A/N - Bit of a long one I know, but I preferred it this way than two shorter chapters. Big Thanks to reviewers - you are all so amazing!
Israel - Chapter Nine
"So how are you feeling, Flack? You up to returning?" Hatcher asked gruffly as he stabbed his pen into the notepad in front of him.
Flack, sat in the chair opposite him, briefly wondered if Hatcher realised how hard he'd done it, ink was now dripping from the nib of the pen.
"Yes, Sir. More than ready. It's been a month now and..."
"You know very well my question wasn't concerning time. Are you ready, Flack? Are you ready to go out there, back into that bullpen?"
Flack watched mesmerised as the ink made its way slowly to the very tip of the nib and dropped onto the paper underneath.
"Yes, Sir. I'm not afraid."
"I take it someone's informed you that the four officers responsible for your attack have been given redundancies, no pension and are awaiting trial."
Flack sighed and grimaced. Yes, he was fully aware of the consequences for the four men who had been behind his beating. They'd all lost their jobs, that was a given. The NYPD couldn't stand for the kind of damage to its image that it would receive should it get out that four of their own were involved in a homophobic attack on a fellow officer. However, the conclusion of IA's investigation was that the attacked had been planned out, premeditated and it was clear their aim was to kill. Therefore the DA was prosecuting all four on an attempted murder charge that would no doubt require Flack to testify along with Lovato, Danny, the junkie Hopkins and the two officers who'd been there. It was just what he needed, a trial and all the scrutiny that came along with it just in time for his wedding. Still, he was lucky to still be alive, to still have his job and most importantly to still have Mac.
"I've been told about what's happened to them, Sir. They say I'll need to testify."
Hatcher exhaled loudly in irritation. "You know I stand by you, Flack? What those men did was wrong in the utmost way. I want you to know that."
"Thank you, Sir," Flack said in relief. If he was honest he'd been a little unsure of what to expect from Hatcher. He knew the Captain had warned him about this type of thing happening and now, as a result he'd been down five detectives for the past month and was down four permanently.
"They're not a happy bunch out there, to warn you," Hatcher sighed, leaning over his desk.
"I can well imagine," Flack mumbled. "I'm ready to deal with whatever reception I get from them."
"You're a braver man than me," Hatcher said and he suddenly smiled. Flack had never seen the gruff and grumpy Captain smile in all the years he'd known him.
"I'm not brave, Sir," Flack said softly. "I'm just living. I chose this life."
Hatcher watched him cautiously for a moment and then leant back in his chair. Flack smiled as he noticed blue ink covering the Captain's left sleeve. He'd leant in the puddle of it that had formed on his notepad.
"Well you best get on then," Hatcher nodded, retrieving Flack's gun and badge from his desk and handing them to him.
"Thank you," Flack nodded as he accepted them back, smiling fondly at his badge for a brief moment.
"Just try and take it easy for a few weeks alright. I don't want to see you back in this office."
"No, Sir," Flack smiled and stood up.
"And Flack?" shouted the Captain as Flack got to the door.
Flack turned, hand ready on the handle.
"Good to have you back, Son," the Captain said.
Flack grinned and then let himself out of the office. He closed the door and let out a big sigh. That had been the easy part. This next bit was going to be the hard bit. He turned toward the bullpen and swallowed nervously.
"It'll be okay."
Flack looked up to see Lovato leaning against the wall opposite the Captain's door.
"Hey," he said softly, walking nearer to the pretty detective.
"Hey yourself. You're looking better."
Flack smiled shyly and glanced down. Faint bruising and scars from the cuts he'd received were still visible on his face and elsewhere on his body but for the most part, all the swelling had gone and his ribs were nearly mended, as was his nose. In the time he'd been away, Lovato had visited him once very briefly with Hawkes but he'd not had a chance to talk to her properly yet.
"Thank you," he said sincerely.
Lovato nodded her head, understanding he meant it for more than the compliment she'd just given him.
"The good guys have to stick together, Flack. That's why God placed us here."
Flack was taken aback by the sudden philosophising from the young detective.
"I owe you such an apology," he mumbled awkwardly. "I've been such a bastard to you and you never deserved it. You saved my life...I'm never going to be able to thank you enough."
"I did what anyone would have done in my position. I know we've had our differences but you're a friend, Flack. I couldn't let those guys hurt you."
"I still can't believe they wanted to kill me," Flack said quietly...sadly.
Lovato looked sympathetically at him. "You must have met people like them before? People who are homophobic."
Flack nodded, sure he'd met homophobic cops, and he'd met homophobic killers. He could still remember one particular case that had really gotten to him, a man killing another just because he'd been fooled into thinking 'he' was a 'she'.
Don wrenched opened his door and was shocked to see Mac standing there. The last few weeks had been particularly tense between them ever since the Truby case. They'd finally managed to make up professionally, but personally...the tension between them was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
"Please may I come in, Don?"
"I'm kinda busy right now, actually..."
Mac glanced past him and Don was perfectly aware that his apartment was a mess of beer bottles, empty takeaway boxes and other rubbish scattered around.
"I understand your reluctance, but it's important."
Don sighed and pushed the door wider, cursing himself for always giving in to him. He swung the door shut and then padded to his sofa which he collapsed down onto, basically ignoring the other man.
"Stella told me about your case today," Mac said.
"What? About that guy who said he did the world a favour getting rid of 'that queer'?" Don said gruffly. "Fucking homophobic bastard!"
"Stella said you were upset."
Don stared at Mac like he was stupid. "Of course I was upset. In case it never caught your attention, I'm kinda 'a queer' too!"
Mac frowned at the younger man's bluntness. "You shouldn't be ashamed of who you are, Don."
Don slowly rose from the sofa and approached Mac. "Nah, cos I got you to do that for me, haven't I, Mac?"
"I was never ashamed of you, Don."
Don laughed crazily. "You know what, Mac? I used to be quite happy with myself. I'm nowhere near perfect but I hadn't got a bad lot. Until I met you. That's when I started to always feel no better than a piece of shit. Being someone's dirty little secret will do that to you."
Fierce tears spiked in Don's eyes and he felt them burning a trail down his cheek. He couldn't care less. He was so angry with Mac, so upset with Mac, so betrayed by Mac and so in love with him.
"You don't know how sorry I am that I made you feel that way."
"Make. Present tense. You still do."
"Don..." Mac reached out to touch the younger man but he flinched away. Last time Mac did that they'd ended up fucking and Don had taken him back into his life.
"Don't, Mac. Just don't," Don pleaded. "Please don't make this any harder for me than it already is. Just go."
Mac stared for a moment and then slowly nodded. He turned and left the apartment and Don went back to his couch, hating himself all the more.
"I have," Flack nodded and looked up warily towards the bullpen where he knew the other detectives and officers would be working, would be waiting and he had to go in there.
"I'll be right behind you," Lovato smiled as she kindly placed a hand on his arm and squeezed it.
"Thanks," he whispered and then turned and walked towards the bullpen.
The moment he entered a hush fell around it, each detective pointing him out to another, all eyes on him and watching. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest, his breath catching in his throat, nausea fighting its way out of his stomach. He sensed Lovato behind him and felt somewhat reassured; at least he still had one friend even if all the others hated him for being the cause of four of their own losing their jobs and possibly facing jail time. Suddenly a figure broke away from the crowd and came towards him.
"Flack!" shouted a gruff voice.
It was Detective Antonio 'Tony' Marchini. A gruff, brawny Italian man of around forty. Flack had known him ever since he'd come to the precinct.
"It's great to have you back!" shouted the Italian and suddenly pulled Flack in for a huge hug.
"Oof!" Flack exhaled as he felt the life almost squeezed from him as the huge Italian man crushed him fondly.
"Yeah, good to see you," shouted Detective Purvis coming forward. An older cop in his fifties who favoured sweet treats and smelt quite strongly of body odour, but had a heart of gold.
"Thanks Marcs," Flack mumbled as he pulled away and looked round at the other detectives. They were all smiling now and some were even clapping. Flack blushed slightly and hoped his faint bruising hid it.
"Welcome back," called someone else.
"Knew you would make it."
"Looking good."
"Congratulations."
The detectives crowded round him, clambering to speak to him or shake his hand. Flack stood in the centre, numb with the shock of it all and caught Lovato's eye. She was smiling knowingly. Only the pretty blonde cop next to her, Rose Callaghan, looked angry. Flack knew the Irish cop had been dating Machado and possibly still was. However, overall it couldn't have gone any better if he'd planned it himself.
Danny hummed happily as he worked on some trace in the lab. He was so excited he could barely hold it in. So many things in his life were going right. To start with, Lindsay was beginning to get really excited at the prospect of leaving work. Danny had known she was upset at first and had tried to help her through, but now she had all these ideas and plans to occupy her time, things she'd always wanted to do, possible careers for later on and he felt so pleased and happy for her. Secondly, Flack was better now and had come back to work that very day. They were back to being best buds and it was like their fight in the hospital had never happened. Nothing could separate them, Danny knew that and it made him happy to think that Flack was doing well too. Finally, however, and above all else, was the fact that his son would arrive in two months time and that was the real reason why he was so excited he might burst. A son. His son. His little boy who would grow up to be just like him. Not that he didn't love Lucy to bits, but he'd always wanted a boy. Always wanted a son and now his wish was finally coming true and he couldn't wait.
"Hey, what are you smiling about?" Lindsay asked as she stepped into the lab.
Danny grinned at her, his eyes lingering on her pregnant stomach.
"Just thinking about you guys," he murmured.
Lindsay laughed a little. "It's like you've got nothing else on your mind these days!"
"I haven't," Danny grinned. "I just keep on thinking how lucky I am. Perfect wife, perfect daughter, perfect little boy..." he came over and placed his hands on her belly, directing his last line at it."
"Danny, not in the lab!" Lindsay blushed.
"Sorry can't help it," he grinned.
"Anyway you forgot one thing," she smiled.
"What's that?"
"Perfect husband and father."
Danny looked away, blushing too, like his wife. "Well aren't we just the perfect little family then," he chuckled.
"We'll be alright," Lindsay whispered in his ear.
"Are you sad?" he asked quietly.
"I'll always be sad to leave this place. But whereas before I felt more sad than happy about it, I now feel more happy than sad."
"Good," Danny grinned happily.
"So what you working on?" she asked.
"Bit of trace found in the head wound on our John Doe."
"Ah, John Doe, you say?" Lindsay laughed. "He comes here a lot."
Danny chuckled as he examined the trace through a microscope.
"You know what? I am kinda jealous of you," he remarked.
"Why's that?" she asked.
"Cos you get to do whatever in the world you wanna do now. I can support us so you could chose just about anything."
Lindsay came up behind him and put her arms round him.
"Could do, except there is only one thing I really want to do."
"Hmmm?" Danny murmured, lost in his analysis.
"Be with you," she whispered into his ear.
Danny smiled into his microscope. Oh yes, things really were going perfectly.
"Mac, thank you for coming to see me," Sinclair smiled as he gestured for Mac to take the seat opposite him.
"I didn't realise it was a choice," Mac said dryly.
Sinclair smiled. "I gather you know why I wanted to see you."
"I assume it's this business with Don," Mac sighed, glancing out of Sinclair's window.
"I've lost four detectives over this. Four good detectives, despite their personal views on certain subjects."
"They tried to kill a man!" Mac shouted angrily.
"That's not been proved yet," Sinclair replied sternly. "You're letting your emotion cloud your judgement."
"Of course I'm bloody letting emotion cloud my judgment!" Mac shouted. "Don is going to be my husband in a month. He very nearly wasn't!"
Sinclair stared at Mac for a moment mulling things over.
"I don't want this to cause any more trouble, Mac. I can't afford to lose anymore good detectives."
"And what do you actually mean by that?" Mac spat, rage surging through his veins.
"If anything else like this should happen, even the slightest hint at it, he's gone," Sinclair stated definitely.
Mac slumped in his chair in shock. "I can't believe you're doing this," he choked. "Don is one of the best detectives you've got."
"That might be so, but he isn't worth four of them," Sinclair replied.
Mac held a hand over his mouth as he thought it over. How the hell was he supposed to tell Don that if any other cops tried it on with him then he'd lose his job. All because he was marrying him. God! Why did life have to be so hard all the time!
"Are you going to inform him of this?" Mac asked.
"I'll leave that to you, Mac," Sinclair smiled.
Mac clenched one of his hands into a fist beneath Sinclair's desk where he couldn't see it.
"What if I gave up my job? Would you let him stay on then despite any trouble?"
"It's not you who cops seem to have the problem with, Mac, and you know that."
"But if Don wasn't marrying another cop, then they'd be more likely to leave him alone."
Sinclair tilted his head as he thought about what Mac had said. "I agree that does make sense, but I'd rather you didn't go Mac. Think about this carefully for one second..."
"It's already done, Sinclair!" Mac shouted, standing up. "I'm marrying Don. Nothing will stop that. And I'll be damned if he loses his job because of that."
"Mac, you're not thinking about this rationally..."
"You're wrong! For the first time in my life I'm thinking perfectly clearly. Don comes first. He always will. I'm getting too old for this anyway, for the politics. You'll have my resignation by the morning."
"Mac, please..."
Sinclair's phone rang and he picked it up roughly. "What!?" he barked into it.
"You must be kidding me," he said angrily into the phone, his eyes coming up to lock on to Mac's.
Flack saw someone perch on the edge of his desk and looked up to see Lovato there, she was grinning widely.
"You knew?" he asked.
"Course I knew," she smiled. "Everyone's on your side, Flack. What those guys did was so wrong there's no-one here who still sees them as anything but the vilest scum on the Earth."
"You coulda told me," grumbled Flack though he was still smiling. "I've been worried outta my mind that everyone was gonna hate me."
Lovato laughed loudly. "Aw, who could hate you!"
"At a guess, Callaghan?" Flack suggested as he looked over at the blonde cop who was giving him the evil eye.
"Oh, don't worry about that bitch, I'll slap her into place if she gives you a hard time!" Lovato growled and Flack smiled at her happily. It made him chuckle to think of the fiery, little Latino detective protecting him.
"I'm sure I'll be okay," he laughed.
"Me too," she smiled back. "Cos no doubt you've got through worse at work than this."
Flack nodded as he thought of Jess, Cade, the explosion...and then Mac. He closed his eyes as he was suddenly lost in another time.
Flack was prowling the lab looking for Danny and Hawkes who were going to take him out to celebrate the end of his first case back at work. They'd noticed that instead of being more cheerful to be back at work, happy that he was better, he was instead more glum, even depressed. He couldn't bring himself to tell them, not even Danny, that he couldn't stand being in the same room as Mac. That every time he saw him he plastered a fake smile on his face and made a conscious effort to keep up with his sarky remarks and witty sense of humour, while slowly dying inside.
He shook his head as he tried to bring himself out of his thoughts of Mac. It would only hurt him more to linger on it. He heard quiet voices as he approached one corner and as he was about to step round he recognised Mac's voice. The other voice...he knew it...oh yes, it was Peyton, the M.E.
"You've got that look. It's the same look you had the other night on the Brooklyn Bridge. Surprise."
Flack halted and froze. He'd been on the Brooklyn Bridge with Mac and Peyton the other night. It had been the first time he'd seen Mac since he'd come to the hospital to leave him. Perhaps she had noticed something. Had Mac really looked surprised? He flinched as he heard Mac reply.
"It wasn't surprise. It was just...I knew we'd eventually work the same crime scene together. It's just having a relationship with someone I work with is not something I'm used to. The moment on the bridge was a little...surprising."
Flack held a hand to his mouth as he felt his heart break into tiny pieces. Mac had blatantly lied to her. Of course he was used to having a relationship with someone he worked with. He and Mac had dated for almost a year and he was now just dismissing it away as though it had never happened. As though he'd never happened. Flack felt tears brim in his eyes and tried desperately to blink them away. By the time he'd calmed himself he no longer heard talking and breathed deeply before stepping round the corner.
Flack felt like he'd been shot. That's what it felt like. Or that his gut had been ripped out of his body again. He ran, before anyone could see him, he ran and fled to the men's toilet where he threw up his lunch and breakfast. Mac had been kissing her. Mac and Peyton. Kissing. It all made sense now. The real reason why Mac had left him. He'd just been some fun to pass the time...or a trial to make sure Mac was ready for a serious relationship. Flack let out a sob. Mac had never loved him. Mac had never loved him.
Flack could hear Lovato calling his name, could hear the soft rustle of the other detectives working around him and yet he was lost, memories taking over his mind as another came to the forefront.
Flack stared at the screen in front of him. The bullpen was bustling with activity, officers and criminals shouting at each other, detectives discussing their respective cases and phones ringing nonstop off the hook. Except Flack didn't hear all that, he wasn't aware of how crowded it was. For the first time in his life he felt alone, truly alone. And it was a cold, hard place he now resided in, one full of bitter resentment and hate. He'd damned himself the day he fell in love with Mac Taylor.
A message beeped on his screen but he didn't answer it. He didn't even know it had arrived.
Mac was gone. Mac had left for London two days ago. Mac had chosen Peyton. Mac had finally made his choice and this was it, permanent. There was no hope he'd ever come back to him now. He hadn't even discussed it. Flack hadn't even known anything was wrong. Mac had told him he loved him, that he didn't love Peyton. That he was leaving her for him. It was all lies. He'd gone without so much as a last look in his direction. Of course Flack had smiled and laughed it off merrily in front of Stella and Hawkes, it was the only thing he could do, even if Stella had glanced his way afterwards with an expression of pity on her face. If only she knew.
Flack hadn't mentioned to Sammie that he'd let Mac in again. Let him back into his life. How could he have said no? He loved Mac. He loved him so much it hurt. And he would never get to wake up to that smile again, share a moment together in secret at the lab, walk side by side at a scene and not feel the horror of it because he was standing right there. Instead, when he returned it would be awful...like death itself.
Flack weighed his options carefully. He could act impassive and cold again, but that only hurt last time. It hadn't helped one bit. No. No, this time he just had to move on. Stop hoping of a slim chance he might come back. He had eight days left and he was going to use them wisely. By the time Mac was back he would have removed him from his heart...by any means possible.
"Flack!"
Flack's eyes shot opened and he stared at Lovato.
"Sorry," he coughed as he blinked and checked around him to make sure no-one else was staring.
"No, it's my fault. I should never have said that. Shel told me about your girlfriend Jess. That was stupid of me to say that."
"No, it's fine," Flack assured. Lovato wasn't to know that having his heart broken by Mac was actually the most painful thing he'd ever lived through at work. Still, that was all in the past now and he was getting married in roughly a month. "How's it going with you and Hawkes anyway?"
Lovato blushed slightly and a very feminine smile appeared on her lips. "It's good. Shel is just great."
Flack nodded happily and thought of his own man. He completely understood what she meant.
"Flack, you've got your first case!" yelled Hatcher coming into the room.
Flack quickly shook his head and looked towards his Captain, a wonky grin spreading across his face.
Jo shuffled anxiously through her post-it-notes trying desperately to find the one she sought. She knew it was yellow and that it had last been seen stuck to the left of her monitor. Unfortunately it wasn't there now and had also disappeared from the local vicinity as well. She sighed in frustration as she searched under the copious amount of books and folders that covered her desk. It had the number of a great little bakery on it and she'd ordered the wedding cake from it a few months ago. What with the date fast approaching she wanted to ring and double check everything was still going to plan but had completely and utterly lost the number. It had to be around there somewhere...
"Jo, what are you doing?"
Jo looked up, sweeping back a few loose hairs that had fallen over her eyes to see Lindsay standing in the doorway smiling at her.
"Well you wouldn't believe what I've gone and done now would you?" she said shaking her head.
"What's that?" Lindsay asked as she sat down at her own desk.
"I've gone and lost the number for that cute little bakery I'm getting Mac and Don's cake from."
Lindsay laughed loudly and Jo frowned at her.
"It's not funny!"
"I wasn't laughing at that," Lindsay smiled. "You rang them three days ago to check that everything was okay with the cake."
"I did?" Jo said in surprise.
"Yes. Then because you knew you'd lose the number again you gave me a copy of it for safekeeping. I have it here on my computer."
Jo leant back in her chair and smiled. "Well that was very organised of me."
"Sound like you," Lindsay joked and the two women smiled.
"So how're you doing, Lindsay?" Jo smiled.
"Good, only two months to go now. I've got that excited feeling again. I mean, like really excited."
"Gosh only two months and then we'll have another little Messer running about."
"I'm not sure about running," Lindsay mused.
Jo chuckled. "Well you know what I meant."
"I know, I've got my hands full with two of them already."
"Two of what?" Danny asked as he poked his head into the office and smiled.
"Ears burning, eh?" Jo asked.
"Nope, just came to see my beautiful wife," Danny grinned.
"Oh, what a charmer you lucky girl," Jo laughed at Lindsay.
"I know," Lindsay replied happily. "What's up?"
"Just off to a scene on the East Side, something about a dead guy stuffed in a box. Flack's already there."
"Well have fun...and say hi to him from me," Lindsay replied.
"To the dead guy?"
"To Flack, idiot!"
Danny grinned cheekily and left the office. Jo was about to speak when her phone rang and she answered it still smiling. Her face fell immediately and Lindsay leant forward in concern. Something was wrong.
"Mac, slow down, you're not making any sense..."
Lindsay frowned at Jo but she shook her head.
"Yes, we're all here. At least I think we are."
Lindsay gestured to the hallway and the fact that Danny had said he was just about to leave.
"Oh, Danny's about to leave...what? Get him back?"
Jo signalled to Lindsay to grab Danny before he left and without hesitation the younger woman went from the room in search of her husband.
"Mac, what is going on? No, Flack's not here...yes, that's right...he's at a scene over on the East Side, waiting for Danny I'd imagine...how am I supposed...Mac? Mac?"
Jo placed the phone back down in confusion and frowned worriedly. Something bad had happened.
"God, the poor bastard looks a mess," Flack stated as he stared down at the body of an elderly man squashed into a cardboard box in an alley.
"The stench is something else," replied Hontz, a young officer who'd been out on the beat about six months now. He worked out of Flack's precinct and the two men had worked together at numerous scenes. The perky officer was so enthusiastic about everything it was hard not to like him and Flack had become good friends with him in a short amount of time. In fact Hontz had been the officer who had saved him along with Danny and Lovato from the other cops. Hontz had a strange black quiff that Flack rather admired and almost reminded him of the hairstyle he'd chosen during his own first few years as a cop. However where as he'd had no good excuse of his own for such an atrocity, he'd discovered that Hontz was an Elvis impersonator in his spare time and Flack had asked him to sing at his wedding reception.
"Thought you'd be used to it by now, Hontz," Flack replied, smirking at the young man.
"Man, I can't imagine ever getting used to it," he moaned.
"You don't," Flack replied, nodding as he spoke.
"Any ideas what might have happened?" asked the officer attempting to be professional and ignore the smell of the decaying carcass.
"Not my job. That's what CSIs are for," Flack grinned, scribbling something down in his memobook.
"You must be able to tell something though?" asked Hontz, eagerly trying to learn from his senior.
Flack chuckled and flipped his pad closed, placing it in his jacket pocket.
"Well, for starters this guy was dead before he was placed in the box, see here," Flack bent down and pointed with his pen. "There's no blood on the box at all apart from a few marks that I'm guessing would have been transferred when the body was shoved in here."
"Wow," murmured Hontz in awe.
"Secondly this box has been moved; see the drag marks along the ground. That means something heavy was in the box when it was moved; I'm guessing this old guy was the package."
"Incredible."
"Lastly, I noticed skid marks in the road as I entered the alley. It's possible they're unrelated but from the looks of these drag marks I'd say a vehicle, most likely a van, stopped suddenly in the street. The box was thrown out and dragged down the alley with the guy already inside it. However, as he was dead when he was put in the box we're looking for another crimescene as this," he gestured to the alley, "is not our primary."
"That's amazing," Hontz said excitedly as he gawped at Flack in admiration.
"Nah, it's just obvious when you know. And I bet you that when the CSIs get here they can tell you a hellova lot more than I can and make me look stupid."
"I doubt that. So how long does it take to make detective do you reckon?"
"Well..."
"Flack!"
Flack turned in surprise as he heard his name called and saw Callaghan storming down the alley, long, blonde hair flouncing behind her and an angry look on her face. Flack frowned.
"What you doing here, Callaghan?" he asked curtly.
"You're off the case," she snapped.
"What?" Flack said in shock.
"You're off the case. Looks like lover-boy is already pulling in favours for you!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Flack asked angrily.
"Officer, don't you have work to do?" Callaghan stared at Hontz.
Hontz looked nervously between the two detectives and then disappeared off towards his partner who was leaning against their squadcar smoking a cigarette. Callaghan waited until he was gone before turning to Flack and answering his question.
"Mac wants you back at the lab."
"But I'm on a case," Flack replied irritably.
"Not anymore. It's mine now," she retorted. "I'll need your notes."
"I don't understand," Flack replied, ignoring her request. "He can't just take me off a case!"
"Well he has."
"But it's not his job..."
"Flack!" she snapped. "Look, I really don't give a damn about your little tiffs with your boyfriend so just give me your god damn notes and go!"
Flack frowned angrily at her. "Fine." He pulled out his notes and handed them over before storming from the alley towards his car. He didn't know what Mac was playing at but he was going to find out soon enough. The man had no right to pull him from cases, whatever the problem was.
Mac exited the elevator before the doors had even fully opened and stormed down the corridor to the conference room. He was in an absolutely terrible mood and not even the brief conversation he'd had with Stella on the phone whilst driving had made him feel any better about the current situation. He was pleased to see his team waiting patiently around the table in the conference room as he entered and even Sid had come up from the morgue to hear what was about to be said. In fact, the only thing they were lacking was one tall, rather lanky homicide detective.
"Where's Flack?" Mac snapped as soon as he entered.
Immediately a hush went round the room and all looked up warily at him.
"He hasn't arrived back yet," Jo replied, annoyed and confused by Mac's seemingly irrational behaviour.
"And no-one thought to call?" Mac said incredulously.
"Mac, what's going on?" Danny interjected as he stared worriedly at his boss.
Mac eyed him angrily for a moment and then slowly relaxed. He needed to keep his head on this one. There was no need to worry everyone like this, he should have been more careful. And yet, and yet he was worried himself.
"I've been in a meeting with Sinclair this morning," Mac started, breathing deeply to calm himself.
The others waited silently for him to continue, they knew when to interrupt and when to let Mac get on with things.
"While I was there he received a phonecall in regards to something which affects us all."
"What is it, Mac?" Jo asked, her tone softened.
"Two weeks ago, Andrew Bedford escaped from jail."
"Bedford...why does that ring a bell?" Danny asked, frowning as he wracked his brains.
"The 333 stalker," Adam said timidly before Mac could reply.
All faces were on him, staring in horror and then they turned to Mac, expectantly waiting for more information.
"They're still not sure how he got out but think he had help from the inside. He's been in the wind ever since, though there are eyes on his known associates," Mac informed them.
"How does a thing like this even happen?" Danny said angrily.
"And why are we only finding out about this now?" Lindsay asked.
"I have no idea why it took so long for New York to be informed about the situation," Mac sighed.
"They should have told you first as a priority, Mac," Sid spoke up.
"Who's Andrew Bedford?" asked Jo worriedly.
"He's a guy from Mac's past who stalked him and tried to kill him," Hawkes stated.
"I knew him back in Chicago when we were kids. He blamed me for his brother's death," Mac murmured. "I'll get you the file."
"Thanks," Jo nodded, watching him carefully. Something was off. "Are you going to get protection?" she asked.
Mac turned around suddenly. "Why would I need it?" he snapped.
Jo looked taken aback and glanced at the others in confusion.
"Mac, what's eating at you?" Danny asked.
"Last time he didn't come to this city to kill me," Mac said angrily. "He came to punish me."
"He wanted to kill one of us," Lindsay said suddenly, gasping as she realised the full impact of that statement.
Mac collapsed into the chair at the head of the table. "I took one of his family," he said softly. "And he wanted to punish me by taking one of mine. One of you."
"You think we're all in danger?" Jo asked.
Mac nodded and held his face in his hands. "He tried to kill my work family before. I'm afraid that he may well have another go."
"What about Stella?" Hawkes asked.
"She's fully informed of the situation. I rang her in the car," Mac replied.
"But surely he would have done something by now, I mean, he's had two weeks?" suggested Adam.
"I don't know, Adam, I just don't know," Mac sighed. He felt like his world was falling apart.
"Mac, it'll be okay. We know how this guy works now. We'll be prepared. Last time we had no idea who he was," Danny reassured his father figure.
"I just need you all to be extra vigilant from now on until he's recaptured."
Everyone nodded and then sensing it was time to leave they all got up and started exiting the room.
"Danny, Lindsay? Can I have a word?" Mac called after the two Messers.
The married couple swapped a look and then waited in the room.
"Listen," Mac said as he stood and went over to them. "You both know how I consider you to be my family, and I don't just mean work. Danny, you know how much I love you, how I think of you as a son."
"Mac, we'll be okay," Danny comforted.
"Just listen, alright?" Mac said severely. "Last time he targeted my work family because I had none of my own. You two and Lucy are my family now. I want you to be especially careful, and with Lucy. I'm going to send an officer to watch your house until Andy is caught."
"Mac, that's really quite unnecessary," Lindsay said gently.
Danny put his arm round her. "Babe, maybe Mac is right. You're pregnant right now and I don't want anything to happen to you or Luce while I'm not there."
"Fine," Lindsay nodded.
Mac put his arms round her and hugged her tightly. Then he put a firm hand on Danny's shoulder and squeezed it. God forbid anything should happen to this family that he cared for so deeply.
The door opening interrupted the moment.
"Hey, sorry I'm late. What'd I miss?" Don asked as he entered the room.
"Drew Bedford?" Don repeated in shock as he sat on the couch in Mac's office. Mac was pacing back and forth across the space in front of his desk.
"Yes. For two weeks."
"And they only just thought to inform you now?" Don asked, looking up as he did so. He alone knew the full extent of the case involving the 333 stalker. It had been him who had followed Mac to Chicago, had listened to his story, had visited the room where it had all begun.
"They weren't even calling to let me know, it was to tell Sinclair," Mac spat angrily.
"I can't believe this is happening," Don murmured. "I've only just got back on my feet and then this...and right before our wedding."
"Don, I won't let this ruin anything!" Mac said vehemently and sat down next to Don. He took the detective's hand in his own, uncaring that he might be seen.
"How are you supposed to do that?" Don asked sadly. "We're gonna be looking over our shoulder until they catch him again and by now he could be anywhere."
"Don, I promise you. We're going to get married and it will be the most perfect day," Mac said softly. "You know what? Ironically it was Andrew Bedford who made me realise just how much I loved you."
"What?" Don yelped in surprise.
Mac sighed and clasped Don's hand tighter. "I realised just how much I needed you in my life, Don, the day I first told you about the 333 stalker. I knew you still hated me, that you were trying your best to get on with things and accept them the way they were. But I knew you really cared when I told you, I saw fear in your eyes and knew that was for me. Even if you did have a girl."
Don smiled at the memory. "You do realise Devon never meant anything to me. I mean, talk about rebound relationship, poor girl. I broke up with her the day after you told me. You were right. I was concerned for you. I wanted you to get protection."
Mac let out a breath. "You know that's not me."
"Yeah. But I was worried."
"You were the only one I felt I could rely on. The only one I wanted to support me. I'd told Stella but it wasn't the same. You've always been the only one who ever made me feel secure...safe," Mac said honestly.
Don smiled and placed his other hand on top of the one Mac had holding his.
"We'll be okay, Mac. Look at everything we've already been through. We can face this."
"I'm just worried for you. And Danny and Lindsay. All of you are my family and that's whom he was after last time."
"And last time, who won?" Don asked softly.
"Just be careful, alright?" Mac asked. "This guy is dangerous. Clever. And who knows what jail has done to him. I don't want you to be going off on your own anymore. No playing ball by yourself or going out late at night...and be careful at work."
Don blinked and then frowned, dropping his hands from Mac's and standing up. "I'm not a kid, Mac. Don't treat me like one."
"I'm not," Mac said as he too stood. "I'm trying to protect you here!"
"I don't need your protection, I can take care of myself!" shouted Don, starting to get angry. Mac was patronising him and he hated it.
"What?" Mac shouted back. "Like you did during the riot in the precinct? Or when Zane Kalim kidnapped you? Or when you nearly got killed by those four detectives?"
Flack stared at him in silence for a second and then he turned and stormed away out of the office.
"Don!" Mac shouted after him.
Don didn't even turn back.
"Don!" yelled Mac as he pulled open his office door. A few lab techs in the corridor watched nervously.
Don still didn't turn as he angrily jabbed the button for an elevator.
"Don, you come back here!" ordered Mac as he walked towards him.
The elevator doors opened and Don disappeared inside.
"Don't you dare just walk away from me," Mac shouted as he reached the elevator doors.
Too late. The doors slid closed and Don was gone.
Mac padded down the corridor to his apartment exhaustedly. The day had been a disaster from beginning to end and he couldn't wait to get home. He hoped to God that Don was there, that the younger man hadn't decided to go off to a bar for the evening just to spite him. Not that Don was a spiteful person, but Mac knew he had overstepped a mark today and that he should never have undermined Don's capabilities. And then there was the fact that Andrew Bedford was now free from jail and that scared Mac more than anything. Not to mention the fact he might not have a job for much longer, which he had neglected to tell Don. And he was still yet to find out how Don's first day back at work had gone. Mac unlocked his front door and froze as he heard loud music booming around the apartment. He recognised it immediately as Prokofiev's Dance of the Knights. He frowned and shut the door, proceeding into his apartment without even bothering to remove his shoes, a rare occurrence for him. A light was glowing from the kitchen and Mac went over to the door and pushed it open, staring in shock at what he saw. Don was in the kitchen conducting an invisible orchestra with a wooden spoon. Pans were boiling over on the hob and he was singing, 'bom bom bom bom bom,' and stomping his feet in time with the beats of the music whilst flicking sauce all over the kitchen. The whole place was a mess. A grin spread across Mac's face as he watched his fiancé who was clearly in his own little world and then he loudly cleared his throat.
Don jumped and turned around in horror at being caught. "Mac, you're home early!" he squeaked.
"I rather disagree; it seems to me like I came home late. Have I missed much of the performance?"
Don blushed something terrible and then went over to his ipod to turn off the music. "How long have you been there for?" he asked sheepishly.
"Long enough," Mac replied, still grinning.
"I was cooking dinner," Don replied hurrying to the hob to turn down the heat as he suddenly noticed the pans boiling over.
"Get distracted, hmm?" Mac teased.
Don once more blushed and pretended to busy himself by looking into his pans and stirring the contents. Mac felt slightly awkward, he didn't know if Don was still pissed at him.
"So I didn't know you were a fan of classical music? You like Prokofiev?" Mac asked as he stepped into the kitchen.
Don didn't look at him as he replied and Mac had a sneaky suspicion that the younger man was still embarrassed.
"I don't like classical music. I like the ballet."
Mac nearly fainted in shock and had to clutch at the wall to steady himself. "I'm sorry, I think I misheard you."
Don looked up from his pans. "I said I liked the ballet. Dance of the Knights is from Romeo and Juliet."
Mac blinked and shook his head in disbelief. "Yes, that's what I thought you said. Why have you never told me?"
"Cos I know you'd try and drag me to the opera and I hate opera...all that screechy singing...yuk! Ballet is silent, it's nice. Actions speak louder than words and all that. I sometimes think people shouldn't talk so much in real life, I get sick of people talking bull to me all day long at work."
"I can understand that," mused Mac. "So how did you discover you liked the ballet?"
Don grinned goofily at him. "I accidently went to see one. It was the Nutcracker. I thought it was about the army, some Colonel cracking people's balls...like getting them into shape for conflict."
Mac couldn't help but laugh loudly at Don's mistake. How on Earth anyone could think that was beyond him.
"Surely there were some pictures outside? You must have realised within the first few minutes of the performance why did you stay?"
"I dunno, I don't remember. And I was gonna walk out but it started off all Christmassy and you know how much I love Christmas. And by that time I was hooked. I liked the music, the dancing and the no speaking."
Mac chuckled again. He just couldn't get over this. Don liked the ballet; it was even more amusing than Don reading Shakespeare. It was really quite amazing the secrets you learnt about someone when you lived with them.
"So which is your favourite?"
"Hmmm," Don hummed as he glanced back into his pots and gave them all a quick stir. "I quite like Don Quixote, but I think my favourite is La Bayadere, although it's a bit sad; everyone seems to die in it. I hate Swan Lake, that one's overrated."
"Why do you hate Swan Lake?" Mac asked as he smiled again, he just couldn't hide his amusement.
"Well I think the bad guy, Rothbart, is pretty cool, I'll give them that. But Prince Siegfried is an idiot. All he has to do is choose the right girl, make the right choice but he doesn't and because of that he loses Odette. It's stupid and I don't like birds."
Mac couldn't stop himself. He howled with laughter at what Don had just said. He hated Swan Lake because he didn't like birds. He'd never heard anything like it.
"God I love you, Don," Mac said at last, blinking tears of laughter from his eyes. "Even after twelve years you can still surprise me...and you say I'm a man of mystery!"
"It's not that big a deal," grumbled Don as he turned off the hob and took the pans off the heat.
"I think it's a huge deal," Mac said softly. He smiled and went over to Don, wrapping his arms around him from behind and kissing the back of his neck. "Look, I'm sorry about today. I realise I was out of line. I never should have said those things to you."
Don sighed and let his hands rest on top of Mac's. "You made me feel really small. Really weak and pathetic. You know how I've been anxious about that ever since I was kidnapped and you used that against me. It wasn't fair, Mac. I can take care of myself. I'm a cop for Christ's sake."
Mac felt a deep sense of shame and regret as he listened to Don's words.
"I know, Don. If I could take back what I said then I would, but I can't. However I want you to know it will never happen again. I respect you too much."
"I just don't want you to think I'm incapable," Don said quietly.
"I don't!" Mac said quickly. "I never have. What I said to you today was only because I was worried. You have proven yourself time and time again as a capable officer; brave, diligent, sensible, intelligent. You know I don't need to say this because I know you already know this."
"Still nice to hear," Don mumbled.
Mac let go of the detective and pushed him round so he could see him. "I'm sorry, Don."
Don blinked his big blue eyes at Mac. "I know you are," he replied.
"Are we okay?" Mac asked cautiously.
Don smiled. "Course we are."
Mac smiled in relief.
"I hate it when we argue," Don murmured.
"Me too," agreed Mac.
"Do you remember our first argument?" Don asked quietly.
"How could I forget?" Mac said.
"Mac, are you even listening?" and angry voice stated. Don's voice.
Mac turned to look at him.
"You know she's a good CSI and she didn't tamper with the evidence."
"She thought about it, Don," Mac stated.
"Exactly, thought...not did!" Don defended.
"I need to be able to trust my investigators, Don. That is essential to the lab. If evidence from just one case can be called into question then so can every single piece of evidence ever processed by this lab," Mac said angrily.
"I understand that, Mac. But..."
"But what? There's no excuse. Even Danny understood that," Mac interrupted.
"Danny's pissed at you," Don snorted.
"He'll get over it. He knows how important it is to make sure evidence can be relied upon. Aiden let the case get to her and that's dangerous. Surely you realise the severity of her actions? What would you do if you were working with a cop you didn't feel you could trust? Who might not have your back?"
Don stared at Mac angrily. "Aiden wasn't like that and you know it!"
"I'm not discussing this with you anymore, Don. My decision is final in case you'd forgotten," Mac growled.
"She didn't need to be fired," Don said bitterly.
"Don't tell me how to do my job, Flack," Mac snapped. "You're forgetting your place."
Don didn't speak but only gazed at Mac in fury. "Fine," he finally said. He turned and stormed to the door. "Oh and Mac, I think it's best we don't go out for anymore drinks."
Then he was gone and Mac felt himself break a little bit.
"But we made up," Mac reminded Don. "We always do."
Mac looked up and noticed Don standing hesitantly by the door to his office. Mac gestured for him to enter. Don nodded gratefully and nervously entered the room, fidgeting with his hands, a tell-tale sign.
"What can I do for you, Flack?" Mac asked, surveying him.
"I...um, I... I just wanted to apologise to you, Mac. I should never have shouted at you the other day."
Mac watched Don's sorrow with interest and sympathy. "You were upset," was all he said.
"Yeah, I was. But I still had no right to tell you how to do your job, or how to manage your staff," Don stated regretfully.
"Flack, I understand. Aiden is your friend and you just found out she lost her job, that you wouldn't get to see her every day. It's logical you'd be worried and upset, just like Danny was," Mac said understandingly.
"Yeah, but I bet he didn't yell at you," Don muttered miserably.
"Well, no. But I am his boss," Mac stated wisely.
Don nodded and sighed. "Well that's all I really wanted to say...you know, that I'm sorry."
Mac studied him carefully. "Take care, Don. I'll see you tomorrow."
Don turned and walked to the door. He paused before he opened and looked back at Mac who was still watching him carefully. "I don't suppose you'd...that you'd want to go for a drink later?"
Mac's eyes narrowed in severity for a moment, and then he smiled at the younger man. "I'd love to."
A grin finally broke out on Don's face and Mac suddenly realised how much he'd missed that goofy smile.
"We'd only been out on one date by then hadn't we?" Don said, remembering.
"Yup," Mac nodded.
"I'm glad we made up" Don said, hugging Mac. "I'm glad we make up every time."
"Agreed," Mac laughed gently as he went back over to the ipod, turning the music back on.
"Mac?" Don frowned, watching from his place by the hob. "What're you doing?"
"Well, there are certain things you don't know about me too..." Mac smiled.
"Like what?" Don asked in puzzlement.
"I love..." Mac said as he drifted his way back over to Don. "...to dance!"
The older man suddenly grabbed the younger's arms and pulled him along through the kitchen and out into the hallway dancing to the music and spinning him round.
Don laughed his head off.
A/N – Flashbacks from 3x14, 3x01, a few days after 3x24, 2x02 and 2x03