Obviously I had to do this. I have 3 to 5 to 100 random snippets of Mac/Will Post 2x09 floating around my head, so it's been difficult to nail any of them down and actually write them. This one made it to the page first. It's short but sweet and I hope you enjoy it. There will be more to come (if the muse allows). Let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Newsroom or the characters or the dialogue or any songs by The Who or Pete Townsend.
When the broadcast finally ends, Will immediately seeks out MacKenzie. He doesn't have to look very hard for her this time because they naturally, instinctually gravitate to each other.
"Good show tonight," he offers timidly as they stand in the hallway by the editing bay. He doesn't know why he feels like a middle schooler trying to talk to his crush right now, but his brain just can't seem to find the words that he wants to say. He's convinced he lost his powers of coherent speech sometime during Charlie's defiant rant in his office earlier this evening.
He shoves his hands deep into his pockets because he doesn't know what to do with them and he's afraid that if he doesn't clamp them down they're going to grab Mac by the waist, back her into the wall, and hold her there while he kisses her senseless. Again.
"Yeah, good show," Mac replies, smiling shyly up at him as she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She crosses and uncrosses her arms several times as she fidgets in front of him. Apparently she doesn't know what to do with her hands either.
He thinks it's kind of funny that they're both being so shy and tentatively awkward about this but he also doesn't get it.
Mac stops darting her eyes at the wall and the floor and the end of the hall and the floor again, her eyes finally settling on him.
"Are we really engaged?" "Did you actually say yes?" they both blurt out at the same time.
Will feels the unnecessary apprehension between them evaporate as they both chuckle.
He frees his right hand from his pocket and reaches for her left hand which is now dangling at her side.
"Well, according to the sparkling gem currently sitting on your left ring finger," he says, raising Mac's hand between them and gently running his thumb along the silver band, "I think it's safe to assume that you are indeed betrothed. To a man of great wit and intelligence I might add."
Mac's eyes pull away from their hands and the ring to gaze up at him.
"So I can only assume that I'm engaged then?"
Her smile is playful and her eyes sparkle with a mirth he has not seen in them for quite some time. He is so thankful that he figured out how to bring back that spark before it was forever lost to him.
"I think it's a pretty sure thing," he responds, his voice low as he draws her body toward him.
"Like a 'physical law of the universe' sure thing?" she whispers throatily, both hands pressed against his chest.
"Facts don't change," he breathes, cupping her face with one hand and wrapping her closer to him with the other.
He lowers his lips to hers in a soft, languid kiss.
MacKenzie's hands find their way around his neck as she leans into him and now he is the one pressed up against the wall. But he's not complaining.
They're too caught up in each other to hear the footsteps echoing from down the hall.
"Seriously guys?!"
Mac jumps out of his arms and self-consciously smoothes her blouse and skirt while he stuffs his hands back into their pockets and averts his eyes to the floor. He knows that they're both blushing furiously and acting like a couple of high school teenagers caught necking by their parents, but he doesn't really care.
Sloan does though.
"The broadcast's been over for a grand total of like five minutes, and you two are already macking on each other – no pun intended – like a pair of hormone-crazed adolescents?"
Sloan glares at them, her arms crossed as she waits for a response.
Mac looks over at him and shrugs, an unapologetic grin on her face. He grins back and shrugs sheepishly at Sloan.
Sloan rolls her eyes.
"If I wasn't so happy for the two of you I would be throwing up in my mouth right now. In fact I think I did a little bit. You're going to need to improve your discrete office PDA skills if you intend to keep this up for the rest of your careers."
"Says the woman who stormed into the control room and kissed Don in front of at least six people," Mac retorts smugly.
Sloan opens her mouth to argue back but she shuts it quickly.
"You have a point," she concedes.
"You kissed Don?! Don Keefer?!" Will exclaims in shock.
It's Sloan's turn to blush now and stare at her feet.
"He – he did a nice thing and…it was a long time coming anyway and – wait. This isn't about me right now. It's about you two. Everyone's continuing the celebration out in the pen and you should probably make an appearance soon before someone else has to be permanently scarred by walking in on their bosses making out."
Sloan turns sharply on her heel and walks away before either of them can defend themselves or pester her more about Don.
Once she's rounded the corner Will looks at Mac and they both laugh.
"So, Sloan and Don?" he asks, entwining his hand in hers.
"Like she said, it was a long time coming," Mac replies as they start down the hall.
"Sounds like another couple I know," he comments, sliding his arm around her waist.
"Well if someone would have removed his head from his arse a while ago…" Mac teases, leaning into him.
"I'm a slow learner. Plus isn't there some saying…'Good things come to those who wait' or…whatever?" he replies, gesturing in the air with his free hand.
"Patience has never been one of my virtues, Billy."
"But aren't you glad you waited this one out?" he asks, glancing down at her as they approach the doors to the pen.
Mac halts and he turns back.
"I've never been happier," she smiles tearfully at him.
He smiles back and kisses her once more before they step out into the party.