A/N Well, it's a little bittersweet for me to know that this story is soon coming to an end. The final chapter (15) is written and almost ready to post. I hope this has been as fun of a ride for all of you as it has been for me! :-) Next story is already brewing in my mind, and is even briefly outlined on my PC. Need to finish editing my YA novella first, though. I apologize for any typos or plot holes - some, however, are meant to set up a possible sequel for Mac&Jack to return to Halifax for a visit with Jay and Toby. (That's not the next story I was referring to, though. That's one's gonna be a surprise! *wink*)

Jack looked down at the pint-size boy in his arms. "Hey, buddy! How ya' doin'?"

Toby smiled up at him, then pulled away so that he could throw his arms around Mac's waist next. Jack smirked at the look of surprise on the young genius's face and didn't miss the fondness in the blue eyes as MacGyver gazed down at the nine-year-old. "Hey, Toby!"

Unlike his little brother, Jay approached the parking lot at a much slower pace. MacGyver shared a look with Jack, knowing that his friend saw the teen the same way Mac did – someone who'd been hurt many times and had learned to keep his walls erected no matter what the situation. Truth be told, Mac saw it so clearly for the simple reason that, not too long ago, he was that kid. He blushed slightly at the realization that Jack could see it for the same reason – after all, he was the one who pulled Mac out of that well-built shell while they were in the desert together.

The past week was an undeniable testament to the fact that Mac's defenses were still there… and that Jack still had the same uncanny ability to knock the walls down and virtually see right into Mac's soul.

When Jay was only half way down the walkway, a woman Mac presumed had to be Brian's wife darted out of the house.

"Jay, honey, wait," she called out.

The teen stopped and turned around. The pretty brunette handed him to jackets with the cryptic comment, "You know, just in case." She then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, earning a set of bright pink cheeks on Jay's face before he resumed his path to the parking lot.

As he finally reached the car, in true Jack form, MacGyver watched his best friend pull Jay into a quick hug. Neither of them missed the flinch from the teen when Jack reached out for him – as if expecting to be hit – which made Jack completing the embrace all that more important. Mac was pretty sure it lasted a few seconds longer than Jack had initially intended it to, as well.

MacGyver marvelled at the fact that anyone could hurt a child, let alone when that child was one of their own. The thought of such an event never failed to make his blood boil. The fact that it had happened to these kids turned the rolling boil into a veritable inferno!

Releasing a still stunned Jay, Jack opened the door of the Mustang so that the boys could climb into the backseat. A glance back at the house revealed Brian standing just outside his backdoor. He signalled them with a jut of the chin that he'd like to speak with them in private. So, Jack leaned down to look in at the boys through the open passenger side window. "We'll be right back, guys," he said with a conciliatory wink, then started to follow Mac down the walkway which led to the house.

He paused when the hair on the back of his neck stood up on end. They were being watched. Not wanting to alarm the kids, or to tip off their observer, Jack pretended to notice something wrong with the front passenger side tire. Mac turned around, clearly sensing the same unwelcome spectator as Jack did, but Jack quickly waved him off, his expression sending out their tried and true silent communication to continue BAU – Business as Usual.

Knowing that his return to the vehicle would only raise suspicion, and possibly increase any potential danger, MacGyver resumed his path to the house with practiced ease. As he reached Brian, Mac reached out and shook his hand. The guy kind of reminded him of Jack, to be honest. The two were around the same age. Both had their hair cropped close, and their broad shoulders and barrel chests told of decades of staying in shape. "I hear you helped Jack when I was… incapacitated. Thank you," he said sincerely.

"No thanks necessary," Brian dismissed. "All I did was hold doors open so that he could carry you up to the room."

The words were said kindly, without any sort of recrimination or malice but Mac still felt the blush burn up his neck to his cheeks.

Of course, it made sense. He'd been unconscious, so he wouldn't have been able to get up the stairs of his own volition. He just hadn't really given it much thought – which he'd be the first to admit was a defense mechanism… if he didn't know about it, then it didn't happen. Now the ostrich hole was taken away, so he was no longer able to keep that detachment about the helplessness he felt after being poisoned.

"I don't know if Jack told you, but my son died back when he was around Jay's age."

That statement pulled MacGyver back to the present and he regarded the other man with sympathy. "No, he didn't. I'm so sorry for your loss." Mac knew a little something about losing loved ones but kept that little nugget of information to himself.

"Thank you, I appreciate that," Brian said. "But that's not why I told you. I feel like you should know, when you were sick and hurting, the same love I felt for my son was plain to see in Jack's eyes when he looked at you. In fact, I thought that you actually were his son at first."

MacGyver felt the emotions from a few days previous soar to the surface once again, making it difficult to breathe. Brian must have sensed the turmoil because he placed a comforting hand on Mac's arm.

"I'm not trying to upset you, kid. I just want you to know that the way Jack feels about you – and I assume the feeling is reciprocated?…" he paused, then was encouraged by Mac's curt nod of agreement. "Well, that's why Gabriella and I have decided to adopt Jay and Toby."

Mac's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

Brian nodded, squeezing MacGyver's arm with the hand Mac had forgotten was even there. "What I saw that night between you and Jack made me rethink the whole idea of adoption. You guys changed my life. And I wanted you to know that a whole lotta good came from all the bad stuff that happened to you that night. Your suffering wasn't in vain, my friend," he tacked on with a tender smile.

Unable to see the threat, Jack figured days of being on edge since their arrival in Halifax had sharpened to the point of slight paranoia for both him and Mac. He stood up, stretched – mostly because, if anyone was watching, he wanted them to know their threat didn't concern him – then made his way toward Brian and Mac. Whatever they'd been talking about while Jack was perusing fake damage to a perfectly good tire, MacGyver's cheeks burned almost as bright as Jay's had just a few moments earlier.

"Hey, Brian," Jack said, reaching out to shake the man's hand. "I almost didn't recognize you in your civies, man!"

"Gabriella won't let me wear my uniform in my off-duty hours. She says she doesn't want me having delusions of grandeur at home… I think she's just afraid she won't be able to keep her hands off me," he whispered with a conspiratorial wink.

"You just keep tellin' yourself that," Gabriella called out from inside the house. A peek through the window revealed a mischievous smirk on the pretty face as she watched a movie from her perch on the sofa. Jack and MacGyver shared a grin of their own – the couple's similar sense of humour told them that Gabriella and Brian were clearly made for each other.

"Listen, guys," Brian started, his voice taking on a more ominous tone. "I don't want to put a damper on your day with the boys but…" he trailed off, unsure how to put his concern into words.

"What is it?" Mac asked in all seriousness, his training having given him a pretty reliable instinct for when trouble was looming. "Did the judge refuse to give you temporary custody?"

"No, no. Judge Callahan is a huge advocate for helping kids in abusive situations. She signed the papers after just a 30 minute conversation with each Jay and Toby."

"Smart lady," Jack said with relief.

Still, Brian hesitated with his revelation. But not for dramatic effect. It seemed more like he was trying to decide whether or not he should put voice to his thoughts. Like MacGyver, Jack's posture also tensed in preparation for bad news. "Brian?"

"Look, I don't know for sure who it is, but someone's been lurking around the property the past few days." Instinctually, MacGyver and Jack nonchalantly turned to look at their surroundings. "Whoever it is," Brian continued, "he didn't start coming around until after Jay and Toby got here." He turned to Mac, gentling his voice as he remembered the vulnerable state the young man had been in when they'd first met. "The group who abducted you were all rounded up and taken off our hands by your boss – a little detail, I have to admit, I'm still curious about."

The faces of his abductors flashed through Mac's mind but he determinedly pushed the thoughts away. He was safe now, thanks to Jack.

"You're safer not knowing, man," Jack assured him. "Trust me on that."

"Anyway, logically, it leaves only one possible culprit in my mind." His gaze found the car, watching the boys who were still waiting in the backseat.

Jack and MacGyver followed his line of sight. Mac spoke up first. "You think it might be their father?"

Brian locked eyes with him and nodded. "It's the only thing that makes sense, isn't it?"

"Did you put a restraining order on the guy?"

"Need to find him before I can do anything like that. I gotta tell ya, though, the way Jay reacts when anyone makes any sudden movements around him, makes me kinda wanna do more than put a restraining order on him."

"Yeah," Mac said, clenching his fists. "Ever since I met those kids, I've been thinking about an impromptu meeting with the guy myself." Jack casually took a step closer to him, causing their shoulders to touch, and Mac felt his anger dissipate somewhat. Not completely but enough so that he was able to unclench his fists without too much effort.

"I know someone who might be able to help you find him," Jack told Brian. "I'll have her give you a call."

"That would be great, Jack. Thanks. Keep a close eye on the kids and on your own sixes, okay? Gabriella's grown quite fond of those boys," he added, gaze again falling on Jay and Toby through the windshield of the Mustang.

"Just Gabriella, huh," Jack needled.

This time, it was Brian's turn to blush. He cleared his throat. "Anyway, we'd hate to see anything happen to them."

"We'll keep them safe," Mac promised, meaning it with every ounce of his being.

Seeing the sincerity in the blue eyes, Brian accepted Mac's word for what it was.

"Do the boys know? You know, about the guy who's been lurking around?" Jack queried.

"I think Jay suspects something. He's been a bit jumpier than usual the last day or so. But he's been careful to keep it from Toby."

"He's trying to protect him," Mac conceded.

"Question is, who's gonna protect Jay?" Jack added, a note of concern in his voice.

"We are," Brian affirmed, earning a nod of agreement from MacGyver and Jack.

Without another word, the off-duty officer shook both their hands and then went back inside. A second later, he turned back again. "Hey, MacGyver, they don't know about the other stuff either. We want to surprise them with the news later this week. Gabby's got a special dinner planned, gifts, the whole nine yards."

"My lips are sealed," Mac assured him.

Brian continued inside, leaving Jack to regard MacGyver with confusion. "News?"

"Don't worry, it's the good kind – Brian and Gabriella are planning to adopt the kids," the blond revealed with a small grin.

"That is good news," Jack agreed. "That's very good news." Before turning to leave, he leaned in to Mac. "Now, you wanna tell me what the rest of that was all about?"

"The rest of what?"

"You nearly going all Bruce Banner a few minutes ago. I'm the Hulk in this relationship," Jack told him, jerking a thumb towards his own chest. "Remember?"

Mac chuckled softly at Jack's reference to the ornery Marvel comic book character. Maybe the Hulk should be Jack's superhero alter-ego instead of –

"Or do you still see me as Captain America?" Jack teased.

"Aw, man, I'm never gonna hear the end of that, am I?"

"Absolutely not," Jack concurred.

"Great," Mac groaned under his breath.

As he and Jack turned to leave, they caught a glimpse of Brian sitting on the sofa with Gabriella pulled into his side, as they continued watching a movie on the television. They hadn't gone two steps before hearing the iconic line from one of Jack's favourite movies through the open living room window.

"Nine million terrorists in the world, and I gotta kill the one with feet smaller than my sister."

MacGyver couldn't believe that, of all the movies in the world, Brian and Gabriella had to be watching that one. He shook his head and glanced at Jack through the corner of his eye. Not surprisingly, the tiny grin on his friend's face did wonders in lessening the weight of the dark cloud Mac felt hovering overhead.

Still, that slight reprieve didn't stop either of them from discreetly checking their surroundings again for possible danger. "So? What do you think?"

"I think, we're gonna give these kids the awesome day they deserve – "

"While still keeping them safe and watching our six," Mac finished for him. "I agree completely."

"Glad I'm already packin'," Jack added. When MacGyver cocked his head to the side, Jack continued, "Ankle holster."

"You brought a gun with you for a tour of the city?"

"Yeah, and it's a good thing I did, isn't it?"

This time, a raised eye brow was what urged Jack to shrug and say, "Force of habit, man. I slip on the holster every morning, right after I do my hair."

"Oh, so that," MacGyver indicated Jack's hair-do, "is on purpose?"

Mac ducked just in time to avoid the smack upside the head and darted the rest of the way to the car.

Jack was behind the wheel this time, and he and Mac kept the conversation light for the return drive to downtown Halifax – with Jack handling the traffic circle like a pro! The two men took turns checking the mirrors to confirm it they were being followed and were both fairly certain that they weren't. However, the beautiful sunny day seemed to be pulling out half the city's population, filling the streets with not only pedestrians but also people who preferred to enjoy the sunshine with the added benefit of an air conditioned vehicle. The streets were packed.

"Hey, Jay?" Mac asked, half turning in his seat.

"Yeah?"

"Why did Gabriella give you a jacket on a hot day like this?"

Jay smirked. "There's a saying here on the east coast. If you don't like the weather, don't worry because it's gonna change in a few minutes."

Jack glanced at the teen in the rearview mirror, perplexed. He looked over at Mac, relieved to see that he wasn't the only one to not understand something this time.

"But, if you do like the weather," Toby piped up, "don't get your hopes up… because it's gonna change – "

"In a few minutes," Jack and MacGyver finished, each grinning. "We get it," Jack said. "We get it."

In the backseat, Jay and Toby laughed quietly at the east coast idiom. It was a good sound.

Their first stop was the forts on Citadel Hill, reported as the highest point in the city. Jack, Jay and Toby loved seeing where many soldiers had slept and ate but had thankfully never seen battle – at least not here.

Even Mac discovered something interesting when he learned that the immense size of the hill was what had protected the southern and western areas of the city from the Halifax Explosion, which was the result of a French munitions ship accidentally colliding with a Norwegian vessel on its way to pick up relief supplies for war-torn Belgium on December 6, 1917.

MacGyver continued to read the large placard, his mind craving more information. Behind him, he heard more giggles coming from Toby, no doubt due to something Jack had said or done. If he were to be completely honest, Mac was a bit jealous that the youngest of the boys had bonded with the older man so fast but Mac couldn't really blame him – Jack had wormed his way into his own heart mere weeks after meeting; an accomplishment never before achieved sooner than a couple years of comprehensive calculations and meticulous vetting. Jack just had this special way of inserting himself into a person's life and making that person not want to let him go. Mac might have thought the man to be a wizard waving an invisible magic wand, if he believed in such things.

Even while he kept reading the historical account, he couldn't help but smirk at the memory of when he and Jack had first started working together in the desert. They had quickly gone from being quite possibly the oddest pairing in the United States Army to a team made up of two best friends who trusted each other implicitly and would die for one another without a second's hesitation.

As he moved to the next paragraph on the placard, Mac learned that the blast from the centre of the harbour had levelled 2.5 square kilometers of downtown Halifax. Then, as if the explosion and fires weren't enough devastation, the blast also created a tsunami which swept over the city. In total, nearly 1500 people were killed, another 9000 badly injured, and more than 25,000 were left homeless.

Windows in the community of Truro 100 kilometers away – which Mac calculated to be equal to a little over 62 miles – were shattered and the blast was heard in Prince Edward Island with a distance more than three times that.

Mac was so riveted by the information, a low whistle from behind made him jump. He turned slightly to see Jack standing at his back with Toby sitting atop his shoulders. "That was one massive explosion," the Delta Commando said, effectively reading Mac's mind. Then his partner's gaze took on an air of warning. "I was thinking maybe you should take the kids back to the car, while I hang around here for a bit longer," he muttered cryptically, his eyes darting to Mac's left and back again.

This time, it was Mac's turn to do the 'mind-reading'. He followed Jack's signal and looked to his left just in time to see a figure cloaked in darkness duck behind a nearby wall. While he was still processing the fact that the boys' father had likely found them, MacGyver suddenly found himself with an armful of nine-year-old. He shifted the boy to his hip, glanced quickly to the right to ensure Jay was also safe, then returned his attention to Jack who was now several feet away from them, headed in the direction of the wall their shadow had disappeared behind. "Jack!" MacGyver stage whispered, not wanting to alert their pray but also not wanting his best friend to step into an unknown situation without some kind of backup.

Jack merely turned to give a thumbs up sign, then disappeared behind the corner.

"Where's Jack going?" Toby inquired.

"He's, uh, he's gone to get us all something to drink," Mac lied as he led the boys out of the Citadel forts and back down the long path to the car. A look from Jay told MacGyver loud and clear that he still sucked at subterfuge but at least Toby seemed to buy it, and the teen was following without argument.

Ten minutes later, Jack met them at the Mustang empty-handed. "Where's our drinks," Toby asked, pouting a bit. In the kid's defense, they had been traipsing around in the heat for quite a while.

At Jack's questioning look, MacGyver shrugged. "He asked where you were going," he explained simply, locking eyes with his friend and cocking his head to the side in silent warning.

"Ahh, okay," Jack said, winking at Mac to indicate he received the semi-telepathic message loud and clear. "Well, Toby, I figured we should get a snack to go with our drinks and MacGyver here hasn't been able to stop talking about some concoction called a Beavertail."

Mac frowned slightly. He couldn't remember any such conversation but quickly realized that he must have mentioned talked about them in his fevered delirium. Either way, he didn't have time to think about it for too long because Toby started vibrating with excitement at the mere thought of eating a Beavertail.

"I guess we're a go for Beavertails, then," MacGyver laughed.

"I guess so," Jack agreed. "What do you say, Jay? Are you up for it?"

The teen continued to eye both Jack and MacGyver with suspicion but nodded his agreement. Though his decision was likely more due to being unable to say no to his little brother, than to any progress of trust in the two secret agents.

Their next stop was the waterfront. Having grown up in Halifax, the boys were all too familiar with Beavertails. But with their most recent living situation, they hadn't been able to indulge in one of the sweet, doughy concoctions since before their mom died.

Jay balked at Toby revealing this bit of intel, as he did with every other piece of personal information the boy shared, but he kept his mouth shut for Toby's sake and forced an air of indifference to emanate off him. The teen had no idea how transparent his act had become, as the more MacGyver and Jack got to know him, the more easily they were able to see the pain behind the façade.

As MacGyver and Toby walked a few feet ahead, with Mac listening intently to all the statistics the boy wanted to share about the ships and landmarks they passed, Jay leaned a bit closer to Jack. This surprised the older man at first, until he heard the harsh whisper in his ear – "What is going on?"

Jack shrugged, not wanting to worry the kid any more than he clearly already was. "I think your brother has taken on the role of tour guide. And a pretty darn good one, at that."

"You know that's not what I'm talking about," Jay admonished. "You think, I don't notice you and Mac looking over your shoulders all the time? Or the multiple glances in the mirrors ever since we left the house? And what about your impromptu get away back at the forts?" When Jack didn't respond right away, Jay moved to step in front of him, effectively blocking his path. "What's going on?" he demanded again, pushing his sunglasses up on his head so that Jack would see that he wouldn't be able to get out of this with a well-played joke or one-liner. "I'm not a little kid, Mr. Dalton. And I have a right to know."

Jack gazed at the teen. He couldn't be more than 14 years old, yet his eyes held the experiences of someone much older. Jack wouldn't have been the least bit surprised if Mac's gaze would have looked the same at that age. "Okay, listen," Jack started calmly. "First of all, it's Jack, okay? Mr. Dalton is a title held by my daddy and I could never do it justice the way he did." Something changed in the kid's eyes and Jack regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. Not because he didn't believe them – because he did with all his heart – but because it seemed like he was rubbing in the fact that he'd had a great father who ruled with love and respect; while Jay and Toby's father ruled with fear, neglect, and very likely violence. "Brian told us that someone's been lurking around the house the past couple days."

"My father," Jay whispered almost to himself, his voice carrying no doubt whatsoever.

"We don't know that for sure," Jack told him. "It could all just be a coincidence."

"I knew this was all too good to be true," the teen said, as if not hearing a word Jack had just said. "Toby and I need to bail," he added quickly, spinning around to retrieve his brother with full intention to run far, far away and never look back.

"Now, hold on a minute," Jack countered, taking a hold of the teen's arm and holding him in place, ignoring the surprised glare he got in return. "You don't have to run, kid. MacGyver and I got your back, and so do Brian and Gabriella." Jay was unconvinced. "Look at your brother," Jack tried. "He finally has a light to his eyes and a bounce to his step; you really want to let your dad take that away again?" The teen turned and studied his little brother. "Don't let your jerk of an old man have that kind of control over you, bud. Not again." Now, Jay returned his intense gaze to Jack. "I know it's difficult this late in the game, but you're gonna need to trust someone eventually. I may not have earned that trust yet, but I'm sure Mac has – and, let me tell you, he deserves it. He will not let you down, kiddo. He's just not wired that way."

"Jay, look!"

The teen glanced back to see Toby pointing up at MacGyver who seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he had chocolate syrup transfer from his Beavertail all over his mouth and nose. A wink out of the nine-year-old's line of sight told them Mac was pretending to not notice for comedic effect. And it was working. Not only was Toby in hysterics, Jack and Jay's lips were quirking upwards, as well.

"Doesn't that look like a face you can trust?" Jack asked at his shoulder, knowing full well what the answer would be; simply because the answer to that particular question was always the same – a resounding yes!

Jay nodded hesitantly. Even only seeing the side-profile, Jack was almost certain he saw the kid's eyes fill. His suspicion was pretty much confirmed as Jay slid his sunglasses back on his face and cleared his throat. "Uh, where to next?"

It had been so long since he'd been able to truly trust somebody. The first brick in Jay's wall of solitude was laid shortly after his mom's car wreck, when his father had shoved him into a wall.

It wasn't like the man had never hit him before, quite the contrary. But the previous occasions had all been because Jay had done something wrong – like the time he'd forgotten to study for the History exam which had been worth 50% of his grade; or when his fumble of the ball had led to his team losing the biggest game of the year. It was true, his mom had been upset about the beatings but Jay had deserved each and every one of them. Besides, if it took his dad's attention off his mom and Toby, then Jay took it as a win.

After his mom died, though, the slaps and punches slowly became more frequent and less deserved. More often than not, his dad would usually just be coming off a bender at the local pub and decide that everything that had gone wrong in his life was the fault of his boys. The incident with the hot clothes iron would forever be etched into Jay's memory – it also marked the day that Jay had packed up as much as he could carry of his and Toby's things and bolted.

Having never been a runaway before, Jay had made a few near fatal mistakes in the beginning of his and Toby's new life on the streets. The meager amount of cash Jay had pocketed from his dad's stash before they left had only lasted a couple weeks, which resulted in him needing to find other ways to provide for his little brother. On one such occasion, a diner owner who'd caught him rummaging through the trash behind his restaurant promised to 'help'. Unfortunately, this had meant a call to Child Protective Services, not a free cheeseburger and fries for him and his brother.

Jay and Toby had been taken into custody by a well-meaning social worker who Jay believed truly cared. Sadly, when it came to child abuse, 'well-meaning' could often translate to 'naïve' because what was in the best interest of the child was typically considered to be keeping the family together. Well, Jay knew better than anyone what was best for Toby – and their father wasn't it. So, when the social worker had contacted their dad, suggesting that he pick them up from the youth facility, Jay had ensured that he and his little brother were out the window and across the snow covered lawn before their father had even entered the room.

That had been a close call, to say the least, but it had also been a hard lesson learned – that adults could not be trusted to think outside the box and realize that some people were just not cut out to be parents.

He and Toby had survived on their own for the past six months, strictly adhering to the rule of no adults unless the situation urgently called for it – like the first time they'd had to enlist Brian's help when Toby had tip-toed out of their apartment to get medicine for a feverish Jay and happened upon an armed robbery. He'd told Jay about the incident a couple days later but said he was afraid to go to the police station to give his statement. Jay had quickly pulled out the piece of paper with Brian's contact information on it and gave the officer a call, stating that Toby would give his statement to Brian and only Brian. Other than that, their 'no adult's rule had worked just fine for them.

Then they met MacGyver – and now Jack – and their simple lives were thrown into a turmoil. But a small part of Jay clung to the hope that these new friendships were a symbol of good things to come. Meanwhile, a much larger part had abandoned the idea of 'hope' a long time ago.

Earlier that morning, trying to find local attractions that Jack would enjoy but which would also entertain Jay and Toby had turned out to be surprisingly easy. Then again, maybe it wasn't so surprising, after all.

Despite Jack Dalton's years of experience as a Delta Commando; a CIA and DXS agent; and now his time with the Phoenix Foundation, he was still just a kid at heart.

Mac couldn't help but grin as he watched Jack toss a giggling Toby up over his shoulder and run up and down the pier, pretending that he was Captain Hook and was going to throw Toby's Peter Pan overboard.

Then, the blond's gaze moved to Jay who was also watching Captain Hook/Peter Pan scenario play out. As MacGyver studied the teen unobserved, he noticed a distinct softness to the boy's expression and posture, as if the only time he allowed himself to be unguarded was when enjoying his little brother's laughter.

Or, perhaps Jack's childlike quality wasn't in spite of those life choices, but rather because of them. Maybe that devil-may-care-attitude was what kept Jack from becoming jaded; maybe it was what kept Jack alive. Either way, I couldn't deny finding that particular trait somewhat… endearing. Of course, I will never in a million years tell Jack that. And, if you tell him I said it, I will deny it until I'm blue in the face. No need to inflate the man's ego any further than it already has been.

MacGyver moved to stand next to Jay, feeling the teen's posture tense almost immediately. The kid's demeanour had softened around him quite a bit since their first encounter a few days earlier but there was still a ways to go. That was okay, though. Mac knew what it was like to not be able to trust anyone. And a quick glance at Jack reminded him of what it felt like to know you could trust someone not only with your life but with your heart, as well. Mac wanted more than anything for Jay to feel that kind of trust – to know without a doubt that he could be vulnerable without fear of repercussion.

But something about hearing a nine-year-old giggling in close proximity made this not a good time for that kind of heavy conversation. And, to be honest, Mac was glad for it. Jack was the father-figure in this equation, MacGyver would leave the deep, emotional topics for him to deal with. He was more than happy to take on the role of big brother and leave it at that for the time being.

"Jack's favourite actor is Bruce Willis," he said, seemingly out of the blue, earning a quizzical look from the teen beside him. "But my favourite is Tom Hanks."

"O-kay," Jay replied, drawing out the word in a way that said he thought the blond genius had gone slightly nuts.

"Ever see the movie 'Big'?"

A touch of sadness flashed across the kid's face before he was able to hide it completely. "Yeah, it was one of my mom's favourite movies. Why?"

Mac wanted to place a supportive hand on Jay's shoulder but he hadn't mastered physical forms of comfort the way Jack had. So, instead, he nudged him with his elbow and indicated Jack with a jut of his chin. He didn't even have to say a word, Jay got his meaning right away and they both started chuckling.

Jack noticed this and raised an eyebrow at Mac, even as he made another fake-toss of Toby over the edge of the pier, smiling at the squeal of delight from the boy. But, as always seemed to be the case with Jack, he picked up on the tone of the conversation and somehow sensed that MacGyver was trying to lighten Jay's mood a bit. So, he pretended to be oblivious to the fact that he was being mocked in some way and continued to play with the nine-year-old still folded over his shoulder.

Taking advantage of the small amused grin on Jay's face, MacGyver urged Jack and Toby to join them and used his smart phone to capture a group selfie.

A few moments later, Jack had to put Toby down and take a break when a steady, throbbing ache began to emanate from the almost completely healed gunshot wound in his leg – well, almost healed based on Delta Commando standards, anyway.

He saw MacGyver tense somewhat when he was unable to completely hide the resulting limp but dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand. Thankfully, Mac stood down and didn't fuss over him because the last thing he wanted was for his injury to weigh down on the two boys who needed a fun, carefree day more than anyone Jack had met in a very long time.

Not since his first encounter with MacGyver back in the sandbox all those years ago. In fact, the more he got to know Jay, the more the teen reminded him quite a bit of a younger Mac. And he was confident, Toby was exactly like Mac had been before his mom had died and stopped being the emotional buffer between boy and father.

MacGyver would be the first to admit that their route from one destination to the next was circuitous at best but the plan was to spend time with the boys and help Jack heal, not to just go from one stop to the next in the most time efficient manner. The lack of efficiency honestly gave Mac a bit of a twitch but he ignored it and continued on with his original plan of today being about Jack and the boys.

Besides, their final stop before the movie was a surprise. And, after his and Jack's big lunch in Peggy's Cove, they needed to get a lot of walking in if they were going to build up an appetite. Well, Mac would, at least. He sometimes got the feeling that Jack was a bottomless pit when it came to tasty food.

Truth be told, Jack actually enjoyed walking – even if he did tend to whine about it a bit. But that was just to get a reaction out of Mac or, more often, to distract him from an injury and/or get him out of that ginormous brain of his. That brain had saved their hides on many, many occasions… but sometimes the kid thought too much for his own good. Thankfully, Jack didn't feel a need to accomplish any of those things today, so there was no whining. Only fun and laughter.

After seeing the Titanic display at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Mac led everyone to the next stop – Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.

Moments after their arrival, Jay seemed especially enamoured with the Sidney Crosby exhibit. Standing nearby with Toby as the boy got a closer look at the famous dryer, MacGyver watched Jack approach Jay, clearly trying to make a connection of some sort. "You like hockey?" he asked conversationally.

"Nah, I'm more of a baseball fan, myself," the teen revealed. "But Crosby managed to follow his dream and get out of here. Gotta give credit where credit is due, right?"

"Nova Scotia seems like a beautiful province, kid. You really hate it that much?"

"No, I love it. But sometimes you need to get away from the place in order to truly escape the people," Jay explained.

Jack shared a look with MacGyver, seeing the same surprise in the younger man's eyes as he felt in his own. Both were pretty sure that was the most open Jay had been since they'd first met him. Still, a lingering sadness overshadowed the surprise because they knew the 'people' the teen was referring to was just one person… his father.

"Well, I'm sure Brian and Gabriella would love to see you play sometime. So would Mac and I, if we're in town when there's a game."

Jay shrugged noncommittally. "I stopped playing," he said simply, then moved onto the next exhibit.

As they left the NS Sport Hall of Fame, MacGyver realized that he and his partner had even more in common than he'd realized. He had planned this little excursion for Jack and the boys but had found that he'd thoroughly enjoyed himself as well! He was disappointed that the day was soon coming to an end.

"Okay," Mac said. "Next place on our list is…" he paused to check his itinerary, then glanced at his watch. It seemed that end was coming sooner than he'd expected.

"What is it?" Jack asked, pausing in his minor wrestling match with Toby to regard his friend.

"That's it."

"Whaddya mean, that's it?"

"The plan was to tour of the HMCS Sackville. She was built in Canada and the UK during WWII; Canada's oldest fighting warship. I know it's Navy but it still looked pretty cool and I thought the kids would really enjoy it." Mac had what was very close to a pout on his face. "But it's quarter after five. The tour closed fifteen minutes ago."

"There's gotta be plenty more places to see."

"Well, yeah, but this was supposed to be for you guys," MacGyver admitted, studying the tour guide pamphlet. "Hmmm, maybe could try out go-karting or laser tag at KartBahn? But we'd have to leave downtown, then come all the way back for – "

Jack snatched the itinerary and matching tour guide pamphlet out of Mac's hands. After a quick perusal, and a bit of grumbling about stubborn and self-sacrificing geniuses, he led the way to their next destination. MacGyver gazed at the sign in front of the otherwise non-descript building – Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History. He'd wanted to check this place out on his own but… "Jack," he started.

"I know what you're gonna say but this is your vacation too, Mac." He stepped closer for a moment, speaking in tones low enough that he hoped the boys wouldn't be able to hear. "I appreciate you tryin' to make me feel better, kiddo. Really, I do. But, to be honest, just puttin' things in motion so that I can spend time with you and the kids has achieved your goal. Okay? The only thing missin' from the day is seeing you have as much fun as we're havin'."

"I have been having fun," Mac insisted.

"Nah, kid. There's a big difference between enjoying yourself and having fun. Besides, who says we won't enjoy this place? History was my favourite subject in school."

"Really? I never knew that."

"Well, now ya' do," Jack said simply, signalling Jay and Toby to precede them into the museum.

Half an hour later, he smiled as he watched Mac teaching Toby about the earth from geological and archaeological stand points. Meanwhile, he and Jay both found themselves drawn to a new exhibit called 'Sable Island – Over the Dunes, Beyond Wild Horses'. The images of the wild stallions had Jack missing Texas a bit more than usual; and Jay just seemed plain awe struck by the natural beauty of the creatures. Jack took the moment as a chance to pull the kid a bit further out of his shell and started telling him anything and everything he knew about horses.

Not too far away, MacGyver was also enjoying a time of bonding as he discovered Toby's love for science. While they discussed some archaeological finds mounted in glass cases for guests to admire, Toby asked out of the blue, "Do you believe in God, MacGyver?"

Mac stammered over an answer. To be honest, in all his 28 years, he still had not been able to come to any kind of conclusion on that front. His blue eyes darted between the exhibits, looking for Jack – this was more his wheelhouse than MacGyver's. Unable to find his friend, Mac used a classic deflection technique and answered Toby's question with a question. "Do you?" he asked, his reply sounding lame even to his own ears.

Toby didn't seem to mind, though. "My mom did," he replied.

"So did mine," Mac revealed softly.

"But, if God is real, how come he let my mom die?"

MacGyver's heart broke as he saw the tears forming in the little boy's eyes. He remembered thinking the same thing when his mom passed but had yet to come up with an answer.

"Toby," Jack said suddenly, sitting down next to MacGyver and allowing their shoulders to touch in a show of solidarity. Mac had no idea where the man had materialized from but he was glad for it. "Do you know what free will is?"

Toby nodded, one tear streaming down his face. Jay sat down next to his brother, placing an arm over his shoulders and pulling him close. He'd probably deny it later but the teen was listening to Jack as intently Toby.

"Well, sometimes that free will means that bad people do things that hurt good people. No matter how much it breaks God's heart, He can't just snap his fingers and stop all bad stuff from happening because that would mean taking away our free will. And that's one of the things that makes us human." Jack reached out and took one of Toby's small hands in both of his own. "Understand?"

Again, Toby nodded. "I guess so."

Jack glanced up at Jay who was fighting back his own tears. But these weren't just tears of sadness. A fiery anger could be seen lingering beneath the sadness.

Jay felt his emotions overwhelming him. Suddenly, he couldn't breathe. He had to get out of there. He shoved his seat back, not caring when he heard it crash to the floor, and bolted for the door at the back of the museum.

"Jay?" Toby asked, watching his brother storm away. He started to chase after him but Jack held him back.

"It's okay, buddy. I'll get 'im," he promised, easing the boy over to MacGyver before racing after Jay.

MacGyver could feel Toby's small frame shaking in his arms and adjusted him so that he was sitting on his lap. "Jay'll be okay, Toby. I promise."

"How do you know?"

Mac smiled softly. "Because I know Jack."

Jay shoved the door open, barely noticing when it slammed into the brick wall of the alleyway. His breaths were coming out in short gasps; his vision was graying at the edges. Suck it up, Jay. His father's taunting voice in his head only served to make matters worse. A hand touched his shoulder from behind and he jolted away, spinning away to face his adversary with a raised fist. Seeing Jack, he wasn't sure if he wanted to lower his fist or not. How dare he talk about his mother's death like that! He wasn't there! He had no idea what he was talking about!

For his part, Jack kept a few feet of distance between them, raising his hands in supplication to show he wasn't a threat. "Easy, kiddo. I'm just here to help."

Seeing the sincerity in the man's eyes, Jay finally lowered his fist but found he couldn't loosen it. His fingers seemed stuck in that position. He gasped for air, the effort to breathe growing even more difficult.

Jack approached him slowly and Jay felt like a caged animal. There was no escape. One of Jack's raised hands reached out and gripped the back of the teen's neck. Jay half-heartedly jerked away but not completely and Jack's hold remained true. Still, the kid's eyes darted past Jack, seeing the passersby strolling down the sidewalk several feet away. No one had noticed what was happening in the alleyway yet but who knew how long that would last.

Taking another step forward, Jack filled Jay's field of vision. "Just look at me, kid. Look at me. It's all good." He chuckled at the incredulity in the teen's eyes. "Okay, maybe not good yet, but it will be. Just take in a slow, deep breath."

Involuntary tears streamed down Jay's face, urging Jack to move his hand from the back of the kid's neck to cup one side of his jaw, bringing his other hand up to cup the other side. He used the pads of his thumbs to wipe the tears away, his heart breaking at the hiccupped gasp the simple act of affection drew from the teen.

"You can do it, kiddo. Come on. Breathe with me. In…" they each pulled in a deep breath. "Good boy. And out… Again. Good, good. See? I told ya', you could do it."

Jay nodded, embarrassed but relieved to be able to breathe again.

"Jay."

The unexpected voice had the teen snapping to attention, even as Jack spun around.

Standing before them was a man Jack could only assume was Jay and Toby's infamous father, holding a gun on them, demanding to be the centre attention.

"D-Dad?" Jay frantically wiped the tears off on his sleeve. Never let him see you cry!

Assumption confirmed.

TBC

A/N 2 Remember, the next (and final) chapter of this here story is written and will be up tomorrow after some additional proofreading. Reviews = chocolate covered caramel! :-D