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Nikki honestly never thought she'd see Mac again after the last time. It's been so long since she's seen him, since she's spoken to him; she's only thought about him on rare occasions when she has a quiet moment to herself and lets her mind wander to what he might be doing. Part of her is pretty sure he hasn't forgiven her for lying to him for as long as she did, for making him think that she'd died, and then that she'd betrayed him. She can't say she blames him, though. She hurt him pretty bad back then.
If she didn't absolutely need help from the Phoenix Foundation, though, she wouldn't have contacted them. But she does, so she did.
And now she's waiting for them in the War Room, the Phoenix's boss, Matilda Webber, being her only company. It's an understandably tense atmosphere, given that neither of them knows each other. All this woman has probably heard about her is that she let Mac believe she was dead for three months and then led him to believe she was a terrorist. Though, she wouldn't put it past The Matty Webber to do a deep dive into her history after getting off the phone.
She tries to avoid eye contact with the woman the entire time they're alone, shifting on her feet every so often while they wait. Neither of them says a word. Which is good, because Nikki has no idea where she'd even start.
Laughter from the hallway draws her attention toward the doorway and she shifts on her feet again, her heart rate picking up slightly despite her every effort to prevent it from doing so. Thankfully the glass is opaque, so no one's seen her yet, which gives her a few extra seconds. None of them know she's here, they aren't expecting her. She specifically asked Director Webber not to tell them, was afraid that they wouldn't show up if they knew.
But now it's the moment of truth.
She naturally stands up straighter when everyone starts filing into the room, preparing herself for whatever's about to come. She's not sure what to expect and doesn't know how Mac's going to feel about seeing her again after all this time. This really could go so many different ways.
Her breath catches of its own accord when Mac steps into the room. He looks...good. And really happy. It's a nice look on him.
Walking in right beside him is the hacker who replaced her all those years ago. She barely interacted with the woman the last time, though she knows her name is Riley and that she was released early from prison to help, what was back then, DXS. She's gotta be just as good, if not better, than Nikki if she's still around.
Bozer walks in after them, and she's glad to see that he's still sticking around with the Phoenix. She had been surprised when she learned that he joined the group, but she's glad Mac no longer has to lie to his best friend. Beside Bozer is the woman—Desi—who had come in to take Jack's place on the team when he left to hunt a terrorist. She doesn't know much about the woman other than Jack had handpicked her, so she clearly has the proper training and skills.
The four of them are talking and laughing together as they walk, their conversation from the hallway clearly having been an amusing one. They haven't seen her yet, haven't noticed her watching them.
And then it happens. She clocks the exact moment they each notice her. They all stop, though it's only Mac, Riley, and Bozer who stare at her with a mixed bag of emotions displayed on their faces. She can't blame them for that.
She goes to open her mouth when Director Webber steps forward to address the group. So she quickly snaps her mouth shut and waits semi-patiently for an opportunity to speak.
"Everyone, I'm sure I don't need to make any introductions."
Desi raises her hand from the back and steps forward. "Actually, introductions would be preferable right now. Who is this?"
"That," Riley answers, taking a small step in front of Mac, "is Nikki Carpenter. She used to work for the Phoenix back when it was DXS. She made Mac, Jack, and Bozer think she was dead for three months, then had them convinced she was a terrorist, until revealing she was actually undercover for the CIA when she needed our help finding a government mole after her handler was murdered. The mole who just so happened to be our old boss." She lets out a humorless laugh, looking back at Desi. "Oh, and she used to be Mac's girlfriend."
Desi nods. "Ah. So what's she doing here?"
"Asking for our help," Director Webber answers.
Nikki nods, taking the chance now to step forward and address the group. "Yes. My superiors won't sanction me a team for this, they don't believe it's as time-sensitive as I do. Which is why I contacted Director Webber to ask her for the Phoenix Foundation's help."
Mac takes a deep breath as he shifts on his feet, his arms crossing over his chest. "What do you need us to do?"
So she jumps into the explanation, giving them all the pertinent information about the mission and what exactly she needs their help with. She knows it's going to be a difficult mission, but she also knows that they can handle it. She knows how Mac works, knows he'll be great in the field. Even though she's only heard about what Riley's pulled off, she knows the woman can handle herself too, otherwise, she wouldn't have lasted on the team this long. And if Desi came in as Jack's replacement and is still around, then clearly she knows what she's doing as well.
When the debrief is over, everyone files back out of the room to go and get ready for the op. The only one who stays back is Bozer, though he immediately engages Director Webber in conversation as he picks up a tablet and starts tapping away at it.
Letting out a breath, Nikki exits the room as well, just barely managing to catch Mac, Riley, and Desi laughing about something before they disappear around a corner. Guess she won't have a chance to talk to them until later. For now, she just has to wait until they're all ready to go. Though it might be better to wait until after the mission to actually strike up a conversation.
Once they're all on the plane, Nikki takes the opportunity to observe the team, though mostly Mac. He and Riley sit next to each other, and Desi sits across from them. Desi becomes immediately engrossed in something on her phone, a small hint of a smile tugging at the woman's lips as she gets comfortable in her seat.
Her eyes drifting back over to Mac and Riley, Nikki immediately clocks the gold band wrapped around Mac's finger, the light from the fixture above them glinting off of it when he shifts just the right way. She takes in the way he's leaning closer to Riley and talking quietly to her, his hand resting casually on her thigh. There's a permanent smile on his lips and a specific light in his eyes that she knows she's never seen on him before.
When Riley shifts to lean closer to Mac, Nikki catches the slightly smaller matching gold band wrapped around her finger, and the pieces all fall into place. They're married. The information hits her hard, but honestly, it doesn't surprise her. She had a feeling Mac would get there eventually, she knows that's something he's always thought about in some capacity. They'd barely touched on the subject when they were together, maybe a brief conversation or two in passing, but she could tell that Mac wanted it. She just wasn't ever sure if she did.
And seeing the way he is with Riley right now, even though they're just talking, she can tell that he's happy. Maybe Riley was the perfect fit for him to finally get that form of happiness that Nikki could never have given him.
.
.
.
She feels out of place as soon as they're on the ground. Mac, Riley, and Desi work together like a well-oiled machine from the moment they land and throughout the mission. Mac and Riley barely have to glance at each other yet still manage to know exactly what the other is thinking. Desi mostly lets them work silently, occasionally chiming in with updates about the security of their location or other such things. Nikki can't do much but just stand back and watch, and occasionally give some input about the situation.
She finds herself a little in awe of how well they work so seamlessly together. Though, given that they've been working together for years, she's not all that surprised.
Even when Mac starts doing his usual schtick of turning random objects into something else to help with the mission, Riley doesn't even miss a beat in helping him. She seems to know exactly what he's doing in a way that Nikki never did. There's a small, minuscule part of her that is jealous. But overall, she's happy for them. Happy for Mac, mostly.
Of course, the missions never run smoothly, something she is all too familiar with, even though it's been years since she's been in this exact type of situation. She knows Mac will think of something though, he always does. And Riley and Desi know that too, given that they immediately turn to him, silently waiting for his big, brilliant brain to come up with something. And it works, because within moments Mac comes up with an idea to get them out of the jam they'd worked themselves into.
At the end of it all, when they've accomplished what they needed to, and they're walking toward exfil, she wants to talk to Desi. Maybe she'll be able to get some insight into how things are now. But she doesn't get the chance to do so. Or, more accurately, Desi doesn't give her a chance to do so. Which is understandable, she supposes, given what the other woman knows about her.
So she abandons that plan and settles on another.
When they're all settled on their ride back to LA, she sits in one of the seats near Mac and Riley. Again. Though this time it's completely on purpose. Desi is sitting by herself again, near the back, completely occupied by her phone.
Nikki takes a moment to observe the couple in front of her, watches as they speak quietly to each other, Mac's hand resting on Riley's thigh once more. So she takes her chance.
"When are you due?"
Mac and Riley both whip around to look at her and for a split moment, she worries that she made a mistake and is fully prepared to try and backtrack. But then she remembers the way Mac's hand had come to rest protectively for just a moment on Riley's midsection during the op.
"Mid-March," Riley tells her. "We just found out a few weeks ago."
"Is this your first?" she asks, glancing between them.
Mac shakes his head. "No. We have a daughter named Ellen, she'll be three in August. Jack's watching her right now."
Nikki laughs quietly. "That's something I'd pay good money to see."
"The aftermath is always pretty entertaining," Riley says with a smile. "Ellie has her Grandpa Jack wrapped so tightly around her finger, he would do anything for her without a second thought."
Mac chuckles. "She doesn't even need to open her mouth, all she has to do is look at him with those big brown eyes and he completely melts."
Riley rolls her eyes. "You have absolutely no room to talk, babe, you do the exact same thing."
Mac laughs more wholeheartedly, his eyes lighting up. "I can't help it. She's like a miniature version of you. It's hard to say no to her when she's as beautiful as her mom is."
Riley laughs with him. "Very smooth, Mr. MacGyver. Now while you start thinking about how you're going to have to be more strict with her as she gets older and starts testing boundaries, I'm gonna go use the bathroom." She stands from her seat and makes her way down toward the end of the plane.
There is nothing but pure love in Mac's eyes as he watches Riley leave. Nikki can't help the small smile that grows on her lips, knowing that he seems to have found true happiness. It's something she knows she never could have given him, she's never been one to want the white picket fence kind of life.
"So you're a dad now," she remarks after a moment.
Mac looks at her and smiles. "And a husband too." He holds up his left hand, showing off the gold band wrapped around his fourth finger.
She nods. "Right. Congratulations. How long have you two been married?"
"Uh, it'll actually be three years next month."
Her brows raise slightly. "You mean…"
Mac nods. "Yeah. We got married when Riley was about seven months pregnant. Ellie was born at the end of August, a few days before her actual due date."
"Wow. And now you've got another one on the way. I'm assuming you don't know if it's a boy or girl yet."
Mac's smile widens. "No, we don't, it's still too early for that. But I'm kind of hoping for another girl. Especially if she takes after Riley with her looks like Ellie does."
"Well, whichever it is, I'm genuinely happy for you, Mac. You seem to have made a pretty good life for yourself over the last few years."
"Thanks, Nikki. But what about you? Have you found anyone and settled down?"
Nikki lets out a breath. "No, I haven't. I guess you could say I'm married to my work. I'm always traveling and staying in different places for weeks at a time. Not very conducive to a relationship or a family."
"Well, as long as you're happy with what you're doing."
"I am."
"Good. I know we kind of left things on uncertain terms the last time we saw each other, but I'm glad you're doing okay."
"So am I, Mac. And I truly am sorry for the way things went down back then. You know I never wanted to hurt you."
He just smiles and shakes his head. "Don't worry about it. I've pretty much forgotten about it. We're good. Promise."
She smiles back. "Okay."
Riley rejoins them a moment later, offering Nikki a small smile as she takes her place next to Mac again. The woman immediately curls into his side, letting out a breath as her eyes close.
Mac drops a kiss on Riley's forehead and drapes an arm over her shoulders to hold her close. His own eyes flutter closed a moment later, though Nikki's not sure if he's actually going to sleep or just taking a moment to rest.
It's a sweet sight, though, if she's being completely honest with herself. They seem so comfortable and at ease with each other. She's glad that Mac has this, that he was able to find love again after what she did to him. It's all she's ever wanted for him.
.
.
.
When they touch down on the tarmac a few hours later, Nikki waits for the others to leave ahead of her. She figures they're all much more eager to get home than she is. They all have families who want to see them. She just has the job and a definite earful from her boss waiting for her when she gets back.
Slowly making her way down the steps, Nikki smiles when she spots a little girl with wild curls darting across the pavement toward Mac and Riley. She laughs a little when the girl tackles the both of them in a leaping hug, Mac and Riley eagerly hugging the girl tightly and peppering her face with kisses.
Stepping down onto the tarmac, she slowly approaches the small group with her hands in her pockets, hoping they won't see her yet so she can continue to watch the sweet scene that's playing out. This is a side of Mac that she's dying to see.
So she stands back and watches.
She watches as Mac hugs the young girl close, talking softly to her. She vaguely hears the girl refer to Mac and Riley as 'daddy' and 'mommy', and as she gets closer, it's not hard to tell that the girl is Mac and Riley's daughter; she looks almost like a carbon copy of Riley.
"Nikki? What the hell are you doing here?"
She smiles tightly at Jack as he approaches. "Uh, I needed the Phoenix's help with something. And they delivered, just like I knew they would."
"Good. So you'll be leaving soon, then?"
Mac sighs. "Jack…"
"Hey, you all may have forgiven and forgotten but Jack Dalton hasn't," the man states.
Nikki can't help the small smile that tugs at her lips. "Nice to see you haven't changed at all, Jack. And don't worry, I'm leaving as soon as I can. I'm sure there's a serious reprimand waiting for me when I get back. And probably a bit of a suspension too."
Mac frowns. "I'm sorry to hear that."
Nikki waves him off. "Don't be. It's my own doing. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I uh, I should get going, though. It was good seeing you all again, even if it was like this."
Mac offers her a small smile, adjusting his hold on his daughter. "You too, Nikki. Have a safe trip."
"Thanks." She barely hesitates and then pivots to make her way across the tarmac, leaving the small family to themselves. Young Ellie's laughter drifts toward her, making a small part of her chest ache for something that could have been hers once upon a time. But she doesn't regret the choices she made, not in the grand scheme of things.
She knows without a doubt that Riley has made Mac happier than she ever could have. And she is perfectly okay with that.