SEPTEMBER 2017

MACGYVER'S RESIDENCE

'9-8, old man. Game point, come on!'

Mac pushed Jack away, and scored.

'And that's the game!'

Jack clapped his partner on the back.

'I let you win that one, kid! Celebrate your first mission back and all!'

'Whatever helps you sleep at night.'

Riley walked up to the edge of the court.

'Bozer says burgers are almost done, guys. Oh, and Mac, he wants to know, is Beth coming?'

The blonde agent shook his head.

'No, she said she wanted to get an early night.'

Okay, okay, so maybe I sounded a little disappointed. I'm a twenty-five year old, straight, single male. I enjoy the company of a beautiful, intelligent, kind and funny woman. Sue me.

Bozer looked inquiringly towards them as they entered the house. Riley shook her head at him.

'Aw, you okay, bro?'

Mac raised an eyebrow.

'You're asking me if I'm okay? You should be asking Jack; I just kicked his ass!'

'Hey, I let you win! Don't listen to him, Bozer!'

Bozer came up and patted his roommate on the shoulder.

'It's okay, Mac. Sometimes the ladies like to play hard to get, 'cause they know you love the chase.'

To punctuate his statement, he waggled his eyebrows at Riley.

Riley just shook her head, stole Bozer's beer right out of his hands, and took a long swig.

After years of chasing criminals, I can tell you that chasing is overrated.

And I'm pretty sure it's not that.

I'm pretty sure it's more like Thornton keeping her distance because she's our boss.

Doctors are not supposed to get too close to their patients, after all.

'Come on, guys. Just because I liked her back in college, doesn't mean anything now. We're colleagues. Friends.'

They all looked unconvinced.

'Denial's not just a river in Egypt.'

'You haven't been on a date since she started working at the Foundation, Mac.'

He rolled his eyes.

'I didn't go on a single date after Cindy while we were chasing Nikki, because I was busy. I had other things on my mind. You didn't have as much to say about that. I haven't been on a date for three months because I just haven't met the right woman yet. Sometimes that happens. That's life.'

Jack clapped him on the shoulder.

'Just a little worried, that's all, brother.'

Mac sighed.

'Thank you for the concern, but I am absolutely fine. I don't need you guys poking into my love life.' He grabbed a beer, opened it and drank. 'Now, I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to a nice, quiet night in with friends, drinks and burgers.'

The others clinked their beers with his.

'Hear, hear!'

'To Mac somehow not getting hurt this time!'

'Don't jinx it.'

Later that night, Jack and Mac sat beside the fire pit, beers in hand. Bozer and Riley had volunteered to clean up.

'You really okay, brother?'

Mac sighed.

'Yes, Jack.'

There was silence for a bit.

'I just don't want her to end up being your Sarah.'

Back at MIT, some of my engineering buddies did say she was the closest thing to a female version of me that I'd ever meet.

I'm never telling Jack that.

'If you love her, Mac, tell her. Don't wait around, thinking she'll be there forever. One day, she'll be gone.'

Mac looked down, drank some of his beer, and pulled a paperclip from his pocket.

'I know, Jack.' He sighed. 'And…well, if I realize I do someday, or if I realize I'm in love with some other woman, I'll tell her.' He looked Jack in the eye. 'I promise.'

The older man nodded. Mac always kept his promises.

'Until then, we've always got each other.'

'And Bozer and Riley.'

They both shuddered.

'I don't want to think about what they might be doing right now.'

'Me neither.'

'But they're great friends anyway.'

'The best.'

They clinked their beers together.

'To great friends.'

Later that night, as he got into bed, Mac smiled at the little wire beer bottle he held in his hand.

When I was a boy, my grandfather told me that one day, I wouldn't be happy with just him and Bozer and Archimedes and explosions that save lives anymore.

He told me that I'd long to go to sleep and wake up with the soft, sweet curves of a woman in my arms.

Now, he was from a different time, so maybe he was a little close-minded and didn't consider all the possibilities…but I guess he was right in the end.

I do want a girlfriend, and later a wife and kids.

But I've got amazing friends. Family, really.

And I'm perfectly happy with that.