#Charlie and mac would see the room for the first time and be like “whoa dude your sister room is so pink!”

[braad--vengolor]

U think that growing up Dennis reynolds had a pink, very girly (possibly hello kitty themed) bedroom because when Barbara had found out that Bruce had gotten her pregnant and that they were twins she expected/wanted the them to be females. So she'd done both the rooms before both Dennis and dee were even born because in her mind she was convinced she was gonna have two baby girls?, just me?. Okay...

(This idea came to be bc of a post I saw by @angelic-charlie-kelly so shoutout to them)

[ashwayssunny]

macdennis prompts: - first kiss (very cliche but,,,) - the gang finds out 💕💕💕thank you

@bruisedandsweet here you go! thanks sm for requesting a prompt, i hope u like it 😌

1998. 

It was winter of that year, a particularly terrible winter that brought snow and winds that toppled half of South Philly’s power lines, snapped them in half like petty twigs. January had been mild enough to trick them, but February brought chaos with it, ensuring that the two of them were trapped in their apartment with no power until the plow trucks could get on the roads. Mac didn’t seem to mind. He’d constructed a light source of birthday candles from years’ past he’d found scavenging in their junk drawers. He made a mental note to visit a Bath and Body Works as soon as he could escape, sure that the light from a big three-wick candle, or any other light source, would be better than this. The birthday cake candles, however, were all they had. 

The gas heating kept them mildly warm, but the storm had weakened it, allowing the cold to creep in at the corners of their apartment and spread like fog. Dennis had grumbled that he had several heated blankets but no electricity to use them, and Mac held his tongue from replying that there were other methods of sharing heat. Instead, they sat in the middle of their still fairly empty living room, a thick quilted blanket from Dennis’s college dorm spread across both their shoulders, though they sat just far enough away to share heat without sharing skin. They faced the TV despite its uselessness and made room for the leftover bucket of fried chicken they brought home yesterday before the storm trapped them inside. Dennis found himself reaching for the remote every few moments or so before he remembered and folded his hands back in his lap to keep them from wandering. They sat in the dark like this quite often, he supposed, because they both liked to watch movies in the dark. Dennis had bought them a fancy new DVD player and a sloth of their shared favorite films, and it had become routine for them to come home from the bar – which they owned, he thought with a small thrill – and watch Predator. He wished they could do it now. 

Mac was speaking to him softly, strips of orange runaway light from the window laying like road lines across his smiling face. His eyes glittered in the darkness, and Dennis wondered what it was about this scenario that leant to such an expression. The tips of his fingers were far too chilled, and there was a dull thumping ache behind his left eye. Sugar and tequila, Mac tsked at him that morning. 

“… anyway, Dennis, I think a mechanical bull would be, like, a really cool way to get chicks into the bar, you know, and Charlie agrees with me –”

“A mechanical bull?” Dennis chuckled, tuning back in. 

“Yeah man, can you imagine how sweet it’d be to, like, have a bunch of chicks watch you conquer a bull? I mean, what could turn them on faster? That’s called primal arousal, dude.”

“Or it could be a total disaster,” Dennis retorted, “and then it’s a bunch of chicks watching you fall on your ass. Besides, I feel like mechanical bull upkeep isn’t cheap.”

“The thing will pay for itself, Dennis, I promise you.” Mac shifted, reaching down and grabbing a drumstick. They couldn’t warm them, of course, but Mac was enough of a savage to eat things cold on a regular basis. He brought it to his mouth and chomped intermittently, and Dennis had to look away. He hadn’t realized he’d been looking at Mac’s mouth. 

“I hope the storm lets up soon,” Dennis sighed, bringing the quilted blanket in closer to his chest. “I can’t deal with the no electricity thing much longer.”

“I’m sure the road people will be out in no time,” Mac said with total assurance, and Dennis smiled in spite of himself. The candlelight made him sleepy, and the shadows it cast on the wall made him want to dream. He wasn’t sure of the time; they hadn’t been able to move much more in on account of the bad weather, so their couches and various knick-knacks remained in storage. The frost had crusted so thickly on the window that morning that he feared they would have to pick it off to keep it from cracking the glass. Once they’d seen that, they settled in, playing board games, drinking, smoking a few joints, and repeating, until time was gone. “Mac,” Dennis said without meaning to.

“Mhm?”

“What time is it?”

“Uhhhh, I think it’s like two,” he said contentedly. Dennis noticed he’d scooted just a fraction of an inch closer. He didn’t mind. 

“Jesus,” Dennis said, glancing around the room. The candlelight didn’t reach the corners of the apartment, keeping them shrouded in darkness. If Dennis stared hard enough, he swore he could see movement. He completed the inch by moving just a fraction of a hair closer to Mac. 

“This place is really great,” Mac said, breaking the stillness.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, just…” he trailed off, gesturing vaguely to the rest of their shared space. “I really like it here, you know? Good location, good price –”

“Not that you pay any of the rent,” Dennis interjected, though he was mostly joking. 

“Bro, don’t worry, I told you I’d get it to you! Once we install the mechanical bull…” Mac continued on, but Dennis found himself looking at his lips once more. It was innocent enough, he told himself. Mac was so warm beneath the blanket, radiating heat like an old furnace. In contrast, Dennis was cold most of the time, but Mac’s warmth was never far away. 

“I like it here, too.” Dennis said simply, pressing his shoulder to Mac’s with the lightest touch he could manage. When Mac didn’t flinch, he relaxed a little more, and his skin prickled at the points where their flesh made contact. 

Mac turned his body almost imperceptibly towards Dennis. “Are you cold, Den?” 

Dennis shrugged. “Always.”

Mac hesitated for just a second before reaching an arm around Dennis and drawing him in closer. Dennis could taste the thickness of the little space left between them like pea soup. Maybe just once, he thought, just to try. I won’t know if I never try, right? 

Mac’s eyes were round like the moon, candlelight dancing in his pupils, when Dennis leaned in, eyes drifting shut. Mac sucked in his breath, his heartbeat bursting into a sprint like a race horse fresh out of the gate. He felt outside of his body, watching Dennis inch closer until there was the faintest, softest brush of something –

Like the stab in his gut, Mac pulled back, releasing the breath he held in several shaky gasps. “W-Whoa, what –” 

Dennis blinked at him in genuine surprise for a moment before his face contorted into something more akin to scorn. “Well, I just –”

In an instant, the atmosphere was broken, and the meager candlelight served only to remind them that they were simply poor and not bohemian. Mac stuttered but could form no coherent thoughts, and Dennis felt heat rising to his cheeks from a growing pool of anger in his stomach. 

“I think I should go to bed,” was all Mac could muster, standing and shrugging the blanket off his shoulders. He avoided Dennis’s blue gaze, so piercing even in the dimness, and beelined for his room. “Goodnight, Den.” The door shut behind him as quickly as he’d said it, and Dennis sat in the living room with the blanket and the dark apartment making him feel like the smallest object in the world until dawn. 

2018. 

Dennis couldn’t believe how similar the scenario was. Same apartment, though by now it had been burned and rebuilt twice, stocked and restocked with everything they’d collected in twenty years of cohabitation. The South Philly power grid had once again been rendered inoperative by heavy snow, and they were forced once more to exist by candlelight, though this time Mac had plenty of large three-wick candles on hand. They’d been totally alone the first time, however, and Dennis wished that were the case when he began to hear the combined snoring of Dee, Charlie, and Frank in the other room sharing his bed. They’d all been drinking in Mac and Dennis’s apartment when the storm reached its zenith, and Mac threw a fit at the idea of them departing into such dangerous weather. He was their bodyguard, after all. Dennis had elected to sleep on the couch, but the combined snoring grated on his eardrums far too loudly to allow him any rest. 

In a true act of hypocrisy, Mac had ventured out into the storm to visit the corner store in the hopes that the owners’s commitment to staying open twenty-four hours, seven days a week, was steadfast. If this is gonna last all weekend, Mac had said to them, we’re gonna need beer. Lots of beer. Dennis and Charlie each thought about volunteering to accompany him until they caught sight of the nearly six inches of snow obscuring their view from the apartment windows. Charlie had gone to bed hours ago, however, and Mac hadn’t returned. 

Dennis pulled a blanket over his shoulders, propping his feet up on the coffee table. He closed his eyes, relishing the brief moments of silence, when the lock on the door began to rattle. Dennis’s eyes popped open as soon as Mac’s form appeared in the doorway, caked with snow and dripping but smiling all the same when he saw Dennis. 

“There you are,” Dennis said softly. “Tell me you got the beer.”

Triumphantly, Mac held up two plastic bags containing twelve packs. Dennis broke into a grin, though his chest began to tighten. Mac kicked off his shoes, shut the door, and plopped down next to Dennis on the couch. “You’re getting snow everywhere, asshole,” Dennis jabbed.

Mac ignored him, wiggling his way underneath Dennis’s blanket as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to do. “Sorry, dude, I’m freezing. But at least we have beer.” Mac placed a twelve pack on the coffee table in front of them, removing two frosted cans and handing one to Dennis. They cracked the tabs open simultaneously, knocking back hearty swigs. Mac broke first, wiping his mouth on his sleeve and letting go of a small burp. Dennis finished his can in one impressive motion. Mac grinned at him, and Dennis thought it could’ve been twenty years ago. “Nice,” Mac said simply, and the warmth in his stomach began to spread. 

“Thanks, man,” he attempted to grin back. Mac was looking at him then, studying his face in a way that made Dennis uncomfortable. He squirmed a bit underneath the blanket, buzzing with a sort of energy whose origin he couldn’t place. “What?”

“You look tired, bro. Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“Do you not hear the monstrosity coming out of there?” Dennis jerked his finger in the direction of his bedroom. “Do you think I can sleep in that environment?” 

Mac shrugged, and Dennis knew it was because he was a heavy sleeper. He always had been, even in high school when he and Charlie would stay the night at Dennis’s house. Mac would melt like a heated metal into his bed, lost completely to the world despite the hell or high water that frequently broke the silence in Dennis’s home. Whether it was his parents fighting, Dee crying in her bedroom, or a combination of the two, Dennis could hear them through the walls as easily as if they were made of paper. But not Mac. Mac could sleep through anything. 

“You could… sleep in my bed,” Mac said measuredly, tasting each word as if he wanted everything to feel just right on his tongue. “If you want,” he added quickly, “you know, to escape the noise. I can take the couch. I know you can still hear it out here.” 

Dennis almost smiled, but the casually placed grimace he’d adopted as his neutral expression was difficult to move. “Maybe,” he conceded, suddenly aware of how tired he actually was. His eyes drooped, and blinking in the candlelight only made him want to sleep. Without warning, Mac’s hand was on his face, curving around his cheekbone so lightly, so gently, it could’ve been the touch of a spirit. Dennis’s eyes opened wider, but Mac’s were fixed on his mouth. Dennis’s mind went blank, his only thought being that it was okay, they were safe in their home, and no one was watching. He tried to place no meaning on the moment, vowing to omit it from his memory, when Mac’s lips finally touched his and neither of them pulled away. 

Mac’s skin was cold; Dennis shivered when they made contact, but Mac’s hand stayed firmly planted on his cheek. Dennis wondered how different their lives would be if this had happened twenty years earlier as it was meant to. Pushing that thought away, he curled his fingers into the hair at the nape of Mac’s neck and pushed them closer together, deepening the kiss. Mac’s lips were a bit salty, and both of their breaths tasted of beer, but Dennis didn’t find it unpleasant in the slightest. He even found himself beginning to smile into the kiss when an auditory gasp that belonged to neither of them nor a voyeuristic spirit broke their concentration.

They detached immediately, both their heads whipping in the direction of the noise. Frantically, their eyes searched the darkness until they made out the figure of Charlie leaning against the doorway of Dennis’s room. “Holy shit,” Charlie’s grin was big enough to make out the glint of individual teeth in the moonlight, and neither had time to say anything before he turned to the darkness of Dennis’s room and shouted, “Dee! Frank! Pay up, suckers, I was right!” 

[artisticestheticreads]

2

WARNING THE CHAPTER CONTAINS GRAPHIC VIOLENCE

    It was Thursday morning, ten am actually, and we rehearsing for tomorrow night’s performance for Santino’s with Gabi, Demi and Jazz. I wore red leggings, a black Michael Jackson’s Thriller band tee with a pair of red and white nikes to relax my feet after practicing in heels all week. Amir was hanging on the wall on his phone, messaging with FLO Records about the details about AC Records. We were practicing “Jungle” when Charlie came in. She had on a short black skater dress, a pair of high tops Vans with her curls tucked behind her ears under a black beanie. Amir looked her way and began to talk. 

“Hey, Charlie. What’s up?”

“Hello, Mr. Carter. I am here because I know that Ms. Mitchellson needed help to find some attire for tomorrow and Saturday’s night performance.”

  I walked over. “Yeah, I actually was. Cassidy said you knew how to handle it.”

“That’s why I’m here”, she said with a wink and scrolling through her iPad. “So, tonight’s look we are going for is all about being a boss. We want people to take you as a serious artist as you are now. Hardworking, dedicated and ambitious. So, I put the most perfect look together for such a great artist. I also decided to get a look for Mr. Carter as well.” Amir looked confused and asked “why me? I’m not performing, Charlie?” Charlie smiled “yes, but according to my thorough research, in only a month you’ll will be managing your own successful record company. Not only that, but you are also one of the best new music producers to artists like Synclaire Kyle of Bronx, NY. She is a huge success because of you.” I nudged his arm and he smiled at me. He said, with his arms around me, “so what did you have in mind then, Charlie.” She scrolled through and showed us.

    “Ms. Mitchellson, you will be in this super sleek business woman short bodysuit with classic plaid stripes, a leather five heel pump and a necklace set, five layered with a gold hoop and gold rings. Bonnie is still situating your make up and hair look.” I looked over the outfit and it was actually really cute. “Looks like something I would wear all the time. It’s really good, Charlie.” She smiled and thanked me. 

     “And Mr. Carter, you will be in matching suit with Veronica here. Exact print, dark red tie with matching handkerchief, plaid vest, white dress short, gold cuff links and watch, gold studs, and a black leather dress shoe. Since, it look like you already got a hair cut, you look good for this weekend.” Amir cover his mouth with his fist and said “damn, that’s a bad suit, Charlie. Good job.” 

“Thank you. That’s what I get paid for. Now, Gabi, Demi and Jazz will all be in black mid length dresses, hair up in a ponytail and black heels. I will be coming by with your attire, Mr. Carter and Ms. Mitchellson around five o’clock and I will be with Bonnie as well. Be showered and ready by then. See you guys later.” With that she left.

AMIR

  After rehearsal, my baby and I decided to go ahead and hit up Checker’s. After we ate, we sat in my truck watching the rain drop down the window shield. “So, I talked to Monte at FLO. Looks like they throwing a huge party down here for my 28th next month and for AC Records. My artist, Synclaire will be performing down here.” She said “I love Synclaire. She is really talented. My favorite track is ‘1991′. When I heard that beat the first time, I was like ‘daaaamn’. Amari was playing it her car when I first heard about her. Doesn’t Synclaire have like a few nicknames or something like that?” I nodded “yeah, when she first came to the label, she was originally ‘Syn City’ which was the name on her first album but she is basically known as the ‘Bronx Baby Girl’.” V smiled and said “oh, yeah. Didn’t she get signed when she was like 18.?” I nodded. 

“We found her at an underground club in New Jersey called ‘Njay’s’. I actually got her on and did her beats since then.”

“Oh shit. So you did the one for ‘1991′ then?”

“Sure did, first beat I did forher .”

    V looked at me amazed and said “so, the event...is it casual or formal.?” I looked at her then up and down her frame. “Who said YOU was getting an invite.?” I crossed my arms and she looked at me like:

“Excuse me?” I chuckled and move my arm rest out the way to grab her in my arms. “I messing with you, V. Honestly, everyone might be all dressed up but don’t worry. I know ya girl, Charlie gonna have us covered. But honestly, you can go naked and still look good.” She laughed with her back on my chest. “Really? You want other guys to see me naked?” I thought about it and with a straight face said “yeah. Never mind. I don’t wanna kill no nigga on my special night.” We both laughed and chilled some more watching the rain get lighter. My arms were around her and head on my chest. She rubbed the outside of my hand and got more comfortable. I can possible stay like that for so long and not give a damn.

   We got back to our place to shower together and ready for Charlie and Bonnie to come; sure enough they pulled up as soon as we got out. V went out in a huge shirt and opened the door. I can hear their voices from our bedroom. “Hey, girls. Did you get here okay in the rain?” Bonnie said “yes, geez it is pouring so hard. But we made it alright.?” I heard heels clicking and the voices went to the island of the kitchen. “So, I have your stuff here and Bonnie will get started on your hair”, Charlie said.

“Okay, I washed my hair and everything to make it easy for you, Bonnie.” 

“Thank you so much. Do you know how hard and consuming it is to do one’s hair when it is not prepared? Hours on in. But that’s just the life I have.”

   I threw on a wife beater and my grey sweats to walked and chill with them for awhile. “Hey, y’all.” Charlie said “hello, Mr. Carter. Here is your outfit for the night. Everything you need is there.” 

“Coo, when should I get ready?”

“Whenever is fine but probably safe to wait until Ms. Mitchellson’s make up is done.”

VERONICA

  I sat in the chair at the island, waiting for Bonnie. She wrapped a cape around my neck as The Weeknd played in the background, running her hands in my hair. “Okay, Veronica. You have beautiful hair. Long, thick and full. Have you ever put heat in your hair.?” 

“Hm, not since prom.”

   She nodded and said “that’s fine. For tonight’s look, you will be rockin’ bone straight hair with a middle part. You also need a trim, about two inches. We want you hair to keep growing. For your make up, we are gonna do a dark eye and a bold red lip. Lets get started.” She started to sections my hair and ran the iron slowly through about 3-4 times on each row. Amir sat at the dining room table on his Mac Book and watched with a smile every once in a while. Charlie started to paint my nails a super dark black and placing my rings on after they dried.The heat of the flat iron kissed the nape of my neck. A hour and thirty minutes later, she began to trim the ends and I watched as the pieces fell to the ground. Bonnie stood in front to perfect my part. 

“Girl, you got the magic touch”, Charlie said as she smiled with her hands in the mom jeans she wore. “Thank you” Bonnie said as she started to run a comb through my hair and spray a little hair spritz on. When she stood to the side, I had a clear view of Amir. He stood with his Mac Book under his arm closed and a look that I saw a look that I loved on his face; shock. “Whoa, Bonnie you did a- uh- a great job”, he said has he slowly walked to stand in front of me. I looked at him as he reached his hand under my chin. “You look good, baby.” He grabbed kissed the side of my temple and caressed my chin. He stood up straight and grabbed his bag. “If you ladies need me, I’ll be gettin’ ready.” He winked at me and went to the back. Bonnie and Charlie both looked at me, giving big smiles. “They don’t make men like that no more”, Bonnie said and we all nodded in agreement. “Let’s get this face beat.”

AN HOUR LATER..

AMIR   

I was dressed in every thing but my coat and bored outta my mind so I decided to go to the studio and play around until they was ready. I sat at the piano and began playing the familiar sound that was close to my heart. I closed my eyes as I felt every key hit my fingertips. I started to think about Veronica, just starting to say stuff to myself. “It's the sunrise. And those brown eyes yes. You're the one that I desire. When we wake up. And then we make love. It makes me feel so nice.”  I smiled the kept going as I felt the flow of it. “You're my water when I'm stuck in the desert. You're the Tylenol I take when my head hurts. You're the sunshine on my life.” I opened my eyes while I continued and looked to the left to see Bonnie. “That’s beautiful, Amir.” 

       I stood and straightened out my clothes. “Thank you, Bonnie. Is she ready?” She nodded and I followed behind to see Veronica. She looked amazin’. Her outfit fit her well, legs looked good enough to eat and her face was incredible but honestly I liked how she looked always. Charlie was finishing it up and talking to V. “So, then I just decided to do track. Running up and down that court was no joke.” V gave that warm smiling after her story to Charlie. Charlie laughed and said “giiirl, who you tellin’? You just got be like ‘nah, I’m good.’ “ They both laughed then she saw me with my hands in my pockets. “Hi, Amir.” 

“Hey, V.” We both smiled at each other. “Good job, Charlie. We do look good” I said as I walked up to them with Bonnie following behind. “Thank you, Mr. Carter. Well, we will meet you both at Cassidy’s studio tomorrow at practice to discuss what I have in mind for tomorrow night. Good luck tonight, Ms. Mitchellson. We won’t be able to attend because we need all the sleep we can tonight.” With that, they left with their stuff, V locked the door and looked back at me. 

   “You ready, baby”, she asked while holding her hand out. I put my jacket, helped her in a trench coat, grabbed an umbrella before stepping out side; I had the umbrella over her head and mine as we got to the car. We soon arrived and our families were there; waiting. Teresa looked at us and said “well, look at tis. Lookin’ good.”  She kissed our cheeks and Ahmad shook my hand. “Y’all good man. That’s a bad ass suit, dawg.” V smiled and said “well. I gotta get backstage to get ready. I’ll see y’all afterwards.” She kissed my cheek and made her way back. 

VERONICA

    I made my way back and felt something grab my hand; it was Brandon. He was dressed in an all black suit looking like he was getting ready for a funeral. “Brandon, what are you doin’ here?” He looked me in the eyes. “I actually heard about you being here. One of the younger kids on my campaign was talking about it and I overheard.” I held my head up and said “well enjoy the show then” but before I can get away from him, his grip got tighter. 

“I miss you, Veronica. I miss- I miss us.”

“Well, keep missin’ us den. I already forgave you a couple weeks ago back at the church. So let me go if you wanna walk away alive.”

  He got closer and I felt my other fist ball up; I can smell that hot scent of gin on his breath. “Veronica, was that a threat?” I yanked my arm and pushed him. I heard Gabi comin’ down the hall as I walked away towards her. She had a big smile until she saw me marching to her. “Hi, V. I was just lookin’ for you. Are you okay? What’s going on?” I looked behind me and he was gone; I looked back at Gabi who had worried eyes as I smiled to calm her down. “I’m fine, G. Let’s go get ready. You look good by the way, girl.” We turned the corner but I kept my eyes behind us. 

    The announcer stood on stage to introduce us. “Hello, every one and good evening. Welcome to Santino’s. Tonight, we have a special treat. She was actually here last Friday night, the friday before that and by popular demand, she is back. Welcome, Veronica Mitchellson.” The girls took their places and I walked on stage as people cheered me on. I shook the announcer’s hand before she left. “Good evening, everyone. Are y’all ready?” Everyone cheered, I looked to Amir when he gave me wink and clap then I looked to the front row and saw Brandon. I put on my poker face as the MC played “Jungle”. My hips swayed side to side as I began.

“These days, I'm letting God handle all things above me The things I can't change are the reasons you love me Listen, you can hear them calling my name I'm all over the place, I can't sit in one place I'm not ashamed at all Still findin' myself, let alone a soulmate, I'm just sayin' Feel like we one in the same, our relationship changed That or it never existed Whenever they say somethin' bout us you listen But fuck what they talkin' about on your timeline That's cuttin' all into my time with you Forget what they talkin' about on your timeline, yeah Cause that's cuttin' all into my time with you My time with you, my”

    I looked towards my group and they were all dancing with their significant others even Jerry and... Dena. Ok, I need some details on that. I thought to myself as I smiled and gave them a thumbs up. 

“He said you're my everything I love you through everything, I done did everything to him He forgave me for everything, this a forever thing Hate that I treat it like it's a whatever thing Trust me, boy, this shit is everything to me He from the jungle, he from the jungle I take somebody else's car, drive there undercover This shit is everything to me, this here is everything Don't know where we stand, I used to hit you 'bout everything Are we still good? Are we still good? Are we still good? Are we still good? If I need to talk are you around? Are you down for the cause? Are you down? Are you down? Are you down? Are you down for the cause? Are you down? Are you down? Are you down? Are you down for the cause? You still down? You still down? You still down?”

   I looked into the rest of the audience and they were loving it. I was so happy until I saw Brandon watching with hunger eyes and sipping from his cup. My poker face came back and I slowly close eyes and opened towards Amir. 

“These days these new girls, they got me nervous They go to school and do bottle service They can't decide, they keep switching majors Being indecisive makes me anxious Call your number and it's out of service Who can I call for your information? What am I supposed to do after we done everything that we've done? Who is your replacement? Are we still good? Are we still good? Are we still good? Are we still good?

Rock me real slowly Put a bib on me I'm just like a baby, drooling over you Rock, rock.”

    Every member of the audience cheered and the MC started to play “Every Kind of Way.”  Now, this song is dedicated to an incredible man in my life.” I looked to Brandon then at Amir with my hand towards him. “Mr. Amir Carter.” OOO, girl you petttttyyyy.

“Baby, the sound of you Better than a harmony I want you off my mind And on me Holding me closer than we've ever been before This ain't a dream You're here with me Boy, it don't get no better than you For you, I wanna take my time All night.”

   All the men in our group was shaking his shoulders as they were chuckling. When the were done, he shrugged towards me and laugh. 

“Give you all, give you all of me When you need it 'Cause I need it I wanna fall like your favorite season I'll never get up Stay here forever, babe It don't get no better than this Your kiss

I wanna love you in every kind of way I wanna please you, no matter how long it takes If the world should end tomorrow, then we only have today I'm gonna love you in every kind of way I wanna love you in every kind of way I wanna please you, no matter how long it takes If the world should end tomorrow, then we only have today I'm gonna love you in every kind of way

I wanna love you I gotta love you I wanna love you I gotta love you” 

    I looked at my girls and they all smiled waiting for the cue for the next song.  I looked at Amir and smiled then my eyes fell on Brandon. Seeing his smugness, made my skin move and blood boil. I took a deep breath as I looked to Amir then at him again.

AMIR

   Her eyes were throwing daggers at someone but standing in the back I couldn’t see who it was.”This song is for the ones who thought they were the ones playin’ the mind games but guess what.” The MC started playing the beat her new track ‘2′; another song she had freestyle.

“It's cool It's really never been that deep Wasn’t thinking about you 'Cause you didn’t give a fuck about me

Thought I was up in my room Crying myself to sleep I was with a better you While you were busy playing me

I was playing you too I was playing you too”

  She was walking across the stage with just the mic, no stand and singing with a certain attitude. Her eyes keep falling to the her left side. I walked to the bar which was on my right to get a better view. She bent at her knees, looking at everyone at that side.

“Thought I wouldn't find out Thought I didn’t know how to play the game Could’ve screamed at you for hours Instead I was screaming somebody else’s name

There were no rules Now I can do whatever I want I can never lose So it’s funny how you thought you won

But I was playing you too I was playing you too I was playing you too I was playing you too” 

    As soon as the song ended, I looked straight into his soul as he got up and walked out; Brandon was testing my kindness. She bowed with the girls and left to the back. I walked up behind her and she swung around scared. “V, it’s just me. Did he try talkin’ to you?” She nodded and said “yeah. Said he missed us but I promise I didn't’ acknowledge him.” I rubbed her shoulder and said “did he touch you?” She was quiet until she pointed to her wrist. I told her “get your coat” and once she came back we made our way back to the car across the street in the parking garage. Luckily, the rain had let up, stopping completely. Bipolar ass weather. We reached the car, I helped her in until I heard Ahmad and Aaron. “What the fuck you doing here?!”

    I saw Brandon standing behind our car. She looked up at me, I threw my coat in her lap, kissed her and said “stay in here”. I closed her door and put my hand in my pockets on my way to Brandon. “You are really testing my patience, nigga. What you want?” He looked at me and said “I want Veronica back.” Amari said “my sister isn’t going in anywhere with you, batty man.” Amaya said “leave her alone.” Brandon said “aye light skin, tell these dumb bitches to shut up.” I can see Rock’s face turned dark red as he yelled “what the fuck you said you bitch ass nigga?!” Amaya had to hold him back. “Don’t trip, babe. He got it.” I looked at Rock and nodded then at Amari then asked “is V still in the car?” Brianna said “yes, I’m watching her”; good thing our folks were gone.

 “V, ain’t going no where especially with you. She  happy and got some shit going for her self and don’t need no pussy ass nigga in her life. Don’t make my south side come out.” He looked me up and down saying “so, I noticed you two matched tonight. How cute. Does that mean y’all fucking now.” I chuckled and said “unlike you, patna. I’m a gentleman and I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Well, don’t forget. I hit it first.”

“First of all, you ‘hit it first’ by force and second, the first ain’t always the best.” 

   I got closer to his face until I heard a car door open and arms wrapping around my stomach. “I told you to stay in the car, babe.” Her heels began clicking against the pavement as she stood in front of me with her hand on my back. “I know. I’m a Taurus, remember? We stubborn.” That made me grin but I wasn’t letting my eyes off him. She said “come on, Amir. It ain’t worth it.” I looked down at her as I rubbed her back. Jerry with Dena in his arms said “come on, y’all. This nigga mad ‘cause he losing the polls. Let’s get up outta here and get some food. I’m starving like Marvin”. We all chuckled like Brandon wasn’t even there anymore. As we were about to get in the car, he said with a slight grin:

   “So, how much for the night?” V and I stopped and looked at each other like:

   I looked at her and asked “what the fuck did he just say?” We both closed our doors at the same time and walked back to stand directly in front of him with our hands together. “What the fuck you just say, bitch?” I asked and saw him reach his hand out towards V. “How much for a night? I wanna hear her scream and watch her cry again.” He dug in his pocket and counted “One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Five dollars for the night.” He threw the money in her face but she didn’t flinch; she just let my hand go. I can feel my blood boil and I wanted to end this nigga’s life. I looked down at her but her eyes were still on him, talking to me. “Amir, don’t be too rough, baby.” With that, I punched the nigga dead in his jaw; spit and blood flying. I mean, I was giving it to this nigga. He got up trying to swing but I ain’t having that. I heard foot steps but V said “nah, y’all! He got it.”

    I was punching this nigga out on the concrete while holding onto the collar of his shirt. I was about to get one more punch in until I saw V’s hand on mine. “That’s enough, Amir.” I dropped him on his knees and saw the swelling on his face appear. I stood up straight and straightened my suit out. I took her hand in my mine until she turned back to Brandon watching him get up. Before he did though, she gave him a nice right hook to his jaw and he fell again. She knelt down over his body. “That was for calling my sisters dumb bitches, wasteman.” She stood up straight and said “Ahmad do me a favor and call your boys at the police station. Tell them that this man was attacking an innocent woman but she got away after she protected herself. If they need me, give them my number.” He nodded and pulled out his phone.

  We all got in our rides and met up at a nearby dinner for some late night food. She sat next to me and asked the waitress for two ziploc baggies of ice. She did so and when the waitress came back, V took the bags as she thanked her, flattened my hands out on the table and placed the bags on them. “Y’know, Amir. We could've walked away but he did had it coming. Thank you, baby.” She kissed my cheek and held my straw to my mouth so I can drink my soda. “You’re welcome, V. You know I got your back.” I kissed her on the lips and she lied her head on my shoulder while we watched people eat.

@muse-of-mbaku

@im5ftbutmythroat66

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@theunsweetenedtruth

@doux-ciel

@unicornluvin8765

@vikkidc

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@lostgalaxies

[amarabliss]

Things Fall Apart - 7 (Steve McGarrett/Daughter)

Steve and the team find out that you “Shortie” have passed away in the line of duty, things are not as they seem…

Sequel to Daddy’s Girl

Part 1 Part Two Part Three* Part Four Part Five Part Six

***NOTE: For full reader experience and mood listen too this song!

Tessa by Steve Jablonsky

Danny kept rubbing his chest looking off toward the city where his children were. He asked for them to pull Grace out of class, “I just…I love you Monkey. I just needed you to know that…yeah…yeah I’m a little scared right now, but it’s going to be okay. No, no, of course everything is going to be fine…”

He jumped when he heard shouting from behind him. He braced for some sort of explosion. Some sort of incineration. But he just heard hollering from below inside the boat.

“Monkey I gotta go…I love you…and I have a surprise for you later, just come home so I can hold you and Charlie real tight for a while okay? Okay…yeah, no you have to go back to geometry…glad I could help for a bit…Danno, loves you…bye…” He turned walking toward the entrance you and Steve had gone in, “Uh…are we dead?”

He looked down seeing you and Steve hugging and laying on the floor, “No, Danny, we are not dead.”

Danny smiled bending down holding onto his knees, “This is good…this is real good. Shortie come up here so I can hug you for saving the day, cause I know it wasn’t your dad.”

“Hey!” Steve helped you sit up sounding offended.

“Babe, come on…there was no shooting, there was no explosion…it’s not your style…” Danny smirked reaching down grabbing your hands as your dad hoisted you up. He watched you grit your teeth as Steve pushed you up, “You alright kiddo?”

“Yeah…I’ll be fine…rough road.” You smiled giving him a tight hug, “Thanks Danno.”

“Aww, no I need to thank you. I’m not a shadow on the wall right now.” He smiled kissing your cheek and let you go to help Steve out.

“Looks like we missed the party!” You looked over the edge of the boat seeing Jack, Mac, and a bomb squad, “We thought we show the professionals over.”

“Good idea,” You smiled as squad started to board the boat.

Steve looked at Danny glancing over at you talking to the team leader explain what they would find down there, “See Danny, nothing to worry about.”

“Yeah…except that…” He pointed at Mac walking up to as the squad moved over to them.

Steve watched as the young man grabbed your hands concerned. The concern proceeded to a hand on the cheek looking down into your eyes with worry. It took Steve a moment before noticed his hand clenching. As he started to walk over with Danny he saw your knees finally give out. Mac caught you easily enough.

“Y/N!” Steve ran over catching up with Mac already on the move to the ambulance down the dock, “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

Mac glanced at him before looking at your flushed unconscious form, “She’s hurt…she’s been pushing herself too much and no doubt hasn’t been taking her meds to help with the infection.”

“Infection?” Steve asked confused and worried.

“I’ll explain once we get the hospital…but she needs a doctor now.” Mac told him as paramedics came running over with a gurney. Mac started to climb into the ambulance, but stopped looking at Steve, “You should go…we’ll follow behind you.”

It took everything for him to not jump inside with you, but he shook his head, “No…you know what’s wrong, go.”

“You’re sure?” Mac looked surprised.

“Just go!” Steve snapped making him jump in quickly as Danny ran over to him.

“Steve, what’s going on?” Danny asked him as he followed to the Camaro.

“I don’t know.” Steve got inside starting the car before Danny had a chance to buckle, “But I don’t need to be here…call Lou have them finish up.”

Steve raced behind the ambulance all the way to the hospital, jumping out near the emergency entrance tossing Danny the keys as he walked past following Mac inside, “What’s the word?”

Mac took a deep breath in looking at him, “She’s gonna be fine, just dehydrated…and her burns are in bad shape again. I should’ve pushed her to go to the doctor sooner…she just…”

“Focused on the mission.” Steve wrapped his arms around himself looking at Mac, “It’s…a family trait. You wouldn’t have been able to do anything…”

Mac nodded standing in the hall watching you get pushed behind a door, “Still…”

Steve stood there with him staring at the door watching nurses and doctors mill about with patients for a moment, “There’s nothing we can do right now…let’s find a place to put everyone.”

“Mr. McGarrett…” Mac took a deep breath in as Steve turned to him holding up a hand stopping him.

“First, it’s Commander McGarrett.” Steve told him giving a stern stare, “Second, I don’t want to hear it right now. Right now, I just want to focus on my daughter’s recovery. Something that I wouldn’t be doing today without your help…so thank you for bringing her home to me. Let’s…just leave it there for right now.”

Mac nodded slowly, “Yes, sir.”

“Good…” Steve turned to the nurse’s station and found out where they could wait for you informing them that Danny would be in quickly and probably followed by several other visitors.

They both took a seat in the waiting room letting out exhausted sighs. Steve started undoing his tact vest feeling the release of tension that had been building. He pulled it off setting in the chair next to him looking over at Mac leaned over elbows on his knees hands clenched together, “So…what do you do exactly? I mean you were disarming a bomb in a moving car, but is that it?”

Mac looked at him smiling. Steve wanted to just smack him good, for many reasons. This kid seemed to be the perfect all-American specimen, “I-uh…do a little of everything really. I did serve though, disarming IEDs. It’s where I met Jack.”

“That’s not what I asked, but it’s good to know.” Steve’s leg started to jump up and down anxiously, “When you say everything, what do you mean?”

“I solve problems with unlikely items or situations…” Mac cleared his throat.

“Like bullets as a connection…” Steve looked at him crossing his arms.

“Yeah, and interference with a looping comm piece.” Mac smiled a little again as he nodded, “I just…know how things work and how they can be used differently.”

“You go to school?” Steve asked after a beat.

“For a bit, MIT…dropped out.” Mac watched Steve tilt his head a little, “Wanted to do something to help the world…disarming bombs…”

“Ah…” Steve nodded commending the kid in his head for at least dropping out for a decent reason and not something like boredom.

“Y/N, said you’re a Navy SEAL.” Mac leaned back finally in his seat.

“Yes sir.” Steve nodded, “Not in an official capacity anymore, but…once you’re in it, you’re in it for life.”

“She said you were real good at it…that you trained her a little.” Mac’s smile grew as he talked about you.

“I did…” Steve sighed looking at the floor, “MacGyver…can I ask you something?”

“That’s kind of what we’ve been doing…” Mac flinched a little at the glare Steve gave him, “…yes…please do.”

Steve felt his shoulders tense as he took in a deep breath, “You said she was burned…”

The question was implied, and Mac sighed leaning forward again, “From what I know, which isn’t much, she was caught in an explosion before being captured.”

“She didn’t tell you?” Steve frowned.

“She doesn’t talk about it…as far as I know she’s only talked to Mattie.” Mac looked away almost as if he was uncomfortable, “It was a long debrief…”

Steve ran a hand over his face then back over his neck as he leaned forward, “So you don’t know anything at all?”

Mac hung his head a little before looking at him again, “I know…that she has nightmares…and she doesn’t feel comfortable with herself anymore. Not that anyone would believe it, but I’ve seen enough PTS and PTSD soldiers to know some of the signs.”

“She hasn’t been diagnosed yet?” Steve looked shocked.

“There wasn’t time…rather she wouldn’t make the time. Mattie integrated her into our team so quickly I think she just latched on to us as an anchor. As something to avoid it all…not that I’m at all qualified to give my opinion.” Mac shrugged sadly, “Jack and I have been trying to get her to…feel…I guess… to emote something. I can get her there…not always in the way I want to…”

“Is that what you’re sorry for?” Steve watched him carefully.

“You heard that?” He watched the young man’s ears turn red and nodded, “Uh, yeah…things were said in the very terrifying car chase…”

“Terrifying?” Steve raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah…” Mac leaned back cringing as he thought about it.

“You’re going to kill us!” Mac shouted toward the from back, “This is a delicate piece of equipment, one wrong move and boom!”

You handed the phone to Jack as you darted around another car getting onto the highway, “We’re gonna be fine…”

“Uh yeah, she’s fine, she’s driving.” Jack stared at you as you switched the car to manual drive, “I told her I would, but she gave me a death glare that I’m certain with a little more emphasis would’ve done some damage.”

“This isn’t some desert road, we’re gonna be fine.” You glanced back into the mirror toward Mac and Riley.

Mac let out a frustrated noise as you shifted and jerked the car into another lane, “Seriously! Take your aggression out in a different manner that will only kill you and not us!”

“Whoa…Mac…” Riley looked at him surprised.

“Excuse me?” You looked up at him in the mirror catching him run a hand through his hair before his eyes met yours, “Well fine…I’ll just do that next time I see a bridge when I’m alone.”

“Hey hey hey!” Jack shook his head pointing at you.

“Y/N I didn’t mean…this just really…” Mac was trying to keep his frustration down.

“Listen Mac!” You shouted back at him tears pricking your eyes, “You deal with the bomb! I’ll get us to the air field!”

“I didn’t mean it like that at all…” Mac shook his head frowning.

“It was a heated situation…” Steve licked his lips, “Things get said, and if you’re not trained to keep emotions in check…you don’t.”

“I am most definitely not trained…” Mac sighed looking at him, “Something Mattie tells me constantly…but I think it’s what makes me so good at my job…sometimes…”

“Hey, Steve…” He looked over seeing Danny rushing into the room, “How is she? Is she okay? Is she alright?”

Steve stood up shaking his head, “They haven’t come back yet.”

“She should be alright…” Mac stood as he started to speak.

“You…” Danny pointed to him as his eyes narrowed, “do not speak…I see the way you’ve eyed my girl…”

“Your girl?” Mac looked at him confused.

“Yeah, my kid…my Shortie!” Danny raised his voice, “I will not have it…she’s still…”

“Danny…” Steve half shut his eyes shaking his head a little.

“I…no…too much?” Danny reigned it in quickly, “You said on the way over we should be hard on him…I just…”

“We’re…okay.” Steve coughed looking away from as he put his hands on his hips.

“Right…” Danny nodded understanding looking over to Mac, “Still…let the doctors work…you’re not a doctor too, are you?”

“No, sir…I am not…” Mac shook his head smiling a little, “I’m gonna get some coffee…you two need anything?”

“No we’re good.” Steve answered as he walked out.

Danny waited until he was out of the room, “So…we’re okay?”

“No.” Steve shook his head, “But…he’s…not…Sang Min…”

“It doesn’t take much to not be Sang Min…” Danny cringed a little thinking about their CI friend…thing.

“Uh, excuse me…” A short dark haired man walked into the room, “Steve McGarrett?”

“Yeah…that’s me.” Steve stepped forward reaching for the man’s out stretched hand.

“Dr. Kekoa.” The man smiled a little, “I just wanted to come and tell you that your daughter is going to be fine. She’s very dehydrated and seems to be running on fumes. I’ve begun treatment on the infected areas of her skin. It will take some time and bed rest, but she’ll make it as long as she takes the antibiotics.”

“Thank you.” Steve swallowed nodding a little.

“She’s actually asking for you, if you’d like to go see her. But I have to warn you…it’s not a pretty sight.” Dr. Kekoa told him.

“Yeah…uh…” Steve looked to Danny who simply nodded for him to go on.

Dr. Kekoa led him through the doors into the ER, “Do you know the extent of your daughter’s injuries?”

“I know she was overseas…I thought she wad dead.” Steve told him.

“Oh…I am so sorry…” Dr. Kekoa looked at him surprised, “Then I will let you know that she suffered some sort of trauma consistent with something that you’d see from an explosion. Specifically an IED…it looks like shrapnel was pulled from her at some point…poorly.”

“H-how bad is the burn?” Steve asked him worry setting in.

“Mostly second degree, but there are a few areas that are third degree. I would assume those areas were more exposed then the rest when the incident happened. Right now, we are peeling off the infected areas and putting wraps on her. She’ll need to stay here for observation for a few days.” Dr. Kekoa told him as he stood outside a room. He picked up a pack of scrubs, “And you’ll need to wear this…changing room is across the hall. Enter when you’re ready.”

Steve stood there a second before turning to get changed quickly. When he came back out he walked straight to the door stopping immediately at what he saw. You were laying on a bed pillow twisted around arm. Your back was to him showing the burn that seemed to mainly be on the right side of your torso and part of your upper leg.

Finally, he stepped threw walking over slowly. He heard a small whimper come from you as the nurse continued to clean the wounds. The nurse looked over to him as he approached, “Oh good…maybe you can talk some sense into her. You’re the dad, right?”

“I’m sorry?” He looked at her confused.

“Dad…” His attention immediate went to you reaching out for him. He took your hand looking at your face seeing tears stream down your cheeks. You squeezed his hand tightly.

“What’s going on?” Steve looked up at the nurse.

“She’s refusing any type of pain medication.” The nurse told him.

“Baby…” Steve shook his head, “Don’t do this to yourself…”

“No.” You started to shake your head closing your eyes, “No…I won’t…I can’t…”

He could hear the fear in your voice, “Y/N, this-this isn’t good…you need to let your body heal. This is causing more stress.”

“No…” Your voice cracked as you opened your eyes tears trickling down to the pillow, “I can’t go back there…I can’t…”

You were begging him. The terror in your eyes made everything in him cry out in agony. He already knew it was going to be bad, but this just…He nodded giving your hand a squeeze as he leaned over your head shielding you from the world, “Okay…It’s okay…We’re here…we’re home…”

He stayed with you the rest of the procedure. Toward the end of it your body just ended up giving up. He refused to leave your side after the nurse left. He sat next to you holding your hand tightly.

He looked up as Danny walked wearing a surgical gown, “Hey…”

Steve nodded to him, “I can’t…leave her…”

“No one expects you to.” Danny told him with a sad smile, “I just wanted to stop in and tell you that I need to head out, but to call if you need anything…or if anything changes. Team Phoenix is waiting to come in too.”

“Thanks Danny…will you…uh…” Steve teared up a little looking at you rest, the bloody bandages still catching him off guard.

Danny touched his shoulder in understand, “I got it…don’t worry.”

Steve nodded watching him leave before he pulled you hand to his mouth kissing it several times, “What did they do to you Shortie?”

[borderlinedennisr]

macdennis, it’s summer. the a/c is broken. den has strep/tonsillitis and is uncomfy and whiny

(what up my friends i was cursed with a nasty bout of tonsillitis last june and it has returned!!!! so naturally, i’m transferring my pain onto dennis)

.

It’s absurdly hot in Philly for early June. It’s upwards of ninety degrees and the humidity is a solid forty percent. The bar would be the perfect cool, dry sanctuary, but unfortunately a burst pipe has flooded the place. A crew is currently draining the water, and then a second crew is coming to assess damage and future protection.

After the pool fiasco of 2010, as well as the 2016 bloodbath at the water park, Dennis has been turned off of any public or private pool. Instead, he’s elected to stay inside the apartment. And that would be all fine and dandy if their A/C hadn’t just completely shit on them. Mac is god knows where with Charlie, and Dennis has called him five times now. When he is once again greeted with Mac’s voicemail, Dennis calmly sets down his phone and then screams at the top of his lungs.

The effort strains his throat and he coughs a little. The pain makes him whimper and he rubs at his throat gingerly. Last night he swallowed one of his pills weird and it’s been sore ever since. He told Mac something was wrong, and the jerk hadn’t believed him. Well, when Mac finally answers his goddamned phone and comes back home, Dennis is gonna make him check and make sure the pill hadn’t lodged somewhere and damaged something.

Growling, Dennis picks up his phone and dials Mac’s number again. Thankfully, the line is picked up, but all Dennis can hear is crackling. He pulls the phone from his ear, checks the screen, and then puts it back.

“Mac?”

A loud clicking noise comes through the line. Mac’s voice comes next, unclear and far away. “Dennis?”

Dennis plugs his unoccupied ear with his finger. “Dude, what the hell? Where are you?”

“Oh. Well, Charlie and I were gonna hit up Macy’s just so we could try out the beds and shit, right? But when we get there - ”

“Nevermind,” Dennis says impatiently. “Look, the air conditioning broke, and I need you to come home and help me fix it.”

“Aww, dude, really? Because Charlie and I - ”

“I don’t care, Mac,” Dennis snaps. “Look, just help me fix it and you can go right back out with Charlie. You fixed it last time, just - I’m sure it’s the same thing.”

There’s another loud clicking noise. “Alright, dude,” Mac says. “I’ll be home in a sec.”

Dennis hangs up and it takes a minute for his irritation to subside. When he can finally breathe slowly again, he gets up from the couch and heads into the kitchen for a glass of water. This heat is brutal. After filling a glass with ice, Dennis takes a solid amount of time to shove his face into the freezer. When it’s no longer soothing he closes the door shut sadly and runs the tap. The water is good for the feeling of being trapped in a toaster oven, but swallowing hurts.

“Fuck,” Dennis mutters. What the hell did he do to his throat? The pills aren’t that goddamn big.

He’s halfway to the bathroom to inspect the problem when Mac enters the apartment. Wet.

“Dude,” Dennis says.

Mac grins. “We jumped into the fountain at the park.”

Dennis closes his eyes, burning with impatience. “Whatever. Just help me with the air conditioning, okay?”

Mac nods, but meets Dennis’ eyes with a frown. “Dude, you alright? You sound stuffed up.”

Dennis blinks. Now that Mac mentions it, he realizes there is in fact a pressure in his sinuses. He can’t really breathe through his nose, which is why he’s been breathing through his mouth, no doubt irritating his throat more. Dennis’ sniffs, but nothing budges. He is really fucking stuffed up. Weird.

“Aww,” Mac coos. “Why didn’t you tell me you were sick, bro?”

Dennis clears his throat, which is hurting more by the minute. “I was so focused on the heat and the air conditioning, I didn’t notice. I mean, my throat hurt but I thought it was because I swallowed that pill weird last night.”

Mac approaches him carefully. He presses one hand against Dennis’ neck and the other on his forehead. He frowns. “I can’t tell if you’re warm from the heat or if you’ve got a fever.”

Dennis shrugs him off. “It doesn’t matter. I’m okay. Let’s just fix the air conditioning and deal with this later.”

“I’m fixing the air conditioning, and then I’m putting your ass to bed,” Mac promises as he follows Dennis to the wall unit.

Dennis rolls his eyes, but secretly he’s glad to have Mac back home. He might actually be sick, and he’d rather have Mac around than be miserable alone. If he’s being honest, he usually craves Mac’s company desperately when he’s sick anyway.

“Alright, what’s the problem?” Mac asks, surveying the unit.

“I don’t know,” Dennis admits. “I’ll push all the buttons or twist a dial, but the air doesn’t come out. Maybe it’s blocked up?”

Mac nods, but Dennis gets the distinct feeling that he’s not really listening. “Right,” he says. “Do we have a screwdriver?”

“For what?” Dennis asks.

Mac taps the front of the A/C unit. “So I can pop this front part off.”

Dennis grinds his teeth together. “Mac, it just pops off and on. Get your nail in there.”

“Where?”

“Oh for Christ’s sake!” Dennis bulldozes in front of him and pulls the front off. He sets it down on the floor and steps out of the way.

Mac squares up against the exposed unit, looking at intently. He pokes around a bit, humming to himself. After a moment he steps back and says, “Just as I thought.”

“What?” Dennis asks.

“I have no idea what the fuck’s wrong with it,” Mac says.

Dennis throws his head back, feeling entirely overwhelmed. The room feels ten times hotter and hits throat seems to pulsate with pain. He lets out a small whimper and grabs the front of his neck.

“Den?” Mac asks. “What’s wrong?” He approaches Dennis carefully and lays a gentle hand on Dennis’ shoulder. “Talk to me, Den.”

“It’s so hot,” Dennis whines. “And I feel gross. And I think you’re right about me being sick.” He coughs in an attempt to lessen pain. “My throat hurts so bad.”

Mac’s hand moves up to cup Dennis’ face. Dennis leans into the touch unabashedly.

“We have some box fans,” Mac says. “Let me get them out and we can set them up. Why don’t you go change into some pajamas. Do you want me to make up a bed on the couch for you?”

Dennis nods. He’s frowning, and Mac is struck with the urge to kiss it away. He lets his hand drop from Dennis’ face instead and walks away.

There are two box fans in the bedroom that Mac has set up as ‘the gym.’ He hauls both of them out and sets them in the living room, facing the couch. He turns them up to the highest RPM they’ll go and lets them be.

Dennis is already changed when Mac enters their room. Together, they carry all the pillows and the comforter out to the living room. Mac fluffs up the pillows before Dennis lays down, and then covers him carefully with the comforter. He fidgets around at first, unsatisfied until he shoots one foot out from under the blanket.

“’S'hot,” he mutters.

Mac pouts. “Do you need anything right now, man?”

Dennis squints up at him. “Tylenol?”

“Got it,” Mac says, and he disappears into the kitchen. He grabs the Tylenol from the cupboard and fills up a glass with ice water. When he returns, he finds Dennis with his eyes closed, expression pinched. “Den?”

He opens his eyes slowly. “This really fucking hurts,” he says, and is interrupted by several dry coughs. “What the fuck.”

Mac sets the bottle of pills and glass of water on the table. He gives Dennis a little nudge and settles himself at Dennis’ side on the couch. Without warning, he presses his fingers on either side of Dennis’ neck, feeling his glands. They’re super swollen.

“Dude, your lymph nodes feel like rocks. How did you not notice this?”

Dennis moans. “I’m noticing it now.” He coughs again, and it sounds painful.

“Will you let me look at your throat?” Mac asks.

“Go for it,” Dennis mumbles.

Mac pulls out his phone and turns the flashlight on. “Open up.” Dennis does, and Mac leans down to get a closer look. He has to move his phone around until he gets good enough light, and when he sees the state of Dennis’ throat he winces. “Jesus, are those your tonsils?”

Dennis’ eyes go wide. “What?” he asks, but it comes out like, “Aaaagh?”

“They’re fucking huge, Dennis. And they’re covered in white shit. Dude, doesn’t that mean you have strep? Shit, we gotta get you to a doctor.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Dennis says. “Calm down, Mac. Listen - ” He breaks off to cough, and the fit hits him hard. “Nevermind,” he croaks. “Yeah. Doctor sounds good.”

He tries to get up, but Mac puts a hand on his chest.  “Take it easy for a second.  I’m gonna get us a ride so we don’t have to crowd onto the bus in this heat.”  He dials Dee’s number.

“What do you want, Mac?” Dee huffs as soon as she answers.

“Dennis and I need a ride to the clinic.  He’s sick, and I’m pretty sure it’s strep.”

“Hell, no,” Dee says without missing a beat.

Mac swears under his breath.  “I don’t want to have to do this, Dee, but - I know you and Charlie have been fucking.  If you give us a ride, then I won’t tell Frank and Dennis.”

“Oh, goddamnit,” Dee mutters over the line.  “Fine.  I’ll be there in a minute.”

Mac hangs up, smiling maniacally.

“Charlie and Dee are fucking?” Dennis asks, coughing weakly.

Mac nods.  “Don’t say anything.”

Dennis grins.  “Of course not.”

Dee arrives, and Dennis lumbers downstairs in his plaid pajama pants and Adidas sneakers.  That’s how Mac knows he’s really not feeling well.  Healthy Dennis would never be caught dead in public in ratty pajama pants.  He works too hard to maintain his low-brow, yet tasteful fashion sense.

Mac joins Dennis in the backseat, which of course elicits a snide remark from Dee about how gay they are.  Mac claps back with, “I’ve been out for months now, Dee.  This is not news.”  Dennis doesn’t even bat an eyelash.

Thankfully, the clinic isn’t too busy.  Just a few people, no doubt trying to recover from heatstroke.  Dennis sits under the air conditioning and shivers.  After Mac checks them in, he waltzes over to Dennis with a frown.  He grabs Dennis’ face again and presses the back of his hand to Dennis’ cheek, then forehead, then his other check.

“Yeah, so now I can tell you definitely have a fever.”

“No shit,” Dennis mumbles.  “It’s fucking freezing in here.”

“I’d offer you a sweatshirt if I were wearing one,” Mac says as he settles in the seat next to Dennis.  “But we’re in the middle of a heat wave, so you’re SOL.”

Dennis scowls at him and wraps his arms around himself.

They end up waiting a really fucking long time, which Dennis supposes is irony at its finest.  He wanted to get out of the heat so badly, and now he is, but he’s cold as shit.  This fever is really kicking his ass.  Some time after the first twenty minutes, Dennis leans his head on Mac’s shoulder.  Mac lets him be for a moment, but eventually he’s shuffling Dennis awake.

“’S going on?” Dennis slurs.

“We’re still waiting, but we’re like - we’re on a bench thingy dude.”  It’s true, it’s kind of like three chairs stuffed together without armrests in the middle of them.  Dennis wonders if they’re only manufactured for waiting rooms.  “If you wanna lay your head in my lap and get comfortable, go ahead.”  

With zero hesitation, Dennis lowers himself down, resting his head in Mac’s lap and curling up his body so he fits on the other two seats.  Mac’s fingers brush across his hot forehead and he lets out a soft, involuntary noise.  He drifts off again as Mac plays with his hair.

Roughly an hour after they arrive, Dennis is finally escorted back to an empty room. Mac helps him clim on top of the bed where he sits, bleary and impatient. The nurse asks him about his symptoms and he mutters something like, “Sore throat.  Fucking hurts.  And I’m cold,” before Mac takes over.

“I looked at his throat back home, and excuse my language, but it was fucking nasty.  Look for yourself.  Also, he’s real stuffed up, and he’s running a fever.”

The nurse nods before confirming all the knowledge herself.  With a swipe of her fancy thermometer she confirms that Dennis has a high-grade fever.   She checks his glands too, clicking her tongue when she feels how swollen they are.

“Right?” Mac says.  “They feel like rocks.”

Finally, she shines a light down his throat.  She squints, and then makes another noise of disapproval.  “Certainly looks like something bacterial.  Although it’s concentrated in his tonsils, so likely tonsillitis.  I’ll administer a strep test.”

She leaves the room for a second and Mac stands up.  He positions himself in front of Dennis, who looks absolutely miserable.  As soon as Mac’s close enough, Dennis buries his face in Mac’s chest and moans.  Mac pouts and rests a hand on Dennis’ bicep.

“How you holding up, dude?”

“This sucks,” Dennis says, voice muffled by Mac’s shirt.  “I feel like absolute shit.  It all hit me in the last hour.”

“Aww, it’s alright, Den,” Mac soothes.  “We’ll get out of here soon and then you can sleep in our hot, humid apartment.”

“Fuck off,” Dennis mutters.  He’s quiet for a moment and then he asks, “Do we at least have ice cream?”

Mac laughs.  “I don’t think so, man.  Life fucking sucks for you right now, doesn’t it?”

Dennis groans again, but it sounds more like a growl.  “Ow,” he says afterward, quiet, face still smushed into Mac’s pecs.  “My throat hurts, Mac.”

“I know, Den.  I know.”

The door clicks open and the nurse enters with supplies.  Mac steps back, but keeps a hand on Dennis’ upper arm.

“Have you received a strep test before?” The nurse asks.  Dennis nods.  “Alright, then I won’t give you the whole spiel.  Just open up for me.”  

Dennis opens his mouth calmly, but his hand comes up to grab Mac’s.  Mac squeezes his hand in reassurance.  The test is over in a second, and Dennis is left coughing.  They sound deep and sharp, and Mac winces.  Without even thinking about it, he press his hand to Dennis’ back.  Dennis waves a hand at him, which Mac catches and holds.

“I’m fine,” Dennis insists.  Although he lets out a few more nasty coughs before he’s finished.

“Alright,” the nurse says.  “This test will be ready in ten minutes.  I’ll be back shortly with the proper diagnosis and treatment.”

“Thank you,” Mac says with a nod as she leaves the room again.

Dennis sags tremendously, sniffling.  His breath is a little ragged as he recovers from the coughing fit, and his jaw is clenched tightly.  Mac knows he must really be in pain.  He rubs a few circles in Dennis’ back.

“Why don’t you lay down?” he suggests.

Dennis nods feebly before shifting his body around and curling up on the sterile bed.  Mac grabs a chair and sits down in front of him.  He reaches a hand up, and with his elbow resting on the mattress, begins stroking Dennis’ forehead.  His hair is damp with sweat, and Mac brushes a few curls out of the way.  Dennis breathes a small noise of contentment.

“You know,” Mac says.  “I’m thinking that it was probably a good thing the A/C broke, or I wouldn’t have been home to drag your sick ass to the clinic.”

“Shut up,” Dennis croaks, and his eyelids flutter shut.

They wait longer than ten minutes for the test, of course.  It’s more like twenty minutes before the nurse is back with the results and a prescription.

“So it’s definitely a strep strand,” she reports.  “Centralized in the tonsils.  I’m prescribing a full round of antibiotics, and obviously, get some rest, drink plenty of fluids.”  She hands the piece of paper to Mac.

He tucks it in his back pocket before coaxing Dennis down from the bed.

“Come on, Den.  The broken A/C awaits.”

“Nooo,” Dennis moans, half-asleep.

As they walk out of the clinic, Mac dials Dee again.  “Where are you at?  We need to get to a pharmacy.  You’re not busy with Charlie, are you?”

“I’m on my way,” Dee growls.

Dennis is pretty much out while they wait for her, drooling on Mac’s cargo shorts.  Mac decides not to say anything later.  Dennis would probably be really embarrassed about it.  When Dee rolls up to the curb, Mac shakes him gently awake.

“Alright, bud.  We’re heading to the pharmacy, and then back home.”

Dennis grumbles something incoherent as he struggles upward.  Mac keeps a hand on the small of his back to steady him as they walk to her car.  Even in the sun, Dennis is practically radiating heat.  They’ve gotta get some Tylenol in him.

Inside the car, Dennis rests his head against the window and coughs.  Dee’s air conditioning blasts him in the face and he moans in response.  He’s really starting to feel the effects of the fever - his skin, hot and irritated; his muscles and joints ache something tremendous; the chills rack his body, making him exhausted.  Wordlessly, he reaches out a hand for Mac, who grasps it.

“You okay, Den?”

Dennis shakes his head.  “Don’t feel good.”

Mac runs his thumb over the top of Dennis’ hand.  His other hand comes up to rest against Dennis’ cheek.

“Your fever’s pretty high.  Probably why you feel like shit.”

Dennis hums and drops his head the opposite direction, onto Mac’s shoulder, like it’s second nature.   Mac keeps his hand firmly in Dennis’, occasionally stroking his thumb back and forth.  Dennis drifts off again with the feeling of Mac around him.

When he wakes up next, Mac is sliding back into the car, a plastic bag in his hand.  Groggily, Dennis opens his eyes and repositions himself.

“That my meds?” he asks.

“Yup,” Mac confirms.  “And also - “  He reaches into the bag and pulls a carton of ice cream out.  

Dennis smiles lazily, sleep already pulling him back under.  “Mmmm.  Ice cream.  Love you, Mac.”

He can hear Mac laugh.  “Fever must be making you pretty delirious, Den.”  

Dennis doesn’t have the energy to reply; he just snuggles back into Mac’s side as Dee says something about “why don’t they just get married?” 

[sueboohscorner]

OUTLANDER S3 Ep3 "All Debts Paid" .....aka: Whoa Nelly!

So here we are on episode 3....10 more to go.  I knew it when I heard them say back when, that they were doing a book a season (WHY?  Be different!)....that this was going to be like this.  I mean I came out of this episode satisfied with the emotional highs and lows of the episode, but felt like I had to have a seatbelt on as time just flew by so freaking fast! Voyager is a huge book and there is actually quite a bit that happens in this book, especially when we get to Jamaica.  But to do this book in 13 episodes.....I trust that they will cover the basics and hope that all the episodes are as good as the first ones (My most hated ep ever was in Season 2 when Claire and Jamie go to visit Lord Lovat...God awful), but like what is happening in this episode I feel rushed and on a rollercoaster. Once again, as before because of jumping back and forth so freaking much and this time, time literally flies, I will concentrate on on era and then the other.

Claire first:

 SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS:  We see Claire and Frank still together in 1956 with Claire still going to medical school and Frank is making a good English breakfast which he thinks that Brianna needs more of.  They seem like they are getting along good, friends really.  So Claire asks Frank if they can go see a movie and suggests 2 separate ones.  He smiles a little and is quiet, but then speaks up and says that he has already seen both.  That is when we see the beginning of the arrangement Claire and Frank had made at some time prior.  He is free to see who he wants and do what he wants and she won't question.  This seems to work more or less, as Claire has experienced true deep love with Jamie and he is still in her heart.  Frank, well, I guess you have to feel sorry for him in a way.  He truly loved Claire and nearly went mad trying to find her when she disappeared and then she comes back is pregnant and distant with him.  He wants what she cannot give him, so he looks outside the marriage.  This was something I am glad they hit upon, because I always thought that is what Frank probably was doing, but to have it out as an arrangement, an open marriage in a way, was refreshing.  

SHE ARRIVES: Claire (and Joe Abernathy) graduate from Medical school and a celebration is held first at the house and then they were to go to a restaurant.  Frank seems a little on edge that they haven't left yet and Claire explains that he has the time of the reservation wrong. 

She finds out why he wants everyone out of the house.  The doorbell rings and there is a young woman standing there.  She is surprised to see Claire and Claire puts 2 and 2 together and realizes it is Frank's mistress.  He invited her to their house!  Claire quickly gathers everyone and suggests going to the restaurant early. 

Frank comes home late drunk and to a very nasty Claire.  He really doesn't want to have this conversation, but is seems ready to give it right back to her.  She calls Sandy (yup, a blonde named Sandy) Frank's "blonde harlot" to which Frank claims that green is not really Claire's color.  Claire dares to ask if they had sex in their house, in their bedroom.  Really?  I mean, sex in a twin bed really is NOT a comfortable thing.....but I digress.  Frank just replies that their bedroom is already way too crowded.  Ouch.  Claire then suggests a divorce, but Frank tells Claire of a friend of his that got a divorce and lost his children, because the courts cater to the mothers, not thefathers and he really does not want to lose Brianna.  Claire tells him she would never do that to him, but he refuses the idea of divorce, at least for now.

SUDDENLY GOODBYE:  Time passes, Brianna is all grown up and is now in the shape of the actress that we originally saw her last season.  She has her 16th birthday and then we see her graduating in 1966. 

A little more ahead and Frank comes to Claire and states he wants to take Brianna with him to England.  Claire thinks that is a lovely idea, until Frank says, no they are not coming back.  He now wants a divorce because he wants to marry and be with Sandy and he wants to take Brianna.  Claire is furious and they argue.  Claire suggests divorce, but be careful on what grounds, because he can't really say adultery when there is really no proof, but she can on his end!  Frank tells Claire that he would like to live with a wife who loves him and then adds that all she could see every time she looked at Brianna was HIM.  Yes, it might have been easier if Bree didn't look like Jamie, but I don't think it would have been a cure all.  Frank leaves and Claire sheds a tear. 

 A little while later, Claire gets a call from the hospital to come in for a surgery.  Later we see her with the husband, giving him advice and consoling him as to his wife, who will survive.  When giving him a hug, she see Joe Abernathy coming down the hall with a look of remorse on his face.  He tells Claire that it is Frank, there was a car accident.  She runs down the hall and pauses outside a door.  Inside, we see a very dead (and clean for being in a car accident) Frank. 

It is an emotional goodbye, as Claire tells him, if he is still close enough to hear, that she did love him (and we think....not nearly as much as Jamie) and kisses him goodbye through her tears.  Now, to move on to yet another chapter.

Now Jamie:

THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF THINGS:  Jamie has been in Ardsmuir for years and it is now 1755.. It is not the HIlton by any means.  It is filthy, cold and damp and rats are plentiful (which we learn later is a GOOD THING for the prisoners!)  He is out in the yard with the other prisoners, in shackles, hand and feet, and sees the old governor (Harry Quarry)  of the prison showing the new one around (hello Lord John Grey!)  

With Jamie staring at them,  Gov. Quarry points to Jamie and informs Gray that he is the only prisoner they keep in chains and that the prisoners look up to Jamie, consider him like their chief, and call him Mac Dubh. He continues by saying that he treated Jamie as a liaison between him and the prisoners, to keep the peace so to speak and dined with him once a week.  At this point it looks like John Grey may recognize the man that terrorized him on that night when he thought a certain English woman needed rescue. Harry Quarry makes sure to mention the legend of the French gold treasure that supposedly was sent to Prince Charlie and that is supposed to be somewhere out on the moor, but after a few years, he gave up on the search.

Back in the cell, Jamie is listening to the men talk about the "new guy" and Jamie remarks that he seems familiar, but cannot place him.  Then we hear a voice we thought we would never hear again say "So, you've seen the new governor then?"  That my friends is when we book lovers cheer!  When we see beloved Murtagh, who most certainly died at Culloden in the book, is very much alive!  However, Murtagh is coughing and not looking so good.  He is getting sick and not getting any better from the God awful conditions of the prison.  Jamie is called to the Governor's office and you can feel the tension.  However, Jamie is quick to point out the lack of food for the prisoners and when a rat is seen in the room and the other prisoner who acts as the Governor's lackey, is told to bring a cat.  When asked if there are rats in the cells, Jamie tells him there are plenty.  Grey orders a cat for every cell, but Jamie comments that the men might have a problem with sharing the rats with the cats.  Here we find out that the lack of food allows for some serious gross eating.  Even Grey is repulsed.  Other than that it is a short visit and not much is covered.

THE WHITE WITCH RETURNS?  The next thing we know, it is another day, week....who the hell knows....and a raving mad man by the name of Duncan Kerr is found roaming the moors.  He is babbling in French, Gaelic and very little English.  But the hint of treasure is mentioned, so Grey tells Jamie that if he helps him he will strike off the chains.  Jamie says yes, but he has some conditions, medicine and blankets for all the prisoners.  When Grey refuses, Jamie says to put the shackles back on and take him back to his cell.  Grey informs Jamie that he does not have THAT much power and would help if he could.  Jamie says, fine, but blankets and medicine for one man then, his kinsman, Murtagh Fitzgibbons and Grey agrees.

The meeting with Duncan is short.  He rambles on and changes direction, but when he mentions a white witch, Jamie is stunned and wonders if it is possible.  The treasure is cursed , the white witch protects it and she is coming for him (Jamie).  He dies in a short time.  Somewhere in that conversation, Jamie must have received a hint of where this might be.  Grey demands to know what the man said.  Jamie gives him the basics, but leaves out the white witch story, the mention of Dougal, Colum and his mother Ellen and the brief mention of perhaps his father Brian.  Later, in the Governor's room again, Jamie says that some of the men wonder if they could hunt for their own food.  Grey is astonished at that idea, to give them weapons and let them run amok on the moor.  Jamie says, no, to be allowed to set snares when they go out to collect peat for the fires.  This is allowable, and when they go out to check on snares that have been set, A couple men help Jamie escape, by hiding him.

TO EARN RESPECT:  Grey is NOT happy that Fraser has left the building so to speak.  However, some men say that he was seen swimming to the island.  God, there is so much left out of here.  Hopefully, we see more in flashbacks or something! 

Grey excuses himself to take a piss in some ruins when he is suddenly grabbed and disarmed and held by his own sword by Jamie.  “That’s how it’s done, William Grey, second son of Viscount Melton,” Jamie snarls at Grey.  This is when Lord John William Grey realizes that this man actually does remember who he is.  Jamie makes him relive that thwarted attempt to save a lady's life so many years ago.   “They were the actions of a foolish boy, and I regret them to this very day.” Grey tells Jamie.  Jamie lets go and asks Grey if he remembers his promise.  The one that if he ever saw Fraser again, he would kill him.  Jamie lets go of him and hands him his sword back and gets on his knees.  "Well, sir, here I am." he tells him and is basically begging Grey to kill him.  Grey puts his sword at Jamie's throat, but stops and tells him that he is not in the business of killing unarmed men. The look of anguish on Jamie's face says it all.  It is just impossible to die in this story if you are Jamie Fraser! Though it hurt to not get that wish, it also earned Grey some respect with Fraser who confides a little later that he didn't find much, just a box with a single sapphire (yeah....we will see if that is true in a few episodes) and hands it to Grey.  He also admits that when Duncan Kerr mentioned the white witch he thought perhaps it was his wife returned.  Grey turns to Jamie and says "You said she was dead."  Jamie replies "No, I said she was GONE."

At another time, both men are being quite cordial with one another and have dinner and drinks and play some chess.  Jamie is amazed at John's skills at the game.  John talks about a "particular friend" he lost at Culloden and his brother took him away because how he reacted was not proper.  *** For the record people....that friend's name is HECTOR....NOT Black Jack Randall!  Jamie admits that the English lady that John tried to "save" was actually his wife and that John would not talk to save his own life but he did to save a lady's was worthy of respect in Fraser's book. 

Jamie finally smiles some and says her name. "Claire.  Her name was Claire."  John our of sympathy, but also the fact that he is gay, reaches out and touches Jamie's hand.  Jamie's smile totally disappears and the evil eye returns.  ”Get your hand off me, or I will kill you,” Jamie says slowly, deliberately and quite furious.  He gets up and leaves and John sheds a tear.  It will be some time before he knows the story behind why.

A NEW LIFE:  Time passes (yet again) and the prison is closing. 

The men of Ardsmuir, including Murtagh are to be shipped off to America.  Jamie is confused as Lord John has him tied with a rope and led behind him.  Days pass and they finally stop.  Grey explains to Jamie that because he is a high profile traitor of the crown, that it is at the King's discretion whether to allow him to go to America, etc.  and it is NOT in the King's discretion.  So, Grey apparently pulled some strings.  “I couldn’t give you freedom, Fraser. This is the next best I could manage,” Grey says and explains that Jamie is to be indentured as a servant for the Dunsany family at the Helwater estate.  Jamie is confused at first and states that it is because he didn't let John have his way with him.  Grey can't apologize fast enough and says how foolish he was and regrets that action very much. 

Before leaving (wait...what?  He personally delivered Jamie to the family in the books!)  it is suggested to Jamie that he not use his real name as this family lost loved ones in the uprising and he says to Jamie  “You gave me my life several years ago. Now I give you yours.  I hope you use it well.” and bids Jamie farewell.  Jamie looks down at the huge estate and must be wondering what it holds for his future.  Oh, my poor man....you have no idea.  

The only problem I have with this episode (and I am afraid that there are going to be more like this) is that they just speed through stuff.  I mean, you miss some things between characters that deepen the meaning of the ending.  The actors did phenomenal job though with the emotional aspects and I am very grateful and in awe of that.  All I have to say for this and probably the rest of the season...."please fasten your seatbelts" especially if you have read the books and if you have not read the books.....PLEASE DO!  The show is awesome, but it is only the tip of the iceberg.  You will see and gain so much more.

So, any thoughts, concerns, comments, etc on this episode?  And may I add that this was the MOST WATCHED EPISODE ever for Outlander!  Congrats to them...now wait for the print shop one!  *grin*