Author's note:
The story takes place only a few weeks after MacGyver met Sam. Take note that Pete's eyesight is fine despite this. First fanfic uploaded here, so please be gentle with the criticism, but I hope you enjoy! ^^
Also many thanks and hugs to you Erin for inspiring me to write this, but also supported me to finally post one of my fanfics. This one is for you!
Chapter 1: When you're gone
"Please Mac! Don't do this! We can think of another way to get Sam back! Please!"
Slowly turning to face his best friend for what would probably be the last time, MacGyver's remorseful and sad eyes immediately found Pete's pleading ones. The steel-door, which MacGyver had just locked his friend behind, was all that separated the two from one another, and also the single thing preventing Pete from forcefully trying to stop MacGyver from exchanging himself for his son. A trade would certainly lead to the young troublemaker's death, and when dealing with a man like Murdoc, the events would most likely get Sam killed too despite his father's best efforts.
"I'm sorry Pete, but-"
"NO! Listen to me! You can't trust Murdoc to release Sam when he's got you! Please Mac, open the door! We can figure out a different way to get Sam back! A way that won't lead to both of your deaths!"
As Pete had cut him of, MacGyver found a spot on the floor utterly fascinating, and had not only started to scratch his foot repeatedly over it as a distraction, but also locked his gaze on it; hiding his eyes behind the brownish mullet.
"I... I can't do that, Pete. I am the only one who have a chance to get Sam out of this alive."
The desperation in Pete's voice was clear as crystal as he continued.
"But what about getting YOU out of there? Getting YOU out; not only in one piece, but also alive. Even if you manage to save Sam, he still needs his father. He needs you, Mac..."
Mac's foot froze at those words. The following silence hanging in the air was so dense one could easily cut through it with a knife. Tears glistered in Pete's eyes as he patiently awaited a response. It took a few minutes before MacGyver slowly lifted his head, revealing an equally pained expression as his friend. Glassy eyes found each other and MacGyver finally spoke.
"I've got nothing to fear from death. As I told you before: I don't think it's the end of anything. It's more like just another step along the way. If my death can save Sam's life, then it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. Hopefully he'll understand one day why I had to do it. Promise to look after him for me if I don't make it back; can you do that Pete? Please?"
Tears streamed freely down the elder man's face. Even if MacGyver had accepted that he was plausibly about to die today, Pete still wasn't ready for it. It had broken his heart a few years earlier, when MacGyver was thrown from the high floor of a parking garage, lapsing into a coma and lay on the brink of death. It was a horrible tragedy, which understandably neither he nor Mac had ever wanted to relive again.
But now, with his son in lethal danger, Pete had to be strong for MacGyver's sake. Swallowing the growing lump in his throat, Pete gathered himself and cleared his throat.
"You have my word that I will look after him the best I possibly can."
Without himself noticing, MacGyver had moved closer to the sealed door during their conversation. Now the two friends had one hand each pressed against the other's; only the rectangular glass window in the door separating them. Both leaned their foreheads against the screen simultaneously.
"Be careful, Mac..."
"Goodbye, Pete..."
"Goodbye, my friend..."
With those final words, MacGyver spun away and disappeared out of the room with tears streaming down his face; leaving Pete alone in the locked empty room, with no other sound than his own sobs to accompany him.
A/N: Most of the chapter names are songs or lyrics! First one: When you're gone – Avril Lavigne.