It had been three weeks since he got out of the hospital. Mac's broken legs were not well but he was back at work. He was able to sit up now and he did not feel as bad. He could even put a little pressure on the legs now but not much because it caused a dull ache in the bones. He had been seeing Rhonda the last three weeks too. She came over once a week and made dinner for them. She was nice company…and Mac smiled as he thought of how pretty she was. She also helped him talk out his emotions and problems. He felt like she cared about how he felt and she had told him. They had not gone any further than friends so far, although he had thought about kissing her more than once. He could not exactly follow her to the door.
Mac had also hired a new CSI for his team. Her name was Jo Danville. They had quite a first meeting since there was a dead body in the lab. Jo was from Virginia and she was a true Southern Belle. Mac liked her personality. She was a mother to two kids…and she even tried to mother him and the other members of the team at times. She did not even think he should be at work but he informed her that he could make his own decisions about how he felt and whether he wanted to be at work or not. He just sat in the office anyway and worked on paperwork and helped with cases from there. He even analyzed evidence some of the time. He could sit in the lab at the table and do analysis.
Mac was sitting at his desk thinking about the cruise he was going to take. It was going to be relaxing and fun. He was leaning back with his eyes closed. He scowled and opened his eyes as he felt that unbearable, unreachable itch that occurred right in the middle of his leg between his knee and his ankle. It drove him crazy! And he could not get any relief from it when it came. He had shaken his leg hoping the cast would shift just enough to scratch it, but no, it did not. He thought if he could stand up maybe it would stop itching but he could not do that. It made him want to scratch his head for some reason. He thought maybe that nerve was connected directly to his brain and just itched up there too. It was like that itch that one gets in their ear and cannot scratch it but if they shift their tongue just right, they can scratch it that way. Mac shook his head. His legs usually took turns having that itch but it occurred on both legs.
Just then, Jo walked into Mac's office. "So, how are you feeling this morning?" she asked with her usual cheerfulness.
Mac looked at her with one of his tolerant looks. "Do you really want to know?" he asked.
Jo looked perplexed. "Of course I do," she said. "What's wrong?"
"Have you ever worn a cast?"
"No."
"Well, they're itchy and the itch always occurs in a spot that you can't reach," Mac said.
"Oh is that it?" Jo pondered that a moment. "Maybe you could get something down in there to scratch it."
"I don't think so." Mac sighed. "I'm tired of sitting in this chair. I'm tired of not walking. I'm tired of not getting to do my job."
"Don't worry. It will be over before you know it."
"I hope you're right about that."
"Is there anything you need?"
"A surgical saw? So I can cut this cast off?"
Jo folded her arms. "I don't think I can get that but I can get you some coffee," she said.
"That would be nice. Thanks."
Jo left the office. Mac looked out the window. He was glad he only had three more weeks to wear these casts. His arm was no better than the legs. Itches started in it and seemed to travel from one end to the other. He felt like clawing his skin off some of the time but so far he had managed not to do that. Nothing helped because no feelings could travel through the cast and make the itch feel like it was being scratched.
Mac rubbed his eyes and sighed. Only three more weeks, he kept telling himself.
Jo was very competent, and Mac knew he could leave the lab in her hands along with Danny and they would take care of things while he took his cruise. He would be gone for three weeks. He had not asked Rhonda to go yet and had not even mentioned it to her much. He wondered if she would want to go on a cruise with him since they had not really gotten past the "getting to know you" stage yet. He thought he would like to see her in a bikini.
Jo noticed a slight grin on Mac's face when she walked back into the office. "Here you go," she said and gave Mac his cup of coffee.
"Thanks," Mac said and sipped it.
Jo stared at him a moment with one of her inquisitive looks. "What's that grin about?" she asked.
Mac looked at her. "What grin?"
"Oh come on. With a grin like that, you must be thinking about something."
Mac smiled slightly. "If I am, I'm not telling you what it is."
"Oh Mac. Why not? Are you afraid I will find out something about you that no one else knows?"
Mac raised his eyebrows. "And just what would that be?"
"That you possibly have a personal life outside this lab."
"Why are you so concerned about that?"
"Because a good man like you needs a good woman and doesn't need to be married to his job."
"I'm not anymore. I was at one time but I am going to be taking a vacation when I get these casts off and get well enough."
"Oh really? Where to?"
"I haven't really decided yet."
"Can't you give me a hint?"
"Probably to an island."
"I hope you do and I hope you have a little fun while you're there."
"Oh, I intend to."
"Really? Is there some lucky woman who is going with you?"
"Lucky?"
"Of course. Any woman who could get you to take her somewhere like that would be lucky."
Mac scowled at that comment. "I don't know if that is a good comment or not." He looked at Jo. "What are you getting at?"
"What do you mean? I pay you a compliment and you think I have an ulterior motive? You're a good man and any woman would be lucky to have you."
"Well, okay then."
Jo turned and left the office. Mac stared after her. How did she know he was such a good catch? They had not been working together long. He knew how she was though. She tried to get into everyone's personal life because she was a caring person and wanted to help people if she could. Mac did not want her snooping into his personal life…or what existed of it. He kept that to himself. That was why it was called a "personal" life…it was personal.
Mac sat and worked on paperwork for another hour. He was yawning so much, he was getting aggravated at himself but he was still taking some pain medication which helped with the ITCH too. He rubbed his eyes and looked out of his office. He did not see anyone in the hallway. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes as he relaxed. Just a few minutes…
"Mac Taylor!"
Mac jumped as he heard someone say his name. He opened his eyes to see the chief standing in his office. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry, Chief," he said. "I…"
"I didn't come in here to scold you, Taylor," the chief said. "I was wondering how you're doing."
Mac thought about that a moment. "I'm doing fine. I just got so sleepy I had to rest a few minutes."
"You been working on paperwork all day?"
Mac nodded. "Yes and I just got sleepy."
"Why don't you go home?"
"I don't want to. I would rather be here than sitting there in that empty apartment all day. Besides, I want to work now so I can take my vacation."
The chief nodded. "Well, just take care of yourself. How do you think this new CSI is going to do?"
"She's good," Mac said. "I think she will do fine taking care of things while I'm gone and Danny will be helping her too."
"As long as things get taken care of around here."
"I'm sure they will."
"Take care, Taylor."
The chief left and Mac sighed. He was glad the chief did not chew him out. He did not think he could take it today. He was tired, he was itching and sleepy and he was just fed up with being in this wheelchair. Just as he was thinking that, he saw someone come from the elevator. He was surprised to see Rhonda coming toward his office with an officer escorting her.
Mac sat up and made sure his jacket was straight. Rhonda smiled as she came to his office. Mac nodded to the officer that she was okay. "Hi," Rhonda said. "I was wondering if you would like to have dinner tonight."
Mac wondered why she did not just call. "Sure," he said. "I'm sure I'll be getting out of here a little early tonight."
"Great. I'll pick you up. What time do you think you'll leave?"
"Probably around six."
"I'll be here."
"It's pretty hard to get this wheelchair into a vehicle."
"We'll manage," Rhonda said with a smile. "I'll see you then."
"Okay."
Mac watched her leave. She was dressed in a blue suit that had a knee length skirt. She looked over her shoulder at him and he cleared his throat as she smiled at him. He wondered what she wanted out of their relationship. Maybe she wanted a second chance at love. Maybe he wanted a second chance at love. Maybe they could give that to each other. He hoped she had changed since she was with her first husband. He did not want to go through anything like that but maybe she was more mature now and knew what she wanted in life. She seemed to be well-grounded in what she was doing as a profession and she seemed down to earth. He wanted someone like that and maybe she would understand his nightmares and his feelings for Claire.