Title: Target Specific
Chapter 25 - Closer to the Truth
A/N: Wow Chapter 25 guys and I just wanted to send out a special Thank you to everyone who continues to read and leave valuable feedback. This is written for you all, including you Lin (wink wink) so thanks so much to each of you personally and hope you enjoy this chapter just as much!
~Sao Paulo, Brazil~
I have to admit that I am not really the kind of woman that likes to just wander aimlessly in a mall, idly browsing shops; and I certainly did not have any man in the past that I was attracted to even want to suggest something like this, but as Mac and I slowly walk around the mall, hand in hand, with our new items, I am more than content.
We walk to another store, this time we each need a small carry on suitcase; Mac of course picks a black one and this time I choose one with a funky pattern and he just offers a smile and shakes his head, once again telling me that I have broken a preset expectation.
"So on your own, what was the first real item of clothing you treated yourself to?" I ask.
"Easy one; a new leather jacket," he replies his hands now carrying our bags and mine longing to be holding it once more. "My first job only paid a few thousand but I needed to pay rent and stuff like that so when the next job came I had some extra spending cash and walked right into one of those thrift stores and bought this black leather jacket. I practically lived in that damn jacket until about a year later I was on the run for a job where I didn't give myself a good enough hiding spot and when I jumped down this elevator shaft the damn sleeve ripped right off," he entertains me with yet another tale and I offer a small laugh but take such delight into these snippets from his past.
"What happened to the jacket?"
"The rats I'm sure made themselves a warm home for the winter," he smirks. "You bought shoes right? Must have been pretty nice."
"How did you know?"
"Sorry woman stereotype," he smiles.
"Guilty as charged; this time. Well it was for this date I had and..."
"A date?" Mac asks weakly.
I look at him with a small frown. "I don't have to continue."
Mac offers a small smirk and shakes his head. "Please continue."
"Shall I spare you the x-rated details?"
"X-rated?" He stammers and I smile. "I think that..."
"Mac, there are no x-rated details and the first date if I might call it that was more of a stakeout than anything. Are you seriously jealous over a memory?"
"Give me a break will you?" He huffs, brows arched and I just have to plant a warm kiss on his lips to make him smile; which it thankfully works.
"Okay so they were black, modest height but they were all I wanted each time I walked down 5th Avenue when I was in New York. So when I was there the next time I bought them. Sadly I, much like you, had to leave them behind as a pursuit of a casualty. One of the heels got caught in a grating and I had to take them both off and run for my life."
"Were you um hurt?" Mac dares to ask.
"I think you know that I take a lickin' and keep on tickin'," I reply warmly and he just rolls his eyes. "Nothing beyond repair. See you are lucky you have Sid, I had only local doctors and those back alley apothecary's to patch me back up."
"Yeah he's helped me through so much."
We talk a bit more and then wander through the rest of the mall before heading back to the walkway of our hotel and are finally head for dinner.
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When Jessica had first told me that Mac was such a private man and hurt by the woman before, Peyton, I never realized then how much he could ever mean to me; especially now. And not just his love for me, how he looks at me or how he makes me feel like I am the only woman in the world; but how he thinks about us having a future together and then reconfirms to himself after getting my approval.
"Well since you're an adventurous eater now how about we try this," I point to the menu and he arches his brows in wonder but offers a shrug and I know he's game. "Don't forget the wine."
"Never a doubt," he confirms as he places the order.
Mac is such an amazing man, but just like him, I too worry that the bubble will burst and all this happiness will be taken away from me. I hear him talking in a low warm tone and then silence. I quickly change and then head back into the main room; his broad shoulders and back to me, his body still only covered with a towel. I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist and plant a warm kiss on his bare shoulder.
"Did you order me what I wanted?"
"Hopefully," he mumbles, his hands holding mine.
"This setting right now reminds me a little of San Jose."
"Costa Rica or California?" He questions.
"Costa Rica. That was my last job before the Messer fiasco."
"Who did you know down there?" Mac asks.
"Romero Juandez."
"The crime lord?" He asks in shock. "You did that job?" His shock turns to an impressed tone. "Thought it was a man."
"Most men do."
"The ripples into the underground arms world still haven't subsided when his rival was murdered. Any complications?" My body tenses but then I remember a discussion I had with Jessica about finding my soul mate and finally having someone to share my pain with and somehow telling Mac is not as bad as I thought it would be.
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I see Stella's body tense and now I wonder if I should have pressed for further details. But I want her to know that she can trust me with her pain; even from the past and so am pleased when she continues.
"I wasn't told his wife was dead and so when I took him out his two daughters were left to fend for themselves," her voice offers in a dead whisper, her eyes watering as she remembers the painful memory.
"Stella I'm so..." I start only to have her gently squeeze my hand and I stop. "Please stop if it's too painful."
"I'm not afraid to tell you Mac," she offers and I breathe an inward sigh of relief.
"Well I remember you telling me how hard it was for you growing up, and then with the Messer's and not being able to make Lucy and orphan so I can't imagine the pain you must have felt when you learned what happened to those two girls."
"Still have nightmares from them," her voice offers in sorrow and I feel my heart break. "If I had of known I might have backed out except that he had sold other children into slavery. So when Jaundez contacted me and I had learned all this, I didn't think twice."
"A family in turmoil," I whisper in misery.
"Experienced in that area besides Adam?"
"My last job was in Dubai."
"The Emir's brother?" Her head swivels to look at me in surprise. "That was you?" She manages with an impressed sounding tone. "My turn to be impressed."
"Yeah that was quite the hot bed after my bullet met its mark, but I was protected in the royal safe house until some of the fanfare died down and then flown home by armed escort."
"Any nightmares from that one?"
"Too many to even count. Funny thing is, until that job, Sid was the only man I have ever known that has a strong bond of love even though his wife is long dead. I envy that."
"And the Emir's sister in law?"
"She found love and comfort in the arms of a man that was also murdered by her rotten husband but not before he left her this heartfelt letter where he pledged his life and futur..." my voice finally cracks and I have to swallow hard to keep my eyes from tearing up.
"Mac?" Stella gently questions as she gazes at me in sorrow.
"It's nothing really," I offer with a smile she knows isn't genuine.
"You can talk to me; you don't have to think I won't think you manly or something lame like that for showing me how your heart really feels."
"Just never heard another man speak like that. When I found that letter I also wanted that but um...feared it would never happen," I whisper, looking down as my eyes finally water. When I look back up a lone tear escapes the corner of my eye and start to slide down my face. I quickly lift my hand to brush it away but Stella gently pushes my hand back down and then to my delight and surprises offers me the most amazing kiss as her soft lips absorb the salty tear; forcing me to look at her in wonder once again.
"I love you," she whispers warmly.
"That letter was heartfelt and powerful," I huff, running a hand over my hair in with some emotional frustration. "I still have nightmares," I admit just as the food arrives.
"Fresh Lobster, excellent choice Sir," the waiter compliments as he pours us two glasses of wine; our food already set and waiting and then takes his leave.
"Mac, this looks amazing," Stella notes as we settle in to enjoy our fine meal, both trading stories about what dining was like when we had no money.
"Canned tuna huh," I mention and Stella smirks.
"After awhile all the beans tasted like cardboard."
"But you sure can cook now."
"Well when I was finally not strapped for cash I paid for some authentic cooking lessons; just to you know..."
"No what?" I am quick to wonder.
"Well make myself more attractive to a mem..." she starts and I gently squeeze her hand.
"You were ever worried about that?" I ask with a heavy frown.
"Mac, you aren't the only one with insecurities."
"But Stella, you are perfect," I comment and she blushes, looking down with a shy smile.
"Hardly but thanks."
"That's my line," I am quick to throw at her and she looks back up with a grin.
"I guess we both have things to work on."
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The rest of the meal is once again spent sharing small tidbits and anecdotes about our past missions and what things we had to face, economics wise.
"Really? A cardboard box? Mac!" I gently scold and he smirks.
"Well it was all I could afford at that time. But trust me it was one night and then I just broke into my own apartment and made a dozen spare keys," he frowns and I just smile. We finish dinner and go for a walk toward the dimly lit balcony, night already fallen.
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As I gaze at Stella's beautiful face, I can't even describe to her how easy it is for my insecurities to just disappear when she offers even the simplest of reassurance. I have never felt confident around women; certainly none I have ever arranged something like this for. I know I don't have to offer anything elaborate but the fact that she just takes such happy delight in my efforts, forces me to want to spoil her even more.
I finally notice Stella struggling to keep her eyes open and I am quick to act on it.
"Mac?"
"Time to get some rest now."
"Thank you."
"For what?" I question.
"For coming into my life. I know it's sappy but I had to tell you."
I look at her with a serious gaze before taking her hand in mine and kissing her fingers.
"Thank you for being available to come into my life. Sappy?" I counter and she playfully pokes my side.
I wrap my arms around her, holding her close and kiss her head.
"Goodnight Stella."
"Goodnight Mac."
I close my eyes, thinking tonight I'll be whisked into a world of untold amazing fantasies with Stella as the main attraction for each one. And that works for the first few hours. Then something happens. And I'm not sure if it was all the talk about our past assignments that finally caught up, but soon my mind is showing me images of a time when I was in Cuba, the assignment before the one that ended the CIA game for me permanently.
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"You look tired this morning," I tell Mac the next morning. "Nightmare?"
"Something I had almost erased from my memory," he huffs as he slumps down onto a nearby chair, his warm blue eyes staring off in the distance. "I guess all the talk yesterday about past memories brought it back."
"Sorry."
"Don't be. It needed to come out."
"Was the nightmare about when you were left for dead?"
"No, something I didn't even tell Sid."
"Tell me," I softly urge.
"I was in Israel on a job for someone I suspected on the inside of being a traitor. I think that's what led to my near death the next time I was out; the assignment in Russia coming on the heels of this one."
"Who was it for?" I ask with growing anxiety.
"Well it turned out to be an assignment with the target as the President of the US. I couldn't do it; I had to much respect for the man to end his life for someone's twisted political agenda. But when I called to confront my contact I was told he was working on something top secret and I never talked to him again."
"Mac..." I start in dread.
"What?" He wonders.
"That's the same thing that happened to me. I was there also and betrayed by a so called confidant."
"Where?"
"Mac, I too was in Israel with the same target and story."
"What?"
"Who was your contact?"
"Stanton Gerard."
I look at him and feel my world start to slow. "Pardon? Stan Gerard?"
"Stella?" He asks, noting the look of panic on my face. "What is it?"
"Stanton Gerard also sent me on my ill fated assignment."
Both of us sit and stare at the other for what seems like an eternity. "How is this possible?"
"We were working for the same man?" Mac queries.
"Who tried to kill us both at the same time back then?"
"And now? Ten years later the same setup, this time to get us to kill each other?" Mac is quick to ask.
"Could he be CNC?"
"Why?"
"I don't know about you Mac, but we need to get Adam to start with him like right now. He could be the man who is trying to kill us."
"Well if you are right, then time just shortened on all of us."
A/N: Okay so I have never had Gerard in my stories yet and have the other villan's as OC's in this and other's so hopefully that's okay that he's the main badguy. Please don't give up if you are disappointed. At least you'll be able to put a familiar face to CNC and that might make it easier for you to relate to him instead of another OC. Please review and let me know what you thought of this chapter and thanks!