#after leaving Mac and Russ to talk- the way Desi gets REALLY INTO IT with Riley in the background. so fun when you ignore the rest

[daltonsnightmare]

MacGyver (2016) s4e3 Kid + Plane + Cable + Truck | Cold Open

[refinedbuffoonery]

Only Human

Post 5x05. Angst. Riley POV. It’s sad. 

*****

Only human. That’s what Jack was. 

As a kid, Riley thought he was invincible. Nothing bad could ever happen to him. And if it did, he could always find a way out. Like when Riley busted him for picking flowers from her yard to give to her mom on their first date, or when he charmed his way out of yet another speeding ticket. 

As an adult, Riley thought he was invincible. He and Mac pulled off crazy stunts Riley could barely wrap her head around, and they always came out alright. Whatever gods or forces of the universe were looking down on Jack Dalton clearly liked him and wanted him to stick around. 

It took the sight of a flag-covered casket for Riley to realize Jack Dalton was only human. 

The one man she thought would never truly leave her was gone. For good this time. 

And there was nothing she could do about it. 

Until there was. Until Mac received that postcard—that last piece of Jack—and suddenly they were flying to Croatia to crack his final clue. Until they were the ones hunting a not-actually-dead Kovac. Until they were the ones stuck in a trap laid by the same woman who murdered Jack. 

Riley would’ve snapped that blonde bitch’s neck if Mac hadn’t stopped her. 

Rotting in a cell for the rest of eternity was too good a fate for the person who cut Jack’s life short. 

Normally, Riley would’ve felt smart for catching a whole taped confession like that, but this time she just felt cold. Empty. No amount of justice would even begin to heal the Jack-shaped wound in her heart. 

The flight home seemed like it would never end. Riley didn’t even feel the burn of the whiskey Russ handed her as she knocked it back like a shot. If she had the energy to get up, she would’ve drank the rest of the bottle. 

Even Mac sitting beside her didn’t bring Riley any comfort. She wanted to scream at the universe until her voice was hoarse, cursing it for ripping the closest thing she ever had to a dad from her grasp. It seemed like just yesterday they made amends and he was her dad again. 

But it wasn’t. 

That was more than five years ago, and the few years Riley had with him were the best of her life. Even though half the time they spent together usually involved trying not to get killed. 

Riley couldn’t help but think that if she had been there, had been part of that task force, hunting Kovac with Jack, she would’ve connected the dots Jack missed and realized the rescue op was a trap. She could’ve kept him alive. 

Because as a team—Jack, Mac, and herself—they were invincible. But alone, they were only human. 

Since that first drive with Mac, Riley drove the GTO every day. She drove it to work, to the grocery store, to the gym. She even drove it just for the sake of driving it, wasting gas with no destination in mind. On those days, she usually found herself ordering a brisket sandwich at Jack’s favorite Texas barbeque restaurant. Most of the time, she was so numb her body revolted at the idea of food, but Riley forced herself to eat the damn sandwich anyway, since she had to enjoy it for both of them now. 

Driving Jack’s car was the closest thing to feeling like he was with her again. 

She even stole one of Jack’s Metallica t-shirts from Mac to sleep in, but the GTO was where Riley felt his presence best. 

Presence. Like all that was left of her invincible dad was a ghost, following her around quoting Bruce Willis movies and harassing her about leaving fingerprints on his car. 

Soldiers died all the time. So did agents. That was part of the job. But Riley never thought her agents would die. Not really. Not when they avoided death so well. And if they were to die, they’d all go at the same time, doing something incredibly stupid. If you go kaboom, I go kaboom. That was Jack’s promise. The whole team’s promise. 

“We were supposed to go kaboom together,” Riley whispered to herself, parking the GTO in Mac’s driveway. She blinked back the tears threatening to escape. 

Her eyes caught the old basketball hoop. Mac and Jack used to spend hours playing HORSE right in this very spot. Jack usually won. 

Mac had invited her over for dinner, but Riley couldn’t yet bring herself to go inside. A week had passed since Jack’s funeral, but since then, that first step into Mac’s house made Riley feel like she was permanently stuck at the wake, pressed against the wall and choking on tears as fate carved a gaping hole in her chest. Mac’s house—one of her favorite places in the whole world—was heavy with sorrow and guilt. 

No matter how many times Mac repeated that they shouldn’t feel guilty, the what-ifs still stuck around like shackles around Riley’s wrists and ankles. She knew Mac felt the same way, even though he hid it for her sake. 

Riley barely mustered the courage to go inside. 

She made it two steps in when her gaze locked on Mac, standing in the kitchen, a folded American flag in his hands. 

Riley thought of Jack's promise again. If you go kaboom, I go kaboom. And suddenly she was furious. Furious at Jack for walking into a trap alone. Furious at him for dying. Furious at the government—the same government she served—that sent a flag home in place of a man. Her hands shook. 

Every minute she wasn't crying, Riley was angry. She tried to direct it, use it to make sure that woman never saw the light of day again. Riley refused to even call the woman by her name. She murdered Jack. She shot Bozer. She used her power as an Interpol agent to run a terrorist organization. That bitch deserved every ounce of hatred Riley spewed at her. 

But sometimes Riley was just angry at everything, and she sat somewhere quiet and stewed so she didn't take it out on someone who didn't deserve it. Riley still owed Desi an apology after nearly ripping her friend’s head off when she tried to check up on Riley a few days ago. 

Mac finally looked up, his expression raw and broken. It pushed Riley over the edge. Her keys fell out of her hand, and Riley’s breathing stuttered. The all too familiar lump in her throat returned, rendering her unable to speak, and the tears she’d been holding back finally spilled over, twin hot streams running down her cheeks. 

Mac left the flag on the kitchen counter and strode to her, not stopping until his arms wrapped tightly around her. “I didn’t know what to do when I saw it either,” he murmured, clutching her to his chest like their lives depended on it. 

Riley sobbed. She’d cried so much in the last week she didn’t think her body could produce any more tears, but they just kept coming. She weakly returned Mac's hug. 

"The hole in my heart just keeps bleeding," Riley gasped. "And I don't know how to make it stop." 

"I don't know either," Mac said in a rare moment of honesty. He'd been keeping up a strong front for her sake, she knew. Because if they both let go, there wouldn't be anything stopping them from drinking themselves into oblivion and hurling spite at the world. 

A world that didn't deserve Jack Dalton. 

Riley didn't let herself think about the fact that Jack died for nothing. Well, not completely nothing, since his death led them to the clues he'd left behind just in case. Jack's death led to Kovac being put away for good. But that would never change the fact that Jack died alone, in a trap. 

Mac grunted softly. The sound pulled Riley out of her head enough to realize she'd dug her nails into Mac's back, hard enough to leave marks. 

"Sorry," she whispered, barely loud enough to hear. 

Mac whispered back. "It's alright, Riles." 

Riles. That was Jack's nickname for her, long before it was anyone else's. Mac had picked it up after a year or so, and even Desi sometimes called her that, but above all, it belonged to Jack. 

Her knees started to tremble, and Riley let Mac hold her up. Besides her mom, Mac was the only one she felt safe breaking down around. She didn't know why. She was just as close to Bozer as she was to Mac. Maybe it was because talking to Bozer still felt like sympathy and not just someone to be sad with. 

"How's your mom?" Mac asked softly. 

A new wave of tears, silent ones this time, rolled down Riley's cheeks. She’d spent the previous night with her mom. Riley finally told her about Jack, after receiving clearance to tell her mom everything. 

It was the hardest thing she'd ever done. 

"We cried a lot." Riley sniffed. "I didn't know telling her would be so hard." 

She knew it would suck, but finding the courage to squeak out "Jack's dead" was almost more than she could manage. 

"I could've gone with you," Mac offered. 

Riley appreciated the gesture. "Thanks, but I needed to do it on my own." She wasn’t even sure which way was up anymore, but she was sure of this. 

They stood there for a little while longer before Mac asked, “Are you hungry?” 

“No.” Riley’s stomach turned inside out at the thought of food. 

Mac’s hands got brave, roaming her body and feeling how thin she was after a week of barely eating. She could hardly manage one meal a day, much less three. Riley tensed at the intimacy of the gesture. His tone was firm. “We’re having tacos. You have to eat at least one.” 

“Okay.” She knew it was pointless to argue. Mac would force-feed her if he had to. 

Without thinking, she asked, "Can I sleep here tonight?" Realizing what she said, Riley quickly backtracked. "Or if you and Desi want your space I understand, and—" 

Mac cut her off. "No. You can always stay here, for as long as you want." After a moment, he added, voice strained, "I want you to stay." 

“Thank you,” she said weakly. Riley felt Mac’s strong façade starting to crack. She knew he couldn’t keep it up much longer, that he couldn’t hold her up forever. 

Maybe then they could just lean on each other. 

Jack may have left Riley and Mac behind, but at least he didn’t leave them alone. They had each other, and while they would never be able to fill the Jack-shaped hole in their lives, maybe each other would be enough to keep going. 

Because as it turns out, none of them were invincible, and Riley had to figure out how to staunch the wound before she bled out on the floor.

[just-a-fangirl13]

Are MacRiley dating? Or is something else going on here?

All the 5x03 theories!

Okay so I have a lot of questions about 5x03 just like every other MacRiley fan but I thought I should put it all down in one place with some theories and scenarios...

1. They are on an actual date. Ok so evidence for this is the food next to Riley, the 4 different picnic baskets, the writers tweeted saying “sipping wine and stargazing” AND you know THE ALMOST KISS..?!! I dont know what threat could possibly lead to Mac and Riley kissing, unless they are on a real date. [assuming the kiss even happens] I dont know what relevance the telescope and the eclipse could also have to a mission where they are following/ observing dangerous people. It just seems like the dreamiest date ever! Also just look at them, they aren't on high alert..they are just talking and enjoying each others company. *YEET!!* [this is really just wishful thinking but I dont even care since there is a slight chance it happens!!]

Might that “talk” (the one Mac and Desi are forced to have) stem from the events of the photos above and below, in which things between Mac and Riley sure appear to be going from astronomical to physical?

A snippet from the TV line article that released the exclusive pictures...even they seem to be hinting at something something going down...!!!! Heres the article.

2. They are on a mission. Ok so the biggest evidence for this is Desi, Bozer and Russ. They seem to be in the same location but it is very hard to tell. They could be in a completely unrelated place doing an unrelated thing (Desi does not look happy though so maybe its a mission and a fake date and Mac and Riley are enjoying a lil too much...which leads to Mac and Desi being forced to talk about their relationship??).

One of the images seems to show Riley with her laptop and maybe the telescope is a camera or spying device that Mac made. (its a reflector telescope which can also be used as a long range camera so maybe..?)

We know Russ is in the photos which means this either happens at the start of the episode *most likely* or is at the end or a flashback.

Also if this really is a mission, can we just take a second to talk about Matty putting these two together on a fake date..?? There is no way MATTY DOESNT KNOW ABOUT SOMETHING SOMETHING HAPPENING! She doesn't do anything by accident!

3. This is a flashback. This could be a secret MacRiley moment just before the Phoenix opened up post-pandemic where they finally go out on a date. [Safe to say a lot of MacRIley fans including me are straight up going to pass out If this is the case!] Now for this episode we know Mac and Desi are forced to talk about their issues. A flashback scene could make sense. Maybe Mac is thinking back to his first kiss with Riley or something when he finally tells Desi he and Riley are together (Mac and Desi are definitely over. These two dont have an ounce of chemistry left and they definitely didn't quarantine together because if they had they would have talked through their issues before. Its possible they broke up just before the pandemic but never talked through things or got closure??)

4. This is a simple MacRiley scene and the photos are just bait. I am going to be so mad if they dont almost KISS!! I am not asking for a proper kiss or make out session....just an almost kiss after months and months of waiting is enough but if these images are just a part of publicity stunt im going to lose it!! (and then continue to watch the show anyway)

However I think even this is highly unlikely because the almost kiss photos came from an outside source i.e.TV line. Yes they got them from CBS but this is the new show runners first episode. Tricking us just seems reallyyy unlikely and a bad way to start (false promises and all). Plus TV line’s credibility will also be at stake if the scenes in these photos doesn’t happen.(its an official exclusive so this definitely happens the question is what's the context!!!)

Im sorry if your even more confused than before you read this post, I honestly have no idea what to expect in 5x03. I am not keeping my hopes high but I really do think something new has happened between Mac and Riley which is why Mac isn’t sad about losing Desi (like when Jess said you lost your chances of ever dating that woman and Mac isn't all sad and mopey he just gives her a look that looks more like a lol you have no idea.)

Since the writers put in the pandemic in the storyline when they could have just continued right where they left off, it makes me think that there is a lot of relevance to this 10 month jump. Apart from leaving enough time for Mac and Desi to be completely done so that when Mac and Riley get together she isn’t a rebound or something, it might be to show Mac and Riley quarantining together (for a few months at least)

NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS, something has 100% changed!! Their glances and eyebrow movements aren't accidentally added in there! Also idk if anyone else noticed, but its been Mac who has been looking over at Riley not the other way around. We know Riley has feelings and we saw her looks from last season but Mac looking at Riley is new. There are practically no more romantic looks between Mac and Desi. (He told her you can do this and they high fived before that which just screamed FRIENDS not lovers... )

Let me know what you think! Sorry if this was really ramble-y!!

[cozyforjate]

MacGyver 5x03-Review

MacRiley fam, this will be my last MacGyver review. Thanks for the support and the great feedback on my reviews so far. You guys are awesome! But i’m taking a looong break from this show. I’ll be watching the Jack episode and if we get a Bozer, Matty or Riley centric i’ll tune in to watch. But my passion and excitement for this show is mostly over now.

I have so many things to say about 5x03 but if i start to express all my feelings i’m afraid i might break Tumblr. LOL 

This probably wouldn’t feel like a proper review coz i’m gonna focus on the RETCON that the writers pulled out of their asses to keep MacDesi together.

Ok so for people who are not familiar with the word “retcon”; it means changing an aspect of a fictional work by introducing a piece of new information, typically used to facilitate a dramatic plot shift or account for an inconsistency.

The writers usually pull a retcon, when one aspect of an already canon plot isn’t working well. You can call it a “fix-it” method.

In terms of MacDesi, they retconned some moments from season 4 that defined this relationship. I think the new showrunner and the writers team realized that MacDesi has become quite “toxic” during season 4. But because the additional episodes kept them together, they needed to at least fix this relationship.

From their POV it’s understandable to a degree. But from a viewers POV it’s total BS. Because what we watched in season 4, can’t be changed.

We remember the unhealthy dynamic between them, we remember the lack of trust between them, we remember how incompatible they were, we remember how they couldn’t communicate with each other, we remember Mac not letting her in emotionally, not opening up to her at all, we remember how much they BOTH hurt each other, we remember Mac’s own words on their relationship.

Most importantly we still remember 4x12. How quickly Desi turned her back on him, how she brought his mothers and aunts names into their ugly fight, how Mac said he’d say anything to get her off his back, we remember how she and Russ left Mac no choice but to improvise a plan to save lives, we remember Riley risking everything to protect him and be there for him. WE REMEMBER.

So when you dismiss all of that and re-write MacDesi as if they’re this great couple, it’s not going to work for people. And when you tease MacRiley the whole week with promos, exclusive pictures, articles, SM promotion; promising progress between Mac and Riley only to walk over everything that made them special, you get a lot of NEGATIVE reaction from the fans. With good reason.

* * *

Episode started with Mac and Riley on a picnic mission. The scene was amazing in every sense. The colors, lighting, the conversation between them, the almost kiss, the way Mac held Riley and they lied down for a while, the smug smile on his face and the looks he gave to Riley were all awesome! The car chase was super fun too!

But then everything went down the toilet. Coz in the next scene Mac was complaining to Bozer about how Desi wasn’t spending time with him and avoiding his date attempts. In this scene they retconned Bozer too. For the first time, Bozer encouraged Mac to go ask Desi out and fix their relationship.

Normally Bozer would never do such a thing. Why? Bcoz he’s been against a romantic relationship between them ever since Desi first showed up in 3x14. Bozer thought it was a bad idea from the start, called them Mesi (messy), he didn’t think it was a good idea to bring Desi back on the team in 4x01, coz MD break up was NUCLEAR. So up until 5x03 Bozer was never on Team MacDesi. Lets also remember this exchange between them:

In 4x12 when Bozer was trying to save Mac and Riley’s lives, he turns to Desi... 

Bozer: Desi, back me up here.

Desi: Sometimes we need to sacrifice the things we love for the greater good.

So after 4x12, one would only expect that his thoughts on MD would get stronger. But guess what? Bozer is now supporting MD. Just like that. I don’t buy it writers, sorry.

Back to the scene… Mac wants to go on a date with Desi. And he is so desperate about it. We had to witness one of the most awkward scenes between them. Not only that but we had to sit through Riley throwing smiles at MD, saying her feelings for Mac was just Codex adrenaline. Riley, who couldn’t watch any interaction between MD, is now totally cool with them!

And lets just say that Riley was pretending she’s over Mac, that she lied to Bozer bcoz she’s trying to move on. We already watched her having feelings for Mac, hiding those feelings and pining for him. Her one-sided love can’t drive the plot anymore. 

Besides she didn’t need to give her blessings to MD. It was an overkill. I really hated the scene where she says “Don’t screw up this time” to Mac…That was totally out of character for Riley.  

Riley who reminded Desi that Russ & her were gonna nuke them,

Riley who said she went after Mac coz she trusted him &asked Desi "Why didn't you?",

Riley who risked it all to protect Mac, tells Mac not to screw it up with Desi.

By saying those words, Riley makes it known that Mac was the one screwing up his rl with Desi. Desi had no fault. Once again the writers used my favorite character to prop my least favorite character. Shame on you!

***

I’m not gonna talk about every MacDesi scene in this episode. But let me just say that the writers turned Mac into a desperate, begging, lovesick puppy. He asked Desi for a date like 5 times, apologized twice. Kissed her out of the blue. Bcoz lets face it, that scene was so unnecessary. Nobody was onto them, the police car was passing by slowly and if the police were really suspicious, why would they look at the couple kissing instead of checking who’s in the car? So stupid. Oh and while they were kissing for minutes with great lighting and all, General Ma escaped. Mac acting this stupid, is not something we are used to see. But what you gonna do? I guess love is not only blind but also destroyes brain cells in the process.

Anyway, Mac literally begging Desi to go on a date with him was agonizing to watch. Every time he offers a new dating idea, Desi’s answer is NAH. Back in the picnic scene she made it sound like she wanted to date Mac, but of course she needs to make him suffer first!

I only like to point out the scene where Mac –finally- opened up to Desi about the fishing trip he and his father went together. This story is obviously precious to him. He called it a happy memory. Clearly he misses his father, still mourning for his loss. So he shared his happy memory and asked if she would like to go fishing with him. Desi’s answer? “Not gonna go fishing with you as our first date!” You can read the dissapointment on his face. And my heart breaks for Mac but this kind of treatment is something he’s asking for.

He is desperate to get Desi back. The fact that they are the worst match ever, doesn’t change sh*t. Mac wants Desi and he loves Desi for god knows why.

***

Btw- the whole “lets blame only Mac for Codex and ignore Desi’s wrongdoings” plot is disgusting. Yes, Mac suffocating Desi and Russ to escape Phoenix with Scarlett was wrong. Yes he hurt her, yes in a sense he betrayed her. AND HE APOLOGIZED. But what about Desi? What about her betrayel? 

First they made Riley apologize to Desi for following Mac and now they made Mac apologize… But no apologies from Desi. The writers are obviously worshipping Desi and they’re ready to sacrifice every character to make her look “perfect”. I’m sorry but i’m not here to watch the Desi show, or more MacDesi nonsense.

***

Mac said Desi is the woman he loves… but not only that, she is also the woman who guided him back. And the RETCON is really strong with this scene.

Lets remember…

In 4x08 Mac loses his father, at the end of the episode Desi wants to go with Mac but Mac stops her, telling he’d see her tomorrow.

In 4x09 Desi says he can share his burden with her, Mac’s not interested, he says what he needs is to stop Codex.

In 4x10 Mac makes apocalypse kits for Riley and Desi. Desi’s so happy she got a crossbow and didn’t think those kits were a bad sign. But Riley notices that Mac is not in a good place, he needed help and support. Riley shares her concerns about Mac with Desi. She probably thinks it’s not up to her to be the one doing that when Desi is the girlfriend. So after her conversation with Riley, Desi makes soup and gives Mac a compass. Saying he’s not lost (he clearly was tho). She askes if everything’s ok, he looks different but Mac says, he’s just tired.

In 4x12 Mac is lying in bed, lost in his own mind, he gets up, leaves the compass on her side of the nightstand… On the run he ignores Desi’s calls.

Then things get really ugly for MacDesi. Desi says “You are so drunk on somescrewed-up cocktail of your mom, your aunt, Codex science...”… She says “You're compromised”…  Mac was just trying to get Scarlett on their side to stop Codex but Desi couldn’t see it. She thought Mac was losing it!

And then Desi sides with Russ and turns her back on Mac. Russ dismisses Mac from the Codex mission. Mac's forced to improvise. Bcoz he wants to stop Codex without bloodshed.

So as you can see they completely re-wrote the events of 4x12 to fix MD.

Desi says: “I had front-row seats to the war that raged in you last year, and I can't do that again. Lose you.”

She was ready to sacrifice him for the greater good. But yeah, sure! Why not.

Mac says: “Des, I know it looked like I was lost, but you were there the whole time, guiding me back home.”

THE WHOLE TIME.

In 3 times she “tried” to be there for him, Mac didn't let her in emotionally but lets just say that she brought him back to his senses.

Lets just say that the compass he left on her side of the nightstand represents that it guided him back. (btw lets also ignore that the compass Mac gave Desi back was a different one. Who knows, maybe he threw it in the garbage during the pandemic and bought a new one)

Lets just forget who really brought him back. Lets just ignore what Riley did for Mac. How she saved him, how she was the one who risked everything for Mac. How she was the one there by his side when they were facing a missile.

Only if we forget and retcon history we can all buy MacDesi. 

But i can’t… I can’t forget, i’m not ok with a retconned half-ass love story that they want to sell with MD. I can’t sit through the episodes and keep watching the “flawless Desi” show.

This show isn’t entertaining to me anymore. I can’t recognize Mac, i’m pissed that my fav characters are being used as tools to prop Desi.

One last thing before i say my final goodbyes:

The lighting in this episode was so weird. In almost every scene, heavy light effects distracted me. Usually they use it when they show you a flashback, a dream or a hallucination to seperate the real-time scenes from others. But this episode had them from the start to the end. So i don’t know what to make of this.

Some of the dialogues had subtexts…

Leland to Russ: Now, I know you don't care about much in this world, but even the best of us can be blinded by those we love.

General Ma to Mac: I was blinded by him (Leland) once. I-I won't be blinded again.

Mac: Many things blind us. Anger, betrayal, even love. But sometimes, a little blindness can work to your advantage. You can create a fog that will cause the world around you to disappear.

Normally i would dive deep into the subtextland. But i don’t think the writers were trying to give some deep message or anything. 

I do believe that Mac is totally blinded by his “idea” of love… But i’m done waiting for him to open his eyes. The Mac i watched in this episode is not My Mac.

Writers made their choice. They made Mac's feelings crystal clear. He's all about Desi. At this point, Desi breaking up with him would mean nothing to me. Just like Riley still having feelings for Mac means nothing anymore.

Official accounts tweeting “There’s more to come for MacRiley” means nothing to me anymore.

Noone wants a rebound plot but unfortunately it's the only possibility they left to MacRiley. My ship is tainted forever. 

And as a Riley stan, i don’t want this Mac with my girl. She deserves better.

[escxpedes]

loopholes (cont.)

I literally can’t even begin to tell you how much everyone’s support meant to me on the last chapter. All your comments and tags were so sweet, it was seriously the highlight of my day. I’m sorry for the delay, I meant to get this out a couple of days ago, but I’ve come down with a bad cold. This part, while fun, was so hard to get right. Angus Macgyver is a genius, his mind goes a mile a minute, and I wanted to do my best to replicate that. This part is a little slow in getting to the Macriley stuff, but I wanted to show how much he really thinks about things. He’s such a complex character, that if I didn’t do him justice, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. Also, there’s dialogue in this one! Sadly, Jack isn’t mentioned in this chapter, but he’s there in spirit. Clearly, we all love and miss him. I hope you guys enjoy, the last part will be out soon! x

~

loop·hole

noun | A loophole is an ambiguity or inadequacy in a system, such as a law or security, which can be used to circumvent or otherwise avoid the purpose, implied or explicitly stated, of the system

~

Riley finally moves into her new apartment, but struggles to adjust after the events of Codex and the realization of her feelings for Mac. When Mac finds her passed out over her keyboard after a late night of coding at Phoenix, he decides a talk is long overdue. Just some slightly angsty soft!macriley to help you cope with this season 5 hiatus.

~

of lips that i am yet to kiss (and eyes not met my own.)

It's highly unlikely that you'll find Mac walking down the halls of the Phoenix Foundation so late at night. Without the bustling energy of his coworkers fetching important documents or discussing the best way to break down one of the many mysteries the foundation deals with, the darkened hallways and quiet atmosphere can be unnerving.

Sure, he spends nearly every waking hour employed there, but he'd rather be outside the office in different countries, doing hands-on work and saving lives. When you work in his profession, It can be difficult to separate business and pleasure, but that only makes it more important—if only to conserve what mental health he has left. 

However, in the haste of putting together last-minute preparations for yet another meeting with the Department of Justice and trying to make it back to his house in time for something Desi whipped up, he managed to forget his cellphone.

It's funny, mainly because of how little the small device truly matters to Mac.

It only goes to show how insignificant material objects, or even human beings in general, are. The idea that something so meaningless can affect someone's life so much when, if they just looked past that obsession and considered its part in the profound scope of the universe, another perspective would take shape.

It's fascinating stuff, really.

There's a concept essential to understanding Japanese aesthetics, otherwise known as an ancient set of ideals important to Japanese society, called Yūgen. When applied in the right context, Yūgen underlines this deep awareness of the universe and the experiences we have within it. It's often the feeling interpreted when you gaze at the stars late at night or watch the sunset dip behind a hill.

Mac wouldn't think twice before breaking his phone, or rather, breaking the phone of his nearest friend, open for an obscure part that might make one of his many homemade devices come together. However, when he's the only person able to communicate the scientific specifications of an unheard-of-until-recently base plan for saving the planet, he's practically on call 24/7.

He remembers having it in the labs earlier that day when he stopped by before his meeting to remind Bozer to come by his house on Friday for the team's new weekly attempt in group-bonding.

After the betrayals that surfaced during the climax of taking down Codex, the team collectively decided to spend more time as a group in hopes of eliminating any lingering doubts. 

They used to hang out all the time before the government dismantled the Phoenix Foundation.

Mac still can't believe that, after everything they had been through, he allowed his friendships to dissipate over the year they had been separate.

Bozer is his childhood best friend, and Riley had become a solid foundation in his life. He didn't have anyone outside his team at Phoenix, and while he deeply cared for Desi, their first relationship was proof that too much time—and too little communication—with each other can do severe damage to one's sanity.

If Russ hadn't brought them back together, would they have tried to reconnect at some point?

Mac wants to say they would have but wouldn't blame them if they didn't; they all lost something they cared about, and each served as a constant reminder of it.

It would've been hard, but part of him feels like living without them is a lot harder.

When he manages to access the lab, flipping his shiny new I.D. card over his fingers and into its place in his wallet, his eyes scan the room. It's empty, which isn't unusual at this time, but years of military training have rewired his brain to notify him of threats, even if there aren't any.

Just like he thought it would be, the device sits untouched a few tables behind Bozer's workspace where Mac had been sitting.

Quickly, because he left the house in a hurry and forgot to leave a note, he scoops up his phone and makes his way towards the exit. There's a couple of missed calls, but it doesn't seem like he missed anything too important.

Not that they would let him. 

At any rate, they would probably show up on his doorstep if they couldn't get a hold of him. With days off so few and far between, that's the kind of interaction he's hoping to avoid. Hence, why he came to pick up his phone when he realized it was missing instead of waiting until the next day.

He's nearly made it to the end of the hall when a light flashes in his peripheral vision, coming from the I.T. department.

His body is tense with apprehension; his mind races with several different kinds of possibilities and outcomes. He slows his pace, his movements fluid, silent, and controlled from years of stealth practice.

The light is soft, he notices, as if only one or two monitors are in use.

When he gets to the doorway and nudges open the door, hands at the ready, his entire body sags in relief to see the dark wavy hair he's come to associate with one of his closest friends.

"Riles?"

The nickname falls from his mouth before he can stop it, and even though the light from the monitor creates a halo above her head, shadowing her features, it's unmistakably her.

She doesn't move. 

It becomes abundantly clear why as Mac moves towards her and notices the monitor's screen filling up with a sequence of letters that look nothing like coding despite his lack of knowledge in programming languages.

Her elbow balances precariously on the edge of the table, her arms creating a makeshift pillow for her head. The weight of her forearm bears down on the keyboard, causing the side of her hand to press down multiple keys at once.

He shakes his head a little, amused by the situation unfolding. 

Her cheek rests comfortably on her hand, a serene expression masking the signs of exhaustion that showed on her face.

Mac's lips curved into a soft smile, seeing Riley in any state that wasn't cloaked in layers of worry or anxious determination always washed away any doubts he might have about working in such a stressful field.

The scars that covered his body, the secrets he has to keep, and the pain he has to endure are so unbelievably worth it as long as she out of harm's way and able to sleep peacefully.

Of course, he couldn't imagine anyone else by his side on a mission, knowing they share the same love and passion for kicking ass and saving lives.

However, he also knows that more lies underneath the surface.

He wouldn't wish the hardships of this job on anyone. Seeing it affect someone he cares about, watching it break them down slowly pulls at his heartstrings and fills him with a knowing sadness. 

When a piece of hair falls into her face, his fingers don't hesitate to gently brush it behind her ear, lightly tracing her cheekbone and caressing her cheek.

Kneeling, his hand drops to her shoulder in an attempt to gently wake her.

After a couple of shakes, the expressive brown eyes he's come to look forward to seeing begin to flutter open and nearly render him speechless.

She blinks a couple of times, inhaling slowly, "Macgyver."

Her voice is full of sleep and breaks from misuse, but the way she says his name—like there's nobody else she'd expect to see when she wakes up —has him grinning from ear to ear.

"Good morning, sleepyhead."

Rising from her position on the table, she scans the room before meeting his eyes and scoffing, "It's hardly the morning."

He laughs softly, holding back the urge to mention that technically it is morning considering its past twelve. Instead, he focuses on the matter at hand, or more likely, the question at hand.

"What are you doing here so late?"

She's more alert now, sitting back in her chair and lifting her arms to stretch out the muscles that stiffened while she slept, glancing at her work on the monitor.

Her face drops into a grimace when she notices her mistake, "Matty and I were talking about updating the foundation's firewall and spyware," she yawns, "I must have been more tired than I realized."

Mac's eyebrows scrunch in thought, remembering something Bozer said earlier about Riley spending quite a few nights this week working late.

Between going over his mother's scientific data, trying to patch up whatever relationship he had left with Desi, and making sure he didn't go off the rails with grief, his effort to check in on everyone decreased significantly.

"Yeah, you've been doing that a lot lately," his hand returned to her shoulder to emphasize his point, "Everything okay?"

She waves him off, "There's too much work that needs to be done around here before we can get things running the way they used to."

Riley doesn't lie to him—if you overlook the whole situation with her ex, Aubrey, that is, but the movements she's making indicate otherwise.

Her eyes refuse to meet his, flickering down and to the right. When she talks, her head shakes lightly, and she purses her lips in an attempt to give off a careless impression. Maybe someone who doesn't know her or didn't train to pick up on it would believe her, but he knew better.

She was definitely hiding something from him.

Part of him understands that if she wanted to talk about it, she would. However, his instincts urge him to press harder, locate the problem, and bring back her contagious smile that always seems to fill him with warmth.

As much as he doesn't want to admit it, you can't patch some things together by sheer will and sellotape, so instead, he stands up and drops his hand from her shoulder.

"Let's get you home."

[nativestarwrites]

Sentence starter: we don't have to talk, we could just sit together.

Set season 4 just after 4x09 Code + Artemis + Nuclear + N3mesis

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Mac disappears, everyone tries to appear unconcerned.  He’s entitled to some space after all.

The charade doesn’t last long before Bozer’s pacing, Desi and Russ are talking about search parties and even Matty is looking concerned.  Mac’s phone is switched off but Riley doesn’t mention the software she secretly installed on it.  She doesn’t admit that he’d need to completely destroy it for Riley to not be able to find him.

Besides, it’s no guarantee that Mac even has his phone on him.

At least until Riley sees the address that flashes on her screen and knows without a shred of doubt that she will find Mac there.

Mac doesn’t need an intervention, just a friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riley lets herself into Jack’s apartment.  The alarm isn’t set but other than that there’s no sign that anyone has been here in a long while.  It’s silent and still and smells somewhat stale.  If—when Jack gets back, they’ll need to open some windows, air out the place.

Maybe she was wrong, maybe Mac just left his phone here.

The lights are off, and Riley leaves them that way, she doesn’t need more than the twilight to navigate here.

She finds him in the guest bedroom, except she can tell from the familiar improvised clutter around the room that it’s really Mac’s bedroom.  He’s sat on the floor, leaning against the bed, looking out the window, although Riley’s certain he’s not seeing anything but the nightmares in his head.

“Hey Mac,”  She says softly, sitting down next to him.  Their shoulders just barely touching.  He doesn’t acknowledge her, but his next breath is slightly deeper, as if he’s coming back to himself.

“I didn’t think anyone would think to look here.”  Mac says.  His voice is thick and gravelly.

Riley simply shrugged.  She wasn’t going to let Mac in on her secret. Just in case.

“I, uh... I didn’t-- I couldn’t--”

Riley reaches across, and puts her hand over his.

“You don’t have to talk, we can just sit together.”

They don’t need to talk and they don’t need to fix anything or hack anything.  Neither of them needs to have all the answers tonight.

They’re not alone and that’s all they need.

[faeb1tch42069]

My thoughts on Macgyver: season 5 episode 10

• why they gotta mention his dad

• is Mac high?

• “called you over today” does Bozer not live there anymore?

• he’s not gonna propose is he?

• shit he is

• don’t do it

• it won’t go well

• I mean very cute and Mac like making the ring and diamond

• go Bozer being all supportive

• but there is no way they will still be engaged at the end of the episode

• Jesus, Taylor has officially lost it

• what happened to Desi’s hair

• “hey y’all”??

• Boxers not gonna tell her about the proposal is he?

• not Mac and Riley together again

• just leave them as siblings

• PLEASE

• Bozer definitely told her

• to anyone else on that street they’re just random people talking to themselves, would it not look better to pretend they’re on a phone call so they don’t look like crazy people????

• AAYYYYY! MURDOC!!!!

• I will never forgive him for killing Jill but he’s still one of my favourite characters

• also love a dramatic enterance

• run macgyver run!!

• I am lovin this video game theme

• people calling Riley “Riles” makes me smile

• ooooh shit! Go russ!!

• well shit none of this sounds good

• is he gonna drop the Riley bomb?

• well keepin that mason secret was never gonna work out

• he killed Charlie

• also I’m still mad we never got Charlie’s funeral

• Taylor has reached his breakin point I don’t blame him

• the fuck??

• who is andrews???

• I feel like I’m meant to know who he is

• ooohh he’s creepy whip guy

• I liked him why he gotta be violent again

• shit they gonna bring the building down

• they can what??

• an earthquake???

• a mother fuckin earthquake???!!!

• oooh the terrible two are arguing

• murdoc doesn’t actually want to kill Mac though, and the general dude probably does

• always prop the door open! That’s basic knowledge

• just destroy the drone

• oh shit

• no no no no no

• he’s gonna know about Riley liking him

• no no

• had that’s good had is past tense

• smart choice but also really dumb decision

• at least they’ll have something sharp

• they literally made that whole disaster to avoid her finding out and then Mac let’s her know anyway

• russ speaking Spanish and calling people “darling” is not helping my weird love for him

• shit what happened with leanna

• is she dead did she quit is she married

• shit she dead? And no one told him? I get why but still

• someone give Bozer a hug

• Riley is an agent so why doesn’t she have a gun?

• also murdoc is too good to run out of bullets without knowing, he was a master assassin

• it’s literally an evil zoom meeting

• murdoc is gonna shoot the general dude calling it

• Mac should not be able to beat murdoc

• shit that had to hurt

• why is this dude out here quoting buddh

• YESSS!!!!!!!!!! GO BOZER!!!!!

• Mac should not be able to walk at this point

• well shit there’s gonna be some awkward conversations

• macs long hair is back! Yay!

• mumma matty’s proud

• did Bozer change his shirt after russ said he didn’t like it?

• yay! Hugs!

• he’s nervous

• I kinda want him and desi to work out now

• he’s not gonna proper to Riley is he

• nooooo!!!!!! I don’t want any romance drama

• ok so after that episode I now want Mac and desi to work their shit out and stay together I hate Mac and Riley even more and my love for Russ Taylor has increased

~cute animal time~

[breakfastteatime]

That ask you just posted about Russ drugging Mac-I can't imagine the rest of the team would be too happy about that, so I wonder what Russ told them. And how would they react when they find out what happened? (If Jack was there he would punch Russ) Also more angst, imagine what kind of memories being drugged and restrained would bring up...

Ooooooooooh they would be *PISSED* because you know Russ is gonna lie initially... And Jack wouldn’t just punch Russ. He’d break his jaw... Assuming Desi, Bozer and Riley don’t get there first... With Mac safely locked down in one of Phoenix’s holding cells for the duration, Russ returned to the war room. The others gathered in front of him, minus one key player.

“Have you seen Mac?” Matty asked.

For a woman so revered in the intelligence community, she was surprisingly emotional when it came to Angus MacGyver. Maternal, if Russ was honest.

Still, he’d prepared for this. Pasting on his best sympathetic face, he held up his hands. “I’ve just sent him home. I swear, until today, I wasn’t aware a human being could actually go green…” They buy it. Sort of. Matty’s not happy, and she knows something’s wrong, but there’s a mission that, at the very least, will get them some key intel on Codex, so she can’t delay. She sets the team up, sends them out to Rhode Island of all places, and starts to wonder where exactly MacGyver is. Because it doesn’t take her long to track down his car… which hadn’t budged from the parking deck.

Something’s wrong and she doesn’t like it.

What the hell is Russ playing at? Mac’s not been himself lately, but who the hell would be given the blows he’s taken? It’s like the universe has lined him up as some kind of punching bag. Thinking fast, Matty goes through CCTV. She pulls up footage of where she’d last seen Mac and follows him through the building. It takes a while to pull out the footage, but she tracks him from the gym, to the lab, to…

…To a meeting with Russ right here in the war room, two hours ago.

When the camera suddenly, and inexplicably blacks out.

Her eyes narrow and she calls Russ.

“Matty,” he answers. “You’re on speaker phone.”

Good. She could trust the others to make Russ rue the day he’d done something this stupid. “Tell me what you’ve done with him right now, and maybe this won’t end with you in a cell.”

Russ sighs down the phone. “It’s for his own protection.”

Matty’s stomach sinks. She spits out each word she says. “What did you do to Mac?”

“He’s in the cells. But Matty, I’d leave him there.”

“Leave MacGyver. In a cell. Have you met him? He’ll be here any minute.”

“I doubt it. I gave him enough sedative to keep him down for a good few hours, and based on his file, I’ve restrained his hands so –”

Based on his file? Matty is going to have Russ’ neck wrung for this. She can hear the others protesting in the background. “We are going to have words when you get back about how you treat people. You can also consider yourself suspended. I don’t care what excuses you have, what you’ve done amounts to an assault.”

“Matty, be reasonable…”

“One more word out of you, and I’ll have them kick you off that plane without a parachute.” 

“We’ll do it!” Bozer’s voice comes over the airwaves.

“Damn right we will,” Riley adds. anger fizzing in every word.

“You’d better bring me back some good intel, Russ, or you’ll regret it in more ways that one.”

Matty ends the call and stalks out of the war room. She heads down to the cells, making sure no one follows her. Mac doesn’t deserve an audience. 

She finds Mac on the cot, staring at his hands. She keys in the code and steps in. He doesn’t even look at her. He’s not really looking at anything. He’s somewhere else. Somewhen else.

“Mac?” Matty calls.

He doesn’t hear her.

Wishing, not for the first time, that Jack was here, she steps up to him and very, very gently, places her hands over his. She cannot believe Russ. Misguided wasn’t a strong enough word for this. Drugging Mac. Restraining him…

“Mac? It’s me, it’s Matty. Can you hear me?”

He blinks hard. His eyes don’t focus. She can’t tell if its because he’s trapped in a flashback, drugged, or both.

“I’m going to get these gloves off of you,” she said, already working on the straps. She keeps her voice low and soft. “You’re safe. You’re at the Phoenix. I’m here.”

“Matty?” Mac’s voice is heavy with medicated sleep.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She resists the urge to cup his cheek. She needs to keep contact to a minimum. If he lashes out, he’ll hate himself for it later. “Talk to me.”

His head nods, eyes drooping. “Can’t move.”

“I know. I know you can’t. But it’s gonna be okay. You’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you.”

“He took me. Said no one’s gonna find me...”

This was what Matty feared. “That was a long time ago. And you found yourself.” Jack had told her about the nightmares Mac suffered after Murdoc. The fear he’d be trapped, semi-conscious, unable to break free. “But now, I’m here. And if I’m here, you’re safe.”

“Safe,” Mac echoed. 

Matty freed his hands. He closed his fingers around hers, squeezing hard. She felt the faint tremors, felt the sweat clinging to them. 

Russ would pay for this.

“What’s happening?” Mac asked, voice tight.

“Breathe with me,” she told him. “Breathe. You’re safe.”

She kept saying it until he came around a little more. Now he was a little more grounded, her hand did rest against his cheek. “I’ve got you.”

He nodded, looking pale in the cell’s harsh light. “Okay?” she asked.

He shook his head. And now she pulled him into his arms. He slumped against her, unresisting. Then, like his brain was steadily firing on a few more cylinders, he wrapped his arms around her.

“I’ve got you, Blondie,” she said. “It’s gonna be okay.”

(I leave the rest to your imagination 😉)

[desparikon]

Murdoc/Mac + s4 distress

I really like the idea of The Merchant, Murdoc, and Helman all trapped in the black site together, but the lack of Murdoc’s screeching of ‘BFF Angus Visiting Someone Other Than Me?!?!’ was disappointing, so maybe Murdoc just...got bored and escaped.

(The Merchant is supposed to be in the black site, right? Because when Mac breaks Scarlett out, her cell looked the same, but it was in the Phoenix building. So just a case of reusing sets?)

Tonight wasn't going to be a good night.

Mac stared at the beer in his fridge. Was he really doing this? Riley and Desi had left maybe 15 minutes ago. Starting to drink now wasn’t an admission of fear of being alone with his thoughts; it was just taking advantage of the alone time.

No. No. Get involved with something else.

He shut the fridge and sighed, plodding back across the room, and up the stairs to the veranda. His many projects scattered about, in various stages of completion, mocked him. None of them were currently appealing, despite his fingers’ itch for activity. Why was he so often bored, yet could never focus long enough to see one through?

No time for idlness. The world needs saving.

Codex, the impending apocalypse, his aunt. He wanted to hate what they stood for, but deep down, admitted there was some logic to it. And he wanted the familial connection to have a solid place in the world. His dad, his mom’s good memory, his chance at any normal family members, gone. Jack, MIA. His friends wouldn’t be far behind, thanks to his growing indecisiveness and unreliability. Being alone hurt, but it was better to push them away before he burdened them with his feelings, his existence. Any deaths due to his failures already ate at him. Having any one of their deaths on him would literally kill him.

It was too heavy. His life was shattering into a million pieces, and all he could do was watch as the shards slipped through his fingers. He wanted to go back. Back to when every little thing didn't lead to catastrophe. Repairing one shard, at the expense of all the others. It was exhausting.

He couldn't fight the darkness. Not tonight. He was going to lock himself in his room, and drink as much of his hidden stash as possible. Since his brain insisted on lacking an off switch, he’d shut it down by force.

The exciting prospect of hard alcohol, and the warm, blanketing buzz it’d bring, lifted his mood. The fuzziness would come quick, and it’d be his little secret. No awkwardness. No prying. No ‘Mac, there were a dozen beers--’

The force from plowing into an unexpected obstacle jolted him into a backwards stumble.

“Attacking me already! I haven’t even done anything yet!”

“Murdoc.” His sudden appearance stunned Mac. All the time that’d passed without incident since Murdoc had escaped had left him secretly saddened that Murdoc had grown bored of him. Ironically, at a time when their worldviews were becoming closer aligned.

“Do you have to sound so disappointed?”

“I’m not disappointed, just...surprised. Thought you’d finally gotten tired of me.”

“Tired of you?” His slightly narrowed eyes and suspicious expression warned Mac that his indifferent front was failing. Murdoc was picking up on something.

Dammit! He had to be careful, and get this perfect; any sign of weakness, and Murdoc would discover everything (if he hadn’t already), and use that knowledge to give the one, final tap to destroy him.

What a waste of their cat and mouse games.

“I could never get tired of you, MacGyver. I—actually, more so you—have been busy.”

Mac retreated to the kitchen sink, hoping to find dishes, empty cans, anything, to distract him from Murdoc’s interpretation of the chaos his life had fallen into, but Murdoc followed, settling himself onto the counter.

“The Phoenix shutting down, forcing you into an ordinary life. Your genius being wasted on low-level teaching gigs. Painful. It’s a shame I wasn’t around to help.”

“I...survived.”

“As you do. But wait! From the ashes, Phoenix gets bought and reopened, returning to its former glory under new management! I love that! It’s beautiful. Gets you right here.” Murdoc patted a fist over his heart.

“You always manage to keep track of me.”

“I pride myself on being informed about your life.”

Mac rubbed the back of his neck, and shrugged his shoulders to prevent them from locking up further. Murdoc said all that so casually, like the whole time hadn’t been miserable, but most noticeable was the lack of mention about Codex or his dad’s death. Surely Murdoc still had enough connections to know of them, but maybe he didn’t realize Mac’s personal stake.

That’s what he needed. Someone who wasn’t involved in this whole train wreck. Murdoc had liked him when he’d been blinded by idealism. Maybe he’d like the new, damaged Mac. Even if he hadn’t been the cause.

“We’re besties, and I consider you and Team Phoenix to be my pet project. Speaking of, your new boss is interesting, kinda strange fit for The Phoenix, don’t you think? Can’t imagine him and Matilda get along too well. Now don’t get jealous, but I think I’d like to meet him.”

“Russ would just love that, as I’m sure the views through the cameras weren’t enough.”

“I know, I know. Everyone loves me, but I’m more impressive in person.” Murdoc directed an offended glare in his direction, “Don’t snort, Angus. You know it’s true.”

His confidence was undeterred by Mac’s knowing smile. “Also noticed that the newbie stuck around. Since she’s going to stay awhile, I think new introductions are in order.”

“Her fist to your face?”

“And Bozer made a movie! Good for him! I need to congratulate him. At his new place, since you have New Roomie Riley now. She’s too good for some tech shop. All of you. Too good for an ordinary life.”

“You’re full of compliments tonight.”

“While I wish they’d be used for better purposes, I’ve always appreciated the skills each of you have. ‘Cept when they’re being used to hunt me.”

Murdoc’s playful grin was infectious, almost making him forget that Murdoc could choose to be a threat whenever he got bored. Ugh, so cute. It was embarrassing how attractive he found Murdoc, even just physically.

“By the way, when’s she moving to Desiree’s? Seriously. Took them forever to leave. I was starting to think I’d have to sneak in through the rooftop portal in your room.”

Typical Murdoc, pleased to talk about stalking, and breaking and entering. The eagerness to talk to Mac hadn’t changed, and it made him smile, even as guilt began creeping in. He’d said terrible things to Murdoc, personal attacks that weren’t necessary, and at times when it’d been uncalled for. How long had he railed Murdoc when they’d gone to Colombia? And how could he forget how the viciousness he’d directed at Murdoc, even after he’d already surrendered to Phoenix’s custody? After everything, why did Murdoc still like him so much?

“When’s it my turn to be nosy?”

“You want to know more about me?! Ohmygosh, this is-- I’m going to cry.” Murdoc fake sniffled, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Two things?”  

“Shoot.”

“OK, how’d you escape?”

“A magician never reveals his secrets.”

Mac mirrored Murdoc’s smirk. “C’mon. Never? Even if it’d impress the audience?”

Murdoc smiled, despite a huff. “Is it more impressive that I didn’t plan it? Saw the opportunity, and took it. Improvised. Y’know, I think you’ve been a bigger influence on me than I realized.”

“Can you really call it an opportunity, though? Since you had to kill every other person in the building.”

“Oh, I can’t take credit for all that. Just Helman.”

“What? How…? You were the only survivor.”

Murdoc waved a dismissive hand at Mac’s bewilderedness, “I didn’t waste my time on the guards; they weren’t in my way. Everyone was too busy shooting each other, even before lights went out, or the “critical system failure”. This could come back to bite me, but you might want to tell your new boss to be a little more careful about who he hires in the future.”

Power failure? Infighting?

Codex. Could they have orchestrated Murdoc’s escape? Why? They’d never successfully recruit him, even if they demanded him to repaid a debt. And despite his thrill for violence, he wouldn’t be a good fit. He doesn’t get along with people, and definitely wouldn’t care for saving the world, or complying with a shadowy leader’s orders. Too chaotic, cynical, independent--

“What’s the second thing? Hopefully, something more interesting like, ‘The next time we team up…’”

“Why haven’t you taken Cassian?”

Murdoc’s hands curled around the edge of the counter, his knuckles paling from the force. “I don’t know where he is. With Matilda’s knack for hiding things, and your dad’s connections, it’s difficult. But it’s only a matter of time.”

“No.”

“Don’t worry, I know you don’t know. They bring him to you. Smart.”

“Lie! You’re lying! And at this point. You think I don’t – This is important! Murdoc!”

Mac didn’t bother to hide his aggravation. He’d speculated, and come to a conclusion that hit hard, especially now that he was dealing with the loss of his own dad. He needed to hear it from Murdoc, even if it was a confirmation.

“You should be happy! You said yourself that the best thing I could ever do was get away from him! What, you think I wasn’t listening?! To any of that?? You didn’t give me much choice.”

“I know!” Murdoc’s eyelids did that twitch of sadness that absolutely killed him. “I know.” Mac blinked against the tears welling up.

He couldn’t take it back, couldn’t take back the fact that he’d gone along with the punishment of taking away Cassian’s visits, effectively leading to the destruction of the only good thing in Murdoc’s life. And he’d taken Murdoc away from Cassian, who still loved his dad, had good memories of him, and happily talked about him.

Mac understood now, that he’d ruined everything.

“It wasn’t just what you said...I saw how happy he was, and realized that I’ll have to be happy with watching from afar.”

“For the rest of his life?”

“People like me don’t get a happy ending. I’ll always be running, hiding in the shadows, until the day I die. I did that. I trapped myself, and I’m not going to destroy Cassian’s life too.”

“But he needs you. You’re a part of him.”

“Does it make you feel better to have your dad back in your life after all this time? Because it doesn’t seem like it, judging by your rocky relationship. Is it worth it to have to say goodbye twice? Three times? Every single time it doesn’t work out?”

A few tears escaped down Mac’s face. "Every effort counts. Every minute counts! Even if you think he’ll hate you. Even if he says he hates you!! It. Doesn’t. Matter. You can’t get time back. Show him you care! Tell him the truth if he asks! Maybe he’ll say he wants nothing to do with you, but at least then, when you die, maybe he’ll have less questions and regrets. Don’t abandon him! Don’t leave him to wonder what--”

Mac fought to keep his voice steady around the lump in his throat. "—what would’ve happened if you’d come back sooner." He clapped a hand over his mouth to hide his quivering lip.

Don’t cry in front of Murdoc. Don’t cry in front of Murdoc. Don’t cry--

Mac hugged Murdoc, burying his face into Murdoc's shoulder to stifle his sobs. He couldn’t handle seeing Murdoc’s disappointment at his intellectual equal, his foil, his desired companion, broken and weak, and hanging all over him. Pathetic.

Murdoc’s arms hesitantly wrapped around him, and in the most sincere tone Mac had ever heard him use, whispered, “I’m sorry.”

[kingreywrites]

33.         “Welcome back. Now fucking help me.” With Mac and Jack for the prompt if you want 😚

Thank you for the prompt! I’m sorry I didn’t specify but you can absolutely hit me up with a prompt if you want ;)

Fandom: Macgyver

Disclaimer: I haven’t watch season 4 so this is all based on spoilers I’ve seen and my assumptions, I hope I’m not too off ^^’

Words count: 2311

Warnings: violence, minor character death

The first thing Mac noticed as he woke up was the sickening smell of smoke permeating the air. Trying to scrunch up his nose is a mistake, though - pain exploded all through his head and the smell took a second place to the urgent desire to puke. Mac coughed, a harsh thing that sent tiny knives in his lungs, then coughed again, and again, until he feared he might just die from the pain alone.

It took a long time for him to notice the hand circling his back soothingly, or the whispered words of comfort above his aching head, said with a texan accent he could recognize anywhere.

"Jack," Mac called, his voice a painful croak immediately drowned by his coughing. His eyes were still closed but, for a moment, he imagined that his partner was back, taking care of him and making sure everything would be alright - a pipe dream that Mac liked to indulge in. Jack was gone though, had been for a long time, and Mac was alone. Alone even when the room was packed with people, alone in his pain because there was no one to share it with like he had done with Jack - alone, especially now that he made everyone but Riley believe he was a traitor, that he worked for Codex…

Codex…

With a gasp, Mac opened his eyes and jerked upright - but a strong wave of pain made him hunch right back into his hands with a groan. There was smoke everywhere, and Mac knew that he was the one to set the fire, but the memories were vague and fleeting. He knew there had been a problem; he knew he was outed as a double agent, and that his aunt had confronted him; he knew… No, he was missing time, and the blood on his hands spoke of a head wound he did not remember.

Movement to his right made him raise his eyes again in panic. Through the dizziness, the confusion and the fear, the fully geared agent in front of him was still easily recognizable.

"Jack?" Mac breathed, meeting his friend's concerned eyes with disbelief.

For a second, Mac could see inside his partner's eyes something different, that he had trouble identifying - there was worry here, and sadness, but also something fragile and vulnerable. Jack was quick to conceal it though, his features hardening as his hands went to rest on his firearm.

"Welcome back," he bit out. "Now fucking help me!"

He gestured to the weird contraption in the centre of the room and it came back to Mac with a flash - the Codex bomb, being made as a traitor, his aunt… He made an explosion to distract but she had seen through his tactics and it all went wrong from here and-

Swallowing, his head turned to the back of the room and there she was - Gwendolyn Hayes, all that was left of his family, eyes open and unseeing. Images of their struggles flashed through Mac's head, and he remembered desperately trying to push her and her knife off him, frantic in his panic until she fell and didn't get up - the knife he hadn't tracked embedded in her back. Then, there had been an explosion that Mac had set up himself, and if she wasn't before, it certainly was the last straw for her body. Mac wanted to be sick.

"She's dead," Jack confirmed, even if it was quite obvious, "and we'll be too if you don't help me and defuse this bomb, so I don't care if you went crazy and betrayed Phoenix-"

"I didn't," Mac whispered, scooting closer to the bomb, feeling queasy from the concussion he certainly had and from the guilt burning in his stomach, only worsened by Jack's obvious anger.

"You sure?" Jack growled, "'Cause I came back very happy to see my team and I was told that not only my best friend went completely nut, he also dragged the closest thing I have to a daughter into this-"

"I didn't!" Mac yelled, ignoring the jab about not being the closest thing Jack had to a son - or, better yet, turning it into resentment and anger. "And you would know that if you stayed instead of going on a two-years mission with no contact!"

"So it's my fault now? You were okay with me going!"

Mac laughed, an ugly and tearful sound wrecking his body, but didn't answer, because he didn't think he could. Had he been okay with it? He knew he had pretended to be, for Jack's sake, secretly hoping that he would see right through him and stay home - but that was selfish, and he couldn't really blame Jack for not reading between the lines. He wanted to, though. Wanted to tell him about the growing loneliness, about losing his dad and realising that he was all alone, everything he thought to be permanent and safe in his life now gone. His relationship with Desi was unstable, his with Riley was changing, Bozer was growing more distant - or maybe he was the problem once again, the common variable that was to blame for all it destroyed.

He wanted to tell Jack all that, but the worst thing was realising that he couldn't - that his relation with Jack had changed too and that he didn't know the man in front of him as well as he knew his partner. He wondered if Jack was seeing the same thing.

"Is Riley alright?" Mac asked after some minutes of tense silence, still trying to make sense of the bomb. "I asked her to go but I'm not sure she listened."

"She's outside, Desi took care of it," Jack answered gruffly, his hands leaving his weapon as he relaxed a fraction.

He didn't ask again about Mac's betrayal, but the question was still hanging between them, visible in every tense muscles and every suspicious glances Jack threw his way.

"I didn't- I didn't betray Phoenix, I'm a double agent."

"That no one knows of?"

"Riley does," Mac snapped back, before deflating, feeling adrift in his conflicting emotions. He tried not to look at his aunt's body, but its mere presence behind his back made his body shake with nervousness. Or maybe that was the bloodloss. "Who did you talk to?"

Jack frowned. "Weird guy, not as funny as he thinks he is, kinda want to punch him... Ross?"

"Russ," Mac corrected absantely, wiping the blood off his eyes. "Ross is the guy from Friends."

"If the shoe fits..."

Mac snorted and regretted it, his head still pounding with his heartbeat. Jack's hand went tentatively to his arm and the blond stiffened - it has been a long time since someone touched him. Riley had taken his hand, last time, but that was it.

"Kid," Jack started, the nickname so achingly familiar but which didn't seem to fit quite as well as it did before.

"I don't think I can disarm it completely," Mac announced, ignoring the tentative. "And- And I don't have much time, but if I want to make the explosion less devastating, I need to stay there. You should go," he ordered, hoping that the cold and rational charisma his father always exuded was hereditary for once.

Jack shook his head, tightening his grip on Mac's sleeve. "You know that's not happening."

"Do I?" Mac laughed, heart in his throat. "Didn't you leave once already? Just do it again."

"Kid-"

"Don't call me kid!" the blond yelled, ignoring the nausea and the pain to glare at Jack's too serious and too concerned face. "You think I'm a traitor anyway," Mac spat, focusing back on the bomb, "so act like it."

He told himself that the silence was good - that Jack getting up was good, because that's what he wanted, wasn't it? He wanted his friends safe, even if that meant that he had to be alone once again, and forever in that case. There had been a time when he had been sure he wouldn't die alone, but like everything in his life, certainties had been fractured and destroyed.

Jack walked on the other side of the bomb and plopped back down, his dark eyes meeting Mac's.

"I am not leaving," he enunciated harshly. "I'm sorry I made you think… I'm sorry, alright? For what I did, and for not being there for you when you obviously needed. And for how I thought you were a traitor, I'm sorry for that too. I'm not sure how I can make it up to you, hoss…" Jack's voice cracked and, numbly, Mac noticed the tears gathered in the ex-Delta's eyes. "... but I know that I'll spend what's left of my life trying. Even if it only last ten minutes."

"No."

The word had escaped Mac before he could really think about it, but even with his muddled mind, he understood how much Jack had to go.

"I'm staying and that's final," Jack repeated.

"No!" Mac growled, ignoring the fire in his eyes and the fire in his lungs and the fire ravaging the building they were both in - ignoring it all, in favour of sending the most hateful look at Jack. "Don't you see? If you stay, you'll die and, with my damned luck, I know that I will survive!"

The tears gathered in his eyes fell, and the smoke made it painful, but Mac didn't think about it - he couldn't think, couldn't breathe, could only see the image of Jack's body he had already thought about a billion time, and had already dreamt about a billion others. His voice was hoarse, full of an emotion Jack had never seen in him.

"Charlie is dead. My dad is dead. My crazy terrorist aunt is dead, and I'm the one who killed her." Mac took a deep shaky breath, seeing that the countdown was getting close and knowing that it was Jack's last chance. "Don't… Don't make me lose you too, please."

He was begging at this point, pleading with Jack to see reason, to leave him here like he himself had to leave his dad - because it had been the right choice, hadn't it? His dad heroically sacrificed himself and Mac had to leave, so now Mac could do the whole sacrifice thing, and Jack would leave.

Jack didn't move.

Mac closed his eyes, his hands trembling too much and the bomb as inoffensive as he could make it anyway with the materials he had. He couldn't even think about what else he could do - he was too numb, too empty to feel the same excitement he did before. He could only think about the overwhelming grief he had tried so hard to keep at bay, and which was now rearing its ugly head, making him think that soon, Jack will be part of his body count.

Mac didn't want to be there for that. He didn't think he could live, if Jack was dead because of him.

A hand gently uncurled his hands, prying his nails from his already broken skin. There were still tears falling on their entwined hands, Mac noticed as he opened his eyes, each drop chasing the blood and the grime covering them.

He was exhausted. Had been since his dad died, and he didn't think he could ever get better.

Jack pulled him into a hug, and Mac melted, feeling like he had finally found an anchor in the storm that turned his world upside down. They had mere seconds left and nothing was fixed, nothing was back to the way it was before, because it could never be.

But Jack whispered "You go kaboom, I go kaboom" and, through the beating of his heart, Mac heard the comfort for what it was - at the end of the day, no matter how much we have changed, I'd still lay my life for you and I know you'll do the same.

The bomb exploded, and Mac's last coherent thought was the overwhelming hope that he'd get the time to mend things with Jack.

-----

Mac hadn't expected to wake up. He had hoped, for sure, but actually feeling the sheets on his body and hearing the voices floating around the room was a surprise. A welcomed one, weirdly enough, because he needed to talk with Jack and-

Jack.

His eyes flew open and even the piercing pain of the sunlight wasn't enough to make him close them again. He tensed, despite the fact that his entire body was screaming at him - he even welcomed this pain, because that was one thing that could always ground him. Jack couldn't be dead, he couldn't be, especially not if Mac wasn't right there with him and he needed to find-

Oh. There he was, on an hospital bed too, arguing with Riley. Jack looked exhausted - Riley too.

"You need to be honest about your pain," she exclaimed, raising her arms to the ceiling. "Stop being so damn stubborn!"

Before Jack could voice the protests he had so clearly thought of, the door opened and Bozer entered, two cups of coffee in his hands. Mac would have laughed at his timing if he didn't feel like he might pass out again any second - and, with a start, he realised it had been a long while since he last wanted to laugh. Maybe it was the overwhelming relief of seeing that Jack hadn't been an illusion, and that he hadn't died on Mac like everyone else.

"Welcome back," Riley ground out in direction of Bozer, "now fucking help me get Jack see reason."

This time, Mac snorted, thinking back on the same line being used against him not too long ago. Like father like daughter, wasn't it? Riley and Jack called his name with the same obvious joy and relief on their faces, and Mac smiled - a tiny, insecure, but finally there smile.

[just-a-fangirl13]

MacRiley fan-fic

This one is a classic. Probably wont happen but it was fun to write anyways!

Season 4 spoilers..... duh!

******************************

“Good night guys. Riles you coming?” said Mac with his usual smile leaving the war room followed by Desi and Bozer. Matty and Russ were still busy.

Mac had been wanting to tell Riley about his break-up with Desi but they had got the call from Matty.

Desi and he realised they were never going to work. The weird part was that he didn't feel heartbroken. 

He had seen it coming for a while now, it was just a matter of finally ripping off the band-aid. Desi seemed fine too, she still nipped at him occasionally but they had managed to keep it professional for the whole mission. Desi was staying with him until she could get back her old apartment.

“No I have some stuff I need to do. Good night Mac.” said Riley with a tight lipped smile. 

Mac raised his eyebrow at her. “Okay. Good night then. Call me if you need a lift anyways.” He and Des got into his car while Riley walked to the nearest bar.

The mission had been rough. Riley felt completely spent but she needed a drink. It was Friday night and she was all alone. She let that sink in. At the rate she was going she was going to die alone too.

**************

Mac’s phone buzzing woke him up. It was 1 am. It had been barely 2 hours since they got back. 

“Why won't criminals just take a day off.” said Mac half asleep, groaning as he reached for his phone. 

He read the caller id fulling expecting it to be Matty. But it wasn't.

All the sleepiness drained right out of him. It was Riley.

“Hello? Riles? What’s going on is everything okay?” said Mac already getting up, fully alert now and trying to make as little noise as possible so as to not wake Desi up in the adjoining room.

Mac could here loud music in the background. What the hell was going on?

“Hey Mac. I need a ride.”

**************************

Mac found Riley outside The Bar. Riley was drunk and she was standing all alone outside at the entrance when she had called. Mac drove over as fast as he could. His heart racing the whole time.

He pulled up to where she was standing. Silently thanking the universe that she was okay. 

“Riles? Are you okay” said Mac with deep concern on his face.

Riley nodded but swayed on her feet. Mac caught her.

“Okay lets get you home.”

Mac got Riley in the passengers seat and buckled her up. He had just started up the car when Riley mumbled.

“I’m sorry. I'm so so sorry” and tears started rolling down her face. Mac’s heart broke a little. Why had he not gone with her? What if something had happened to Riley? What if he had somehow missed her call?

“Riles. You dont have anything to be sorry for. It’s okay. Its a best friends duty to pick up them up especially when they get drunk. Today’s mission was hard on all of us.” said Mac with a smile. It really was the least he could do for her. She had put everything on the line when she had come to his rescue. She was always there. The one true constant in his life. The one person he could count on.

Riley just went on apologising until a minute later she had closed her eyes and fallen asleep. Mac looked over at her a few times. She seemed so peaceful. He had been so caught up with Desi, Codex and Phoenix that he hadn't even paid attention to what was going on with Riley. Something was definitely eating at her. He was hoping he could have talked to her today, tried to get to the bottom of things.

Riley had seemed a little distant lately. He didn't even blame her. He had no idea what was going on with her, but for now he would be there for her just like she was for him.

Mac pulled over outside Riley’s apartment. He didn't want to wake Riley up but he couldn't help it.

“Riles,” Mac whispered. “I need you to wake up now. Please.”

Riley opened her eyes slowly. He helped her out of the car and grabbed her bag. It was a good thing he knew she kept her keys in the tiny zipper in her favourite bag which she was also carrying right now.

He opened the apartment door and helped Riley in. He set her down on her bed  and took off her boots. Riley was half asleep and was really out of it. 

He tucked her in and was about to switch off the small bedside lamp when Riley reached for his arm.

“Hey Mac” she slurred a bit while talking,”Thanks for picking me up. Your a good friend you know. Don’t ever doubt that.”

Mac smiled. Even half drunk Riley was still thinking about him. He brushed out a few strands of hair out of her face and turned off the light.

“Good night Riles.” said Mac leaving the room.

“Love you, Mac” says Riley before cuddling into her covers and falling straight asleep.

Mac froze at the door, his heart pounding. 

He had misheard her right? But he found himself hoping he hadn't.

It hit him like lightning. He loved Riley too, didn't he? Deep down he always had. 

He had told himself that he had held her hand when that missile was about to hit them because he wanted Riley to know he was sorry. Sorry that he couldn't save her. But it was more than that,wasn't it?

He had loved her. 

Mac smiled to himself. He was such an idiot. How had he not seen it sooner. Not seen what was right in front of him the whole time.

But he wouldn't say anything until he knew for sure.

**********

The next morning Riley woke up to the worst hangover. Maybe even worse than the one that Mac’s alcohol breaking down drug had given her when he, Leanna, Bozer and she were undercover.

She dragged herself to the shower and got changed which is when it registered that she could smell pancakes. What the hell?

“Good morning sleepy head.” said Mac a little too loudly. Riley winced. 

Mac was cooking.... Pancakes... In her kitchen... In her house....

She looked over at her sofa and saw a blanket draped on it.

“Hope you dont mind. I crashed here after last night just incase you needed me.”

“No of course I dont mind. I’m just really hazy on what happened last night.” said Riley rubbing her head.

Mac placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of her along with a plate of chocolate chip pancakes.

“You dont remember anything?” asked Mac trying to hide the disappointment in his voice. “You got really drunk last night and called me to ask if I could give you a ride home. You were really out of it.” said Mac with smile.

Bits and pieces came rushing back as she took a seat at the kitchen island. She had gone to the bar and had one drink after another and had completely lost track. She remembered contemplating calling Mac and then sitting in his car. She couldn't remember if she said anything. What if she told him about her feelings. Oh no no no no. Rileys mind was going into overdrive.

“Oh god Mac. I’m so sorry. I probably ruined you and Desi’s night. Im such an idiot. I dont even remember what I was thinking.”

“Hey hey its okay Riles. Besides Desi and I aren't dating anymore.” said Mac.

Woah. It was really taking her a while to process things.

“I’m sorry to hear that Mac. I feel like such a terrible friend. I didn't even notice something was up.” said Riley. Gosh when had she become such a mess.

“It was a long time coming. Desi and I just weren't right for each other. We both knew it, but we were hanging on to the relationship because it was familiar I guess.” said Mac.

Riley just silently nodded. Her mind was spinning.

“Anyways” said Mac smiling, “try the pancakes. I need to know if they are any good.”

Riley eyed the plate remembering Mac’s track record with cooking. She could feel Mac’s gaze on her so she tried it.

“Okay wow. These are actually really good.” said Riley. Mac laughed, ”Mission Accomplished. You have to tell Bozer they were good, okay? He won't believe me if I say it.”

Riley and Mac sat there eating chocolate chip pancakes, laughing. Riley felt like all the problems in the world just fell away.

***************

Riley was helping Mac clear up even though he had insisted he would do it on his own. There was still that worry that she had said something to Mac nagging her. He seemed alright. A little chirpy but happy. 

“Mac. Last night. I didn't say anything stupid right?” said Riley washing the plate and handing over the last one to Mac to dry it since he had insisted. 

“Why?” asked Mac a curious look on his face. “Was there something I needed to know?”

“Nope no reason. I was just really out of it yesterday. Just curious if I said anything.” said Riley relief washing over her.

“Well there was one thing I wanted to talk to you about actually.” said Mac putting the last plate away. 

“Riles, I’m sorry Ive been such a terrible friend to you lately. I..just.. with everything going on with Codex and Desi.. i..never even bothered to check in on you. I had no idea why you were being distant until I realised last night that you were probabaly drunk because you felt like you couldnt talk to me. You’ve always been there no matter what and I couldn't even return the favour. I'm so sorry.”

Mac looked so stressed. He really thought it was his fault she was avoiding him. 

Oh god what had she done. The exact reason she didn't want to tell Mac the truth was so she didnt hurt him but seeing him like this broke her heart. She loved him so much it physically hurt sometimes.

“Mac. Its not your fault. It has nothing to do with-” Riley stopped herself. She had nothing to lose right? She should just tell him. No more lies or secrets.

Mac looked up searching her face. She wasn't meeting his eye and she was fidgeting with her hands. 

Could it be possible that Riley was distancing herself from him because of what she said last night? Could it really be true?

"Before you say anything, there is something you should know." said Mac. This was it. He felt brave all of a sudden.

"You said something last night. I mean I could have misheard you but it sounded you like you said you love me. Is that what this about?" Mac sounded so nervous.

Riley was shocked. She had said it last night. Oh god what if he didnt feel the same way?

"I- Mac- I am so sorry. I just- You were dating Desi and I just broken up with Aubrey and I just had to-"

Before Riley could finish Mac kissed her. And she kissed him back.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. " said Mac smiling. "I'm such an idiot. It took me so long to see what was in front me this whole time."

Mac held Rileys hand in his and they started at each other and smiled. They were in their own happy bubble.

[justkurotingz]

package deal (macriley)

omg i absolutely did not expect that ending for the finale. i cannot wait for the next season and for macdesi to break up already *sneezing face* HUGE SPOILER ALERT FOR 4x13 (legit the storyline but it’s somewhat changed)

taglist from the gc: @zahra-0110​ @canary-warrior​ @tilltheworldendsx3​ @moodypetrichorlove​ @multi-fandomshipper101​ <33

idk what’s up with the weird formatting haha

word count: 2.5K words

“so, mac, riley, how are you two liking your new home?” “oh jeez.” riley let out a shaky breath after recognizing the mysterious voice. “it’s gwen.” she said before mac could ask and opened the door, revealing gwen standing in front of them with a smile.

“it’s great, really.” mac’s answer was genuine and gwen smirked. “everything going good in paradise?” “gwen, you know we’re not together.” a blush rose on riley and mac’s cheeks and she simply smirked. “for now.” 

“anyways.” she cleared her throat and then glanced at mac. “i need you for a while angus.” “what about riles?” gwen paused, glancing back at riley. “this is something you need to do alone.”

“i told you we’re a package deal. i’m not leaving her.” mac stepped forward, almost as if he was protecting riley and she rolled her eyes, although hesitant as well. “mac it’ll just be for a little while.” “listen to your girlfriend angus. come on, don’t you trust me?” gwen noted that both of them let the girlfriend thing go.

“fine. just... stay safe ok?” he looked into riley’s eyes and she nodded. “i’ll be fine. go do what you have to do. i’ll see you later.” “yeah.” mac gave her a small smile and then stepped out the door to follow gwen outside unsure of what he was following her into.

riley let out a breath, closing the door behind her and sinking down beside it, hands in her hair. she didn’t trust anyone here, not yet. but gwen wouldn’t harm mac, right? she thought, getting up to lock the door and change. 

but as the hours dwindled by, she collapsed on the couch, pulling a pillow close to her and holding it tight. what were they doing to mac? was he ever going to come back? and then the emotions she pushed deep down surfaced.

what had she done? betrayed all her friends to go undercover to take down  maniacs that want to kill off a quarter of the earth’s population with her best friend who she had secret feelings for even though he had a girlfriend, and now he was gone with the leader of the maniacs to do god knows what. 

“he’s going to come back. he’s going to come back.” riley chanted, brushing the few tears from her face. but she could only hope that mac was safe.

“i’ll take it from here.” roman growled as soon as mac and gwen made their way down the steps. “no, you won’t.” gwen stared him down. “leland wants you to get your team ready.” they had a silent staring contest and gwen surrendered. 

“so... i will meet you soon. tomorrow’s the big day.” she brushed off his jacket and mac frowned at her. “it’s a surprise.” she smiled. “you’ll be fine.” with that roman led mac off, leaving gwen to watch their disappearing figures.

roman led him to a greenhouse of sorts. and it was then mac learned the true history of codex. “codex dates back to the 14th century?” he stammered and leland smiled softly, still snipping at his plants. “i know, hard to believe.”

time flew by with leland, and mac didn’t even realize how much time he had spent watching the old man cut plants and listening to him speak about codex. but he gave no hints to the plan for tomorrow.

“the painting...” it was a volcano, blocking out the sun. gears turned in mac’s mind, but he couldn’t think of anything codex had access to that related to volcanoes. was that their plan for tomorrow? to have another pompeii?

riley followed the man up to a tech room, observing everything. people were talking to themselves, obviously about whatever was happening tomorrow. “so what’s the plan?” she asked the man next to her, and he shook his head. “all in good time.” but she heard nuclear more than once in there whispers. 

this was taking too long, riley decided. she needed air, and where the hell was mac? “i’ll just be a minute.” she informed the man and walked outside, hands on her knees as she breathed deeply. she needed to find mac, now. he’d know exactly what was happening and what to do. retracing her steps she found her apartment, and then, stairs on the side that led underground. 

there was a man, walking along the side of a greenhouse. “who- who are you? where’s mac?” she asked. “he’ll be fine, you’ll see.” shaken, riley continued on her way, and found another staircase leading up- to the main tech room?

gwen was talking to mac and they had just split up when riley spotted them. “mac!” she cried, rushing over to his outstretched arms and wrapping her arms tightly around him. “you- you were gone for so long i got worried something happened.” she said in a rush and mac hugged her back tightly. “i know, i got  carried away with leland, i’m sorry riles. don’t worry, i missed you too.” he joked and riley sighed, melting into his arms.

making eye contact with gwen on stage, riley blushed and stepped away from mac as gwen raised her eyebrows at the two. the plan was to head to a rendezvous point, with teams going in pairs to attract less attention. “you ready?” mac glanced at riley in the passenger seat and she nodded. “we just have to focus on keeping our covers. hey, mac?”

“yeah?” “i heard the tech assistants talking about nuclear power earlier.” mac sighed heavily, looking at riley. “i know what codex’s plan is. leland was talking about volcanoes earlier. they’re going to use a nuke to activate a volcano.”

“you can do that?” riley sounded horrified and mac nodded. “unfortunately- whoa!” the van skidded over the road and mac groaned. “we got a flat.” riley hopped out the passenger side, grabbing the spare tire from the back.

“can you hand me that?” “yeah.” riley handed him the tire and tried to ignore the flutters inside her stomach when mac’s hands brushed hers. “tire’s done, let’s go.” mac reached down to help riley up and she smiled at him. “we’re going to be late, let’s not attract attention.”

“sounds like a plan.” they headed to the rendezvous point, with mac driving extra fast. but there was something wrong, at the warehouse there was no nuke. “you’re late.” scarlett commented and riley glanced at her. “what’s the plan?” “we don’t have details yet.” 

“i’m gonna go get some air.” mac nodded and riley stepped outside, sighing deeply. she glanced at the soft blue sky, clouds masking a familiar helicopter. a cobra attack helicopter...

“mac!” she yelled, rushing back inside. “what is it?” his crystal blue eyes searched hers, hands at her waist to steady her. “there’s a cobra attack helicopter outside!” “what?” scarlett and mac said in unison and she nodded.

“it’s a trap! everybody take cover!” mac yelled, grabbing sheets of metal, and pulling riley closer to him. “come on!” riley rolled into the little space and mac quickly followed, covering them both with the sheet.

“mac i-” “there’s no time.” somehow, his arms found there way around her body, one hand tangled in her hair. “i love you riles.” he whispered, locking his lips with hers. riley opened her mouth to say something and that’s when the explosion set the warehouse on fire. 

riley screamed, holding onto mac tighter, but they were still alive. “come on, we got to get out of here.” but the metal was too hot, so they dropped their fire shield and ran past the flames, coughing and gasping they second they stumbled through the door.

“mac!” someone screamed, running over to him. desi? mac glanced up, disoriented and spotted desi and bozer. “riles- is riles ok?” he coughed, shrugging away from desi’s arms and she backed away. 

mac looked back to where bozer was supporting riley, helping her walk over to desi and mac. “where did you two come from?” riley gasped. “the flat tire? that was us, i slipped a tracker in the car.” bozer explained. “i was planning to come get you two solo but desi wanted to come along.” she wouldn’t meet mac’s eyes and mac realized that was fine by him.

“codex has a nuke. i think they’re going to activate a volcano.” “whoa.” desi’s eyes were wide and bozer helped riley over to the suv. “we have eyes on codex, a truck just pulled out. big enough to store a nuke.” desi handed the tablet over and mac took it without looking at her.

“we got to follow it.” desi slid into the driver’s seat, mac next to her even though he didn’t look too pleased about it. bozer and riley climbed in the back, leaning forward to talk to mac.

“are you guys alright?” “yeah, gwen just tried to blow us up.” riley groaned and mac frowned. “it wasn’t her. there’s no way she’d just kill her entire team.” “mac, i get it, she’s your only surviving family member and she reminds you of your mom, but she’s still... gwen.” bozer said and desi nodded. “you got to clear your head mac. we know about you two going undercover, i’m not saying what you did with me and russ was right but... i understand.” she said finally.

riley glanced at mac from the backseat. she unconsciously bit her lip, unsure what to make of the kiss. she’d be hurting desi, who was like a sister to her, but she wouldn’t lie to herself, she loved mac too.

after mac’s fight with roman in the truck, he explained codex’s plan to the group. “it’s a reset switch for the earth.” “let’s go stop them.” but “let’s go stop them” translated into mac dying in order to create a chain reaction that stops the nuke.

“you deserve the world. and the world deserves you.” with that gwen let mac go, ready to make the sacrifice herself, but the others didn’t know that. tears streaming down riley’s face as she walked behind desi and bozer to safety, she glanced back at the dam.

the explosion threw her to the ground, but she didn’t even feel the pain. “mac!” she screamed, sitting up and sobbing so hard she couldn’t breathe. that couldn’t be the end, it just couldn’t be the end. “mac!” she screamed again, wrapping her arms around herself as her body shook with a second wave of sobs. 

“come on riley, we got to get back.” desi’s voice wavered as she pulled her friend up, but riley’s legs gave way. she wanted nothing more than to fall at desi’s feet and tell her about the kiss, but she knew she’d only be hurting desi.

mac was gone. mac was gone. and she didn’t even tell him that she loved him back. mac died all alone, even though she promised him he would never be alone. “i promised him.” she whispered, sinking down to her feet and remembering that day in germany after mac’s confession. she promised him he’d never be alone, but when he needed her the most, she failed him.

she sat there, hunched over and sobbing for hours. or maybe it was just a few minutes, riley lost all track of time as she cried. “come on riley.” bozer’s voice broke and after a few seconds of silence, matty's voice came over the comms.

“get out of there.” matty was definitely crying, but russ hadn’t said a word. “come on, we’re going home.” riley, nodded, standing. “give me- can you just give me a second?” boze and desi exchanged glances. “we’ll be in the car.” they started walking away and riley let out a long shuddering sigh.

what was she going to do without mac? riley couldn’t see herself without mac besides her. her thoughts were interrupted by gasps and coughs, which sounded awfully like mac when they escaped the warehouse earlier.

riley straightened up, blinking quickly to convince herself she was imagining, but a voice called out from the wreckage. “riles?” desi and bozer turned immediately and riley ran like hell towards the figure emerging from the ruins. “mac!” she jumped into his arms and he held her close, inhaling her scent. 

“i’m so sorry riles. i’m so sorry.” he whispered and riley broke down, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck as she sobbed into his chest. “i thought you left me.” he tightened her hold around her, kissing her shoulder. “i promised you’d never be alone. i’m here riles, i’m ok.”

she stepped back, still shaking, and wiped her eyes as boze and desi caught up to them. riley turned away as desi hugged mac tightly, fawning over him. she felt mac’s eyes on her but forced herself not to look up, because she knew what would happen.

“oh thank god.” matty’s voice made desi break away and boze hugged mac. “man, we all thought you-” his voice broke and mac grinned. “i don’t die that easily. let’s go home.” desi wrapped her arm around his waist, guiding him back to the car, and riley followed after them, taking a deep breath to steady herself, unsure what the future held.

but she certainly didn’t expect mac at her door at 2 in the morning. “mac?” she peered through the door, and opened it slightly. “what are you doing here? where’s desi? what happened?” she asked and mac smiled tiredly at her.

“i got chinese.” she let him in and closed the door behind him as he set the takeout on the table, opening the food and handing her her favorite takeout. “i broke up with desi.” he admitted and riley immediately set the food down, going around her counter to hold him tightly.

“i just told her i fell out of love but she knew. she handled it pretty well, warned me not to hurt you.” riley chuckled softly, her hands in mac’s hair. he broke away, eating quickly. “i’m ok riles, i just... wanted to be with you. it’s too soon to start a new relationship but-” riley leaned over and pressed her lips against mac’s. “she’s my friend too, we can wait.” she whispered and mac smiled.

“i meant it riles. i love you.” “i love you too mac. we’ll figure it out as we go.” he threw the boxes in the trash and led riley to the couch, sitting down and pulling her next to him. 

after a second she relaxed into him, head on his lap and mac gently played with her hair as she spoke. “let’s go to bed mac.” she scooched up his body and mac wrapped his arms around her, pulling a blanket over the two of them.

for the first time in mac’s life, he slept soundly throughout the entire night, dreaming of his best friend.