Title: And the World Spins Madly On
Series: And the World Spins Madly On
Author: dragonfly
Category: *wails*
Warning: Spoilers for 5x5.
Summary: Third story in series. MacGyver's eulogy for his best friend.
Disclaimer: I don't own MacGyver. (Oh, how I wish!)
A/N: Hang in there with me! Title and song lyrics from, "World Spins Madly On" by The Weepies.
~*~M~*~
"The first time I met Jack Dalton, we had a full-out brawl. He, uh," MacGyver grinned, but there was a sadness to it. "He did not like me touching his stuff."
The room was quiet, but for MacGyver's voice and the echoing sounds of grief. "We butted heads for weeks, but then," he paused, gaze as distant as his memory, "but then before either one of us knew it, we had skipped over being friends, and had somehow went straight to being brothers."
Scenes played out in his mind like a movie reel; every laugh, every close call, every time Jack held him together. MacGyver's knuckles were white as he gripped the podium. He wasn't sure how much longer he could pretend, but he had to get through this. He had to be brave. For Jack. "H...his job was to protect me, and I–" he huffed a small, self-conscious laugh, "I did not make it easy."
There was a soft rumble of agreement from those in the know and MacGyver's small smile grew. But just as quickly as it grew, it fell. "He saved my life more times than I can honestly count," he confessed roughly, throat and chest constricting around a pain he didn't think he was strong enough to bear, "and in more ways than I realized I needed."
Desi reached for Matilda's hand. Bozer slid his arm around Riley's shoulders. They were all trembling with grief, faces wet, hearts irrevocably broken.
"Jack Dalton was not just my Overwatch, my bodyguard; he was my best friend. He was my brother. He was...he was the father I needed when my own wasn't there." MacGyver could feel his body begin to shake at the core. There was nothing left to keep him grounded, no one left to keep him from falling apart. "And he was the bravest man that I ever knew."
Still gripping the podium, he looked over at Jack's casket, draped with the American flag. He felt like he was in a dream, a horrible nightmare that he couldn't wake up from. Still, somehow he was able to draw air into his lungs and forced himself to continue. "The world won't be as bright, or as safe without you in it, big guy," he declared, barely keeping his voice from breaking. "I–" his words choked off and he felt the wood of podium bite into his skin as he bowed his head and fought to steady himself.
I'm so sorry...I...
Squeezing his eyes shut, MacGyver pushed the thoughts away. He wouldn't get through this with them. Taking a deep breath, tears dangerously close to breaking free, he looked back over at the casket that held...everything. "Rest easy, buddy." He continued to try so desperately to put on a brave face. He continued to try so desperately to pretend that he could do this without him. "We've got it from here."
"I thought of you and where you'd gone
And the world spins madly on..."