Chapter Text
New York
Present Day
Four Years Later
Mac paced up and down in the hallway outside the emergency room, waiting for the doctor to finish up with Jordy. They wouldn't let him wait with him, he had been stubborn and refused to leave, and it wasn't until they threatened to call security, that he had no choice but to reluctantly wait out in the hallway.
" Michael!" he heard someone call and he looked up to see his sister rush towards him.
This would be the first time he'd seen Maddy after throwing her out of his apartment four years ago. He'd called her and told her Jordy was in hospital.
" Where's Jordy? Is he okay?" Maddy demanded him breathlessly.
" I don't know. They won't let me in the emergency room and it's been almost half an hour..." Mac answered.
Maddy's lips tightened and she didn't say another word. Instead, she pushed open the doors to the emergency room and Mac could hear her arguing very loudly with the doctor and nurses.
" I have a very upset brother out there, who wants to know what's happening with his son!"
" Excuse me, Ms-"
" Maddy McManus."
" Ms. McManus, but you'll have to wait outside with your brother. We still have to assess your nephew."
" But he says it's been half an hour! What's the hold up?"
" We're waiting on blood tests." the doctor explained patiently, " Please, Ms. McManus, wait outside with your brother, and I will be with you momentarily."
With a huff, Maddy rejoined Mac in the hallway.
"Did you get all that?" She asked him and he nodded.
" What happened?"
" This morning, Jordy wasn't awake and he's usually up with the birds. He's an early riser-"
" Just like you had been as a kid." Maddy interrupted smiling.
" I went to wake him and I noticed his face was flushed, so I took his temperature. It was 104."
" 104!" Maddy repeated, looking shocked.
" It's the first time ever that Jordy's been sick. What if something's really wrong?"
Maddy guided Mac to the chairs and sat him down.
" Did you want anything?"
He shook his head.
She sat down next to him and no sooner had she done so, the doctor emerged from the emergency room and they both stood up.
" Mr. McManus?" Dr. Taylor addressed him.
" How's Jordy?"
" We've just got his blood tests back and it seems he has strep throat. I've started him on a course of antibiotics to bring the fever down."
" Strep throat?" Mac repeated dumbly and the doctor nodded.
" I'd like to keep him here overnight. But you should be able to take him home tomorrow. With plenty of rest, fluids and antibiotics, he should be on the mend soon."
" Can I see him?" Mac asked him anxiously and he nodded. He followed the doctor in, with Maddy behind him. She watched as Mac's whole demeanour changed. His shoulders relaxed and his whole face lit up when he saw Jordy and his cold blue eyes grew soft.
Jordy was fast asleep while one of the nurses was checking his temperature. Mac sat down next to the bed and held his hand gently. It was still rather warm. Jordy's face was bathed in sweat and he glanced up at the doctor worriedly.
" He still looks really hot."
" Yes he does, but his fever has gone down by five degrees. There's nothing else you can do for him and he's sleeping right now. Why don't you go home and-"
" I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying put." Mac told him firnly.
" All right. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go on my rounds. If you need anything, just press the call button." he nodded at Maddy, before he left.
" Strep throat, huh?" Mac gazed at his son.
Maddy put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. " I seem to remember that you had strep throat when you were about his age. So did David."
" Guess I overreacted..."
" You say that like it's a bad thing. It just means that you care."
Mac paused and looked up at his sister. " I need to tell you something." and he told her his secret. A secret he's kept for four and a half years, that he never fully accepted Jordy as his son.
" But now I've finally realised that he's not just Fenster's, but he's mine too. He's ours. He's a part of Fenster and me. And I do love Jordy." he added, a touch defensively.
Maddy smiled at him kindly.
" Michael, any idiot can see that you love your son."
Mac nodded and couldn't stop the tears running down his face. He did love Jordy, unconditionally.
" Maddy? I'm sorry for throwing you out of my apartment."
" That's okay. I get why you were so suspicious. And Redfoot and I are over. For good."
Mac nodded, but he knew his sister. She could never resist Redfoot. They'll be back on again. Guaranteed.
The following day, Jordy's fever finally went down and the doctor was happy with his progress and Mac and Maddy took him home. Maddy opened the door to his apartment for them as Mac carried his son over to the couch and laid him down. He fetched a blanket and pillow and covered him with the blanket and put the pillow behind his head as he slept on.
Maddy went to make a fresh pot of coffee for the both of them as Mac watched his son. Maddy was right. Kids were resilient.
You see this, Fenster? I took care of our son. I'm not doing too badly at being a single father, am I?