A/N: Hello, everybody! Fair warning, this chapter turns kinda cheesy. Don't say I didn't warn you! Lol. Seriously though. It's cheesy. At least in my opinion. But the end is fluffy! Lol :D Anyway, hope you enjoy and plz review! Thanks!

Chapter 3:

It's been almost a week since Mac woke up to this alternate reality, Quantum Leap-ish. . . thing. As he started to kind of predict, he did end up calling Matty for some more time off, seeing as he hadn't found a way to change his partner back. But as strange as it may be, Mac's found it to be a common occurance now to come to the stable everyday. And with each day, Mac's found items he's apparently bought for his "horse".

Like for example, a fancy all matching red leather saddle tack set with intricate floral designs and antique finish on the trail saddle. The brow band of the headstall had matching designs and quilt stitching on the reins. He hadn't known about it until he snooped around in the tack room and found the gleaming clean tack set with his last name plastered above it on a rack. To say he was surprised would've been an understatement. Mac had also found a black pair of performance boots stowed away behind the saddle on a hook and a grooming bucket full of supplies as well.

The blonde's already tried everything on Jack of course (he couldn't help but feel a little bit like a kid in a toy store). It was a little embarrassing but also kind of funny trying to figure out how everything went, what went where and the like. He was sure Jack would've been laughing with him if he could. Thankfully though, he had managed to get everything on correctly and, after double checking to make sure nothing was too tight or too loose, he and Jack went on their first true trail ride.

Well. . . more like riding lesson. Horse taught, by the way, for Jack had taught him the paces at Mac's own speed. It took a bit for Jack to encourage Mac to try again after a couple near-falls that had the blonde clinging on the Jack's neck for dear life. Which wasn't easy considering Mac was almost six feet off the ground when on Jack's back. But eventually Mac gained his balance beautifully and before he knew it, Jack was galloping full speed down one of the many trails. It was so exhilarating. The ground below them became nothing more than a brown blur. The wind whipped through his hair like a vicious hurricane and brought reflexive tears to his eyes.

All too soon, the tall paint slowly came down in speed and did a slow jog the rest of the way to the creek. His sides were heaving heavily and his nostrils were flared. Sweat lathered the paint's nec, body and chest behind the breast collar. Enhancing his sharp coloring.

Jack snorted and shook out his mane when he reached the bank. Mac climbed down and sat on the ground leaning against his partner's leg while Jack grabbed a drink. He ran a hand through his hair to help smooth it out some. Heat radiated off of Jack's body in waves. Occasionally, Jack would pause in his drinking and look around before going back to drinking again. Mac decided they were probably going to be there a while so he got comfy against his partner's leg and leaned his head back, closing his eyes. He knew Jack would notify him to anything strange.

Mac didn't know how long he rested his eyes for when he felt a sudden jump from the paint. He could feel Jack's muscles in his legs go rigid, his whole body stock still. Mac immediately opened his eyes and surveyed the area. He couldn't see anything, but obviously something was bothering Jack.

"Jack? What's-Whoa!" Mac exclaimed in surprise when Jack abruptly whipped around and pushed Mac to his feet all in one easy move. Jack snugged Mac close to his shoulder, placing himself between the blonde and whatever lay on the other side of the creek. His brown eyes stayed glued to the other side of the creek, ears pricked forward on high alert. Mac moved around to see for himself what it was. Jack quickly snapped his head around and pinned his ears slightly, placing Mac right back at his shoulder. Mac didn't try to move again.

Nothing happened for a few solid minutes.

Mac waited on baited breath to see what would happen. Had Jack not been breathing, Mac would've thought his partner had been turned to stone. Mac really tried not to get anxious about it, but the overall situation made it hard. He and Jack couldn't exactly communicate what was going through their minds, so it was mainly all up to reading body language. Mac sighed softly and tried to follow his partner's lead and listen. As much as Mac wanted to go and investigate, he didn't feel like risking getting nipped in the arm or something next for not listening. Jack didn't seem like he was in the mood to play right now.

After what seemed like an hour of waiting, Jack visibly relaxed a notch and calmly walked the other direction back towards the trail they came from. The paint maneuvered Mac in front of him, Jack's warm muzzle keeping constant pressure on the middle of the blonde's back as he pushed him along.

Of course something bad had to happen right as they let their guard down.

Their only warning was a small snap of a twig. Jack's ears immediately pricked and his head snapped up. His body was rigid again. Mac hesitantly stepped back to Jack's shoulder. The paint started to nicker nervously. His head came around and gave Mac a rough shove away from him. Mac stumbled and fell back right as a large feral dog leaped out of brush with a hostile roar. Mac's eyes widened in fear and he scrambled back as fast as he could. He didn't recognize the dog as one of Dorothy's. The black dog snarled dangerously. Spit dripping from a jaw full of sharp teeth.

"Jack!" Mac cried out when the dog geared up to pounce him.

A sharp whinny sliced through the air. Jack barreled into the canine a second later, sending it tumbling a safer distance away. Jack took the chance to visually look Mac over and gave a soft nudge to the blonde's chest.

The dog growled deeply in its' throat and struggled to his feet, blood sluggishly bleeding from a cut on his brow. He shook off is coat and charged the pair once again. Jack used his own body to shield his partner. The feral beast drove it's fangs deep into the paint's neck. Jack reared up, the wild dog dangling from his jugular. Blood began to coat Jack's neck and ran down all over the dog's head. The paint screamed in pain.

"JACK!" Mac screamed. He quickly fished out his pocket knife and flipped out the largest blade. When the moment struck, Mac stabbed the knife deep into the dog's chest right above its heart. The dog gurgled, blood filling up his mouth and oozing from the corners before letting go. His lifeless body falling limply to the ground.

Mac turned his attention to the paint once it was obvious the dog wasn't getting back up again. Poor Jack was shaking violently, his brown eyes huge and pained. Blood ran freely down his throat and down his chest to drop to the ground below. Jack swallowed thickly and more blood oozed out. Mac cursed and took off his jacket. He balled it up and pressed it to the wound. The paint winced and nickered softly, his head coming to push into Mac's chest. Jack's muscles quivered with pain.

"I know, Big Guy." Mac whispered, his voice shaking slightly. He closed his eyes and rested his head atop Jack's. "I know. It's gonna be ok. I promise you'll be ok."