Chapter Summary: Mac's first time coming home from a mission all banged up.

A/N: First off I am so sorry this has taken me so long to update! First we were on spring break, then I got distracted by my other story, then I forgot that I hadn't edited it. But after a super long day the update is here! Much thanks to my always amazing beta bkworm4life4!

As I'm sure you've heard to horrid news about our show getting the ax, but we are NOT going silently unto that good night! If you are a twitter use the hashtag saveMacGyver, sigh a petition, and let's make our voices heard that we want to see more episodes!

"You look rough." Jack commented as he got a good look at Mac's face.

"I have to agree, you do look pretty rough. But still cute." Nikki, their new intelligence analyst commented.

Mac couldn't help but blush a bit. They had just finished a mission where he had ended up getting roughed up by some of the guards, before Jack made them regret messing with them. Both his face and body were sore from the fight and Mac knew that in the morning he would have some spectacular bruising, but right now he was just red and swollen. He had a cut on his eyebrow and had split his lip, but his worst injury was the dislocated shoulder from where the guard had held Mac's hand behind his back while he was trying to use Mac as a body shield against Jack. "I will admit that I feel kinda rough." He tried moving his jaw wider, but quickly closed it when a jolt of pain shot through it again. Mac sighed and let his head drop back again the back of the couch he was sitting. He was glad that they were in the private jet flying back to DXS because he didn't think he would have been able to manage a commercial flight.

"Here," was all the warning Mac got before he got pelted with something cold. He couldn't help but to jump and then gasp in pain, and heard the snickers of both Jack and Nikki.

"I swear he's as smooth as smooth can be on a mission, but everywhere else Boy Wonder turns into Mr. Clumsy." Jack lamented to Nikki. Mac showed Jack how much he appreciated the words by flipping him the bird. He then took the ice packs that Jack had lobbed at him and placed them on the parts of his face that throbbed the most, and one on his aching shoilder. He then closed his eyes and tried to rest. The medics had given him some pain relief before they popped his shoulder back into place and he could still feel the effects. In the background he could hear the murmur of Jack and Nikki's voices letting it lull him to sleep.

"Oh shit! Bozer!" Mac exclaimed sitting bolt upright. Wincing as his shoulder and the rest of his sore body protested the quick movement. "What am I going to tell Bozer?" He asked panicked.

"Easy there Hoss," Jack soothed as he settled on the couch with Mac. Jack signaled to Nikki that he had it and she settled back in her seat, but kept an eye on them in case they needed her. "Why don't you just stay with me like last time?"

A month ago, Mac had gotten sliced across his ribs and stayed with Jack while it had healed. They told Bozer that Jack had the flu and Mac didn't want to expose Bozer. But Bozer had dropped off tissues and a pot of soup outside Jack's door.

"I can't, his parents are coming over in a couple of days and it would be suspicious if I wasn't there." Mac rubbed his arm where it was aching, "Plus I've been looking forward to seeing them, I've missed them."

"Nobody ever said being James Bond would be easy," Jack said sagely patting Mac on his non-injured shoulder.

Nikki laughed, "You're still not James Bond, but Mac could be James Blonde."

Jack shot a glare at Nikki before ignoring her, "Well all we have to do is think of a good excuse. Easy right?"

After landing, Mac was escorted strait to DXS medical where they re-checked him, gave him a more stabilizing sling, and, upon Jack's insistence, gave him pain meds to go with his anti-inflammatory pills. Walking out of medical Jack said, "I'll drop you off at your house. Then pick you up on Monday morning."

"Oh, come on. I can drive one-handed." Mac protested.

"I'm sure you can Bud, but with the meds and one arm I think I better take the reins."

"Fine," Mac huffed. He didn't want to admit it, but Jack was most likely right.

After Jack had his GTO headed towards Mac's house he asked, "So did you decide on a cover story?" Mac shrugged with his one good arm. "I've got one! So, while digging wells in Africa, or whatever our cover was. This big body builder type steals this little old ladies' hand bag. You being the gentleman that you are attempt to stand up to him, but he whips your tail and brave Jack comes to the rescue."

"I thought we agreed that you wouldn't refer to yourself in the first person." Mac said as he caught Jack's eye roll.

"As I've always told you the best lies have parts of the truth, and my little tale was the truth if grandma's handbag was tactical nuclear plans." Jack shrugged.

"I was thinking of something simpler."

Jack nodded and turned onto Mac's street. "You tried out for MMA cage fighting?" That one made Mac laugh out loud despite how bad it made his shoulder ache. "Maybe a rodeo clown." Jack paused, "Definitely a rodeo clown. I of course was the champion bull rider."

"There's definitely bull involved all right." Mad said with a crooked smile. "I'll think of something." Jack pulled to a stop to the top of Mac's driveway. "Thanks for the lift." Mac said as he exited the vehicle, Jack started to get out also, so Mac leaned down into the car. "Go on home. I know you're ready for a shower and some quality rack time," Mac could tell Jack's mother hen resolve was waning. "I don't think Bozer's home, so I'm just gonna grab some food and take a nap."

Jack gave in, "All right Hoss. But I want you to swear that you'll call me if you start feeling worse. Remember, the doc said that those body shots could cause internal bleeding." Mac rolled his eyes and started towards the door. "And don't forget the doc also said to keep that sling on for a couple of days before switching to that cool brace thing. Then remember to start-"

"Bye Jack!" Mac called over his shoulder. "I'll be fine." He added when Jack didn't move the car. With a shake of his head he slipped his keys out of his pocket and awkwardly unlocked the front door. With a wave to the still stationary Jack, Mac closed the door. Dropping his bag in front of the bear he made his way to the kitchen where Bozer had left a note on the counter it read.

"Hey Roomie! Sorry, I got called into a surprise shift. I should be back around 9:30 and I'll bring supper. If you eat before just text me. See ya! B."

Mac set the note down with as a smile tugged at his sore lip. He grabbed some ice packs out of the freezer, and the heating pad for his shoulder. He awkwardly sank on the couch arranging the heating pad for maximum coverage and then arranged the ice packs on his aching face. When he had seen his face in medical the bruises were just starting to bloom, and he knew that he would be a sight the next day. He sighed and turned on the TV for background noise and let himself drift off.

He was awakened by a buzzing on his stomach where he had set his phone. He had two texts sent back to back one from Bozer the other from Jack. He opened Bozer's first and read, 'On my way, bringing food.' Jack's was more succinct, 'U alive? Car crash.'

'Yes,' and a thumbs up emoji was all he sent back to Jack, then he let the lethargy wash over him again as he drifted back to sleep.

"What in the hell happened to you?" Bozer's voice awakened Mac. Blearily opening his eyes he saw his friend's concerned face peering over the couch.

Picking off the now warm ice packs Mac wasn't surprised at his best friend's gasp. "Car accident." Mac hoped that Bozer wouldn't analyze his wounds and realize that it was highly improbable to be injured the way he was by a car accident.

"You look awful."

"Thanks," Mac said sarcastically as he struggled to sit up, waving Bozer away.

"How bad's the damage?" Bozer asked as he brought the food over to where Mac was sitting.

"Mostly bruising, and a dislocated shoulder." Mac sighed as he was finally upright, without putting any more stress on his damaged shoulder.

Bozer handed Mac a bag of food, "I brought home the best burgers you can purchase in the city. So, what's the story?"

"You should let Jack tell it, you know how he gets." Mac said as he divided the food into two piles, while Bozer grabbed the drinks. He knew he was tap dancing around the subject, but Jack was much better at spinning b.s. on the fly.

"Indeed, I do, well I'm glad you made it home mostly intact. I know Mom and Dad will be happy to see you this weekend. Just a head's up, ya know Mom's going to fuss right?" Bozer commented handing Mac's drink over as he settled beside his best friend. "So, what we watching?"

"I know, and nothing with a car crash," Mac joked as he started to dig into his food one-handed. Bozer laughed and they set to find something both of them liked.