After the Widowmaker

Chapter one

After Murdoc's fall from the Widowmaker, Mac had convinced Nikki to climb up again to the top of the mountain. They did not know if their SOS had reached Ellard in Ridgemount, and they couldn't just sit there and wait. Nikki was happy that Mac was back among the living, really, but she wished he could be a little more moderate sometimes. After the deep depression he had been into for 2 or 3 weeks, the adrenaline-kick he got from Murdoc's hunt had been exactly what he needed to be his old self again. Smiling, alive, and full of energy. On the contrary, as the stress that had kept her going during the hunt and the climbing was vanishing, Nikki could feel how exhausted she was. But there was Mac, pushing for them to go back to what was left of Pete's cabin in case help was on its way. If not, perhaps they would be lucky enough to find Murdoc's car and be able to drive back to town, or someone could pick them up on the road. Anyway, she had no wish to sleep in the forest and Mac's arguments were fair enough.

As they came close to the cabin, the night was falling, and they could see lights from a car up the road. People were talking up there, they had obviously seen the mines Murdoc had set up and they could not drive closer. Mac and Nikki recognized Pete's voice. They could hear how worried he way by the way he was talking.

"Pete!" Mac shouted. "We are here, we are OK!"

Pete: "Mac!? Is that you?! You OK? Is Nikki with you?"

Nikki: "Yes Pete, I am here too, we are OK both of us"

Pete: "Oh thanks goodness!"

Mac: "We will come to you through the wood, just wait!"

They reached the car where Pete and the local police were waiting. They had to explain everything about what had happened in the last 8 hours, and although the policeman had given them blankets to keep warm, Nikki could feel the humidity of the forest around her, creeping inside her skin and down to her very bones. Mac explained how Murdoc had fallen down the cliff, and although Nikki knew he was dead, the darkness around them made her uneasy, as if some evil presence were looking at her from the dark. She shivered and Pete noticed it.

Pete: "Now, you must be exhausted after such a day, it's time to go home for a good night sleep"

Mac: "Actually I am more starved than I am tired. Didn't eat a thing since morning. Could we stop and get something on the way? What you say Nikki?"

Nikki: "Well, that' fine for me but let's find some take-away and eat in the car OK? The sooner I am in my bed the better"

She slept most of the drive back to town while Pete and Mac were chatting. When they arrived to L.A., Pete drove to her place first: "Here you are Nikki. You'll be alright?"

Nikki: "Yes Pete, I'll be fine, thanks. I'll see you at the office tomorrow.."

Pete: "Take your day off, will you? You'll have enough to do trying to find yourself a new car."

Nikki was reluctant but had to admit that not having a car was impractical and she needed to fix that detail as soon as possible.

Mac: "Look Nikki, I can pick you up with the Nomad and help you find a car. After all, if it hadn't been for me you'd still have one"

Nikki: "Come on MacGyver, you will not start and blame yourself for that too! It was MY decision to come and visit you, you did not ask me to do it!"

Mac: "Well, you came for my sake, and I thank you for that. But Murdoc came for me too, and he blew your car up. So in a way it's my fault if you don't have a car anymore."

Nikki: "Oh, you are impossible! Stop blaming yourself for everything that happens around you, will you?!" Partly surrendering, Mac smiled: "I'll try. Is 8 o'clock fine for you?"

Nikki was about to fight back but she got disarmed by his calm tone and smile. "OK, 8 o'clock then. Thanks Mac. Good night Pete."

Pete waited to see her safely inside the building before he drove off to the marina. Nikki called for the elevator, and while she was waiting, she became suddenly aware of how silent it was. The day had been so full of noise and action, it felt somewhat awkward now that it was so silent. Her neighborhood was very quiet though, and there was nothing strange with it. She had no bag, nothing to carry, as all her stuff had burnt up in her car at Pete's cabin. Luckily she still had her keys with her. She stepped in and went straight to the bathroom to prepare a delicious warm bath. While the water was running, she went to the kitchen and grabbed an apple. Then she stepped into the warm water and allowed herself to relax, at last.

She could see the last day as in a movie. How she had left home, the drive to Ridgemount and how she had been worried about Mac. The awful face he had when she showed up, gray in the skin, looking like he hadn't slept for weeks, and how angry he was at her for coming. How she had tried to bring him back down and met a wall. She had tried to force him to react, to open up, provoked him. " You didn't push her, did you?" she had asked. She could still hear his words when he shouted in pain and anger "YES! I pushed her away when she needed something from me. I hurt her. Then she fell!"

She hadn't have the time to think about what he meant back then. Mac had stepped in the cabin and the Murdoc-nightmare had begun. But now she wondered. What was it she needed from him, and why had he pushed her away? She could not imagine Mac refusing anything to his friend. Being his colleague, she knew he could be rude, their relationship had been based on bickering, they couldn't agree on the right way to do things at work, they were both stubborn, proud and independent. But even with that in mind, she knew he would never refuse to help her if she asked. So it did not make any sense that he could have refused to help his best friend? He had never managed to refuse anything to his friend Jack Dalton, even knowing that it always ended in a catastrophe, he could not say no. What was it Mike had asked from him?

The day after, Mac picked her up and drove her to the place she had bought her former car. The seller was a nice fellow, Mac checked that the engine was fine, and she was soon sitting back her own wheel again. Mac stood at her opened window, his hand resting on the door. "I hope you'll be happy with it" he said.

Nikki: "Yes, it feels great, I am sure it will be fine. Thanks for your help Mac"

Mac: "I'm glad I could help. Look.., you have any plan for the rest of the day?"

Nikki: "Well, not exactly... I wasn't counting on having my day off so I didn't plan anything really. Why?"

Mac looked a little shy suddenly, like he didn't know how to say what he had in mind.

Mac: "Would you... er.. how... er... want to do something together? I don't feel like sitting home on my own yet... Would be nice with some company" he said with a poor smile.

Nikki: "Sure, why not? You have something in mind?"

Mac: "Nothing special no. Maybe take the boat and go fishing?"

Nikki: "Mm.. What about going for a run first, then fishing?"

Mac: "Wonderful! I'd love that!" he said with a big smile.

Nikki: "Good. I'll drive home and take some change, then I join you at your place, we can go from there."

Mac climbed in his car and drove back to the marina, both relieved and happy. Nikki smiled to herself. He had this boyish look when he was smiling, but still, she knew his sorrow from missing Mike and she was happy he had asked for her company. She drove home to pick what she needed for the day: first, an outfit for running, then what she needed to shower at Mac's place and clothes to change to for the afternoon. The sun was not that strong but perhaps she should take her sunglasses along too? Was it any use in taking an extra change, in case she fell in the water or smell fish after the boat-trip? Well, no, there was no reason for that to happen really. Then, she went to the kitchen to see what she could take with her for lunch. Mac certainly had all they needed, but she didn't like to come with empty hands and let him provide for everything. When she finally felt she had what she needed, she went down to her new car and drove away to the marina.

When she arrived, Mac was on the phone. He waved her in and she placed the food she had taken along in the fridge.

Mac: "Yeah, right Pete, thank you for calling. Bye"

Nikki: "Pete?.. Did he say if they managed to clear the road from all those mines?"

Mac: "Yeah they did. I can go and pick my jeep whenever I feel for it." He remained silent for a while, looking down at the pen he was playing with.

Nikki: "Is there something wrong?" Mac passed his hand through his hair, looking tired.

Mac: "I don't know Nikki. Pete said they did not find Murdoc's body"

Nikki: "What? But it MUST be down there somewhere! We saw him fall! He couldn't have survived such a fall!"

Mac: "No, he shouldn't. Mike didn't" he said with a closed face.

Nikki: "Oh Mac I'm sorry! Perhaps Murdoc had an accomplice? Someone could have found him and moved him away?"

Mac: "I don't think so. Murdoc always works alone. I don't think he is the kind of guy who's got friends looking for him either. And if some of the locals had found him, they would have called the police or the hospital, don't you think?." They were both silent for a moment, trying to figure out what had happened. Then Mac shook his head and changed the subject: "You ready? Should we go?" Nikki smiled back: "Yes, let's go!"