Chapter 2: Mac Returns
Jess's POV
I hadn't bothered to go back to work at the precinct after my encounter with Mac and had gone home to sulk. It wasn't like Mac to suddenly ignore his team and his friends plead and shrug us all off as if our jobs meant nothing to him.
As I lay in bed that night, I looked at the photo frame in my hand. In it sat a photograph of Mac and I at the Police Christmas Ball 6 years ago; Mac was donned in a white shirt, emerald green bow tie and a red suit jacket while I was donned in a red and green stripped strapless floor length dress, my hair curled wearing little Christmas bell earrings and clear green stilettos with white snowflakes on them.
Tears filled my eyes as I remembered that night
*Flashback 6 years ago*
I arrived at the ball and looked around to see if I could spot anyone, then Mac Taylor was walking towards me donned in a white shirt, emerald green bow tie and a red suit jacket
"Hey" he greeted me kissing my cheek
"Hey yourself" I replied smiling up at him
"You look very Christmassy" Mac told me and I laughed
"So do you"
"Come on, the others are over here."
Putting his hand on the small of my back, he guided me over to a table where Stella, Flack, Hawkes, Aiden, Danny, Adam, Zac, Lindsay and Sid Hammerback sat
"Look who I found" Mac announced and the others smiled, standing up
"Jess" they chorused and exchanged hugs and kisses with me and I took a seat next to Mac.
For an hour or so, everyone was talking about random things; books, television we managed to watch when we could, baseball, basketball, hockey, what we were going to do over the Christmas break and so on.
Just then, Jingle Bell Rock began blaring through the speakers and I stood
"Dance with me" I said grinning at Mac
"Jess…I… no I can't" he started
"Come on Mac please" I begged
"Go on Mac" the others chorused and he sighed rising
"Fine" he relented.
I took him by the hand and dragged him to the dancefloor and we began dancing to Jingle Bell Rock. As we danced, we noticed some of the group joined us; Stella had managed to drag Hawkes onto the dance floor, Lindsay dragged Flack, and Aiden had dragged Danny
After the song ended, Sid came over with a camera
"Smile, I wanna get a picture of you two" he said.
Mac slid his arm around my waist and we both grinned, Sid took the picture and looked at the camera
"Lovely, I'll send you each a copy" he smiled as he went to take one of the other couples.
Just then Silent Night began to drift through speakers, I slid my arms around Mac's neck and he held my waist as we swayed
"Mac you'll never leave us, will you?" I asked him
"Never Jess. With you guys, that includes you and Flack, is where I belong. My home" he told me as I felt him kiss the top of my head and sighed contentedly.
*End Flashback*
Teardrops landed on the glass of the frame and I burst into tears.
oOo
The next day, I sat at my desk at work at the precinct staring at the photo frame I had there. In this photograph was all of us; Danny, Mac, Stella, Hawkes, Sid, Zac, Aiden, Adam, Lindsay, Flack and myself 5 years ago before Mac left. My heart felt like it was torn in two, why Mac was being so cruel and uncaring was beyond me. Just then I heard the receptionist
"Ms. Angell?" Nina Turner inquired, wondering if I'm here
"Yes Nina?" I replied
"You have a visitor who really wants to see you."
Great, note sarcasm
"Coming" I sighed as I stood up and headed out for the elevator.
I arrived and stepped in pressing the button for the ground floor as the doors closed and descended down. Flack and I are situated on the 3rd floor, I moved to the back and leant against the wall
"I wonder who my visitor is" I wondered aloud.
Finally, the elevator arrived on the ground floor and I stepped out walking towards the receptionist desk. I arrived and Nina looked up
"So who's my visitor?" I inquired but before she could answer, I heard a voice
"Me" it replied.
I whipped around to see the last person I'd thought I'd see wearing what he wore yesterday but it smelt washed
"Mac" I breathed, noticing my voice had gone weak and for a good reason.
I thought when he said he wasn't going to help that that would have been the last time I would see Mac Taylor.
Obviously I had another think coming
"You look surprised to see me" he began
"Well gee I wonder why" I replied slight annoyance in my voice "come on" I added as we left the precinct and headed for my car.
As we walked, I felt like this was all a dream and that I'd wake up and Mac wouldn't be anywhere insight. I closed my eyes and opened them only to see Mac still there
"Jess, what are you doing?" he asked gruffly but I could see amusement in his eyes he used to get those years ago when we mucked around as we got into my car and I drove us to the crime lab
"Just wondering if this is real or not" I replied
"Do you want me to pinch you?" Mac asked reaching over and I smacked his hand away concentrating on the road
"No" I replied as we arrived "I really believe you're here" I added as we got out of my car, I locked it and we walked towards the doors of the Crime Lab and entered.
We walked to the elevator and stood waiting, it arrived and as people got off we got on. We stood waiting as the elevator ascended, see the CSIs are situated on the 35th and it's a long way up. Finally after many stops, the elevator arrived on the 35th floor and we got out heading for the break room where I knew everyone would be.
As we walked, we heard gasps and whispers of some of the techs. We arrived at the break room and I told Mac to wait there, I walked in and everyone looked at me
"Hey guys" I greeted slightly more cheerful
"Hey" they greeted less cheerful.
Oh yeah I forgot to mention I told everyone last night after I had my crying time about Mac not coming back
"I have a surprise for you, a surprise that will hopefully help us" I started
"Brooklyn, nothing and no one can help us" Danny reminded slightly depressed
"Really?" I asked before turning my head and I stepped aside "not even…?" I trailed off.
And on cue Mac walked in.
Everyone's jaw dropped open in complete shock and I tried not to laugh, Adam was first to recover
"Boss is that you?" he asked him
"It's me Adam" he replied.
Stella stood up and walked up to Mac, I thought she was going to hug him but instead she drew back her palm and it connected with his left cheek.
SLAP.
Everyone except for myself winced
"Okay, I think I deserved that" Mac said and I snorted
"The hell you do" Stella cried crossing her arms over her chest
"Hey I slapped him yesterday" I piped up
"Well, well look who came crawling back five years later" Flack spoke up and I could tell that Mac knew that we were still hurting from his sudden departure five years ago
"What are you doing here Mac?" Aiden asked him
"A little Brooklyn bird told me you were all in serious trouble" he replied.
Everyone looked at me then back at Mac
"So what? Are you saying you're going to come back and help us?" Lindsay asked him
"Something like that" he replied
"I don't know" Stella stated "I don't think I can stand the pain of you leaving again after this is all over"
"Stella, this isn't my life anymore. I'm a bounty hunter" he said.
WHAT?
"YOU'RE A WHAT?" I shouted.
TBC