Chapter 8: Dodgeball

. . .

When Mac finished reading another report, he signed it and placed it down on the pile. He sighed deeply and glanced down at the shopping bag that was sitting next to his desk. He picked it up and pulled out a red and navy jumper that he had bought on his way to work. He held it in front of him and studied it for a moment.

''That's really nice but I don't think it will match this tie.'' Lindsay told Mac as she entered his office. ''It also doesn't seem to be your size.'' She added. Mac turned in his chair and looked at her with a smile.

''It's not for me.'' He explained and Lindsay smiled back as she was more than aware of that.

''For Rick?''

''Yes... I'm wondering if it's too big?'' Mac murmured, studying the jumper once more.

''Well, it won't be a problem if it's a little too big. He will grow up into it.'' Lindsay said and Mac nodded. She sat down across his desk and watched him for a moment. Mac put the jumper back in the bag and looked at her. He raised his eyebrows, waiting for her to tell him why she had come to his office, but she obviously had other things on her mind.

''So, I heard you and Rick get along pretty well.'' Lindsay said.

''Who told you that?'' Mac asked surprised, but she didn't answer and only smiled. ''He's a nice kid.''

''I bet he is.'' Lindsay nodded. ''He's still at the hospital, right?''

''Yeah. He will be released tomorrow.''

''Mhm. And then what?'' Lindsay asked casually.

''What do you mean?'' Mac asked with a frown.

''You know... I used to think I knew everything about love. How bitter-sweet it can be.'' She said, slightly absentmindedly while toying with a paperweight on Mac's desk. ''And then... Lucy was born and I found out I had no idea about love of that kind because it's so different. It's completely unconditional. The only thing you have to do is love back. If you do so, you can be sure you will be loved for a lifetime.''

''Lindsay...'' Mac said, slightly leaning forward and raising his eyebrows. ''Why are you telling me that?'' He asked and she finally looked at him. She put the paperweight down and smiled at him.

''I don't know.'' Lindsay shrugged her shoulders. ''It's just funny, I never thought that having a child would mean so much to me until we got Lucy.'' She said and Mac narrowed his eyes at her.

''I know what you're trying to do here.'' He told her.

''What?'' Lindsay asked innocently.

''It's your odd way of convincing me to agree on Rick staying with me.'' Mac guessed.

''And that would be such a bad thing?'' Lindsay asked, looking him directly in the eye. Mac sighed and leaned back in his chair.

''No, it wouldn't.''

''So... why won't you give it a try?'' Lindsay asked again.

''Because I don't think it's something that can be tried. I may do more harm that way...''

''OK, that's true.'' Lindsay agreed. ''It isn't something you can change your mind about after taking on the commitment. But you have nothing to worry about, as I'm sure you'd be just great at it.''

''How can you be so sure?'' Mac asked, smiling lightly.

''I saw you with Lucy.'' Lindsay told him. ''Also... I don't want to sound toady, but you aren't only a boss for us all. You kind of... are like a father.'' She told him shyly. ''I know that you'd be the first one I'd come to if I screwed up. I really trust you and I know you'd do everything you could to help me.'' She added.

''Well... If you screwed up, I'd probably yell at you first.'' Mac told her. He tried to keep a serious face, but the corner of his mouth twitched with a smirk.

''See! That's what I'm talking about!'' Lindsay laughed. ''That's what every parent would do.''

Mac smiled at her, but then the concerned look came back to his face. ''I don't know, Linds.'' He sighed. ''I don't think Rick and Lily should be separated and since Jo wants to adopt Lily...''

''She does?'' Lindsay cut him off as she was truly surprised.

''Isn't that obvious?'' Mac asked.

''Umm... I don't know.'' Lindsay hesitated. ''Sure, Lily seems to be really attached to her, but when I talked about it with Jo she wasn't really convinced about the idea.'' Lindsay said slowly. She glanced at Mac and saw how he frowned. ''But I don't know, maybe something has changed since then? Or maybe I didn't get it right?'' Lindsay wondered.

''Yeah, maybe...'' Mac murmured and for a moment he got lost in his thoughts. Then he glanced at her. ''You want me to sign those reports?'' He asked, indicating that the personal part of the conversation was over and now it would be only business.

''Yes.'' Lindsay nodded and she handed him the folder.

. . .

Mac was just about to knock on Jo's door when much to his surprise it flew open. He raised his eyebrows at the sight of Jo who almost bumped into him.

''Mac? What are you doing here?'' She gasped in surprised.

''I need to talk to you.'' He simply said.

''Well, this is not a good moment.'' Jo explained hastily as she zipped up her leather jacket. ''I have to pick up Ellie from her soccer practice and...'' She paused suddenly and looked behind her. Mac followed her gaze and saw Lily who was sitting on the floor and struggling to put on her shoes. Jo crouched next to her and helped her. ''Lily, please, we have to hurry up.'' She told her, trying to sound calm, but Mac was able to catch a hint of annoyance in her voice. Lily yawned widely.

''I'm sleepy...'' She complained quietly.

''I know you are.'' Jo told her softly as she picked her up from the floor. ''But we have to go...''

''You're taking her with you?'' Mac asked with a frown.

''I can't leave a 4-year old alone at home, can I?'' Jo answered with growing irritation. Then she checked her watch. ''Damn, I won't be able to hail a cab at this hour in a million years.'' She murmured.

''Why don't you take your car?'' Mac asked again.

''I don't have a booster seat.'' Jo groaned. ''Mac, I really have to go. We will talk some other time, OK?''

''Jo, can you just stop for a second?'' Mac asked her and she complied, but he still could sense that she was in a nervous rush. ''How long is it going to take you?''

''I don't know. About an hour, I guess?''

''OK. How about I stay with Lily and watch her and you'll go with your car to pick up Ellie.'' Mac offered. ''Then we could talk when you come back.''

''Umm...'' Jo hesitated for a moment and considered her option. ''Fine.'' She finally agreed and handed Lily to him. ''Car keys, car keys...'' She murmured, while she patted her trousers and jacket. Mac glanced at the small table beside the door and spotted the keys with a Toyota key-ring lying on the floor next to it. He bent over and picked them up. ''Here, catch!'' He told her and threw them to her.

''Thanks!'' Jo yelled already from the hall. Mac peeped out after her.

''Driver's license? Car documents?'' He asked.

''Got them! I think...'' Jo answered before the elevator door closed.

''If not, she would just say that she left them in her other handbag when she decided to change at the very last moment, as it didn't match her shoes or something like that...'' Mac murmured as he closed the front door. Then he glanced at Lily. She seemed quite happy to be left with him. He brushed an unruly curl away from her forehead and she glanced at him with a smile. ''Crazy, huh?''

''Yeah...'' Lily nodded and rolled her eyes, which made Mac laugh. Then she yawned again.

''You really need a nap, sweetie.'' Mac told her. He took off her jacket and her shoes. Then Lily climbed onto the couch and put her head down on the pillow. ''Here?'' Mac asked.

''Mhm.'' Lily murmured in response. Mac moved to the bedroom and took her violet blanket. He covered her with it and dimmed the light slightly. Before he left the room, he watched her for a moment. Suddenly, he recalled his mother's words – she used to say that he shouldn't watch anyone sleep, unless he wanted to fall in love with that person. He smiled to himself as he thought how very true this saying was. Lily was the sweetest child he had ever seen and most the time he couldn't help but smile like a fool upon seeing her, but when she slept... Watching her then was awaking all different kind of feelings in him.

Finally Mac sighed and left the room. He went to the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea and he found out that Jo must have been in the middle of preparing dinner when Ellie had called. He glanced over at what he was sure Jo would call an organized chaos and what for him seemed just to be chaos, and decided he would finish making dinner for her as he hadn't anything better to do anyway.

Almost an hour later, Mac pulled the chicken out of the oven. It only took a moment for Lily to show up in the kitchen.

''Something smells nice.'' She said a little shyly. Mac turned around and smiled upon seeing her. He picked her up and sat her on the kitchen counter. She glanced at the chicken and took a deep sniff.

''Ahh, is someone hungry here?'' Mac joked and Lily nodded. ''You are like a bear, that woke up after the winter's sleep and would eat just about anything, huh?'' He told her with a smile. He took a piece of the chicken and blew on it. He looked at Lily and saw how her little eyebrows furrowed. ''What?'' He asked confused.

''I'm not a bear.'' Lily protested.

''Why not?''

''Bears are ugly. They're fat and hairy.'' Lily told him firmly.

''How about the small ones? They're cute, aren't they?'' Mac asked and ate a piece of chicken, testing if it was ready.

''No.'' Lily said slightly grumpily.

''OK... How about a princess? You could be a princess who woke up from her beauty nap and now she's waiting for an exquisite dinner to be served.'' Mac told her and Lily smiled widely.

''I can be a princess.'' She agreed and Mac laughed quietly. He couldn't resist and he took another bite. He noticed how Lily watched him carefully and he took another piece of chicken and offered it to her. ''Do you want to try?''

''Yes.'' Lily told him and opened her mouth. Mac gave her a piece and she quickly ate it.

''Is it good?'' He asked with a smile.

''Yummy!'' She expressed her enthusiasm and Mac's smile grew bigger.

''OK, so lets take the plates and...'' He started, but Lily cut him off.

''Can't we eat like that?'' She asked as she fixed her big blue eyes on him.

''Like what? With our fingers?''

''Yeah.'' She nodded with a grin.

''Ahh, but darling, princesses don't eat like that. They eat with silver cutlery, from the finest China.'' Mac told her with a smirk and Lily frowned for a second.

''How about bears?'' She asked suddenly and Mac snorted with laughter.

''But you said you are a princess.'' Mac noted.

''Can I be a bear for a moment?'' Lily asked hopefully.

''Oh, alright, for a moment.'' Mac nodded with a smile. He took another piece and blew on it, as it was too hot. He chuckled upon seeing how Lily waited for it with her mouth opened.

. . .

''I told you I need those solutions for tomorrow and you said it's not a problem, as you would ask some geek guy who works with you for help.'' Ellie told her mom with a clear reproach.

''I did, but I haven't been at work for a whole week, El. How was I supposed to ask Adam without going to work?'' Jo said in a very similar tone. From their raised voices Mac could tell their conversation lasted at least for a while before they entered the apartment. ''Don't you have some friends at school who are good at math?'' Jo asked.

''If I did, I wouldn't ask you.'' Ellie bit back and kicked out her shoes. Without a word she headed to her room. Jo sighed deeply.

''I'm gonna strangle her.'' She muttered.

''What's going on?'' Mac asked Jo as soon as she came to the living room. She glanced at Mac and smiled upon seeing him sitting cross-legged on the carpet, with the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up to his elbows. He and Lily were making some strange construction out of building blocks that Lindsay had left at Jo's place the other day.

''Ellie has to do maths homework for tomorrow. She managed to solve almost all of the questions, but three of them are really hard and I promised I would ask Adam for help with those.'' She told Mac as she sat down on the carpet next to him and Lily.

''You can't help her?'' Mac asked jokingly and she narrowed her eyes at him.

''I hate math and I'm really lame at it. I can help her with biology, chemistry, history, even art and literature. Anything but math.'' Jo told him.

''How about physics?'' Mac asked as he crooked his eyebrow at her.

''You're awful.'' Jo said and smacked his arm.

''I'm just asking!'' Mac laughed. ''Maybe I could help her?'' He offered.

''It's quadratic equations...'' Jo warned.

''Quadratic functions!'' Ellie yelled from her room.

''Yeah, whatever.'' Jo sighed. ''You think you could do that?'' She asked Mac.

''I can give it a try.'' Mac smiled at her.

''You've just been awarded an official 'Danville Gals' Hero' title.'' Jo quipped.

''Pretty cool.'' Mac laughed.

''What are you building?'' Jo asked Lily.

''A space ship.'' She told her with a beaming smile.

''A space ship?'' Jo repeated after her and looked at Mac, who made a funny face and spread his arms hopelessly.

''It will take Mr. Whiskers to Saturn.'' Lily continued.

''To Saturn? Why to Saturn?'' Jo asked with curiosity.

''Because it has rings.'' Lily explained. She seemed to be slightly disappointed with Jo's ignorance.

''Oh, OK...'' Jo nodded. She glanced at Mac who was laughing quietly. ''What?!''

''Astronomy doesn't seem to be your thing either.'' He teased her.

''Really funny.'' She said, wincing at him. ''Did you eat anything? I didn't have enough time to make dinner before picking Ellie up.''

''I finished it. I baked the chicken and made French fries. Lily ate grated carrots and apples.'' Mac told her.

''Really? Carrots and apples?'' Jo looked at Lily, being clearly astonished.

''Yeah.'' Lily nodded.

''How did you do that?'' Jo glanced at Mac suspiciously.

''I added a little cinnamon and I promised I'd play with her.'' Mac whispered to Jo.

''Pretty clever.'' Jo told him and patted his shoulder. Then she stood up. ''I'm going to make myself a cup of tea. You want some?''

''Yes, please.'' He stood up as well and wanted to follow Jo to the kitchen, but he glanced at Lily, being unsure if he should leave her alone in the living room.

''Ellie! Can you play with Lily for a moment?'' Jo asked her daughter as she passed outside her room.

''OK.'' Ellie agreed without hesitation as she had an excuse to take a break from doing her homework. Only then Mac followed Jo to the kitchen. She pulled out two mugs and set the kettle.

''So... what do you want to talk about?'' She asked.

''I want to apply for short-term foster care for Rick and Lily. Until they're placed permanently with a foster family.'' Mac told her openly. She turned around and looked at him with her eyebrows furrowed.

''For both? Rick and Lily?'' She asked and her frown grew deeper.

''Well, yes. They shouldn't be separated.'' Mac told her.

''That's true.'' Jo agreed.

''I thought I have to tell you that, as I know you care deeply about Lily, but since you don't want to adopt her...''

''Where did you get the idea that I don't want to adopt her?'' Jo interrupted him. Mac looked at her and frowned slightly.

''Well, I talked to Lindsay...'' He admitted honestly. ''She said that you told her you decided against it.''

''I told her I wasn't sure.'' Jo corrected. ''I wanted this decision to be well thought out and to be truly mine.'' She told him. ''I admit that I was fighting with the idea since the very beginning, but now I know it would be very hard for me to say goodbye to Lily. I really grew accustomed to her. I'm sure I'd be able to take a good care of her and help her to deal with trauma. I'm sure that I'd be able to take care of Rick as well.'' Jo told him confidently.

There was a longer moment of silence between them and finally Mac spoke, ''Jo, can I ask you not to do it?''

''What?! Why?''

''I really want to take care of Rick.'' Mac told her, still not looking at her. ''Actually... I really need it right now.''

''What are you saying, Mac?'' Jo asked as she studied his face, but he remained silent. ''OK, I admit it. Rick seems to be getting really attached to you. But what about Lily?''

''I think I'm capable of taking care of her as well.'' Mac stated coldly.

''I'm not saying you aren't. But... she really likes me, Mac.''

''I noticed.'' He murmured. ''You won't step aside, will you?'' He asked with a sigh.

''Why should I?'' Jo asked back with her tone slightly harsher than usual. She waited for him to answer, but he didn't even seem to bother. He wasn't even looking at her as his gaze was fixed on his intertwined fingers. She started to get angry. ''Oh, I get it. I shouldn't do that, because I'm single? You think it won't be good for Lily and Rick to be raised by a single mom? Sure, it probably won't be as an ideal picture compared to you, Christine and two kids... Perfect little family. But you know what? I managed to raise Ellie on my own, I know I'll manage to take care of Lily and Rick, too.'' Jo ended and folded her arms on her chest. Finally Mac looked up at her. She was staring straight ahead and he could easily tell how angry she was.

''Well, that's true. It's better for any kid to have both parents, not only one...'' He started, but she cut him off.

''Honestly, Mac, I really admire your readiness to take care of Lily and Rick, but I'm not sure that you realize how hard it is to be a parent. It will turn your whole life upside down! Are you ready for that?'' Jo asked and fixed her eyes on him as she was challenging him.

''What if I'm not only ready for it but I'm actually looking forward to it?'' Mac asked and Jo frowned slightly upon hearing an unfamiliar note in his voice. ''I mean... Imagine your life without Ellie and Tyler, Jo. Imagine yourself spending every day at work, from early in morning till late at night. Then you come home and there is nobody you can talk to. Nobody waiting for you... Nobody needing you.''

Jo swallowed hard. She had never seen him like that. He sounded really desperate and she felt sorry for him. She knew he was lonely and she really wished for him to be happy. But then, it was hard for her to think that Lily could be taken away from her. She had been resisting the thought that the little girl could actually stay with her but once she had made the decision, she felt it was truly the right one.

''I really want to take care of Lily, Mac.'' Jo stated stubbornly.

''Well, then I guess there is no point for us having this conversation.'' Mac suddenly said and rose to his feet. ''Clearly you're on the other side than me. The only thing we could do is to have someone else decide which one of us will be better to take care of those kids.'' He told her and left the kitchen. Jo was sure he would head for the door, but instead, he turned left.

''Where do you think you're going?'' She asked him, sounding a little harsher than she wanted to.

''I promised Ellie that I'd help her with math.'' He muttered under his breath.

Jo stood alone in the kitchen for a moment, slightly shocked. Then she groaned loudly in frustration. She kicked the stool angrily, which didn't really help and she regretted it instantly, as it only caused her toes to hurt.

. . .

Mac stood in front of the window and it seemed like he was looking out through it, but in reality he was staring dumbly at the raindrops that were going down on the glass surface. It was a very gloomy morning. There was no sign of the sun, it was cold, windy and it was raining. His neck was aching from sleeping on the couch in his office. He wrapped his hands around the mug that he was holding, but the tea he had made himself almost an hour ago was already cold and it didn't bring any comfort.

He heard a quiet tap on the door and he turned around. The last person he would expect to visit him right now just entered his office. Any other time he would be glad to see her. But considering the conversation they had shared last evening and the serious look she had on her face right now he was more than aware that he had nothing to be glad about. Jo moved towards him and leaned back against his desk.

''So I got up early today, I went out into a pouring rain and I drove for almost an hour in heavy traffic.'' She told him in a quiet and calm voice. ''Your turn.'' She added and poked him lightly with her elbow.

''My turn for what?'' Mac asked, confused.

''Well, that's my contribution on making things better between us. What is yours?''

Mac frowned as he got slightly irritated by her forwardness, but as soon as he glanced at her it became clear to him what she was up to. It was her way of showing that she cared about him. Of course, it was like everything she did – a little bit quirky and delivered in a joking tone, but the message was pretty clear. She decided to make the first move. Now he could back off and hide in his shell like he always did, or meet her half way.

''What can I say?'' He asked with a sigh. ''Our last conversation... didn't go at all as I wanted.'' He admitted. ''I'm sorry for that.''

''Yeah, me too.'' Jo nodded.

''You have nothing to worry about. Although I did apply for Rick and Lily being temporally placed with me, there is no chance that I will be granted for it. I'm pretty much sure it will be you.'' Mac said and smiled sadly. She hesitated for a moment.

''I wouldn't be so sure.'' Jo murmured. ''You kind of had a point with me being single.'' She sighed. ''It's always easier for a couple to adopt a kid. If I were a judge, I would say Lily and Rick should stay with you and Christine.'' She admitted honestly.

''Yeah, the only problem is that I'm not applying with Christine.'' Mac told her quietly and he slumped down in his chair. ''I'm applying alone.''

Jo frowned slightly, but then she shrugged her shoulders, ''Does it really make any difference? It's just the legal issue. She'll still be there to help you while I'd be on my own with everything.''

''She won't.'' Mac shook his head. ''She's packing up her stuff at my place as we speak. We broke up, Jo.''

Jo looked at him with her eyes wide open as she wasn't able to comprehend it for a moment. She was sure they got on well with each other. Of course, they had some issues, but that was normal in every relationship. She frowned and thought about the conversation she had with Mac a few days ago. She couldn't help but get the impression that he hadn't told her everything that was bugging him then. He said Christine had a hard time dealing with him being busy at work, but it seemed like it had been more than just regular complaining about him staying too late in his office. Maybe it was that particular case... Suddenly it all made sense to her.

''Christine didn't want to take care of Rick and Lily, did she?'' Jo asked and Mac smiled sadly upon hearing her. It was incredible how she was always able to piece the puzzle together. Nothing could be hidden from her.

''No, she didn't.'' Mac admitted, although he knew he didn't have to, as she already knew the truth.

Jo studied him for a moment as she put all information together in her head. Only then she understood how much taking care of Rick meant to Mac. He clearly staked everything on one card.

''Then I guess we both have quite the same chances.'' She sighed. ''Rather slim ones.''

''I still think that yours are higher.'' Mac murmured. ''You did adopt Ellie while being single, didn't you?''

''Well, yes, but it was completely different with Ellie.'' Jo told Mac. He looked at her with his eyebrows raised and she sighed, as she knew he wouldn't let her tell only half of the story. ''As much as I hate to admit it, nobody else wanted her, Mac. She was very sick and with her mother's criminal records... But Lily and Rick... I'm sure they could find a foster family without any difficulties.''

''I guess you're right.'' Mac sighed. ''I don't know who am I kidding. I couldn't take care of two kids anyway.'' He added with a clear resignation in his voice.

''That's not true.'' Jo protested. ''OK, you don't have much experience, but you have a natural talent.'' She told him honestly and he smiled lightly. ''I'm not saying it'd be easy... Hell, I thought I was good at it and last night I was running in circles... If not for you offering your help and watching after Lily, it would have been a disaster, I'm sure.''

''Seems like we make quite a team.'' Mac joked.

''It does, doesn't it?'' Jo agreed with a laughter.

They stayed silent for a couple of minutes. Jo glanced at Mac and saw how tired and sad he looked. Then she thought of how happy he seemed to be while being around Rick and Lily. She placed her hand on his shoulder and wanted to say something, when suddenly Mac's phone started to ring. He pulled it out from his pocket and answered it.

''Taylor... Yes... Yes, of course... No, no, it's not a problem... At noon, I got it.'' He hung up and furrowed his eyebrows. Jo's eyes were fixed on him as she waited for him to say something. ''It was from Judge's Collins office.'' He finally said. ''He wants to see me today at noon.'' He told Jo and she raised her eyebrows. Before she was able to make any comment on that, her phone started to ring.

. . .

A/N Terribly sorry for the longer than usual break in updating, but life got terribly busy lately.

Big big biiiiig hug for Jess for correcting this chapter. Honestly, girl, you rock!

Please read and review :)