Happy St. Patrick's Day! I hope you enjoy this new chapter.
Chapter 5
Mac woke up with the feel of cement under her. There was a shooting pain on her left cheek and her hands and feet were zip tied. She sat up and saw she was in a dimly lit basement. Veronica was tied up next to her.
"V?" Mac's voice was groggy.
"Good, you're awake."
Mac noticed the little girl sitting next to Veronica and then remembered how they got there. She was hacking into the computer, when Veronica found the hidden entrance to the basement under a rug. Veronica went down to investigate while Mac continued working.
The man came back to the house and was in a rage when he found Mac in his office. He punched her before tying her up and throwing her in the basement, which is when Mac passed out.
"I called the police as soon as I found her, so they should be coming soon." Veronica frowned. "You're cheek looks painful."
"It is." Mac said matter of factly.
They heard stomping and yelling from upstairs.
"Thank God." Mac sighed.
They waited for ten minutes listening to the footfalls. Veronica huffed. "They can't find the entrance to the basement. That's Neptune's finest."
When the lid finally opened, they had been waiting for almost 15 minutes since they first heard the stomping around. Mac heard Deputy Norris Clayton complaining to the other deputies. "I told you to check under the rugs!"
They were quickly cut from their bindings and escorted out of the house. Once on the front lawn, Mac heard hers and Veronica's names being shouted. When she looked towards the yelling, she saw Logan and Dick rushing towards them.
Dick grabbed her into a hug. "Are you okay?" He pulled back and began looking her up and down before stopping on her face. Mac noticed his jaw clench.
"I'm fine Dick." She placed a hand on his cheek and placed a kiss on his lips. "It's just a bruise. I'm okay." Mac kissed him again this time deeper.
"MAC!" Veronica's shrilled. "I know you hit you're head, but have you lost your mind?" She began looking around. "PARAMEDIC!"
"V! I'm fine." Mac was still wrapped in Dick's arms.
"You are so not fine. You lost consciousness and now you're kissing Dick."
Mac gave an awkward smile. "Yeah. I've been actively kissing Dick for about a month now." She could see Logan giggle behind Veronica. She turned to look at Dick. "I'm guessing you told Logan."
"Yeah." Dick kissed her forehead. "When we heard what was happening on the news, I told him on the ride over here."
When Mac turned back to Veronica, she looked like she was having a stroke. "V? Are you okay?" Mac pulled away from Dick and placed a hand on each of Veronica's shoulders.
"We were just tied up in a basement, which I can deal with. But now you spring this on me." She gestured between Mac and Dick. "I'm having brain overload."
A paramedic came up at that time. "Who needs to be checked out?"
Veronica pointed at Mac. "She does."
Mac's mouth tightened. "No, I don't. I'm fine."
"You. Lost. Consciousness. And that was after being punched and thrown down the stairs."
"What?!" Mac heard Dick say behind her.
Veronica looked angry, but Mac couldn't determine if it was because of Dick or because she didn't want to go to the hospital.
Dick came up beside Mac and put an arm around her. He placed a kiss on her head and spoke into her hair. "Please go get checked out by a doctor."
Mac looked up at the worry in Dick's eyes. "Fine, but I'm not riding in the ambulance."
Veronica huffed. "What? How did he get you to relent?"
"He asked me nicely instead of being bossy."
Dick and Logan started laughing.
Mac let the EMT look at her bruised face and accepted an ice pack. She and Dick were walking back towards Veronica and Logan to let them know she was heading to the hospital.
"I'll take you." Veronica chimed in.
"No, V. Dick can take me." She hugged Veronica, and then pulled back. "Maybe we can all grab a late lunch or dinner tomorrow."
Logan put his arm around Veronica. "That's a great idea. Hopefully, you won't be at the hospital all night. Just text us when and where."
When they got to Neptune Memorial, Mac went to the reception desk to check in. Her brother Ryan came out from the back.
"What happened Cindy?" He moved her cheek into the light to get a better look.
"Um…Veronica and I saved a little girl who was kidnapped."
Dick chimed in. "Apparently, she was punched and then thrown down some stairs before she passed out."
Ryan looked up to see Dick. "Hi Dick." He then gave Mac and questioning look.
Mac groaned. "Yes that's what happened."
Ryan smiled. "Not the question I was giving you. Man, you used to be really good at the sibling telepathy."
"Ryan, I knew what you were really asking. Yes, Dick and I have been seeing each other since the wedding."
He looked at Dick again before turning his attention back to Mac. "We need to get a CT scan for you. I'm going to focus on being a protective brother about your medical needs first, then I'll get to him." Ryan pointed at Dick.
It's a good thing to have a family member who is interning in the ER, because Mac was taken directly back without ever sitting in the waiting room. After the CT scan, a couple of deputies came by to question her about the events of that night.
After they left, Mac laid back on the bed and closed her eyes.
"Don't try to go to sleep." Dick came to sit next to her on the bed and placed a hand on her waist.
Mac opened her eyes to look at Dick. "Got any ideas for keeping me awake." She wagged her eyebrow.
Dick laughed and smiled down at her. "I have a lot of ideas on how to keep you awake, but if I'm going to screw your brains out, I want to make sure your brain isn't damaged first."
There was a knock on the door, but before Mac could give permission to enter, Ryan walked in with their parents.
"Ryan! You called Mom and Dad?" Mac covered her face with her hands.
Natalie and Sam Mackenzie were at her bedside fussing over her in seconds. Dick stood up on the other side of the bed.
"How are you feeling sweetie?" Natalie asked as she smoothed her hair.
Sam held her hand. "What happened?"
Mac noticed Ryan smirk from the end of her bed. "You suck!" She grabbed her pillow from behind her head and threw it at him. He caught it of course, which just irritated Mac more.
She looked back at her parents. "It's a long story. Basically, Veronica and I saved the girl that was kidnapped, so in the end a bruised cheek isn't that bad." Mac looked back at Dick and gave him a reassuring smile.
Natalie noticed Mac look up at Dick. "Oh hello." She looked back down at Mac. "Who is this?"
"This is Dick Casablancas…"
Before Mac could finished her mom butted in. "Oh, Cassidy's brother." She extended her hand across Mac. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Natalie, Cindy's mother and this is her father, Sam."
Dick shook her hand and then Sam's. "Pleasure to meet you too." Mac could tell he was uncomfortable, but trying to make a good first impression.
"I believe I saw you and Cindy dancing at Madison's wedding last month." Natalie was smiling at Dick.
"Mom, Dad." They looked back at Mac. "Dick and I are seeing each other." She figured laying it all was the best way to approach the situation.
Natalie smiled up at Dick. "You mean that you two are a couple?" She turned back to Mac. "How long has this been going on?"
"Since the wedding." She noticed Ryan giggling from the end of the bed. Mac knew this was going to get embarrassing and just laid back to at least be as comfortable as possible.
Her dad finally spoke up. "So a month?" Sam eyed Dick.
"Yes sir." Dick maintained eye contact with Sam.
"Well it looks like Cindy will have to bring you for dinner soon." He nodded his head towards Mac. "She's never introduced us to a boyfriend before, so it'd be nice to get to know you."
"Ryan, I need the pillow back so I can smother myself."
There was a knock on the door and the doctor came in. "Hello everyone. It's a packed room in here. Ms. Mackenzie, do you want me to give you the results of you CT in front of everyone?"
"Sure. It's not like they would go away anyway." Mac rolled her eyes.
"Well it came back good. There was no sign of a concussion. You have a nasty bruise on your cheek, but nothing is broken. All your other x-rays came out with no broken bones, but you did have a bad fall so you will probably be pretty bruised tomorrow. Basically, you can go home." He gave her instructions for caring for her cheek and then released her.
Once outside of the hospital, Mac punched Ryan in the arm before he went back to work. "I will get you back."
Ryan laughed as he backed away. "I'm sure you will." He waved at Dick. "Good to see you again Dick."
Natalie stopped Mac. "Do you need me to come home with you?" She started straightening Mac's hair. "I miss your long hair."
Mac waved her hand away. "I'll be fine Mom."
"I don't like the idea of you being alone." Natalie moved her eyes towards Dick.
Mac knew she was silently asking if Dick was going to be staying with her. "I won't be alone Mom." She rolled her eyes.
Sam extended his hand to Dick. "It was nice to meet you Dick. I wish Cindy had brought you to dinner instead of us meeting at the hospital."
Natalie hugged Mac. "Your brother is coming for dinner Wednesday night. I expect you both to come as well." She then turned and hugged Dick. "It's wonderful to meet you."
Dick looked startled at the hug and Mac just smiled at him while she shook her head. "I'll let you know Mom." Mac quickly hugged her father before grabbing Dick's hand and leading him to his truck.
Once they were safely inside his truck Mac turned to him. "I'm so sorry that you had to deal with them. My parents are so weird."
Dick let out a small laugh. "They were nice. I liked your parents."
"I didn't say they aren't nice people. I just said they're weird." Mac looked over at Dick and noticed the smile on his face. "Do you want to go to dinner at my parents' on Wednesday?"
"Do you want me to go to dinner at your parents'?" Dick started the vehicle.
"Only if you think you can handle it. I don't want you to go if it's going to be too much too soon." Mac looked down in her hands. It was one thing to agree to not be a secret anymore, but she wasn't sure if he was ready to take the serious step of knowing the parents.
Dick turned towards her and used her chin to pull her face to look at him. "If I can handle Veronica and the risk of being tased, then your parents will be a piece of cake."
Mac smiled at him. "That's what you think. Besides you haven't really dealt with V yet. I'm going to text her to meet us at 3:00 tomorrow at Luigi's. Maybe lasagna will keep her tame." It was 3:00 in the morning, so Mac figured 12 hours would be enough to rest. After sending the text she laid back in the seat and let herself drift off.
She woke up later in her bed with the sun shining through her window and the clock showing 10:18AM. Mac realized she was in her underwear and tank top, but didn't remember getting home the night before. When she rolled over, she let out a groan when she felt all the bruises and soreness all over her body from the previous night.
"Mac?" Dick's hoarse voice asked. "Are you okay?"
Mac whined. "Everything hurts. I feel like I was thrown down a flight of stairs by a psychopath."
Dick let out a small laugh as he got out of bed. "I believe that's what happened. I'm getting you some ibuprofen." He walked out of the bedroom and came back quickly with pills and a glass of water.
She moaned as she sat up in bed to take the pills. "This sucks. Remind me of this if I ever tell you I'm helping Veronica with another B&E."
"Oh, you better believe I will." Dick had the most serious look on his face that Mac had ever seen.
Mac gave him a tight smile. "Can you come back to bed please?"
Dick walked around the bed and got under the covers with Mac. She laid back on her back as he positioned himself on his side next to her with his arm over her stomach and his thumb rubbing her hip.
Mac turned her head towards him. "This was the first time I ever participated in a breaking and entering with Veronica. Normally, all my spy skills are kept on the computer at the office, but I have sat in the car with it running for her while she broke into places before or just to keep her company during a stakeout. This is the first time I've been hurt."
"Can you make it the last time too?" Dick picked her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
Mac rolled onto her side to fully face Dick and winced in pain that came from her thigh. "I can't promise that, but I can promise to tell you if I'm going to put myself in a dangerous situation before I plan to." She press her body against Dick and kissed him.
Dick pulled away. "Mac. You're too sore. I don't want to hurt you."
She pouted her lips. "Did you just turn me down for sex? The great Dick Casablancas is turning down the chance to get laid?"
"Trust me. It's hard." Dick rubbed his face with his hand.
Mac put her hand on his groin. "Yes it is."
"You are not helping me by doing that."
Mac continued stroking him and kissed him on the lips. "You know what you can do to help soothe…" Kiss. "my sore…" Kiss. "aching…" Kiss. "…muscles."
Dick groaned. "Mac."
Kiss. "A nice hot…" Kiss. "steamy…" Kiss. "shower would be nice."
He smiled. "A shower is a good idea, but give the medicine time to kick in and let the shower actually relax you and then we will discuss other relaxation techniques." Dick kissed the tip of her nose.
Dick went into the bathroom and started the water, while Mac worked on moving herself out of bed.
"This sucks." She whispered to herself as she stood up.
Dick walked back into the room. "Jesus."
When Mac looked up, Dick was in the doorway with his mouth open. "What?"
"I didn't notice the bruise last night because it was dark when I undressed you."
Mac looked down and a large bruise that covered her outer right thigh. "So that's what hurts."
Dick clenched his jaw. "It's not funny Mac. After the shower you're putting some ice on that."
It hurt to put all her weight on her right leg but Mac didn't want to alarm Dick, so she tried not to wince on her way to the bathroom.
Once in the bathroom Mac started to take her tank top off, but found she couldn't lift her arms that high. She dropped the shirt and took a deep breath.
"Are you okay?" Dick asked after he pulled a couple of towels out of the closet.
"I can't get my top off." She was frustrated that she wasn't able to take care of herself.
Dick came over to her and gently helped her remove the shirt. Mac noticed he gripped her shirt tight in his fists. When she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she had to take another quick look. There was a large bruise across her left rib cage.
"Well at least…" Mac started.
"Please don't downplay this Mac." Dick shook his head. "Let's just get into the shower.
Dick washed Mac's hair and careful bathed her making sure not to press too hard on the tender spots where the bruises were.
After they were both clean, Dick wrapped a towel around his hips and then assisted Mac with drying off. Once she had her robe on, Mac went to the sink and proceeded to brush her teeth. Dick grabbed his toothbrush from the holder and added toothpaste. Mac could see him avoiding looking at her in the eyes. She rinsed out her mouth.
"Geez Dick. Just say it."
Dick quickly cut his eyes to meet hers in the mirror. He rinsed his mouth out. "I'm pissed to see you covered in bruises. It makes me angry to know that you could have been killed."
Mac placed her arms around his waist. "I love you."
Dick wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "I love you too." He rubbed her back. "Let's get some ice on those bruises."
They cuddled on the couch and watched a movie as Dick made sure Mac iced the bruises for 15 minutes twice during the movie.
"Are you sure you still want to meet Veronica and Logan at Luigi's?" Dick asked.
Mac rolled her eyes. "Yes. I'm capable of going to dinner. I mean food is good for healing." She smiled up at him.
Next chapter, they will be having lunch with Veronica and Logan.