Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Macgyver. They belong to Henry Winkler, Paramount and associates.

*'s indicate one's thoughts

Chapter 8: Easy Come, Easy Go?

Nikki wore a brightly colored scarf around her neck to hide the bruises. She decided what Macgyver didn't know wouldn't hurt him. He would never forgive himself if he found out. Truth is, neither would she for telling him. Instead they decided to try something else: relaxation.
"You know Macgyver this is really nice. Sun, fun, quiet," Nikki said, taking off her sunglasses.
"I quite agree," Mac replied. "Care for a soda?" he asked, getting up from his lounge chair.
"That would be great thanks," Nikki called to him as he went inside for a drink.
Seeing a tall shadow blocking her sun rays, Nikki instinctively reached out for the glass he held out to her. "Listen Nikki, I would not be standing here right now if it wasn't for you and Pete. Thanks."
She smiled, "Yeah, it was nice of the police to wipe your criminal record clean. Don't mention it Macgyver, I'm just glad you're okay."
Macgyver smiled easily, "Why don't you call me Mac."
Nikki smiled softly, then smoothly changed the subject. She peered at the back door. "You know that was a great idea you had, holding the glass in place with duct tape until the repair man can properly fit it in place."
"Yeah," Mac said smiling, "I thought so too."
"Ah, so humble."
"Well, I try."
"Hey, where's Petey? Come to think of it, where was he two nights ago, when you really needed him?"
Macgyver's smile quickly turned to a frown. "Drugged, in the kitchen. I'm lucky Deborah didn't kill him."
Nikki's face sobered, mirroring his own. "Oh, I'm sorry Macgyver. I didn't know . . . "
Mac pasted on a smile. "Don't be, at least Petey is alive to buy more expensive meats for. And believe me, he got a good treat yesterday."
Nikki's expression turned pensive. "That reminds me. We still owe Jack a side of beef and a ham hock, after brutalizing his meat."
Macgyver yanked off his sunglasses and jumped out of the chair. "Oh shoot! You're right! I forgot to tell him. I sure hope he didn't sell that bullet-tainted beef to some unsuspecting customer . . . " Nikki watched as he made a bee line for the newly Macgyverized glass doors and cracked up laughing. Macgyver came striding back towards her, a puzzled look on his face.
"What's wrong?" she choked out.
"Ironically, Jack had a burglary the other night. Guess which meat they decided to steal?"
"Oh, they didn't?" Nikki pulled off her sunglasses. "I don't believe it!"
"It only gets better," Macgyver continued, his smile widening. "Since they set off the alarm as soon as they set foot in the front door-literally, they grabbed the only slab of meat they had time for, the meat just inside the freezer door. It wasn't hard for the police to discover the thieves, who had three stray dogs barking at their heels. The dogs chased them up a tree and held them there until the good ol' men in blue arrived. Nikki howled in laughter, forcing her to hold her already aching sides.
"You know what they say, easy come, easy go."
His smile darkening, Macgyver stared out unseeingly over the dark blue waters, "Yeah, easy come, easy go."