A/N: In this story, FWFS never happened (yeah, I know lol. Sorry.)
Five months ago, Mac still lived in D.C.
Five months ago, she thought she knew where her life was headed. But, a lot had changed in that time.
She had a life here. She was in a command position at the office, got along well with her co-workers, and had even had the chance to make some friends. She never really had female friends before, save for Harriet, and Mac liked the fact that she now had the opportunity to have that support system. They had even convinced her to get out of the apartment and go out to a bar or club now and again, which was a feat all its own.
This afternoon, however, all she wanted to do was get home to the solace of her empty apartment. After today's therapy session, Mac didn't feel much like company.
The door to her SUV shut with a bang. Mac hit the automatic lock button on her car remote, and waited for the familiar sound letting her know that they were secured. She crossed the lot to her building, and up the stairs to her second floor one-bedroom apartment. A twist of her key in the lock, and she was home. She deposited her briefcase and bag on the table in the hall, and slipped off her heels.
One of the things she loved most about this apartment was the view. The balcony at the back of her place overlooked the beach, and Mac often found herself there staring out at the ocean. Today was such a day. She loved to watch the sunrise and the sunset. She loved the way the wind caressed her face, hair blowing in the breeze, free from the constraints of the bun required for work. Time seemed to stand still when she was out there, giving her some sort of peace. She did have one thing there that she could have done without though; too much time to think. She was not supposed to think about him. Not here.
The shrill ring of the phone inside shakes Mac out of her reverie. She takes one last longing glance out at the horizon, before going back inside to the bag now vibrating and ringing from its perch on the hallway table. She curses herself for the way her heart is beating. It would not be him. She supposes she knew that when she had changed her number without telling him, but that doesn't stop her heart from plummeting every time she realizes it is not his voice on the other end.
She finally locates and gets the phone out, staring at the caller ID. "Harriet."
She isn't surprised. Harriet is probably the only person from Washington that she still communicates with. Harriet was a great friend to her, and Mac was thankful to still be involved in her life. She would call her back later though, because as much as she loved hearing all about what was going on in Washington, it pained her to constantly be reminded of a life she was trying to leave behind. She doesn't want to have to hear about him, although Mac can tell Harriet tries her best to keep his name out of their conversations. When his name does slip from her lips, she immediately changes the subject and Mac hates that Harriet has to censor herself. She just isn't ready to face it yet.
It was harder than she had imagined, extricating herself from his life. There were so many things throughout the course of a day that Mac would want to share with him. Something funny would happen at the office, a comment would be made that took her back to a memory they both shared, and she felt herself physically aching with the need to reach for the phone. In the end, she knew it was useless. She had flown thousands of miles away to escape the one person she would always carry with her.
TBC