****** Hello everybody! I apologize to everyone who was following Nightmare; It just wasn't working, I have put it on the back burner for now, it is still in the works! Instead, I have decided to turn my evil talons on Jack for awhile. ******
Something about the carnival sent alarm bells jangling in MacGyver's head. It wasn't the appearance; it looked like every other amusement park he'd ever seen. In the dim light of the coming storm, the bright lights of the rides twinkled like any other carnival Mac had ever been to, but Mac could feel a sense of unease slosh around the pit of his stomach. As always, Jack could pick up on his glumness. Jack grinned.
"Are you still mad about losing?" Mac shifted his gaze to his best friend, partner, and current driver of another disastrous rental-a lemon yellow Prius. Jack had insisted the rental agency had made a mistake. The others had spent most of the three-hour drive from Denver to the small town of Owensville. Heckling him, he was glad to spread the love around finally.
"Of course not," Mac growled. He hadn't wanted to come on the trip at all. The last mission had left him tired and recovering from a deep bullet graze along his ribcage, and according to the others broody. Bozer had pushed for the trip because there was a film convention in the small town. Jack and Riley had no real interest in the movies but wanted to get Mac out of the house. Mac had adamantly refused. Jack knew what buttons to push, of course, he, Bozer, and even Riley ganged up on Mac and took mother-henning to a whole new cosmic level. Mac soon tired of it and to prove his healing so they could all back the hell off, Mac had unwisely challenged Jack to a game of one on one. Jack tried not to crow too much because he knew Mac was hurting, but if he didn't flip the younger man a little crap he'd be suspicious right? Mac abetted by the unfaithful Bozer and Riley had more than made up for it in their ribbing about the car.
"Nah, Jack, Mac's always had a thing about carnivals and circuses." Bozer piped up from the backseat. Jack glanced over at Mac with an eyebrow raised. Mac shot Bozer a glare then resumed his scowling out the window.
"Really? I love carnivals!" Riley piped up. She was almost bouncing in the back seat beside Bozer. They had all been given free tickets to Mr. Punch's Funland which was purported to be the largest permanent carnival in Colorado. They had stayed an extra day so she could go. She said that her happiest memories had been of trips to a small festival that her mom (and Jack, for awhile) had taken her to every year. Jack with a softness in his dark eyes had been delighted to bring back that memory for her. Bozer, still on an excited high from meeting some of the biggest names in cinema who spoke while watching their films loved the idea. Mac had been the only holdout. He had participated and tried to be cheerful for the others, mostly to keep them off his back, but had still been quiet the entire weekend. He did get excited when looking at the cameras and equipment the filmmakers used. The other three took it as a win. Mac had just gone with them on the carnival. It beat sitting around the hotel by himself.
"Yeah, he's never gone to one unless his grandpa or I dragged him to one." Mac huffed and shook his head.
"Really? Why is that? I'd think you could ace the games." Jack asked sending Mac a slightly concerned look. He knew they'd pushed Mac to the limit of his tolerance this weekend; Jack didn't want to pile on. Mac turned, his laser glare swept through Jack and Bozer. It would have included Riley, but it hurt too much to turn that far.
"I can. I am just tired."
"And grumpy," Riley said. Mac turned his gaze to the scenery-not that there was much to see, tarred road, pine trees and tall sloped dark stone.
"C'mon Mac, you know you have a thing about fairs," Bozer began his voice unrelentingly, "or is it just clowns." Mac turned so fast to face Bozer that he closed his eyes and turned forward again slowly breathing holding his side. Jack frowned. His partner looked genuinely upset.
"Clowns? What about clowns?" Jack asked. Even though there was no teasing in his tone, Jack got a furious scowl.
"Don't tell me you have coulrophobia?" Riley said, surprise in her voice. She knew Mac had a fear of heights but fear of clowns? It was just so random.
"What's callo-whatever?" Jack looked in his rearview mirror at Riley.
"Clown phobia!" Bozer offered with a knowing grin. "Mac used to freak out every time he saw one, even running away from one of my birthday party's to get away from one." Mac rolled his eyes.
"Ok, First, that isn't why I left, that guy was a terrible clown," Mac met Jack's amusement, "he couldn't even make a balloon elephant." Jack laughed imagining child-Mac's indignation. Knowing how good he was with paperclips, Jack wondered what Mac could do with balloons. He told himself to find out after they got back. "Second, coulrophobia isn't even a valid diagnosis according to the American Psychological Association, and third, I'm not afraid of them...they're just, creepy." Mac closed his eyes and couldn't suppress a shudder. Jack nodded.
"Ah, ok, whatever you say, man. I get it I feel the same way about robots. You never know what they're up to with those fake faces." Mac scowled at Jack.
"No, it's not the same at all. I'm not afraid of clowns taking over the world, and I don't irrationally punch one when it sits up on the table." It was Jack's turn to sigh and glare out the window.
"One time and Sparky startled me that's all." Jack was pleased to see a genuine smile flit across Mac's face. He slowed and pulled into a long line of cars waiting to pull into the parking lot.
"That's a lot of people for a small town's carnival." Mac mused. Jack frowned looking over at the younger man. Mac's body hummed with tension, and his eyes had narrowed with suspicion. Jack looked for a threat, but all he saw was the lights of a slowly circling Ferris wheel and corona of bright lights glowing in the coming twilight. He was about to ask Mac about his unease when Bozer offered an explanation.
"Probably all those folks from the film festival."
"They did give out free tickets, "Jack offered. Mac studied him a long second then nodded but didn't lose any of the tension. They pulled forward.
"Look! They have a zipper!" Riley pointed at a tall, thin ride that was the same color as the golden gate bridge in San Francisco. Jack raised his eyes and nodded. Pairs of riders entered small cages which were lifted straight up until passengers sat in every one. The arm began to circle fast as the name implies. As the speed increased, the cages themselves spun freely. Jack swallowed, his stomach rolling at the different directions riders traveled at once. He knew it was Riley's favorite has to be the one to take her on it at least a dozen times a year. It always ended up with him in the bathroom losing funnel cakes and whatever other treats they had passed on the way over to the ride. He turned to see Mac looking at him in amusement. The blonde didn't say anything.
They approached the gate. A clown dressed in a loose white and yellow diamond patterned one piece with large green buttons, and a matching ruff around his neck leaned forward. He had round green eyes and the obligatory red nose and lips. His hair was a green afro. He tilted looking directly at Mac as if he smelled the younger man's discomfort. And Mac was uncomfortable. He swallowed and looked away, his hands grabbing the bottom cushion of the seat with whitened knuckles. He turned to study the rock out his window as if it were the Mona Lisa. Jack raised an eyebrow. He turned back to the clown and handed him the tickets. The man nodded and waved a hand toward the parking lot. Along glittery gait slowly raised. Riley and Bozer began to gush and point at rides and games they could see through a tall metal gate. Mac looked like he was going to be sick
"You ok?" Jack asked with genuine concern. He'd seen Mac less upset facing torture. Mac glared at him.
"Of course." Mac snapped. Jack frowned at the heat in his friend's voice. Mac got out of the car first, slammed the door and stalked toward the entryway. A family with three children ducked away from him, the parents pulling their children close as if to protect them. Jack raised an eyebrow.
"He seriously doesn't like carnivals," Jack said softly.
"Is he going to be ok?" Riley's voice held a note of guilt. Bozer waved a dismissive hand.
"Don't worry; he'll lighten up when we get inside. Especially when we get to the games." Bozer turned to Riley, "He'll be able to win you whatever you want, trust me." Riley grinned and clapped her hands together. Jack shook his head suddenly feeling like the father of three. Mac's back was stiff, his hands wrapped around his chest, he was kicking a small stone back and forth along the side of the entry way as he waited for them. His eyes didn't leave the ground. Jack winced immediately knowing why. The entry way was a billboard-sized wooden outline of a clown. The gate opened where the clown's mouth was. Jack felt himself shiver. He had to give Mac this one, that clown was creepy as hell.
Mac didn't look up as they neared merely lead them into the carnival. Immediately inside the gate was an open rectangle open area. Booths lined the right and left; they had all the standard carnival games, darts to break balloons, ring toss, spitting clown. Even a fake target range. Jack smiled, betting he could ace that with relative ease. Jack looked at Riley's whose eyes were as wide as saucers a grin across her face. Jack felt nostalgia remembering corralling a young Riley to keep her from running away as she wanted to see everything all at once. Bozer smiled and took a deep breath. Jack's forehead wrinkled. Evidently the smell of cotton candy, sweet foods and frying grease mixed with the excited squeals of young and old and the grinding whoosh of the rides made for a familiar and pleasant atmosphere the younger man wanted to absorb.
Mac, however, looked neither right nor left, his arms close to his body, he walked with a long stride. Even with the blond's back to him, Jack could almost hear the younger man growl. Jack nudged Riley. He tilted his head at Mac. Riley grinned. She skipped ahead to Mac's side.
"Hey, Mac?" She asked. Mac looked down at her, his face lightening. "Boze said you're kind of good at these games." Mac shrugged.
"He's too modest," Bozer called, "he can whip any of these games." Mac sighed stopping and turning.
"It's only basic physics." He said softly. Despite his scowl, Jack could feel Mac's enthusiasm ignite. Riley looked at the booths, and her eyes settled on a giant purple dragon hanging on the awning of the booth with a wall of balloons along it's back. She wrapped her arms around Mac's.
"Could you win that?" She said pointing to the dragon. Mac turned with a raised eyebrow. He smirked at Jack.
"I'm not sure it'd fit in our rental." Jack rolled his eyes.
"I bet you $20 that you can't do it?" Bozer said. Mac's eyes sparkled. The only thing he liked more than winning was winning money. Jack grinned.
"I'll go in on that." Mac grinned and shrugged.
"Alright if you insist." His gaze silently told Jack he was in for some payback. He led the way over to the booth. The caller was a small man with a mail boy's hat and red satin puffy shirt. He held an unlit cigar dangling from the corner of his mouth. He sighed as the quartet moved up to the counter. Mac studied the balloons a long minute then turned to the man.
"How many to win the dragon?" The man huffed and spat out bits of the cigar.
"3 for a dollar." He pointed to a small hand-sized row of dragons. Mac smiled patiently.
"No, for that one." He pointed overhead at the huge purple dragon. The man laughed almost to the point of choking.
"You have to win ten rounds of three without missing once." Mac considered then shrugged reaching for his wallet.
"Give me ten rounds." He said laying the money on the counter. The man shook his head.
"Glad to take your money, friend." Jack thought he should support his partner.
"Wanna put some money on it?" The man looked at him a glint in his eyes. Mac shot Jack an amused glance.
"Thought you were betting against me?"
"This way if you get it I get green either way. So?" The man nodded and reached into a dirty apron at his waist.
"A C-note?" He said. Jack glanced at Mac who shrugged. Jack grinned.
"You're on." Jack pulled out a $100 and put it on the counter. Mac sighed and lined up the darts. There was an increase in murmur behind him. Jack glanced around and laughed as a large crowd of spectators gathered around him. Jack was amused to see flashes of money change hands. Mac didn't notice.
Mac's focus narrowed as he made several complicated calculations in his mind. He lifted the dart adding in the variables of weight and trajectory. He snapped one up, a balloon popped. Mac launched the others in rapid succession. In less than ten seconds, thirty popped balloons hung from the board. Mac jumped at the roar around him. He'd been so intent on his task he hadn't noticed the large number around him. His face reddened, and Mac absently nodded turning to smirk at Jack. He frowned. Jack wasn't beside him. The money he and the caller had left on the counter was gone. Mac turned. Bozer was staring at him his mouth dropped. Mac shrugged. Bozer knew how well Mac did at this game, why should he be surprised? Riley was squealing as she accepted the enormous purple dragon from the caller. Mac was only half aware.
He shoved his way through the crowd, his eyes systematically dissecting the milling mass. He couldn't see Jack anywhere. His stomach dropped. He darted to a more open place in the midway and spun. His heart pounded, his breathing increased, and his hands balled into fists so tight his nails chewed into flesh.
"What?" Riley asked immediately picking up his alert.
"Where's Jack?" Bozer asked. Mac didn't waste time answering. He took off at a run. Mac scoured the entire fair, every alley, every ride, every booth, even the bathrooms. He was sucking in air, his shoulders dropped. He turned to the others who had been struggling with his frantic pace.
"Jack's gone."