Jack rushed over to Mac, putting his gun on the floor and touching him gently on the arm, Mac flinched, and Jack didn't blame him. He immediately reached up and pulled the material away from his face, looking up at the cuffs, seeing how to get them off. What he saw made him want to be sick, the cuffs looked like they had bonded to Mac's skin they were on there so tight. He turned and saw one of the team in the door.

"Find me some way to get these chains off," Jack said, turning back to Mac.

"No, can't," Mac was saying.

"Can't what buddy."

Mac flinched away from Jack's voice as if it hurt him, but he had to speak up, his father hadn't said he could leave.

"I have to stay here."

Jack turned away, not wanting Mac to see the anger in his eyes, the kid's voice was so quiet, his eyes so sullen.

"Kiddo, you don't have to stay here a second longer, you've been here too long already."

"I'm safe here."

Jack felt his heart breaking. "No Mac, you're not safe, but you will be."

Mac looked so confused and he wanted to gather him in his arms, but he held back, if the kid flinched when he was touched then he wouldn't except a hug. While they waited Jack looked at Mac, really looked at him. He was skinnier, if that was possible, he was covered in bruises, some old, some new, to be honest it looked like there were bruises on top of bruises. There were marks that he couldn't identify. When he looked down he realised that the cuffs that were on his wrists were on his ankles too and he swore.

Mac jumped a mile, he didn't know what was happening, this guy looked like Jack, but he couldn't be here, maybe he was dreaming, or he had a concussion. Whoever he was he was being super nice and that wasn't right, he shouldn't be nice to him, he was being punished because he'd been bad, maybe this guy didn't know that. He opened his mouth to speak and then realised that he'd already spoken too much, he needed to be quiet, his punishment would last longer if he weren't quiet. Why did his gag get taken out, he couldn't talk with it in, it was much better.

"I'm sorry Mac, I didn't mean to scare you," Jack said, watching his kid flinch again. He turned and saw Jackson coming through the door.

"These were in the suspect's pocket, they should fit the locks," Jackson spoke, walking towards the door. "I'll find a blanket."

Jack looked at the tiny keys, they obviously came with the cuffs, he guessed they were custom made. He was almost sick again when he thought of that, how did James know what size to make them? He put the key in the lock of Mac's ankle's first, thought it best not to get his hopes up that his wrists were being released, he had to be so uncomfortable. The key fit and he turned it, sliding the cuffs away from each other. Now for Mac's wrists.

He reached up and Mac shied away again. "I'll be gentle buddy, but we need to get you outta here so.."

Mac started breathing fast, he wanted so badly to tell this guy to stop but he couldn't speak.

"Hey, hey it's ok. What's wrong?"

He'd asked Mac a question so that meant he could answer. "I'm not allowed to leave until my punishments over, I haven't been told it's finished so I have to stay."

Jack got up and walked out of the room quickly, he didn't want Mac to think the anger was directed at him, he wanted to scream, he punched the first thing he saw which was a wall thankfully, not a person. What the hell had that animal been doing? He took a few deep breaths and then went back into the room, Mac looked so vulnerable sitting against that wall, insisting he had to stay, how the hell was he going to convince him he didn't.

Mac watched the guy get up and leave, he must have listened, the only problem was he didn't put any of the restraints back on, his father would be mad if he came in and saw that they'd been taken off without his permission. Hopefully at that guy and not at Mac, this time it wasn't his fault. He sighed and leaned against the wall, he guessed he might as well get comfortable again. As soon as he'd closed his eyes he heard movement and the guy who looked like Jack was back.

"We're gonna try this again, ok kiddo, I need to take these restraints off, it's ok, you won't get in trouble."

Mac nodded, the guy looked like he was telling the truth, he really hoped he was right.

Jack leaned over and used the tiny key again, releasing each wrist one at a time and gently pulling it down so it was in Mac's lap. Once both hands were there he breathed easier. He pocketed the keys, they might be able to use them to remove the cuffs, but that should be tried at the hospital, he couldn't risk it here. Now all he had to do was get Mac out of this house. He had a feeling that was going to be easier said than done.

"Ok, time to go kiddo. Do you need any help?"

Mac sat for a second, listening to the man speak, it was so strange how much he looked and sounded like Jack. He wasn't sure where they were going and where his father was.

"Where's my father?"

Jack held his breath to stop himself from yelling, Mac did not need that. He had just spent a month with that man, having god knows what done to him, it was probably an understandable question.

"He's outside and that's where we're going. Are you ready?" Jack hated saying that, but he thought it would make Mac come with him easier.

Mac nodded, getting to his feet, gasping when his new bruises and broken ribs pulled, he quickly hid his pain and started walking, he didn't want to look weak.

It took everything Jack had not to touch his friend, knowing that he was hurting, Mac obviously wanted to do it by himself, as he went past he got a better look at him. What were those marks on his neck?

"Hold up buddy, I just wanna look at your neck."

Mac stopped, making sure that this Jack lookalike could see what he wanted, he imagined that he had new bruises, he'd had four injections in the past two days. He never got to see himself in the mirror, so he had no idea how bad it looked. He heard the man suck in a breath and look away, and Mac took that as I sign that he was disappointed or disgusted, he couldn't tell which.

"Ok, let's keep going," Jack said, keeping his voice steady. He had looked closer and the kids' neck was a mess, there were so many small holes that it looked like he was some sort of weird junkie. God he hoped James had only been giving him sedatives.

They made their way slowly to the kitchen, Jackson approaching with a blanket. Mac ignored him and Jack let it slide, he'd make sure he was wrapped up in the car. As they were nearing the kitchen table, Agent Morgan appeared from a small room.

"Jack, I think you need to take a look at this."

"I'm a little busy Morgan, just bag everything," Jack wasn't about to leave Mac now.

"It's important sir, and I think it'll help clear somethings up."

Jack sighed, knowing that the agent was a good one, if he felt Jack should see something, he probably should. He didn't want to let Mac go outside without him, so he stopped him at the table.

"Can you sit here a minute kiddo; I promise I'll be right back."

Mac did as he was told, talking his usual place at the table, wondering if this man would want him secured before he left. The man just walked off, so Mac sat there quietly, wondering who all these men were and why his father hadn't told him they were coming.

"What is it Morgan? I really don't wanna leave Mac by himself."

"The set up in here is something I've seen before when I was overseas. Prisoners were forced to listen to recordings under extreme conditions, it helped to keep them in line."

"What exactly are you saying?" Jack asked, not liking the sound of that one bit, although he'd heard of similar things happening while he was at the CIA.

"I've started listening to a couple of tapes, I think James was trying to brainwash his son, and by the looks of him, he succeeded," Morgan said, handing some headphones over to Jack. "You need to listen to this one before you go, I'll box the others up."

Jack put on the headphones and immediately wanted to rip them off, James's voice echoing in his ears, the things he was hearing, he couldn't believe, he listened some more and then froze. Looking at his fellow agent. "How long are these recordings?"

"An hour each, from what I can tell the same phrases are repeated over and over."

Jack took off the headphones, closing his eyes. No wonder Mac had been confused when he saw him, was acting the way he was. The words ran through his head, 'Jack doesn't want you anymore,' and it seemed that he believed it.