moving toward confessing something to her that would take them to the next level. But then Dunbrook had forced him to take a step back and reconsider what he was doing; a move that nearly cost him everything he holds dear, the woman he loves more than anything. In hindsight, Dunbrook did him a favor, it forced both he and Stella to realize that the more time you waste, the greater the chance of losing the one thing you treasure most.

Mac watches the elevator doors slowly open and Flack face them with a knowing smile, his eyes dropping to their clasped hands, a small gesture that spoke volumes about two people finally coming to terms with a situation that most of their peers had not only expected but predicted would happen long ago. But Flack says nothing, only smiles and nods before he continues on his previous course.

Mac watches Flack head over to Graham with a small bag of goodies, telling him that Maggie was about twenty minutes away and that he'd have some company for the night; telling him she was allowed to stay for as long as they wanted. Mac watches Flack leave and then looks over at Stella; thankful that she's not only at his side for the rest of his night but will be for the rest of his life; cementing in his mind and heart that no matter what trials they face or what battles they fight they will do it together; that is assured.

"What?" he asks softly.

"Thank you for being here with me," she tells him what he told her earlier.

"Well it wasn't my idea of a first date but it'll have to do," Mac retorts and her face softens.

"Yeah? So what would be your idea of a good place for a first date?" Stella wonders as Mac leans in closer and whispers in her ear, forcing her face to warm as he pulls back and looks at her with a warm glance, his eyes locking with hers in a heated showdown of sapphire and emerald.

"Really?" Stella asks with an arched brow.

"Really," Mac confirms as he leans in closer once more. "I love you Stella, I always will."

"I love you too Mac; I always have."

THE END!

A/N: Okay so didn't know how long to make this chapter (eek it's already so long!) so have decided to leave it here and end the story (for now). I did leave open for a follow up story if anyone is interested (please let me know in your review-hmm a little payback from Dunbrook and Aubrey?
Hope you all liked the ending and here's knowing Mac's choice will be Stella and nothing else!!! (yeah like there is any other choice). Please let me know what you thought before you go and thanks again.

PS: Escape from Rikers updates next