The story continues... (In case you have not figure it out yet, I love keeping you all in suspense)
"Ow!" Jack yelped when the kid maneuvered his knee into the door frame as he was attempting to help him into the house.
"Sorry" Mac whispered, panting; the effort of helping carry Jack's weight back from the beach evident in every breath; his face red, sweat pouring down his face.
"It's OK kid" Jack unwrapped himself from the kid's shoulder and limped towards the couch. How the hell had he let himself get injured during a simple walk on the beach? He must be losing his touch Jack thought.
Mac had run into the kitchen and had returned with some ice, a towel and two bottles of water, he handed one to Jack while he uncapped his and drank it almost in one gulp.
"Slow down kid!" Jack commanded, "you're going to make yourself sick" as he watched Mac inhale the water as he made himself more comfortable on the couch.
Mac looked at him, putting the bottle down and wiping his mouth with his hand, "I'm good" he mumbled as he proceeded to help Jack lift his injured leg onto a cushion to elevate it and then placed the ice on the towel and the towel on Jack's knee. "How does that feel big guy?" Mac asked softly, as if although in the room and somewhat engaged, his mind was not fully with him but rather focused on something only he could see.
Jack noticed and grabbed one of the kid's hand in his, squeezing the cold fingers that were currently holding the ice in place; "Mac, I'm OK; it is just a bad twist, nothing broken, nothing sprained or badly injured (other than his ego, he had gotten hurt when a kid's kite had come flying down in their direction as they were walking down the beach, when he saw it bearing down on them he instinctively grabbed Mac and pushed him out of the kite's path, unfortunately he did not see the seaweed that was on the ground as he pivoted on his left leg and thus managed to lose his own balance, falling basically on top of Mac, but not before twisting his knee a bit)"; although the way Mac had acted when realized Jack had the minor injury, you would have thought he'd been short or something.
Mac stopped moving, he blinked rapidly a few times as if to clear his vision, he then bolted to the bathroom before Jack could stop him and proceeded to empty his stomach content into the toilet bowl.
"Well, so much for breakfast" Jack thought, "I'm coming kiddo, hang on" Jack said as he stood up slowly, shaking off some of the stiffness of his knee and walking to the bathroom with a slight limp. When he entered (pushed through the bathroom's door really), he found Mac sitting in a corner, knees drawn up to his chin, arms wrapped around them, with his head hidden down on them while he sobbed"
What the hell just happened? Jack thought. He knew the kid was not running on all 4 cylinders, but how did they go from Mac putting ice on a simple twisted knee to him sitting on the bathroom floor, wrapped up into himself protectively crying? Jack shook his head and headed towards the toilet, he put the seat down and sat down facing the kid (he knew sitting on the floor next to Mac would not be a good idea with his knee).
He put a hand on the kid's head, squeezing lightly, "Um Mac, Mac, bud, what is going on?" "I'm lost again bother and I told you I can't be lost; I need to know what is going on, so I can help you?" "If this is about my knee son, I'm OK, it is nothing, I promise"
Mac looked up from his corner, sniffling softly, eyes red and brimming with tears. "I'm confused too Jack" he stated; "I'm not sure if I'm just losing my mind at this point, I'm…I…"
"Breathe kid" Jack said urgently, the last think thing he needed was Mac having a full-fledged panic attach, "nice and slow breaths, you hear me?" Jack was running a hand through the kid's hair, stopping on the back of Mac's neck and squeezing, the repeating the motions until Mac's breathing was back to normal and he did not look like he was ready to jump out of his own skin. "Good, that is good my boy" Jack reassured the blonde with one last squeeze to the back of the kid's neck.
Jack grabbed the kid's chin and pushed up, so they would have eye contact before speaking.
"So, Mac, you want to tell me what just happened son?"
Mac looked up at his friend. Jack's voice was filled with worry and tenderness, Mac could not help but reach out and hug his friend in a back-breaking embrace, returned whole-heartily by the older man.
"I'm sorry Jack he whispered" as he stood and stretched out his hand to help Jack up, "I'll be OK, let's get ice back on that knee of yours before it swells up like a balloon, we can talk later Jack" Mac's tone was firm and soft, but left no room for argument.
Jack followed his young friend out of the bathroom and back on the couch where he gladly accepted the ice pack back on his knee; but if the kid thought he was off the hook about what the hell had just happened, he had another thing coming. Jack was giving him a wee bit of space, but not enough for the kid to go too far.
Jack watched as the kid ministered to his knee and then asked him if he wanted any Ibuprofen? When Jack said "yes" to that (his knee was throbbing), Mac went back to the bathroom to get it, returning with two pills and handing them to Jack.
"OK kid" Jack said grabbing the boy's forearm before Mac could escape his reach; "sit" he ordered; Mac sat on the chair beside the couch. Jack nodded satisfied at least that Mac was tracking and following directions for once…" Now, talk" Jack looked at his young friend's face which was lazed with pain, but not physical pain Jack thought…" you were telling me about the men at the bank pushing your grandpa down and realizing you were there, what happened next Mac?"
Mac knew he needed to keep going. He swallowed hard and started back…" I was scared…"