Cabot Cove Love Story 2

Love In Progress

by Bethany

URL: http://www.stargateslash.com/asb/bethany7/cabotc02.php
Summary: On the eve of their second night Mac & Daniel go round to Jessica's for tea and coffee, and end up talking on the sofa while she's in the kitchen
Info: Michael Burke is Kevin Sorbo's guest star character in A Virtual Murder, an episde in Season 10 of MSW

"I looked into the Jackson family name of Mac's maternal Grandfather when he first came into town..." Jessica told Daniel.

"It's the first time I'm glad it's not that particular Jackson clan I hail from!" Daniel replied.

Mac grinned.

Daniel looked at him. "You know what I mean!"

"I do..." Mac stated, trying to quell the thrill from saying those words to this man he'd not long met.

Daniel knew a little about his family, that he had a grandfather, Nick Ballard, somewhere... But the man had not been well enough to take care of Daniel back then. He was age 8 when his parents died.

"Would you two like a cup of tea or coffee?" Jessica asked. She wanted to give Mac and Daniel a little time alone, as she had when she sent them out to do the washing up not so long ago. "I know you!" Jessica teased Daniel. "You'll want coffee!"

"Yeah-sure-you-betcha!" Mac laughed. "I know all about Daniel and coffee already!"

"What about you, Mac?" Jessica asked.

"Tea, please..." Mac informed her.

"Darjeeling?" Jessica knew Mac liked Darjeeling tea.

"Yeah-sure-you-betcha!" Daniel mimicked.

Mac laughed.

When Jessica had gone into the kitchen, the two men held hands – Not that they thought Jessica Fletcher would object if they had done so in her company, but still... It was privacy... It was all new...

"What's the matter?" Mac read some anxiety on Daniel's face.

"Did you ever come to Cabot Cove with Michael Burke? Is he why you came back here to live..?" Daniel had to be brave enough to ask.

"Michael and I never visited Cabot Cove. He doesn't have any ties here, not anymore. No family in the area. I met Jessica once, through him, and when the Phoenix Foundation set up a project in the East, one of the places I found, with their help, was here in Cabot Cove, and I thought, y'know, at least there'd be one familiar face among my neighbours – Jessica, not Michael..." Mac explained. "Michael had always said I'd love it here, that I should visit it one day... But he never mentioned that we might go there together, and neither did I..."

"But did you hope?" Daniel asked, feeling guilty for having to. "That you'd see him here, or that you'd make this trip together?"

"Things weren't serious between me and Michael – Not that I play around!" Mac reassured Daniel. "All this, it was just a coincidence really – A place on the map I'd heard of because of Michael, yes, but I didn't come here to be close to him, I swear it..."

"You know why I had to ask, don't you?" Daniel checked. "I'm sorry if it was a bit much..."

"I understand, Daniel..." Mac squeezed Daniel's hand gently.

Daniel kissed Mac's cheek, speaking silently of much more, soon...

"I can tell you already, you're the one that matters, Daniel..." Mac spoke honestly.

"It's okay... It's not too soon to say it..." Daniel breathed. "I just pray to God I'm not being too needy..."

"You're not needy, Daniel... You're you, and I..." Mac caught his breath, but not his words. He guided Daniel's hand toward him to his lips, and kissed Daniel's knuckles.

"I know..." Daniel told him. "It's okay... You can tell me when we're back home... I don't mind... I'd prefer it, too. We're on the same page, Mac."

"I can say it here..." Mac promised him genuinely.

"I know..." Daniel looked into Mac's eyes. "I know it's not an issue..."

"Good!" Mac beamed.

"Tonight...." Daniel stated.

"Tonight..." Mac promised. "Our second night..."

The End

Next: Promised Love