Hello, everyone,
I'm a long time lurker, first time poster. I discovered "CSI:NY" late in the season (around the end of season 2 and the start of season 3) and I began watching it for the police procedural plot lines and interesting dramatic stories. I wasn't looking to actively "ship" anyone, but for some reason, the easy friendship and close bond between Mac and Stella sat very well with me and their lighter scenes always put a smile on my face. Though I didn't realize it at the time, I was subconsciously searching for scenes with them together in every episode and my favorite episodes just "happened" to include some of their best moments. But it wasn't until the recent "Death House" episode that I sat up and took notice. The instant Mac touched Stella's hand to look at the phone and they grin as they started putting clues together, lightning struck and I was "Smacked"...hard.
Anyway, besides introducing myself, I also wanted to comment on one other topic: why neither have acknowledged their feelings. CSIz_4_H and Lori mentioned that they are currently stuck in their "comfort zone" and are afraid of hurting the other person. I heartily agree, and with their permission, would like to expand upon that analysis. Whether or not they realize it, Mac and Stella are very much in the same boat. With Claire's death, Mac lost his life partner and the instant the Professor died, Stella similarly lost her life anchor. Both Claire and the Professor represented Mac and Stella's past life, people whom they loved deeply and was arguably the strongest, closest relationship they have ever had with anyone. When that special tie was severed, Mac and Stella became essentially alone in the world. And because they are in hte same boat, they clung to each other for support, for friendship, to be each other's strongest tie in the world.
So to me, it may not be that they are afraid of hurting one another, it may be that they are afraid to even admit that a romance between them is possible. Up until this point, they have been able to whether ups and downs of their other romances because Mac and Stella have an intuitive and unspoken understanding that they had each other to lean on no matter what. But if that failed relationship is their own, they no longer have one another for support. They'll be right back to where they started: alone in the world...again. And that, I suspect, is more terrifying to them than anything else.