On the show, Jo referred to Mac as a nerd. Here we will give a new meaning to the word. Enjoy and leave a review to let me know what you think of the characters' development.
PS As promised, the other characters are starting to come into play.
Mac's second big case in the Big Apple highlighted something Jo had told months prior about a prolonged lack in leadership in the team. Adam Ross, the lab tech who owned his job to Jo's perseverance in opposing her ex-husband decision to go ahead with a cut in personnel, disregarding his boss's direct orders had pushed to conduct the investigation in a downright illegal way.
Jo had managed to smooth a potentially problematic situation with the Bureau thanks to some of her old acquaintances, but had rightfully taken out her frustration on Adam, sternly reprimanding him and ultimately suspending him for three days. According to Lindsay, nobody had ever seen Jo so livid. Mac didn't have a hard time believing her, for Jo stroke him as a calm and collected woman.
He crossed Adam in the locker room; Danny and Sheldon were making fun of him. A fiery glance in their direction made them scuttle away, leaving him alone with the younger man. He shot him a reproachful look; Mac held his gaze, forcing the younger man to take off his headphones.
-What? You wanna have a go at me as well?-, he goaded Mac. He shrugged. –Not particularly. I think you realize what a low blow to Jo what you did was. You got three days to think about it. -, he replied casually. Adam shot him a funny look. –What are you doing tonight?-, the older man wondered abruptly, catching the lab tech off-guard. –Apart from getting drunk in my apartment, you mean?-, he shot back. -No you're not. You're coming with me. We will find something to distract you, with a sensible volume of alcohol included. -, Mac retorted with an air of finality.
***MJ***
-So, what did you do?-
-Uh?-
Adam, sat on the sofa in Mac's living room, finally snapped to attention, focusing his gaze on Ellie. She definitely wasn't how he had expected her to be. For starters, her skin was dark. She was lean and tall, her hair a fizzy mane, lazily piled high on her head thanks to an elastic band; her face was rounded like her father's, her eyes sharp and intelligent like his, but green. She huffed.
-What kind of stupid stuff did you do to be here on my father's first month in New York? I wager it's got to be at least a suspension. -, Ellie wondered again, placing plates and forks on the table. Adam was taken aback by her forwardness, but managed to reply nevertheless. –Three days. –
Ellie sniggered. –Ooooh, you're a bad boy, aren't you? I like it. -, she gently teased, giving a small smile, which Adam returned. Just then, Mac re-entered the living room after having changed in a pair of shorts and a black tee. –Leave him alone, Ellie. And don't get funny ideas, either of you. -, he admonished them, shifting his stern gaze from his daughter to his co-worker. Ellie rolled her eyes exaggeratedly, causing Adam to snigger.
Despite the rocky start, dinner was a lively and cheerful affair. The trio, gently guided by Mac, mainly talked about personal interests and hobbies, leaving work outside their conversation. After a while, it became clear they had card games and role-playing games in common.
-No way! You're a fan of Dungeons and Dragons?-, Adam exclaimed, looking with wonder at his superior. –Err, not exactly. You see, I started playing in the Marines, it was a sort of way to cope with… well, everything. As you can imagine, we didn't have much time, nor resources to play, so we got creative. We made up our own scenarios, play rules etcetera. DnD is a too structured for my taste, if you know what I mean. -, Mac tried to explain, a bit embarrassed at the turn of the conversation.
-Dad is the best Master ever!-, Ellie suddenly piped up. –We used to meet with his co-workers at least once a month for a one or two-shots… you remember the one with Nazis and zombies? Bloody glorious…-, she added enthusiastically, grinning at both adults.
-Cool… I dunno if the guys here would appreciate it, though, but maybe we can try?-, Adam wondered, hopeful. Ellie squealed in delight. –Sure, we can give it a shot. -, her father replied diplomatically. –Night's still young. What do you say we play some Commander?-, he then proposed, at which both his interlocutors nodded enthusiastically. He smiled, and went to retrieve several decks, sleeved with thick, obnoxious looking colored sleeves and passing them around for Adam to look at.
-There are a few noteworthy cards. Nothing too fancy, we sold the foils. We even got to the competitive scenes down in New Orleans a few times. Never won anything major, though. -, Ellie explained, eagerly eyeing Adam perusing through their decks. Her father chuckled. –Stella never let me live that down once she discovered I actually entered a tournament, did she?-, he asked rhetorically. Ellie grinned. –I think she was just jealous because we would completely disappear for a whole day every once in a while. -, she pointed out.
And so it happened that they played, one game for a total of two hours. Mac swore loudly every time his daughter killed one of his creatures, Ellie swore louder when that happened to hers. After a while, Adam felt comfortable to do that as well. It turned out Mac was a sore loser, or maybe he was just making a big show of it. When Adam finally went home, it was with a lighter spirit, as he promised to himself to ask for Jo's forgiveness as soon as he returned to work.