Hello friends! Hope you're doing well!

"So, Pete…" Mac nodded as he met Pete outside Alex's room, "How bad is he?"

Pete shrugged, "Well, he won't end up with a bunch of leftover right shoes just yet."

"Your way of saying he'll keep his leg?"

Pete nodded, "He's got a long road ahead of him, recovery wise. But it's likely that he'll end up having a fully functional knee again."

"You think so?" Mac tilted his head, "Jack described it as some of the nastiest he could remember ever seeing…"

"Yeah, it was a nasty injury." Pete nodded, "And there's not much keeping that knee together right now. But I've seen people with even worse injuries make a full recovery."

"You have?"

"Yeah," Pete nodded again, "One of them actually had his two-year knee-anniversary a couple of days ago. I got a text that he had signed up for the Boston Marathon, the full length. He said he was hoping to do it in 2 hours and 40 minutes, but that he would be scream of joy even if he passed the finish line after more than 3 hours too. He qualified for the marathon with a time of 3:02:41, but he said he was a lot better now than at the time he qualified."

"That's impressive, and even more impressive when you know the guy had a knee that looked worse than Alex's only two years ago."

Pete nodded, "By the way, how much do you know about those two guys?"

"We've spent some time together, both on and off missions…"

Pete nodded again, then he looked slightly towards Mac's direction, "Is Alex usually quiet or chatty?"

Mac shrugged, "Usually chatty, why?"

"Kim said he usually was, but Alex sure didn't live up to that hype when I was in there."

Mac laughed, "Maybe he's got a crush on you?"

Pete chuckled, "Seriously? On me?"

"Might happen." Mac shrugged, "I mean, once we were out drinking together he switched between flirting with Riley and Bozer…"

"OH, so he's…" Pete looked at Mac, "He's bi?"

Mac shrugged, "I guess, I can't remember either of them confirming or denying it…"

"Well, in that case I'll take it as a compliment. But I have to say he's got bad taste if he falls for me…" Pete chuckled, "I would get it if he fell for Duncan or Cooper if he ever met them, well at least Cooper… Dunc's got that whole thing going on with his face, you know…"

"The scar?"

"Yeah, the scar…" Pete nodded and frowned, "But let's both admit that before that scar got there they were both more generally handsome than me…"

Mac shrugged, "Guess that's all about personal preference… But if you didn't notice, the last time the six of us all went out together, YOU were the one that had ladies hanging all over you…"

Pete smirked, "Yeah, that's true… But we were also sitting down for the most time, we were basically all the same height then…"

"Come on, that's bullshit." Mac shook his head, "And I'm pretty sure it works just the same the other way around too. I mean, just like some guys like short girls, other likes tall girls, and for most it doesn't really matter."

Pete chuckled, then he nodded. "You're probably right about that."

"And, you're not that short. You're just shorter than the rest of the squad, but you don't stick out as short in the general population."

"Aw, thanks man…" Pete answered in mock gratitude, "I needed that boost of confidence…"

"Just stating facts, old man…"

"Hey, we talked about this. Don't call me old man, I'm nowhere near Jack and Box's age, therefore I'm not an old man."

"You sure? If you're not that old yet, race me to the end of the hallway then…" Mac winked challenging.

"Hey, I'm wearing the wrong leg, okay?" Pete stopped and pulled his pant leg up a little bit, showing the metal rod, "This one is close to useless when it comes to running, but you probably knew that already, right?"

Mac chuckled and nodded, "Yeah, but you do know we wouldn't actually be running, right?"

Pete stopped and gave Mac a onceover. His eyes settling on the black boot wrapped around his leg. "Actually, I forgot about that… Sure, we can race…"

Mac shook his head, "Nah… I was just kidding, it's already throbbing bad enough…"

"Okay, then you should let it rest. Find some crutches or even a wheelchair…" Pete sighed and gave Mac a look of slight concern. If Jack was his helicopter parent, the rest of the Delta guys were his protective older brothers.

"It's fine. I'll just take something to calm it down once I get home, and I'll be a good little boy and keep it elevated."

"You better…" Pete folded his arms across his chest, "…Or I'll forcibly make you rest and take some time off that leg of yours."

"Forcibly make me rest…" Mac chuckled, "Contradicting."

"You know what I mean…" Pete chuckled too, then he turned straight around and his serious Delta Operator face made a guest appearance, "And you also know I'm serious."

Mac nodded, "I'll spend the evening on the couch. I promise. I'll even throw in a few pillows to keep my leg elevated with."

"Good." Pete grinned, "Other than being a good patient tonight, any plans?"

Mac shrugged, "Kinda half-planned that Riley was coming over to watch a movie or something."

"Riley, like Jack's other 'basically-his' kid?"

"That's what you guys reference me as now?"

"Hey, it's only the truth…" Pete shrugged, "But it's her, right?"

Mac nodded, "Yeah, it's her."

"How is she?" Pete asked as he looked at Mac, "Doing well?"

Mac blushed, honest to God blushed.

"Mac?" Pete tried not to laugh, he wasn't all that successful, "Something you want to tell me little brother?"

Mac put up a warning finger, but couldn't help laughing himself.

"Mac, you're blushing. Come on, give me some gossip."

"Okay, but… Jack doesn't get to know this yet, deal?"

"Deal."

"It's VERY new." Mac swallowed and looked up at the ceiling as if it was a safe place to hang his eyes, "Like, literally started a few days ago officially…"

Pete nodded, "Okay, tell me more…"

"Not all that much more to tell really, turns out we've both had a crush on each other ever since we met." Mac shrugged, "And she's a lot braver than I am when it comes to all that relationship sort of stuff, so… Well, she basically cornered me about it."

Pete laughed, "Okay, so Jack's not getting to know this yet?"

"No, better let a week or so pass by before he gets to know it…" Mac shrugged, "You know how he gets…"

"Yeah, guess you're right." Pete shrugged, "So, you want me to stay away from the living room tonight? I could probably crash at Jack's place instead…"

"Nah… I already have a roommate, don't you think we would have stayed at Riley's place if we needed privacy?"

Chuckling Pete nodded, "Guess you've got a point there…"

Mac nodded as well.

"Okay, I've got a few more things to do here before I head back to your place. But you should definitely rest that ankle leg of yours, or I WILL rat on you to Jack. About the leg I mean."

Mac nodded, "Okay, I'm going. You're getting back to the house by yourself?"

Pete nodded, "Rented a car at LAX, I'm good."

"Okay, I'll see you when you get home. You remember where it's at?"

Pete nodded, "Of course. Now go, before I decide to carry you to the closest wheelchair wherever that might be…"

"Okay, okay…" Mac chuckled, "Just call if you have any problems finding my place."

"I won't…" Pete chuckled, "Now go…"

"Okay."

Okay, managed to write another chapter for this one. And it was about damn time…