Mac arrived at Karen's apartment at 7 pm. She was dressed in a dark red dress with a shawl that went with it. Mac smiled at how beautiful she looked when she opened the door. "What?" Karen asked.

"You're so beautiful," Mac said.

"Are you sure I'm not overdressed?"

"Absolutely not."

"Well, I'm ready to go."

Mac nodded. "Let's go then."

They went to the elevator. "Do you really think I'm beautiful?" Karen asked.

Mac looked at her. "I sure do," he replied. "Don't you think I'm telling you the truth?"

"Of course." Karen had never seen herself as beautiful and it sounded so strange to hear Mac say that to her. She was not accustomed to that and had to wonder what he thought was so beautiful about her. "Were you upset about last night?"

"What?"

"Were you upset that we didn't get to…you know."

Mac shook his head. "No. Why? I'm the one who fell asleep."

"Right. Well, I wasn't upset at all. I just enjoyed having you there."

Mac scowled at that conversation as they went out to the Avalanche. "I had it washed and cleaned today," he said.

"It's beautiful," Karen said.

They got in and headed for the restaurant. "Karen, I want to ask you something," Mac said.

"What?"

"Do you think I only want you to have sex with you?"

"You like having sex, don't you?"

"Of course, but I could get that anywhere. You're not a play thing for me."

Karen looked at him. "What am I?"

"You're a beautiful woman that I want to spend my life with. I don't just want to have sex with you. You're a companion too. I have shared more with you than I have with anyone in a very long time."

"I understand. You love me."

"I do."

"I love you too, Mac, but I have to say I have never been in love before."

"There's a first time for everything."

"I know, and I want you to be my first and last."

Mac looked at her. "Well, I definitely want you to be my last."

Karen smiled. "I'll love you till the day I die."

"Me too."

They went to the restaurant and were seated at a table. "This place is so beautiful," Karen said.

"I'm glad you like it," Mac replied.

"Mac, this place is expensive, isn't it?"

"Karen, you're about to leave for a whole year. I wanted us to have a wonderful evening together. Don't worry about what things cost."

"Okay."

They ordered their meals and then just sat there waiting. "I love candlelight," Karen said. "The flicker of the flame just makes everything seem so romantic."

"It highlights your beautiful hair and face," Mac said. "Those pretty blue eyes."

"Stop. Are you trying to make me blush?"

Mac smiled. "I've already seen you blush."

"I think I've seen you blush too."

"I'm sure you have."

Karen leaned on the table. "What do you see when you look in the mirror?" she asked.

Mac chuckled at that and shook his head. "I see an aging man who doesn't have much in the way of looks anymore," he said.

"You know what I see when I look in your eyes?"

"What?"

"I don't know how to explain it but I can see your love for me. I've seen it."

Mac could not help but remember Claire telling him that once. "What does it look like?" he asked.

Karen smiled. "It looks…tender and honest, beautiful, strong, true."

Mac swallowed. "You're just trying to make me blush now," he said.

"No, I'm being honest."

"It 'is' all those things that I want to be."

"What do you see in my eyes?" Karen asked.

"So many things," Mac replied. "Happiness, trust, honesty, beauty."

"Mac, why don't we just get married now?"

"Before you go to California?"

"I don't want to go."

Mac shook his head. "Please, just go and then things will be better."

"What if we stop feeling the same way about each other?"

"Karen, feelings like we have for each other don't just go away. True love doesn't go away."

"My mother used to say that. She said when I found that special man, he wouldn't go away. He would just keep coming around."

"She was right. I don't intend to ever leave you alone."

"I've got news for you, Taylor. I don't want you to leave me alone."

When they were done eating, they went over to the theater for the opera. Mac remembered how Claire always wanted him to take her to the opera. He frowned as he remembered…he had decided to take her when it was too late. He would never be so neglectful again. He felt like he had just taken Claire for granted and neglected her…and did not realize it until it was too late.

They sat in the theater and Karen leaned on his shoulder. "Do you like going to the opera a lot?" she asked.

"I don't usually go alone," Mac replied. "So, no. You like it, don't you?"

"Yes. It's nice."

After the show was over, they went to Mac's apartment since her apartment was empty now. She had brought what little she had in a suitcase to Mac's apartment. "Won't this be nice?" she asked. "When I'm moved in permanently?"

"Of course," Mac replied as he was taking his tie off. Karen walked over to him and leaned on his shoulder as they were looking in the mirror.

"We'll grow old together," Karen said. "Do you think we'll always want to live in New York?"

"I don't know," Mac said. "Do you?"

"I don't know either. Maybe we should move to a warmer climate when we get old."

Mac smiled. "It gets pretty cold all over the country except in the Southwest and Southeast."

"As long as we're together, I don't care where we are."

Karen went over to the bed and sat down to take off her shoes. She held up one of the high-heeled shoes. "I hope you don't think I am going to wear this sort of shoe all the time," she said.

Mac laughed. "I don't care what kind of shoes you wear," he replied. "I would rather be comfortable myself."

"I would always wear heels on a night like this but most of the time I am a blue jeans woman."

"Well I'm a blue jeans man so I guess we just fit right together don't we?"

"We sure do."

Mac got his suit off and went into the bathroom. He brushed his teeth and then Karen came in. "I have to brush mine too," she said.

"Mmmm, so we can have some minty fresh kissing?" Mac asked.

"OH, you!"

Mac laughed as he went back into the bedroom. He got into the bed and sighed as he relaxed. He could remember too many nights that he refused to come home and sleep in the bed but now, he wanted to. Karen came from the bathroom in a blue negligee. Mac sat up as she posed for him. "You like it?" she asked.

"Do I?" Mac asked. "Come here."

"I have a feeling I won't be wearing it for long."

"I have a feeling you're right."

Karen went and got into the bed. Mac pulled her close to him. "I guess we better make this night good since it will be the last for a while," he said.

"The most memorable," Karen replied.

"I don't think I will forget any of the times."

"Just take me away, Mac Taylor."

When morning came, Mac and Karen were not sleeping. Mac felt like he did not want to turn her loose. He thought if he could keep her in the bed, maybe…but she had to go. He had told her to go, but she would remember this time they had together.

They got up later and Karen started getting ready while Mac tried to pack all her things up for her. "Oh, Mac, I feel like I'm not going to make it to the airport," Karen said.

"Just relax," Mac replied. "You have plenty of time."

When everything was together, they rushed to the airport. Karen just sat there a moment. "Well, here we are," she said.

"Don't worry," Mac replied. "I'll be coming out there to see you before you know it."

"You better be."

They shared a long kiss and then got out of the Avalanche and went into the airport. Mac waited with her at the gate until it was time to board. Karen looked at him. "I love you," she said.

"I love you too," Mac replied.

They kissed again and then Karen went and got in line. She looked back at Mac again before she went through to the plane. Then she wiped tears from her face. She was on her way now but she was not very happy about it.

Mac watched the plane leave the ground and then he walked slowly back out to his truck. He sighed as he got in the truck. He felt like part of him was gone now. He went to the office and sat in his office writing more on his report and reading over other reports and signing them. He knew Karen would call when she got to California. He did not have to worry about that.

At around 4pm, Mac's phone rang. "Hello," he answered.

"Mac, I'm in my apartment," Karen said.

"How is it?"

"It's wonderful. It has a beautiful view and it's big, but there's something missing."

"What?"

"You."

"I'll be out there in a few weeks."

"Don't let it be too long."

"It won't."

"Well, what are you doing now?"

"I'm sitting in my office signing papers and reading reports. The usual."

"No cases?"

"Not right now. After that last one, I think I need a break."

Just then, Mac saw Sinclair come from the elevator with Don. "Karen, I have to go," he said. "I'll talk to you tonight."

"Okay," Karen replied. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes. The chief is here."

"Oh. Tonight then."

Mac ended the call and waited for the chief and Don to come in. "Chief, what are you doing here?" Mac asked.

"Mac, I understand that Theodore Collins is Carly Miller's father," Sinclair said.

"He is."

"And you think he's taking the blame for that murder to keep her out of prison?"

Mac sighed. "I don't know. I'm not sure anymore."

"I also read something else interesting in your report."

"Oh? What?"

"I think you know. Howard Bailey pulled you out of the ocean?"

Mac looked at him and then at Don. He knew his whole team were wondering about that. "Yes, he did," he admitted. "That's got nothing to do with the case."

"Mac, you know that man wants to kill you! He broke both your legs!"

"You don't have to remind me of that."

"Why didn't you tell this before now?"

"I didn't see any point. He's gone. He pulled me out of there because he wants to kill me himself."

"He told you that?" Don asked.

"Yeah, he did. He wants to be the one who kills me."

"Mac, that's a direct threat."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know but we can sure be looking for him."

Mac looked at the chief. "By the way, Chief, I have something here," he said and gave Sinclair an envelope.

Chief Sinclair opened the envelope. "You're wanting time off?" he asked as he looked at the letter.

"Yes. I have somewhere I have to go."

"Taylor, do you realize how long you were out mending?"

Mac sighed. "Yes, Chief, but I need some time to recover from this," he said. "I shouldn't have come back when I did. I need to go somewhere for rehabilitation of the right kind. I have to get my strength back."

"I'll talk to the commissioner about it. I'll get back to you. In the meantime, you need to be careful."

"Bailey isn't going to try anything until he thinks I'm ready to fight to the death."

"How do you know?"

"Because that's what he said and he's not lying."

"You trust this guy?"

"To tell the truth? Yes."

"Alright, Taylor. I'll get back to you."

Sinclair left but Don just stood there. "Mac, why didn't you tell us?" he asked.

"Because I knew you would be worrying like you are now and there's no need for it," Mac said.

"Just be careful."

"I will."

Don left the office then. Mac sat there and thought of what he was going to do. He would get himself back into shape, and he would let the Marines help him.