Epilogue

Jack winced at the twinge in his leg. It had healed in the past two weeks but still ached if he was on it too long. Jack sighed. Today he'd had three funerals to attend-Lenny and the Jins. This past week Jack had gone to too many funerals. Jack wiped his face trying to clean the grief off his face as he drew near the PT room. He paused a smile on his face as he heard two raised voices, well one raised voice and one steady, cheerful voice.

"Mac, you need to rest and eat something. You've been at this for an hour." Sally said in a motherly lecturing tone.

"I'm all right," Mac grunted. Even in the hall, Jack could hear his partner breathe heavy with exertion.

"Mac, you need to take in more calories than you expend."

"I know that!"

"Then sit down, and I'll take you down for lunch."

"I'm tired of eating, that's all I've done for two weeks!"

"You have a lot of weight to regain…"

"I'm all right, and I don't need a stupid wheelchair." Jack crept closer so he could peek in the door. The PT room wasn't large, about half the size of a high school gym, but had walls lined with shelves of equipment. Mac was slowly walking back and forth on a 20ft narrow double parallel handle barred track. Mac had tightened his sweats as tight as he could, but they still hung baggy. Mac's T shirt was wet from sweat and hung off his slim frame. He was still pale and looked like he might wobble over at the smallest breeze. Sally stood studying him her hands across her chest. In front of her, a wheelchair sat parked waiting for Mac to sit down and go upstairs for lunch. Mac was panting and slowly walked along the path holding onto both side rails with white knuckled grips.

Jack raised his eyes to the ceiling taking a steadying breath. Poor Sally always ended up being the one put in charge of the stubborn MacGyver when he got well enough his impatience blossomed in full-and rudeness. Sally gave an exaggerated sigh.

"Ok, you're right," Sally admitted. Mac shot her a look of suspicion. Sally pulled a chair closer and sat down pulling out a couple of pre-packed medical packets. She crossed her legs and brushed her hair back from her face.

"What's that?" Jack chuckled at the unease in Mac's voice.

"These? Oh, staple kits. After you fall, I'll have to staple your scalp back together. I should thank you; it's been a long time since I've got to practice."

"I'm not going to fall." Mac scoffed. Jack shook his head. It'd be much more believable if the blonde didn't stumble a step just after he said that.

"Sure," Sally said looking at her fingernails.

"I'm not!"

"You know we hired a new nurse?"

"Oh? Is she as bad as you?" Mac grunted. Jack suspected the kid was standing up by stubbornness alone.

"Oh no," Sally said with a long sigh. Mac grinned through the sweat running off his face. "She's much worse. Her name's Laura she's worked in the VA system for years. Honestly, Mac, she kind of frightens me." Mac stared at the nurse for a long minute.

"You're exaggerating."

"Well, if you fall and end up back in bed, you'll find out. I hear Laura's old school she likes to use the biggest IV needles and catheters." Sally leaned forward, her voice in a conspiratorial tone. "And she spent many years in psych. The woman loves forceful PRNs."

"Forceful?" Mac said with a nervous gulp. Sally just nodded and kicked her foot back and forth, the picture of casual boredom. She looked up and saw Jack. Jack smiled as the red-head winked at him.

"Hey, Jack," Sally said. Mac slowly turned and almost fell over. He stood eyes closed and apparently dizzy. Jack took a cue from Sally's relaxed stance and fought the urge to run forward.

"Hey guys, how's it going?"

"Fine." Mac gritted forcing a small smile.

"Well, he hasn't fallen yet." Sally sighed. Mac turned to glare at her.

"I'm not-" Mac's voice was cut off by his knees buckling. He slowly folded to the floor. Jack and Sally walked closer and looked down at Mac after he gave up and sprawled on his back. Mac closed his eyes and sucked in air for a long minute. When he opened his eyes, he found Jack and Sally studying him their arms crossed.

"Fine, I give up," Mac growled. Jack cupped his ear and bent down.

"I'm sorry? What was that?" Mac glared at his partner.

"Will you help me up?" Jack raised an eyebrow.

"Please?" Mac huffed. Jack looked at Sally.

"What do you think, Sally?" Sally tapped her chin and cocked her head in thought. Mac waved his hands angrily.

"Fine, I'm sorry alright!" Jack and Sally laughed and bent to help Mac stand up and walk over to the wheelchair. Mac shot them both a full wattage glare then sat back and wiped his face with the edge of his T-shirt. Jack couldn't make out what Mac grumbled under his breath.

"What were you saying?" Jack mocked. Mac opened his mouth to vent, then stopped as Sally casually waved the medical packs in the air.

"Nothing. Shall we get lunch?" Jack grinned and wheeled Mac out.

"Thanks, Sally." Jack offered knowing she'd never heard that from Mac.

"Sure."

"Hey? Is Laura as bad as you say?" Jack asked curiously. Sally smiled a wicked smile.

"You boys have no idea." Jack and Mac stared at her mouths hanging open as she turned and left,

"You know she worked hard to pull you through; you shouldn't be so mean to her," Jack observed as they approached the elevator. Mac growled but didn't say anything. "You want to stop and get cleaned up before we go down to the caf?" Mac wrinkled his nose.

"I better, otherwise I think alarms will go off," Mac said his voice thick with fatigue. He glanced up at Jack with concern.

"Today was Fai and Yu's funerals?" Mac asked softly. Jack's jaw clenched, and he just nodded. Mac put his sweaty hand on Jack's. "I'm sorry, partner."

"Yeah, me too. After the hard life Yu had, and Fai just wanted to help others; neither of them deserved what they got." Both men were silent as they rode the elevator up to the inpatient medical unit.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there." Mac murmured. "And Lenny…" Jack easily picked up the layers of guilt in Mac's voice. Jack put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"It's not your fault, bud." Mac didn't answer. "His family were sorry they didn't get to see you. They told me to say Lenny wouldn't want you to blame yourself. That Lenny was proud to do his job."

"They know about me?" Mac said wiping wetness from his cheeks. Jack didn't know if it were tears or sweat. Jack smiled.

"Dude, when it comes to Medical, everybody knows about you!" Mac shot the older man a glare. Jack helped Mac get set up and into the shower. He sat on Mac's bed listening for the quietest hint of trouble.

It was half an hour later before they rolled into the cafeteria. The middle area of the caf was cordoned off surrounding a large burn mark in the midst of the floor. Half the usual number of seats were set out along the opposite side of the room. As they passed tables, Phoenix employees greeted Mac and joked with him. Mac smiled back. The table farthest from the entrance Riley, Bozer and Matty sat playing cards with a smaller version of Sally that could only be Sam. Riley and Bozer were munching on the pile of Cheetos they were using as money.

"You're eating the pot," Mac said laughing. Jack pulled him up to the table then went to get Mac food. Bozer looked over at Mac.

"Mac, you have to save us! The demon-child is taking all the Cheetos in the building; soon there won't be any left in any of the vending machines!" Bozer pleaded. Sam looked over at Bozer and arched an eyebrow so much like Sally's Mac laughed harder. Riley slapped her cards down.

"I'm out." She shook her head at Mac.

"Matty?" The girl said. Matty smiled sweetly.

"I'll go all in."

"All in?" The girl's smile was part mischievousness, part wickedness. She slid in her pile the same time as Matty. Sam stood up and let out an echoing whoop. Matty glared at the cards as if she expected them to change. Mac looked up as Jack slid a tray in front of Mac. Mac groaned at the pile of food in front of him. A club sandwich, cheese and bacon fries, a salad and about a quarter of an apple pie. Jack sat beside him. His tray had all of that plus a few dishes.

"How can you eat all that?" Mac huffed. Jack grinned at him.

"Healthy living. Eat up. And yes, we are keeping a calorie count." Mac scowled and huffed pulling out a french fry.

"So, MacGyver, I hear you're kind of good at poker?" Sam challenged. Mac smiled.

"I've been told I am." The girl shuffled the cards and flipped them in the air.

"Wanna put your money where your mouth is?" Mac leaned forward eyeing the girl with a gleam of competition.

"Absolutely." They split up the center pile of Cheetos. "Riley, why don't you deal?" Riley took the cards and dealt as smoothly as Sam. She grinned as she flipped cards to everyone around the table.

"This is gonna be fun."