Things didn't exactly improve from there.
They got Mac to join them to talk. But beyond introductions and a little reminiscing of wholesome family fun among the cousins, when it became clear that both Jack and the Winchesters believed the disappearances out here, about twenty miles from Brownsville, were some sort of otherworldly event, Mac very nearly got up and left the table.
"Mac," Dean said, feeling a little more kindly disposed toward the kid, whose rigid adherence to what he had learned from books reminded him of Sammy when he was younger (and sometimes now – if he wanted to drive Dean crazy). "I know this is a lot, but when we reached out for help … We need the resources Jack can offer. Like bein' a crack shot and not running away just 'cuz things go a little sideways. Can't count on help outside the family in a situation like this. It's not a joke, kid."
"Nobody sitting around in a dive bar, getting comfortably numb," Mac gestured toward the empty bottles littering the table, "Is serious about much, other than waking up with a hangover."
Sam nodded, after throwing Dean one of his patented can't you just be serious and maybe not get wasted glares. "Mac, I'm sorry. We should have called Jack directly. Then he could have filled you in on the way here. We think we've tumbled to something big. Not just a ghost or some crypto … I mean an animal with supernatural properties …" Sam started to explain.
"I'm familiar with cryptozoology. Also known as playing pretend and calling it science. Did you guys come up with this while I was at the bar … or did you plan this out in advance? Because I'm in no mood. Your cousin should know better than to throw down in a prank war with me, by now." Mac said, voice dripping with derision.
"Okay," Sam said drawing the word out, and trying to maintain his patience. This life was hard for anyone to accept, say nothing about a guy who was steeped in the sciences, and not even the theoretical kind, but applied sciences. Sam looked to Jack to try to convince his partner that this was real.
"Mac, I swear, this isn't a joke and I didn't know these guys were gonna be here."
Mac got up, giving his partner a look Jack hadn't seen in a long time. It was the Mac's ready for a fight look, which meant he was either truly convinced that Jack was playing him, or he was convinced he wasn't and that freaked him right out.
"Jack, I didn't come all the way to the Mexican border so you and your … frat buddies … could play a practical joke on me. You're lucky I don't call Matty and tell her this was some kind of weird payback for the Jack's-little-fanny photo album!"
Mac was pretty clearly furious. His hands were clenching and he decided he'd better go get some air before he actually lost his temper and decked his partner. Something that he really didn't want to do but which felt imminent.
Jack got to his feet too and tried again. "Look, Mac, I know this is a lot, but …"
"It's too much. And I'm not winding up jumping out of my skin over one of you chuckleheads in a mask jumping out of the motel closet in the middle of the night. We could be doing real work, Jack!"
He stalked out of the bar.
Jack dropped back and looked almost helplessly at Dean. "Dude, how do I even ..?"
Dean nodded toward the door. They headed outside and found Mac pacing in the parking lot.
Dean cleared his throat, not so subtly. "Listen, Mac, this isn't a prank. We called Phoenix because Jack's backed us up before … a long time ago … And we're kind of cut off from our own professional resources at the moment."
Mac frowned. "What is it you guys even do?" He was eyeing their jeans and Army surplus attire with a skeptical eye.
Sam smirked, he couldn't help it. He remembered being just as skeptical as this guy. Only for him he was like seven years old when Dean finally couldn't keep it from him anymore. He gave Mac a one shouldered shrug. "Probably pretty similar to what you guys do. Saving people, hunting things."
Dean picked up the thread. "But for us, it's the family business."
Mac just glared at the three cousins. "Nice try."
He turned and started to head over to his and Jack's rental car.
"Alright, kid," Dean sighed, sounding too much like Jack for even his own liking. "You asked for it."
Mac turned anticipating some sort of threat from the tone, even though Dean sounded regretful.
When he spun back toward the group, Dean shook his head in an apology. "Hey, Cas!" he called.
Mac jumped when a man in a beige trench coat appeared behind Jack's cousin and said, "Hullo, Dean," in a pleasant gravelly voice.
He stumbled back a step. "I … um …" Mac ran a hand through his already tousled hair. "How did you ..? I mean … Who are ..? Um …"
Jack's eyes were a little wide, but Dean gave him a reassuring little nod, before tilting his head at MacGyver, indicating Jack should maybe step closer to his friend and partner.
"Jack Dalton, Angus MacGyver, I'd like to introduce you to our good friend Castiel."
"Hello, friends of the Winchesters." The man gave a formal nod.
Mac's eyes had gotten very wide and Jack thought maybe he was holding his breath.
Sam helpfully supplied, "He's an angel," in a matter-of-fact tone.
Jack didn't take his eyes off the guy who'd just materialized behind Dean, but his felt Mac reach out and grip his forearm almost painfully. Then he heard Mac whisper, "This isn't happening. This can't logically be happening. This is another friend of Jack's who was hiding out here. Everything is fine. I am totally fine and not losing my mind even at all."
Sam, seeing the stubborn resolve on Mac's face, even as the younger man tried to talk himself out of what he knew he was seeing, took out his phone and held it up. "Hey, Cas." The other man looked at Sam expectantly. "Say cheese."
Cas smiled very obligingly in Sam's direction and Sam took a picture with the flash on.
Mac sat down on the ground.
Jack squatted down next to him. "Mac, buddy, you okay, pal?"
"He … Jack … I think maybe I'm seeing things. Like I know I blew off getting checked out after Kiev and you were so sure I had a concussion … I … You were right. I think maybe we should track down an urgent care place … because …" Mac trailed off, swallowing repeatedly.
Sam nodded at Jack and held out his phone. Jack got up and took it. He looked at the screen and gave Sam a little nod of thanks. Last time he'd seen that kid he hadn't been shaving yet and here he was, a Hunter, and reading this situation like a pro.
Mac needed evidence, so that's what Sam had gotten him.
Jack sat right down on the ground next to his partner. He slung his arm over Mac's shoulders and instead of pulling away because there were three other people looking at them, Mac leaned into Jack's side. Jack squeezed those shoulders gently.
"Mac, you know me …" Mac nodded, glancing at Jack's face and then quickly back at the dark-haired man who had appeared out of nowhere. "So, you know, if I thought you had a concussion and were actually voluntarily heading toward getting it taken care of, we'd already be in the car on our way there, right?"
Mac's eyes darted to Jack's softly serious face again. "I … usually, yeah, but …"
"Bud, I know you like evidence … And I don't like to do this … But I need you to believe this is not a trick. This is real. And these guys really need our help."
He heard Mac swallow several times and the kid opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Jack sighed and put Sam's phone in his partner's hands.
On the screen, Mac could see Dean, the shadowed back wall of the bar as a back drop. And off to the side, stood a man of about Dean's age, wearing a rumpled dark suit and a light, well-pressed trench coat, smiling faintly, and seeming to look into the depths of the eyes of the viewer.
All that was fine. Mac had no trouble with that.
Then he looked at the wall behind the two men in the photo, their shadows thrown into sharp relief by the camera flash.
The smiling man, the … one Sam said was an angel … His shadow had wings!
Jack looked into his partner's face just in time to see his eyes roll up into his head, so he was able to hold onto him and keep him from just slumping to the ground when he went completely limp from the shock of his entire worldview being destroyed by a few phrases and one sharp digital photo.
Jack looked up at the Winchesters and their friend Castiel with a pained grimace. "Now what?"
Dean shrugged. "Now we take him back to the motel. He's gonna need a minute."
Sam nodded sagely and Castiel said with earnest sincerity. "He's going to have a terrible headache. When he wakes up, I would be happy to be of assistance, friend of Dean."
Jack looked back at the angel, shifting Mac's weight in his arms. "I'll take all the assistance I can get."