Chapter Eight: In Which Mac Explains

Mac's bedroom…

Tidy or untidy? You decide…

Mac stayed in his room for a bit when Jack left. He could hear Bozer clattering about in the kitchen. It was getting towards lunchtime and he had to admit that the ache in his stomach that informed him of his hunger was getting harder to ignore.

Don't worry, I'm not avoiding eating. But in order to ease that hunger, I would have to go to the kitchen and that would mean talking to Bozer. So, I'm really just avoiding my best friend and roommate. Ok so as I say that it sounds it sounds just as bad and completely wrong, but I guess it's what I need right now.

Before Jack had left he'd placed some painkillers on the side. Mac took a few and tried to distract himself from the overgrowing hunger. In the end, he decided that it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a shower. Ok, so the hot water would probably make his welts sting and he certainly didn't want to get any soap in those cuts, but it could make him relax some more. So, he walked into the connected bathroom.

Soon he was under the shower, letting the hot, but not uncomfortably so, water poured over him. As expected, it stung as the steady stream wavered over the welts, but they weren't so bad that it made Mac want to step out. The pleasantness of the clean water almost made him forget everything that had happened that day. Jack's painkillers and the care he'd given Mac had gone a long way to help him. It would be a few days before they'd heal completely, and he would probably feel it for at least a week.

While the shower and the change of clothes made Mac feel fresher it did not change the fact that his hunger was getting to be a problem. Bozer had gone quiet so he clearly wasn't still preparing whatever dish it was. With any luck, he wasn't in the kitchen/diner. Whether he was or not, Mac could put off entering it no longer. So, he gave in to his need to eat and left his room. Unfortunately, Bozer had not left the room and smiled expectantly when he saw Mac.

Well, he would just have to ignore that for now. Mac went off to the fridge and helped himself to the leftover strew that Bozer had made before. It was still warm so there was no need to waste time heating it up. Gradually, the hunger diminished, and he fell sated once more. While it was good to feel comfortable once more, it also meant that didn't have any excuses to ignore Bozer or the elephant in the room any further. He would have to talk to him.

The Kitchen...

Time for double-o-Boze...

When I was a kid, Bozer and I used to get into a lot of scrapes. We were really curious kids and there was always something that got us into trouble. Dad was never happy about that, but I felt the aftermath was worth it. Our adventures were, the say the least, eventful. But whether we were accidentally blowing up the football field or creating gas clouds, we always got through it together. I guess that's why we were such good friends because we always had each other.

Mac sat down in the front room rubbing his face. Bozer had evidently been waiting for him as he jumped up a soon as he spotted him. Neither spoke for a while, embracing the silence rather than giving in to its awkwardness.

Bozer's eyes flickered to the gun at Mac's side. He'd replaced it after his shower, his father's words still on his mind. The blonde genius saw him looking at it. The sight of the weapon was foreign to Bozer and the weight of it felt uncomfortable to Mac.

"Mac? Why are you carrying a gun?" Bozer questioned glancing around as if he expected Murdoc or some equally dangerous foe to suddenly appear. It was the only reason he could think of for Mac carrying a gun. Even then, Bozer was surprised. It would have to be a big threat to get Mac to break his 'no guns' rule. It wasn't that Mac wouldn't protect people, especially those that he cared for, it was just he tried to do without guns. That was Jack's remit. Mac's was improvisation.

Without giving a verbal response, Mac took the gun and the holster of his belt clip before placing it on the table. Then he took a piece of paper from his jacket pocket, looked at it for a few minutes before slamming it down next to the gun. He refused to let his father control him anymore, he could take the hits though Jack would say he shouldn't have to, his morals weren't something he was willing to compromise on. He needed to protect that from his father.

"I'm not wearing one now," Mac pointed out obviously "And I'm never going to again, not if I have any say about it."

"Does this have something to do with where Jack ran off to earlier? And the fact he thinks your dad's hurting you?" Bozer asked him with a look of concern that made Mac feel warm inside. Bozer had been there for him long before anyone.

Bozer wasn't such a fool as people thought. Of course, the whole spy business was still fairly new to him when compared to Mac, Jack and Matty. However, he liked to think that he still could make certain deductions other than the glaringly obvious ones. Bozer's own observations on Mac's behaviour in the previous few weeks told him that there was something wrong with his best friend. That, coupled with Jack's questioning, led Bozer to the conclusion that that something was his father.

A wise man once said that you should never underestimate your opponent. I think that should apply to your friends especially when said friends are spies working for a clandestine governmental organisation whose cover is a think tank.

"You should be a detective," Mac commented dryly.

"I decided to be a spy instead when a mad man broke into my house and tried to kill me," Bozer frowned "That wasn't an answer."

"Well, it was, just not the one you're looking for." Mac pointed out.

Bozer sighed and indicted that Mac should sit opposite him. Mac decided that follow the suggestion. This conversation wasn't going as well as he hoped. His friend had always had a way of bringing out the best in him and helping him with his internal conflicts.

"Mac, come on, it's me."

"I know," Mac let out a breath before continuing "The truth is, my dad does hit me sometimes."

"I see." Bozer's fury was bubbling to the surface but he knew that Mac wasn't finished explaining just yet. While Bozer could yell and curse out James it but wouldn't help Mac. He needed time to explain what had happened to him so that Bozer could fully comfort him. Only then could Mac truly heal.

"Normally it was just a slap or punch and only when I deserved it. Like when I didn't obey him or if I made a mistake in the field." Mac paused, stretching out his back subconsciously. He winced when the welts hit the fabric of his shirt, the brief pain making him protest. After he got himself a little more comfortable, he continued.

"But today when he ordered me to carry a gun I refused. I argued with him and tried to walk away. That was when he belted me. The last time he did that I was 12. He left soon after. No doubt that's why he left because I was such a bad kid."

Bozer didn't know what to say. What could you possibly say when your best friend, someone you considered to be your brother told him that he had been abused by his father? That while he had been loved so fully as a child Mac had been scared that he'd been beaten every making minute? That same person who had been secretly manipulating Mac from the beginning was now their boss and had been hurting him in the same way he did when he was a child? Suspecting it was one thing but having Mac confirm it was so much worse. There was nothing you could say the make that better. So maybe Bozer shouldn't try.

Finally, Bozer decided what he should say. It wasn't much, in fact, he spoke more with his actions than he did with his voice. Gently and slowly so that Mac would not link his movements with pain for even a second, Bozer placed a hand on Mac's shoulder. He gave it a squeeze, wordlessly encompassing his supporting words and love in a single action.

"I'm here."

It seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back or rather the tear that overflowed the river. Mac cried into Bozer's arms and allowed himself to be held. Jack's comfort was nice but right now he needed that of his brother's. Tears did not fall from Mac's eyes. The dryness of sobbing highlighting the hurt that he felt and not just the physical way. Then the physical contact, initiated and ended by Mac was over and the two pulled apart.

"No one of this was your fault, Mac. The way he treated you, that was on him. You didn't deserve it and he should never have hurt you either emotionally or physically. You are a brilliant, kind, intelligent man just like you were when we were kids. If your dad can't see that then he's the idiot."

Mac nodded softly. He didn't fully believe that everything was James' fault, nor did he believe that everything would be ok. But there was time for his family to help him with that. All they needed was time to show Mac to love they all had for him.

Oversight's office…

The owner isn't here right now…

"You knew about Mac," Jack accused Matty once the tac team had bundled James into the back of a black van. He was to be taken to Phoenix to be questioned before Matty would decide what to do with him.

"I did but I wasn't planning on doing nothing. I was preparing to get James away from Mac without risking anyone else's job or safety." Matty explained. There was little point in denying it and she respected Jack enough to tell him the truth.

"I don't care about my job Matty, I care about Mac!" Jack growled. He couldn't believe that Matty would prioritise their job over Mac's safety. If she had done something earlier then Mac could have been saved from a lot of pain and hurt.

"So, do I Jack! If it was just my job at stake I wouldn't have an issue with intervening sooner but if don't go about this right, we're going to end up in a black sight with Oversight still in charge. Only this time, James will have a grudge and I'll give you three guesses as to whom they'll come after."

Jack scowled at Matty. While he could accept the excuse, he couldn't forgive her just yet. It would be a while before he let the subject drop. However, what he wanted right now; was to know what the plan was for Oversight now that he'd forced Matty's hand.

"What are you going to do with Oversight?" He demanded. Jack shot a warning glare at Matty to ensure she knew that he wasn't about to let the matter drop completely. They would be having words later. That was for sure.

"Once he's done being questioned, he'll be taken into custody. While I would prefer to wait until I had a more concrete plan, I think we can make this work. Luckily, I have just earned favour with the director of the CIA."

"Fine but we are talking about this later," Jack promised.

"I counted on that."

Somewhere in the Phoenix Foundation…

Even I don't knowwhere exactly…

"Matilda, what is this about? Frist Dolton assaults me then you arrest me and chuck me in here. If you're not careful you'll be joining him in a black-site."

Matty chuckled. James was not what you'd consider traditionally funny but sometimes he was surprising. Did he really think that that frightened her? She'd already spoken to the director of the CIA who had agreed to help any way that he could. It would be fun to wipe that smirk off his face.

"Do you know your problem James?" Matty inquired.

"I'm sure you're going to tell me either way."

"You're too arrogant. You think you're untouchable, that no-one would dare to hunt you." Matty goaded. At one time, James was a good friend of hers. She admired him and his skills. She would even go as far as to say that she liked him. Then she found out how he treated his son and Matty watched as their friendship burned into hate. No one could hurt Mac and be her friend. She'd sooner sit down to a picnic with Murdoc.

"Is that supposed to frighten me?"

Matty had enough of James. The bruises that were forming on James' face was satisfying. She felt however that it wasn't quite decorated enough, that he could do with a few more bruises painting his face once it was through. So that was why her fist smashed into James' nose the sound of it breaking bouncing off the halls of the interview room.

"Oh sorry," Matty drawled in a tone that showed she wasn't sorry at all. "My hand must have slipped."

The surprised and slight fear – yes fear because James at heart was nothing but a coward- in Oversight's eyes, was enjoyable. Matty shook her hand, the pain from the punch emanating from her knuckles. It was worth it though to make James pay, to make him feel just a small fraction of what he put Mac through. What James did was worse though. He was Mac's dad. He was supposed to look after him and love him. He had done none of that. He'd portrayed the trust and the sacred bond that was supposed to exist between father and son. Worse of all, he'd hurt a child, an innocent child. Not even Murdoc who was far from a good person had sunk to that level.

"You made a mistake you know."

"Oh really? What was this mistake you claim I made?"

"Hurting Angus MacGyver," Matty informed him "Because he has a family that cares for him. I am just one of those people. Jack, Riley and Bozer are three more but they certainly aren't the only ones. You see your son has made a lot of powerful allies all across the world. You can't run from them all."

"You no proof of these accusations."

"Proof? I don't need proof," Matty laughed. "This is the Phoenix."

Every word she had said was true. Mac didn't realise just how well-loved he was. He'd saved so many lives. There were so many people that owed Mac that dept, people that would only too willing to repay it. It wasn't just Mac's skills that made him so well-loved though. He had a massive heart. His kindness and willingness to help everyone was rare. His lovingness and loyalty set him apart in this ailing and harsh world. There were many people that appreciated and wanted to preserve that. Unfortunately, for James, a majority of those people were extremely powerful. Fortunately for them, Matty knew just how to contact them. She wasn't going to let James hurt Mac anymore. She'd failed him once; she wasn't going to do it again. Mac was family and no one hurt Matty's family.