Another short fic in the works! I realize this is a quick chapter that more or less is just setting it up, but I wanted to get it out there for ya'll. Thank you to Oz and Candice for the idea!

This takes place after the events of 4x13.

It took long enough, but a few months after the whole Codex incident, things around the Phoenix had begun to feel normal again. Although trust wasn't still fully there with some, the original trio of Mac, Riley, and Bozer remained invincible. With Desi and Mac finally admitting to the demise of their relationship for good, it allowed him more time to catch up with both his friends. The two that had been by his side through it all. Riley, especially. Still, he couldn't discount Bozer; if it weren't for his warning, he and Riley would have been toast.

Riley had tried to find a place of her own shortly after, but Mac had convinced her to stay. He had told Desi the truth about their complicated feelings; that no matter how much he tried to make their atypical relationship work, it wouldn't. Ever. It needed to be said; anyone around the pair sensed the animosity there. The desperate need to not be alone. But they both deserved better. Someone that suited their needs and would make them happy.

Mac tried not to linger on that thought. Many times he had to remind himself that relationships wouldn't prevail in their line of work. Like Riley had said– it screwed them up. But then there was… Riley. His rock. His other half. Mac wasn't blind. From the moment he met her, he knew there was something special about Riley Davis. She was intelligent, beautiful… charismatic. She checked all of the boxes. However, Mac had mostly given up relationships after Nikki. It didn't help that Bozer had been in love with Riley for a long time.

Still, he couldn't get the sensation of her hand in his out of his mind. How soft her skin was. How her smile made the whole damn universe light up. He could go on forever, really. It was starting to become scary how dependent he was on her being in his life. Maybe beyond Jack levels. Except fluttery and maybe something more than just platonic.

The two-some were divided between pizza or Chinese take-out for dinner when Bozer came strolling into their place like he lived there. He had for years anyway. Mac and Riley had agreed to have a movie marathon and were letting Bozer choose what they were to watch. He was the movie expert, after all.

"Hey Boze," Mac greeted warmly as he offered his best friend a pat on the back. "Riley and I are trying to choose where to order dinner from. Are you in the mood for Chinese or Italian?"

Normally Bozer would have gone for either, but he already had a plan in mind when he'd set up this little movie night a week ago. It was (self-titled) Operation: Push Mac and Riley Together. He'd tried to come up with a fancier name– something more 00 Boze-esque, but failed. He knew how Riley felt about Mac, and even if his friend was in denial about the same very thing, Bozer knew better. He just needed to make Mac open his eyes a little.

"Neither," he insisted, shaking his head. "We're not doing greasy junk tonight. This is a classy movie night." Riley followed up with a taunting eye-roll. "Which means we're gonna do some cooking first. Get the atmosphere going. I love you both, but you two can't survive on take-out all the time."

Mac could bake, but that was about it. All other cooking projects usually resulted in a fire. Literally. Riley was a little better, but mostly just with simple things like grilled cheese. Though both were tempted to protest, Mac and Riley agreed with a reluctant sigh.

"One of these days you may be prime to learn how I make my Christmas pastrami," Bozer pointed out proudly, his gaze staring off in the distance for a moment. He may or may not have been daydreaming about that savory taste. "But, baby steps. Tonight we'll go with something easy like… spaghetti." Was it bad he was already envisioning making them do the Lady and the Tramp sharing the whole pasta thing trick? "And no, I don't mean Spaghetti-o's."

He heard a huff of laughter escape Riley, while Mac's noise was more of a grunt. They were known to keep those in the cupboard as an easy go to.

"Mac, hide the fire extinguisher. We aren't going to need it tonight."

Panic rose in both his blue eyes and Riley's hazel ones. They had faith in Bozer, but even so.

"Riley, get yourself an apron. And grab one for Mac too. This is about to get messy."