Story and title inspired by the lyrics "we go together or we don't go down at all," from the song, "A Love Like War." Suggested by only-some-loser.
I'm pretty sure this is a song about love, but I'm just using the lyrics that relate to Mac and Jack's epic bromance.
A sharp knocking at the door, a familiar voice calling out, "Mac, you in here?"
Jack and MacGyver trade glances, their hearts beginning to speed up. They knew this was coming, had waited, as to not raise suspicion. Riley and Bozer had gone a week earlier, claiming that they were on a romantic getaway. Two others knew the truth. Jack and Mac couldn't claim the same reason for leaving.
There's a muffled conversation, and the door is kicked open. The living room is empty, and so is the kitchen, and Nikki barks out orders to her forces. The black-clad forces descend on the house, tearing it apart, as they seek their quarry. Nikki watches on, arms folded, brow furrowed, as she waits.
She will find them.
The two men are crawling into a secret passageway when they're found. A tall, burly soldier grabs Mac's foot and begins to tug him back, doing so easily even though Mac fights for dear life. The blond looks up the passageway at Jack, who's started to come back. He waves him away, his face frantic, trying to make his friend realize that he needs to leave.
Jack gives him a look that clearly says, I'm not leaving you, kid.
Jack's never listened to Mac when the older man gets that look on his face.
As soon as they're back on the ground, they're bound, and then, without provocation, Mac's hit in the face- hard. Then again, and then the stomach. Apparently, the guard wasn't too happy about being kicked in the face as he tried to remove the young man from the passageway.
Jack fights against his bonds, shouting, and he's given a hit too, to make him shut up.
The two of them are brought to the living room, the furniture in shambles around them. Nikki stands in the living room, her arms folded, her stance confident, a proud smirk resting on her face.
Mac raises his head, a black eye prominent, and spits a mouthful of blood at her feet. Beside him, Jack laughs, his grin all sharp edges and promises of violence if his brother is hurt.
Nikki laughs, and backhands the blond.
Jack surges forward, and his captors have to fight to keep a hold on him. They're distracted, just for a moment, and Mac takes his chance, slamming his foot down on his own guard's foot. The man rears back in pain- and there the two go, struggling and fighting with all they've got.
They manage to free themselves, to break the tight grips of their captors. Nikki surges forward, tackling Mac to the ground. They're both on their feet in a moment, fighting, but this is nothing like the playful sparring of old. This is fire fighting fire, sparks flying from their eyes, vicious jabs, both physical and vocal.
Jack's trained, has put years of experience and work into learning how to defend himself and others, and he takes on seven different people.
He wins. People may look at him and see someone struggling to keep up with his companions in terms of brains, but Jack is much, much smarter than he lets on. He can see the outcomes of a situation before they happen, can strategize and plan with the best of them.
There's a reason why he was one of the best choices for director of the Phoenix Foundation.
After he dispatches the last guard, he turns just in time to see Mac get in a lucky hit on Nikki- perhaps she left her side open because she underestimated Mac, perhaps it was a moment of regret for betraying those she loved.
Either way, Mac doesn't hesitate. He hasn't looked back for a moment since he learned that the ultimate plan was to get his team out of the way, one way or another, and then convince him to work with Nikki and her organization.
Nikki's on the ground, gasping for breath, and Jack grabs Mac's arm, pulling him away from the blonde. The two men run out of the house and- regretfully- break into the car of a random neighbor, hotwiring it and punching the gas.
They brought food when we first moved in, Mac thinks, bizarrely, and feels a twinge of guilt. He pushes it aside, knowing that they'd understand.
The car speeds away, and in the precious moments before Nikki makes it outside to look for them, they make it out of sight. They've got an entire system set up, had planned it months ago, and they'll make it safely to the safehouse where Riley and Bozer- and, hopefully, Matty and Thornton are.
The war has begun.
I haven't said this yet, but THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH! This story has reached: 118 reviews and 18 thousand hits. Oh my fricking gosh. I appreciate all the support I have found in this community, and I think I can genuinely say that this is one of the most welcoming fandoms I've ever been in. So, form the bottom of my heart, thank each and every one of y'all. It makes me so happy to know that people are enjoying my work.