Dedicated to TinkerBella, because her fic "Wired" inspired me to write this. Go read her fic, it's awesome.
Disclaimer: I have no clue if caffeine and sedatives should be used like this, but I'm guessing the answer is no.
Please! Do not! Drink! This much! Caffeine! At one time!
Jack could only watch in horror as MacGyver downed yet another espresso, then turned back to his project.
The man cracked his knuckles in a way that made Jack wince, then picked up the pencil lying on the counter and used to delicately nudge a wooden block out from the bottom of the tower.
It tilted...
It wavered...
It came crashing down, and MacGyver huffed a frustrated sigh before taking another shot of espresso.
Jack reached for the cup as the younger man brought it up to his lips, but was too slow. He let out a groan and said, "Come on, man. That's your fifth cup. Let it go for now and come back later."
MacGyver shook his head- at least, Jack thought he did. The blond was moving so erratically and often that he was almost vibrating. "I'm gonna get this, Jack. This person on the internet did it, and so can I." He motioned to his laptop, which was sitting open on the countertop with a picture of a Jenga tower resting on a sole wooden block.
Jack buried his head in his hands and groaned. He was getting too old for this. He lifted his head just in time to see MacGyver take yet another shot of espresso. The brunet frowned as he realized the kid's hands were literally vibrating. "Why are you drinking this much espresso, anyways? You weren't tired when we started, like, twenty minutes ago."
MacGyver shook his head again. "Espresso stimulates the brain. I think. And apparently my brain needs stimulation."
This time, when the tower crashed, Jack was ready. He grabbed to espresso cup before his friend could drain it and set it on the counter out of the blond's reach. "Uh-uh. No more coffee for you. C'mon, buddy."
MacGyver frowned, his hands twitching as he tried to decide what to do with them. By the time he had made the important decision to tuck them under his armpits as he folded his arms, Jack had dragged him into the living room. The older man forced the younger to sit on the couch and disappeared for a moment, then returned.
He had a cup of espresso in his hand.
Jack waved the tiny cup in front of his friend's eyes, watching in amusement as the kid's gaze followed the cup wherever it moved. "You want some more?"
MacGyver nodded, still transfixed by the cup. "Yeah."
Jack smiled. "Here ya go, buddy. Drink up."
MacGyver took the cup eagerly and drained it with one swallow. Jack took the cup with one hand while holding his watch up with the other. He counted down with the seconds on his watch. "And three, two, one-"
MacGyver slowly toppled over into a lying position on the faded patchwork of the couch. Jack smiled in satisfaction. "Nothing like some strong sedatives to counter the effects of espresso."
Jack covered his young friend with a blanket, then went into the kitchen. He set the cup in the sink and was about to leave the room when the pile of blocks on the counter caught his eye. "Hmm..."
When MacGyver awoke, three hours later, he was greeted by the sight of his friend snoozing in the armchair. The young man smiled, then headed into the kitchen for a glass of water, only to be greeted by the sight of a perfectly formed Jenga tower sitting on the counter.
It was perfectly balanced on one lone Jenga block.
Jack woke to the sound of a furious "How!" being shouted from the kitchen. He smiled and went back to sleep.