Charcters: Mac Taylor/Charles Thomas "Trip" Tucker 3rd
Fandoms: CSI: New York/Star Trek Enterprise
Word count: 711
Summary: After a failed relationship and losing his wife in 9/11, Mac finally finds true love in the unlikely personage of Trip Tucker.
9/11/2018
Mac stood in front of the 9/11 memorial with a red rose dangling from his hand. He had been coming to this spot every year hoping to find closure, but never quite succeeding.
Brushing away the tears that gathered in the corners of his eyes, he placed the rose on the granite memorial, told Clare that he would always love her and then he turned to walk away.
He was stopped by a solid body and a whispered, "I told you that you didn't have to do this alone this year."
Mac looked up at Trip with a sigh. "I know, but I had to."
Trip nodded. Mac was as stubborn as he was, so he knew he would find his lover here on this trying day. "How about we go get breakfast before you have to go into work?"
"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Mac replied as he fell into step beside Trip holding hands as they headed for the nearest subway stop. "I couldn't even stomach a cup of coffee earlier."
"That's understandable," Trip commiserated. He had lost a few friends on 9/11, so he understood how Mac was feeling. "I think we need a new coffee maker anyway."
"You're tired if tinkering with it, aren't you?" Mac gently teased as they entered the subway station.
"There is that too," Trip grumbled. He tried to keep the complicated piece of shit working since the engineer in him refused to be defeated by a bunch of plastic and mediocre electronics.
Mac chuckled. "We can go shopping for one this weekend."
"If Jon doesn't break anything between now and then it's a plan," Trip replied as they stepped onto the train.
"Fingers crossed then," Mac said having learned in the last year that he and Trip had been dating that Trip's boss was an accident waiting to happen. "Where are we heading?"
"I thought we would try that new restaurant near the lab," Trip answered. "I hear the cook is amazing."
"That's because he's your son-in-law and Lizzie threatened to disown you if you didn't eat there at least once a week," Mac reminded Trip.
"I'm really feeling the love today, Taylor," Trip retorted with a scowl.
"I do love you, Charles Thomas Tucker the Third," Mac told Trip punctuating each word with a soft kiss.
"For a serious person," Trip grumbled good-naturedly. "You are a goofball."
"What can I say," Mac countered with a shrug. "I found someone who has shown me how not to take life seriously all the time."
"You don't say?" Trip teased and was rewarded with a smack to the arm.
*&*
They entered the cafe/restaurant just as the early breakfast was ending, which Mac was grateful for since he wasn't much of a people person.
They were greeted by Trip's daughter, Lizzie. "Hi, dad. Hi, Mac. What can I get you?"
"Hi, kiddo," Trip said and brushed a quick kiss against her cheek. "Just get me the usual."
"Hello, Lizzie," Mac said in reply. He gave her a gentle peck on her other cheek. "Just give me today's special."
"You two are so predictable," Lizzie lightly quipped.
"If that is the case, then why bother asking?" Trip asked with a shit-eating grin.
"Because according to Mom, it's the polite thing to do," Lizzie retorted with a little grin of her own.
"And how is your mother?" Trip inquired.
"She is doing fine," Lizzie told him. "She would like you to come by. She wants to meet Mac."
"I'll see about setting aside some time this weekend," Trip sighed. He had remained friends with his ex-wife, but wasn't certain he was ready to have her meet Mac.
Mac reached acrossed the table, caught hold of Trip's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Maybe it's time we did that," he softly remarked. "You've met my family "
"Yeah, maybe it's time," Trip agreed as he looked deep into Mac's blue eyes and seeing only the love Mac felt for him in them.
"Cool," Lizzie crowed. "I'll call her after I put in your orders. Be right back."
"Take your time, kiddo." Trip murmured.
"No over the top PDAs, Dad," Lizzie tossed over her shoulder as she headed for the kitchen.
"I'm getting no respect today," Trip griped.
"That's okay," Mac told him as he raised Trip's hand to his lips. "I still love you." He brushed a kiss against the back of Trip's hand.
"I love you, too," Trip replied with a soft smile knowing for the time being he had gotten in the last word.