A/N: Okay so just a little idea as we get ready for MacGyver to be back!
Thank you to the nice reviews and words I have received. To the one very rude one, just know that I am not a professional writer - I have a job and I do this for fun. I have never claimed to be good, or to be able to capture the essence that is Mac and Riley's characters.
If you don't like my writing or stories please don't read, and don't take time to make an already bad day of mine worse by reading what you have to say. Reviews like that are why fanfic writers stop updating stories.
Eyes Wide Open
Mac POV
"Earth to Mac." I'm snapped out of my thoughts by Bozer, pulling me from my thoughts back to the reality of the gang sitting around the fire pit.
"Sorry, spaced out."
"Where'd you go Mac?" Riley asks with a small smile, her eyes twinkling.
"No where." She just raises an eyebrow but takes another sip of beer.
I swallow down the disappointment that still stings now that she's packed up her room and moved out, leaving only the memory of her in my house.
"You guys think you can save the world without me?" Our eyes widen simultaneously, turning swiftly to see Jack standing at the top of the stairs wearing a smirk.
"Jack!" Riley exclaims, jumping up and running into his arms. We crowd around, waiting for our turn, I move in next making sure to brush against Riley as she pulls away.
"Jack, we missed you. I didn't know you were coming back."
"Thought I'd surprise you." He pulls away to bring Bozer into a hug next.
"Jack, long time no see." He smiles before pulling Desi in for a hug.
"Thanks for taking care of these guys for me."
"A promise is a promise."
"So, Dalton. You back for good?" We raise our eyebrows at Matty before turning expectantly to Jack.
"Yeah baby. Give me some sugar." We all laugh, moving back towards our seats.
"Okay fine, no more love for the Jack man. How about a beer?"
"Now that we can do." Riley hands him a beer, he sits down next to her wrapping an arm around her.
"I missed ya honey."
"I missed you too Jack." I turn my eyes away and down to my beer bottle.
"Alright, catch me up."
"Where do we start?" Bozer jokes, before everyone takes turns launching into stories and tales of our adventures since he's been gone, Jack's antics making the stories longer than they should.
"So Mac, my man - tell old Jack what's been going on with you." We're the last ones hanging around the fire.
"You didn't get enough stories earlier?" The corner of my mouth tilts up into a small smirk.
"I did, but there is a topic we didn't touch I'm very interested in."
"Oh yeah what's that?"
"Your love life."
"Here we go again." I chuckle, taking another swig of beer.
"Alright… so Desi. Bozer filled me in."
"Of course he did." I grumble picking at my beer bottle label.
"I knew you'd either love her, or want to kill her."
"It's certainly a bit of both."
"But she's not right for you Mac. You know that right?" His words confuse me, I recover from my stunned silence quick.
"No I don't Jack." The anger I'm feeling surprises me, unsure where it's stemming from.
"From what I've seen and heard it's not a healthy relationship."
"You've been back all of a couple hours Jack." I bite back, wishing for this topic to end.
"I know you and her both very well Mac." I finally sigh, deciding to impart some honesty.
"I don't want to be alone Jack. This is better." The truth falls through my lips, causing guilt to choke me.
"What happened to you man? Not just the fact you used to believe there was someone right for you, but you'd really use Desi to just not be alone?" His honesty jars me.
"Oh god, you're right." I concede, dropping my head into my hands.
"It's alright buddy, you've had a hard few years. You've lost a lot. You just need to start being honest with yourself again, and go after what you really want." His hand pats my shoulder, his eyes imploring with mine.
"I know, I need to be honest and open with Desi that we don't work as a couple. We've been putting off the talk since Washington."
"Yes you do need to do that… and then go after what you really want." his smirk results in a frown from me.
"Second time you've said that Jack and I still don't know what you're talking about."
"You're a smart guy, you'll figure it out."
"Thanks for letting me crash here man."
"No problem, I have a spare room. Besides, you're always welcome - you know that."
"Does Bozer still have some shirts here somewhere? After all that travel, I need a shower and fresh clothes." Jack is opening the drawers before I can stop him.
He pulls out a small shirt and holds it up confused.
"This ain't Bozers."
"No, it's Rileys." I shrug, no use trying to hide the fact.
"Why does Riley have some clothes here?" His eyes are hard as he stares me down.
"She lived here for a few months." I shrug before walking away to escape the conversation, he follows me still clutching the shirt.
"When did she move out?"
"When we got back from Washington a month ago."
"And you still have some of her clothes because?"
"She hasn't picked them up." he chuckles at me and I frown at him.
"Your house is command central for group hangs so… maybe you haven't made her aware she left some behind?" I fidget uncomfortable, pegged to having found her shirts in the laundry and not having given them back. Feeling that once I have, it will seal the fate that's she's gone.
"Don't read into something that's not there Jack."
"So why did she move in?" He doesn't miss a beat, used to having to pull information from me.
"Aubrey broke up with her." I can't hide the bitterness in my tone.
"Aubrey?"
"She didn't tell you?"
"After she told me about Billy and I threatened to kill him when I was state side again, she didn't really share her relationships anymore." There's no hiding the bitterness in his tone.
"I can't imagine why… although you're not wrong about making Billy pay." Jack smirks at me again.
"So she had a break up and moved in?"
"She needed a place to stay."
"So why did this knucklehead break up with her?"
"Found out what she really does for a living."
"Idiot."
"Tell me about it. You have to be blind and stupid to have Riley and let her slip away." The words tumble out before I can process them, I turn to see Jack's raised eyebrows.
"Yes… you do." He sends me a knowing glance I completely ignore.
"Weren't you going to shower?"
"Alright. Mac, just know there is the right person out there for you. You just have to have the courage to look hard… and then don't let her get away." He hands me the shirt, his eyes dropping to it before moving past me.
I'm standing there holding Riley's shirt allowing his words to wash over me.
Riley POV
I frown when there's a knock on the door, climbing up from the couch and checking through the peephole before opening it with a smile.
"Hey Ri."
"Hey Jack." He pulls me in for another hug, before I close the door behind him.
"Want a drink?" I ask as I move towards the kitchen.
"Always." I grab two beers before sliding one over the kitchen counter to him, opening my own and taking a sip.
"So how long have you been in love with Mac?" I choke on my beer, bringing my hand up to wipe my mouth.
"What?" I ask in shock.
"Since before I left and I was blind to it and I only see it now with fresh eyes? Or is this new?" There's a beat of silence, before I blink back tears.
"God damn. Is it that obvious?" I down more beer, feeling more uncomfortable with Jack's confrontation then Bozer's.
"It was to me."
"How?"
"The way you look at him like he's the most important person to you hun."
"He is." I whisper, shrugging gently.
"Then there was the way every time there was a moment between Desi and him, you looked away jealous." My eyes drop in shame.
"It hurts to see that Jack, but it's much easier than when I'd have to watch them kiss… or know they were in the bedroom next door."
"So that's why you moved out."
"Yeah… wait, how did you know I lived there?" My brows furrow in confusion.
"Mac told me." There's something in his eyes and I raise my eyebrow.
"We'll talk about Aubrey later." His classic smirk is back.
"Ah. Fun."
"I don't know what I prefer Jack… them avoiding talk of their relationship just leaving it all up in the air and uncertain… or for them to just get back together again. Either way, it sucks and hurts like hell."
"Ri, you don't know they'll get back together."
"Jack, you've missed a lot. They've been back and forth like a yoyo." The bitterness in my tone leaves behind a bad taste.
"I'm sorry Ri."
"It's okay, I'm just being selfish. I want him happy… I just wish…"
"He was happy with you."
"You know Jack, kinda surprised you could tell but someone as smart as Mac can't."
"Love is blind." Despite the topic of conversation I missed Jack and his outlook on things.
"Ha. Cute you think he could love me back."
"Riles, don't be so hard on yourself." There's some silence between us as we sip our beers.
"When did it happen?" He finally asks and I sigh.
"I don't know when I fell for him. All I know is when the Phoenix was disbanded it felt like something was missing from my life. I thought it was the job... but then he walked back into my life and it felt right again. But I convinced myself that was because we had a job again. But once we were backup and running... there was still a piece of me missing," I pause wiping a tear and shaking my head at my emotions, "but at least I was distracting myself with doing good."
"Oh honey." Jack's comforting words, almost bring forward a sob.
"Then there was a moment between us and I couldn't deny it to myself anymore. But, he got back with Desi anyway. Bozer finally figured it out, but I still couldn't admit it out loud. Not until now with you." I take a deep breath, wiping my tears again.
"I'm in love with my best friend and he doesn't feel the same." I can't contain the sobs anymore and they spill forth, Jack pulls me into his arms, holding me close.
"Oh sweetheart. He's just blind to it." He whispers to me, placing a kiss in my hair.
"No he's not Jack. He just doesn't feel it."
"I shouldn't tell you this but… I can't stand to see you sad. He's only with Desi because he doesn't want to be alone."
"How do you know?" I pull back slightly, looking up at him confused.
"He told me tonight."
"Oh. Doesn't change things for me." I shrug, reaching up to wipe my tears.
"Hun I saw the way he looked at you too. He either doesn't realize it yet or does, and for whatever reason thinks he's doing the right thing by not making a move."
"I highly doubt that Jack."
"Hey now I know that boy better than most."
"I know him pretty well too, and I don't see it."
"You're too close to this one sweetheart."
"Yeah I guess... Bozer has known him the longest and he hasn't said that."
"It will all work out Ri. Have faith." I pick up my beer and move over to sink down into the couch, Jack follows and does the same.
"I guess I should thank you for being the one to bring her into his life."
"Uh yeah. Sorry about that."
"It's okay. She's kept him safe so that's the main thing, and I do like Desi. It's not her fault she can get him and I can't."
"I promise it will all work out."
"If you say so."
A/N: I do hope you enjoyed and if so, please leave a review :)
If you didn't enjoy, well I hope you just stopped reading...