Oh wow. Okay, what can I say? This is the final sweeps. It's kind of amazing to realize we've written enough for about six of them, but that would be too Bob Guza for us. Without further delay, I give you Third Sweeps! I know you'll enjoy it as much as we did!
"Higher! Higher!" Kristina squealed as her swing flew threw the air. It was the first time Mac had seen her smile since he and Alexis announced their engagement. Coming to the park had been a good idea, he realized. Hell, being outside away from the cold waiting room and the scary hospital room was enough to bring the light back into her chestnut eyes. "I want to go higher, Mac!"
"You'll have to speak in my good ear." Mac teased, stepping behind her swing and catching the back of it so that she slightly jolted forward. "Higher, huh? How much higher?" He was smiling too, he noticed. He was laughing too and he hadn't felt right doing that since Alexis had been admitted.
"I want to touch the sky." Kristina explained. "Higher, Mac. Please?" She begged, giving him the look her mother had long since perfected. They knew he couldn't resist it.
"The sky or the stars?" Mac wondered.
"The stars! I want to touch the stars!" Kristina nodded enthusiastically.
"Will you bring one back down for me?" Mac smiled, pulling the swing back as far as it would go.
"And for me!" Morgan chirped from his spot on the nearby park bench. He was stretched out on his tummy with a half dozen crayons in front of him, one in his hand, and a giant coloring book that depicted a dragon.
"I promise." Kristina told them. "Now push me really high!" She said again, catching Mac's soft gaze and making a fish face at him.
"Okay here we go." Mac, with the swing still in his hands, walked under her so that he was standing in front of her and then released it. She screamed and held on tight enough to make her knuckles whiten under the pressure. It was times like this when he remembered Georgie and Maxie at this age, always wanting to go faster, higher, taking a big slice of life and not giving it up for anything, except maybe another adventure. There had been a forest behind their old house that they had disappeared into time and time again any time they were given the opportunity. They had explained that they were looking for hidden treasure.
"Uncle Mac, can I go on the slide?" Morgan inquired, slapping his coloring book closed and placing his crayons on top even as they began to slip through the cracks of the old bench.
"Here, I'll go with you. Kristina, we'll be right over here. Once you get those stars, come over here please." He urged her.
"Okay!" Kristina screamed, barely noticing that the swing was starting to slow.
"Get on the slide with me." Morgan instructed, taking the plastic steps one at a time.
"Wish I could partner, but I may not be able to get back down. How about I stay down here and catch you? Would that be alright?" Mac suggested with a goofy grin.
"You're so funny." Morgan regarded him seriously, positioning himself at the top of the slide.
"Ready?" Mac asked.
"Yes." Morgan nodded and used his little hands to propel his body forward. Just as Mac's hands settled around his waist, Kristina was wailing from her swing.
"It stopped!" She exclaimed as if she couldn't believe such a thing had happened.
"You're kidding?" Mac responded in mock seriousness. "I think you should give up on that old swing and come on the Merry-Go-Round with us." He nodded toward the contraption and Morgan caught up with them.
"Mac?" Kristina's quiet voice caused Mac's head to whip around.
"Yes Princess?"
"Is Mommy ever going to get out of the hospital?" She was doing her best to keep him from seeing the sudden tears running down her cheeks.
"Yes." Mac replied immediately. She would get out of the hospital and she would be fine because he wasn't willing to accept anything less.
"Don't worry, Kristina." Morgan told her, wrapping her in a hug. "Robin got out of the hospital and she was asleep for a long time. Cameron too. Alexis will too. And then she can come to park with us. Right Uncle Mac?"
Mac would have shook his head in disbelief if he hadn't worried it would have appeared to the children to be a negative response. His nephew was something, far too old in mind than he would ever be in body. He was the younger sibling and yet he was the one comforting Kristina. "Right."
Lucky did a double take when he looked over at Elizabeth. Surely he hadn't just seen what he thought he did. Cameron had picked the movie out but had fallen asleep just a few minutes into it. And now Elizabeth was crying openly. He glanced again at the screen. There was nothing that would inspire tears. It was a sports movie for the love of all. "You're crying?" he asked incredulously.
Elizabeth sniffed and waved him off. "Hush. Don't make fun of me."
"It's a hockey movie. You don't cry over hockey movies." He was sure there was a law somewhere about this. No crying over hockey movies, slasher flicks, or alien invasion movies. The only sports movies crying were allowed fell under ice skating movies and Brian's Song. That was it.
"You do when it's so moving." Elizabeth defended herself. The team was just learning to put aside their differences, work together, appreciate the strengths the others brought to the team. It was beautiful, a tribute to love, trust, and friendship. How could anyone with a heart not watch this movie and be moved to tears?
"But it's The Mighty Ducks." Lucky shook his head in confusion. "The Mighty Ducks. Who doesn't think they'll win it all in the end?"
"Don't you see the underlying message? The real heart of the movie?"
"Coaching a team of misfits makes you care if you're a lawyer?"
"No. That trust and friendship and love triumph over everything." Elizabeth threw her hands up in exasperation. "Why can't you see that? Have you no heart?"
"I have a heart. I'm just thinking you are reading a little too much into this." Hormones, this had to be hormones Lucky thought. And he had made fun of Cruz for being confused by this part. Never again. Obviously Elizabeth would not be watching the Hallmark channel anytime soon if he had anything to say about it.
"I am not reading too much into it. You are missing the subtext."
"The subtext?" Lucky shook his head to keep from laughing. "Like everyone else missed the subtext between that couple you like on your soap?"
"That was totally there. Those two are not over. It's everyone else who can't read the signs! And don't change the subject!"
"I'm not. I swear I'm not. It's a Disney kid's sports movie. I just don't think there's a lot of subtext involved here."
"Are you making fun of me?" She asked hurt, tears continuing to well in her blue eyes. Oh hell, Lucky realized, he had broken his father's cardinal rule in dealing with pregnant women. Don't make them cry over something you did. Do whatever you have to do to stop that.
"No. No. I just hate to admit I'm wrong. You know that. I just never thought about the subtext before. And I'm kicking myself for missing it and I just took it out on you." Lucky rushed out the explanation. He sent up a silent prayer. Please oh please let her buy this.
Elizabeth eyed him suspiciously, looking for any small hint of insincerity in his expression. He did hate to be wrong, but this was an awfully fast turn around for him. "You aren't patronizing me because I'm pregnant are you? Because I'll have you know..."
"No! No! I would never do that." Lucky interrupted. He already knew she was capable of plotting destruction before this. With the added hormones he didn't want to think what she could be capable of if he really pissed her off. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made fun."
She bit her lower lip and glanced at the screen. Maybe it was a little silly to get worked up over a movie she had seen a million and one times already. But only just a little. "Maybe I did get a little carried away."
Sane Elizabeth was returning, Lucky rejoiced. He kissed her forehead lightly and pulled her close to him. "Maybe, but it's just too cute."
Kristina was already in bed, princess sheets pulled to her waist, Teddy Bear in her arms, when Maxie reached her room. In the short time she had been here, she seemed to be adjusting quite nicely, and it was to their parents' relief. Though she hadn't voiced her concerns, Maxie had recognized Alexis' anxiety when they had first moved in. It was why she had backpedaled for so long, why she had always had something else that they needed to focus on. "What are you doing in your play clothes?" Maxie arched an eyebrow at her little sister and the small girl scrambled from the bed and ran to her dresser, pulling the bottom drawer open.
"I forgot." Kristina admitted with a sheepish smile as she selected a Cinderella nightgown.
"Did you brush your teeth?" Maxie wondered.
"Yep. Want to smell my breath?" Kristina offered, showing off a wide smile.
"No. That's okay. I believe you. Besides, if you're lying, your mouth will be green in the morning." Maxie replied nonchalantly, smirking when Kristina hurried toward her bathroom. Even though the room was accustomed to the tiniest of people, Kristina was still dependent on her step stool when it came time to brush her teeth or run a comb through her hair.
"What book tonight?" Kristina prodded, returning to her bed and climbing into it. Maxie made sure to keep the selected book behind her back.
"Guess." Maxie insisted with a playful grin.
"Lion King?" Kristina assumed.
Maxie made a mock scowl. "The one about the big cats? No way!"
"Pinocchio?" Kristina tried again.
"A little boy made of wood? No, I don't think so." Maxie shook her head.
"Tell me, Maxie. Tell me." Kristina begged, her bottom lip pouted.
"Oh you think you invented that look do you? Please, I was perfecting that look years before you were even a thought." Maxie informed her.
"Please?" Kristina batted her dark lashes at Maxie.
"Green Eggs and Ham." Maxie clarified, setting the book on top of the covers before sliding in beside Kristina.
"And the movie?" Kristina pressed on.
"What do you care? You'll be counting sheep by the time I put it on." Maxie reminded her.
"It's Oliver & Company, isn't it?" Kristina decided.
"A classic." Maxie nodded with a smile.
Kristina anxiously flipped the book open the first page. "I want to read tonight." She told Maxie.
"You want to do all the work? I'm not going to complain." Maxie assured her.
Maxie was halfway through the newest issue of Vogue when Ric came to her door. She had been expecting him, so she didn't bother getting up. Before she could run off as per Mac's request, Ric had insisted that they meet up again soon, sooner than soon. She had caved instantly and invited him over. Mac wouldn't be home tonight and Kristina was already asleep. Why couldn't she indulge in a fantasy or two with a hot doctor? "Door's open."
"No it's not." Ric argued, trying the handle.
"Yes it is." Maxie countered, folding her arms over her chest. She knew the door was unlocked.
"Get up and let me in." Ric cajoled.
"The door's open. If you can't turn the handle, I have no sympathy for you." Maxie told him.
"You're really going to leave me out here all alone? What if some obsessed woman comes and snags me?" Ric wanted to know.
"She'll give you back." Maxie teased, slowly lifting her body off of the couch and heading toward the door.
Ric was smiling when she finally opened the door. Maxie took a step back in case, remembering all too well their last encounter. "Come to your senses, then?" Ric whispered, placing a lazy hand on her hip.
"I didn't want you startling the neighbors." Maxie corrected him, taking a few more steps back so that he was no longer touching her.
Ric closed the door behind him and stood there for several seconds just watching her. He knew he was delicious and he seemed to revel in the fact. Maxie had long since decided that when a man looked this good, it was not opinion or preference that influenced her, it was fact. A fact had to be proved and she had plenty of evidence to back her up. "Come here," He ordered smoothly, crooking his finger.
Maxie figured she could keep their banter going for a while, but she couldn't see any reason why she should. Obliging his request, she took his hand and let him pull her against his taut body. Tilting her head back, he dropped his mouth to hers snatching her to him with his free arm and lifting her a few precious inches. Her inaudible words reverberated against his mouth and he smiled, flicking his tongue across the seam of her lips until she parted them for him. The ease in which he kissed her was mind numbing, but the force in which his fingers pressed into her back left her giddy with pleasure.
When he broke the kiss hastily and slid his lips to her neck, Maxie felt her head loll back in surrender. "Ric." His name trembled from her lips as he bunched her forest green t-shirt at her waist. Dusting her neck and shoulder blade with avid kisses, he stroked her cheek with his thumb and caught the wild look in her eyes, matching it with a similar one.
The next minute found them on the couch, hands searching, lips kissing, breaths catching and dwindling away. His hands settled on either side of her head and he eased her onto her back, using her current state of vertigo to stroke the back of her jean clad knee. He could feel her fighting the buttons on his plaid shirt and knew, if they didn't slow down, he wouldn't last two seconds inside of her. Clamping his hands on either side of her hips, he pressed a searching kiss to her lips and drank hungrily from her mouth until she was arching off of the couch.
Her teeth clamped tightly onto his bottom lip and he groaned helplessly into her mouth, urging her thighs to part by nudging her softly with his right knee. She made a strangled sound and threw her arms around his head, kissing him roughly. "Maxie." He breathed, burying his face in her hair. "I want you." He managed hoarsely.
She tried to laugh but her throat was as raw at his. "I can tell," she sighed, "I want you too." It was as if all he had needed was to hear her confirm it before he was pulling her into a sitting position and tearing at the ends of her shirt. "That being said, we're going to have to slow this down just a little. I don't want to come with my clothes on." She elaborated wryly.
"I make no promises." Ric murmured, taking the opportunity to slip his hands underneath her shirt. "I want to touch you." He traced the hem of her bra, asking, his eyes never straying from hers. Nuzzling her cheek with his nose he continued, "But I won't if you don't want me to."
Maxie was conflicted. Finally, she said, "How about you kiss me and we'll work out negotiations along the way?"
Ric gave her an incredulous look. "Negotiations? In a few minutes, I won't even know the definition of that word."
Maxie would have laughed if he didn't look so damn serious. "Oh come on Dr. Lansing," she goaded huskily, "you've been talking a big game since we met. Is that all it is? Talk?"
A smile lit up Ric's face. "I'm just warning you."
"I've been warned." Maxie replied, aloof. "Now, come here." Leaning over her, he settled his weight on his elbows and kissed her passionately, his body running over hers shamelessly.
"MAXIE!" Kristina's wail caused Maxie to jerk up, slamming her forehead into Ric's.
"I'm sorry." She apologized hastily. "Kristina?" Stumbling toward the stairs, she rubbed her head, sneaking a glance at Ric.
"MAXIE!" Kristina called in a panicked voice.
"I'm coming, Kristina. Almost there." Maxie assured her, running now.
Maxie turned the corner in time to see a flash of dark brown hair disappear out the window. "KRISTINA!" She shrieked, making a jump for the windowsill and crying when it shut on her vulnerable fingers. Jerking her hand free, she took off her shoe and slammed it into the window, ignoring the glass as it sprayed toward her uncovered face. She could see the assailant clearly now, all dressed in black with a bawling Kristina under his left arm as he reached for his ladder and slid down it without even looking.
The front door opened and Maxie saw Ric hustle toward the stranger, knocking the breath out of all three of them. Kristina tried to crawl away, but the stranger held her by hair and reached into his side pocket to retrieve his taser. Misjudging the space between the ladder and edge of the roof, Maxie flew off and landed on her arms. She watched in horror as the stranger snapped out his taser and struck Ric with it.
Ric blocked the first few blows with his right arm, but eventually his strength wore out and he had to succumb to the threatening darkness. Maxie pushed herself painfully to her feet, her knees broken and bleeding, in time to see the stranger throw Kristina into the passenger seat and climb in beside her. Expecting to see her little sister try to open the door and roll out into the street, Maxie realized that one of the shocks must have met with Kristina's tiny body and demobilized her. Only wearing one shoe now, she kicked it off and ran for all she was worth after the car, the license plate number flashing past her eyes as she tried to push enough oxygen into her lungs to keep up with the vehicle.
The black car swerved to miss an oncoming white car, but Maxie didn't see it until it slammed into her, knocking her several feet into one of her neighbor's yards. She tried to roll over and get up, the adrenaline was pumping through her at an almost alarming rate, but she couldn't move. Her fingers grazed over her side and she realized that one of her ribs was poking out. She watched the car drive away through blurry eyes.