"Dad!" Mac bolted upright. He gasped in surprise. Light out, moving, music voices, Jack. He rubbed his eyes and sat up. He wiped his face and tried to pat down his wild hair. He yawned and turned to look at Jack who grinned at him. Mission city. Dad's dead. Right. A million pounds climbed back onto his shoulder.

"Welcome back, sleeping beauty." RIley joked her head turned around the edge of the passenger's seat. Mac glanced at Jack and did some fast calculation. He pinkened with the realization that somehow he'd ended up sleeping on Jack. He sniffed and moved across the seat putting some distance between them. He realized a blanket was still wrapped around his shoulders. It was his blue fluffy blanket. One that he'd had since he was a kid. His face darkened to a deeper red. He pulled it over his shoulder, for something to do and a way to avoid looking at the others. And, a small voice said, it was definitely comforting and familiar.

"So...uh we there yet?" Mac croaked. He cleared his throat. The others shared amused smile. Mac rolled his eyes.

"We just turned off the highway. I thought we'd stop off at Burger Nirvana before we go on up to the house." Mac rubbed his eyes and nodded. He was still full from Bozer's stack of waffles, but he didn't feel up to arguing. He leaned back and leaned against the door and sighed. He could feel himself sinking, maybe drowning?

"Good dreams?" Jack asked casually. Mac shot him a one-eyed glare.

"Lollipops and candy canes." He growled. Jack laughed.

"Right. Not as much fun as the unicorns."

"Unicorns?" Riley asked. Mac rolled his eyes and shot Jack a warning glare.

"Oh yeah, our boy Mac here had a dream about teaching Unicorns in some college class or other."

"Unicorn college?" Riley glanced at Mac her brow wrinkled. Mac huffed.

"They were wicked smart."

"So were they like Silver Sparkle?" Bozer asked glancing in the rear view window. Mac turned his head to stare out the window. He appreciated his friends trying to cheer him up, but he just couldn't. He didn't know why, or even what, but he just couldn't.

Jack frowned. In less than a minute, Mac went from relaxed to curled up inside himself again. He gritted his teeth and shared a frustrated worried look with his teammates. They came up on Burger Nirvana in silence.

Jack smiled. The burger place had the look and feel of surfing hangout from the '50s. The booths were worn pastels. Jack almost felt like he should slick his hair back, if he had any, and get a black leather jacket. It had a homey feel. From his one visit the last time he'd gone to Mission City, he knew it was the main hang out for pretty much the whole town. Their burgers were works of art, and the service was quick and friendly. Jack found his mouth watering.

Jack was halfway out his door when he noticed Mac hadn't moved. He stared at the restaurant blankly. Jack glanced over at Bozer and Riley who stood watching them puzzled.

"You guys go ahead." Jack said softly. With a backward worried look they nodded and went. Jack slipped back in beside Mac and shut the door. He tilted his head and studied his friend trying to think of what to do. Without turning Mac spoke.

"I can't do it." His voice was a dead whisper. Jack frowned.

"Do what? We can go somewhere else." Mac's chest heaved in and out in one long body exhale. He leaned his head back on the seat and closed his eyes.

"I'm not hungry." He said. His voice was in the cover-up tone he used when deflecting from something important. Jack turned his back to his door.

"What's going on, Mac?" Mac gave him a one-shoulder shrug.

"I...Jack...I can't, it's all...too much." Jack felt a tiny shiver go down his back. Was Mac saying what he thought he was saying?

"Mac-"

"It's ok, Jack, really I'm just too tired to eat." Mac offered Jack a weak attempt at a smile. Jack almost believed him.

"We can go back to LA." Jack offered. Mac looked at him a look of excitement crossed his face. It was gone just as fast. Again Mac let loose a long body sigh. His eyes drifted out the window.

"No, we'd never hear the end of it."

"From Boze?"

"No, his mom." Jack and Mac shared a smile. The woman was a force of nature. Getting her mad would be like insulting a Category 5 tornado.

"Looking forward to seeing the Bozer brood." Mac smiled a genuine if sad smile.

"It was the closest thing to a real home I had after…" Mac stared down at his hands. He played with the edge of his blanket.

"After your Dad left?" Mac gulped.

"After my Grandfather died." Mac's voice was so tiny, Jack just wanted to scoop him up and hug him. Sensing this Mac looked up and gave a more genuine smile, "They let Archimedes into the house."

"That is a cause for Sainthood." Mac laughed.

"That's what Mama always said." Jack laughed. They both looked up surprised as the others returned to the car carrying take out bags.

"You were taking too long, we couldn't wait." Boze breathed as he handed back a bag. Jack sniffed as the car filled with the sweet, sweet smell of grilled beef, bacon, cheese and grease.

"Oh this is the best." Riley said around a mouthful of burger. Jack grunted and made snorkeling noises as he chomped on his. Bozer sat with his eyes closed. Mac swore he could hear purring. Mac unwrapped his sandwiches. His burger looked as good as theirs, but his gut felt like a boulder sat filling it. He rerolled it and handed it to Jack. Jack shot him a quizzical look. Mac held up his fries and smiled. Jack rolled his eyes, but didn't press the issue. Mac nibbled a few fries. They tasted like sticks. He shoved the rest in the bottom of the bag and pushed it away. He stared out the window ignoring the worried looks from his friends.

Mac always felt a dislocation coming back to his hometown. On one hand he had fun memories of running wild with Bozer, family times with the Bozer clan, nuking the ballfield-something he was sure the town would neither forget nor forgive anytime soon, especially if the passing glares he got from vaguely familiar faces walking across the parking lot were any indication.

It was the place where the last time he felt he had a family of his own, somewhere he belonged, somewhere someone claimed him. Wanted him. Mac sniffed. His eyes burned but remained dry. It was an old wound, one with familiar edges. Those edges were sharpened by the death of his father, but did anything change really? His mom was still gone, his father still out of his life. At least he knew why the man had left, and had a little time to know what it was like having a father. Mac could feel Jack's eyes rake him, trying to read what was going on in his head. Good luck with that. He didn't even know.

"Where to next?" Riley asked. Mac knew she asked to break the silence that had fallen in the car.

"Home. If we don't see Mama first, she be pissed!" Bozer said with exaggerated excitement. Mac smiled; the others laughed. Bozer pulled into traffic. He kept up a steady monologue on the sites they passed. Mac tuned him out. In his memories, he could see the places as they had been. Looking at the scenery around him, it was an alien planet. He could see where a small grocery store was now a Starbucks. It saddened him. Mac looked up startled when Riley flopped a comb at him. Mac sat up and patted his hair.

"It is pretty much vertical, bud." Jack said. Mac shot him a glare and took the comb. He tried to yank some sort of order out of his mop determined not to take the others teasing personally.

"Well, hello my dearies!" Mama Bozer was a large woman with a loud voice and commanding presence. She reminded Jack of Mama Colton. Mama Colton hid her presence behind a thick veneer of Southern charm. Mama Bozer didn't hide anything. Like Bozer, she was open, honest, and had a passion that filled her booming voice, raucous laugh, and gentle eyes. Jack humphed as her all encompassing hug squeezed the air from his lungs. At least he knew where Bozer got it.

"Jack! It is good to see you." Jack grinned and hugged her back. It was impossible to not feel part of the family when Mama greeted you.

"Mama! So great to see you again."

"Riley Davis, my my you are more beautiful every time I see you! Has Wilt still been bothering you? I'll take my baking pin upside his head if I have to."

"MOM!" Riley laughed with the older woman.

"No, we're good, Mrs. Bozer."

"Mama."

"Mama, sorry." Mama patted Riley on the arm and stepped past her to give Bozer an even bigger hug. Boze enthusiastically returned it. The house seemed to shake with the energy of their affection.

"Boy, you getting a bit fat." Bozer looked down and patted his belly.

"Mama! I am not." He looked at the others for help. Riley held up her thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. Bozer shot her an annoyed glare. Mama laughed and turned to Mac. He hung back and watched her with wariness. She paused and eyed him a long silent minute.

"Oh Angus, come here." Her entire tone and body language changed. In four words she became the embodiment of all mothers ability to comfort a child. She slowly pulled Mac into a hug. Mac stiffened then slowly melted into her. He buried his head in her shoulder. She rubbed his back.

"I heard about James, I'm so sorry Angus." She said. Jack wiped moisture from his eyes. He could see Riley and Bozer do the same. If he was Mac he'd be bawling. Mac didn't. He just stood patiently waiting for Mama to get the need to comfort him out of her system. She pulled back reluctantly knowing he would not allow himself to take in the comfort. She shook her head. This boy.

"Let me look at you." She held onto his shoulders and stepped back studying him. It was clear she was not happy with what she saw. She turned a furious look at Bozer.

"Wilt, why haven't you fattened this boy up!"

"Mama-" Bozer was saved by a squeal and series of yells that echoed throughout the house. There was a stampede and a herd of kids surrounded them.

"Uncle Bozer!"

"Uncle MAC!" The voices muddled over each other. The adults were swarmed for hugs and attention. Even Mac was grinning by the time Mama managed to shoo them back out the back door. A group of adults sat surrounding a picnic table. The remnants of barbeque sprawled around them.

"Wilt!" Wilt rant to them like a puppy not sure exactly which one to great first. Mama let out a deep breath as Bozer sat among them catching up with his brothers and sisters.

"What a kaboodle." She said, "Come inside. I didn't make you anything, I figured Wilt would drag you to Burger Nirvana."

"He did." Mama rolled her eyes. She headed to the kitchen, a giant room with every cooking gadget or gizmo invented.

"I see where Bozer gets it from." Riley said smiling. Mama laughed.

"He's a good cook, I'll give you that." She shot Mac a smile as she set a pot of coffee to boil, "This one, however, can't boil water without burning it."

"You can't actually burn water." Mac mumbled as he sat at the table. Jack sat beside him grinning.

"Child, you could definitely figure out how to do it." They all laughed. Riley helped Mama carry mugs of coffee back to the table. Jack inhaled it and rolled his eyes back in bliss.

"Oh, Mama, you have got to teach me how to make this." Mama smiled and sipped her coffee.

"I'll try, Jack." She said. They were quiet a long minute each lost in their own thoughts. Jack felt Mama studying him. He frowned forcing himself to not squirm. She turned to Mac.

"How does it taste, Angus?" Mac looked up surprised.

"Uh...fine, good. Perfect as usual, Mama." She nodded. Mac looked away. Mama shot Jack and Riley a look.

"I'm gonna go see what Boze is up to." Riley said excusing herself. She took her coffee out to the back yard. Mac stared into his coffee. Jack thought he might face plant into the coffee.

"Mac, you're exhausted. You should go take a nap." Jack suggested. Mac looked at Mama about to protest.

"Jack's right Angus, go ahead on up. You're room's just like you left it." Mac nodded and offered a small smile at them. He trudged up the stairs as if he weighed a ton.

"I hate seeing him like this." Mama said softly. Her gaze shifted to Jack, "You look a little threadbare too." Jack's eyes widened. Mama chuckled and waved a hand.

"Don't even bother with the whole Thinktank nonsense. I can believe the others doing that, but you...you've been to war. I can tell my Jessie had the same look when he came back from 'Nam." Jack let out a breath and wiped his eyes.

"You know your stuff." Jack admitted.

"I should. You just got back from some shit, huh?" Jack frowned his jaw clenching.

"Yeah, it was rough. I've been gone close to three months. I come back and…" Jack waved his hand vaguely towards the stairs. He looked directly into Mama's eyes.

"I don't know what to do, Mama. I've never seen him so-"

"Lost?"

"Yeah." Mama pushed her cup away.

"I wish I could say I haven't, but I have. That boy...no one should go through what he's been through."

"Yeah."

"His folks place was two blocks over. We probably wouldn't ever have crossed paths if his Mother hadn't died."

"Really? He never talks about her."

"He probably doesn't remember much, he was so little. It was a car accident. He was...shoot, must have been about four, maybe five. Jesse, my oldest boy, always took his brothers around to their house because they had the coolest set up and best candy." Jack smiled. Thinking of the combined intellect of the entire house, he bet they did. He couldn't quite picture Oversight getting in on the fun though. As if reading his mind, Mama laughed.

"Yeah, I know what you're thinking. James was a cold one. He wasn't always that way. The few times I saw them together, he doted on that wife of his...and Angus. It didn't really change until that Halloween. A drunk driver forced her off the road into a tree. We were just coming around. Jesse senior, my husband, was the first one there helping her. The police, fire and rescue, ambulances...the whole shebang. It was big news in Mission City, we didn't get a lot of that sort of thing back then. Jesse Sr. went over to see the MacGyver's a couple days later. He said that they were both stiff as boards, kind of standoffish and cold. Angus reached out to his father and his father pushed him away...literally."

"Son of a bitch, sorry Mama." Mama Bozer chuckled and put a warm paw on Jack's hands.

"I know just how you feel. Jesse Jr. and Wilt went over to check on Angus, next thing I know they are running around like the Musketeers." Mama smiled a fond look on her face. Jack sipped his coffee.

"Is Jesse outside? I don't think I've ever heard either of them speak about him before." Jack regretted asking as soon as he saw the stricken look on Mama's face, "You don't have to tell me."

"No, honey, it's ok. It's kind of nice to talk about my boy. He was the light of his father's eyes."

"Was?"

"Yeah. I have to say that was the worst day of my life. A mother should never have to bury her child. Especially so young. He was only ten."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, me too. My husband insisted on keeping a gun in the house for protection. I hated it, but it helped ease his anxiety some. PTSD you know, although I don't think they knew much about it back then. He kept it locked in a safe. You know how kids are drawn to the one thing you want to keep them away from." Jack nodded. Mama stood up and picked up the mugs. She set them in the sink then returned. She stood looking out the window at her bustling family for a long time. Jack waited silently.

"I know it destroyed Wilt. I'm not sure how bad it hurt Angus."

"What do you mean?"

"Somehow they got into the safe and got the gun out. They were playing around and…" Mama rubbed her eyes, "I heard the call. Poor Wilt was off his head. He told me later that Mac had opened the safe. After it...Mac was calm as a cucumber doing first aid and telling Wilt to call 911. When the paramedics got here, Mac was still doing CPR and had to be pulled off Jesse's body." Jack ducked his head.

"Oh, God." He mumbled. Was that why Mac hated guns? He looked at Mama, "He never told me any of that."

"No, he wouldn't. Wilt and he became best friends after that. Angus was over here all the time, helping Wilt with school work, having sleepovers. I remember one night Wilt was having nightmares. I go running in there and Mac already has my boy up and crying in his arms."

"He's an amazing person."

"That he is. They started building that tree house up the hill."

"The Lab." Mama laughed.

"Yeah, they were hooligans, but they were intellectual about it. Most of the trouble they got into had to do something with school and learning."

"Like the Incident." Mama's eyes narrowed.

"We do not talk about that in this house, ever." Jack nodded. Like Cairo, got it. They were quiet a long minute.

"Jesse took a liking to Angus. He was into cars and building things. Mac would spend most of his time out in the garage with Jesse while Wilt would hang out in here inventing new things to feed them when they came in covered with grease." Mama sat back down.

"Jesse would always take Mac home. Wilt only slept over there a couple of times. It was a cold house. A cold house seething with anger, you know? Young Angus would try to get his Dad's attention any way he could. You know he burnt down their garage when he was eight?" Jack laughed.

"Well, somethings never change."

"James pulled away or...well, he had quite a temper." Jack felt his blood freeze. His hands balled into fists.

"He hurt Mac?" Mama looked surprised at the soft deadly tone in Jack's voice.

"There are a lot of ways of hurting someone, Jack." Mama said. Jack nodded, "But yeah he knocked Angus around sometimes. Not enough to leave a mark, but if he did that when someone was there…"

"How bad was it when no one was around."

"We thought things were looking up, then came that stupid party."

"Where his father left?"

"Yeah, man if I could have wrapped my hands around his skinny neck I would have throttled that man. How could you leave a twelve year old like that? Not even a word. I don't know how he ever wormed his way back into that boy's life. Angus's heart is too big for his own good, I swear."

"I hear ya, but turns out he never went away." Mama froze her mouth hanging open.

"What?"

"Yeah, he watched Mac his entire life, he even put us together in Afghanistan." Mama leaned back. Jack squirmed at the glint of barely contained rage in her eyes. She moved her mouth a few times before she spoke.

"That might be the only good thing that heartless bastard did. You mean he sat through the whole thing with Angus's grandfather?" It was Jack's turn to look surprised.

"Grandfather? I know he died when Mac was in MIT-"

"He did, but things got bad long before that. Why do you think he moved in with us?"

"He never said."

"He was about fourteen when his Grandpa was taken to the home. Cancer... just like his dad. He took care of the man until he was well enough to go home. A fourteen year old boy taking all that on by himself. He was about to graduate high school and had a full ride to MIT. Lord, that boy's a smart one."

"He's a genius."

"You know it. A lot of people throw that word around, but Angus...he's the real deal. Maybe that's why he and Wilt worked so well together. Wilt would always be able to get into Angus and drag him out of that wall he holds everything behind." The older woman cocked her head," Something I think you do now." Jack rubbed his forehead.

"I try, Mama-" Mama reached over and took his hands in hers.

"No, Jack, you do. I've seen it. The last time Angus was here he was so much happier than I'd seen him in years. I think you and Wilt are all that keeps him from driving off the cliff."

"I think I let the wheel slip on this one."

"You were gone and he was curling in wasn't he?"

"Yeah." Jack stared at his hands. He looked up at the woman tears in his eyes, "What if I lose him this time?"

"Oh, honey. Don't...that'll never happen and you know why?" Jack shook his head, "Because we won't let it, right?" Jack grinned and squeezed her hands.

"You are a national treasure." He said. Mama let out a loud laugh.

"You Southern silver tongued liar."

"Mama?" Jack said with exaggerated innocence. Bozer came stomping in trailed by a boy Jack guessed was around ten. Bozer stopped and narrowed his eyes.

"What's going on in here?"

"This young sexy boy is flirting with me." Mama said. Jack grinned. Bozer's eyes almost popped out of his head. He looked at Jack horrified.

"Oh. Hell. No!" Jack laughed.

"What are you doing in here?"

"Me and mini-me here were looking for Mac."

"He's resting." Bozer's face lost its happiness.

"That's probably a good thing." The boy started whining and pushed Bozer toward the door.

"Uncle Wilt-"

"Alright, little man. Uncle Mac's asleep, let's go back to playing. I don't want any trouble from you two." Bozer said pointing at Jack. Jack shrugged. Bozer looked to the sky and silently mouthed a prayer. Bozer turned to go outside.

"And Wilt?"

"Yeah?"

"None of that Red Rover business." Bozer rolled his eyes and disappeared outside. Jack raised a questioning eyebrow. Mama pointed to a picture hanging near the door leading to the living room. It showed a young Bozer beside a young Mac both sporting matching casts. One had "Mac" written on it the other "Bozer." Jack laughed.

"That's a shame, that was how I learned to do a closeline." Mama huffed.

"Boys."

"Men." Jack groused good naturedly.

"Men are boys in bigger packaging."

"True." Jack conceded.

"And a heap more trouble."

"Also true."