My Kids

By: AndiKaneUnderwood

Well, it didn't happen in the episode, so here's what I think should've happened between Jack and Jimmy.

Tag to S.2 E.13 "CO2 Sensor + Tree Branch"

Jack was staying with Mac after the kid had more nightmares about his capture by Murdoc and Zoe and how he could've killed someone, and Jack was thinking about how much he hated the universe for putting such a sweet, kind, innocent young man through all the shit he'd been through.

He'd gotten the call from Jimmy over Facebook messenger a few weeks after the reunion.

Jack didn't remember exactly what was said, but it was something like, Pick a bar, I owe you a drink.

Jack had thought on that while on the blow up mattress beside Mac's bed.

("You sure you wouldn't rather have an actual mattress, Jack?"

"Nah, I'm not dragging a mattress in here, it'll just make it hotter in here.")

He nodded to himself and typed back his response, just managing to send it before Mac was whimpering and tightening his grip on Jack's hand.

MacGyver~MacGyver~MacGyver

They met up in some random bar Jack just remembered the name of from one of Mac's late night bar runs.

("Mac, we need to go back to your house and sleep, not go to a bar and drink ourselves unconscious."

"One more drink, Jack, please."

"One more, then we go home."

"Thank you.")

"Jack! There he is!" Jimmy called, waving from the bar with a Texas beer in hand.

"Hey, Jimmy!" Jack replied, plopping down on the stool next to him. "What's up?"

"Dude, I want to know how you've been doing! You never said besides bathroom tiles, man." Jimmy laughed.

"Alright. Bring a beer, I'll tell you." Jack laughed.

As the bartender slid over a cold one, Jack got started on telling him about joining the army and serving in Afghanistan.

"Met a nice girl named Sarah and we hooked up." Jack grinned and his smile only broadened as Jimmy started laughing.

"So what about kids, man? You have any kids?" Jimmy asked.

Jack froze for a second.

He thought about that.

He thought about his small family.

He thought about a courageous little boy who'd become like his kid when he stood right there in front of the car when his best friend was kidnapped and Jack realized that that boy had become more than a pain in his ass.

He thought about an angry little girl who'd cried too hard over a man who didn't deserve it and cried her eyes out again when she admitted to Jack that she missed him and she was angry he'd left her and she demanded to know why.

He thought about the lonely little boy he'd met in the desert and had absolutely hated at first, but realized that this kid that was too young to be looking for bombs in the desert, the kid that was on the wrong side of twenty, the kid who'd saved him even when Jack told him to get out and save himself was his brother and more than that, after Paris all those years ago, his little boy.

Jack laughed and smiled. "Yeah, I got three kids, they're adopted." He replied. "Wanna hear about 'em?"

Jimmy smiled, "Sure do!"

Jack pulled out his phone and scrolled though his gallery to find the right picture.

He offered commentary on a few other pictures before he found the right one.

The picture was of Bozer, Riley, and Mac.

The courageous little boy was laughing, head thrown back, his eyes closed, and his mouth wide.

The angry little girl was smiling and laughing, her eyes lit up with joy and mirth and mischief.

The lonely little boy was grinning, teeth on show as he watched his two of best friends in the whole world laugh.

Jack smiled at the picture. "These are my kids."

Jimmy raised an eyebrow. "Man, you got some good looking kids."

Jack chuckled. "Yeah, I know. Let me tell you 'bout them. Now the boy on the right end, that's Bozer, he's the oldest, 28."

MacGyver~MacGyver~MacGyver

"Jack, this is Wilt Bozer, my roommate." Mac gestured to the older man with a smile. "Bozer, this is Jack, my partner from the Army."

Jack held out his hand and Bozer shook it.

("Meet your roommate? What, are we dating?"

"No, but your both important to me and I want you to know each other exists."

"You're the boss.")

"Nice to meet you, Bozer."

"Likewise, Jack. You staying for dinner? I'm making ribs."

Mac's eyes lit up. "Oh, trust me, you're going to want to stay." He said, heading for the fridge and grabbing the meat out.

Jack shrugged. "Alright, I got time to kill. I'll stay."

Bozer grinned. "Awesome, dude."

MacGyver~MacGyver~MacGyver

"Tell me about him, Jack." Jimmy pushed. "I wanna know about your kids."

"Bozer is the protector I think, he's loyal and kind and wants to make a movie. He's a crappy screen writer, but he's getting better." Jack leaned in and whispered jokingly. "Don't tell him that." He laughed. "He's the best damned cook I've ever met, too."

Jimmy laughed. "He sounds great."

"He is great. Greater than he'll ever admit to himself." Jack replied.

"What about the girl?" Jimmy asked, tapping the picture over Riley's head.

"That's Riley, she's 25. She's a firecracker."

"She looks like it." Jimmy chuckled.

MacGyver~MacGyver~MacGyver

Diane smiled as she opened the door and let Jack in. "Hello, darling. Nice to see you made it." She kissed his cheek.

"Oh I wouldn't miss this for the world, Diane. I'm finally getting to meet her, right?" Jack asked as he shrugged out of his jacket.

"Oh yes, come help me finish dinner and I'll introduce you when we eat." Diane moved towards the kitchen and Jack followed quickly.

When they finished fixing dinner, Diane walked to the staircase and called, "Riley, dinner's ready!"

The sound of stomping came rushing down the stairs and Jack was greeted by a little girl with fiery eyes. "Hi." He said.

"Hi." The little girl replied. "I'm Riley."

"I'm Jack."

"Are you gonna hurt Mommy too?"

Jack paused. "No, kiddo. I'm here to make sure he doesn't get to hurt your Mom again."

Riley smiled and Jack knew she was sold.

MacGyver~MacGyver~MacGyver

"What's she like?" Jimmy asked.

"Oh, she's fierce and fiery and her own kind of beautiful. She's a heartbreaker. She's like a tornado, I think." Jack grinned bigger.

He was fully aware that he was saying things he wouldn't usually say, but when it came to his kids, there's wasn't a filter. He often said what he thought, especially when it came to protecting them.

"And who's this last one?" Jimmy tapped Mac's face.

"That's Mac, he's my youngest, 22." Jack replied.

Jimmy saw the fond look. "He your favorite?" He teased.

Jack chuckled. "Nah, he's just the one that needs me the most. He's got this God awful luck. He's always getting into trouble. He's the reason I had to duck out early at the reunion and why we couldn't meet up last week."

("Mac, you sure you'll be okay this time?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. If I'm not, I promise I'll call you."

"You better, kid. I'll be back before 12."

"Have a good time, Jack.")

Jimmy's eyebrows raised. "What happened?"

"He went into the military too young and now he has these awful nightmares of some of the things he's seen." Jack sighed.

Jimmy's eyes widened. "I'm sorry, Jack."

"Ah, 's not your fault, it's his Dad's fault. He up and left when Mac was 10."

"Jeez. Good think you found him, huh?" Jimmy asked.

"Yeah, good thing." Jack replied.

Jimmy threw back a shot and Jack was silent as he set his wallpaper before their silence was broken by Jack's phone.

A picture of Mac's smile, a peace sign, and army fatigues flashed on the screen and Jack sighed. "Hey, man, I gotta go."

"Your bathroom tiles calling you again?" Jimmy teased with no malice. "Go on, I got the bill. I owe you. I'll see you soon, man!" He held out his hand and Jack shook it, pulling the man in for hug.

"Thanks, Jimmy. I'll see ya." Jack back off and answered the call.

"What's up, kiddo?"

"J-Jack." Jimmy heard above the music before Jack was gone.

Jimmy smiled and raised his glass in a silent toast to Jack and his kids.

MacGyver~MacGyver~MacGyver

Jack shut the door behind him and set down his keys and duffel bag from his car. "Mac?"

"H-Here." the younger called back.

Jack made his way to the living room and out through the deck. He was quick in finding his youngest, dark eyes scanning over every inch of the deck before finding Mac curled up beneath the table out there. Jack grunted as he knelt down and got a better look at his youngest charge.

Mac was shaking, skin flushed, he was almost too pale, tear streaked down Mac's cheeks and Jack cursed the universe again.

"What's up, kiddo?" Jack asked.

"I could've killed him, Jack. I could kill anyone. I didn't follow my instincts and Pena got killed. Screwed up the sealant mix and Zoe died. You always risk your own life for me, and-" Mac cut off as Jack pulled his best friend into a hug.

"There's no point in screwing yourself over because that's not what either of them would've wanted. It's not what I'd want. Now, I didn't know Zoe and I sure as Hell didn't know Pena, but I know that if they were even half as great as you say they are, and I believe they are, they wouldn't want you to wallow around in misery. Now, don't go forgetting that even if they aren't here." Jack pulled back and pointed to Mac's super computer of a brain, "They're still here," Jack pointed to Mac's heart, "and they're still here."

"And as for my risking my life?" Jack gave Mac a smile. "Kid, I'm not planning on going anywhere that you can't bring me right back with a single phone call any time soon. I risk my life for you so I can be here when you need me. Now, you listen to me." Jack pulled Mac back to his chest again. "You're my brother, my best friend, and my partner. Ain't no one gonna take that away cause I'll be damned if there's someone who can do my job better. And just because Pena and Zoe are gone doesn't mean you killed them. You're smart, Mac, sometimes too smart for your own good, but your heart won't let you go killing anyone. You got me?"

Jack felt Mac nod into his shoulder. "Now, let's get you back to bed, huh?"

Mac nodded again and Jack easily pulled him up despite his knee's protest. "By the way, you'd better remember that entire spiel, because I doubt I will if the time comes to give it again."

That got a laugh out of the blonde as he laid back down on his bed.

"You need me to stay in here or you good with me staying on the couch?"

The blow-up mattress had been removed from the room earlier that afternoon because it was taking up a little too much space and Mac had wanted to try out some new DIY think he'd found on YouTube.

"I think I'll be okay." Mac replied, curling up on the bed.

"Alright, you know the drill. You scream and I come running."

"Thanks Jack." Mac replied with a smile. "Night."

"Night, kiddo." Jack replied, leaving the room.

Jack smiled as he stretched out on the couch. His kids.

He liked the sound of that.

His kids.

Jack fell asleep to those words circling around his head.

His kids.