Author: Merrianna

Story: From Tragedy Love: 1 of ?

Series: A Crime Lab Romance

Characters: Mac/Stella

Rating: R

Summary: AU: Can a traumatic event help a couple to realize that they are meant to be.

Setting: After "All Access".

Spoiler: Anything that has happen before "All Access".

Category: Drama, Romance

Note: Billy Joel's song 'And so it goes' just seemed to fit what I wanted to do with this story. Which I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't in any way own the series CSI: NY. Those are the sole property of Anthony E. Zuiker, Jerry Bruckheimer, CBS and Paramount Home Entertainment.

Distribution: Please ask first?

Feedback: Yes, please? Especially constructive. samwise_baggins@yahoo.co.uk

Webpage: http://www.geocities.com/samwise_baggins/index.html

Stella stood in the rain having just left her apartment. She ran a shaky hand through her wet curls, frustrated with herself and a little with the man who had unknowingly left her to deal with the emotional aftermath all by her lonesome. She raised a hand to call for a passing taxi.

When one of the many yellow cars pulled to the curb, she quickly got in. It had been a little awkward with her purse and duffel bag.

"Where you's wanna go?" was the bald taxi driver's immediate question.

"Anywhere right now," Stella replied. She had no idea where she wanted to go, just that she wanted to get away from her apartment, the place that had most recently been the scene of a crime. It wasn't the thought that she had to kill Frankie that was bothering her right now; it was the first time she had come so close to dying since working in Narcotics, that was disturbing. Even then her apartment had been where she slept, ate and was able to let down her guard. Frankie had invaded her home and terrorized her in it. She knew she had only defended herself, but now the place she viewed as a safe haven was no longer that.

She gazed out the side window of the car, watching as the city she grew up in and loved flowed slowly by. Twenty-five minutes later, she recognized that they had just started to go by Mac's apartment building. It was almost surreal that the taxi driver had gone down this street out of so many.

"Stop here," Stella order with a trembling voice as she glanced at the meter and dug around in her purse for the fee.

"You sure you don't wanna drive around some more?" the bald driver queried as he pulled to the curb.

Stella made no comment, not in the mood for a regular New York tiff with the driver. She just paid the exorbitant fee with only a slight wince and got out of the vehicle.

The earlier steady rain had turned into a mild drizzle as she now stood outside of her partner's place of resident. The funny thing was she had no idea if he was even home.

With a deep steadying breath, Stella went in. At the front she was greeted by one of Mac's neighbors a pleasant couple that didn't seem too startled by her appearance. She supposed that she didn't look as bad as she could have with what had happened. They didn't linger, much to Stella's relief. She stepped up to the elevator but had second thoughts as the door slid opened.

It seemed claustrophobic so she headed to the stairs. While climbing up, her mind wandered once again over recent events: Frankie giving her a sculpture saying it was from a Bolivian myth; finding out through the gift that Frankie had put their private moments on the Internet; her plan to breaking up with him just as she came home from shopping; the unexpected sight of him opening a bottle of wine in her dining room; the fight in which she had been knocked out; awaking tied up; and Frankie threatening to show what a crime scene looked like while dragging her into the bathroom. Stella stopped on the stairs panting, whether from running up the stairs or her inner thoughts she didn't know. She collapsed on the floor. Bending her knees, she dropped her head between them and waited for the light-headedness to fade. Stella sat there for several minutes getting a hold of her self. With a shuddering breath she swiped at her face with sliced up hands not noticing the tracks of tears and the faint smear of blood that came from the action.

Standing up, Stella forced herself to take the last flight of steps heading to partner’s apartment.