Title: Deception
Chapter 1 - Green the Color of Envy

Summary: Was it just a chance meeting in the deli for Mac? Or is there something else behind the story of the woman in the green coat. Can Stella uncover the truth? And when she does what choice will Mac have to make? SMACKED Angst/Drama/Romance ficlet

Disclaimer: You should know by now.

A/N: Okay so I must confess that I was just as horrified as the rest of all you true SMACKIES when "she" made her lame debut. But I was given an idea by a friend to "tweak" my misery into a speculation ficlet for you all. I think "she" isn't what she appears (gee how else do you explain a VERY OOC Mac after 5.5 seasons?) and so this is what I think her coming into Mac's life is really all about (yeah it's kinda left field but that's fanfic right?). But I am happy to say that hopefully we'll only have to endure her a bit longer! *phew* If you are two years old and must flame, recess is over leave the playground! To the rest of the mature adults I hope you like it.

~Dedicated to WildWeasel. Thanks for the discussion and all the help. Hope I did it some small amount of justice to this!~

1/3

~From the conclusion of Pay Up~

****
'What can I do for you Robert?'

'Sneak preview of tomorrow's AM edition.'

'Maybe I misjudged your character.'

'Probably not. But don't mistake my little act of kindness as a sign of weakness. A have a line of up very talented attorney's to represent me. There's not one charge of fraud or embezzlement that is going to stick. But if I go down it's going to be swinging with both fists. Hope you're ready for twelve rounds Taylor.'

'I'd train for fifteen. Must tear at your gut to know your son agreed to testify against you.'

'You know, no matter what I have been through in my life, there has always been one constant. I love my son, and nothing in the world will ever change that. I'll see you in court Detective.'

'I look forward to it.'

'You be safe, alright.'
****

"Well Robert how did Detective Taylor take the news?"

"He's one stubborn bastard. We need something...something on him that we can use as leverage going foward."

"Blackmail?"

"No, Taylor's character is without reproach. And forcing him into something will just garner him strength and put us in the losers corner for sure. No we have to be smart about this; we need to set a trap that he'll want to walk into willingly; something short and sweet but something effective. How long until trial?"

"Judge Rutherford is pushing for six months."

"That doesn't give us much time," Dunbrook lightly curses.

"What is your plan Robert?"

"I want my two best men to become shadows for Detective Taylor. I want to know everything about him; professional, private and personal. I don't care...if he uses a certain brand of Kleenex I want to know what it is. We'll meet back here to discuss our plan. Now get busy."

"And Connor?"

"Let me worry about my son; that's what I do best. Now go and do what you do best."

"Yes Sir, Mr. Dunbrook."

XXXXXXXX

4 months later

"Is Dunbrook in?"

"Is he expecting you?"

"He is."

"Then go right in."

"James, to what do I owe this visit."

"Detective Mac Taylor."

"Right. Marcie, hold all my calls."

"Yes Sir."

"James?"

"Well Detective Taylor is a creature of habit. Much like you said; he's by the book, annoyingly so. Didn't fall for anything we tried...even the subtle stuff."

"Thought as much."

"His day is pretty much the routine and he works every day of the week. His day starts out with a trip to a small coffee shop next door if he has time; if not then he gets his coffee at work. Vending machine lunch and if he has time only frequents one deli."

"Friends?" Dunbrook inquires.

"A few but in the last number of months he's spent a considerable amount of time with his partner Stella."

"Ah yes Stella Bonasera."

"You know her Sir?"

"Not as well as I should. Does she have a connection to Mac outside of work?"

"Well in the last number of months they have shared a few outings; shopping for a Christmas tree, dinner at Cavelli's, a race around the NY 400 track and a few others."

"And then?"

"Nothing, each go their separate ways. But..."

"But what?"

"Well I took Candace with me one night and she could have sworn something was brewing between them that was more than professional."

"So the invincible Mac Taylor does have a weakness. His partner."

"There is no way we can use her to."

"No you are looking at this from the wrong angle James," Dunbrook starts a slow smile starts to cross his lips. "We can use this. His late wife Claire had a certain look...his partner has a certain look...we need someone..."

"A certain look? Don't you think that's a bit of a stretch?"

"Believe me James, this is the angle we need."

"You think he'll fall for just some stranger? Just like that?"

"Not fall for...be distracted by. And just long enough for us to make sure that any inside traitors are found out and taken care of."

"But who?"

"A woman with a certain look," Dunbrook ponders. "Just like the first and now the present..."

"Well this might help. I found an old Marine buddy of his. He knew Mac when he was first married; guess what he told me about Mac and his late wife meeting..."

Dunbrook listens to the further testimonial into Mac's private life; the wheels inside his head spinning with new thoughts on how to trap and finally bring down his nemesis for good.

"Well?" James asks eagerly.

"It's perfect. Now we need a backstory. She'll need to a hard luck case of some kind because Taylor is all about virtue and doing the right thing and being everyone's hero in their time of need. But still polished as he doesn't go for just anything. If we give her the look and a real good sob story I'm willing to bet that we'll be able to spring a trap for Mac Taylor that he won't he's in until it's too late. And by that I mean we'll be at trial and he'll have no credible witnesses and then all bets are off."

"We are going to kill him?" James inquires, forcing Dunbrook to lean back in his chair and laugh.

"Mentally and emotionally we'll let him do that to himself. But no I'm not going to jail for making Mac Taylor a martyr. I want him distracted by his own doing. You said that someone inside my organization has been asking questions. If we are now seeking another whistle blower we'll need to get to him before Taylor does. And if we don't find out in time then we need Taylor distracted long enough to ensure we are able to swing this trial in our favor. I think I know who it is; either Wilson or Graham, but we'll know soon enough. I haven't lost a big fight in my life and I don't intend to start now. Not to some two bit city Detective."

"But who are you going to find to help us?"

"I have the perfect person in mind," Dunbrook replies as he picks up the phone and dials, looking up at his right hand with a slight frown. "Aubrey, are you still in town? Well I need you to come back to Manhattan. I have a new job for you. Yes I'll make it very worth your while...be here tomorrow. We got work to do."

Dunbrook hangs up the phone and then looks at James with a growing smile.

"Well Taylor...round one has just ended. And I win. On to round two."

XXXXXXXX

2 weeks later

"You sure you know what the hell you are talking about?" Mac's angry and exhausted voice echoes in the interrogation room; bouncing off the tense frame of Detective Don Flack and then landing on the tense frame of the informant in the suspect chair.

"Look you don't want to believe me, I don't care."

"And you have solid proof that Robert Dunbrook paid you one hundred thousand dollars to tell Judge Mercer that you saw him at Club Solita the night of Beth's murder and then offered you nearly one million dollars to just turn around and walk away? And then..."

"We have been through this before..."

"Yeah well Todd," Flack's annoyed voice finally pipes up. "This is going to help bring down one of the largest media barons in the state; we'll go through it again. Now from the top..."

"Just give me a damn piece of paper already and I'll sign what you want. Just as long as you twits hold up your end of the deal."

"Twits?" Flack's brows arch as he looks at Mac with a frown. "You'll get a brand new life...hell you'll even be able to save for a new face. Now start talkin."

"How are they doing in there?" Danny asks Stella in a soft tone.

"I think this might be the one that puts the final nail in Dunbrook's coffin," Stella answers with a tense smile. "The other testimony has taken six months for his team of attorney's to discredit and they have succeeded with a few; we have only one witness left. But this one...this one is going to put him away for good. As long as we can keep him alive until the trial."

"Don will take care of it," Danny states proudly of his best friend. "How's Mac?"

"He needs sleep," Stella mentions absently, her eyes fixed on her handsome partner's weary expression. Danny's fingers offer Stella's shoulder a gentle squeeze before he turns and leaves her standing outside the interrogation room; her eyes still fixed on her partner's facial expression.

In the weeks following Jessica's death, Mac had turned to work as she had expected but in the months that followed he had finally softened, even sharing a few more personal tidbits of his life and a few outings that she had to admit surprised even her. But now six months later, Dunbrook about to go to trial she wonders if this will push him back over the emotional edge once more; sending him scrambling under his tarnished shell, hiding away from the world.

But she would have to admit that they had progressed to a new level of friendship; one where she finally felt at ease to attempt a chance at asking him out on a date; a real date, just the two of them. He had arranged for us to take a race together after we cleared Liza's name, she reasons inside her mind. And Mac had bought us dinner after that. So since he put himself out, it's my turn, she tries to convince herself.

Stella watches Mac leave Flack with the Dunbrook insider and head for her; his face showing signs of fatigue and exasperation; having been down this same road in the past few months.

"Think this one will hold up?"

"After he signs that paper, Don is taking him right away to the safe house. He's got Sully as babysitter and a few hand picked officers, so Todd Graham should be alive long enough to testify and hidden away enough for Dunbrook not to get to him," Mac explains as he looks at her with a slight frown. "We can't lose this one Stella."

"We won't. How are you holding up?" Stella asks in personal concern.

"When Robert Dunbrook is behind bars I think I'll be able to breathe normally once again," Mac replies with a slight sigh. "Keep waiting for the next round. What is this like ten now."

"Mac?"

"Just something Dunbrook and I talked about the night he dropped off the edition of Angell's tribute. He told me to prepare for twelve rounds and I said fifteen."

"Powerful words to say to an enemy like him."

"Well I think this will be the title match and he'll lose," Mac ponders as they slowly walk back toward their offices. "How are you holding up? I have been too busy to ask and I'm sorry."

"I know how determined you are to take down Dunbrook..."

"I think after we were unable to prove he paid this kids for the bar drive by something inside me just..." his voice trails off as they stop inside the doorway to his office.

Stella studies her partners face and feels her heart starting to beat a bit faster. "Mac?"

"I have long since prided myself for not wanting to seek petty revenge. But in the last few months things have changed."

"How so?"

"I did have those feelings after Angell was killed and then again after Danny was put in that chair. I guess part of the reason why I closed myself off so much; inside I have always known it was Dunbrook. And now with Todd Graham's testimony that revenge might actually get fulfilled."

"And you hate that right?"

"It's the inner feeling of vindication because I know what it has stemmed from."

"Death," Stella finishes.

"Death," Mac echoes as his lips slowly curl into a soft smile.

"It's still early, why not go and get some real rest," Stella suggests. "I was going to take you for a drink but I think you need sleep more than anything. Why don't you go to Rick's Deli, I mean it is Tuesday right?"

"Right my usual," Mac smiles. "I don't mind going tonight."

"There is always tomorrow right? Besides I want to know I'll have your full attention when we do go."

"I have to agree," Mac smiles as his fingers gently rest on her arm before giving it a small squeeze and then pulling back. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I'll be here," Stella tells him with a warm smile as she leans in closer and plants a soft kiss on his cheek. "Call if you need anything."

"I will."

Mac takes his leave, heading into his office, sitting down to finish a few things and then finally pushing himself up and heading for his coat. Not really feeling in the mood to cook, he turns the Avalanche toward his favorite deli; wanting to just get something to go and then zone out in front of the television.

'Was going to take you for a drink...' Stella's comforting words force a warm smile to slowly spread across his lips as he heads further into traffic. Knowing that his favorite deli is always busy Mac grabs is usual two numbers and heads for the front counter as his number is called by a man he's gotten to know very well over the past number of years. However, despite the number of people in the deli he was unaware of the set of eyes watching him intently; eyes with an agenda all their own.

'Are you sure this is going to work?' Aubrey's mind replays.

'Have an inside source. He'll be here tonight. Mac Taylor is a creature of habit.'

'And a green coat? And an apartment listing?'

'Just watch what you say!'

'Why?'

'Do not engage him in any kind of ethical debate about work. When it comes to ethics and loyalty, Taylor will choose those over his own life and this whole plan is moot and I really will have you killed.'

'Just remember what I have on you Robert,' Aubrey threatens in return.

'My arm is a lot longer. Now just stick with the plan. It can't fail...trust me, this'll be something Taylor isn't expecting but something he can't ignore.'

She lines up the handsome Detective in her sights and smiles. This guy won't know what hit him.

Mac hands his number and then glances to his right just as newspaper falls to the floor. He slowly bends to pick it up and his brain instantly flashes back to a situation fate handed him one time before. Claire? His mind stops suddenly as he looks at the woman in the green coat; the same color as the coat that first caught his eye when Claire Conrad came into his life. If she had been wearing anything else he would have paid her no heed. Now all of a sudden an odd feeling of romantic nostalgia started to cover him and his interest was 'piqued'. Who is she? And why does she remind me of Claire so much? Claire to was looking for an apartment; in a deli; wearing a green coat.

Mac quickly looks around to ensure that his mind isn't playing tricks on him and if it wasn't for his number being called he would have sworn he was just dreaming. He mutters a thank you, offers some cheesy line and then takes his leave; his heart and mind racing with wonder.

Mac reaches the truck and stops, looking back at the deli in wonder. "Claire..." his lips whisper as he gets into the truck and leans against the seat; allowing his mind to replay this exact same night not so many years ago. "I asked her out..." Mac ponders as he starts up the truck and then heads for his latest crime scene, not caring about being tired when there is work to do.

'Dunbrook.'

'It's me.'

'How did it go?'

'It didn't. He didn't take the bait. In fact he walked out of here with a stiff body language. Trust me I know men. He was interested in something but he didn't act upon it; probably just a feeling of nostaglia. This isn't going to work.'

'Then we'll just have to force his hand...'

'You said Mac Taylor...'

'I can see you haven't been in the blackmail business as long as I have,' Dunbrook laughs. 'You need to play the game. You are going to leave Mac a note; a note with a sob story that will appeal to his sense of 'hero.' Play up to his ego. Trust me I know my opponent,' Dunbrook states in confidence. 'You need to appeal to his sense of wanting to help...of being the person you needed at that moment...the person you want to respond to you...you need to reel him in slowly. You write down what I tell you and trust me he'll seek you out.'

'This better work Robert.'

'Trust me Aubrey, it can't fail.'

Stella watches Mac approach the bodies and frowns, his facial expression holding something he's never displayed in a long time; somewhat hidden interest of a personal nature.

"Mac?" She dares to ask.

"Got the call Stella. There is work to do and this is where I am needed. Sleep can wait."

"No I mean your...you look different. You okay?"

"I uh...yeah I'm fine. I'll tell you later."

Stella simply nods her head, knowing that with Mac work always comes first, especially in this arena. So she shelves her growing interest in her partner's off mood and gets down to the task at hand.

'I'll always be with you Mac...' Claire's voice dances around in his head. He gives himself a small shake, praying the images of his late wife in her green coat will fade so that he can concentrate on the two bodies before him. But despite the fact that he manages to get all his work done at the scene, his mind is still thinking about Claire and the mysterious woman in the green coat that has managed to rekindle a sort of romantic nostalgia inside him.

How can this be? Mac's mind ponders as he watches Stella approach him. He gathers what he needs and then turns to leave.

"Mac?"

"Time to call it a night I think."

"Anything you want to talk about?"

"Just old feelings."

"About?"

"Well Claire and I met the day before St. Patrick's and..." his voice trails off as his lips curl into a soft smile.

"Mac, I'm sorry," Stella states in a soft tone, her fingers resting on his arm and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I think I'm just tired. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Mac," Stella calls as she takes a few steps and is at his side in seconds. "Just call if you need anything," she whispers as her lips plant a small kiss on his cheek; making his face warm and his heart naturally skip a beat. "No matter the time."

Mac heads for home; his deli take out still on the front seat where he left it before the call, his mind no where near the food but on events in the past:

--------
'My name is Claire...Claire Conrad.'

'Do you come here often?'

'Actually I have just had a bad day and...I guess you don't want to know.'

'I have some time.'

'What is your name?'

'My name is Mac Taylor.'
--------

Mac slowly pushes himself into his quiet apartment, his mind and heart heavy as he starts to think upon feelings that had long ago been buried; a past life that had too many painful deeds for his mind to survive on a daily basis. But seeing that woman in the green coat, forces his mind to once again conjure up images and memories of a life that once held so much promise.

Mac wanders into his bedroom and stops, his fingers reaching for a small picture of Claire and his eyes holding a smile that even his building tears were unable to shield.

"I missed you today..." he whispers as he blinks quickly, keeping the salty water at bay as he continues about his task of getting ready for the night. "For the past few months I thought things were clear for me...I mean Stella and I..." Mac continues his one sided conversation; a habit he's formed since the tragic death of his late wife. Especially in romantic matters; an area he feels he can't quite open up to a lot of peers, he knows Claire will just listen and not pass judgment, always in his mind and heart but watching over him with an unseen eye.

"Inside I have feelings for Stella, they are strong and undeniable...but seeing you...well whatever tonight it just...am I doing the right thing? I never believed in signs but...talk to me Claire...tell me what to do."

He had figured that with all the Dunbrook nonsense in the past few days that he'd have no trouble falling asleep. But despite the fact that his body was fatigued his brain was once again actively showing him highlights of the first time he took a chance on love; a chance that changed his life forever.

XXXXXXXX

Something is going on, Stella's mind ponders as she watches Mac the following morning. His mood seems a bit lighter and he even seems eager to head back to the Deli where he was yesterday to talk to Reed about his involvement in the case. What is going on Mac? Is there something you aren't telling me? What happened last night?

'Claire Conrad...' Mac's mind trails off as he approaches the deli with a sense of anxious apprehension. However, it's not her specifically that he's wanting to see, the woman in the greet coat; his mind eager to show him his late wife reincarnate. Mac spies Reed at the table and makes his way toward him, his eyes darting nervously around to see if he's being watched.

Take a chance... Reed's voice reminds him as he watches Claire's son take his leave. But just before he can escape, Mac is called back by a friend who hands him a note; written by a man with ill intent. And as Dunbrook had predicted, it did play up to Mac's sense of hero, but in Mac's mind it was hero to Claireher son telling him to take a chance; to replay a scenario that fate has once again perfected.

'I'll always be with you Mac...' Claire's voice once again echoes in his head; images of her writing the note for him force his lips to curl upward once more. But with Claire he had taken the chance and introduced himself right there and they had spent the night at the deli for hours just talking about Chicago, his days as a Marine and what New York might be like. But now she, number 40, had taken the next step and now he feels he owes her something in return.

'But how is he going to find me again Robert?'

'Well you see my money can buy a lot of things...including multiple copies of the paper I produce, the same paper with the open house ad that you said he already saw. So we leave a few around the lab in certain places and trust me when he sees that paper and after reading that note...trust me, this is going to work.'

'It better, I really don't like Manhattan.'

'I'll make it worth your while to stay a bit longer. Now here is what we do next...'

"How did it go with Reed?" Stella inquires sometime later as her and Mac stand in the hallway just before Flack approaches them.

"It went okay. He's nervous about this case and rightly so. He's grown...grown so much and...he even has some of Claire's characteristics," Mac's lips curl into a slight smile.

"Well I am glad that it went well," Stella finishes as Flack approaches and soon the conversation turns to the case, with Flack talking about a few case more details. Flack takes his leave and his eyes follow Stella until he turns and then allows something else to catch his attention. Mac stares at the newspaper that Dunbrook had planted only a few hours earlier; a paper open to the same spot on purpose.

Mac has long since prided himself on not playing the predicable card; not allowing himself to fall into someone else's trap; much less a game of cat and mouse with an opponent willing to pay any price and go to any lengths to win the game. However, he wasn't prepared for an enemy to come at him with a weapon that he would never have suspected.

Open house...the woman in the green coat...Claire... Mac's mind trails off as he takes the paper and finds himself giving in; falling into the trap his skilled nemesis has set for him. With his brain feeding him Reed's pep talk and Claire's image smiling at him, Mac finds himself doing something he hasn't done in years; something that would be considered uncharacteristic for a man who wears the label private so openly and proudly, he starts to pen a note to a woman he doesn't even know. He tries to convince himself that he took the same chance before and it worked out...well for the most part; Claire's departure was something not his doing, unlike Peyton.

A small feeling of anticipation starts to cover him as he pictures Claire's face giving him a nod of approval as he writes to her, his late wife; not a woman who has willingly agreed to help keep him distracted before a trial that is set to start in days.

He calls for a local courier, sends out the package to the 'open house' and then forces himself to get back to work. But as soon as he enters the hallway, he watches Stella approach and feels his heart start to tighten. Would she approve? She is my best friend? Would she be happy for me? Mac's mind races with a million questions. What about the bond that you have been growing with Stella beyond the boundaries of friendship? His brain reminds him. Are you going to just throw that all away for a chance at something that happened in the past?

Stella's beautiful face cracks a small nervous smile, once again her eyes inspecting her partner's tense posture; her mind wondering what secret he is trying very hard to hide from the rest of the world. Mac what is going on? Her brain wonders as he nears her. But being the master of emotional disguise that he is, as soon as he's standing before her its all work mode and she finds it a tad unsettling. Knowing that if she tries to pry the reason out of him when he's in work mode; will cause him to shut down further so she tells herself she'll ask him for that drink after work and find the reason then.

"So what else did Flack find?" Mac inquires; his mind however, also wondering how his note will be received.

'Well what happened?'

'You were right Robert, Taylor took the bait. We have a date tonight at the deli.'

'Hope you don't mind a little bit of unseen company.'

'I don't need a shadow!'

'This is far too valuable to just leave you out on your own. Keeping Taylor distracted means I have time to work on finding getting to Todd Graham! This is my ass and my future on the line, there is no room for discussion or debate! Now we have work to do.'

After the case Mac lingers in his office, having just finished up with Reed and declining dinner with him; telling himself that it was he who offered dinner at the Deli tonight and he had to follow through, it wasn't in his nature to just start something and then not finish it; another characteristic that his nemesis is counting on.

"Mac?" Stella's soft voice interrupts his thoughts, forcing his eyes to glance upward, locking with hers; his mind instantly settling as she has that effect on him. "Lost in thought?"

"I suppose I am."

"Has happened a lot to you as of late. Care to share? Memories again or something else?"

"You know I'm not sure. Memories for sure but..."

"Well I still owe you that drink so why don't we head over to Sullivan's for a pint of green ale?" Stella asks with a warm smile. "Let's go and talk about those memories."

Mac looks at her; hears the eager tinge in the tone of her voice and feels his mind and heart both racing to the bottom of the emotional barrel.

"I um...I can't," he starts with a slight stammer.

"Right well..."

"I have a date," Mac suddenly blurts out; not really wanting to hide the truth from his best friend and knowing that if things did progress with the mystery woman then he'd have to tell Stella sooner or later. The trouble was as soon as he did tell her he could see the instant change; her body stiffened, her face tightened and her brow furrowed.

"Oh I see...someone I know?" Stella manages, her heart now racing at the dreaded answer. This can't be...not after what we have been building in the past few months...Mac?

"Just met her...in fact it's odd," he starts with a slight smile; a facial expression that instantly paints Stella with an invisible coating of green; the fated color of jealousy.

"Odd?"

"Claire and I met the exact same way."

"In a deli. Was she wearing a green coat?"

"And she was looking for an apartment," Mac continues. "She was...it was...odd," his face gently creases. "Just sort of...well it came from nowhere."

"And you asked her out just like that?"

"Actually I didn't," he pauses. "I just saw her and we made small talk for a few minutes and then I left; I really didn't give it much...well further thought. But she left me a note at the deli and then..."

"You asked her out," Stella's voice dies out to a tormented whisper.

"Right."

"Okay well...I hope you have a good time," she states as she turns to leave, her core heating and her eyes wanting to threaten tears. Be strong...she tells herself. At least until you are in private.

"Stella?" Mac asks, his warm voice instantly pulling her eyes back to his. And no matter the devastating news he just delivered; pulling her heart from her chest and handing it to her on a golden platter, she can't just leave.

"You at one time told me to go for it."

"You mean with Drew?" His brows arch.

"I guess I should be telling you the same thing," Stella tells him with a fake happy tone.

"Rain check on the beer?"

"Only green once a year Mac," Stella replies with a slight smile, her mouth unable to reach the end to end grin she'd normally apply in a private setting with just the two of them.

"Right well, another time then."

"Sure," she answers absently as she turns and heads out of his office; her head held high so that he won't see the effect his about face has had on her. She reaches her office; eyes wet and fists tightly balled, heart racing. Mac...what is going on? Just like that...you want to throw away what we have been working to build...just like that?

Stella waits as long as possible; not wanting to pass by his office and see his happiness displayed toward any other woman besides her. The past few months they had been working quietly to grow something that extends past a platonic partnership and she felt inside that it was working. Was I blind? Was I just telling myself that Mac also wanted the same thing as me when perhaps deep down inside he didn't? Would he play with my feelings just like that? Mac is not like that!

"What is going on?" Stella ponders as Sid softly knocks on the door.

"Stella?"

Stella quickly swallows back her guilt and sorrow and turns to face him with a tight lipped expression. "Sid...sorry didn't hear you...what's going on?"

"Just something from the last case that has been...are you okay?"

"I um...I will be," she manages weakly. "Just thinking about...nothing."

"Is Mac okay?"

"Why do you ask?" Stella asks in haste.

"Just hasn't been himself these past few days. Everything okay?"

"It will be," Stella simply nods her head.

"You know everything happens for a reason," Sid mentions as he places the file down on her desk and then turns to leave.

"What do you mean? You mean between two people?"

"Oh sorry was talking about the case, you'll see in my notes."

"Right thanks," her face displays a slight frown.

"And Stella," Sid stops in the doorway just before he calls it a night. "I do believe that things happen between two people for a reason. Even if it's something we didn't expect."

"Thanks. See you tomorrow."

"Goodnight," Sid states softly as he finally takes his leave; forcing Stella to be held in time and space, pondering his words about things happening for a reason.

'Just out of the blue...very odd...exactly like Claire and I met...same details...green coat...brunette...looking for an apartment...'

Stella heads back into the hallway and toward Mac's office; stopping in the middle and looking around forwell anything that might lend evidence to her gut suspicion. Oh why do I have to see the sinister reasoning behind it.

"Just like Drew..." she ponders. Drew came to her out of blue with a hidden agenda, seeming to know things about her; her likes and dislikes in such a short time. He had been watching me. Is this the case with this new woman? Does she have a hidden agenda? Is my beloved partner in danger? Or is my jealousy just unfounded? Am I just that jealous that I'll impugn wrong motives so that I can keep Mac all to myself? Do I not want him to be happy?

"Mac...have I lost you for good this time..." her voice dies out as her eyes finally settle on a piece of folded news paper in the garbage. "What is that?"

XXXXXXXX

Mac reaches the deli, unaware of the two sets of eyes watching him from a hidden vantage point from the shadows across the street.

'How predicable Taylor,' a smug voice taunts.

Mac walks into the deli, heading for a booth to wait for the woman in the green coat, wondering how the events of tonight would affect his future, but not knowing just to what extent they actually would.

'You're up Aubrey and this is what I want you to say...'

A/N: Okay so what did you think? Hopefully you didn't hate it too much! (eek) could have gone with another angle but figured that Dunbrook would have the means to pull this off.

And you guys know me, so this won't be all Mac/A lovey dovey but of the 'angle' as to why 'her' sudden appearance and then his 'choice' and her departure (*phew*) and of course the tension between our fave couple! Please trust me as you know I am a true SMACKIE (grin) and our Mac and Stella will be together (at least in fanfic land). Thanks in advance.

PS: The story alerts aren't working very well so Target just updated and NY Stories is updating next