Title: Fall from Grace
Chapter 4 - The Cost of Friendship
A/N: Well this story was very different for me but am so THANKFUL for the amazing reviews and support. I hope you all like this ending and thanks again. Sorry in advance if Flack was OOC but again I'm not used to writing him as a main character so those fans of his actually reading I hope I did your fave character some justice. Enjoy!
Mac quickly hangs up and rushes over to the same window Flack is peering out of.
"Trouble is here," Jenna calls out as she rushes into their room. "Well at least you look a bit more human."
"Thanks," Mac grimaces as he takes the automatic handgun that she is offering.
"Dad is waiting in the basement in case any of them..." Jenna starts only to stop short as the first shot is fired.
"Stay here and lock this door," Mac tells the young woman before him.
"I don't know how things are done in New York, but out here, woman don't shrink at a drop of blood or the sound of a bullet. Now if you don't mind..." she retorts as she pumps the both barrels of her shotgun. "I have to help my father. This is also my home."
"Old man Miller!" The loud voice of Wade Tanner is heard outside. Mac and Flack rush back to the window and gaze down at Wade and his sister.
"The other two went round the back," Mac states as he looks at Flack with a firm nod; forcing his brain to push past any rising feelings of pain.
It was now a fight to the death.
"Give us the two traitors you have inside and we'll let you and Jenna live."
"I'll take the front."
"Make every shot count," Mac directs to Flack. "That goes for you as well."
"Aye aye Sir," she mock salutes Mac before turning and rushing out of the room.
"Ah damn it!" Mac hears Wade grumble before he looks at Flack with a heavy frown.
"I promised Stella that both of us would be coming home."
"Don..."
"I'm not the one that likes to rush in where angels fear to tread."
"Right," Mac just smirks. "See you when the dust settles."
"I'll be here."
Flack offers a nod and then turns and rushes out of the room, heading for the small staircase with Mac right behind him. Flack reaches the bottom and then notices Jenna heading for a small alcove opposite the back door. Mac heads for the area opposite Jenna, waiting for the men to charge in from the back. He tries to push aside his worry for Flack; knowing his friend is more than capable of handling himself in a fight to the death; but he also knows that Flack could let emotion cloud his judgment and that could cost him his life.
Flack hurries to the front door just as Wade Tanner bursts through. Flack fires off the first shot, catching Wade in the upper left shoulder and forcing the vengeful brother to take a step back in pain. He offers a foul curse before he charges at Flack. Flack fires off another, which embeds itself into the wall behind just as Wade's body slams into his, taking them both to the ground in a jumble of arms and legs.
"Get the other one!" Wade yells to Sandy who rushes past them, heading in Mac's direction.
Mac hears Wade's voice and then looks at Jenna in concern.
"That bitch ain't killin' me in my home," Jenna states firmly. However, just as Sandy comes into view, Mac makes a small move to take her out, just as the other two men burst through the back door.
Jenna's shotgun blast slams into the chest of the first man, killing him instantly and sending him flying backward into the man behind him; forcing Mac to look at her in shock.
"We're originally from Philly."
"Flack look out!" Mac warns.
Sandy fires off a shot, forcing Mac back into his hiding place; which allows Pete to pry himself out from under the corpse on top of him and then rush Mac. Sandy turns and heads back toward Wade and Flack; where Flack was engaged in a bloody battle with Wade.
"Not so fast!" Jenna growls as she tears off after Sandy, leaving Mac to deal with Pete. Pete lunges at Mac, slamming both of their bodies into the small shelving unit behind them. Mac's lips offer a gasp of pain, but knowing his life could end at any second, forces him in to fighting mode; shelving the pain as he delivers the first of many blows to come; his body, although, getting as good as he's giving.
Flack in the meantime had been trading blow for blow with Wade Tanner, neither winning nor losing; just tiring the other out. Wade slams into Flack; Flack counters and returns the punch, his body starting to lightly falter, but his brain screaming at him to not give up until he was the last man standing.
"It's over Tanner."
"You die today Flack."
Flack finally lands a sharp blow to Wade's stomach and sends his body slamming backward into the wall, winding him instantly. Flack dives for his gun, ready to fire off a shot when Sandy charges into the room, firing a shot in Flack's direction. However, Jenna slams her body into Sandy's forcing Sandy's bullet to be sent slightly off course, grazing Flack's arm instead of doing any kind of real damage.
Having no time to worry about Jenna or Sandy, Flack turns around only to have his body once again slammed into by Wade, tackling him on the left and forcing his gun to fly from his hands to the floor once again.
"One piece at a time, Detective Flack, don't matter to me!" Wade growls as he hits Flack in the side one more time. He presses down on Flack's grazed skin, forcing a painful cry from his lips.
Mac had felt his body starting to falter once again thanks to the fight with Pete, but when Mac hears Flack's cry he feels his own angry adrenaline starting to surge once again. He knees Pete in the groin and then prepares to hit him again. But Pete's arm shoots out and hits Mac in his tender ribs, forcing his body backward, allowing Pete to regroup and lunge at Mac. Mac manages to sidestep his advance, forcing Pete's body to slam into the wall facing. Mac grabs him by the back, but Pete pivots on his heel, brings his elbow up and forces Mac's fingers to drop his gun. He slams Mac's weary frame back into the wall and then reaches for his own gun.
"Nice try...city pig," Pete growls as he quickly cocks the trigger.
A shot is heard and Mac's body instinctively jerks in response, until he watches as the large frame before him slowly falls to the ground, revealing the outline of Wilson Miller.
"Thanks," Mac pants as he leans against the wall, breathing hard, head throbbing but his brain refusing to quit, until the house was safe and secure.
"Get your friend, I've got the back door covered."
Mac offers the old man a nod of gratitude, grabs his gun and hurries to help his friend.
Flack had heard the shot and feared the worst; knowing Mac's weakened condition. And as much as he knows what a fighter Mac is and that he'd never just give up in a fight to the death; Mac was only human and there was only so much his body could take.
So with that thought in mind, his allows his stomach to absorb the next blow and forces his knee into Wade's stomach in return. Flack spies his gun and makes a break for it. Wade, pounces on Flack, slamming him to the ground on his stomach and then landing a blow to Flack's already throbbing side. And much like Mac hearing Stella's voice, in the back of his mind he still hears the voice of the woman he loves, 'don't give up Don, Jessica is heard' telling him to keep going.
"This is for you Jess!" Flack growls as he elbows Wade in the side, forcing Wade's grasp around him to loosen. Flack continues on his quest to get his gun, when Wade grabs his pant leg and jerks him back, Flack's fingers just missing the handle of his gun.
Flack twists himself around, landing the heel of his shoe to the chin of Wade Tanner, snapping his head back and painfully upward. Wade curses heavily, but his fingers, still wrapped around his own gun fire off another shot, thankfully missing Flack, but only by inches.
"You're next Detective," Wade growls as he prepares to fire.
Flack, however, was able to get his gun and, without thinking lunges at Wade. He punches him in the side of the face with the butt end of his gun, sending Wade crashing back into the wall. Spurred on by anger and hatred, hearing Jessica's voice and seeing her dead body, he continues to pound the man before him, until Wade's body slumps down against the wall, defeated.
Flack hovers over him, gun raised and trigger cocked.
"You son of a bitch," Flack curses under his breath in anger.
"Do it...go on," Wade goads, his hand still firmly wrapped around his own gun, hidden at his side. "Blow me away like you did Simon."
"Simon got what he deserved," Flack spits bloody saliva on the floor. "And you are going to jail like you deserve."
Flack lowers his gun, knowing he can't justify this man's killing in his mind like he did for Simon Cade. "Mac," Flack states in relieved surprise as Mac hurries toward him. "Heard the shot..."
"Let me arr..." Mac starts only to watch in slow motion as Wade Tanner raises his hand; the hidden gun finally being revealed.
"Don!" Mac shouts as he uses his free arm to shove Flack to the side and with his other hand he raises his gun, fires at Wade Tanner and, killing him instantly.
Flack twists around, watching as Wade's body slams backward into the wall, the gun clattering to the floor. He then looks up at Mac, as he swallows hard, willing his heart rate to slow so his brain can send words back to his mouth.
"Thanks," he huffs. "One more to go?"
"And she's right here," Sandy growls as both Mac and Flack whirl around to see Sandy Wells/Cade looking holding the double barrel shotgun that used to belong to Jenna Miller. "I see you old man!" Sandy shouts to her right. She looks at Flack and aims the gun directly at him.
"You don't have to do this Sandy, it's over," Mac tries.
"For him," she gestures to Don as she pumps both barrels.
"What is this really about?" Flack wonders.
"Avenging my husband."
"Who told you? Who was the informant!" Flack practically shouts.
"A friend," Sandy smiles. "I'm done talking."
"And I'm done listening," the weary voice of Jenna Miller is heard and just as Sandy pulls back on the trigger, Mac dives for Flack; Jenna's bullet embeds in Sandy's back, taking her down.
"I can't...take much more...of this," Mac groans as his weary body rolls off Don's and rests on the floor, both of them looking up to see Jenna standing over the dead body of Sandy Wells with a slight frown as her father rushes to her side.
"Where...the hell are you...from?" Flack wonders.
"Philly."
"Explains a lot," Flack smirks as he helps Mac stand up and both slowly head over to Wilson and Jenna Miller; an expression of gratitude and apologies in order. But just as they are about to explain to their two helpers, they all hear the roar of engines outside and then rush to see a bunch of pick up trucks come to a halt.
"Friends of Wade," Jenna huffs. "This isn't over yet."
"Yes it is," Flack grins as he offers a nod, forcing three heads to turn and see a half dozen military issue Jeeps surround the pick up trucks.
"Stella called in the marines," Mac whispers with a warm smile.
"Your wife has some pretty powerful friends," Jenna notes.
"Yeah she can make a man do just about anything," Flack's hand rests on Mac's back, forcing Mac to look at him with a nod and small smile. "Right Mac?"
"Yes she can," he agrees before he turns back to old man Miller with a slight frown. "Sir, I am truly sorry for dragging your family into all this. Our department would be happy to pay for..."
"Nonsense," he smiles. "This is the most fun I've had in weeks," he states readily and all four adults smile. "If he's Mulder, is you Scully?"
"Pardon?" Mac frowns, looking at Flack.
"Yeah, don't ask," Flack retorts.
Jenna leaves them and goes about trying to up the mess made while two Marine Police rush into the house, to talk to Mac and Flack, the rest outside taking care of the rest of the rowdies that Wade Tanner had managed to gather.
"Thank you Detective Taylor, we'll take it from here," one of them tells Mac who offers a nod and then turns and heads back to Flack, waiting in the living room. "You also look like hell."
"It was just a scratch," he refers to the graze that the Marine Medic is wrapping. "How are you feeling?" Flack asks in concern.
"I feel like hell," Mac groans as he slowly eases himself down onto a nearby chair. "You want to drive back?"
"I guess you brought the truck right?"
"Detective Taylor we do have a chopper transport waiting to take you both back to precinct 72 and we can have your truck waiting for you wherever you want."
Mac looks at Flack and finally nods in agreement. "We'll take the chopper home."
"Tired of the country already?" Jenna quips.
"We're both city boys," Flack replies. "But thank you for all your help."
"So is it over now?" She wonders.
Flack and Mac exchange worried looks before Mac finally answers. "Not yet. But it is on this end. Thank you again."
"Well have a safe flight back."
After exchanging a few small pleasantries, both are escorted by the real town police chief, Chief Angus Reid. He went on to explain that Buck McGuiness was arrested for aiding and abetting Wade Tanner. However no none knew about Terrance or the meeting in New York so Mac and Flack knew another meeting was going to take place first thing the following morning.
"So think this was all just a rouse?" Flack ponders as they slowly pile into the Military Helicopter. "I mean they wanted revenge for me shooting Simon Cade, but then why wait so long and why...all this? Why not just a shot in the dark or..." his voice trails off as he watches Mac ease himself onto a small leather bench across from him.
"I'd like to know what Terrance knows," Mac replies as he feels his body automatically lurch as the chopper slowly lifts into the air. "McGuiness said he was paid to tell us what he did but didn't do anything else. The only two or even three people that knew the whole story are dead. That leaves us Terrance," Mac explains as he fights to stay awake.
Flack leans back against the side of the helicopter and closes his eyes momentarily. "Or someone could have just used this whole Simon Cade thing as payback for something else."
"We need...to talk toTerrance," Mac stifles another yawn.
"Why are you fighting sleep?"
"I was proud of you today," Mac states warmly with a small smile of pride. "And I never thanked you properly for coming after me and saving my life. I really do owe you one."
"Ask Stella out on a date and we'll call it even," Flack replies with a grin. "But it wasn't a doubt Mac. Sending someone else to help you with a mess...well with something that I was even partly to blame for was never an option."
"You know when Claire died, I was lost; really lost. I never told this to Stella, but the days that followed, I prayed for death. I just couldn't make sense of something so...so senseless and tragic. But Stella never let me fail; she was at my side every day, making sure I never allowed myself to climb down so far into despair that I wouldn't want to climb back out. That's what I wanted for you Don. I never meant to interfere and I never meant to ram protocol down your throat. But where Stella has the tact and compassion; I have...I guess life experience. What I am trying to say is...I just wanted to help."
"I know Mac and I did need your help. Trust me, I knew if anyone knew what I was going through it would be you. I um..." Flack stops, resting his elbows on his knees and placing his hands on his face in fatigue. "I just thought I could handle it on my own; that was my first mistake. You had Stella and I had you, Stella and Danny...damn the whole team wanted to help."
"We take care of each other," Mac mentions in a soft tone, his lips curling as he remembers Stella offering him those same words the night he sat outside Flack's ICU room.
"I think I got my bad habits from you."
"What bad habits?" Mac asks in his defense.
"Hard head."
"I guess I am to blame for that."
Flack nods and then smiles, leaning back to make himself a bit more comfortable. "Will you please just lay down already?"
"I am tired," Mac whispers as he slowly eases himself down, pulling his coat around him tighter and allowing another soft gasp of pain to escape his lips as his head finally connects with the supple leather seat. "I love her Don, more than life itself."
"I know Mac," Flack agrees. "But you need to be telling her that; not me."
"I will...I promise," Mac's voice dies out to a soft whisper as he pulls out his phone.
"Mac? Oh Mac thank god," Stella breaths in relief. "How are you?"
"Alive and well."
"Mac," she groans.
"Stiff and sore," Mac lightly huffs. "Better?"
"Well it's the truth. And Don?"
"He's okay. I know it's late there and I should tell you to get some rest but I know that as soon as we touch down at the precinct you'll be there waiting. Thanks for the help."
"Some of that was Sully's doing," her voice lightly chuckles. "He does have friends in low places."
"Yeah he does."
"So is this all wrapped up then?"
"No and Don and I will be paying Terrance a visit tomorrow."
"Terrance? You think he had a part in setting you up?"
"I think he knows who did."
"Right. Okay we'll discuss that tomorrow. Are you and Don...um okay? I mean have you made amends?"
"Yeah we're good."
"I'm glad."
"Me too. We'll be home soon," Mac tells her as he finally closes his eyes and tries to get some rest.
Flack text's Danny to tell his friend he's okay and then hangs up, puts his phone away, not noticing Mac's lips curl into a warm smile in the darkened aircraft body. Flack watches over Mac as he still continues to rest; but his mind is now wondering what Terrance was really up to. He likes Mac's theory that Sandy was the patsy. But why Terrace. What did he have to gain? Had to be someone higher. But who? His mind for the next hour and a bit, focuses only on unanswered questions.
Mac feels himself jerked awake as the helicopter hits a small patch of turbulence and quickly opens his eyes, his body tensing in response.
"Almost ready to touch down Mac," Flack's soft voice breaks him from his sleepy state.
Mac offers a slight nod, followed by a large wince as he pushes himself back upright. "Damn it..." he curses as he rests his weary frame against the side of the helicopter. "Day after tomorrow I'm taking off," he states and Flack chuckles.
"Sure," Flack states in disbelief. "Mac, I can get Danny to..."
"Terrance knows what is going on and I'm going to be there when you ask him what he knows. Just make it closer to mid-morning," Mac smirks as they both brace themselves for the effects of the updrafts as the helicopter comes to rest on the NYPD helipad.
Flack opens the door and smiles as he sees Stella waiting for them. "I think we both owe her."
"More than you know," Mac mentions softly as he slowly climbs out of the side of the helicopter and heads toward Stella, who rushes toward him, gathering him into her arms and holding him close, her eyes watering as her ears listen to a soft gasp of pain his body automatically offers.
"Missed you," she whispers in his ear.
"I'm sorry I worried you," Mac whispers in return as he holds her close.
"Can I say get a room?" Flack jokes, forcing them to break apart. Flack accepts his hug from Stella and then looks past her to see Danny waiting by the door.
"It was his idea Don, he was with me all night," Stella tells him as she gives his arm a soft squeeze.
"Yeah I know. Hey Danny boy," Flack heads toward his friend and gives him a warm hug as Stella wraps her arm around Mac's waist and they follow after Flack and Danny.
"I want you to stay with us tonight."
"Danny I'll be fine. I just need to go home, take a shower and sleep. I mean damn it's almost two AM. Linds would have my hide if I woke Lucy."
Mac watches them argue like two brothers before he looks at Stella with a slight frown.
"Time for you to get some sleep Mac. You are about to fall down."
"Want to share a cab?"
"To your place? Sure?"
"Stella I'm not..." Mac starts in protest only to have her place a warm finger on his lips.
"You have a spare room and a couch. No arguments Mac."
"Okay," he resigns with a smile as they finally reach the street. They all stop and Flack turns to Mac with a slight frown.
"You going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine. You?"
"Me too. We'll regroup and go after Terrance in the morning."
Mac watches them leave before he turns back to Stella, who's watching him intently. "You should go home and rest."
"Taxi!" She calls out as she gently pushes past, leaving him to just shake his head in disbelief.
"Why do I bother arguing?" He groans with a slight smile as he gets into the cab with her and gives the cabbie his home address. Mac tells Stella all the details about what happened to him before Flack arrived to help, brushing away a stray tear as he recounts his stay with Wade and Sandy.
"They didn't hurt what won't heal," Mac sighs as he slowly turns the key into his apartment. He stops and looks at her with a frown. "Stella..."
"Have a shower Mac and I'll get the ointment and bandages."
Being too tired to argue, Mac slowly heads for his bedroom, closes the door and starts to slowly undress. He removes his suit jacket and then dress shirt, followed by his t-shirt, hanging the jacket and then tossing the other two into the laundry bin before grabbing something to sleep in and then heads for his bathroom. However, he had forgotten he wasn't alone and when he rounds the corner, bumps into Stella and then stops.
"Oh Mac..." she starts and then stops, her eyes quickly inspecting his bruised chest and then moving upward to his face. "What did they to do you?"
"I'm okay," he tries to assure her as he notices her eyes quickly water. Her hand rests on his face and his hand quickly covers it. "I thought I lost you."
"I thought I lost you too," she whispers in torment. "But you getter have that shower or I'll forget your condition and just attack you," she flirts and his face warms.
Mac takes her hand and brings it to his lips, placing a soft kiss on it and then kissing her cheek. "I'll be finished soon."
Stella offers Mac a nod and then grants him his privacy by watching him head into his bathroom; the door softly closing behind him. She heads back into the living room and then quickly changes into a pair of sleep pants and oversize shirt before heading back to the bathroom. The water has started but with each whispered curse or gasp of pain, her body recoils as it pictures Mac's battered body under the hot water. As much as she wants her brain to dwell on her partners hunky body, naked under the hot water, each time she hears a fresh offering of pain, remorse pushes aside pleasure.
Mac finally exits the bathroom to see Stella standing and waiting for him; already dressed for bed.
"Come here," she instructs as she leads him back into the steamy bathroom and helps clean and redress the cut above his eye before taking him by the hand and leading him toward his bedroom.
"Stella..."
"Sleep time Mac," she insists as she leads him his bed, pulls the covers back and then eases herself in first. Mac's body eases in beside her and slowly settles into her warm embrace. She kisses the top of his head and then squeezes him as best she can without doing any damage. "Just close your eyes and sleep Mac."
"Thank you," Mac gently lifts his head and casts his tormented gaze in her direction. "For being here."
"Here is where I belong."
XXXXXXXX
"Still can't sleep?" Danny asks Flack as he walks into the living room about an hour later.
"You're still up," Flack notes as he makes room on the couch for Danny. "Told you I should have gone home."
"You would have just been up there also. What's going on? You look like you don't want to sleep."
"I keep seeing her face Danny...hearing her voice...no matter what it won't leave my head."
"Do you want it to?" Danny counters and Flack looks at him with a heavy frown.
"I thought I did but...I miss her Danny, god I miss her so much..." he lightly sniffles as Danny's hand rests on his friends back.
"I know Don," Danny states softly. "I do too. It's um...hard to see you...well like you were the past few days. You scared me man...turnin' away and all. Don't ever do that again okay?"
"You sound like Mac, well maybe Stella," Flack smirks.
"Yeah I guess their parenting skills rub off on us," Danny chuckles. "Just don't tell them that."
"I won't," Flack gently yawns.
"That's it, bed time," Danny directs in a fatherly tone, forcing Flack to lightly laugh.
"Now you sound like Lindsay," Flack teases.
"Parenting."
"So it would seem," Flack agrees as he gives Danny a nod and then watches his friend push up from the couch and heads for his own bedroom. Danny offers a goodnight, allowing Flack to finally pull the blanket over him, and try to get some sleep. Tonight he keeps seeing Mac's battered face, his weak voice calling for help just before Wade Tanner blows him away.
"Jess..." Flack's voice trails off in misery as his squeezes his eyes shut once more. Unlike Mac, who has Stella's comforting arms to keep him company tonight, he has no one and that once again forces his heart to beat heavily in his chest. But as he hears Lucy lightly cooing in the night, Lindsay muttering softly in her sleep and Danny's solid breathing, his mind finally starts to settle.
'You'll never be alone Don,' Jessica's warm voice dances around in his tire brain.
"I love you Jessica, I always will."
'I love you Don...I always will,' her voice soothes and he's finally able to silence the tormented voices that have haunted his sleep for the past few days and allow the comforting darkness of slumber to consume him for a few solid hours. But morning came all too soon, and Flack's body offers an automatic groan as Lucy's crying brings her mother hurrying to the young toddler and Flack wishing he was back home in his own bed.
He slowly sits up and rubs his weary face, listening with a soft smile as Lindsay gently hums to Lucy as she feeds her in the privacy of the toddler's room.
"Did you sleep at all?" Danny asks Flack as he slowly walks past him into the kitchen to start the coffee.
"For a few hours," Flack yawns and stretches. "I'll be sleeping in tomorrow, I can tell you that."
"Think Mac and Stella got any sleep last night?" Danny asks with a smile; remembering Don told him that they probably ended up at Mac's apartment.
"Last night? Or I guess this morning? Yes, I think they just slept, or as well as Mac can sleep."
"You two okay? You and Mac?"
"We will be," Flack assures with a nod of his head. "Funny; but I think this whole ordeal is what we both needed to get back on the right track. At work I think we would have just...I don't know...probably just allow tension to build."
"I'm sure Mac would say next time no beatings."
"Me too," Flack smiles. "Alright, I'll take a cup of that to go and then I'm heading home, changing and then I'll see you back at the lab."
"You sure?"
"Yeah I'm sure. And if I know anything, I'm sure Mac's there already."
XXXXXXXX
"Smells great," Stella mentions as she walks into the kitchen and up to Mac. "You smell good also," she whispers as she offers him a warm hug. "How are you feeling?"
"Didn't sleep much."
"I know," she lightly frowns as she takes the coffee travel cup he is offering, already filled with the steaming stimulant. "But before you ask, I wouldn't have slept much even if I was at home, I would have been thinking about you...let me see that," she gestures to the cut above his eye. She checks his handiwork and then plants a warm kiss on his smooth cheek.
"Thank you for staying with me last night," Mac tells her in truth as they slowly head for the front door.
"I'm just glad you managed to sleep at all. You look better."
"I wasn't alone," Mac mumbles as they head for the elevator.
"You are never alone Mac," Stella reminds him. "You and Don going to be okay?"
"We um...came to a new understanding," Mac replies. As much as he knows he confides in Stella about everything personal, in his life, the confession that Don granted him was for him alone; it was up to Don who else he wanted to tell. If Don told no one else, it would be a secret he took to the grave. "But I think everything will get better. He still has a tough road ahead with date markers, event markers and such but..." he pauses as he allows his hand to rest on hers as they share a cab to work. "But I think he's past the worst; at least mentally."
"He must have told you a lot Mac."
"It wasn't how much he told me Stella," Mac confesses with a soft smile. "I just hope that he finds some inner peace now."
"I think he will."
"Okay so from what you told me this morning, we are looking for Terrance and you think he's the guy that wanted to set up Don?"
"I don't know. I know Don wants to think that because he saved his ass one time, that Terrance owes him."
"But you don't think that?"
"I don't know Terrance personally and don't know if Don considers him a friend but...well in Terrance's world, money usually speaks louder than loyalty."
"You know Mac, I do hope you're wrong about Terrance."
"Me too."
They finally reach the lab and slowly head inside; being the first two as suspected. "So you had mentioned something about taking tomorrow off. Was that for real?"
"Without the word of a lie," Mac replies with a slight frown. "But I..."
"What?"
"Never mind."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, it was nothing. I'll tell you later. "
"Okay so I have to finish up your court stuff today," she reminds him. "But how about you taking me to dinner tonight?"
"I like that idea," Mac agrees as he sees the Messer family get off the elevator and then watch Flack walk up the stairs toward them.
"Gang's all here," Danny states with a broad smile. "Mac, you ever sleep?"
"Apparently not," he frowns, while Stella just smiles. "Don, how you feeling today?"
"You two both look like you were dragged through hell and back," Lindsay notes.
"Feel like it too," Flack retorts.
"Well I am due in court," Stella states as she gives Mac's arm a gentle squeeze and then takes her leave, the two Messer's following suit, so that it was just Flack and Mac standing in the quiet hallway.
"Did you sleep at all?"
"Kept hearing Jessica's voice saying she loves me," Flack replies softly. "You?"
"Kept hearing Stella's voice telling me to go back to sleep," Mac replies with a half smile as he looks out the window of Flack's cruiser as they head toward Terrance's apartment. But after a few minutes of silence Flack looks over in wonder.
"What? Mac the silence, it's killin' me."
"Didn't mean to mention Stella when..."
"She's like my sister Mac and trust me, it's about time, I'm not mad. What else?"
"You know I will wonder if you're okay."
"Trust me I have no intension of climbing back down that hole. Too far a climb back up," Flack admits with a heavy sigh. "Besides I doubt you'd let me."
"You are right about that. I've been there Don, no one is waiting for you down that road."
"Now you sound like Stella."
"Yeah I know," Mac smiles as he looks back out the window.
"Speaking of Stella, did you ask her out."
"No. Any ideas?"
"Actually," Flack replies as he fishes around in his inner jacket pocket and hands Mac a key. "Was going to give it back to her today. She let me crash on the couch the other night but...she's in court all day right?"
"For the most part why?"
"Well here is my idea..."
Mac at first had dreaded opening up to Flack about his attraction to Stella, but admitting to him that he loves her was not only a heavy burden lifted but the mental and emotional nudge he needed to actually contemplate Flack's suggestion at Mac making the first move toward a romantic relationship. He feels his mind starting to ponder the plan that Flack came up with and when all is said and done, he found it not as embarrassing as he might have thought.
They finally reach Terrance's apartment and just before they go inside, Mac takes Flack by the arm and stops him.
"Mac, I'm okay really," Flack insists.
"Just prepare yourself for bad news. I mean he might not fess to anything and this might be a dead end."
"So then I just have to live with a target on my back?"
"I think all in law enforcement do that on a daily basis; but now we just have prior warning."
"Still not very comforting," Flack deadpans as they head into Terrance's apartment building.
"Flack you kidding? You came here? To my pad? And with him? No offense but did anyone see you come in?"
"I want answers and don't care who saw. If you set me up..."
"Man I told you who..."
"Yeah a bunch of white guys from out of town."
"White guys?" Mac arches his brows as he pulls out a picture of Wade Tanner and Pete Ryder. "Recognize either of these two?"
"I told you..."
"Terrance you better start talking," Flack warns. "Or our friendship will have to end."
"Man I tell you anything and my life could end. You got me?"
"You obstruct justice and your freedom could end, you got me?" Mac counters. "So you do know them? How about her?"
"No women but..."
"But what?"
"Terrance you better start talking or my big mouth is liable to head downtown and start telling everyone how close we really are. You got me?" Flack counters.
Terrance looks from Mac to Flack and then sighs heavily. "This guy," he points to Wade, "was one of the ones in the bar the other day. He said somethin' about revenge on Cade's murderer and how his old Lady was tellin' him he better get the right guys or she'd kick his ass."
"And this was his old Lady?" Flack hands the picture of Sandy back to Terrance.
"No man, she wasn't there. He was there to pick up some guys and..."
"Who is behind all this Terrance?" Mac growls, impatience starting to sound in his voice.
"I swear to you I do not know. At the bar all I heard was the name's Simon Cade, Don Flack and Wade somethin'. He was cursing you Flack, cursing you bad for whatchu did to Simon Cade and was lookin' for some men to help set a trap. Two guys readily volunteered. He said that an out of town friend was lookin' for some payback and they'd get paid real well."
"Out of town friend?" Flack looks at Mac.
"Was it these two?" Mac then holds up a picture of Buck McGuiness and the fourth man that made up Wade's party.
"Yeah that's them. Theys local boys."
"Pete must have been a local to Harrison," Mac ponders. "He and Sandy stayed behind."
"Think Pete was the mastermind?"
"No, I think he was also hired muscle," Mac replies. "I think the man we want is still hidden."
"What happened to them?" Terrance nods to the two photo's in Mac's hand.
"They died and so did their information," Flack grumbles. "You need to give me something more before you are next."
"Man I got nothing more. Now you all better leave by the back door."
"This isn't over Terrance," Flack warns.
"I know nothin' else."
"Someone out there is gunning for me!"
"Not like you make a lot of friends in your line of work," Terrance shoots back.
"And you do?" Mac counters and Terrance looks at him with a scowl.
"Fine, if I hear anything else on the street, I'll call you first. You down with that?"
"Yeah I'm down with that," Flack states sourly. "And if I find you are lying you are going down - for good."
Mac stuffs the picture back into his inner breast pocket and both head for the front door of Terrance's apartment, but since they know they need him they do take heed and head out the back door and then round to the front.
"Think he's lying?"
"I think he's scared," Mac frowns. "And that's even worse."
"So much for being a friend."
"You seriously thought he was a friend?"
"No, I guess not," Flack huffs as he turns and looks back at Terrance's apartment. "So now what?"
"Now we follow the evidence," Mac suggests.
"Meaning?"
"We go to the bar, find out who Wade talked to, what else he said and..."
"What other name was dropped," Flack adds as they get back into his cruiser. "Think Dunbrook is involved?"
"I would bet on it," Mac states with a slight scowl as he dials Adam. "What it the latest address for Robert Dunbrook?"
"You got it boss."
"I told him to get ready for fifteen rounds and this could be round one, maybe two."
"Think Jessica's death was..."
"I do," Mac states softly as he keeps his gaze fixed outside the window; his phone still at his ear.
"Boss you there?"
"Yeah Adam what do you have?"
"Well according to my research he sold his Manhattan penthouse and the last plane ticket he bought was to the Cayman Islands."
"The Cayman Islands?" Mac queries.
"You serious?" Flack retorts in anger. "Damn it."
"Thanks Adam, I'm on my way back."
"So now what? What does this mean Mac?"
"It means, I have a case to work on and so do you. And it also means no dark alleys alone."
"For you as well right? I mean Mac, I'm sure this whole Simon Cade thing was just a rouse. I'm sure when we find the real guy behind this, my name won't be the only one of interest."
"Then for either of us," Mac resigns. "We'll get him Flack. The world is not that big anymore and there are only so many people willing to help a man like Robert Dunbrook. He'll soon run out of friends, and when he does, we'll be there."
Flack offers a nod as they finally reach the precinct.
"So you gonna take my advice about Stella?"
"I just might," Mac smiles. "You gonna take my advice?"
"Trust me, Danny will be thrilled."
"More like Lindsay, she won't have to cook."
Both get out and head inside. "I'll get Sully and we'll start with the bar that Terrance was at."
"I'm going to get started on the Dunbrook angle. See you later."
"You know it," Flack smiles as he turns to leave. "Mac?"
"Yeah?"
"We're good right?"
"We always were," Mac assures him, forcing lips to curl upward into a warm friendly smile as he goes in search of Danny and then Veteran Detective John Sullivan.
Mac heads into the lab part and straight for his office; Sheldon automatically in tow. Mac quickly takes off his coat and turns to see Sheldon hovering in the doorway with a file in his hand.
"Mac, you got a minute?"
"Absolutely."
~EPILOGUE~
"Don you sure about this?"
"After all the grief I put you two through?"
"Um three?" Lindsay reminds them as she bounces Lucy on her lap in the friendly, family Italian restaurant.
"Right three."
"Just glad you are here with us in person," Danny states warmly.
"Yeah me too. I guess I wanted to take you out for dinner tonight to thank you three," he emphasizes and the whole table smiles. "For helping me through all this."
"We love you Don, you are like family," Lindsay squeeze his hand as Danny offers a firm nod.
"Thank you," Flack mentions softly.
"Say shouldn't Mac and Stella be here?" Danny wonders.
"Actually they're busy tonight," Flack clears his throat.
"Really? Doing what?" Lindsay wonders.
"Well..." Flack starts as the three adults and one toddler settle in to enjoy the night ahead. Flack looks at his friend, Danny, who offers a silly anecdote, forcing his wife and daughter to laugh and he feels his heart settle and his mind at peace. He thinks about the stupid mistake that nearly cost him his friendship with Mac and what a waste it would have been to have thrown it all away for nothing. But in the end, he was glad it was him that went after Mac and knows now that no matter what they face in the coming battle with Dunbrook or whoever, the two of them will stand side by side and when the dust settles neither will fall.
"Don?" Danny's voice breaks his mental thoughts.
He blinks and sees Jessica sitting across from him, in the empty seat, smiling at him and offering him the same look of love that is now cemented in his mind and heart.
"Don? You okay?" Lindsay asks in concern.
"I will be," he whispers as Jessica's head nods and her lips blow him a kiss. "I know I will be."
XXXXXXXX
Stella nears the door to her apartment and stops; hearing noise from inside. She quickly draws her gun and then tries the door handle.
"What the hell?" She growls as she tries the door handle and finds it open. She slowly turns the knob and pushes the door open, only to stifle a small gasp as Mac comes into her view. "Mac! What the hell are you doing?" she stammers as she quickly stuffs her gun away.
"Was hoping for another response, like nice to see you?" Mac arches her brows and her face softens.
"Sorry. How did you...did you pick the lock?"
"Got the key from Don," he offers his spare key. "Sorry to startle you."
"Did you make dinner?"
"I tried," he admits with a small smile. "Are you mad?"
"Yes," Stella states as she walks up to him and wraps her arms around his neck. "Mad that you didn't do this sooner. But better late than never.""
"Glad to hear it," he replies as Stella's lips press against his and his whole body starts to flood with warmth and passion. "I got the suggestion from a friend."
"Good friend."
"Good."
"Not best friend?"
"She's in my arms," Mac whispers as he holds her close. "She's that and so much more."
"Yeah, how much more?"
"Almost hard to explain to her what she means to me...I mean words. Beautiful would definitely be first," Mac starts, Stella's lips curling upward. "Smart, tender, caring and just downright amazing. But I'd rather show her how much she means to me; how much I love her."
"What? Mac did you just say you love me."
"I did. I love you Stella."
"Mac..."
"More than anything. And I'm saying it because I am not afraid to say it anymore. I think this whole thing with Don and his memories of Jessica just tell me...well they show that time is too short and life too precious to waste on thinking of things to say and not actually saying them. So I'm saying them now." Mac finishes and then watches her for a reaction. However after a minute silence he offers a frown. "Stella?"
"Sorry Mac just a bit speechless after that beautiful confession but have to admit that your timing was perfect."
"Why?"
"Because I love you more than anything and I wanted to tell you that tonight also," she admits as she accepts another warm kiss.
THE END!
A/N: Okay so wasn't sure how long to make this so Hope you all liked this Mac/Flack centric fic. Not sure if I'll do a follow up piece with the return of Terrance and Dunbrook and the rest of unanswered questions but if interested please leave in your last review. Thanks again for reading, you all ROCK!
