A/N: Three more chapters guys.
Thanks again for all the support.
Disclaimer: I do not own MacGyver or these characters, just borrowing for free fun.
Moments Like This
Chapter Seven- For Miles
Bozer is showing Riley the problem with his computer when she realizes he doesn't even know what's wrong with it to begin with. She chuckles as he begins to doubt to his own sanity trying to show her a problem that doesn't seem to exist when he turns on the machine.
"I think your problem is in your head Bozer,"
He's quick in his protest, "I swear it's been sticking every two seconds,"
"Well it's not sticking now," she says. She pats his shoulder and heads to the couch to gather her bag and phone to leave.
"Hold it there missy," he says before she can reach the door.
She turns around with a sly grin. "Yes?"
He closes some space between them to inspect her better. "You haven't been here in a while, did you find an apartment?"
She twists her lips and looks away. "Not really."
"Why not?" he presses.
She bites her bottom lip, "because I stopped looking," she tries.
"Riley,"
"Don't give me that sorry tone. I know what I'm doing okay. You had to be there Bozer, the way he looks at me sometimes… the other night I was sure he was going to tell me he had feelings for me but Matty called us into work after the blackout."
His voice raises a little and though Riley knows it's only because he's trying to look out for her, but she flinches anyway.
"Riley, I've been there, you convince yourself that maybe they feel the same way but it's all in your head."
"It's not the same Bozer," Her own voice has raised now and she can feel the situation escalating but has no power to stop it, "you've been great through all of this just, don't tell me what to do with my life," she storms out his apartment before more was said that could not be unsaid.
When she gets home, Mac is coming out of his room with a towel around his neck and wet hair. She thinks he looks boyish but keeps it to herself and instead, drops herself heavily onto the couch with a deep sigh.
"What's up? Did you fix his computer?" he says, sitting on the arm of the couch.
She's shrugs, trying not to pout, unsuccessfully. He notes her expression and frowns, "what's wrong?"
Before she can shake her head he interrupts her with a raise of his hand.
"I know you better than that," he says with a pointed look that makes her give up the pretense.
"Bozer and I just got into a fight,"
He turns to face her with concern all of over his face.
"What'd you guys fight about?"
You, she thinks but says, "nothing, it's stupid, his computer."
"Don't you think we know each other too well to be lying to each other?" He tucks a strand of stubborn, dark hair behind her ear and lets his hand linger behind her ear for a few moments before dropping it.
Riley's skin prickles with goosebumps and this time she knows he can see it. She clears her throat as the atmosphere in the room becomes charged with electricity. Lately, all roads lead to Mac. He's at work with her, at home with her and now he's leaking into her other friendships. All for what? A man who's involved with someone else.
Sometimes it feels like he isn't worth it but this is not one of those times. He's staring at her with earnest eyes, and touching her like she's delicate and priceless. She feels in her bone marrow that somewhere along the lines, he began to feel the same about her. She also knows there's only one way to find out for sure. She could tell him how she feels…
"He's just looking out for me and I'm being reckless I suppose,"
"Hmm, well when I'm in the field and I do something reckless I always ask myself, is the risk worth the pay off?"
She doesn't have to think about it.
She looks him in the dead in the eye when she says, "If it does pay off, it will definitely be worth it,"
"And if not?" he says, holding the intense eye contact.
Without looking away she says, "I don't know if I'll ever be able to recover."
Mac opens his mouth to respond but their phones go off simultaneously which means it's work. Riley is glad for the distraction, she still has to work up the nerve to tell him, but she's definitely going to tell him. It's been decided.
It's a Tuesday and she's feeling good. She can't keep a smile off her face. While she and Bozer haven't made nice yet, she and Mac feel closer than ever. She hasn't found the time tell him how she feels as of late. It's either work or a bad time but she has a plan. As she lets herself into the house, she's beaming-practically bouncing with excitement. She's fanning herself with the tickets she's just gotten for a Carnival. She can't way to see Mac's face when she shows him. She knows it's cheesy but she feels like the atmosphere of the carnival will make the words easier to roll off her tongue. She also now knows that's one of Mac's favorite places to be. It can't hurt her cause.
Maybe she'll take him on the Ferris wheel and spill her guts. That way, he can't runaway from her. No matter his answer.
When she bends the corner for the kitchen, she notices the lights are dimmed and slow music is playing. She even smells garlic bread and Italian spices. For a split second, before she breaks the corner, she thinks maybe this is all for her. It's all very romantic and she smiles to herself until she realizes she's dead wrong. Desi is back. Having dinner with Mac. There's a single candle lit between them on the table and she's gripping Mac's hand with her own like he belongs to her-because he does. And she's paralyzed. Then she's comatose. And then she dies inside.
The shock is dizzying but she has nothing to hold on to, to stop her from spiraling. They are so enthralled in the conversation, they only realize she's there when she turns her back and rushes out. She hears Mac call her name but it's sounds far away, distant, like in another life altogether. The farther she gets from them, from him, the tighter her chest becomes. She can barely breath by the time she's rushing out the front door. It feels like the sky is falling away, bit by bit and dropping on her head. The pain is a type of intoxication that disorients her, has her stumbling in the streets like a mad woman.
How did they get from almost kissing to him having a romantic dinner with Desi? When the fuck did she get back anyway? Her eyes sting with tears and her stomach ache like she's just been kicked in the gut, in a way she had.
Mascara stains her face as the tears began flowing. She feels the guttural sound forming in the pit of her stomach and clenches her abdomen in reflex. The first sob that escapes her mouth is devastating to the ear and she's sure can be heard for miles.
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