Pete Thornton looked up as Nikki let herself in the houseboat where he’d been sitting vigil since they’d found Mac and brought him home. "Asleep, finally," he answered standing up and stretching. "Are you sure you don’t mind staying with him?"

"Go home Pete, get some rest," Nikki said as she hung her coat up and dropped her briefcase on the counter. "We’ll be fine."

"Don’t let him try those stairs," Pete said as he grabbed his jacket, "and he has to have these eye drops every two hours; the next ones are due in about twenty minutes."

"I know, I was there remember? Now go home before you fall down. I’ll call you if we need anything."

It took her a several more minutes to get Pete out the door and on the road, but she finally succeeded. Then, with a small sigh, she sat down at the table, pulled out a folder and was quickly engrossed in her paperwork.

Fifteen minutes later she glanced at her watch and walked over to the sink where Mac’s prescription sat along with Pete’s notes on when to give them along with a dinner menu. Pete’s such a mother hen, she thought, smiling as she grabbed the eye drops and made her way carefully up the winding staircase.

She tapped softly on the door, "Mac," she whispered as she pushed the door open, "are you awake?"

"Yeah, quit tiptoeing around would you?"

"My, aren’t you Mr. Charm this evening!"

He struggled to sit up. "If I offended you leave; where’s Pete anyway?"

At this minute, the last person he wanted around was Nikki. He needed time to heal before facing her.

Mentally Nikki counted to ten and then answered him. "At home, asleep I hope. He’s exhausted, so you’ll have to put up with me."

"Wonderful."

"Hey, I’ve been told I have a good bedside manner," she teased. "Unless you’d rather have Helen come and sit with you?"

"No." Mac shuddered at the thought. "You’ll do."

"Gee, thanks," Nikki answered as she sat down on the bed. "I’m going to take off the bandages now okay?"

Mac jumped slightly at the soft touch of her fingers on his face and then relaxed. He liked the scent of her perfume, a soft floral blend that reminded him of a spring meadow. As she leaned forward a lock of her hair brushed his temple and he smothered a laugh.

"What?"

"Your hair, it tickles."

"Sorry." Nikki tucked the errant lock behind her ear and resumed her ministrations. "I’ve been told this stings a little so on three, okay?" She tipped the small bottle. "One, two, three."

Mac jumped as the liquid hit his eyes and his elbow clipped her in the jaw.

"Oww!"

"Gosh Nikki, I’m sorry, did I hurt you?"

She rubbed her tender jaw. "I’ll live, now lie still so I can put fresh bandages on."

When she was finished she gathered up the discarded bandages and stood up. "What do you want for dinner?"

"I’m not hungry."

"Mac, you have to eat."

"Later."

"Okay then, I’ll be downstairs—" she froze as he grasped her wrist.

"Stay."

She looked down at him. He looked so vulnerable, and as exasperating as she knew he could be, she didn’t have the heart to refuse him.

"Okay, I’ll stay for a while." She sat down on the bed again. "Would you like me to read to you?"

"No." He plucked at the quilt not quite knowing how to broach the subject that was on his mind. The events of the past several days had made him reevaluate some things in his life and one of those things had been Nikki.

"Mac?"

"Nikki, I am so sorry," he reached for her hand, "so sorry."

She was confused. "For what?" she asked softly as he twined his fingers with hers, softly stroking her thumb.

"About Deborah, about the dog."

"It’s not your fault, Mac."

"Yes it is." He paused, not quite knowing how to say what he needed to say—what he wanted to say—to her. His, for lack of a better word, feelings, for her had put her in jeopardy, and he wasn’t even quite sure what those feelings were. But he did know he wanted to find out.

"No Mac, it isn’t."

Nikki paused, considering the best way to tell him what they had found in Deborah’s hotel suite. "She was hired to bring you down, Mac. We found her research and," Nikki reached down and brushed a lock of hair out of his face, "her plans. She’d been watching you for weeks. She had photographs and tapes; the houseboat was bugged."

Mac shifted in the bed and gave her a sour smile. "And I fell for it. Now you know why I didn’t say in the game."

"I believed her too Mac," Nikki said softly. "She set out to be my friend and I bought into her cover."

"But it’s my fault she went after you, because I care about you."

Nikki knew what that admission had cost him. "I care about you too Mac, even if you are a jerk sometimes." She smiled and then continued. "They had a four-step plan. Number one was to pay you off. When that didn’t work, they moved on to ‘scare you off.’ That must have been the truck. Then Knapp must have hired Deborah."

"You gonna tell me what steps three and four were?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"No, but tell me anyway."

"Love you off and kill you off," she answered bluntly, knowing that there was no way to soften the blow.

Mac winced at the words. Love him off? He remembered when Deborah had told him she loved him and how uncomfortable he had felt, because he’d been unable to return the sentiment. Then his world had gone black. When he woke up in the hospital, she was there, and so were Pete and Nikki.

Nikki had been there; he remembered the smile in her voice as she greeted him. He’d been so glad to hear her voice; he’d been so worried, worried that they’d gone after her again.

"MacGyver?" Nikki’s voice penetrated his thoughts, "Mac?"

"I didn’t love her and she knew it. That’s why she went after you. She saw you as a threat, an obstruction, as a way to hurt me. They thought that if they hurt you, I’d quit."

He pushed himself up into a sitting position. "I would have," he said softly.

"What she did was senseless and cruel," Nikki said.

She closed her eyes against the memory of finding Bunky covered with blood. She had bolted from the room, locked herself in her bedroom, and then called Mac.

"But she didn’t hurt me Mac, I’m right here and I’m fine." She couldn’t quite keep the quaver out of her voice.

MacGyver knew she was reliving that night and he pulled her tightly against him. After she had called he had rushed to the jeep and had broken several traffic laws in his haste to get to her apartment. The door had been open and he had seen the dog as soon as he stepped into the entryway.

He had called out her name; terrified she wouldn’t answer and then turned to see her framed in the bedroom doorway, her face tear streaked and her body shaking.

He had crossed the room and then she was in his arms and he’d offered what little comfort he could. He had been so angry with Knapp as he had held her, angry enough to want the man dead, to kill him with his own hands.

He tightened his arms around her and as he felt her head settle on his shoulder, he realized she had fallen asleep. She’s probably been working non-stop; she does that, he thought, when she’s upset about something. He moved slightly, careful not to disturb her. She murmured something in her sleep and then relaxed, curling against him. Mac draped an arm over her shoulder and let his head drop on the pillow beside her.

Now the anger he’d felt toward Knapp he directed at himself. Nikki had lost so much in the last few years, and now, because of him, she had nearly lost her own life. More than once, he thought as he recalled the battle on the mountain and the gut wrenching fear he’d felt when Weber had held that gun to her temple.

MacGyver, he thought, you are a plague. You have no business getting involved with this woman. You ought to stay far, far away from her.

But that was impractical as long as they both worked for the Phoenix Foundation. And, knowing Nikki, pretty impossible too. She wouldn’t appreciate any unilateral decision on his part, to ‘do the noble thing’ and step out of her life.

As he inhaled the sweet fragrance of her hair, he wondered when she had managed to become so important to him.

That thought hit him hard. She was important to him, and not just as a colleague, or just as a friend. I’d better stick close, he thought, as he drifted off to sleep, at least then I can watch over her, offer her some protection…

"Nikki?"

Pete poked his head through the door expecting to see her hard at work. When he saw that she wasn’t, he stepped quietly into the living area of the houseboat. Okay, he thought, she isn’t asleep on the couch or out on the deck. He turned his gaze to the curved staircase; she must be upstairs, he surmised as he climbed the stairs to Mac’s bedroom.

Stepping into the room, he froze. Nikki was up here all right, curled up sleeping, with MacGyver’s arms around her. Pete backed quietly out the door and made his way back down the stairs. He stood at the bottom for several minutes considering his options. He could just leave and pretend he was never here, or he could make a lot of noise and hope they woke up.

MacGyver woke with a start at the sound of the front door closing. His sleep-fuzzed mind registered two things, he wasn’t alone and whoever was in bed with him was a woman. Her back was to him and he had his arm wrapped protectively around her. Her hair tickled his nose and his body was responding to the feel of hers pressed against him. Trying not to wake whoever she was, he untangled his legs from hers and slowly lifted his arm from her waist, rolling away from her in the process.

"I’m awake, Mac."

At the sound of her soft voice he froze, "Nikki?"

"You were expecting someone else?"

"Mac! Nikki!" Pete’s voice wafted up to them from the first floor.

Nikki sat up and tugged her clothing back into place after running a hand through her hair. "Up here, Pete; we’ll be down in a minute." Looking back at Mac, she said, "Feel up to trying the stairs?"

"Uh, yeah, but um, I need to use the facilities first."

Nikki bit back a laugh as his face flushed; deciding that the last thing Mac needed was her laughing at his ‘delicate’ condition.

Standing up she took his hand. "Okay. Careful," she admonished him, "the last thing you need to do is to break your toe."

When they reached the bathroom door, she let go of his hand. "I assume you can handle it from here?"

Mac didn’t even dignify her remark with an answer and closed the door in her face.

Nicole Anne, she chastised herself, that wasn’t nice. Then she giggled as she dropped onto the rumpled bed and waited for him.

Pete was in the kitchen fixing breakfast when they came down the stairs. "Morning you two. Breakfast will be ready in about fifteen minutes."

"Thanks Pete," Mac answered as he made his way to the table.

"Smells, good," Nikki added. "Do I have time to take quick shower and change?"

"Sure," Pete said as he turned his attention back to the stove. .

Picking up her overnight bag, she headed back upstairs. "I’ll only be a few minutes."

"Don’t use all the hot water," Mac teased.

"So," Pete said as he poured Mac some juice, "sleep well last night?"

"Thanks." Mac took a sip of juice, "how long have you been here, Pete?"

He shrugged. "About five minutes I guess."

"Pete..."

"Why Mac?" Pete poured pancake batter on the griddle. "Did I miss something?"

"Never mind, Pete."

Stepping out of the shower, Nikki wrapped a towel around herself and walked into the bedroom. Drying off, she got dressed, choosing a pair of well-worn jeans and a soft tee shirt. Barefoot, she headed back downstairs; joining Mac at the table just as Pete set a platter of pancakes down.

He handed her a cup of coffee and sat down. "I picked up a few things at the store," he said, "coffee being one of them."

"Thanks Pete." Nikki inhaled the brisk scent and wrapped her hands around the mug. "It smells heavenly."

"Don’t know how you can drink that stuff," Mac muttered as Pete served him pancakes and Nikki placed a fork in his hand.

He carefully lowered his hand and after a few fumbles successfully speared a piece of pancake.

Nikki watched Mac, wanting to help him, but knowing that he would rebuff any attempt to do so.

Hopefully the bandages would come off today when they went to the doctor, but he had said it would take a couple more days before Mac’s vision was 100 percent. She suspected it would take longer for his heart and his ego to heal.

To her relief, Pete began to talk of Foundation business and other mundane things, carefully keeping the conversation away from Deborah and the hearing on Friday.

"Nikki, can you take Mac to the doctor? I’ve got a board meeting at ten and I have feeling it is going to be a long one."

"Of course I can," she answered, "is there a problem at the Foundation, Pete?"

"Nothing I can’t handle, Nikki."

"Okay," She started to clear the table. "Mac, while Pete’s here, why don’t you take a shower and have him help you shave?" She smiled. "Unless you trust me with a razor."

Mac laughed. "Not a chance woman; you’d be likely to slip and cut my throat."

He pushed back his chair, "Pete, wanna give me a hand?"

Nikki watched the two men ascend the stairs and carried the breakfast dishes to the kitchen sink. She turned the tap and filled the sink with warm soapy water. She enjoyed washing dishes; it reminded her of those wonderful times she had at the King’s. She and Amanda had had some of their best conversations as she washed and Amanda dried the dinner dishes. Must be a female bonding thing, she thought.

Right now, she could use Amanda’s advice. This, this…thing with Mac was driving her crazy. She wasn’t sure what was happening between them. There had been a subtle change in their relationship, a new intimacy that frightened her.

She rinsed the last of the dishes, set them to drain, and poured herself a cup of coffee.

She walked into the living room, grabbing the Knapp file on her way. Settling on the couch she tucked her feet up and began to go over her notes. She knew their only chance to convict Knapp was if Deborah testified against him and the only way she would do that was if she was given a deal.

She picked up the notes and sighed. She’d talked to Deborah herself and had agreed with the DA on the terms of the plea bargain. At least the woman would serve some jail time, probably a year, maybe two.

Not enough in her opinion, but at least Deborah wasn’t getting off without any punishment.

As she read her notes, she remembered how surprised she had been at Deborah when they’d met in the DA’s office. Gone was the fresh-faced innocent and in her place was a polished, professional killer. As they had talked, Deborah’s anger toward her had become apparent. She had told her that no one would have gotten hurt if Nikki hadn’t been in her way. When she’d asked what Deborah meant, the woman had said that she had failed to seduce Mac completely because of her. And then she had told me that if I’d been home I’d have been the one lying on the kitchen floor and not Bunky, because losing me would have broken Mac. However much I scoffed at the idea in public, she thought, some of the things Deborah said, started me thinking…

The sound of Mac and Pete coming down stairs drew her attention back to the present and she stuffed her notes back in the folder.

"Jeez, Pete, I think you took skin off."

"There wouldn’t have been a problem if you’d have stopped squirming."

Nikki smiled. They sound like a couple of kids, she thought. "Stop fighting you two," she teased as Pete led Mac over to the couch. "You look fine Mac, I don’t see too much blood."

"That’s because he cleaned up the evidence. I should have let you shave me, it would have been safer," Mac joked as he rubbed his chin. "Or maybe I’ll grow a beard. What do think, Nikki? How’d I look in a beard?"

Nikki smiled at him, "I don’t like beards, they scratch."

"You know that from personal experience do you?"

Pete watched the two of them from across the room, pleased to see Mac smiling. If Nikki can keep him from falling into a blue funk, more power to her. He glanced at his watch and stood up, "I’ve got to go. I’ve got some paperwork to do before the board meeting. Don’t forget your appointment is at eleven, Mac."

"I won’t, Pete."

"Nikki, traffic is bound to be terrible so you’d better leave early."

"Yes, Pete."

He stopped at the door. "And be sure to change—"

"Good-bye, Pete." Nikki crossed the room and pushed him out the door, kissing his cheek. She shut the door firmly behind him.

"Is he gone?"

Nikki peeked out the window and watched his car leave the parking lot. "Yep, he’s gone. Do you want some juice or tea?"

"Tea if you don’t mind."

"I don’t mind," she said as she put the kettle on the stove and leaned against the counter to wait for it to boil.

"Nikki?"

"What?"

"How do you know beards scratch?"

She laughed. "None of your business hot shot." As if I’d tell you that the only beard that ever scratched me was my grandfather’s, she thought. "A girl’s got to have some secrets."

Mac grinned. "If you say so. So what’s on your agenda today?"

"You," Nikki said as she poured the boiling water over a tea bag.

"Me?"

"You." She joined him on the couch and carefully put the mug into his hands. "I’ve got no other agenda today. We’ll go to the doctor’s and then you can take me to lunch and then we’ll come back here and I’ll make you dinner—"

"You can cook?"

"Yes I can cook, very well, thank you."

"I guess I just figured you always had a cook." He shrugged. "Danny said once that when he went to visit there were servants all over the place. I thought it would be cool to have someone to pick up after me."

Nikki smiled. "Most people do; I hated it. I had a nanny; there were three maids I think; one who’s only job was to help my Grandmere dress. My father and grandfather shared a valet, we had a butler, a cook, two—"

"I get the picture; did you really hate it?"

"Every minute. But I got a taste of the way real people lived at Foxcroft; we had to pick up after ourselves and help in the kitchen."

"Foxcroft?"

"Boarding school. Can we talk about something else?"

Mac set down his tea mug, "If you want."

"I do," she said, "It’s not that I had a horrible childhood Mac, I’d just rather not talk about my family."

"I understand Nikki," Mac reached out and took her hand, "I really do."

"Sure, you and your golden childhood."

"Golden?"

Nikki sighed. "That’s what Danny called it. He used to talk about the lake in the summer, sledding in the winter and the winter carnival. I was so jealous."

Mac smiled at the memories. "It was pretty nice. Danny loved winter carnival. I miss him."

"So do I," Nikki said softly.

Mac moved next to her and put his arm around her shoulder. "He loved you very much and was so proud of you. God! He was so excited when you agreed to move out here. He about drove me nuts; he wanted everything to be perfect for you."

"It was," she said, "it was. It was just too short."

They sat in silence both lost in their memories and then Nikki broke the silence with a muffled exclamation, as she glanced at her watch. "We better get going or we’re going to be late and I wouldn’t put it past Pete to call the doctor’s office just to make sure we got there."

Nikki looked up as Mac came out of the doctor’s exam room. No bandages, that was a good sign. She watched as he looked around the room, smiling when he saw her. Getting up she crossed the room. "All better?" she asked.

"All better," he answered, "you’re a little fuzzy, but a sight for sore eyes."

Nikki hugged him and laughed. "A compliment, I’m flattered."

"Even with a dirty chin."

"What?"

Mac reached up and rubbed his thumb on the spot, "Okay, so it’s bruised, sorry."

"Forgiven," she said, stepping out of his embrace. "Ready to go? You promised me lunch."

"I did? When did I do that?"

"This morning," she said, "and I pick the place. How does Benson’s sound? It’s close to home and on the water."

"Sounds great."

"Mr. MacGyver?"

He turned as Doctor Jamieson joined them. "This is a new prescription, I want you to instill these drops three times a day. If you have any problems call immediately."

"I will."

Nikki smiled. "And I’ll make sure he does," she said.

"Wonderful," said Jamieson. "I don’t anticipate any problems Mrs. MacGyver, but I’d like to see him again next week."

"We’ll call for an appointment," Mac said taking Nikki’s hand. "Have a nice day, Doc."

Nikki was laughing as they stepped into the elevator. "You almost pulled my arm from the socket, leaving the doctor’s office; what’s wrong Mac?"

"He thought you were my wife."

"So? It’s no big deal; you could have corrected him you know."

"So could you," he pointed out.

"He’s not my doctor."

The telephone was ringing when Mac and Nikki got back to the houseboat several hours later. "Even money says that’s Pete."

Nikki giggled. "That’s a safe bet, Mac."

They had eaten lunch at Benson’s and then taken a walk along the Santa Monica Pier.

Even with fuzzy eyesight, Mac had won Nikki two stuffed animals; they’d gorged themselves on cotton candy and taken three rides on the carousel.

Mac picked up the telephone. "Mac’s fun house."

Nikki watched as he made a series of faces and then said, "Pete, we are fine. I am fine. The bandages are off, we had lunch and then spent the afternoon at the pier." He looked over at Nikki and winked. "Then Nikki let me drive home." He laughed. "Of course I’m joking Pete. How did the board meeting go?"

As Mac talked, Nikki made her way over to the couch deposited her toys on the floor and pulled off her shoes. She stretched out the length of the couch and groaned. I ate way too much cotton candy, she thought, and I want to unbutton my jeans. She glanced over at the kitchen where Mac was still on the telephone with Pete. Better not, she decided, closing her eyes. Things were, well, already tense between her and Mac. I am not falling for him, she thought.

After convincing Pete there was no reason for him to drive all the way across town, Mac hung up the telephone. Nikki was sprawled on the couch with her eyes closed. He tiptoed over to her, wondering if she was asleep.

"Don’t even think about it."

Okay, she wasn’t asleep. He grinned, "Think about what?"

"Whatever you were thinking about doing."

"I wasn’t thinking about doing anything. Sit up, you’re hogging the couch."

She did as he asked and after he settled down, he picked up the remote. "Want to watch TV?"

"Is there anything good on?"

"Is there ever?"

Mac clicked off the set and looked at her, "I can’t believe you hadn’t ever seen that before. It’s a classic."

"It is, is it?" Nikki said, trying to work the kinks out of her neck. "It was okay."

"Okay! Only okay?" Mac said. "Here let me do that." He started massaging her neck. "Forbidden Planet is quite possibly the best sci-fi film ever made."

"I’ll take your word for that. Mmmm, don’t stop that feels good."

Mac smiled. "Like that, huh?" He slid his hands over her shoulders and began to massage them. "So what’s next?"

"Next?"

"It’s early, so what do you want to do tonight?"

"I should be studying for the bar exam."

"When is it?"

"Mmmm, next week. How come you never told me you could do this?"

"Guy’s got to have his secrets," he said. He pushed her forward, "Come on, I’ll help you study."

Several hours later, Nikki groaned as slammed her notebook closed, "That’s it. I’m done." She put her head down on the table, "Maybe I should consider another career."

Mac smiled. "You’ll pass, you did it before didn’t you?"

"That was a long time ago. I was young; I had just finished law school. I’ve never even practiced law. Sometimes I think I only got my degree to provoke my aunt."

Mac stood up, walked behind her, and began to rub her neck. "You know this stuff cold, Nikki. My money’s on you. Tell you what, if you pass, I’ll take you out to dinner, I’ll even wear a suit."

Now that’s incentive," Nikki said, "now quit, or you’ll have to carry me to bed."

"Now that’s incentive," he teased, but he stepped back and held out a hand. "What you need is some fresh air." Pulling her to her feet he led her out to the deck and took a deep breath. "Nothing better than fresh sea air."

Nikki smiled. I wonder why a kid from Minnesota is so enamored of the water. She looked out across the marina, the sun was setting and most of the day sailors were heading into port. Errant beams of light sparkled on the shimmering surface and a light breeze ruffled her hair. She walked to the railing and leaned on it, sighing with contentment.

Mac watched her face as she closed her eyes; he’d never noticed how beautiful she was before. He walked over and joined her. "It’s great out here isn’t it? Peaceful."

She looked up at him, "You love it don’t you?"

"Yeah," he said. "I think it’s genetic. Harry loved the water too. When I was a kid, I spent every free moment at one of the lakes, mostly fishing. One summer we rented a cottage in Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan."

"We had a house in the Hampton's, on the ocean. Still do. Maybe some day I’ll take you there," Nikki said.

"Sounds like fun."

"It would be with you." She shivered as the sun sank below the horizon and the breeze turned chilly.

"Cold?" asked Mac. "Maybe we should go in."

"Not just yet."

Mac wrapped his arms around her waist. "Better?"

"Better."

They stood on the deck as the last rays of the sun disappeared and the sky darkened. Nikki leaned into his embrace and Mac tightened his arms around her. It had been a perfect day he thought, and he wanted to have more of them. He just had to find the courage to say what was in his heart. He released her and took a step back. "Nikki."

She turned and looked up at him; even in the dusk, she could see the serious expression on his face, "What Mac?"

Taking a deep breath he said, "This morning, this day, it’s been one of the best days of my life."

"Mine too."

"I think we both know that something is happening between us."

"Yes."

"I want…" he began, "I want to explore this, see where it’s going and I was kind of hoping you did too."

Nikki took a step closer, "I think I’d like that, I think I’d like that a lot," and she reached up and kissed him.

The End