Chapter Text
“Can I, uh, just have a word?” asked Higgy to Thomas.
“Yeah. Sure.”
“Been so busy the last few days, I feel like I haven't really had a chance to see you.”
“Yeah, I understand.”
“So, you know last year when I got shot, and you said that you didn't know what you would do without me? And I replied...”
"Jolly good." I remember it well.” He said.
“Yeah, that. Well, I should have said...I don't know what I would do without you. I know I've been kind of hard on you in the last four years. It's just because I'm scared of getting close to someone. I think it's a defence mechanism. Plus, you grate on me.”
He chuckles at her words.
“We're oil and water, you and I. But I want you to know that......you're my best friend.”
“Ditto.”
"Ditto." Really?”
“Jolly good.”
“I guess that's fair.”
“Yeah”.
“I'm really gonna miss you, Thomas”.
“I'll miss you, too, Higgy.”
“Bye.”
Magnum watched her leave, thinking it was for the best. Besides it’s was only for six month, she will come back. Yet he felt he had made a mistake, he had put his feelings aside to let her go. He didn't want to be the reason she stayed, to have her regret and resent him for not leaving with Ethan. He watched as she got into the car and silenced that little voice that screamed at him, 'you're a fool'. later that day he called his friend in DC.
They were all still in the war room when Matty asked Riley.
“Riley, can I talk to you, in private?”
“Sure, what's the problem, Matty?
“I've got this friend in Hawaii and his IT specialist partner has to go away for a few months and I was thinking after everything that's happened lately, that a holiday in the sun would do you good.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
“No, just for a few months, until my friend's partner comes back. You would stay and work for us but at a long distance.” She added. "It's not that far and you could always come back with the company jet from time to time if you want to or if we absolutely needed you.”
Riley looked into the next room and saw Mac and Desi happily talking together.
“Okay, maybe it would be good for me. Besides who could say no to Hawaii. When do you want me to leave?”
“As soon as you can, I’ll take care of the details. You can say to the others that you're leaving, but don't tell them to much. Only that you are going on a mission for me, that's all they need to know.”
“Does Russ know that?”
“Yes he knows it and agrees with me.”
“Okay then!”
Later in the evening.
“Six months?” Mac asked, clearly surprised.
“It's only for six months, I'll be back before you miss me!” Smiling softly.” Besides The Brink will be able to help you in my absence.”
“It is not the same.” He said very sad.
“I know but it's only temporary, and you can always call me if you need me.” Trying to cheer him up.
“I'm going to miss you!” He said.
“I'm going to miss you too! You still have Desi, Bozer and the rest of the team to take care of you.”
“When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow morning, I'll take the plane and should arrive in the afternoon.”
Mac didn't hide his disappointment and it hurt her a little to leave him like that but on the other hand, this emotional triangle between them was getting more and more difficult for her and it was time to clear her head.
The next morning they were all there to wish her a safe flight and wanted to hear from her as soon as she landed.
“I will." Said she as she hugged them her heart tight.
She stepped on the plane, waving a final goodbye to them and the door closed behind her.
Hawaii, here we go, she thought.
Her plane was scheduled to land around two o'clock and Thomas was already waiting for her at the airport exit around 13h30. He had imagined all kinds of things about this woman from LA. Matty had told him that she was the best in her department and that she had no problem organizing herself in the field. the only thing is that she rarely used firearms, was not very tall and was a bit of a genius nerd.
He imagined her, poorly dressed, with glasses on her nose and looking lost, as all computer nerd champions must be in his eyes.
he saw then a small woman a bit round, glasses on her nose and looking in all directions confused.
“That's it, it's her, exactly like I imagined her.” He thought. Luckily for him he was wrong.
“Thomas Magnum? I’m Riley Davis.”
“What?" he looks at her, then the other woman, then back at her again, confused.
In front of him was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, dressed in black, her long hair freely caressing her shoulders and looking at him with an angelic smile on her lips.
“I’m Riley Davis.” Repeating herself." Are you Thomas Magnum?”
"Yes!... Yes that's me!...." He was so surprised, he almost lost his ability to speak.
“Matty sent me to help you until your partner comes back!”
"Matty, yes she didn't say you looked so..."
“Young.” Finishing his sentence with a frown and a smile.
“I was going to say gor...... but it doesn't matter, you are here now. Are you sure, you're a computer specialist?”
“Yes I am! Are you sure you are a private investigator?” Looking at him very amused
“Ah Ah touché, I probably deserved that! ”
She only had two small suitcases with her and her backpack. He put them in the trunk of the Ferrari and invited her to sit down after opening the door.
“Nice car!”
"Thanks, but it's not mine!” Surprising himself to say that. It was like he didn't want to start their conversation with lies.
Trying to justify himself he said. “it's actually Robin's car, or should I say Higgins' car, but it's a long story.”
“I read that last year Robin gave up the rights to his property and belongings to her so she could stay in Hawaii.”
“Not such a long story after all, how do you know?”
“My fingers told me so!” Playing with her fingers as if she were typing on her keyboard.
“Hacker, I should have thought of that!”
“Where are we going now?”
“To Robin’s nest, I gonna show you where you are staying and then we can go eat something in La Mariana and I'll introduce you to my friends” He said.
“Seems nice, I have to admit I'm pretty hungry after that long flight.”
“It's settled then!” Opening the gate of the estate.
“Woaw, it's beautiful here.”
“Never been in Hawaii before?”
“Just once, a few years back, on the coast of Hilo, to help during the earthquake.”
“I heard about that, it was quite severe at the time.”
“Yes, it was, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake had devastated the city and we stopped on our way back from a mission to help the locals” Remembering what happened in 2016.
He had already contacted Juliette to tell her that someone was going to help him with his work and Juliette had immediately told him to put him in the main house. He had just omitted to say that she was a woman.
“I hope you like dogs, because Higgins has two, to guard the domain and I must warn you they are quite aggressive.”
As he said this the two Doberman appeared and growled in Magnum's direction.
“I love dogs!” Moving closer to them to stroke them.
“Be careful, they are dangerous!”
The two dogs approached Riley and instead of threatening her, licked her hands and lost their menacing behaviour.
“What are your names, my sweethearts?” Stroking them.” Ah you are Zeus and you must be Apollo!” by looking at their necklace.
“I'll be damned.” He said seeing them playing around Riley.
"I really love dogs," she says. "But with my job, I never dared to adopt one, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving him alone for a day."
“Great, I'll show you to your room.” He said not sharing the same feelings as her about dogs. “And when you're ready, we can go to my friend's place and grab something to eat.”
After putting her things in the wardrobe. Riley called Mac to tell him that her flights went well and that she was lucky enough to have two dogs in the house.
“You know how much I love animals." she says with enthusiasm, "They are so beautiful, you should see them!”
“Yeah, they're lucky.” He said, without hiding his sadness.
Mac! Don't do that. Can't you be happy for me, besides you still have everybody at home and you have Desi! I have no one here!” Blaming him a little for his selfishness.
“You're right! I'm sorry, I'm a bad friend! It's just that I miss you already and I know, it's only the first day but…”
“No buts, Mac, I'm always here for you and in a short time you'll get used to it, you'll see.”
They weren't even a couple and it was like she was abandoning him and he couldn't keep living without her. She knew that leaving was difficult, but she had made a choice and Mac had done nothing to prove her wrong. He was still with Desi, still considered her only as a friend and it was time to start for her to move on. Hawaii was the perfect place to do that, she even had to admit that even though he wasn't her type, Thomas Magnum is easy on the eyes.