The Monster
Nicknames are well earned. Jack's past comes back to haunt him. The team tries to help the stubborn Jack, but will they be too late?
Rogue
Mac and Riley return to Jack's house. Mac wanted to look for that safe. He hoped that maybe that had the answers they desperately needed. Mac figured that Jack would have told what the key was for when he gave it. Mac goes to Jack's bedroom hoping that Jack had his gun safe near his bed. Mac finds the safe in his closet. They key fits. Nothing. Mac was hoping to find something but there was nothing. Only one of Jack's guns were missing. Mac assumed it was the one he usually carried. Mac begins feeling around and wiggles free the false top in the safe.
"Here, we go. Very tricky, Jack." Mac whispered under his breath as he found some old paperwork. "Now what do we have here?" Mac said continuing to read. It was Jack's will, with a letter for Diane sealed in the envelope. It looked years old. The paper had a yellow tinged. The dust had made the paper brittle and textured. Mac continued to read finding that it was about ten years old. Jack had left everything to Diane and Riley. Jack's collection of prized revamped old cars to Riley, and Jack's pension and finances to go to Diane. It appeared that Jack had signed over his GI Bill to Riley for her college education. Mac sat down at the foot of Jack's bed. Mac expected to find answers but felt like this was Jack's Hail Mary. Jack's end game. Mac felt a newfound worry. He heard something fall and looked between his legs and found a card at his feet. The card appeared newer, and he chuckled slightly seeing MACGYVER scribbled across it. Jack had the worse handwriting. Mac put the paper down and grabbed the card. He knew what this was, and he could not bring himself to open it. Not now. It was not time. He told himself. They were going to find Jack and everything was going to be okay. Mac reassured himself.
As they arrived back to Phoenix they were met by an excited Bozer at the door. Bozer looked like he had been waiting for them and look to have news.
"Hello, Miss Davis." Bozer charmed. "Matty is on the jet. She wants you to meet there."
"I'm not going on another OP until we have Jack." Mac said offended.
"It's about Jack. They tracked his phone just outside of Texas, and it's not good." Bozer stated.
"He's going home." Diane answered.
"Wait, what do you mean? Not good?" Riley asked concerned.
"New Mexico State Trooper was beat up a little while ago after making a traffic stop. Suspect pulled him out of the car before he could run the plate. The cop gave a description, and according to Matty it sounds like Jack. There's a manhunt out looking for the suspect." Bozer explained as they continued to walk towards the plane.
"Wait, wait. Jack would not attack a cop. That description could match a hundred people." Mac defended as they got aboard the jet.
"The Feds are asking if we have a rogue agent. We have to go and get him now and hope he's not defective!" Matty said displeased.
"Jack is not rogue." Mac continued to defend his best friend. "Jack would not attack someone without being provoked. He has no reason to attack the police. Especially if he's trying to keep a low profile."
"I'd have to agree..." Bozer started but stopped once Matty glared at him.
"This isn't the Jack you know, because he's kept it hidden from you. I agree Jack probably didn't attack the trooper because Jack would have killed him. Whatever is going on with him, he's going to lose control of it and the body count will continue to rise. The moment the Monster comes out..."
"Stop! Stop calling him that!" Riley yelled as her hands shook. She did not care about the stories anymore, and the idea that Jack was this monster terrified her. She wanted no part of it. Riley shook her head as she went to the bathroom to clear her thoughts.
"Every body that falls will be at the hands of the Phoenix foundation and they will close us faster than DXS." Matty scolded.
"We will get him." Mac whispered. The awkward silence that took over the plane was suffocating. Mac sat across from Diane who listened to the argument and sulked in silence.
"Do you think Jack is going to hurt people? Like the cop?" She asked sheepishly.
"I don't know. I hope not, but I don't know what's going on in his head. I don't think he hurt the cop. Bad timing, that's all." Mac said but Diane continued to stare out the window. "Thank you for coming with us."
"It's the least I could do. Jack... Well, I assume he told you. He's helped me through a lot." She smiled at him. "I need to help him."
"How did you guys meet?" Mac asked trying to ease the woman's nerves through take off.
"I tazed him." She chuckled.
Diane lifted the hood of her car as smoke began to escape. Riley slept in the front seat. It was late but Diane knew if she did not leave now she was arrive of what would have happened. She took a step on the right direction and called the police, and had Riley's father arrested. Once the police took him away Diane packed as much as she could carry and took off with Riley in hopes of giving her a new life. However, just as they left the city limits the car began break down. With her adrenaline still roaring instead of pulling over to address the problem she drove the vehicle into the ground. Dianne stared at the engine hoping that it would tell her how to fix it. Diane now became very aware of her surroundings. She was easily spooked. She did not know where she was or where she was going. Every car that drove by was him, coming to get his revenge for having him arrested. The wind gave her goosebumps.
"Excuse me..." A voice said from behind the smoke of the car. Diane lunged a him taser first. The voice grabbed her wrist but she still made contact. The voice was a man. He wore a gray plain shirt and a brand new pair of jeans with black boots. He raised his hands in surrender as he fell on the sidewalk. He had a large green bag that was at his side.
"What are you doing?!" She said with shaky hands with the taser still aimed at him.
"I just wanted to help..." He said holding his side. "I'm sorry... If I scared you..." He said breathless as he got his bearing back. "My name is Jack..." He tried to get up but she chirped the taser. He stayed sitting raising his hands. "Here." Jack said handing her his wallet.
"I'm sorry." She apologized as she looked at his military ID.
"What's wrong with your car?" He asked standing.
"What?"
"Figure I can help you, and the next guy from a taser shot. I think there's an autoparts store not to far ahead... Or is there someone coming?" Jack asked sensing her discomfort.
"No... No one is coming." Diane whispered.
"I can push it there. You can't stayed parked out here. Someone could side swipe you." Jack pleaded as he began inspecting the engine. As he closed the hood he saw a sleeping Riley stir in the front seat. "The store isn't too far ahead. Will you steer?" He asked putting his bag on the trunk and got ready to push.
Jack tried to make small talk but Diane gave one word answers. Jack picked up on the fact that this was not an late afternoon drive gone wrong but rather an escape from hell with no rear view mirror. Once they pulled into the autoparts store Jack scurried inside. Diane rubbed Riley's head brushing her hair back. Diane did not want the pity help from strangers but she was desperate. She couldn't think about herself or her pride when all her focus and energy went to protecting Riley.
"Pop the hood." Jack said quietly as he had a small plastic bag of stuff. Diane got out and watched him as he begin working.
"I don't have any money." She announced with out realizing.
"Don't worry about it." He said smiling at her.
"Do you really know what you are doing?" She smiled back.
"Yeah. I uh, I, like to work on cars. Trust me you're in good hands." He chuckled.
"So you are in the army?"
"Yes, ma'am. I'm on leave. I just got back."
"From where?"
"Uh, Germany."
"What do you do?"
"I'm part of the 101st airborne. I jump out of airplanes. What about you?"
"I was a housewife. Not as interesting as jumping out of planes." Diane said quickly trying to keep the conversation on Jack.
"Hey, taking care of a kid is difficult too. Besides jumping out of planes is over rated... Not that it is any of my business. But are you alright?"
"I just left my abusive husband husband." Diane said and Jack stopped and looked at her.
"Oh my god." Jack said as if her faint bruised were the only thing he could see.
"It's okay. I left, and I'm not going back."
"Here." He said writing some information on the back of the receipt. "This person will be able to help you. Tell her that Jack sent you. She helped out my sister. She too was in a bad relationship and needed some help. They were great."
"Thank you." Diane whispered.
"I'm staying at the embassy suites up the street. Room 248. Stop by if you need anything." Jack said and Diane looked at him funny. "Oh god, that came out wrong. I'm not a pervert... I don't have my own place yet. I'm buying a house but until then I'm at the hotel... And now I'm rambling." Jack stuttered. Diane laughed.
"Thanks, Jack."
"Why don't you give her a go?" Jack said pointing at the car. Diane smiled as she walked back to her car and tried to start it. The car turned over with no smoke. Jack smiled and raised his arms in triumph. Diane smiled looking at the man she'd come to love for years.
Next chapter will be all Jack. What do you think? Please review!
