You've Got Mail
As soon as MacGyver opened his apartment door he headed to the phone to order a pizza leaving Joanna to hang up their coats. She had only been here once, but she seemed quite comfortable. Almost as if she belonged here. Perhaps it was because the apartment and most of its contents were owned by the Phoenix Foundation instead of MacGyver himself, making it less intimate.
Mac hung up the phone and joined Joanna at the air hockey table.
"So, how much do you know about the game?" he asked.
"You use this thing…" she held up a game piece that resembled a sombrero, or maybe a meat pounder, with a round, flat surface and a handle sticking up in the middle.
"It's called a mallet or striker."
"Right. You use this thing to hit the puck or keep the puck out of your own goal."
"Are you sure you never played before?" Mac asked teasingly. Joanna cocked an eyebrow in response. Mac cleared his throat. "It's customary to play to seven points, but people often change it to ten. It's your call."
"Let's see what the score is after one of us reaches seven and I'll let you know then."
"Fair enough," MacGyver laughed and turned on the table. It whirred to life, providing a cushion of air for the puck to glide on.
"Oops, almost forgot," Mac said, as he walk to a corner in the living room. "Hockey gloves!" He held up his favorite pair and started to put them on.
Joanna laughed. "You're not really gonna play like that?!"
"Hey, a deal's a deal."
Joanna shrugged and MacGyver gave her the puck to start the game. Her movements were hesitant, reaction time slow, and depth perception bad. Wearing the large, cumbersome hockey gloves, Mac played just as poorly if not more so.
"Time out!" He called. He shook off his gloves. "Instead of playing for points, why don't we just practice for a while so you can get the feel of the game?"
"Whatever you say, coach," she declared.
As they glided the puck back and forth between them, Joanna's grip on the mallet relaxed and her coordination improved. Every so often MacGyver would start to pick up the pace and Joanna was able to quickly adjust. He was impressed. After a while they started playing for points. Mac let Joanna get a couple easy goals before she scolded him.
"You don't have to patronize me. Win or lose, I want it to be fair and square."
"Alright then," MacGyver responded as he swept the puck across the table into her goal. She pretended to pout, but continued to play determinedly.
Her play was improving by the time the pizza was delivered. They sat side-by-side at the breakfast bar chomping on their supper and chatting casually.
"So, are you a hockey fan?" MacGyver asked even though he thought he knew the answer.
"Not really. My first love is football. Born and bred a Packer fan, remember?" she said proudly. "But I do like to watch hockey when I get a chance. I've been to a few Milwaukee Admirals games and that was fun." She stopped and laughed under her breath.
"What?" Mac asked with a curious smile.
"You wanna know one of my biggest regrets in life?"
"Yeah." He turned to look at her, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. She had his undivided attention.
"I wasn't into hockey when Team USA won gold in the 1980 Olympics. I missed the whole 'Miracle on Ice'!" She paused. "I bet you watched every game."
"Just about," MacGyver responded. "I had just started working at the DXS so I was moving around quite a bit. Fortunately part of an assignment had me working security for the Olympics so I got to see some of the games," he said matter-of-factly.
Joanna's mouth fell open. "You actually saw Team USA play in the Olympics?!"
"Yep."
"That is so cool!" she exclaimed, her excitement making Mac laugh.
"Maybe we could take in a couple of Admiral's games before the season ends," he ventured.
"That would be great!"
"Good. I'll look into getting us some tickets," he promised as she smiled again before biting into her last slice of pizza.
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The days flew by as February faded into March, though the weather improved little. Mac had forgotten how late spring came to the Midwest. His days fell into an easy routine as he took on various roles at Challengers. He noticed Joanna was interacting a lot more with the students. She spent a lot of time helping out in the learning center and he even saw her eating lunch with Jesse in the cafeteria a few times. It was obvious to MacGyver that Joanna was happiest when she was with her kids. Too bad her job kept her chained to a desk most of the time. One afternoon they crossed paths in the corridor after school.
"Hey, how's it going?" Mac asked her.
"Good," she replied happily. "I'm forcing myself to get of the office more and I'm really enjoying it."
"So I've noticed. I see you've also been spending some time with Jesse."
"Yeah," Joanna replied, wrinkling her brow. "She has really warmed up to me lately."
"What is it?" MacGyver noticed uncertainty in her voice.
"I'm not sure. Sometimes she makes me uncomfortable. Like she's watching me or something." Joanna shrugged, "I suppose it's just teenage stuff."
"Yeah, sure," Mac agreed, unconvinced. Always one to listen to his gut, he believed if it felt like something was wrong, then something was wrong.
They said goodbye and headed to their separate destinations. Jesse glared at them through the rec room window. Her earlier tears replaced by anger.
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Mac and Joanna had fallen into the habit of meeting at his place a couple evenings a week to play air hockey and eat take-out. This was one of those evenings. Joanna had informed him she had a quick errand to run first and would be a little late, so he took the time to grab his mail from his box in the lobby before heading to his apartment. Upon entering, he tossed his keys on his desk and began shuffling through the envelopes. Junk mail. He had only lived here a matter of weeks and he was already receiving junk mail! Then his hand paused as he saw the distinctive military post mark on a crinkled envelope. He quickly ripped it open and pulled out a single page. He read the first words eagerly: 'Dear Dad'. It was from Sam!
MacGyver sank into his couch and slowly read the scribbled missive, savoring every word.
Dear Dad,
Sorry I haven't written sooner. Things have been crazy around here and I hardly ever stay in one place more than a couple days. The trip over here to the sand box (that's what the soldiers nicknamed this part of Saudi Arabia) was long, but I arrived safely. As of the writing of this letter I am still alive….ha ha! I've become buddies with some of the troops and even some of the villagers. I've already gone through more rolls of film than I can count. I think I have some great photos for publication. Look for them! There are still so many stories that need to be told. People in the States have no clue what it's really like over here. I have to stop now. The mail pick up is arriving. Are you still getting those headaches? Gotta go….Love, Sam
Beneath his signature was an address to the military base where he could receive mail. Mac read the short letter twice, a crazy grin on his face. A knock on his door drew his attention away. He got up to answer it, tossing the letter on the breakfast bar next to some take-out menus he had picked up. He ushered Joanna into the apartment.
"Hey listen, do you mind if I go change out of this shirt?" he asked, looking at his white dress shirt with disdain.
"No problem. Go ahead," she encouraged with a laugh. Everyone knew how much he hated the stiff shirts. And don't even get him started on ties!
"There are some menus on the bar. It's your turn to choose," MacGyver told Joanna as he headed down the short hall towards his bedroom.
Joanna walked over to the kitchen area and started to pick up the folded brochures when her gaze landed on a wrinkled letter that looked like it had done war with the postal service. Before she could do the ethical thing and look away, her eyes landed on two words: 'Dear Dad'. Her breath caught. Was MacGyver writing a letter to his dad? But he had told her his dad had died when Mac was still a child. She then saw an envelope with the matching handwriting addressed to A. MacGyver. Did MacGyver have a child? A knot formed in the pit of her stomach. She glanced down the hall to make sure MacGyver was still in the bedroom. Then, as if on autopilot, she picked up the letter and began to read. The knot in her stomach tightened and her face grew hot. Mac had a son named Sam. A son old enough to somehow be involved with the military in the Middle East. A son he had never once even mentioned to her much less discussed. During their time together he had told her about his fear of heights, love of animals and joy of travel. Never had he seen fit to inform her that he had a child! What else was he keeping from her? Was there a Mrs. MacGyver? Other children? A tiny voice in her head said it was none of her business. They were just temporary colleagues. Casual acquaintances. He deserved his privacy. That voice, however, was drown out by her heart which screamed of betrayal. He had lied to her even as he asked her to trust him! Granted, it was a lie of omission, but still a lie. Why didn't he feel he could share this part of his life with her?
She heard the bedroom door open and the heavy footsteps that would soon lead him to her. She quickly dropped the letter and turned to watch as he entered the kitchen.
"So, what's it gonna be?"
Joanna looked at him with what could only be described as utter horror.
He looked down at his chest. "Don't you like my shirt?" he quipped.
"I…I…" her look of horror intensified, if that was even possible. "I have to go," she breathed out quickly. "This was a bad idea. I'm sorry." She turned quickly, almost tripping over her own feet as she headed to the closet, grabbed her coat, and fled out the door.
MacGyver stood in the middle of his now-empty apartment completely stunned.
"What just happened?" he asked no one in particular.
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Mac awoke early the next morning. Truthfully, he had hardly slept at all. He couldn't get the picture of Joanna's horrified face and her hasty departure out of his mind. He had turned the events of the previous evening over in his mind so many times he feared he'd give himself another concussion. She had been perfectly fine when he left to go change. What had happened? He had already checked his answering machine. There were no messages she might have accidently overheard. He gathered his things and headed to Challengers hoping that she had gotten over whatever had upset her.
When he pulled into the parking lot, Evelyn's hatchback was present as well as Joanna's car. Didn't anybody ever sleep? He parked his car in its usual space and headed for his office. He noticed Joanna's door was shut tight, his remote control door stop removed. The frown he had been wearing grew deeper. This was getting ridiculous. He decided to bypass his own office and headed straight to Evelyn, not even breaking his stride as he knocked on the doorjamb to announce his entrance.
"Ah, MacGyver! I see you came in early as well," she crooned, her face a study in serenity, except Mac could see her mouth was slightly pinched.
"What's wrong with Joanna?" he demanded as he unceremoniously dropped himself in one of the visitor's chair. "And don't pretend you don't know."
Evelyn leveled a glare at him that would break any student. He glared back. After several seconds, the older woman blinked and refocused her gaze on the controls of an ancient P.A. system on the far wall.
"I don't know what's bothering her," she immediately held up her hand to quell any response. "I know Joanna and she needs time and space to think things through. She also knows I'm here to listen if she needs to talk. Until then…" Evelyn simply shrugged.
"But you're technically her boss," MacGyver reminded her. "Can't you make her tell you what's going on?" Evelyn's eyebrows shot up and Mac instantly wished he could take back his words. He was way out of line.
"Even if I could make her tell me I wouldn't," Evelyn replied, her tone slow and deliberate. "Joanna deserves just as much privacy and respect as anybody else. As long as her work doesn't suffer, there is nothing I can do."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Evelyn," Mac replied contritely, jamming his fingers through his hair. "I was way out of line just now."
"It's alright," she assured him. "You're only upset because you care. And that's a good thing."
MacGyver nodded and retreated to his office.
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Joanna sat in her office staring at a spreadsheet and trying to convince herself she was actually working. She hadn't slept a wink all night. Her mother had offered to listen to whatever she had to say, but Joanna hadn't been ready to talk. Her emotions were too raw. She was so ashamed of how poorly she had misjudged her new colleague and how deeply he had hurt her with his lie. There was a soft knock on her door.
"Who is it?" she asked lifelessly.
"It's Evelyn. May I come in?"
Joanna got up and opened the door, suddenly sad that she had smashed her little doorstop to smithereens when she arrived that morning.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Evelyn asked gently.
Joanna just shook her head.
"Wrong answer!" the shorter woman declared.
Joanna glanced at the thin wall she shared with MacGyver. "Not here," she replied softly, and headed towards Evelyn's office.
After settling herself in the same chair Mac had vacated just moments before, Joanna sat staring at the floor. Evelyn relaxed into her desk chair and waited. A heavy silence permeated the room.
"I think you ought to know that MacGyver is very concerned about you," Evelyn stated softly.
Joanna's head jerked up and she looked at her boss. Her once-hollow eyes now seething with anger. "I highly doubt that," she replied curtly.
"Tell me what happened."
"What did he tell you?"
"Not much, actually. He's quite dumbfounded."
Joanna rolled her eyes. "Talk," Evelyn commanded. "Whatever you tell me is absolutely confidential."
"You're a school administrator, not a priest."
"And you're stalling."
"It's really embarrassing and I know I'm probably making a big deal out of nothing but," Joanna's shoulders fell in defeat, "I found out he has a son he never even mentioned to me."
Evelyn's face remained neutral, her speech deliberate. "You raised a lot of questions for me in that brief statement," she stated calmly.
Joanna braced herself. She had just opened a can of worms.
"First of all, how did you find out about his son?"
Joanna's gaze hit the floor again. "I kinda accidentally read a letter from him," she answered softly.
"I see."
"I didn't mean to!" Joanna responded, feeling the need to defend herself. "Mac told me to look at some take-out menus and the letter was laying right there out in the open. I know I shouldn't have read it, but I was curious…"
"Does MacGyver know you saw the letter?"
"I don't think so. If he does he sure didn't let on."
"Hmmm. Now for my second question. Why do you feel embarrassed?"
"I'm embarrassed for getting so upset."
Evelyn remained silent, a cue for Joanna to continue.
"I shouldn't be getting so upset about a man I've known for less than two months and who will be leaving at the end of the term if not sooner. It's stupid!"
"And what, exactly, are you upset about? The fact that he has a son or the fact that he didn't tell you about him?"
"Both," Joanna answered. "But mainly that he lied to me, and just after I told him I trusted him!"
"Do you think he didn't tell you about Sam on purpose?"
"I don't know!" Joanna was getting confused. "Wait a minute, how do you know his name? You knew he had a son this whole time?!" Her anger flared.
"Yes. But it's not my story to tell."
Joanna's frustration mounted. She wished to go back in time, back to the days before she had ever laid eyes on the name 'A. MacGyver'.
"I believe you have some things to think about," Evelyn said gently. "The students will be arriving soon."
"Yes ma'am." Joanna got up and turned toward the door, relieved for the dismissal.
"And Joanna," Evelyn called, "talk to MacGyver."
The young woman paused for a moment before squaring her shoulders and heading into her day determined not to talk to MacGyver ever again!
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MacGyver heard Joanna walk past his door and he immediately bolted into Evelyn's office.
"What did she say? What's wrong?"
"I promised her I would keep our discussion confidential," Evelyn replied evenly.
"Can you at least answer a question?"
Evelyn didn't protest. "Does it have anything to do with me?"
"Yes," came the simple response.
"What? What did I do?" he pleaded, his pride taking a fall, but he didn't care. Why this was so important to him he really didn't care to explore at the moment. Right now he just wanted some answers.
"I can't tell you that. You need to talk with Joanna."
MacGyver sighed loudly. Maybe he should just forget about it. He'd be going back to L.A. in a few months anyway.
"MacGyver," Evelyn responded. "You are an ingenious young man. Use that big brain of yours to figure this out. The answer is right under your nose."
Stunned by the cryptic reply, Mac stared at Evelyn who had turned her attention to the paperwork piled up on her desk. That was it. She'd told him as much as she was going to.
By the end of the day MacGyver's head was pounding. What had Evelyn meant? What was 'right under his nose'? He decided he had to start looking at this as he would any other case. He had to think like a field op again. Whatever upset Joanna happened at his place. He was sure of that.
Upon returning to his apartment late that afternoon, he decided to recreate the events of the previous evening. He stood by the door. He had opened the door to let Joanna in. Okay, harmless enough. Then he had gone to the bedroom to change. He retraced his steps. Nothing. He had then returned to the kitchen and found Joanna looking as if she had seen a ghost, but he could not find anything amiss.
Wait a minute. He was going about this the wrong way. He needed to see the evening through Joanna's eyes. MacGyver went back to the entrance to his apartment and looked around slowly. Granted, it was a little dustier than the last time she had been there, but everything appeared the same and she wasn't bothered by it before. What next? He headed to the bedroom and told Joanna to look at the restaurant menus. This time, he headed to the breakfast bar as he assumed Joanna would have done. The menus were still there and he reached out to pick them up. It was then that he saw a single sheet of crumpled paper next to his hand. Sam's letter. Joanna must have seen it. She must have read it! Mac felt a surge of anger and betrayal well up inside him. How dare she go around reading his mail! However, guilt suddenly replaced the anger when he realized it was him who had carelessly tossed the letter on the counter for all the world, or at least Joanna, to see.
But why had she gotten so upset? Granted, he couldn't remember ever talking about Sam with her. But did that warrant her current behavior? With a sigh MacGyver realized he had just been handed more pieces to the puzzle that was Joanna. Now he just needed to find out how they fit together. He needed to talk with her.
