While Danny dusted the gun case for fingerprints, Mac was writing his report. He could not get the court reports until the next morning. It was late now and the courthouse was closed. When Mac had his report done, he went into the lab. "Did you find anything?" he asked.

"No fingerprints besides the guy who owns the case," Danny replied.

Mac sighed. "We'll continue this in the morning. Go home and get some rest."

Mac and Jason went down and got the Avalanche to go home. Jason looked at Mac while they were on their way. "I'm sorry about this, Dad," Jason said. "It must be difficult to think that your friend could be a murderer."

Mac frowned and did not say anything. He did not know if difficult was the right word. He remembered when he found out that Bill Hunt, his former partner had committed murder and stolen money. That caused that guy Raymond Harris to come after them. He even shot up the crime lab trying to kill them both. He had not known that Mac was not involved. He had trusted Bill and then found out that he was a murderer. No, he did not know if it was "difficult". It was more like a horror. He could not even describe the feeling he had when he was placing Bill under arrest and when he watched him die.

Jason thought Mac looked terribly sad. "Dad," he said but Mac seemed to be in another world and was not paying him any attention.

Mac wondered why the people he had been the closest to had to either die or wind up criminals. He thought of Jo. He wished she were there so he could hold her. Why did she have to be so far away when he needed her? She had been through a tragedy though. Mac sighed.

"Dad," Jason said.

Mac looked at him. "What?" he asked.

"I know this is bad, but everything will be okay."

Mac knew Jason was trying to make him feel better. "Yeah," he replied. Yes, everything would go on like it always did. He would have to arrest his friend and then go on with his miserable life…no, he would not. He was going to change the way things were. He was tired of the way his life was. Wherever Jo was was where he was going to be. Deep down, he hoped she wanted to stay in Alabama because he wanted a change in life. He wanted to do something besides deal with death all the time.

They arrived at the apartment building and went inside. Mac was halfway expecting to see a box outside his door but there was nothing there. He looked down the hall, but he did not see anyone. Jason scowled. "Dad, are you okay?" he asked.

Mac looked at him. "Yes," he replied.

Jason was starting to wonder if Mac was telling him everything. He thought he looked haunted and very troubled. It made him look older. Mac unlocked the apartment door and they walked in to smell food cooking. Jason pulled his weapon out. "Someone's in here," he said.

Mac looked at him. "Well, they're cooking, whoever it is," he said.

They moved into the living room and then saw someone coming from the kitchen. Mac's mouth dropped open as he saw Jo come out. She smiled at him. Mac thought he would collapse with relief. "Jo?" he finally said.

"In the flesh," Jo replied.

Mac went to her and grabbed her in a tight hug. Jo could feel his tension as she put her arms around him. She did not know everything that had happened that day but she knew something terrible must have happened. Jason was glad she was there. She would be able to get Mac to tell everything. "Hi," Jason said. "I'm going to get some different clothes on."

"You be back in here for supper," Jo said shaking her spatula at him.

"Yes, Ma'am."

Jason went to his room. Jo looked at Mac and touched his face. "I'm so glad to see you," Mac said.

Jo kissed him. "What happened?" she asked.

Mac blew out a breath. "Where do I start?"

"The beginning."

Jo took his hand and they went into the kitchen. Mac sat at the table while Jo watched over her supper at the stove. He told her everything that had happened that day. Jo stared at him a moment. "So, someone is coming after you," she said. "You have to admit that it looks suspicious."

Mac nodded. "And then that guy shows up and tells me that he's watching out for me," he said. "I don't know what to make of that either."

"Maybe he is watching out for you. I hope so."

Mac looked at her. "What are you doing back here? And where is Ellie?"

"Ellie is back in Alabama with the nanny at the house. She can't be away from school like that and I am not going to be here long." Jo looked at Mac. "I just had to come and see about you." She looked at the meat she was cooking. "I want to stay in Alabama, Mac."

Mac looked at Jo. "Good, cause that's where I want us to be."

Jo looked at him with surprise. "You mean you want to move there too?" she asked.

"Yes."

Jo smiled. "I'm so glad."

"When I get this case solved, I'm handing in my resignation," Mac declared.

"Well, I guess that settles it," someone said.

Mac and Jo looked around to see Jason at the kitchen door. "I think it will be good for you, Dad," Jason said. He came over to the table and sat down. "You're under too much stress all the time."

Mac looked at him. "I know that," he said. "I loved this job before…and I still do but it's starting to wear on me."

"I guess a person can only take so much and then they have to change something or they're going to have a health crisis."

Mac leaned on his hand. "I hope we don't find out that Christine is the murderer," he said. "If she is, I don't want to arrest her."

"I'll do it," Jo declared. "If she has killed two people and is wanting to kill you, then she deserves to go to prison."

Mac frowned. As good as that meal smelled that Jo was making, he thought he felt sick. He thought he would just go to bed and sleep if she were not here. He looked at Jo and thought he wanted to do anything but sleep now. Jo stared at him a moment. She could see that look in his eyes that he always had when he needed her. She narrowed her eyes at him with one of her flirtatious looks. Mac smiled slightly but then he realized Jason was watching their little exchange.

Mac sat up straighter in the chair. "So, what are you fixing over there?" he asked.

"I am fixing hamburger steaks and everything that goes with it," Jo said.

"Well, it sure smells good. How did you know that we would be home?"

"I would have kept it warm for you."

Mac rubbed his face. "I am just worn out from this case," he said. "Even though there aren't many leads, it's stressful."

"I think that makes a case more stressful when you have no idea which direction to move in."

"I hate chasing people," Jason said. "They always run up stairs or down. I hate running up and down stairs."

"Well, they do that cause they think they can get ahead of you," Mac said. "Maybe you'll tire out and they can get away."

"Ha! When they do that it just makes me mad and I want to get them even more."

Mac smiled. "I guess it doesn't work then, does it?"

"Not for me."

Jo stood and listened to Mac and Jason talk while she was watching her meal. He was actually going to move to Alabama. She had thought he would be more reluctant but he seemed eager. It almost scared her. She did not want him to do something he would regret later and blame it on her. He had said that he wanted something different in life but she hoped he knew that she was what it was he wanted. Why did she have to be afraid? She knew Mac loved her or he would not be pulling up stakes to move to Alabama. Did she really love him as much as he loved her? The thought of getting married again just scared her. What could she tell him though? He thought things were all settled and she was still having doubts. What would he think if she told him that she was still uncertain? It would hurt him. She could not bear to hurt him like that. She liked being a free woman and she was not sure that she wanted to be bound down by a husband again. Why did she feel that way about it? She could not compare Mac to Russ. He was not the same man and he would never want to control her or keep her from doing what she wanted to do. She was not even sure what she wanted to do anyway.

Mac noticed how quiet Jo was. He looked at her and all he felt for her was love. He wanted to always be with her and comfort her and have her comfort too. He knew Jo was afraid of marriage, but he was not. He knew he was totally in love with her and he was not afraid to put a ring on her finger and have one on his finger again. He still had to get her an engagement ring. He had not had time to do that but he would soon.

Jo finally got the meal ready and fixed plates for everyone. "Dig in," she said as she sat down at the table. She looked at Mac and smiled at his tender look. How could she live without that sweet love of his anymore?

"Thanks for the supper," Mac said.

"You're welcome."

Jason felt like a fifth wheel but he ate as Mac and Jo talked. He was not sure what he wanted to do but he knew he could not follow his father around all the time. He had to make a life of his own. He frowned as he thought of being a thousand miles from his father. He did not want to be here and Mac down in Alabama. He had not gotten to spend his childhood with him and now he did not want to be away from him all the time.

Mac took a bite of his food and thought about living in Alabama. "It's definitely a different climate there," he said.

"And different people," Jo replied.

"Yes. Not in a hurry."

Jo looked at Mac. "Are you sure this is what you really want?" she asked.

"I'm positive." Mac looked at Jo. "I want to just enjoy life for a while."

"Me too."

"When I'm with you, everything else seems small and I feel like I'm up above it instead of being crushed by it."

Jo stared at him a moment. She wondered if he would always be able to come up with metaphors that would make her want to cry. The day she had kissed him in that elevator, she had not even imagined where it could lead, and she probably would not have thought that day that it would lead to this. "Two are stronger than one," she said.

Jason thought about what they were saying. He thought of Marci and how he felt when he was with her. He had not known her long though. He wondered if they would ever arrive at that place. They had a lot of fun together and he thought about her every time he was idle. He wondered what she thought about him. He had not really asked her what she thought about their relationship and she had not volunteered any information about her feelings. He thought they were just getting to know each other. There was definitely not anything serious between them yet.

When they were done eating, Mac and Jo cleaned up the kitchen while Jason went on to his room. Jo leaned on the counter and looked at Mac while he was putting some dishes in the cabinet. "Wouldn't it be fun to have hot, steamy sex here in the kitchen?" Jo asked.

Mac looked at her with one of his sarcastic looks. "I don't know," he said. "I think it would be kinda uncomfortable."

Jo laughed. "You're terrible."

"Oh, am I? I'm going to be terrible when we get in that bedroom. I'm ready to relieve some stress."

Jo turned toward him and narrowed her eyes. "Am I a stress reliever?" she asked.

"Absolutely."

When they were done with the kitchen, they went into the bedroom. Jo closed the door and then Mac grabbed her in a tight embrace and pushed her against the wall as he kissed her. "Mmm, you're an animal tonight," Jo said.

"If that's what you want to call it," Mac replied. He pulled her over to the bed and slung the covers back.

"You're in a hurry, aren't you?"

"Is there something wrong with that?" Mac asked as he took his shirt off.

"Not a thing but I want to get a shower first. I haven't had one since I got here. Riding on a place makes you feel dirty."

"You mind if I come with you?"

"We might never get in this bed if you do."

"I don't care as long as I get to hold you and make love to you."

"I guess I can wait about the shower then."

"Good. Cause I want you now."

Jo stared at him a moment. She liked it when he said that he wanted her. It made her feel sexy and made her want him too.

Mac was in the bed first this time. He propped on his elbow and watched Jo get undressed. "Come on," he said.

"Give me time," Jo said. She took her jewelry off and laid it on the dresser and then got into the bed. "Oh, your hands are so warm," she said as Mac put his arms around her.

"I'm going to warm you up."

Jo just closed her eyes and let Mac take her into those heights of passion and pleasure that she could not get anywhere else…