SPOILERS FOR SEASON 3, EPISODE 1

Disclaimer: I don't own Macgyver, obviously. Also, I just wrote this while high after watching the first episode of season 3. The beard is quite an odd turn of events and I have spent the night laughing about it so I wrote this. This will most likely be a multi-chapter fanfic from several characters' point of view of the beard. I mean absolutely no disrespect to the actors, writers, characters, etc- I just think the beard looks funny on Mac (I say that with love), and like it might be a faux beard as well. Nonetheless, I wrote this so enjoy! Or dont. Whatever. Also, leave a comment below of what you thought of Mac's beard! Alright, lets get into the story. (also I'm still not sure why Jack was watching Mac so there may be a plothole in here IDK. )

When Angus Macgyver left Phoenix, he was clean shaven and sassy. He'd stood up to his previously absent father, put his foot down and quit, right before he walked right out of the building with swagger, never to return again- to Jack's knowledge. Jack had been watching Mac's life, from afar, on the big screen in the war room. He saw Mac doing his thing, fixing things and Macgyvering them every chance he got. He saw Mac make new friends, and from the looks of it, a new girlfriend, too. He found himself watching the screen more and more lately, just to make sure his former partner and brother was okay. And he was, actually better than OK. For awhile.

Then the beard came.

At first, when Jack would see the growing stubble on the screen, he thought he must be seeing things that weren't there. Mac was growing a... beard? That wasn't right, Mac doesn't have a beard. He never had. That's just... weird. Not that Mac looked ugly at all, in fact Jack was pretty sure there was nothing that could make the guy look ugly. Mac was just a handsome guy. In another reality, maybe Jack would even be envious of his friend's good looks, even with that beard, but something didn't feel right. Was Mac trying to send some secret message to Jack and the team? That he was in trouble and needed them to pick him up and then he would rejoin Phoenix. Then everythinig would return to normal... Jack thought longingly. But that would also mean that Mac was in danger- and that thought sent Jack's stomach churning with anxiety.

Maybe he just forgot to shave, Jack tried to reassure himself, taking deep and even breaths. In all the years he's known Mac, he'd never seen even the sparsest hair on the kid's handsome and smooth face. Not even in or after Cairo. "Why now?" he pondered outloud, his heart hammering in his chest, looking for a reason- ANY reason other than an S.O.S signal- as to why Mac was no longer shaving. Surely they had razors in the town he was living in. Even if they didn't, Mac would know how to make a makeshift version- hell, maybe even an electric razor!- out of other materials lying around. He also still had his pocket knife. So there was no excuse as to why the beard was making its debut now, of all times. It aged him- Mac no longer looked the part of a 20something baby genius. Now he gave off more of a, well, a Santa Clause vibe. And Jack was NOT digging it. None of this made sense and Jack just wished that his best friend was back, no beard and kicking badguy ass side by side with him. Jack inhaled loudly before finally shaking his head and turning away from the screen.

"Oh, Mac," Jack breathed out. A single tear welled up in his left eye, before slowly falling from his cheek to the cold hard floor, along with all his hopes and dreams of things turning 'back to normal' any time soon.