Jack's eyes shot open as a hand landed on his shoulder. He grabbed the strange wrist and threw the stranger to the floor, planting his knee on the man's throat.
"Easy Jack," a familiar voice reached his ears, "calm down, Jack. You're safe."
Jack's vision cleared and he registered the unflustered face of his favorite Phoenix doctor, Jose Reyes. The man stared up at the agent and calmly pulled Jack's iron grip off of his collar. Jack allowed the man to push his knee off of his throat.
"I'm gonna sit up now, Jack," Dr. Reyes warned, "I would prefer to keep my head attached to my body, okay?"
Jack nodded dumbly. Reyes pushed him back to the floor and slowly sat up.
"I'm sorry," Jack looked down at the floor, not quite knowing what was wrong with him, he was never this jumpy, "I just-"
"You're fine," Reyes cut him off, "I should have known better than to touch you. I'll keep it in mind for future reference."
Jack nodded, then his mind clicked awake and panic flooded his mind. Dr. Reyes was out here which meant he wasn't with Mac. What if something was wrong?
"Where's Mac?!" Jack demanded, leaping to his feet, "is he okay? How's he doing? Can-"
"Jack," Reyes snapped, "you have to breathe between sentences, okay? Take a breath. Mac is fine, his surgery was touch and go for a while, but we were able to keep him alive. He's mostly stable and is in ICU, but I've already told everyone that you are not to be kept away from him. Even after visiting hours. When Macgyver wakes up we will need someone there who can keep him calm, and you're the only one who can. I have a cot set up inside already and blankets are on there way. I've told Matty that you won't be leaving medical for a while so that you can stay with your boy."
Jack nearly cried with relief, "thank you, doc."
Reyes lifted his hands dismissively, "I've known you for years Jack, I know what you're like with your partners. Now come on, we're gonna take a good look at that head of yours before you go in there," he raised a hand to stall Jack's protest, "I'll have you in there before Mac wakes up, but you have to come with me."
Jack hesitated, "can we just patch me up in the room with Mac? Please?"
Dr. Reyes sighed, "alright, I get the nurses to move the materials in there. Now, will you please come with me?"
Jack nodded, standing to his feet and walking briskly towards the ICU unit, "which room is Mac's?"
***Line Break***
Mac's mind floated in a cloud of nothingness. The cloud embraced his every thought and he found himself unable to think. He tried to open his eyes but it felt like they were glued shut. Further attempts found him unable to move his arms or legs. He couldn't even shift his torso. Panic clawed its way up into his mind and threatened to overwhelm him. He could feel his heart beat faster and faster. A vague beeping noise reached his ears accompanied by a soothing, familiar voice.
"...Mac. Easy kid, you're safe here. It's Jack, kiddo, I've got you. Your old man is in the deepest, darkest cell in our most remote black sight. He can't get you here and no one will hurt you," his partner's gentle southern drawl calmed Mac and his mind began to ease out of it's former panic, "that's it buddy, just calm down."
"That's incredible," a new voice spoke up quietly, "I've never seen an unconscious patient react so quickly. Even to his partner. It's uncanny how in tune you two are with each other, Jack."
A gentle hand carded through Mac's hair and he let out a quiet sigh of contentment. Jack was here, which meant he was safe. Jack wouldn't let anyone hurt him. He could sleep...
***Line Break***
Jack watched the heart monitor like a hawk. Mac's heart rate had spiked a few moments ago, scaring the daylights out of both him and the doctor. His hand hadn't left Mac's shoulder, desperately wanting to keep the kid to stay calm.
"What do you think caused his panic?" the doctor asked, "you know him best."
Jack thought for a second, "I'm guessing he realized that he couldn't think straight and it scared him. He relies on his thinking," Jack sighed, "sometimes thinking is the only reason he's still alive."
The doctor nodded, "then it's understandable why it might scare him. He did seem to calm down when you talked to him though."
Jack nodded, "when we served together it took me forever to get him to trust me. We finally got to a place where he could trust me and I could calm him down. I guess he still trusts me."
The doctor nodded, "it is good that he has a stable person in his life. A person like him needs this."
Jack bristled slightly, "what do you mean 'a person like him'?"
Dr. Reyes held up his hands in mock surrender, "calm down Jack. I'e seen the scars on him. I can see what he's been through. I just mean that a lot of people who were in his situation don't ever have someone to take care of them. I'm just glad he has you."
Jack gently carded his hand through his kid's blond hair, "I didn't even mean to care for him," he laughed slightly, "hell, the way we met was fists flying. Literally," he rubbed the back of Mac's hand, "then... I don't know. It's like somethin' just switched on in my brain and I realized that he wasn't just some hotheaded little asshole," he laughed sadly, "he actually carried a lot of baggage with him. A lot of people hurt him and I guess..." he trailed off, smiling quietly at his kid, "I guess I just realized that he did just as much for me as I did for him," Jack smiled, running his hand through Mac's blond waves, "he was my bright spot in the sandbox. Every-thing I did was protecting him. He just turned into my kid," Jack shook his head, "in his last letter to me he'd told me that his dad had reached out... then he stopped," Jack shuddered, gripping Mac's hand tighter as if he was afraid that the blond would slip away, "I've never been so scared," he whispered, gently brushing the hair away from Mac's eyes, "he had just dropped off the Earth. I don't think I've ever been as scared as when my last letter got returned to me."
Dr. Reyes sighed, reaching over and checking Mac's vitals, "he's a strong boy, Jack. He'll be okay, I promise. I'll do everything in my power to keep your boy alive."
Jack sighed in relief, gripping Mac's hand, "thanks doc."
Reyes smiled, gently squeezing Jack's shoulder before dropping his hand and quietly leaving. Jack smiled to himself, not dropping his boy's hand even as he drifted off into sleep...
***Line Break***
Matty watched Jack through the ICU window. The former delta was asleep in a hospital chair, his hand wrapped around an unconscious Mac's. His face was creased in worry, even in his sleep, and Matty frowned. Her agent was definitely emotionally compromised. He was way to close to this and she needed to get him away. She sighed and rubbed a hand over her face exhaustively. She knew it would be a hassle to pull her agent away, but she had to get him away from Mac. The blond was too close to Jack and it was causing him to lose sight of the actual goal. She still hadn't told him that James had escaped custody. Matty loathed that conversation, knowing that Jack would push against the idea, possibly literally. She was going to have to place Mac in protective custody. Away from Jack.
A second agent quietly walked up to her side, the CIA liaison rested a hand on his shoulder. Matty glanced up and smiled ruefully at the agent.
"Steve," she nodded, "I thought you'd be reporting back to your handler by now."
He smirked, "and leave you here to deal with him by yourself," he snorted, "not on your life."
She reached up and squeezed his hand, "thank you, but I think I can deal with my own agent."
He raised an eyebrow at her, "Nicki suggested I stay and help keep him in line."
Matty rolled her eyes, "of course she did. Well, I suppose we should get this over with."
Steve shadowed her into the hospital room and leaned up against the wall casually. He knew Jack could control himself, and he would never purposefully hurt Matty, but he'd also seen how protective the ex-delta was of his young partner. He glanced over as the young technician, Nicki Carpenter, sidled up beside him and watched Matty carefully as Jack woke up.
"Hey, Matty," Jack yawned and stretched his stiff muscles, not removing his grasp on Mac's hand, "what're you doing here?"
"How's Macgyver?" Matty questioned, glancing over the vitals machines, "Doctor Reyes said he was improving."
Jack's expression turned guarded, "he's doing better, why?"
Matty sighed, knowing Jack was sensing her ulterior motive, "look, Dalton," she ran a hand through her hair, turning and meeting Jack's gaze, "you can't stay with him-"
"What the hell, Matty!" Jack shouted, leaping up off his chair and shoving Matty away from Mac's bed, "you ain't takin' this kid away from me!"
Matty lifted her hands up trying to stall the anger flowing off of him, "Jack listen to me-"
"Hell naw, Matty," Jack yelled, "you touch him and you won't live to see another day. We clear? You already put him through hell with your whole op, and now you wanna take him away? No! I won't let you touch him! Get out and-"
"James escaped custody," Matty interrupted loudly, "he got out. Mac has to be put in protective custody and my higher ups have said you can't be on his watch team. I have my hands tied, Dalton."
Jack's chest heaved with a barely restrained anger, "they don't get to touch my boy. Neither do any of the 'higher ups'! My boy ain't goin' anywhere," he advanced a step towards Matty.
Steve shoved himself up off the wall and slid up next to Matty, "Jack," he warned, "back up."
Jack's venomous glare swung on Steve, almost knocking him back a step, "easy, Jack."
"Why the hell are you here?" Jack spat, "shouldn't you be in jail with the rest of the rats that worked for James?!"
"I work for the CIA," Steve snapped, "and you need to back off before you start something you'll regret."
Jack was shaking with anger, he opened his mouth but stopped as Nicki stepped forward, "Jack, please. Don't make this harder than it is," she broke in softly, her brown eyes wide and pleading, "if you stay you would be distracted and that can get both you and Mac killed. I know you don't want that."
Jack's eyes hardened as he fought silently with himself, trying to control himself. He abruptly spun around and rammed his fist into the wall, driving a hole into it next to the machine. he yelled in frustration, running a hand through his hair. Everyone stayed silent, watching as Jack's emotions ran high and hard. Jack paced up and down the room, alternately cursing and kicking something. Finally he rested he fell into the chair, staring at Mac.
"Will he stay safe?" he asked, so quietly that Matty almost missed it.
"Jack-" she started, only to be cut off as Jack spun towards her, his brown eyes full of tears of anguish.
"Matty, please," he begged, only holding back his tears out of sheer willpower, "just promise me that he'll be safe."
Matty sighed, "don't make me promise something I can't be sure I can keep, jack," she sighed, "please."
Jack bit his lip, dropping his head and drawing his knees up to his chest, "promise they'll try as hard as they can."
Matty stepped forward, dropping her hand to Jack's shoulder, fully aware of how vulnerable he was allowing them to see him, "that I can promise you."
Jack reached forward, unfolding himself and grabbing Mac's hand, "now you listen, Blondie," he tried to smile at the nickname but he found that he couldn't, he didn't register when Matty herded everyone out, "I can't stay kiddo. Your old man got away from us and now..." he swallowed hard, "you're still in danger kid. The boss decided I can't stay with you. He says I'm too close to you to think right," he squeezed Mac's hand, furiously wiping a hand across his face to get rid of his tears, "of course, we both know he's wrong. I can think just fine with you around kid, but the boss thinks it'll be better for the both of us if you're under someone else's care for a little while. I'll be back though, alright buddy," he glanced over at the door and window, making sure that no one was there, "I'll be back for you kid," he leaned down and gently pressed a fatherly kiss into his kid's forehead, he pulled back and rested his head gently up against his boy's, "I promise."
He pulled away and squeezed the back of Mac's neck in comfort, "I'll be back soon. I promise buddy."
Mac frowned and shifted in his sleep, as Jack's hand pulled away from his a soft cry of distress burst out of him. The sound tore at Jack's heart, but the delta forced himself to block out his emotions and pull away. He spun towards the door and walked towards the exit.
"Ja..ck," Mac's weak voice called, stopping Jack just at the door.
Jack looked back, biting his lip at the fear and confusion in Mac's pain-clouded eyes. In that moment, looking at his boy's tearfilled, dazed and confused baby blues, he almost stayed. But Nicki's words echoed in his head. He could get them both killed if he stayed, and he knew it. He stared at Mac, wishing with all his heart that he could stay. But soon, his training got the better of him and he turned away.
"Ja..ck?" Mac yelled, "...wait... Jack... please!" The kid's voice was getting stronger, "Jack! Don't go! I'm sorry! What ever I did! I'll fix it! I promise! Just don't leave, Jack, plea-"
Jack shut the door on Mac's cries, biting his lip to keep from sobbing. He looked down and clenched his fists. A hand rested on his arm. He glanced over and caught Matty's gaze.
"You made the right call, Jack," she told him, "this is the best way for you to keep him safe. you did the right thing."
Jack glared down at her, jerking his arm away, "you had better be right, Webber. Because if you're not..." he trailed off, his gaze hardening as he met her eyes, "I will destroy you."