A/N: This is my first fanfic story, so please read and review and be kind! Constructive comments welcome! Admittedly, this is heavy on fluff, short on plot, occasionally OOC, but it's my 'training wheel' story, so, if you're inclined to have me write another, I'll definitely be heavier into the plot! I'll post 2 chapters now, and if folks like it, I'll post the rest one at a time. Thanks to the amazing Kelcor for hand-holding me through this, for all the time, support and encouragement, and beta reading!

"Sometimes our walls exist just to see who has the strength to knock them down." Darnell Lamont Walker

Prologue

This takes place after the season finale and prior to Mac's search for his dad…..squeezed a little time in there!

Jack tapped on the closed door to Matty's office. He didn't want to be there, but he had to do this, didn't he? He took a deep breath and hoped it was the right decision.

"Come in," Matty called. She addressed her agent curtly as he opened the door and stepped into her office. "So, Jack, I can't even imagine what would bring you to my office willingly. This must be important." She closed her laptop, folded her hands on it, and turned her full attention to her agent.

"Matty, I need to talk to you," Jack began, as he sat in one of the chairs in front of her desk. "It's about Mac." He massaged his forehead with one hand and leaned forward, his other elbow on her desk.

"What's up with Baby Einstein?"

Matty's expression was a bit sarcastic. Maybe there was a slight eye roll. Jack wasn't quite sure. She was always accusing Jack of being overprotective of the kid. He was used to that. Everyone seemed to think that he was hypervigillant about his team, but especially when it came to Mac. They weren't wrong. But he needed Matty to take him seriously. "I think Mac's in trouble and I need your help," Jack said.

"I'm listening," Matty rocked back in her desk chair, "What's he gotten himself into?"

"It's not that," Jack shook his head. "Look, I don't like this. I don't like coming to you behind his back. I can't elaborate too much, but I need you to come up with a reason to get us out of here for a week, just him and me." He hoped his face impressed how serious he felt this was. "It's important. I'm concerned. I don't like some… signs I'm seeing. I think the stress is building up and he needs a little time away."

"What exactly are you concerned about, Jack? What are you seeing? What's he doing? Maybe I should pull him from the field until he can have a thorough.."

"NO!" Jack nearly yelled, raking a hand over his short hair and trying to control his voice. He clarified, "No, Matty, that's exactly what I don't want to happen. And he's not doing anything. Problem is that he holds it together too well. He'd never fall apart on a mission. My concern is the toll it's taking on him to keep up the 'calm and competent agent' exterior. All of the betrayals, from Nikki to Patricia, then Murdoc and Tennent messing with him about how they know something about his father, have got to be weighing on him. I don't really know what all is going on in his head, but somethin's messing with him, I can tell you that."

Jack stopped to gauge Matty's expression. She was nodding sympathetically, so he proposed his plan, "Look, find an excuse to get us out of here for a week. My dad had a cabin on a lake up North. I haven't been there in years, but it'd be a good place to get away. Give me a chance to get through to him, ok? Please?"

Matty studied the agent in front of her; considered how reliable he was when it came to all things 'Mac-related,' and decided a week wasn't too much to ask. "Ok, Jack. Give me a few hours to come up with something and I'll get back to you. You'll have your week. But, if you notice anything you think would make our boy genius anything less than 'field ready,' you need to let me know before you get back! Got it?"

Jack nodded. He really hoped it wouldn't come to that. He'd hate to feel like he was turning the kid in to be head-shrunk, but he'd hate it worse if he got himself or someone else hurt or killed, so he agreed. God, he hoped the week away would be enough, and that Matty would come up with a plan the kid wouldn't see through.