Author's note: Hello everyone! I loved your reviews, and appreciated all your comments. Since I did, here is the next chapter! I gave Mac a chance to play the amazing father Jo thinks he could be… Enjoy!

-Mac. Seriously. I hate broccoli. -, Ellie stated in all seriousness, and judging by her tone, that must not have been the first time she had. Jo wasn't sure, since she had been blow drying her hair for the last five minutes, but now she was curious as to what Mac's answer would be.

-But you like pan-fried potatoes?-, he replied. Her daughter must have nodded. –That's the same principle, so I don't see any reason why you shouldn't like my broccoli. And you know what? I'll add hot pepper. -, he said cunningly.

Jo smiled as she combed her hair. Mac knew what he was about: there was no way Ellie was going to refuse butter and pepper, even if they were on a bunch of green broccoli, and frankly, neither was she. She carefully placed her brush down besides Mac's, figuring there was no point in putting it back in the bag since she would be needing it again soon; that seemed like an invasion of his privacy, though.

What the hell, you'll be putting your toothbrush right next to his in a couple of hours!

-Jo, dinner's ready!-, Mac yelled from the kitchen.

She marveled at the domesticity of it all. The table had been set in the living room by Ellie; the TV was on, but the volume too low to actually understand what was being said. Mac approached with a pan and a spatula in his hands, dishing out broccoli and grilled chicken breasts for three. No coke whatsoever around.

-Oooh, Mom didn't straighten her hair! You should feel privileged, Mac. -, Ellie, who was heeling the dark haired man closely, commented, nudging him lightly on the side. Those things combined caused him to raise his eyes from the task at hand to watch the other female's entrance.

-Well, she looks very pretty. -, he said, smiling fondly at Jo.

-Please. I'm just lazy. -, she replied modestly, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. She knew she was still rather good looking for her age, and when she spent the right amount of time dolling herself up, she could be positively impressing, but straight out of the shower, hair practically undone, in black sweat pants and a warm turtle neck? She was usually so confident about herself, but that time she blushed miserably at the compliment.

-Let's eat. Seems delicious. -, she added, rather flatly for her standards.

-Faster, Mac! Faster. -, Jo incited her partner, drawing closer to him. The clicking rate was already crazy as it was.

-Calm down, Jo. I'm almost finished. -, he growled, feeling the muscles in his arm clench almost spasmodically. –There, done!-, he announced. Jo breathed a sigh of relief.

-Man, that was crazy…-, she commented, patting Mac's shoulder proudly. –You'd make a great thief. -, she added brightly. The man snorted in response, closing the now completed game of Heist on Ellie's laptop.

-Surely I'd make more money, but I'm not sure it would be as much fun. -, he replied gruffly.

-Oh, but I would make it worth your while, keep you on your toes… it's not that easy, escaping Detective Danville. -, Jo pointed out sagaciously, winking at Mac. He gave her that look, the one which stated I'm gonna pretend I haven't heard that, so the woman was surprised when he actually spoke.

-I thought you would be my partner in crime?-, he retorted with a charming smile. Okay, maybe she was so accustomed to his annoyed look that she had exchanged his I'm-thinking-about-some-good-retort for that.

-Hey!-, something suddenly caught the woman's eye. –You've been filming us!-, she exclaimed, getting to her feet. Ellie squealed and started running, promptly imitated by her mother. Even Mac raised at last. He silently stepped in front of the girl, so that she was trapped between his body and that of Jo. She looked up at him ,startled. She clearly had not foreseen the man getting into the game as well.

-Aren't you tired of being my Mom's partner yet?-, she grumbled, handing in her camera. Jo's breath caught in her throat; Ellie shouldn't have asked that. Truth was, she had often wondered the same thing herself; at first, because she'd heard about how tight his bond with her predecessor, Stella Bonasera, had been, then because she herself had given him proof she distrusted him. She shouldn't have looked among his papers without him being present, and that was a choice she regretted making every time she looked him in the eye; having been caught red handed was not a bonus.

Lately, though, after a brief pause of calm, she had started wondering again. He had seriously considered leaving the Lab, and despite their seemingly easy banter, she knew it cost him to express himself. What if he was dissatisfied with her, personally or professionally? Because of her know-it-all attitude, or her meddling-into-his-private-life tendencies?

She held her breath.

Mac understood by Jo's sudden stiffness that his response would matter a lot to her. He failed to understand how she could doubt his opinion about her.

-The question should be: isn't she fed up of working with me?-, he replied, with a tone laced with a hint of humor. He didn't want Jo to realize he understood more than he let on, not yet. He just wished she could relax a bit around his place, and not stress over what he really thought about her. As if he could actually think badly of her. For that reason, he looked at Ellie while answering, only chancing a quick glance and a small smile in her mother's direction.

-Well, you ganged up pretty nicely against me, so I'd say don't worry. -, Ellie grinned, sticking her tongue out at Jo.

They were halfway through a TV movie when Ellie announced she was asleep by means of slowly sliding towards her mother's lap. Jo was startled, but her flinch wasn't enough to wake the teen.

-She's asleep. -, she whispered to Mac.

-Do you want me to move her to the bed?-, he whispered back, shifting his body so that it was fully facing hers. Jo was touched by his concern.

-Later. Let's finish the movie first. -, she replied, stroking her daughter's bushy hair. They were currently sitting on Mac's couch, Jo sandwiched between the man and Ellie, a quilt stretched to its limits so that it could cover three pairs of knees.

The former Marine loved watching mother and daughter interact. Impulsively, he reached with his arm for the back of the couch, hoping Jo would get the hint. Surely enough, after a while the woman gently placed her head on the crook of his neck, sighing in contentment.

From then on, the plot ceased to interest Mac. He couldn't concentrate on anything that wasn't the soft tickling of Jo's hair against his neck and cheek, or the rhythmic rising and falling of her chest as she breathed at his side. Oh, how he wished it could be like that between them every day, coming home to a charming, loving woman and an amazing kid night after night after night…

If she knew, Jo would probably tease you into oblivion, then shoot you !, he thought to himself with a barely suppressed chuckle, shifting slightly so that he was able to glance at the woman from the corner of his eye.

-What?-, Jo mumbled, returning his smile. He hadn't realized he was smiling.

-Nothing. -, he replied, shaking his head some so that her hair would brush deliciously against the sensitive skin of his cheek.

-Did you pay the slightest attention to the film?-, the woman wondered lazily, signaling she was close to dozing off. Mac flashed her a smile.

-No. But I'll make sure you don't notice. I've already watched it. -, he said impishly, watching Jo close her eyes lazily before a small smile tugged at her lips.

-Sometimes you're too sweet for your own good. -, she declared, snuggling closer to his warm body. The man would have loved nothing more than keeping her there, against him, safe and warm and loved, but his sense of duty made him speak up against his heart's wish.

-Jo, you're falling asleep. Go to bed. -, he suggested softly, circling her shoulders more firmly to help her to her feet.

-Mom?-, Ellie mumbled from under the covers as her mother stepped into the dark room.

-Sorry, dear. We made a bit of a noise. Go back to sleep. -, Jo said affectionately, sliding into bed besides her daughter. Ellie shifted, hugging her mom tightly.

-'s okay. I woke when Mac moved me. -, the girl replied, now wide awake. She hesitated a moment before speaking again, letting Jo find the most comfortable position. –He has an amazing house. In fact, he is very cool. -, she observed. That made the older woman pause for a moment, unsure of what her daughter was telling her. At last, she laughed.

-Yeah, he is pretty amazing. -, she breathed, placing a kiss to Ellie's forehead.

-You always smile when you're around him or talk about him… except when you're worried about him, but that's okay, you're that way with Tyler and me as well. -, the Afro American girl pointed out. Jo furrowed her brows, even if Ellie couldn't see her.

-What are you saying, dear?-, she questioned her daughter. She felt her smile against her skin.

-Nothing, just… it's okay to like him. –

The two women burst out laughing, Jo pushing the covers over both of their heads to muffle the sound.

-Goodnight, Mom. –, Ellie mumbled before curling up into a fetal position.

-Night, sweetheart. -, her mother replied lovingly. Goodnight, Mac!, she mentally added.

Night, Jo. Sweet dreams.

A/N: Well, since it's nighttime here as well, I wish you sweet dreams as well. Bye bye!

Yours,

UnderxConstruction