Day 1
The most wonderful day of her life had become one of the most terrible days of her life.
Standing next to Charlie Mac watched her newlywed husband being taken away from her by the U.S. Marshals. She quickly glanced at Charlie, taking his hand for support, then focused on Will again as long as she could see him.
When the large front doors opened she could hear the reporters, who had been waiting outside for hours, frantically starting to shout out at Will and Lasenthal for a comment. Then the doors closed and all that was left was silence.
Mac swallowed down her tears and looked at Charlie. „Did they have to handcuff him? He did come here voluntarily..."
„That is just procedure, dear." He put his arm around her shoulder and squeezed her for comfort. „Come on, let's take the back door. I'll take you home."
„No." Mac shook her head. „We have a show to do. Especially today."
On the ride back neither of them said a word.
At the studio everybody was already waiting, clapping and congratulating her and at the same time assuring her of their support.
„Thanks, guys, I really really appreciate it." Mac gave them a grateful smile. „But there's work to be done. Jim, you will handle the rundown meeting. Sloan, you will fill in for Will. Let me know when Gary is back from City Hall, I will do the report myself."
That surprised everybody, but then Jim slowly nodded. „Will do, Mac."
She went into her office to change and get at least five minutes to herself before diving into work but the latter plan was disrupted by a phone call from her mother, who had only just then checked her voicemail and got MacKenzie's message about the preponed wedding.
„Mom, I'm sorry you and Dad couldn't be there but after the court's ruling we decided on the spot to get married now... No, of course we didn't want to do it this way, but apart from the fact that I wanted to marry him before he goes to jail there was... there were other...things... to be considered... No, I'm not pregnant...!
...Ma, listen, I'm really not up to this right now and I have to get back to work... Yes, I will call you, promise... Thanks, Mom, I love you, too"
Mac hung up and took a deep breath. She knew there were more calls to come - her sisters, Will's sister and others - so she switched her phone to voicemail. Reproaches were one thing but she couldn't take any sympathy calls now.
„Pull yourself together, Mac", she told herself through clenched teeth. Right at this moment Jenna opened the door and told her that Gary had just gotten back with the footage. „I'll be right there. Tell him to meet me in the editing room."
Having Sloan anchor Newsnight was the perfect opportunity to open with Will having been taken into custody. Everybody in the control room went silent when Gary's footage of Will being escorted down the City Hall stairs went on-screen. Then MacKenzie's voice filled the air:
„In a court hearing ACN's very own anchor of „Newsnight", William Duncan McAvoy, has been held in contempt by Judge Cedarman today for refusing to give up a source which has provided ACN with classified government material.
Though the newsworthiness of the story has been confirmed by the court the leak was categorized as a matter of national security and Will McAvoy has been sentenced to an undetermined number of prison days until he reveals his source.
After an up until then unheard of raid of the ACN newsroom by the FBI two weeks ago this is yet another example of how the freedom of the press, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, is being undermined by the government.
ACN proudly supports McAvoys determination to protect his source and will do everything within its power to bring him back home to his Newsnight family.
For ACN's Newsnight, this is MacKenzie McHale McAvoy."
„Good job, Mac." Jim put his arm around her shoulder and held her tight for a moment.
After the show Mac went back to her office, followed by Sloan.
„Good show, Mac. Now grab your coat, I'll take you home."
„Oh... Thanks, Sloan, but I still have to work."
„Not a chance. I assume you will spend most of the upcoming days working late but I will not let you do that on your wedding day. I promised Will I'd take care of you and that's what I'll do." Sloan took Mac's coat and purse, ignored her protests and led her out of the newsroom.
„You'll stay with me tonight, sis. No argument."
Mac was too exhausted to fight and followed her; feeling somehow relieved not to have to make another decision for now. When they arrived at Sloan's appartment, a classy yet comfortable loft with a magnificent view of the city, she immediately let herself fall on the couch.
Sloan conjured up a bottle of red wine, filled two glasses and handed one to her. „Take this; I'll go and change. Be right back."
For the first time since Will had been escorted out of City Hall Mac was alone with a little peace and quiet around her. She starred into the glass, swirling the wine around, then she took a deep breath and suddenly burst into tears. The next thing she knew was that Sloan was holding her, putting the wine glass on the table, bedding her head on her shoulder and trying to soothe her.
„Hush, Kenzie, hush... It's alright. You're not alone in this, all your friends are here to help you through it... Shhhh..." She gently swayed from left to right until Macs crying subsided to an occasional sob. After a few minutes Mac slowly sat up. „I'm sorry, I don't know what got into me."
„Well, I do", Sloan replied dryly. „Having your fiancé sentenced to jail, getting married on the spot instead of having the dream wedding you planned for twenty-plus years, watching your husband being incarcerated after being married for about 10 minutes... If anybody has a right to cry it's you."
Mac took the tissue Sloan handed her, wiped off her tears and tried to smile.
„You know, I would kill him if I wasn't so proud of him...!"
„We are all proud of him. And honestly, Mac... Before you came to ACN – Who would have thought that Will would act with such integrity and become such an important mentor to all of us?"
„That is Will... You didn't know the real Will McAvoy before. I have rarely met such a... well, yeah... good man in my life. He has very high morals and would do anything for his family and friends. That was one reason why I came back. I knew he was better than he presented himself... and the show."
„You've never told me: How did the two of you meet?"
Mac smiled nostalgically.
„We literally bumped into each other... Will was already an anchor when I started at ACN as producer of another show. On my first day I got off the elevator, walked around the corner and right into him."
„And then? Sorry, am I too nosy?" Sloan added quickly.
Mac shook her had. „It's fine... Will was struck immediately, but I had just been dumped by Brian, so I declined his invitations. I just wasn't ready for something new. Will didn't give up and asked me out over and over again, so finally, after weeks, I agreed to a dinner. And he went out of his way to make it special... Beautiful flowers, one of the best restaurants, afterwards we strolled a little and took a horse carriage ride... He was so funny and smart and caring... After that night I was pretty much convinced I should at least give him a chance." She winked at Sloan.
„Well, see where it got you." Sloan picked up her glass.
„Here's to you. To both of you!"
