I'm back with a little finale tag – basically the way 5x15 ended in my head ("never surrender" refers to the Corey Hart song, because "doors".)

Mac + Riley + Pier + Never Surrender

"Ok, that was poor even for your standards!" Riley teases, as Mac misses the third shot in a row. They're at the arcade, celebrating their new freedom over skee ball and pizza — but Mac seems to be somewhere else entirely…

"Are your hands still bothering you?" She asks, when his only reaction is an apologetic smile.

"No, they're fine. I'm just a little off my game... " he replies, handing her the wooden ball.

"You sure? We can leave if you want to," she worries. They've been through hell and back over the last 48 hours. They should be at home in their beds, not at the arcade…

"Riles, coming here was my idea. Now come on show me what you can do," he gives her a little nudge and she wins the game with one skillful shot.

"It's all in the wrist," Mac laughs, reciting the familiar words as she takes a bow.

"Let's take a break until Bozer and Des get here," she suggests, making her way back to their table but Mac stops her.

"They're not coming."

"Why, did something come up?" She wonders, knowing that Matty wouldn't send them on a new op this soon.

"No, nothing like that..." he hesitates. "Bozer's just helping her move out," his eyes dart to the ground and back to her. She can tell that he's trying to gauge her reaction… but she's not quite sure how she's supposed to react.

"A little off your game, huh?" She finally says, and he just shrugs.

xoxo

A few minutes later they're walking down the pier together…

"After everything that happened, I had to be honest with her, with myself…"

"I thought you were in a great place…" she's genuinely confused. They were in a good place, she had witnessed it herself over the last few weeks. And she was happy for him – for them.

"We are, I mean we were…"

"But?" She presses on, keeping her eyes trained on him.

"Just because we were in a good place, doesn't mean it was the right place. I mean, how can I be with Desi, when…" he stops and looks at the water, clutching the railing of the pier so hard that his knuckles turn white. And then the words come out. "How can I be with her, when I came back for you?"

"What?" she takes a shallow breath.

"When my heart stopped in the chamber I only heard you, you told me not to leave you."

"Mac…" she freezes, still trying to process his confession.

"Frankly, I should have ended it after Mexico City," he shakes his head, in disbelief about his own actions. "I told myself that I came to see you to make sure you were ok, but the truth is…" he meets her gaze, turning his body towards her, leaving one hand on the railing.

She mirrors his stance, giving him time to find the right words.

"The truth is, Desi became my second choice the moment I knocked on your door. And if the last few days taught me anything, it's that I don't want to settle for anything. I only get one shot at this so I owe it to myself to fight for what I want."

Riley studies him, she hasn't seen such determination in his eyes since she stood next to him in the back of a pick of truck on the codex compound, fearlessly staring down a missile. But his expression shifts when she doesn't reply…

"You don't have to say anything," he falters. "I know it's a lot and I don't expect you to jump into my arms. I just needed you to know."

"We've been through this. What if it doesn't work out?" Her eyes dart to the water, and she blinks away a tear before she brings her focus back to him. "I can't lose you."

"You're right there's no guarantee that it'll work. Maybe we'll kiss and feel absolutely nothing. Or maybe we'll break up five years from now. But here's one thing I do know, there is not a single living person on this planet I trust more than you. And I know you feel the same. So whatever happens, we'll always be in each others lives. That's a promise."

"So what you're saying is…"

"The door is wide open, and it will stay this way unless you decide to close it," he explains, handing her the proverbial key.

Riley swallows hard, knowing that she's about to do something she shouldn't. It's too soon, his girlfriend, no ex-girlfriend, is literally packing boxes as they speak. But they're on the pier, it's a beautiful night and he's absolutely right: They only get one shot… And deep down she knows that it doesn't matter if she closes the door, if she locks it, or if she raises a titanium wall in front of it: Angus MacGyver has walked through it a long time ago.

She reaches up, brushing her thumb over his cheek before she closes her eyes and kisses him.

"Riles…" he blinks, as she pulls back. The logical part of his brain is telling him that they both need time to process everything that happened over the last few days, weeks, months. But...

"What?" she laughs, months of build up tension melting away as she sees his stunned expression. And that reaction is all he needs. He wraps his arms around her, one hand on the small of her back the other at the base of her neck and pulls her in, noting that kissing Riley is exactly what kissing should be: their mouths smiling together.

That's it, I hope you enjoyed it! And I'll try to get back to posting more frequently (Ideas are there, time is scarce).

And please check out the SaveMacGyver website and help to bring the show back!

Love,

Laura