Slutet
"What?" Mac's voice broke. Eyes filling with tears at what he just heard.
"Mac. . . Kiddo-" Jack reached out for his kid, but Mac immediately backed away as if Jack had slapped him. It probably would've hurt less anyway. The blonde stubbornly kept his tears from falling as he stared brokenly at the man who once was his partner. His heart hurt so much.
"You promised, Jack." The younger agent said, his voice a near whisper. "You promised you'd never leave no matter what. That you'd never leave me." Mac's eyes were so full of hurt and distrust, it physically pained Jack to into their deep blue depths. But he didn't allow himself the luxury of looking away. He caused this pain, be it indirectly so. But he still caused it.
Again, Jack reached out for him. But he got the same results. Mac's eyes were like smoldering coals, so calm yet raging. The older man felt tears prick his own eyes.
"Mac, please. You have to listen to me." Jack swallowed thickly, hands held out in a non-threatening manner. His brown eyes reflecting his own pain and desperation for Mac to understand. Begging Mac to understand.
"This wasn't my call. I didn't have any control over this." Jack's voice rose as he continued, pointing a finger in Mac's direction to punctuate his point. "I fought, Mac! I fought so fucking hard for our partnership! But Oversight overruled it. Just like every other damn fucking thing! Are you hearing me?! I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THIS!"
Jack's panting when he's done. The room is silent enough to hear a pin drop. Jack didn't mean to lose it like that. But, dammit, he was done. He was so done and frustrated and scared and hurt and desperate, Jack didn't even know he was screaming. When he looks back to Mac, the blonde is still, eyes to the ground. They're still pained, but his earlier tears were replaced by something deeper than anger and hurt. Something Jack wasn't sure he could put a name to it.
"You obviously didn't fight hard enough then."
Mac's words are quiet, but they might as well have been a stab to the gut with how hard they affected Jack. Something keen to a half sob rips from Jack's throat at the soft admission. He can't really even believe this was honestly happening. Jack couldn't be losing his kid. Not like this.
The door to the war room swings shut as Mac leaves, abandoning Jack with only his pain and misery to accompany him.