A/N: thanks again for the reviews and for reading this. I'd start getting seriously worried about Catherine and Stewart if I were you as they are going to find out in the near future what happens when you make the mistake of crossing one Randi Wilcox.

Chapter 12

Mac looked at the huddled, forlorn mass that was Randi. Gone was the sparkle, the infectious spirit, the bubbly personality that made Randi, Randi. In its place was a shivering, tired, sniffling woman with limp black hair, a soaking wet dress, bare feet, and a defeated air about her. She had just finished bawling her eyes out on his shoulder while he'd held her. He had hauled her into the bathroom and wrapped a towel around her, trying to get her dry before she caught a cold or worse.

"What happened, Randi?" he asked gently. When she looked at him with dull eyes, he hugged her, trying to comfort her. "Randi, I know you and Stewart have been having some serious problems, namely caused by Stewart. I want to help you, both as a cop and as someone who cares, but I can't do anything if you don't talk to me," he coaxed.

Haltingly, Randi began talking. She told him about what she'd overheard Catherine and Stewart had said about her and about what they were planning. Mac had to fight with himself to hold on to his temper. He was going to kill Stewart and Catherine, or at least hurt the miserable pair as much as he could. But right now, Randi needed him.

"I'm sorry, Mac, about showing up on your doorstep like this, but after what I just heard, I just couldn't go home, not right now," she admitted.

"It's okay, sweetheart, it's okay. You grab a warm shower and throw me your dress. I've got some dry clothes I can rustle up for you and I'll leave them outside the door for you, okay? And when you're done, come into the kitchen and I'll have something warm for you to eat," Mac soothed. "And we'll talk some more then but first, you need to warm up before you get sick."

She nodded and stood up, unpinning her hair and carefully setting her little tiara on the counter. Then she turned around and asked, "Mac?"

"Yeah?"

"I hate to ask this, but would you mind undoing the back of my dress for me? I think the rain may have made the knot a bit difficult and I can't see back there," she admitted.

Mac pulled the corset lacing out from its hiding spot and set to work on undoing the knot. It was a simple bowknot, but Randi was right; normally it would have been easy to undo but because of the rain, it was made a bit more difficult and as it was, it took a few minutes to undo it. He managed, though, and loosened the corset laces. He had to fight with himself to not place butterfly kisses on her soft bare shoulders or help her finish taking the dress off. As it was, she was holding the corset up to cover her breasts and, if it weren't for the fact that he knew she wasn't trying to be seductive and that she was cold and tired, Mac could have been forgiven for thinking otherwise, especially when she looked at him in the mirror.

As it was, he couldn't resist giving her a backwards hug and placing a single kiss on her shoulder. "Go have your shower, sweetheart. Put your dress outside and you'll find clean clothes there. I'll be in the kitchen. Everything will be okay, I promise."

She nodded and he quickly left the bathroom before he gave into his own desires.

After Mac left, Randi quickly removed her clothes and jewelry and stepped into the shower. As the warm water cascaded over her, she began to warm up and as she warmed up, rational thinking returned to her. She was going to have to do something about Stewart and Catherine and she was going to have to do something fast.

True to his word, there were clean clothes waiting for her outside the bathroom door. The clean clothes turned out to be a sweat suit from Mac's Academy days, complete with thick socks, but they were warm and cozy and that was all that mattered to her right now, even though she had to go bra-less due to the fact that her bra had been the corset and she wasn't putting that on again just yet.

After she'd dried off, tidied up the bathroom, removed her mascara, and dried her hair as best as possible, she went into the kitchen where Mac waited. The warm meal was cream of tomato soup with hot coffee for a beverage but that was okay with Randi. She was warm and safe and, more importantly, with the man who had quietly stolen her heart.

After they ate, they moved to the living room. Randi turned her cell back on and placed it on the table beside Mac's, in case someone called, now that she was willing to talk to someone.

Mac's couch was big enough for them to lie side by side comfortably and that's what they did, with Randi's head on his chest and a blanket over them as they watched the late evening news. Mac had removed his work clothes some time ago, changing into comfortable jeans and sweatshirt. When he'd seen Randi in his sweats, he had to admit she looked downright adorable and innocent, especially with her curly black hair all over the place.

Now he was fighting with himself tooth and nail not to become aroused by Randi being in his sweats and lying full-length against him, more so because he had just realized she wasn't wearing a bra. "She's hurting right now! The last thing she needs is a horny prick like you!" he told himself ferociously. To distract himself, he asked her what she was going to do.

"Well, I sure as hell can't let Stewart take over my business. And what Catherine said and threatened to do, that was way out of line. Their behavior can't be permitted to continue," she admitted. "Really wish I could make Angel my business partner; it would save a whole lotta hassle. I swear that girl knows the business nearly as well as I do."

"Then why don't you just fire Stewart and make her your business partner?" Mac asked, propping one arm behind his head and looking at her.

"I'd need a new secretary?" she asked sheepishly, propping her chin on her hands and her hands on his chest. Mac laughed. "You're right; I can always get a new secretary, which easier to do than get a new business partner. She did say all I had do was fire Stewie and we'd talk when I made a crack about having her as my business partner instead of Stewie."

"Does he have a contract?"

"Nothing beyond the usual, which means I can't fire him without justifiable cause, but in this case… I think I have justifiable cause; plotting with my sister to try and take over my business would be classified as justifiable cause for firing." She sighed heavily and said, "And then I'll just let Angel chose the new secretary. I trust her enough."

"At least you trust somebody," he quipped.

"I trust you," she shot back.

"Good to hear," he said, grinning as his hand gently stroked her back.

Then her cell phone went off. Growling, she reached for it. It was a number she recognized and scowling, she flipped it open and punched a button, knowing if she didn't at least answer the phone, her mother would worry and fuss and she didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble, not when she was about to create some major hell in the near future.

"Hello?"

"Miranda, dear, it's your mother. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Mom," she replied as she rolled her eyes and settled more comfortably against Mac, liking the feel of his hand against her back.

"Are you sure? You left the party so quickly and quietly that it took a while before anyone noticed you were gone," Brenda Wilcox said.

"I'm sure, Mom. I'm some place safe right now, trust me. I just-I over-heard some stuff between my business partner and Catherine and what was said really hurt. After that, well, it's called salvaging your dignity for a reason, Mom."

"Listen, I know you and Catherine haven't always gotten along but-"

"But there's a limit as to what I'm willing to put up with and being referred to as a little slut who's always had everything handed to her on a plate, that's pushing it a bit far. Oh, and let's not forget Stewart's comment about my chasing after a so-called rent-a-cop like a bitch in heat, which was an insult to both me and Mac, who happens to be one of the finest cops I've ever known." Mac raised an eyebrow at this and grinned.

Brenda went silent for a moment.

"Look Mom, Catherine and I never have seen see eye-to-eye and we probably never will. I've tried repeatedly to get along with her but her behavior, well, let's just say enough is enough. I don't appreciate anyone threatening to take my business away from me simply because they enjoy taking my 'toys' away from me. As for Stewart, he doesn't know it but he's finished. Nobody threatens me. Nobody," Randi said.

"Is there anything I can do?" Brenda asked quietly.

"I'm afraid not. This is one fight you're going to need to stay out of, no matter what, Mom, okay? It's been a long time coming and there are going to be some major changes in the near future. Both Catherine and Stewart are going to find out what happens when they cross the wrong person, namely me."

"All right, dear. I may not like this, but I understand your need to take care of things yourself. You've always been independent, just like your grandmother. In fact, in a lot of ways, you're like your grandmother," Brenda said after a long moment.

"Who do you think was my role-model growing up, Mom?" Randi asked quietly.

"I know, sweetie. I know. We'll talk more later, and I want to meet this gentleman you're seeing."

"See what I can do," Randi said. They said good-bye and Randi shut her cell, putting it on the table.

"Thank you for the compliment," Mac said, smiling.

"I was telling the truth," she said.

"I believe you."

"Good. Now, have I thanked you lately for putting up with me right now?"

"You have and you're more than welcome, Randi. I've told you before if I can help you, I will." His hand slid into her hair and began gently massaging her skull. She moaned in pleasure at the contact.

"How about I show you my appreciation, rather than thanking you verbally?" she whispered huskily.

"I have no problems with that," he said, smiling.

She sat up, placed both hands on either side of his head, leaned forward and gently brushed her lips against his, teasing him. A shiver raced through her at the contact. Mac, his hands still in her hair, tugged her down more for a more deeper, hotter kiss, not satisfied with just the butterfly kiss. She was quite happy to comply with the silent demand.

The heat between them grew and he pulled her down so she was lying full-length on top of him. Then he rolled so they were on their sides, still kissing, and the heat continued to grow.

Finally they pulled apart, breathing hard. Randi had one leg draped across Mac's thighs, his hand was cupping her breast with one thumb teasing a nipple, and he had his hips pressed snuggly against her groin, letting her know the exact effect she had on him.

"You've got my heart, you know that?" she said huskily.

He smiled, touching her face tenderly. "In that case, I promise to take extra good care of it. I know you'll do the same with mine."

"I promise," she said. Then, "Where do we go from here?" she asked.

"I'm thinking we take things one day at a time. As much as I want nothing more than to haul you off to the bedroom and make love to you 'till the sun explodes, that's not going to happen just yet," he said, reluctantly removing his hand from her breast and settling it on her back. "I want to give us more time to build things and to make love to you when we're both ready. Right now, you're tired, you've been through an emotional roller coaster and you've got some major things on your plate. As much as I want to, and believe me I want to, it's not the right time."

She nodded. "I can live with that. But Mac, one small thing," she said.

"Oh?"

"Any more kisses like that and I don't give a damn what you think; I'll be jumping your bones and shredding your clothes so fast you'd think I was the female version of Wolverine."

And Mac laughed.