The Center Cannot Hold

A/N – Thanks everyone for the kind reviews and suggestions. I've got a nice long prompt list to work on now to meet my insatiable need to write all the things! It was hard to pick the next prompt I wanted to tackle, so I just went with the one that made a quick picture in my head to work from. Thanks to Lhaven for the inspiration. I'm going multi-chapter so, I'm diving in the deep end here. Paraphrase: What about a scenario where Mac has to hold it together for the team, and then the after when he can finally 'let down' (fall apart) once everyone is safe? What would that look like on Mac and how would Jack, Riley react? This one rang a bell, probably because of what I pictured happening after Hole Puncher last week. Also I have a mighty need to explore memories of early Mac and Jack and maybe tease some evil Nikki. We'll see…

All mistakes belong to me. As before, I own nothing.

The rest of the Phoenix team was streaming in through various entrances to bat cleanup now that the smoke was clearing. Jack stood back, eyes still sweeping the room, reassuring himself that all threats had truly been neutralized. He grinned as he took in MacGyver walking the newly rescued hostage over to the team's medic, one hand supporting the shaken young woman's back and the other on her elbow, as he talked in the usual low reassuring tones, distracting her from the agents rounding up the stunned industrial spies that had taken her from her lab, where she was working on a project for the Phoenix Operations Division. It was obvious to Jack that, as usual, Mac didn't notice this lovely scientist looking at him like he was a knight in shining armor. Of course, according to Mac, that's how all hostages looked at their rescuers, and it had nothing to do with interest. Jack supposed that was a fair point, but he didn't think Mac gave himself enough credit. He never had really, but since Nikki betrayed him, he had been more immune to romantic attention than ever. Jack thought it was willful obliviousness, and he couldn't decide if it was because Mac had hopes that he and Nikki might get back together now that it seemed she was one of the good guys again (a bad idea if ever Jack had heard one) or if it was just another wall the kid had built after being mistreated and discarded by yet another loved one (the worst kind of shame since, in Jack's mind at least, the kid had a heart that should have its own zip code). Mac made eye contact from across the room and Jack canted his head toward the woman Mac had only just stepped away from. Mac rolled his eyes and shook his head, crossing the room to check in before Jack called out something embarrassing that everyone, including the shaken but brilliant Dr. Madden, might hear. Jack's eyes narrowed as he saw the way his partner was walking.

Catching Jack's expression, Mac closed the rest of the distance at a jog. "Hey, Jack. All good with tactical?"

Jack nodded and tilted his chin toward Mac. "Yup. You alright, bud?"

"Yeah. This was an easy one. Not a scratch." Mac shrugged dismissively.

"Don't bullshit me, kid. You were limping."

Mac headed toward one of the exits, body language communicating clearly that Jack could follow or stay here watching the clean-up crew and that after an extremely long day and overly exciting final forty-five minutes of it Mac was indifferent as to which. Jack fell into step beside him and when Mac glanced sideways Jack just raised his eyebrows in a familiar challenge. Mac shrugged again. "A twisted ankle isn't a scratch, Jack."

Jack stopped Mac with a hand on his arm. "Don't get cute with me, Mac. We got a medic right here who could take a look."

"She's busy." Mac resumed heading for the SUV they'd arrived in.

"That's alright," Jack grinned, jangling the keys to remind Mac that he was in the driver's seat, in more ways than one right now. "I'm in no hurry; one of the advantages of a mission on the home turf – short commute." Mac very obstinately jogged the rest of the way to the vehicle and climbed into the passenger seat, buckling his seatbelt, and pulling out his cell to text Matty now that the comms had gone dark. "Whatcha doin'?"

"Asking Matty for a debrief time." He glanced at his phone. "She said it'll keep until office hours." He paused significantly. "So we can head home now, Jack." Then thinking a little flexibility would probably be helpful since it seemed like Jack was in big brother mode, as a peace offering Mac asked, "You wanna crash at my place? Boze headed up to Mission City for a couple of days. He's in somebody's wedding or something. Did he mention it to you?" Jack knew what Mac was up to but just nodded. "Without him I can't promise a decent breakfast, but I can promise no bad pop music too early in the morning."

Jack keyed the car to life and pulled out of the parking lot. They drove with only the noise of the radio for a few minutes before Jack ventured, "We could just swing into Phoenix and you could get your ankle looked at tonight …"

Mac let out a noisy puff of air. "Jack … I just want to go home, have a beer, and maybe, if it'll make you feel better, ice the ankle I barely twisted getting Dr. Madden out of the way before that blast. Then hopefully rack out. It was a long day, Jack." Jack didn't answer so Mac said very firmly, "Home. Beer. Ice. Sleep. That is all."

Jack chuckled, "Alright, alright. You sure it's okay though?"

"Jesus Jack! I said I'm fine!" Mac was uncharacteristically sharp. Jack didn't know it, but his earlier thoughts of Nikki were dancing near the line of the truth. She'd been in town last weekend and Mac had agreed to meet her for a drink. She'd let on that she wouldn't mind a drink on his back deck with that amazing view of the city, and her implication had been the she would like to watch the sunrise with him, like they used to. Mac had put her off, saying the team was hanging out watching movies together and it would be weird. He didn't share with her that he wasn't ready to trust her for more than a casual drink, but her vehement response to the mention of his team had stuck with him. She had snapped, "Aren't you a little tired of Mama Bozer and Papa Jack dictating how you spend your evenings? Jesus, Mac, they treat you like you're a high school freshman. And what's worse is you let them!" They'd said slightly stiff goodbyes not long after and Mac had gone home and pretended to watch Lethal Weapon III with everyone while he stewed about his evening with Nikki.

Jack kept his eyes mostly on the road after that, only occasionally stealing glances at his partner who was definitely tired and teetering on the edge of being annoyed. Jack knew he was a little over protective of his partner, but looking out for the kid had stopped being a job before the end of the mission where they'd met. Normally Mac not only tolerated his brotherly affection, but often sought it out. Something had been going on in his head lately. If Jack was any judge of character or situations, he would have bet the farm that it was Nikki weaseling her way back into Mac's life. If he didn't want to make the situation worse, push the two of them back together if only because Mac had a stubborn streak a mile wide, he should probably back off a little bit. When they got to Mac's place, the kid slid out of the SUV and turned toward Jack, running a hand through already tousled hair. "You coming in?"

Jack gave him a very understanding smile. "Nah, I'm headin' home. You look like a guy who could use a little peace and quiet." Mac glanced away sheepishly; he'd been thinking almost desperately that what he wanted was a night alone to just think. Jack shook his head. "Workin' with me all day and then comin' home to Bozer? Look, I love Bozer as much as the next guy, and I know I'm generally awesome, but you don't get much space, Mac."

Mac grinned. "Thanks Jack. G'night." Mac closed the door and started off toward the house. Jack began to slowly back out of the parking area, grinning a little himself when he saw Mac's very deliberate stride that was trying, and not quite managing, to hide the limp Jack had mentioned earlier.