Chapter Text
Mac straightened up painfully, staring at his reflection in the mirror. His pale face, dark circles under his eyes, and the dim light in his gaze reflected an image he didn’t recognize. He turned away, refusing to dwell on it. Now was neither the time nor the place to let himself fall apart.
As he exited the restroom, he forced himself to walk with more confidence, even though his legs were trembling. The moment he stepped back into the briefing room, his eyes met Riley’s. She was waiting for him, leaning against the table with her arms crossed, an obvious concern etched on her face.
She straightened immediately when she saw him.
“Mac…” she murmured softly.
He raised a hand to stop her, attempting to brush off her concern with a simple gesture.
“I’m fine, Riley.”
She didn’t believe him for a second. She stepped closer, her eyes scanning every detail of his face. She noticed the slight trembling in his hands, the unusual paleness of his complexion, and, above all, the exhaustion in his gaze.
“No, you’re not fine,” she said, her voice trembling, a mix of anger and fear. “Do you even realize what you’re putting your body through?”
Before he could respond, Matty’s calm but firm voice cut through the tension.
“Sit down, Mac.”
He hesitated for a moment but eventually obeyed, collapsing heavily onto the chair.
“Listen to me, Mac,” Matty began. “If you keep going like this, you’re going to crash. You’re no use to anyone in this state. Riley will take you home. You need to rest. That’s an order.”
Mac opened his mouth to protest, but Riley placed a hand on his shoulder. That simple gesture, light but filled with determination, disarmed him completely.
“Matty’s right. You need rest, Mac,” she said, her tone softening. “And I won’t let you keep going like this.”
Mac’s eyes met hers, and for a fleeting moment, he saw something in her gaze that unsettled him. A tenderness he hadn’t noticed before. Startled, he nodded reluctantly, defeated.
The car ride was silent. Riley kept glancing at Mac, who stared out the window, lost in thought. His features were tense, but he seemed less defensive now.
Finally, Riley broke the silence.
“Mac, you know I’m here for you, right?”
He slowly turned his head toward her, surprised by the gentleness in her voice.
“I know.”
But she wasn’t satisfied with that response. She slowed the car, pulled over to the side of the road, and turned fully to face him.
“No, I don’t think you really know,” she said. “I’m here for you. Not just as a colleague or a friend. I…” She hesitated, searching for the right words. “I care about you. Deeply.”
Mac stared at her, his lips slightly parted, unable to respond. For a brief moment, he felt his heart race, but he didn’t know what to say.
“Riley, I…”
“You don’t have to say anything right now,” she interrupted with a soft smile. “But I need you to know. No matter what you’re going through, I’ll be here.”
A silence fell between them, but this time it was different. It was no longer heavy or tense, but a moment charged with unspoken promises.
At his apartment, Mac collapsed onto the couch, utterly drained. Riley followed him and sat in a chair across from him.
“I’m staying here,” she announced.
He raised an eyebrow, a mix of surprise and resignation on his face.
“Riley, you don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do. Because if I leave you alone, you’ll find some way to keep busy instead of resting.”
He shook his head, a tired smile tugging at his lips.
“You’re stubborn, you know that?”
“And you’re terrible at asking for help. Looks like we make a good team,” she replied, her smile widening.
A comfortable silence settled between them. Mac eventually lay back, his eyes half-closed, feeling a strange warmth for the first time in days. Riley, sitting nearby, watched him with a tender expression, her heart tightening slightly.
For the first time, Mac felt like he wasn’t alone. Maybe, with Riley by his side, he could finally let go.