Well, here's the next chapter.

I did struggle a little with Charlie, but lilacmermaid gave some great advice, thanks for that!

A little heads up though – It's Charlie and to get him to sound like himself I had to upgrade the story to „T"

I hope you enjoy it!

Day 10

Mac had adopted the habit of arriving at the office early; after all, it wasn't like she was getting much sleep anyway and what – or who - else was there to keep her in bed these days?

Papers, files and folders were scattered across her desk where she was scanning the daily newspapers before the pitch meeting, when Charlie appeared in her open door and knocked at the glass.

„Morning, Charlie." She looked up and smiled at him. Over the last week and a half it had become his routine to drop in several times a day. He seemingly always had to discuss a small detail about the upcoming show, bring her some new numbers or came with a question in regard of a previous broadcast, but she knew that were only excuses to check up on her – Something she didn't think she would appreciate that much.
„So early? What's up?"

„Our new boss wants to see us in his office."

„Oh, okay." Mac angled for her shoes and quickly stood up, putting the lid back on her neon marker at the same time. „Do you know what it's about?"

„He didn't say, let's go and find out." Charlie put his hand in the small of her back when she walked past him and led her out to the elevators. They were the only ones in the cabin riding up to the 44th floor and Mac could feel Charlie looking at her.
„How are you holding up, kiddo?"

„I'm okay, Charlie, tired, but okay. Thanks for asking though. Will and I both have to get through this and we will..."

„I know I have said it before, but if there's ever anything you need, you'll come to me, right? Anything."

„I will, Charlie." She smiled at him gratefully and put her hand and his arm, squeezing it gently. When the elevator doors opened they walked to Pruit's office and his assistent waived them right in.

Pruit didn't even bother to look up from the papers in front of him when they entered the room but started right into the conversation. „So what about this McAvoy mess?"

Mac was taken aback at this question and gave Charlie a confused look, who just shrugged his shoulders. „I'm sorry, what exactly are you talking about?"

Now Pruit looked up and leaned back in his chair, holding his hands together in a triangle in front of his chest. „I want to know what ACN is going to do about the McAvoy story."

„I'm still not following", Charlie admitted, while Mac's eyes grew bigger as she was beginning to understand.

„He's been in jail for ten days now. Every news station in America is giving this daily coverage and what are we doing? He is our goddamn news anchor and we don't make any use of that?"

„Now listen..." Mac started but Pruit cut her off, getting louder with every word.

„I've been waiting for days to see anything on our program, but...? Nothing! I want this to be covered by our station, starting today. We talked to the authorities if we can get an interview with McAvoy from prison; unfortunately that was denied. But there are other things we can do..." He stood up and came closer from behind his desk.
„I want a counter shown in the corner of every Newsnight broadcast showing his face and the number of days he is already behind bars. Same on the ACN website and his blog.
I want a 30 minute report put together documenting all that has happened from the day the source contacted us to the day of the incarceration, including direct quotes from McAyoy about his time in prison. And I want it to be shown over and over on tv at all times of the day as well as being put up on the internet.
I want staffers on different shows throughout the day talking about the story"

He paused for a second, then he walked right up to Mac and looked at her.
„I want you on the morning shows talking about McAvoy and your relationship."

Mac went completely ashen and was at a loss of words for a moment. Charlie gave her a worried look and quickly interceded.
„What the fuck...!? Exactly because Will McAvoy is part of this station we must not do anything..."

„Bullshit!" Pruit interrupted him impatiently. „McAvoy is one of the stories at the moment so there is no question to whether we are going to cover him or not. He is our man so the viewers should come to us for information and not go elsewhere. Our numbers have gone up a little since the last week but extensive coverage could put us permanently in second place. At least."

Mac took a deep breath. A spark had came back into her eyes during Pruit's last sentences and her voice was full of scorn, when she spoke again.
„You don't want information, you want gossip. All you care about are the ratings. You don't give a shit that a decent, honest man, an excellent journalist put himself on the line for his news station, for his own integrity and for the freedom of the press in this country."
She clenched her fingers into a fist. „I will not – do you hear me? - I will not put a counter on-screen! I will not put the staff on any shows! There will be no direct quotes from prison! And I will most certainly not go on tv and talk about our private life! We are not the story!"

Pruit calmly answered with a stern look. „You will if I tell you to. And you will if you still want to have a job tomorrow."

Furiously Charlie took a step towards him, practically screaming at his boss.
„What in the name of holy fuck are you talking about? You cannot order anybody to go on the air and talk about private matters. And it doesn't matter if we are talking about an assistent, a booker or an EP. You insist on that start preparing for the biggest fucking law suite this city has ever seen.
And also, you and your high-paid legal team might have missed it, but the only one who can fire MacKenzie is – as per her contract - Will McAvoy himself... What do you say to that, you...?"
Charlie panted as if he had run up the whole flight of stairs from the newsroom and Mac reassuringly put her hand on his arm to calm him down, giving Pruit a fierce look at the same time.

The owner of ACN turned towards the window and didn't say a word for a minute. Then his shoulders shifted, convincing Mac he was revising his plan. And sure enough his face showed a propitiating expression when he finally turned around.

„Look, MacKenzie... I apologize if I was insensitive, but I think the publicity can actually help to get your husband out of jail sooner. We have the chance to build up public pressure. Will is one of the country's top news star and getting the public on his side might make the government want to end all this nice and quietly... And as for you saying that you are not the story... You yourself started Newsnight with him being taken to prison last week."

Mac straightened her back to reach her full 5'8".
„That is what's called reporting the news. We stated the facts and added a short statement of support for our colleague which nobody can hold against us. We didn't speculate, we didn't exaggerate, we didn't make anything up. And as far as my personal support for my husband is concerned: Me using my new last name at the end of that report is the only statement the public is going to get from me."
With this Mac turned on her heels and stormed out of the office.

Pruit watched her leave, obviously slightly flabbergasted. „Skinner, talk to her."

Charlie turned his eyes from the door Mac had just disappeard through and looked Pruit squarely in the eyes, his deadly calm voice filling the room.
„No, I won't. You are way out of line here and you know it... Jesus Christ, you own a reputable news station with highly qualified journalists and so far you have done next to fucking nothing except lowering the quality of the program and alienate and discourage the staff... One thing you surprisingly got right: Will is a story, so public pressure has been building up already. I'll be damned if I let this station join shoulders with the yellow press and drag their personal lifes out in the open..."
Charlie took a deep breath. „I will however talk to MacKenzie about the documentary you suggested. That might not be a completely bad idea if done right and that is the only way we would do it at all. Have a good day, Mr. Pruit..."

With another disgusted look Charlie left him standing in the middle of his office and went looking for Mac. He found her in her office, pacing back and forth and muttering swear words Charlie had never heard her use before.
When she noticed him entering the room she turned around with a wild sparkle in her eyes. „I have never, Charlie, never loathed anybody as much as this man! Where does this imbecile get the nerve to ask something... No, not even ask: order something like that? Who does he..."

„I know, MacKenzie." Charlie interrupted her. „Pruit went way off course up there and you did the right thing. But take a seat for a minute, will you?

„What are you up to now?" Mac hesitated, but then, still fuming, she fell down in her chair and started to vigorously tap on her desk with a pen.

„Just listen for a minute... Pruit is a damn prick and interviews, quotes and counters are bullshit, of course we won't do that.. But! The idea of a documentary isn't half bad..."
Charlie raised his hand when Mac wanted to interrupt him and went on. „I told Pruit we might consider it if we can do it our own way."

„And how do you plan on doing that?" Mac questioned incredulously. „I am not going to exploit Will, Charlie..."

„You won't have to, Mac. It doesn't have to be a whole half hour. We just stick to the facts at hand, garnish it with statements from expert constitutionalists and reputable media professionals and it will be a reasonable contrast to the fucking reports on most of the other networks. We will only show facts, no fluff, no personal interest stories, no speculations..." He looked at Mac whose expression wasn't quite as hostile anymore as it was a couple of minutes ago.
„Why don't the two of us go and talk to Will about it? Visiting hours start at 1 p.m. on Thursdays..."

„Don't you think I know that?" Macs wasn't quite convinced but her face lightened up at the prospect of seeing Will on a day she hadn't expected to. Then a wide grin spread across her face. „But you'll have to take me without my bra..."
Charlie starred at her, speechless for once. „The one I'm wearing today has an underwire and that could result in a a strip search I'm really not too keen on..."

Charlie burst out with laughter and winked at her. „I'm quite sure your husband won't mind. I'll go drink to that."

A couple of hours later Mac and Charlie were standing in the visiting room and they didn't have to wait long for Will to enter through the door. Surprise showed on his face when seeing them and he quickly went over to take Mac into his arms, holding her tight while nodding to his friend.

„What are you doing here today? I thought it would be Rebecca when they said I had a visitor. Is everything alright?" He worriedly looked at her.

„We're fine, we just need to discuss something with you." Mac assured him and placed a tender kiss on his lips. „Let's sit down." She led him to the nearest table and sat down next to him, entangling her fingers with his, while Charlie took his place on the other side.

„It's good to see you two kids together." he said, smiling at them like a proud father. „You do know you owe me for that, right? A bottle of nice Bourbon will be fine." He winked. „But let's get down to business. Will, listen..."

Recounting in all detail the events that had taken place earlier that day he filled Will in. „You would have been proud to see her standing up to that jerk!" he ended with a grin.

„I sure would have loved to see that." Will smiled, giving her hand a squeeze. „So what have you decided to do?"

„That's why we're here. Charlie wants to at least give Pruit the report on how the story unfolded. I'm not convinced and think we shouldn't do anything that looks like we're trying to improve our ratings by riding on your back."

Will remained silent, absently running his thumb over Mac's hand while thinking everything through. After a couple of minutes he turned to her. „I think I'll have to go with Charlie on this one, Mac. A segment on this story based on facts won't do any harm. And Pruit can see it as a compromise and doesn't completely lose face. Don't forget that he is our boss, as much as we dislike it, and we all have to continue working with him..."

„Will, I'm not willing to throw you to the sharks. You know people will say we're exploiting this, no matter how careful we tread."

Will looked at her, not saying anything for a moment. „Charlie, would you mind leaving me alone with Mac?"

„Not at all, son, not at all, I'll be waiting in the car. Take your time, Mac, the mini bar is well stocked. Will, I'll see you in a few days." He firmly shook his hand, gave Mac an encouraging pad on the back and knocked at the door for a guard to let him out.

When he had left Will turned to his wife.
„Mac, that's not the reason you don't want this, is it? People thinking ACN is exploiting its own story? Come on...What's behind this?"

Mac blushed a little at the fact that he had seen through her so easily, but didn't say a word. Instead she took his hand and started painting small circles in his palm with her fingers.

„Mac, look at me." Will put the index finger of his other hand under her chin and lifted her head up so that he could look directly into her eyes. „What is it?"

She nervously bit her lip, but then it burst out of her.
„I don't want them to use you. It's bad enough that the other stations and newspapers are doing it, but I don't want to be part of it. You are in here taking the rap for the shit somebody else has done and I don't want us to go on a rating's hunt on your back!"

„Oh Mac..." Will gently cupped her cheek and caressed it with his thumb. „I really appreciate you going to the barricades for me. I admit I'm glad you're not going to share our private moments with millions of viewers and the tabloids and I'm also not too keen on being a ring card boy on the ACN website, but a serious report won't do any harm. It might not do any good either, but it definitely won't hurt."

Mac resistance began to crumble but she still defiantly returned his gaze.

„Mac, you don't have to protect me. Nothing anybody says out there will affect me. Everybody I care about knows why I'm here and understands... Pruit is right for once, a reporter being imprisoned for protecting his source is a story and you would be the first to agree if it weren't for me, right? And you have said yourself that the majority of the media is supporting us. They know what's at stake, so they won't badger us."

Mac sighed. „Are you sure about this, Billy? I just hate... I will never... I just don't want anybody to ever hurt you again..."

Will took her into his arms and held her as close as he could, overflowing with the love he felt for her.
„You're one in a million, you know that, Kenz? I don't know what I ever did to deserve you..."

He pressed a kiss on her temple and let his hand slide up and down her back, when suddenly he stopped and pulled away an inch. „Mrs. McAvoy! Is it possible that you're not wearing a bra?"

Mac chuckled into his shirt, then gave him a mischievous smile. „This was an impromptu visit and I didn't want to go through the metal detectors with the underwire... You like it?

Will groaned and pulled her back into his arms. „You're killing me here, Kenz..."