The Real Don Quixote Ch. 3 Part I: Cupid By Any Other Name
It was a cross between intoxication, and a feeling similar to that weird transitional stage between dreaming and waking when the texture and sensations of the dream seem to bleed into reality as the consciousness reloads into awareness. She had not dared to believe that she would ever again get to feel the warmth of Will encircling her as he held her, smell his aftershave as it wafted through her nostrils, and hear the dim thud of his heart as her ear rested on his chest, held there fast by strong arms and firm hands. She didn't want to let go.
But of course she would have to. Sure, this was in its own weird way a "Valentine's Day" present; but it wasn't a "Valentine's Day present" in that sense. It had been nice to say the words to him, though. She could pretend just for a moment that they were okay, and everything was normal again. And by God was she glad that she'd said them to the right man tonight! The thought of Wade made her pull herself just a little bit closer to Will and he seemed to return the increased pressure subconsciously because he didn't look at her.
As the last few staffers headed into his office he seemed to come out of his trance and breathed, "Thank you" into Mackenzie's hair. She grinned into his shoulder, before pulling back and looking at him properly, for once openly displaying her feelings on her face.
"My pleasure." She said honestly. They slowly moved away from each other, as though some section of each of their brains was telling them that this was against their primary instincts. Now came the awkward moment where neither of them knew what to do next. Luckily they were saved any further uncertainty by Neal calling Will over to his computer: Kahlid was apparently asking for him.
Smiling, Mac watched him go over and offer a few words to Kahlid. Feeling slightly less buoyed than she had been when she was in Will's arms she looked around the room going through her standard end of the day mental checklist before heading back into her office. She tried not to catch anyone's eye, not wanting to be heckled into heading to the bar. After the day she'd had all she wanted was a long, hot bath and maybe a glass of wine or 3 before she tumbled into bed and instantly fell asleep.
Her hopes were dashed as she made it all the way into her office, leaning her head heavily on the door as she closed it behind her, and then turned around to find Charlie siting in one of her chairs, his legs crossed, the top one jangling to some rhythm, and with an expectant look on his face.
"Charlie –" Mackenzie groaned, knowing this was going to be a fight that she probably wouldn't win.
"Mackenzie." He mocked, not moving an inch in his seat. Mentally berating herself for not looking around before she had closed the door, she chose to act as though he wasn't there and instead got busy with packing up her things.
Charlie watched her silently for a couple of minutes, letting her think she was going to get away with it. But, of course she wasn't. "You're getting out of here awfully fast. Hot date?"
She shot him an annoyed look, but didn't answer.
"Look, Jim and Maggie – or whoever it is she's with –"
"Lisa and Jim, and Don and Maggie." Mac said shortly, not entirely sure why of all things this had broken her silence.
"Right, them – are all going to join us at the bar before going off to do their fluffy Valentine's – well, whatever it is they've got planned, so why don't you bring Wade along?"
Mac looked at him as though he'd just told her that two plus two equals twenty. "Charlie, how high a dosage of drugs do you think I would have to be on to willingly do that to Will?"
There was a flash of knowing in Charlie's eyes before he returned to acting nonchalant. "Will's a big boy Mac, he can look after himself."
"Will's age has nothing to do with it." Mac muttered fiercely, shoving files into her briefcase. Charlie rolled his eyes, growing impatient.
"Look, what you just did for Will –"
"I'm not going to bring Wade to the bar Charlie, because I've broken up with him." Mackenzie snapped, flipping her briefcase shut with a flourish. Charlie just looked at her, stumped. "All I want to do is go home and curl up in bed. I'm glad Will's happy, he deserves some recognition after what he did for Kahlid."
Her voice grew wearier as she talked, and by the end of her little tirade she was looking exhausted, one hand on her hip, one supporting her on her desk. Out of respect, Charlie gave her a little moment to straighten her head out and then stood up, sticking his own hands in his pockets and looking at her kindly.
"Mackenzie, you would want Will to be happy regardless of who he does or doesn't help." A lone tear fell to her cheek; maybe it was due to her distressed and confused emotional state – she had no idea how she had gone from planning a romantic evening with Wade at the start of the day to ending up giving Will a Valentine's gift (of sorts) – or maybe it was purely out of exhaustion. She just didn't know.
Charlie tilted his head trying to catch her eye. "You know Will wanted to punch Wade for doing that to you?" Mackenzie let out a short laugh, finally meeting Charlie's eye in a weak smile, but her eyes were full of regret and sadness.
"He told me – he told me not to jump to conclusions about Wade." There was a bitter note in her voice when she spoke his name this time. "Said Wade would be crazy to risk losing me."
She cleared her throat and dried the tear track, hating herself for appearing so weak – for knowing that Will would always be able to do this to her.
"He was." Charlie reassured her quietly, a warm smile on his face. But Mac's expression was still one of confusion.
"Wade said – it was because I had never told him about me and Will – so he decided to get something out of it." As Mac replayed the scene on the terrace in her mind, hurt washed over her once more and she had to bite her lip to stop it trembling. Feeling the need to sit down she slumped back into her chair feeling pathetic. This was the second time in a month that Charlie had seen her like this, and more than ever, it made her long for that bath and the wine – she needed more and more of it by the second!
Making a disapproving noise, Charlie walked around the desk and sat on the edge of it facing mac, and put a finger under her chin to make her look at him. The tears and anguish in her eyes yanked painfully at him and he said in as firm a voice as he could muster,
"Mackenzie McHale, you listen to me. Wade is a stuck up, pompous, pussy-ass no-wit, political dead-end, and shallow excuse for a gentleman, who wouldn't deserve you if he were the Emperor of the Universe. He treated you like shit and he'll get his come-uppance for it, and he will be spending this evening alone and miserable. You, on the other hand, have a family here who love you – even if some are less willing to admit it than others – and who will always have your back; and who, if you let them, will send you home tonight feeling a bit more cheerful than you do right now." He searched her gaze, trying to get his words to sink in. Mackenzie looked like a lost little girl in that moment. To his relief, she then blinked and sniffed, giving her head a little shake as if to get herself out of a trance.
"God, you're right." She said, sounding very choked, and nasal. She gave him a watery smile. "Thanks Charlie."
"That's my girl." He pulled her up and into a warm hug, which she tightly returned, silently thanking him for being such a good listener. Who would have thought it?
Right at that moment, there was a sharp knock on the glass and Sloan walked in.
"Oh my God – I'm sorry, I'll just –"
She turned to head back out the door, but Charlie called her back, breaking away from Mackenzie gently. "Ms Sabbath? Would you mind taking Mackenzie here and getting her a very large vodka as fast as is physically possible?"
Mackenzie laughed at that, wiping her eyes. Sloan looked between them, clearly concerned for her friend.
"Yes, sir." She nodded firmly. She smiled at Mac who slowly got her belongings together and began to walk with Sloan out of the room. As she reached the door, however, she turned back and looked at Charlie. She wanted him to be proud of her for something after that little outburst of misery. She held her head a little higher.
"I made him wait outside before I told him to leave, lose the election and go to hell."
Charlie beamed at her as Sloan looked curiously between them, clearly joining the dots. "I'll drink to that." He said happily. "Go on. I'll meet you ladies down there."
Looking a little chirpier, Mackenzie left with Sloan leaving Charlie alone with his thoughts.
One down, one to go. They really didn't make this easy for him.