Chapter Text
Mac sat in his driveway for what felt like hours. Going over the events that had transpired in the last 48 hours. The last couple of months had really taken a toll on him. But in this moment of peace in his car, he felt the immense weight of all things good and all things bad. The tears just kept strolling down his face. He couldn't breathe and he began to hyperventilate.
Riley had heard Mac's car pull up 10 minutes ago and yet he still wasn't in the house. Working at the phoenix had only led Riley to follow her instincts more often. In this instance, they were telling her to go check on Mac.
She headed outside and that's when she saw him struggling to breathe.
“Mac… Mac, you're ok, I'm here. I'm here.” she unbuckled his seat belt and held him tightly to help slow down his breathing. “Breathe with me in….and out... in… and out” Once he was calm, she asked him if he was ready to go inside and he agreed. Still holding his body weight they walked inside.
Riley led him to the couch and he just laid there. She headed to the kitchen to get him some water. She set the cup down on the coffee table and sat next to his legs.
“Hey do you want to talk about it?” she said softly
“Not really, do you think we can just lay here for a bit?”
“Yeah, sure whatever you need Mac,” unsure if she should snuggle up to him or lay in the opposite direction; she decided to be bold and lay her head on his chest to her surprise he pulled her in closer.
Somewhere in between the warmth, safety, and stillness, they felt within each other they fell asleep. Hours that felt like minutes Riley woke up. She looked at Mac who was still fast asleep then out the window it was still dark. She thought maybe it had been an hour or two of sleep when she grabbed her phone. Nearly 24 hours later.
“Oh shit.” She screamed to herself.
“Mac…” she gently shook him. “Mac you gotta wake up”
“Riles? What’s going on,” he said sluggishly.
“We’ve been asleep for like 17 hours… I think we should eat something, maybe shower…”
“17 hours huh! That’s a new record. Best sleep of my life... even on this couch.”
“Guess it was all catching up to us haha. We’ve been through some things.” she shrugged.
“What do you feel like eating Chinese? Italian? American,” he laughed. “Cause there’s no way I’m willing to cook and I’ll just end up killing us both..and I'm not willing to eat your poison either,” he laughed again.
Riley watching him closely knew he was actively trying to change the subject of everything they went through. She indulged in his avoidance.
“I think I would like a large meat lovers pizza from that restaurant in Santa Monica.”
“That actually sounds so good do you think they still deliver its 10.”
“Yeah, one of us better hurry up and call.”
“I’ll do that; you can go shower if you want”
“Think I might,” Riley said as she started to make her way to her room.
“Hi, is this Viztango cafe? Ah yes, I would like to place an order for delivery….an extra-large meat lovers pizza! Mhm with extra olives…” he looked to see if Riley was still in earshot “do you guys have anything sweet? cannolis! Sweet I’ll take half a dozen. 45 mins cool thank you.”
He hung up the phone and walked to Riley’s room to tell her the food would be here in 45 mins. He then headed out to his neighbors’ house and politely asked his neighbor if he could clip a couple of roses from her rose bush to which she said yes.
He made it back in just as he heard Riley turn off her shower. He proceeded to hide the flowers where she wouldn’t find them.
“Hey, I left the money on the counter just give it all to the delivery man if he shows up before I’ve finished taking my shower.” He yelled as he made his way into his bathroom.
“Alright!” She replied.
Mac showered quickly in order to get the pizza so Riley wouldn’t see the cannolis. Which he set aside with the flowers.
——-
Both refreshed and munching on pizza; watching “Genius” an old DCOM that brought both of the nostalgic memories. A boy genius who uses his skills to hack himself into the grade he’s supposed to be in while simultaneously teaching a college course. What’s not to love.
Mac felt he was finally in a place to open up to Riley about what had transpired yesterday.
“Hey, um riles, I haven’t said it but thank you for what you did last night. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you weren’t here.”
“You don’t have to thank me. You know I’m always here for you when you need me.”
“But I do, I don’t think I ever tell you how much I appreciate you. You’re a constant. The most reliable thing...person I know.”
“What are friends? For,” she said awkwardly.
“Friends?” Mac stood up and grabbed the cannolis and flowers and brought them to Riley. “I think we’re past that,” he smiled and handed her the flowers and then the cannolis. “Don’t you?”
All Riley could muster was a smile and a head nod. She sniffed the flowers. And then took a closer look.
“Did you steal these from Mrs. jones”
“No,” he laughed. “I asked first!” The biggest self-satisfied smile crept across his face.
“Haha how nice of you,” she threw her head back laughing. Mac joined in on her amusement.
“Sooo… um, you ready to tell me about what happened last night?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Riley gave him an encouraging smile and head nod.
“Well, Desi and I just talked loudly at each other about our relationship and how it was something we should’ve left in the past. We both knew it wasn’t a very healthy relationship to being with and the whole codex thing just made it more apparent. She did mention she saw us holding hands walking back to the building.”
“She did? Why didn’t she tell me when we talked earlier?”
“I’m guessing she took what you said to heart because she tried to apologize for all the word daggers she was throwing at the both of us.”
“I’m surprised..”
“Yeah, we both realized we’ve said and done things that shouldn’t happen to the person you claim as yours.”
“Sounds like you guys came to the conclusion together to end it.”
“We did…”
“So what brought on the panic attack? I don’t want to make you have another one; so if you don’t want to talk about it it’s fine”
“No, no I can.”
He took a long pause searching for the right words to describe what had consumed him last night.
“It’s just...finally releasing all the pent up anger and tension with Desi was like pulling a loose strand on a sweater and it unravels. It all came crashing down, my mom not being who I thought she was, my dad sacrificing himself to save me and everyone else, and my aunt, my last living family member doing the exact same thing my dad did. It all was hitting me at the same time I couldn’t handle it anymore.”
“You know heavy things are much easier to carry when there’s two people. You could’ve talked to me.” She reached for his hand.
Fingers laced into one another he replied. “I know...it’s just I physically couldn’t. There was so much at stake that if I did break down and process it all I’m pretty sure it would’ve crippled me.”
“I understand that but maybe if you would’ve told me what was going on with you we could’ve came up with a plan together and worked through your grief. I know you might think doing things alone is much easier but it isn’t.”
“I’m realizing that now Riles. If only you knew the amount of gratefulness I felt when you showed up at the black site.”
“Any time, place, or day I’ll be there”
“And that’s why I love you…” the worlds flew out of his mouth faster than he could even stop them from leaving his lips leaving him in a state of shock.
“You...love..me” Riley mumbled back in a self congratulatory way.
“I...I….do I mean..”
Riley leaned in and kissed him very passionately and slowly before she pulled away slightly and whispered “I love you too.”
The words danced on Mac's lips then rang in his head as he leaned forward to kiss her again.