Chapter Text
CHARITY FUNDRAISER DINNER
LA
‘Are you sure?’
Mac, dressed in a smart tux, standing at the table with Al’s portrait in the centre (the one they’d bought out this year), turned to Mrs Pena, who was dressed in an evening gown, her hair in a fancy up-do, and she smiled and nodded, patting his arm comfortingly. The smile was tinged with sadness, but also great affection.
‘Al would insist.’
Mac smiled too, full of love, full of sadness and grief and longing.
He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a photo of Charlie in his dress uniform, placing it next to Al’s.
Mac stood at the bar, his back to it, sipping a beer.
Mrs Pena was sitting with Diane and Beth, the three women probably looking at photos of Annabelle on her phone, based on the distinctive proud, loving smile on Mrs Pena’s face. Diane smiled wider, and Beth giggled, a fond little grin on her face, as Mrs Pena pointed out something on the screen.
His dad and Matty were in the corner, talking to a couple of vets, while Leanna, Bozer and Riley placed bids for the silent auction on the side of the room.
Mac smiled.
He hadn’t expected this kind of turn-out at all, but it warmed him from the inside out.
(Desi had even sent an apology that she couldn’t be there, and had donated a frankly astounding amount to the cause. When Mac had said it was too much, Desi had just responded – in typical Desi fashion – that she’d gotten a lot of hazard pay lately and didn’t have anything better to spend it on, since there were no spicy ranch chips in-country.)
Jack walked up to him, leaning with his elbows on the bar for a beat, before reaching out and putting a hand on Mac’s shoulder.
‘Sorry I couldn’t be here last time, son.’
Jack had been in South America, having elected to go on that mission alone so that Mac could attend the fundraiser that he knew was so, so important to his partner.
Mac just shook his head.
‘You’re here now.’ He paused, glancing at Jack, locking eyes with him so his partner would understand without him having to say it out loud, not when words of any kind weren’t anywhere near enough. ‘As for last year…thank you.’
Jack just smiled back at him, and took the beer that the bartender set down next to him, clinking it against Mac’s.
‘Anytime, son. Anytime.’
As they listened to a woman with a pixie cut and a series of service medals pinned to the front of her jacket speak, talking about how invaluable the support of her family and friends had been in those difficult days after she’d mustered out, as she’d tried to readjust to civilian life, Mac glanced over at Bozer for a brief moment, deep gratitude clear.
Bozer didn’t notice, but Leanna did, and she smiled, reaching out to take her boyfriend’s hand.
Around the table, glasses were raised in a silent toast, all eyes falling on the photos of the two men on the centrepiece.
To Al. To Charlie.
To two of the best men I’ve ever known.
Thank you.
I’m sorry.
We will never, ever forget what you’ve done for us, and for so many others who’ll never know.
Ave atque vale.