Chap 7
In an ironic twist of fate, the judge that presided over his trial also married them. No one contested that they were a perfect match. Pete and Jack Dalton got to know Melody and rapidly realized she was the one for Mac. Quick to act, smart, a tiny bit calculated, just enough to make him feel like he wasn't settling down so much as holding on for dear life. Without the neediness of his previous girlfriends but still a damsel in distress air, she sucked him deeper in with each day that passed. Their marriage was inevitable and swift.
The only fight they had was over where to live. Melody was flexible and she agreed to move closer to the Phoenix Foundation, even taking the job Pete offered her, but she did not want to live on a houseboat.
"Gyver, what about me would tell you I was okay with living in a house surrounded by and floating on water?!"
"It's perfectly safe!" MacGyver contested.
"It is on the WATER! What's safe about that?!" Melody said.
"What's wrong with being on the water?" Jack asked, lugging in the luggage from their honeymoon. They had gone hiking in the Grand Canyon, which was surprisingly romantic, though, for some reason, MacGyver wouldn't let her climb the cliffs.
"I can't swim," Melody mumbled.
"Well, that's not a problem!" Jack declared, "I'm an expert swimmer! I could teach you…" Jack trailed off as MacGyver glared at him, "I mean… Mac could teach you! He's a great swimmer. I've got to go. People to go places to see… See ya!"
"Jack!" Melody called as he headed towards the door, "Please, stay," she took a deep breath, "I'm being irrational. Please stay and visit with us."
"Well… I don't have to be asked twice!" Jack said happily and MacGyver sighed- Jack would have to be pried out of the house now.
"No time like the present," Melody said to herself as she looked out at the warm sunlit deck and the calm water, "If you guys are going to teach me how to swim, we better start now, before I lose my nerve."
"Cool!" Jack said, "I'll have to borrow a pair of your swim trunks, Mac, unless you want to go skinny dipping," Jack said, waggling his eyebrows at Melody suggestively.
"I don't think so," MacGyver interjected as Melody grinned up at him, her own eyebrows cocked mischievously. "I have a spare. You have a suit, right Melody?"
"For sunbathing… yah, I do."
"Bedroom's upstairs. We'll dress down here," Mac said.
"Kay," She agreed.
As she disappeared up the stairs, Jack shook his head enviously. "You got yourself quite a catch there, Mac."
MacGyver grinned, "You don't know the half of it!" he said, stepping into his bright yellow swim trunks. He threw the garishly patterned Hawaiian print to Jack, who happily donned the loose shorts.
"I think I do!" Jack exclaimed as they looked up to see Melody coming down the stairs. She wore a modest one-piece, but the dark pink bathing suit accentuated all the right places, making her legs seem somehow longer as she stepped down.
"Ready guys?" she asked.
Jack coughed as Mac elbowed him in the ribs, "That's my wife, remember?" he hissed, pushing past Jack to put a protective arm around Melody's bare shoulders.
"Hey, wait for me!" Jack exclaimed as they went out on the deck. He barreled past them and leapt into the water, splashing them both.
Melody laughed, touching her toe to the rippling water. Mac slid into the cool water, and looked up at her, gesturing invitingly.
"Come on, it's perfectly safe."
Dalton floated by on his back, his hands behind his head.
Melody frowned and lowered herself into the water, Mac's hands sliding along her body as she finally released the edge of the deck.
"It's cold," she said, a slight whine to her voice.
Mac chuckled, "You'll get used to it. Now, hold my hands…" he said leading her away from the deck, "First thing, you need to learn how to dog paddle."
"Huh?"
"Like this," Jack demonstrated, letting his tongue hang out in an exaggerated pant as he paddled by.
Melody laughed at his antics, "I don't have to do the tongue thing, right?" she said, reluctantly but deliberately releasing Mac's hands and paddling frantically.
"Whoa," MacGyver said, "calm down. You'll float naturally, just paddle slowly."
Her pace slowed and she managed to keep herself afloat, a serious look on her face.
"Good," Mac said, "Now this next one is important. If you ever get tired or cramp up, just float on your back," he said, gesturing towards a half-asleep Jack floating leisurely by.
Moving his hands across her back, MacGyver laid her on the surface of the water, her body feeling even lighter with the buoyant force of the water pushing up. Slowly, he released her and swam back a few feet.
Her eyes were closed and her body tense, a frown on her face.
"Open your eyes, Melody," Mac said softly.
Her eyes opened and she gasped softly as she realized she was floating on her own. She turned her head slowly, her eyes meeting his.
"I'm floating?" she asked breathily.
"You're floating," MacGyver said, nodding.
She shifted and suddenly sank with a cry of fear. MacGyver swam quickly forward, lifting her up while trying to avoid her frantic splashing.
"It's ok! You're alright!" Mac said, holding her close as she clung to him, nearly dragging them under.
She finally stopped struggling and looked up at him, "I think I need more practice," she said, coughing lightly.
MacGyver laughed, "I think you need to relax! You're just too tense. It'll come naturally, don't think so much."
"You're telling me not to think?!" she asked playfully, "You haven't been around me very long, I see!" She grinned.
"Long enough!" MacGyver responded, flinching as she swatted him.
They practiced a while longer, until the sun was beginning to set and Jack went inside for some snacks.
MacGyver sat on the edge of the deck with his legs dangling in the water, watching Melody float comfortably just a few yards away.
"How you doing?" Mac asked softly, hating to break the peaceful mood.
"Fine," Melody said with a sigh, "It's not that bad, really. Water, I mean. I think I could get used to it."
"Glad to hear it," MacGyver said with a small smile. He had been willing to move, of course, but he didn't want to see Melody haunted by her irrational fear the rest of her life. It looked like he had succeeded.
"Mac, don't you have anything but tofu in here?!" Jack exclaimed from the kitchen.
MacGyver turned towards the kitchen to respond, "I haven't exactly had an opportunity to go shopping, Jack! You're lucky nothing attacked you when you opened the fridge!" Mac chuckled and turned back to Melody in time to see a look of sheer terror cross her face as she went under.
"Melody!" Mac cried, immediately diving into the murky water. He swam with broad strokes, reaching the spot he had seen her go down in seconds. She wasn't there. He came up for air, searching the faintly rippled water for any sign of her, "MELODY!"
"Mac?" Jack asked, a kitchen knife gripped tightly in his hand.
"Melody's gone! She sank right here, but I can't find her! Help me!" MacGyver said quickly, taking a huge lungful of air and diving once again.
He reached the seabed this time, but there was still no sign of Melody. Running out of air, he resurfaced. Jack popped up a moment later and shook his head. Nothing. No sign.
"Melody! MELODY!!" Mac screamed, looking across the flat, motionless water.
"Mac…" Jack said softly.
"Help me find her!" MacGyver cried, diving again. Jack took a deep breath and swam, searching the murky water for any sign of his friend's new wife. Nothing. He could barely see Mac's lithe form cutting through the water. There was no sign of Melody.
They popped up within seconds of each other, gasping for breath.
"I'll call the coast guard," Jack said, his voice tight. She had been down too long. Even if… when they found her, it'd be too late.
"Yah," Mac agreed, his voice rough, the water dripping down his face almost concealing his tears. "I'll keep looking." He dove, avoiding what he knew, hoping to find her in time… somehow.
000
Melody was finally beginning to see the draw to water. It was actually… relaxing. Floating serenely on the calm water, the warm sun and cool water blending to the perfect temperature, she could think clearly. The whirlwind of the past few months seemed to blur together, images and emotions bubbling to the surface and just as quickly sinking back.
As she took a deep breath, she could feel the nearly healed scar on her side pull tightly. The fear of her captivity, the fear for her very life, was healing along with the scar. It had not yet faded completely, nor would it ever completely disappear, but she was dealing with it.
Gyver helped. His constant stability was a balm to her confused mind. Though it was unusual for her to rely on someone else, it was nice. The best thing about it was, she wasn't just in love with him- she liked him. He was sweet, a little sappy at times, and he had his rough edges, but he was fun to be around. When she was with him somehow she felt energized, like she could do anything.
And she was! She realized with an internal grin. He had pushed her beyond her fears, and she hadn't even noticed it! She was swimming- well, floating, at least.
The sea rippled strangely under her, like a rush of water-wind. For a moment, it felt like something large had passed beneath her. Very slowly, she raised her head to look around. Gyver was sitting on the deck, turned towards the kitchen, saying something ornery to Jack by the look on his face.
Gyver turned back to her, seemingly sensing her gaze, and she started to smile.
Something wrapped around her ankle, dragging her down so quickly that she didn't have an opportunity to scream. She kicked out, her strength checked by the water, impacting something solid. Her free ankle was captured then, and she wiggled frantically.
She was running out of air! She reached for the hazy light of the surface, comprehending for the first time just how far she had sunk.
The grip tightened around her ankles, and iron fingers pressed bruises into her skin. She looked down, making out the faint shape of a scuba diver clinging to her feet. She continued to fight him, but the strength was draining from her, her lungs screaming for oxygen.
He started to climb up her body, his hands sliding up to her thighs, up to her hips, until he was face to face with her, the mask distorting his features. His hand slid up her ribs, his thumb tracing the hidden scar on her side.
Her eyes went wide in shock, panic flooding her system. Murdoc. Oh, God, Murdoc had her. She trembled uncontrollably. He was going to let her drown. He had pulled her under, so far down, and he was going to watch her drown. He was going to have his revenge.
He reached behind him, and she flinched away, expecting the knife- the same knife, the same hand- to pierce her once again. Instead, a brightly colored breather came towards her mouth. With confused desperation, Melody grabbed it, sucking in air greedily. The neon yellow mouthpiece was the same color as Gyver's shorts, Melody noted dazedly.
Gyver! She looked up, hope clawing its way to the surface. He would be looking for her! He'd be here any second to lead her home.
Murdoc grabbed her wrist and pulled her along. She tried to yank away, but it was fruitless. He ignored her struggles, activating some sort of propeller that shot them through the water. They were going farther away from Gyver's house. How would he find her? Another thought dawned, what if he thought she was dead?! He had seen her go down, she was sure of it. She hadn't come up for air; he could think she had drowned! No!
She fought to get away, and was completely ignored. By the time they slowed to a stop, she was exhausted, limply pulled along by Murdoc's unceasing grip.
Without releasing her wrist, Murdoc peeled off his flippers, letting them float away. Then he pulled her to shore, rising out of the water like a bad horror film onto an empty, dusky beach. He slid out of the scuba gear, leaving it on the beach. Melody coughed as he forced her forward, her legs rubbery with exhaustion.
The wetsuit he wore made his small frame skeletal, and, for a brief moment, Melody thought about attacking him. Her side twinged, a painful reminder of just how wrong it was to underestimate this man. The knife strapped to his thigh didn't help her chances either. She opened her mouth to scream for help, but, without turning, Murdoc spoke.
"No use screaming," he said, "I own this beach. No one around here for miles." With a whimper of fear, Melody snapped her jaws shut, eying the undisturbed beach with new understanding.
A mid-sized house sat on the edge of the sandy shoreline, dimly lit. Murdoc dragged her up the flight of stairs and into the house. He shoved her towards the bathroom, handcuffing her to the steel showerhead.
Before she could say anything, he disappeared back out the door, his steps echoing as he went down the stairs, presumably to retrieve his gear.
Melody, though exhausted, wasted no time. She started to yank on the showerhead, pulling with her entire weight. It didn't budge. What did he want with her? Why was he keeping her alive? What kind of plan was this?! Her thoughts spun as she looked for a way out. She had to get away from him before he did… whatever it was he was planning to do. Whatever he had planned, she knew it wouldn't be good for her.
The bathroom was plain and white. She stood in the small bathtub, the white shower curtain waving slightly in the air-conditioned breeze. The small mirror was across from her, and she could see herself in it, looking like a reject from the Black Lagoon.
The door slammed, signaling Murdoc's return. There was a long silence, during which Melody focused on calming down. She had to be sharp, had to figure out what he wanted from her. She knew she couldn't overpower him, but maybe she could outthink him.
Murdoc entered the small bathroom. He was dressed casually now, wearing what looked like brown cotton pajama bottoms and a matching shirt, unbuttoned to reveal his sparsely-haired chest. He stood silently in the doorway, nonchalantly leaning against the frame.
"What do you want with me, Murdoc?" Melody asked, endeavoring to appear undaunted.
"I'm still trying to make up my mind," Murdoc said, looking at her thoughtfully.
"W-what?" Melody asked, confused, "What do you mean by that? You kidnapped me!"
Murdoc nodded to himself, seemingly making up his mind, and stood up, approaching her as he spoke, "I had two thoughts and prepared two different avenues. Option one- I kidnap you, rape you, and kill you; wait for MacGyver to come find you, and then kill him in his grief."
"No," Melody whispered, her eyes wide in fear.
"Option two," Murdoc said, reaching up to stroke her hidden scar once again as she flinched from his touch, "I kidnap you, erase your memories, and make you believe you're my wife. Then, when MacGyver finally finds you, as I assure you he will, he'll not only have the pain of knowing I took you as my wife, but you will reject him as your husband. Then, I will have the pleasure of killing you in front of him once again before I take his life," Murdoc looked her straight in the eyes, "Splendid plan, eh?"
Melody responded with a sob of terror, shaking uncontrollably at his words and unable to escape the sick, rhythmic stroking.
Murdoc stretched up to whisper in her ear, "I choose option two."
He turned and strode out the door, shutting it firmly behind him. As Melody heard the subtle hiss of gas, she cried out, "No! Please, don't do this! NO!!"
000
The warm sunlight woke her. It streamed through the window blinds, the warm golden color stippling across the beige carpet and onto her face. She snuggled deeper under the covers, moaning lightly as her muscles responded with deep aching.
A man's arm snaked over her waist, pulling her towards him.
"You okay, Mel?" he asked sleepily, his breath tickling her ear.
She stiffened, her eyes wide as she turned to face him, pulling away. "Who are you? Where am I?"
The man smiled waveringly, "Mel…"
She pulled the blankets tight around herself as she realized she was naked. "Answer me!" she demanded, searching her mind for any clue.
He stood, padding across the room nude, and pulled on a pair of brown pants before responding to her, "Your name is Melody Murdoc. My name is Michael Murdoc. I'm your husband." He turned towards her, running his hand through his hair with a sigh, "You have a condition known as sporadic amnesia. You randomly lose your memories."
"You're kidding me," Melody said disbelievingly, her eyes scanning the room for some clothes to put on.
"Mel," Michael said soothingly, "You told me this might happen. Just calm down and listen to me. Look at your left hand."
Melody looked at her hand, the thin gold band encircling her third finger surprising her, "That doesn't prove anything," she insisted.
"Read the inscription inside," Michael said.
Melody removed the ring, holding it up to the light. It read M&M Forever.
Melody paused, "You said I told you this might happen. Does that mean it hasn't happened with you before?"
Michael shook his head, sitting at the end of the bed, "No. You haven't had an episode since we met. In fact, you haven't had one in three years. No one knows what triggers them."
"But I'm supposed to just take your word for all this?" Melody asked sarcastically.
Michael shrugged, "I hoped you would, but, if you want, we can go see your doctor. He'll tell you what's going on, same as I did."
"Yes," Melody nodded, "Let's do that. I'd like to meet this doctor."
Michael smiled slightly, "You might want to get some clothes on first," he said, gesturing towards the closet as he left the room, "I'll make us an appointment!"
000
Upon their return from the doctor's office, who had, indeed, repeated Michael's words, Melody sat in the kitchen, her head in her hands.
"Mel, you okay?" Michael asked, setting a mug of tea in front of her and squeezing her shoulder comfortingly.
"I'm so… lost," Melody whispered, she looked up at him, "Can you tell me something?"
"Sure!" Michael said, taking the seat across the table, "What do you what to know?"
Melody sat silently for a few seconds, "Everything?"
Michael chuckled, "Okay then. You were born in a little town in Texas called Hempstead. Your mother's name was Melody too; your father's name was Jacob Smith, but that's about all you know about him, he took off when you were a baby. You had one older brother, named John."
"John Smith?"
Michael chuckled again, "Apparently your father had a sick sense of humor. Anyway, John and your mother died in a car accident when you were 19. You were hurt pretty bad. That's when your first episode happened."
"How old am I now?" Melody asked. She didn't think she was that much older; she didn't look that much older in the mirror.
"Twenty five," Michael said, "You met me two years ago. We got married almost four months ago and moved here for my job. That pretty much covers it."
"Hmm," Melody said, "One more question. How did I get this scar?" She raised her shirt and revealed the pink scar across her ribs.
Michael winced and rubbed the back of his neck, "That was my fault. I stabbed you."
"WHAT?!" Melody asked, standing and backing hurriedly away.
"Whoa, whoa! Let me explain!" Michael said, standing slowly, "I never told you what my job was. I work for the government… deep cover stuff. I can't tell you much more about that, but one day, about two months ago, you were just playing around, and you snuck up behind me…" he winced again, wringing his hands with an expression of shamed abashment, "I thought you'd leave me for sure after that, but you didn't," he looked up hopefully, "you stayed with me. You understood. Or at least… you used to understand."
"O… kay. Let me get this straight…" Melody said, eyeing him, "I surprised you, you stabbed me, and I forgave you. Is that right?"
"That sums it up, yah."
"Jeeze…" she mumbled, retaking her seat tiredly, "I must really love you."
"You believe me?" Michael asked, a hint of astonishment in his voice.
Melody snorted a laugh, "How can I not? Who would make up a story like that? You could have told me I'd tripped and fallen on something and I would have doubted that… but this," she sighed, "this sounds surprisingly like my life."
Michael slowly came to her side, crouching down next to her and putting his hand comfortingly on her leg, "It'll be okay. We can handle this," he said softly, his hand rubbing up and down her jean-covered thigh soothingly, rhythmically.
Melody looked thoughtfully at him before she reached out and pulled him towards her, kissing him soundly.
Michael reacted immediately, strengthening the kiss, his hands sliding up under her plain white t-shirt.
Melody gasped and pulled away slightly, "I don't remember this," she whispered, tears filling her eyes, "I don't remember our first time."
"That's alright," Michael whispered supportively, "We'll make new memories."
Melody smiled weakly, "I don't know if I can do this…" she said, pulling away.
"You don't have to," Michael assured her, his hand sliding down to her hips, "I'll be here forever, remember?"
Melody nodded slowly, twisting her thin gold ring. If only she could remember…
000
"Mac, where are you going?" Pete asked, rubbing his forehead tiredly. Jack had gone home a while ago, exhausted and depressed. There was no sign of Melody anywhere.
Pete had come over as soon as he heard the news, and now he sat on the edge of MacGyver's couch, watching him pack up his gear into a small hiking backpack- complete with dehydrated foodstuffs and a Sterno.
"I'm going to find Melody, Pete. Murdoc has her, I know it. I have to find her… before something happens to her," MacGyver frowned deeply, finishing up his packing and shouldering the pack.
Pete stood and looked him in the eyes, "If you really think Murdoc has her, what makes you think she isn't already dead?"
MacGyver's eye twitched slightly, "It is not his style Pete. If he wanted her dead, she'd be dead. No… He wants me. He needs me to find her. She's the bait, Pete. She's always been the bait."
"So you're going right into the trap?"
"I am. But I'm not going to be caught. I'll find Melody. I'll get her back. And I'll stop Murdoc- once and for all," MacGyver said, his voice hard. Pete's eyes widened as MacGyver fingered the hunting knife strapped to his thigh.
Pete grabbed his arm, "No, Mac! This isn't you!"
MacGyver yanked his arm away, "You're wrong, Pete. This is me. This is me refusing to lose one more person to Murdoc. This is me finally fighting for what I believe in. I've finally found someone worth fighting for, Pete. And I'm not losing her. Not this time. Not to him."
000
Melody lay sleeplessly, trying to remember anything about her past. The silver moonlight streamed through the blinds, flickering as the sea breeze breathed through the room.
Michael's strangled shout broke the silence, sending a shock of adrenaline through her as she sat up. She slid off the bed and padded quickly to the living room- where Michael was sleeping on the couch.
She entered the dark room warily, her eyes slowly adjusting. Michael lay on the couch, his thin blanket twisted around him, clearly in the midst of a nightmare. He cried out again, his sweat-soaked black t-shirt making him appear emaciated in the moonlight.
"Michael?" Melody said quietly, approaching him as he frowned. "Michael, it is okay. You're having a nightmare. Michael?" she said slightly louder, attempting to wake him. He moaned lightly, his eyes still squeezed shut.
Melody pulled nervously on the hem of her white gown, wishing suddenly she had stopped for her robe. Michael moaned piteously, and her heart went out to him. So much pain… It must be a terrible dream.
Melody strode forward, making up her mind. She leaned over him and grasped his shoulder, intending to shake him.
The next thing she knew, he was on top of her, a knife pressed to her throat.
"That's the last mistake you'll ever make!" Michael screamed, a snarl on his face.
"M-Michael?" Melody said breathlessly, her heart in her throat.
Michael blinked, the snarl disappearing, replaced with a look of confusion, "Melody?" he asked, the knife still at her throat.
"It is okay, Michael. It is just me. You're safe," she reassured him, reaching up and laying her hand gently on his arm.
Michael put away the knife, looking down at her with his head cocked slightly, his forehead still crinkled in confusion. "What are you doing?" he asked.
"You were having a nightmare. I was trying to wake you."
"No," Murdoc said, "I meant what are you doing now? Weren't you scared? I had a knife to your throat."
Melody blinked up at him, her own brow crinkling now, "You were scared. I knew that. As soon as you knew who I was, there was nothing to fear."
Michael's lips lifted in a slight smile, "You trusted me?' he asked.
Melody frowned thoughtfully, "Yes," she said, "I do."
Michael leaned down and kissed her, and, after a moment, she responded. Truth be told, she was shaking from the adrenaline, her heart beating a hundred miles an hour, so there wasn't much thought involved as Michael pulled off her nightgown.
Melody gasped as his mouth moved to her neck. He pulled away long enough to strip. She watched with half-closed eyes, tracing the lines of his body. So many scars.
"So many scars," she whispered as he returned to her, her fingers tracing one that ran across his collarbone. He shivered, watching her pale fingers move down his chest.
"You have scars of your own," Michael said lowly, his fingers hovering over the one on her side, then moving up to her chin, tracing the one below her lips, then moving again to her wrist, and lastly sliding down to her inner thigh, his thumb sliding over a scar she hadn't known she had.
She moaned and he kissed her again, his tongue pressing against her lips in silent inquiry. She opened up to him, moaning deep in her throat.
