Christmas Quarantine
"Thanks for the update. I appreciate it." MacGyver hung up the phone and stepped out of his office and into the rec room at Challengers. Christmas was fast approaching and the teens had been decorating for days. This afternoon, Geena and Joanna were festooning the places the kids hadn't already gotten to. As it was, they already had three Christmas trees, but this year Mac didn't mind. Walking towards the two women he couldn't help overhearing their conversation.
"Shouldn't that man of yours be helping us with this?" Geena complained as she handed a length of garland to Joanna who was standing on a folding chair, tacking the decor to the wall.
"That man of hers has a name," Mac informed the part-time law secretary and new Challengers volunteer as he approached and casually put his hands on Joanna's hips.
"Oh, I know that," Geena laughed. "I'm just funnin' her! She never blushes when I just call you 'MacGyver'."
"I'm not gonna fall, ya know," Jo informed him, glancing down at his hands.
"Let's just call it a precautionary measure," he grinned, squeezing her hips a bit tighter as she shook her head and returned her attention to the task at hand.
"Girlfriend, if you don't want this fine man of yours touchin' you, he can give me some sugar anytime!" Geena gave Mac a conspiratorial wink as she walked away.
"Okay, I'm comin' down," Joanna warned. "You might wanna let go and back up so my foot doesn't accidentally hit you someplace painful."
Figuring he had pushed the envelope far enough for now he did as she instructed but stayed alert and within arm's reach in case she lost her balance.
"So, who were you on the phone with?" she asked once back on solid ground and looking up at him.
"Craig Bannister."
The scowl that usually appeared on her face at the mention of that name remained absent, her expression neutral. Score one for the good guys!
"He wanted to let me know they caught the guy Duncan met with and recovered the documents," Mac explained.
"I'm sure everyone at Phoenix is relieved," she responded as she headed toward her office.
"Yeah, but it doesn't make up for losing a good agent," MacGyver said sadly, following behind her.
"I suppose not," she mumbled before stopping halfway to her desk and turning to face him. "What's going to happen with the recertification program you created?"
Mac was glad to see her taking an interest in his work for the foundation. "It's been put on hold temporarily. The board will eventually decide whether or not to move ahead with it."
"Are you okay with that? You worked so hard on it."
"Yeah. And it almost got me killed."
"What?! How?!" Joanna shrieked, a look of horror on her face.
"Uh, I really can't say. It's classified."
"Would I want to know the details if it wasn't?"
"Considering I'm standing here alive and well, probably not. But I will tell you something else you need to know."
"What is it?" Jo asked, concern in her eyes.
"You have to kiss me now."
"What?" Mac almost laughed at her befuddlement but knew he had to hold back if he wanted to move forward with this new diversion.
"It's kinda tradition," he clarified, snaking one arm around her waist to pull her close while he pointed up to the ceiling with his other hand to the sprig of mistletoe he had hung there earlier in the day.
"You booby trapped my office?" she accused.
His only answer was a slow, crooked smile he knew she couldn't resist.
"Well," she gave an exaggerated sigh. "I guess we can't go breaking tradition now, can we?"
"Guess not," he agreed as he lowered his lips to meet hers in a long, gentle caress.
"We should go try out the mistletoe in your office," Joanna suggested lazily once they had broken the kiss.
MacGyver took a step back. "I didn't put any in mine."
"Why not?" she asked, taking a step back as well.
"I didn't think you'd care for me being tradition bound to kiss every female that walked into my office."
"But you don't mind me kissing every guy that walks into my office?" she countered, one eyebrow cocked.
MacGyver hadn't thought about it that way when he hatched this little plan. Time for a little recon. He grabbed a wire coat hanger from the hook on the back of Jo's office door and gave it a yank to straighten it before reaching up and using the curved end to snag the offending piece of greenery and toss it into the trash.
"I always thought it was a dumb tradition anyways," he explained when his eyes met Joanna's quizzical gaze.
"Well, it was fun while it lasted," she laughed. "Now we better get back to work before Geena starts wondering what we're doing in here."
"Oh, I think Geena knows exactly what we're doin' in here," Mac replied. "Besides, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."
"What is it?" she asked, a mix of concern and suspicion in her voice.
"Nothing bad," Mac quickly assured her. "It's just that I heard about this really nice ski resort a couple hours north of here-"
"You mean Cascade Ridge?"
"Yeah. I thought that once school lets out for winter break you and I could go up there for a couple days before Christmas to unwind."
Mac held his breath as he waited for her answer. Knowing her need to plan and schedule, in detail, he expected a string of excuses to spew from her mouth.
"That sounds fun," she replied.
"Wait, what?"
"I said, that sounds like it would be fun," she repeated.
"Christmas isn't until Thursday so I figure we can drive up Sunday night and be back by the twenty-fourth. That way you'll still have the weekend for any last minute shopping," he explained.
"Okay," she said with a slight shrug.
MacGyver was taken aback by this easy-going, carefree side of her.
"Aren't you going to point out that I just got back from L.A. and should spend the time here at work?"
"That was hardly a relaxing vacation," she observed.
"But you don't even ski!"
"I'm sure there are plenty of other ways to pass the time," she declared. "I do like the idea of snuggling in front of a fire, drinking hot chocolate."
"Me, too," Mac agreed, once again reaching out to pull her close. Unfortunately, the moment was marred by his unexpected frown.
"What's wrong?" Joanna asked, concern evident once again. "Don't you want me to go?"
"No! I mean, I'm just not used to you being so...so…"
"So flexible and spontaneous?"
"Yeah, somethin' like that."
"It's my New Year's resolution," she explained, extricating herself from his grasp with a grin. "I decided that if I'm gonna marry you, I have to get used to things like unexpected trips and surprise calls from Craig Bannister."
"Aw Jo, I don't want you to go changing because of me. I love you just as you are," Mac protested.
"Don't think of it as 'changing', think of it as 'improving'. So, what's your resolution?"
"To never let you forget how amazing you are," he whispered huskily as he stole another kiss.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The following Sunday evening MacGyver pulled his Jeep up to the covered front entrance of the sprawling Cascade Ridge Ski Resort and Conference Center. Joanna couldn't help but be impressed. She had done a bit of research and discovered that, not only did the large lodge boast an indoor ice rink, but it also had an arcade with a variety of games, several gathering rooms that each had a large stone fireplace for getting together with friends or spending time with a good book, a spa that offered manicures and massages, a number of conference rooms, and a critically acclaimed restaurant as well as a more modest cafe. Outdoor offerings included hiking and snowmobiling trails, tobogganing, and of course several ski hills from basic to advanced to accommodate all levels of ages and skills.
"Mac, this must be costing a fortune!"
"Don't worry about it," he replied with a lazy smile. "Consider it my Christmas present to you."
"I think you've covered about five year's worth of gifts," she mumbled despite the anticipation building up inside her. For years, she had secretly dreamed of retreating to such a destination and now, thanks to MacGyver, she was actually here!
Once inside, the couple waited for their turn at the registration desk. A brunette woman and a blond-haired boy stood in front of them while an elderly husband and wife bickered as the clerk tried to collect their information.
"I'm tellin' ya, Myrna, with a cough like that you should have stayed home!"
"Oh nonsense, George! It's just the sniffles! The grandkids paid good money to send us here and I'm not going home now."
"Fine! But if you die of pneumonia, don't come cryin' to me!"
Joanna glanced up at MacGyver with a smirk.
"Please, don't let that ever be us," he bent down and whispered in her ear, an amused grin on his face as well.
As the elderly couple worked to complete the registration process, the young boy standing in front of Mac began to voice his impatience.
"Mom, I'm hungry," he whined. "Why couldn't we have stopped at McDonald's before coming here?"
"I'm sorry, honey, but how was I to know we were going to get a flat tire? We'll go grab something as soon as we sign in."
The boy sighed heavily and Jo noticed the brand new pair of hockey skates he had slung over his shoulder. So did MacGyver.
"Hey, those are pretty cool blades," Mac observed, tearing the boy's attention away from his hunger for the moment.
"Thanks! They're an early Christmas present," he responded eagerly.
"You on a team?"
"Yeah. I'm missing practice 'cause I had to come with Mom to her work seminar, but she says I can use the indoor rink."
"Sounds like a plan. I played on a hockey team when I was your age. Maybe we can do a little one-on-one if your mom says it's okay. Name's MacGyver." Mac stuck out his hand and the boy returned the gesture.
This caught the woman's attention and she turned around, a slight flush on her cheeks.
"Oh my goodness! I'm sorry if he's bothering you. I'm Molly and this is my son, Josh."
"I'm MacGyver and this is Joanna, it's nice to meet you and Josh is no bother."
"Mom, can I go skating with MacGyver while we're here?" Josh asked excitedly just as the clerk beckoned them to the counter.
"We'll see, honey. I don't want you bothering the nice man," Molly responded, sending Mac an apologetic smile.
"But maaa," Josh whined as they moved forward.
Jo looked up at MacGyver and rolled her eyes as he chuckled.
Finally it was their turn to register. Joanna let MacGyver take care of the transaction and watched as the clerk handed him two key cards.
After taking the elevator up to the second floor and walking down a long corridor, Mac stopped in front of a well-lacquered wooden door. He slid the key card in the slot, threw the door opened, and motioned for Joanna to enter ahead of him. Expecting a modest motel room, she gasped when she saw the small suite. Directly across the room from her were large glass patio doors which presumably opened onto a balcony. The main room itself was outfitted with a couch, matching stuffed chairs, a coffee table and television. She noted two solid doors, one for the bathroom and one for the private bedroom.
"Mac, this is terrific!"
MacGyver shrugged, shying away from the praise. "The couch pulls out into a bed. This way I can sleep out here and get up early without disturbing you."
His explanation warmed her soul. Not many people, especially morning people, understood her desire for a couple extra hours of sleep when she wasn't working. Suddenly she felt Mac grab her hand and she had no choice but to follow him to the patio doors.
"You can't see it in the dark, but in the morning you'll see the black diamond ski hill from here. Maybe you'll catch one of my runs," he said with a grin.
"Isn't a black diamond one of the most advanced courses?"
"Yep!"
"Fine, I'll watch as long as you promise not to wipe out!"
XXXXX
True to her word, the following morning Joanna emerged from her bedroom in flannel pajamas and a fluffy robe. She tugged open the heavy draperies that had been pulled across the patio doors and immediately shielded her eyes as the bright December sunlight glinted off the pure white snow of the ski hill. Once her eyes adjusted to the brightness, her gaze landed on a figure in red ski pants and jacket effortlessly swooshing down the mountain. She smiled as she admired MacGyver's gracefulness, speed, and economy of movement. When he reached the bottom of the hill he skidded to a stop sending a rooster tail of snow into the air before heading back to the lift for another run. Joanna turned away and hurried to the bathroom to shower and dress before he returned.
Jo had just commandeered a small table for two in the main lobby where a complimentary breakfast buffet had been set up when Mac walked through the front door. His cheeks were red, his damp hair plastered to his head, and his smile larger than she had seen in a long time. He immediately made his way over to her.
"Having fun?" she asked, returning his smile.
"Yeah. I can't believe how much I've missed it," he responded, still a bit breathless.
"You looked good out there,"
"Thanks," he replied, self-satisfaction obvious. "But all that exercise sure makes a guy hungry."
After loading their plates with a scrumptious variety of breakfast treats, they returned to their table and made plans for the rest of the day.
After a long, leisurely hike which included hand-holding, stolen kisses, and more than one impromptu snowball fight, the couple returned to the lodge for a late lunch in the cafe during which MacGyver convinced a reluctant Joanna to resume her skating lessons. When the pair finally made their way to the indoor skating rink, they found Josh in full hockey gear gliding aimlessly around the ice, head down. Mac looked at Jo with a hopeful plea in his eyes.
"Go ahead and play with him," she directed with a laugh. "My skating lesson can wait."
After giving her a quick kiss, MacGyver laced up his skates and hit the ice. Joanna could see the boy's face light up immediately.
"Promise to go easy on me. I'm not wearing any pads," she heard Mac call to him before they dropped the puck and started a game of one-on-one.
Joanna settled herself on a bench to watch the proceedings. She instinctively knew that MacGyver would let Josh decide when it was time to quit. Given that the boy was only twelve, it could be a while. A few moments later she felt a presence beside her as Molly sat down, her eyes on her son.
"I hope he isn't bothering your husband," she apologized.
Joanna let the woman's assumption about Mac slide. "Are you kidding? He lives for this kind of stuff!"
Just then, Josh slid the puck into the net. He let out a whoop and raised his hands, stick and all, into the air to celebrate.
"Did you see that, Ma?!" he called. "I'm beating Mr. MacGyver!"
"Not for long you're not," Mac called back as he returned with the puck to center ice.
Molly laughed. "I see what you mean," she said to Jo. "If he does become a nuisance, just send him back to the room. Unfortunately, I need to get back to my business meeting."
That evening, Joanna and MacGyver dined in the lodge's five-star restaurant. The atmosphere was romantic and the cuisine delectable. After sharing a decadent dessert, they decided to forego returning to their suite and instead ensconced themselves in one of the smaller gathering rooms. Sitting close to each other on a buttery soft leather sofa, Mac put his arm around Joanna and pulled her close. She laid her head on his shoulder and placed her hand on his chest. She could feel the warmth of his skin through his shirt as well as the strong, steady beat of his heart.
"Are you having a good time?" she asked, tilting her head to look up at him.
"I am," he confirmed with a smile. "How about you?"
"It's been perfect. I hate to think of leaving."
"Then don't," he instructed. "We still have one full day left."
Tuesday morning Joanna made a point of waking early. She watched MacGyver make two runs down the ski hill. His speed seemed a bit slower today and his moves just a tad sluggish, but she still could not take her eyes off his athletic, confident form. When he did not return for a third run, she headed to the bathroom.
Stepping from the shower wrapped in a warm bathrobe, her brown hair still wet, she opened the door to find Mac standing by the couch, shedding his ski jacket.
"Done already?" she asked.
"Yeah," he muttered. She couldn't help but notice his hand reach for the small of his back and begin kneading it gently.
"Maybe you should go to the spa for a massage," she suggested with a knowing grin.
Mac grimaced. "I'll be fine once I get cleaned up and have a good breakfast."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
MacGyver took a longer and hotter shower than usual hoping it would soothe the kinks in his back. Two straight days of skiing plus a couple of hours playing hockey had taken their toll, though he was loathe to admit it. On their way to the lobby for breakfast, he and Joanna ran into Josh and Molly. Josh was eager to get Mac back on the ice and there was no way he was gonna refuse the kid, even when Jo shot him a sideways glance that seemed to say he should know better. They had just filled their plates at the buffet and sat down as a foursome when an ambulance pulled up at the main entrance. The hotel manager quickly escorted the medics through the room amidst murmurs and stares from other diners.
"Wonder what's going on?" Mac mused aloud.
"Some middle-aged guy probably threw his back out trying to act ten years younger," Jo replied snidely.
They were half-way through their meal when the medics returned with a stretcher carrying an elderly lady wrapped in blankets. A man of about the same age followed behind, carrying her purse.
"Hey Mom, isn't that the old couple that was ahead of us in line the other night?" Josh asked.
"It looks like it could be," Molly replied.
"I remember that couple," Mac added. "The wife had a terrible cough."
"It must have turned into something more serious," Joanna observed with a frown, silencing the others at the table.
Once the remainder of the meal had been consumed, Molly headed off to her seminar, Jo returned to their suite to grab a novel to read by the fire, and Mac and Josh proceeded to the ice rink. After some quick warm up exercises and a rousing game of one-on-one, MacGyver showed Josh some easy tips and tricks for him to share with his friends and teammates back home. Acutely aware of the precious time he was missing with Joanna, he cut their session short, much to Josh's dismay.
"Sorry buddy," he apologized. "How about you hang out in the arcade until it's time to meet your mom for lunch?"
The boy nodded in polite agreement and Mac set out to find Joanna.
"So, what do you want to do for the rest of the day?" he asked Jo, settling beside her on the same couch they had cuddled on the night before.
"Whatever you want," she replied.
Mac stared at her suspiciously. "You're taking this whole New Year's resolution thing pretty serious, aren't you?"
"I am," she answered solemnly.
"Aha! I got you now!" he exclaimed.
Twenty minutes later he had her teetering on a pair of figure skates about to step onto the ice.
"You know you don't really have to do this if you don't want to," he said, gazing into her trusting eyes.
She shook her head. "Skating is important to you, and I've always enjoyed watching it but I was always scared to actually try doing it myself."
Taking his hand, she gingerly stepped onto the slippery surface. Much to his dismay, she quickly removed her hand from his in order to grasp the top of the wall better. Once she had her balance, she started taking slow steps forward, still clutching the padded wall instead of him. Mac sighed and followed behind, offering encouraging words. Suddenly her hand shot out towards him. He instinctively grabbed it and felt her weight shift.
"I don't think I need to hang onto the boards anymore," she explained. "I seem to be remembering what you taught me last time. Just don't let go, okay?"
"Count on it," he promised, putting an arm around her waist for extra support.
Lost in both the thrill of skating and the feel of Joanna in his arms, time went by quickly. When their stomachs began to rumble, they agreed to grab lunch in the cafe. Afterward, they decided to check out the arcade and were soon engrossed in various games as if they were teenagers. Joanna's competitive side surfaced as it had when Mac had first introduced her to his video hockey game and she practically wore out her arm trying to beat him at skee ball after she had already won one air hockey game. Aware that their time at the resort was waning, they agreed to take another leisurely stroll through the woods before climbing aboard a festively decorated old-fashioned sleigh for a special holiday tour of the grounds. They ended their day with a long, romantic dinner in the lodge's exclusive restaurant where they drank in each other's company with light touches and meaningful glances taking the place of conversation.
The following morning, MacGyver watched Joanna reluctantly pack her things. His duffle was already set to go, waiting by the door.
"You know we can always come back," he told her, hoping to raise her spirits. "Besides, tonight is Christmas Eve. Aren't you anxious to see what I got you?"
This got her attention. She turned to him, eyes wide. "You said this trip was my present."
"I said you could consider it my gift to you. I actually bought you something before we left."
"Well, I admit I'm looking forward to seeing the look on your face when I give you your present," she confessed.
"Oh really?!" Mac raised his eyebrows suggestively only to earn a scowl from her pretty face.
Jo had just closed her suitcase when the telephone rang. MacGyver snatched up the receiver to be greeted by a poor quality recording.
"This is the lodge manager. All guests are required to meet in Conference Room One for an emergency announcement at 10:00am."
The message continued to repeat itself, but Mac only needed to hear it once. His brow furrowed in concern as he met Joanna's eyes and relayed the message.
"I wonder what that's all about," she commented, concern filling her voice.
MacGyver glanced at his watch. It was 9:45am. "We'll find out soon enough," he replied before they headed out the door and down to the main floor.
A group of worried patrons had already gathered outside the designated room when the couple arrived and found themselves standing next to Molly and Josh. It didn't take people long to consider what this imperative meeting might be about.
"Maybe there's a blizzard on the way and we have to evacuate!"
"Or it could be an avalanche!"
"I bet it's a bomb threat! There are all sorts of crazies out there these days!"
More people began to add their opinions and soon individual words were indiscernible. Josh looked anxiously at MacGyver.
"It's probably nothing more than a broken ski lift or a hot tub on the fritz," Mac said loudly, trying to dispel the rising panic, but his words seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Once inside the large room, the manager stepped up on a podium and spoke into a microphone. Joanna glanced up at Mac, nervously biting her lip, and he reached down to give her hand a comforting squeeze.
"Ladies and gentleman," the manager began. "It is with great sorrow that I must inform you of the death of one of our patrons."
MacGyver had no doubt it was the woman who had been removed by ambulance the day before. But why the urgency to announce her fate?
"We now know that the deceased was suffering from a rare strain of influenza before she passed. Due to this, the local Center for Disease Control has issued a quarantine for Cascade Ridge until all persons are tested for the flu and an appropriate treatment can be found. Therefore, I must insist that everyone please remain in their assigned rooms, wash your hands frequently, and avoid other guests as well as common areas as much as possible. The lodge's restaurant will be providing free room service and asks that all patrons telephone in their orders. These rules will remain in effect until the quarantine has been lifted. In addition, if you, or someone you know, appears to be exhibiting symptoms such as sore throat, fever, body aches, chills, or fatigue, please contact a member of our staff immediately. Later today, a physician will be coming to perform a rapid diagnostic test on everyone. Your cooperation during this time is greatly appreciated."
"Does that mean I hafta stay in our room all day?" Josh morosely asked his mother as the crowd began to disperse.
"I'm afraid so, kiddo."
"But there's nothing to do! And what about hockey practice?!"
"I'm sorry, Josh," Molly replied, sounding a bit harried by this sudden turn of events. "But we have to do as we're told. On the bright side, I'll let you watch as much TV as you want."
Josh hung his head and kicked the carpet with his foot.
"Listen, Jo and I have a suite. How about we trade so Josh at least has a little more room to move around," MacGyver suggested to Molly.
"I'm sorry, sir, but that would be breaking quarantine. One of your rooms could already be contaminated," replied the manager who had just happened to be passing by.
Mac looked at Molly and shrugged. "I tried," he whispered.
XXXXX
Late that evening, Joanna tossed the television remote onto the coffee table in front of her.
"I can't believe it! Premium cable, over a hundred channels, and nothing good on TV!" she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest in a pout.
"Why don't you read the book you brought with you?"
"I finished it while we were waiting for the test results," she mumbled.
Earlier that afternoon a doctor from the nearest town had come and swabbed everyone's throat to test for influenza, but both she and MacGyver knew the test was terribly insufficient and not designed to identify individual strains. Nevertheless, it was a process they had to endure even though it would not be enough to lift the quarantine.
"Did you call your folks?" Mac asked in an attempt to get Jo out of her foul mood.
"Yeah. I explained everything and told them I'd call when we knew more," she sighed. "Did you call Sam?"
"No. He and Becca are spending Christmas with Pete and Connie. I didn't want to spoil their holiday worrying about us."
"Speaking of the holiday, this sure isn't the way I envisioned spending Christmas Eve."
MacGyver sat down next to her on the couch. "You're the one who didn't want to leave," he pointed out cheekily. "You got your wish!"
"Then I guess I better be careful what I wish for. I didn't want to be held prisoner!" she complained.
"Perhaps we could find a way to make your sentence more enjoyable," he said softly, leaning in only to be stopped by her hand on his chest.
"What?"
She felt his forehead with the back of her other hand and squinted her eyes at him. "You don't have a sore throat do you? Or the chills, or body aches?"
"I get it. You wanna play doctor," Mac observed with a sexy grin while attempting to move closer. He stopped when his eyes landed on her hard gaze.
"I'm making sure you aren't gonna give me the flu," she responded tartly.
"If you recall, my test came back negative," he reminded her as he wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close, and kissed her deeply before raising his head to observe her reaction. "You, on the other hand, look a bit flushed," he observed huskily.
"Why might that be?" she asked breathlessly.
"I'm not sure. I think we need to experiment a bit more to find out."
Joanna giggled before MacGyver's lips pressed against hers once more and he felt her muscles relax as she gave herself fully to the kiss. Riding a wave of emotion, he barely heard the frantic knock on their door. Knowing everyone was supposed to remain in their appointed rooms, he raised his head and saw Jo's eyes mirror his concern. With a sigh, he pulled himself away from her to answer the door. Molly was standing on the other side, tears running down her cheeks, her mascara smeared.
"Is Josh with you?" she asked anxiously, shoving past MacGyver before he had a chance to greet her or invite her in.
"No. Isn't he in your room?" Joanna asked, rising from the couch.
The woman shook her head and sobbed. "No. He was really upset about having to stay in and kept complaining he was bored and missing hockey practice. I went to take a shower and when I returned to the bedroom he was gone! I've already looked in the ice rink and arcade, but I can't seem to find him anywhere!"
With his hands on her shoulders, Mac led Molly to a comfortable armchair while Joanna handed her a wad of tissue.
"I think I know where he may have gone," MacGyver announced once Molly had calmed down.
"Where?" the mother asked.
"He's upset about not being able to skate, right?"
Molly nodded.
"When Jo and I were out hiking we saw a small, frozen pond on the property. I'll go check it out, but first I have to figure a way out of here."
"What do you mean?" Molly asked.
"We're under quarantine, remember? I can't exactly stroll through the lobby and out the front door."
"I'm sorry," the woman apologized. "When I couldn't find Josh I forgot all about that."
"Don't worry about it," Mac replied absently as he opened the sliding patio doors and stepped out on a small balcony before turning to survey the room.
"What are you thinking?" Jo asked, coming to stand beside him.
MacGyver peeked over the railing with a grimace. Of course they had to be on the second floor. "Go in the bedroom and get all your sheets," he told her, handing her his Swiss Army knife. "Cut them in half the long way and tie them together."
"You've gotta be kidding!"
"I know it's cliché, but do you have a better idea?"
Jo frowned and hurried off to her bedroom as MacGyver opened up the pull-out couch and set to work tearing those sheets as well. They hurried to tie them together and secure one end around the balcony railing. Assured that all the knots were as tight as possible, Mac tossed the sheets over the balcony before climbing over himself.
"Pull these up as soon as I hit the ground so no one sees them," he instructed
"But how will you get back?" Jo asked.
"I'll figure that out when the time comes. First I have to find Josh." With that, Mac shimmied to the ground and watched as Joanna gathered up the sheets.
Moving as stealthily yet as quickly as possible, he regretted leaving his warm jacket behind. But on second thought it was probably for the best since the red material would make him easier to spot and he couldn't get caught breaking quarantine. At least not until he found Josh.
Since Mac had also forgotten a flashlight, he was thankful for the full winter moon reflecting off the white blanket of snow. He had been hiking for about five minutes before he reached the pond. He thought he saw something bobbing in the middle of it.
"Josh! Is that you?!" he called in a loud whisper.
"Mr. MacGyver! I was skating when the ice broke and I fell in! You gotta help me!"
"Just hang in there and stay calm. I'll get you out."
There was no way Mac could reach the boy without going onto the ice himself and if he fell through, they'd both be in trouble. He needed some type of rope. For an instant he considered returning to the lodge and getting Joanna to toss him the sheets he had used to lower himself from the balcony, but that would take too long. Reaching into the pocket of his jeans he grabbed his Swiss Army knife, thankful that Jo had remembered to return it to him before left. He opened it up to the longest blade it had, got down on all fours and slowly crawled out on the ice, laying on his stomach, arms and legs spread wide so his weight was evenly distributed over the frozen surface. Once he got as close as he felt was safe he spoke to the boy again.
"I'm gonna slide this knife to you. Take it and stab the thickest piece of ice you can reach and hold on tight. I'll be right back."
As soon as Josh did what he had instructed, he carefully returned to solid ground to search for something to pull the boy out. He knew he had to act fast. It wouldn't be long before the youngster started experiencing shock and hypothermia. With the help of the moonlight he spotted a shadowy figure that looked to be an old outbuilding several yards away. MacGyver hurried through the snow, striking his foot against an unseen rock in the process. He reached the windowless shed and groaned when he saw the door secured with a rusted padlock. Normally he could easily pick it with his knife, but Josh was currently using it to keep himself from sinking into the frigid water. Suddenly, an idea sprung to mind and he backtracked to find the rock he had stumbled upon. Wrestling it out of the snow, it wasn't as heavy as he first thought, but it should be able to get the job done. Returning to the wooden shed, he hit the lock with the rock several times until it finally gave way. With a sigh of relief Mac entered, pausing to adjust to the darkness. He carefully made his way around the small room, reaching out and touching objects as he went. Finally, his hand landed on what felt like a rubber garden hose. He hoisted the coil from the hook it was hanging on and headed outside to get a better look. He would have preferred something more flexible, like a rope, but this would have to do. He only hoped it was long enough.
Back at the pond he found Josh barely keeping himself above water. The boy's eyelids were drooping and his arms appeared rigid. Mac stepped as close to the edge as he could.
"I'm gonna toss you this hose. Grab on and pull yourself up. I'll pull from this end," he told the frightened boy.
It took a couple tries, but finally Josh, still holding onto the knife with one hand, grasped the rubber hose in the other and began to pull himself up onto the ice. MacGyver braced his legs and pulled on the other end, careful to not rip the length of hose from Josh's hand. At last, the boy was able to wiggle out of the hole and lay belly down on the ice.
"Stay still and hang on," Mac called. "I'll pull you in."
Once Josh was back on firm ground, he and MacGyver sat in the snow, wet, cold, and exhausted.
"How did you find me?" the boy asked meekly.
Mac shrugged. "I just thought about where I would have gone when I was your age and cooped up in a hotel room when I'd rather be skating."
"I bet my mom's gonna be pretty angry."
"I can just about guarantee it. You gave her quite a scare. Come on, we gotta get back to the lodge and get into some dry clothes before we get into any more trouble," Mac said as he stood up and reached down to help the boy do the same. The return trek took a bit longer due to cold, stiff limbs.
"So how did you manage to get out without anyone seeing you?" MacGyver asked.
"I snuck out the back door of the laundry room. Is that how we're gonna get back in?"
"We're gonna give it a try," Mac replied with a smile.
Once at the main building, MacGyver had Josh lead the way to the door he had used earlier. Mac reached for the handle but it was locked. Instinctively he stuck his hand in his pocket then frowned.
"Looking for this?" Josh asked, grinning as he held up Mac's Swiss Army knife.
"Yeah. Thanks buddy."
Moments later MacGyver had the lock jimmied and they stepped into the blessedly warm room where industrial sized washers and dryers chugged away.
"C'mon, this way!" Josh motioned and Mac followed with a grin. Due to the late hour, very few staff members were present, but they did have to duck into doorways a couple times to avoid detection. When they reached the suite, MacGyver tapped a gentle cadence on the door. Joanna swung the door open before stepping back and staring at them.
"What in the world happened to you?!" she cried as Molly joined her.
"We'll tell you all about it, but first let us in before someone sees us."
"It's a little late for that," Jo responded as she and Molly stepped aside to reveal the manager of the lodge standing in the middle of the room looking extremely unhappy.
MacGyver and Josh entered the suite and before Mac could speak the manager answered his unasked question.
"Some of the guests reported seeing prowlers outside their windows. We identified you two when we played back the outdoor security footage."
"So what happens now?" Mac asked.
The tired manager sighed. "Everyone stays put for now. I'll call the local CDC first thing in the morning and see what the protocol is for this type of infraction. We'll talk when I know more."
"I'll be here," MacGyver promised as Jo draped a heavy blanket over his shoulders, the manager departing with a scowl.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"C'mon! It's almost time!" Mac called from where he sat on the couch in his apartment.
"I'll be there in a minute," Joanna responded from the kitchen before turning her attention to the bull dog waiting not-so-patiently at her feet.
"Here you go, Frog. Enjoy," she said as she crouched down and served up a canine meal of fried chicken livers.
"Joanna!"
"I'm coming!"
Jo plopped down next to MacGyver just as he turned up the volume on the television so they could hear the countdown live from Times Square. Watching the big, glistening ball slide down the pole as the year wound down always gave her chills. The crowd soon cheered and a recording of Auld Lang Syne blared. Mac turned and kissed her deeply. When he finally pulled away, she chuckled.
"What?" he asked a bit defensively.
"This just reminds me of when I was little and my dad told me once the ball dropped it was the New Year and I had to go to bed. Then I learned about time zones!"
"Speaking of which, we still have one more to go," Mac observed.
"If you would have warned me we'd be ringing in 1998 every hour on the hour since midnight in London I would've bought stock in Chapstick!"
"Are you complaining?" he asked with a crooked grin.
"Not a chance," she replied with a smile. "It's hard to believe that a week ago we were quarantined in a ski lodge."
"I know what you mean. But in a way it was kinda nice," he said softly, taking her hand and weaving his fingers through hers.
"Yeah, it was. Especially since you didn't get punished for breaking quarantine," she replied dreamily, remembering the three days spent in the comfortable suite, eating gourmet food, talking, kissing, talking some more, and cuddling in front of the television. "But it was still nice to be able to come home after none of the other guests exhibited flu symptoms."
"I'm sorry we missed spending Christmas with your family, though."
Jo shook her head. "Spending time alone with you was the best gift I could've gotten."
"Speaking of gifts, we agreed to exchange presents tonight, remember?" he asked as he reached under the sofa cushion and pulled out a small box.
Joanna lifted the lid and began to laugh. "My own Swiss Army knife!"
"I was gonna get you an extra-large roll of duct tape, but I figured this was classier."
"Oh, I love it, Mac!
"Turn it over," he ordered.
One the opposite side she found the engraving 'JF + AM'.
"Our initials! It's perfect!" she exclaimed. "I'm gonna keep this forever! Now close your eyes while I go get your present."
"You mean my Christmas gift has been here the whole time?"
"No, I brought it over this morning when you were at Challengers. Now close your eyes because I couldn't wrap it."
When she was sure Mac had obeyed, she hurried upstairs and grabbed the present from the back of the closet.
"Okay," she said when she was once again standing in front of him. "You can open your eyes now!" She didn't miss the shadow of disappointment that momentarily covered his face.
"You got me a used hockey stick?" he asked, trying to sound pleased as he examined the nicks and scrapes and dried up tape.
"Read the handle," she instructed.
Scribbled in black magic marker was an unfamiliar script that read 'Merry Christmas MacGyver'.
She saw the moment when his dismay morphed into curiosity. "Keep reading," she urged, barely able to control her excitement.
He rotated the stick in his hands until he saw Wayne Gretzky's autograph in the same handwriting.
"Jo, how did you ever…"
"You never mentioned getting a bonus from Phoenix for your work on the MacGyverland project, so I called Pete who called Craig who pulled some strings and voila! Do you like it?"
"I love it!" he exclaimed. "But not nearly as much as I love you!"
Before she knew it, MacGyver swept her into his arms and was kissing her senseless as the clock struck twelve and a whole new year began.