Et Fac Illud Magis
"Mac? Buddy, you home? I brought your favorite pizza." Jack sing-songed as he made his way through the house in search of his partner. Jack frowned when he received no response. The older agent set the pizza down on the kitchen counter along with his keys and left to search the rest of the house.
"Mac?" Jack knocked once on Mac's bedroom door. "Ma-ac? Kiddo, you in there-? Oh." Jack paused, his hand still on the doorknob as he looked over the curled up sleeping figure on the bed. Even with a mountain of blankets, the poor kid was still shivering. Jack silently made his way over to Mac's bedside, gently shaking the boy's shoulder.
"Hey, bud." Jack smiled when sleepy baby blues eventually met his gaze. It was hard to imagine his partner was a grown man when he looked so much like a toddler waking up from an afternoon nap.
"Heeyyyy," the blonde answered back, a dopey smile plastered on his face. It soon turned into a pained grimace when a drum inside his head wanted to make itself known. The kid groaned and closed his eyes.
Concern and realization entered the Delta's eyes simultaneously. His partner was obviously sick and currently doped to the gills. Jack sighed and soothingly ran his hand through the blonde's hair to help ease the pain he knew his poor kid was going through.
Mac leaned into his touch and reached out for Jack's hand. Mac's hand was warm and clammy. He gave Jack's hand a gentle squeeze, eyes flitting up to meet Jack's.
"Can you stay? Please. Just until Bozer gets back? He won't be gone long. He just had to run and get me some more meds. He also said he was going to text you to come over when he left because he didn't want me to be alone. I told him I would be fine but he didn't think so."
The way Mac explained it only aided in making him look small and so, so vulnerable. His blue eyes were so bright and open and trusting, it made Jack's heart swell with fondness for the blonde and make him feel all the more overprotective of his kid. There is absolutely nothing in this world he wouldn't do for his precious boy.
"Of course I'll stay, kid." He grinned, chuckling at Mac's winning smile. Wondering not for the first time what he did to deserve such a blessing in his life. "However long you want."