This has potential to be a longer story. But set after the end of s1 a Will and Mac fic, as always comments are appreciated, especially if anyone wants to read more. Again I apologise for any spelling or grammatical errors.

It had been a rough day for all involved. A 12 year old boy had been arrested and charged with murder after he stabbed his drunken father who was attacking his mother and younger siblings. This wasn't always the type of story that was covered on Newsnight; however Will McAvoy was quite adamant that it should be.

He had been in a funny mood for the past few weeks he seemed lost in his thoughts when he wasn't required to be part of the conversation or when he thought people weren't looking. Today things had been worse, he was more grumpy and snippy with his comments it was almost like having the old Will back. Mackenzie McHale was constantly giving him her concerned look and chewing on her lip. She only did this when she was concerned. Will was constantly avoiding her gaze and was escaping from her at the end of the rundown meeting at 12 and again at 6.

Will got through the broadcast with no problem he was of course the consummate professional although to those who knew Will they could see something behind his eyes that they hadn't seen before and weren't sure what it was. Mackenzie barely spoke during the broadcast leaving will to it unless she really had to, she hadn't said a word to him during the broadcast about Duncan James with 12 year old murder suspect as she knew it was a hard enough segment for Will without her commentating.

As the rest of the team left for Hang Chews and tuna jerky Mackenzie stayed back saying she had some work to do. No one was fooled they knew she was staying to check on Will.

Will was in his office a hand on the side of his head the other holding a large glass of scotch he had poured himself the open bottle next to it. He was twisting the glass on the table, completely lost in his own thoughts about this 12 year old. Will knew what it was like to grow up with a father who was an alcoholic and who was physically and mentally abusive to his wife and children. Will had been this boy; he had done the same thing to his father when he was in the 4th grade he had stood up to his father who was trying to beat his mother.

Wills mother was never attacked again, that didn't mean to say Will's father stopped being abusive. From that moment on until he left the family home Will took the full force of his father's rage to protect his family. Sometimes Will was saved by punching his father out other times he was hurt quite badly while his family pleaded with his father to stop. Will's father left when he was 14 but the effects of that abuse had never left Will, it was a defining moment in his life the moment he stepped up to be his father's punching bag. That wasn't the relationship a child should have with their father or with their mother, he shouldn't have had to have been her protector. But Will loved his mother his death still affected him 10 years later. He hadn't seen his father in a lot longer and he didn't know what he would do if he saw him.

Mackenzie left her office and walked towards Wills, she knew what would be going through his mind. She knew Will would be indentifying with this boy. Will had told her one drunken night when they were together about his father, and what he had done, it had taken a lot for Will to open up to her . Mackenzie was sure he wouldn't have been able to tell her if he hadn't been drunk. This brought Mackenzie back to how Will felt about her, he couldn't tell her when he was sober but could when he was high.

Will kept everything close to his chest, he was so protective of his heart that it took so much for Mackenzie to be allowed in but once he let her in her life changed, she learnt about why Will was the way he was, she had then betrayed him by cheating with Bryan.

Mackenzie knew this story would affect Will not just because he had thought he had killed his father once, but because Will was this boy. She was surprised by how much it was hurting her seeing him like this. She didn't hide the fact from anyone that she still loved him and wanted to be with her, and she was sure Will felt the same. But seeing Will like he had been the past few weeks since the story about Duncan Jones had broken he had been restless despondent and really very grumpy had been heartbreaking. She hoped he would let her in, Things had been so much better between them since Brian had left and when he had gotten out of hospital he had made some real changes in his life not just on what he ate.

Mackenzie didn't knock she just walked into Wills office he didn't even notice her come in.

"Will" said Mackenzie softly. Still he didn't look up he really was lost in what ever his mind was focusing on.

Mackenzie walked around Wills desk and was standing right beside him before he noticed she was there.

"Hey" said Mackenzie her heartbreaking at the look on Will's face.

"Drink" he asked pointing to the bottle.

"Ok" said Mackenzie going to get her own glass and bringing it back down. Will poured her a shot of Scotch and she sat down on his desk facing him.

"What's going on Will" She said giving him a look that conveyed she knew where his mind was at.

Will knew better than to try to say he was fine, Mackenzie knew too much about him to let this go.

"I'm ok, just having a hard time with this Duncan Jones thing" said Will softly avoiding Mackenzie's gaze.

"Will stand up, there is something i need to do" said Mackenzie

"What?" said Will looking at her.

"I said Stand up" said Mackenzie standing up and flattening her skirt.

Will didn't move so Mackenzie took his hands and pulled him up out of his chair. They stood for a moment gazing into each other's eyes. Will had no idea what she was going to do next. Mackenzie pulled him into the tightest hug she wanted to tell Will how she felt, she wanted to tell Will she understood and she was here for him, that she loved him more than her words could express. At first Will didn't respond, and Mackenzie hugged him harder drinking in the smell of him. They hadn't been this close since Valentine 's Day when he had hugged her.

"Mac I" began Will softly

"It's ok Billy" said Mackenzie. As the use of the word Billy hit wills ears he pulled his arms around her pulling her into a tight hug. He smelt her hair, her perfume, he felt warm and most importantly he felt safe with Mackenzie's petite frame against his.

He was not ashamed to admit the depth of what he was feeling, he could fear wet tears rolling down his face at the memory of his mothers face seeing his father beating him with a belt he could see Mackenzie telling him she had been cheating and his heart breaking into a thousand pieces. He could see himself at his mother's funeral and he could see this 12 year old in jail who won't know what to feel.

Mackenzie felt Will pull her tighter, he really needed this physical contact. She knew he was crying she could feel the wetness and she just put more feeling into her part of the hug. They were in for a long night, Will needed to talk and Mackenzie knew he would talk to her she understood, she was after all part of the problem.

Should i continue?