To put a realistic feel on the frame of this chapter I followed the rules & regulations for NY correctional facilites, i.g. on physical contact, items allowed to be brought in etc., as found on the website of the New York State's Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Day 4
Visiting days at the Manhattan Detention Complex were Wednesday and Thursday - not feasible for Mac due to her work hours, though she knew Charlie would let her go if she asked him – as well as Friday through Sunday at more convenient hours.
Today was Friday, finally. Her first visit to prison.
Rebecca Halliday had sent her information on the rules of a visit as well as a list of items she was allowed to bring Will, so she had packed up some things he might need.
As much as she longed to see Will and make sure he was alright, she was terribly nervous. The security check didn't help with that either, although she had purposefully avoided wearing or carrying anything that could trigger the metal detector or might provoke a strip search.
Naturally she wanted to appeal to Will, but she knew that her husband liked to see her in everyday clothes like Levi's and simple t-shirts or casual blouses, so that made it easy.
Mac handed in her package for Will to be checked for contraband and was finally led into the visiting area. Luckily they wouldn't be separated by glass or had to talk through receivers. In fact, as Rebecca had told her, even kissing, hugging and holding hands was allowed in New York correctional facilities as long as certain rules were followed.
She had arrived shortly after 08:30 a.m. Not only because she couldn't wait to see her husband but also because she hoped that at this early hour not many other visitors would be disturbing their time together. But she didn't have to worry about that; because Will as a former prosecutor was in solitary confinement for his protection they got a room for themselves.
Will was led in through a door on the other side of the room and his face lightened up when he saw her. She rushed over to embrace him, holding him tight as if she never wanted to let go of him again. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his head in her neck, deeply inhaling her scent. „Mac..."
She took his cheeks into her hands and kissed him hard, then hugged him again. After a minute he loosened his grip, took her hand and led her to the nearest table. They sat down on opposite sides, holding hands.
„Are you alright?" They both spilled out the question at the exact same time.
„I'm fine", Mac almost rolled her eyes. „How are you doing? Are they treating you okay? Are you safe in here?" She nervously kneaded his hand.
„I'm alright", Will reassured her calmly and put his other hand on top of hers. „The guards are friendly, I have a cell of my own and don't get in contact with other prisoners. Don't worry about me." Mac searched his eyes to see if he told the truth and for now she was satisfied with the answer.
She exhaled into the silence between them and gave a nervous laugh. „This is awkward..."
„It is a little, isn't it?" Will agreed with a faint smile. „But it's wonderful just to see you, Kenzie."
She gave him an affectionate look. „Same here... I brought some things for you – clothes - namely socks and underwear, a couple of books, Time Magazine, pencil and pad, envelopes... Rebecca gave me a list of things that are allowed. They are checking the package and you should get it later. And here..." she reached for her purse and pulled out some photographs. „I thought you might like these."
Will looked at a picture of their wedding and one taken at the office which showed his wife, Charlie and some of the others holding up papers spelling „We miss you".
„That's great, thank you. I'll put them up over my bed..." He took her hand again. „Did I tell you that you looked beautiful in your wedding dress?"
Mac's face lightened up. „You didn't look too bad either... You know, Billy... Despite of the circumstances it was a beautiful ceremony."
„It was..." Will smiled. „But I know it wasn't the wedding you always dreamed off... Not to speak of the wedding night..." Mac blushed slightly, which Will thought to be adorable.
„I was more comfortable than you. I spent the night at Sloan's place and we made it a girl's night." She lowered her voice and smiled teasingly. „And we did have the night before..."
„Oh yeah... I've been thinking about that a lot in here..." Will looked very pleased while letting his thoughts go back to that night. Without talking about it they had both wanted to make these last hours before his court appearence special and memorable which resulted in one of the most passionate and satisfying nights they had ever spent together. He kissed her hand and sighed.
„But I do want you to have 'your' wedding. So why don't we have a big party once I'm out of here and invite everybody from the original guest list? We could even take our vows again... and I could make up for the wedding night..." Will's eyes sparkled and he leered at her. „What do you think?"
She returned his grin. „I can't wait..." Then she turned serious again. „And it might calm down the storm with our families and everybody else who wasn't there. I've been getting some pretty irate calls... But Billy, do you have any idea how long you will have to stay in here?"
„I honestly don't know, Mac. But this is supposed to be coercive, not punitive, so sooner or later they will realize I'm not giving up the source and then they'll have to let me go. And the Feds are continuing their investigation, so maybe they'll find it another way... I am just sorry that you have to go through all this..."
Mac sighed. „Don't worry about me, I told you, I'm fine. I do have the easier part here... Work, our friends, the appartment – Lot's of distractions for me. It's you I'm worried about."
„Don't be." They went silent for a few minutes, just looking at each other. Then Will tapped on the chair next to him. Mac got up, sat down close to him and rested her head on his shoulder while he put his arms around her and held her tight.
„So tell me, what's new at ACN. How's Pruit behaving?"
Mac lifted her head for a moment and made a face. „It's terrible. Everything he talks about is social media, amateur reporters and how to attract a younger audience – Which for him seems to consist of dumb, mindless and uninterested teens who don't have the brains to be bothered with actual news. As long as they know that Shakira has released a new album we don't need to tell them about the IS, the financial crisis in Europe, the debt ceiling or the draught in California..." Will cradled her for a moment. „Charlie is doing what he can, but believe me – Dealing with Leona and Reese was a picnic compared to Pruit... And Pruit started to bring in some of his own people, who are basically just doing what he tells them to do..."
„I'm sorry I can't be there to support you... But you do understand, don't you?"
Mac smiled reassuringly. „I do and I'm terribly proud of you. You need to know that. Though it doesn't mean I don't miss you."
„You better!" he said and softly kissed her on the head. She looked up and was just about to kiss him back when the door opened and a guard entered. „McAvoy, it's time. You got two more minutes."
Wills smile disappeared and he closed his eyes for a second. „Thanks, Mike. I'll be right there."
Mac lifted her hand and put it on his cheek, caressing his cheekbone with her thumb. „Promise me you'll take care of yourself? Don't get into a stupid argument with anybody, okay?"
„I won't, promise." Will hugged her tightly for a moment, then kissed her. Tenderly at first but then deepening the kiss as if it had to last him for a lifetime.
The guard coughed slightly and they hesitantly pulled away from each other while standing up. Mac blinked. „Charlie will come to see you tomorrow. If you need anything let him know, I'll be back on Sunday... I love you, Billy."
„And I love you, Kenzie..." A last kiss good-bye, then Will turned around, not letting go of her hand until it was out of his reach.
He didn't look back.
Mac knew she wasn't allowed to leave the room before him, but even if that hadn't be the case she wouldn't have moved before the door had closed behind him. Then she sighed.
Another day without Will.