Chapter 12: Results

Mac stands beside Stella, an arm around her, as her mother is buried. She hadn't wanted anyone else there with her, but he had insisted on inviting the team. "Do you want to be alone?"

She shrugs, not caring. The rest of the team had left already to give them some privacy. "It's not like I knew anything about her."

"Stel, I'm positive she wanted nothing more than to keep you the day you were born. Maybe the part about not being able to pay for a baby was true."

"I'll never know. She was the only one who knew the truth, and now she's gone. Then, I killed the only other person who might have known something."

"Because he would have killed you to get revenge on your mother," he tucks a strand of curls behind her ear. "If you need anything, I'll be at the car."

She stands there, unsure of what to do. Although many people had left her during her life, few of them had died. Plus, this person was someone she wasn't exactly close to. She knew practically nothing about her mother.

A man walks up beside her, not someone she recognizes. After standing there in silence for a while, he speaks. "How did you know her?"

"Oh, she was my mother, but I didn't really… know her. I grew up in an orphanage," Stella turns to face him.

"I'm Tom," he offers not last name. "Your mother and I… dated for a while."

"Stella Bonasera," she shakes his hand.

"Then your father is the reason we broke up. Did you meet him?"

"Yeah. It's a long story. Let's just say he's not really my father but apparently my mom didn't know that. He's the one who… killed her for having an affair and tried to kill me too."

"I'm glad to see you're alright them. I truly did love your mom when we were together. Then that idiot she was going to dump found out about our affair. Instead of leaving him, she left me. I knew no good would come from that decision." He gives her a faint smile. "I should get going, give you two some time alone. Nice to meet you, Stella."

"You too," she watches him leave. After a few more minutes, she heads back to the car.

Mac hugs her. "I know this is awkward timing but… did you get the results yet?"

"They're supposed to come today. Mail's probably been delivered by now."

"I'll take you home and stay until you know."

"Thanks," Stella puts a hand on his cheek.

Family

Taking a deep breath, she opens the envelope. "I can't do it," she hands him the papers inside to read.

He skims over the first page, finding himself to be about as nervous as she is. Finally, he reads what he needs. "Negative," Mac shows her the results, about halfway down the page.

"If the results are on that page, what are the other two pages?" They both look through the following pages. "What? They know who my father is?"

"Where?"

She points to the words. "Hey, I met a Tom today at her grave. He said that they had dated… but the guy we thought was my father found out about the affair… why didn't I realize this then? My father was right in front of me. I don't think he knew she was pregnant. I'll probably never see him again," she gives up hope of ever knowing anything about her true family.

"Stel, we can find out where anyone lives. If you want to talk to him, give me the word, and I'll track him down for you," he promises. "Maybe he'd be able to help you figure out why she left you. At least, he'd be able to tell you what she was like."

"I can't thank you enough for all of this. I really appreciate all your help," Stella hugs him. "You're the best friend I've ever had."

A/N: Okay, I can't say much this time because I've got ten minutes until Providence is on and I have yet to finish my stupid rat packet for bio. I have five more questions to go. I don't think anything exciting happened today except the one girl in bio who was scared to death of touching the rat (see A/N in BCTG, last chapter, if you haven't already, to read all about diessecting yesterday). She held the intestines up for us to see. She still had her gas mask on though. I think my dad is home. Or maybe my mom. Please review.