Title: Z is for Zugzwang
Author: stellaluna_
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Mac/Don
Summary: For mybestexcuse.
Disclaimer: None of these are mine. Characters are the property of Anthony Zuiker, Jerry Bruckheimer Television, CBS, and Alliance Atlantis.

***


"So Stella tells me you finally learned how to play the game," Flack says.

Mac looks over at him. "Something like that," he says.

"Isn't that just fucking great."

"You have something you want to say to me, Don?"

"Nope." Flack pours them both another shot of whiskey, then holds his glass up. "Here's to beating the system. Cheers." He tosses the drink back, shuddering when it hits the back of his throat. Mac watches him for a moment, then downs his shot.

"I thought we were celebrating," he says after a pause.

"We are." Flack shrugs. "What, did you want balloons and strippers? Shoulda told me that an hour ago."

"No. I just -- " Mac pauses. "I just thought..."

"What?" Flack asks. "That I'd be happier? That I'd be glad for you?"

A muscle jumps in Mac's jaw. "Something like that."

"I am." And Flack is glad; the last thing he would have wanted is for Mac to have been kicked out. They don't need to lose any more good cops. But he doesn't know how to explain to Mac, because he'll never understand, how he didn't want him to beat the charges like this. Not the way he went about it, not in this way that's only going to lead to more trouble later on.

He can't say any of that to Mac, though, because Mac will never understand. Anything that happens now, any choice that's made, is going to have to be his, and it's the last thing in the world he wants to do. All of the possibilities, all of his options, seem to lead him to the same set of bleak conclusions.

Flack pours two more shots and pushes the glass back across the table. "Drink up," he says.

He watches Mac drink, and wonders what the hell he's supposed to do now.

***