First Assignment

MacGyver stood in his living room, hands on hips, shaking his head in dismay. It had been two weeks since Frog had come to live with him. There was now a plush dog bed in a corner, various fur-covered and vinyl squeaky toys strewn about the apartment, and a doggie doorbell Mac had installed next to the patio doors and taught Frog to push with his paw when he needed to go out and do his business. The perpetrator of these changes was currently tethered to a long lead MacGyver had rigged up in the back yard napping in the late afternoon sun.

"Do you wanna eat in here or out there?" Joanna called from the kitchen, interrupting MacGyver's thoughts.

"In there is good," he replied, walking over to the breakfast bar where Jo was placing a plate full of Chinese take-out in front of him.

It was Friday and the couple had decided to celebrate their first week of work with dinner and a movie at home. The corners of Mac's mouth turned upward as he remembered Joanna entering her new office for the first time. Her jaw had literally dropped upon seeing the spacious, well-appointed work space with a large window overlooking the park across the street. MacGyver's office was once again next door to hers, but the walls were much thicker than at Challengers providing them both with more privacy.

"What are you smiling about?" Jo asked as she dug in to her chicken lo mein.

"Just remembering the look on your face when you first saw your new office."

Jo swallowed quickly and laughed. "Hey, I'm just excited to have file drawers that open on the first try!"

Mac chuckled before taking a bite of his food. It had been a long, busy week. Leroy did his best to make Jo and MacGyver feel at home and provided as much assistance as they needed to settle into their new jobs and surroundings. Unfortunately, the demands of the workplace had already taken their toll on spending time with each other. Mac planned on rectifying that this weekend, beginning with tonight.

After the remains of their meal had been cleared away, MacGyver let Frog in the house who immediately crawled under the coffee table to continue his nap. Joanna curled up in an overstuffed chair while Mac loaded a classic Western movie into the VCR before sprawling on the couch. It didn't take long before Joanna became restless and started shifting positions in her chair. Then the questions started.

"How can they tell they're shooting at the bad guys and not each other? They all look the same. Why does it only take one bullet to kill a bad guy yet the good guys just get grazed? How come none of the horses ever get shot by accident?"

"Are you getting bored?" Mac asked, already knowing the answer. Joanna just shrugged. He knew from the start she didn't care for Westerns, but he admired the fact that she would watch one to make him happy.

MacGyver swung his legs off the couch and sat up, patting the cushion beside him.

"Come over here and let me see if I can fix that," he invited her.

Joanna rolled her eyes playfully but obeyed. As soon as she was seated, Mac grabbed her legs and pulled them unto his lap before leaning in to steal a kiss.

"What about your movie?" she asked.

"You've seen one gun fight, you've seen 'em all," he replied and was pleased when Jo leaned forward and met his lips half way. He knew her fear of rejection prevented her from initiating most physical contact, but he took this as a sign that her heart was learning to trust him. To trust that he would never reject her.

After several minutes of exchanging kisses that ranged from languid to passionate, Mac moved his attention to her neck. Blood roared in his ears from the thrilling sensation and he almost didn't hear her whispered question.

"Mac, are you happy?" she asked, pressing her hand against his chest to create separation.

"Mmmm, I guarantee you I am very happy," he murmured contentedly. He took her face in his hands and was about to kiss her again when he saw the fear and sadness in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concern washing over him.

"The way you're looking at me. Like you want, need, something more."

MacGyver sighed and pulled away from her to rest his back on the couch.

"I thought we already had this conversation?"

"We did. I just need to be sure." Joanna lowered her eyes and Mac's heart softened.

"Look," he said calmly as he stroked her cheek, "we both agreed to go slow and wait on certain things. I understand your feelings about love and marriage and I respect them."

"But I don't want you doing it just for me. Eventually you'll get bored or resentful," Jo protested.

"Then you need to understand that I'm also doing it for me," he continued. "When I was working on your church's air conditioner, Father Mike and I got to talking. I realized that some of my past relationships may have failed because I assumed intimacy would bring about commitment, but now I'm beginning to understand that it might be the other way around. That commitment leads to intimacy. Does that make sense?"

Joanna nodded and Mac cradled the back of her head in his hands, eager to pick up where they had left off when both the shrill ring of the phone and the ding of the doorbell startled them apart.

"I'll get the phone. You get the dog," MacGyver groaned, reluctantly pushing Jo's legs off his lap. He watched her attach the outdoor lead to Frog's collar, drinking in the easy, loving way she had with the pooch before clicking on the call.

"Hello?

"Hi Mac." It was Leroy Jackson. "Sorry to call you late on a Friday, but I have an assignment for you. Could you meet me at the office first thing in the morning?"

"Yeah, sure," MacGyver responded. "See you then." There went the weekend.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

You're defending a drug dealer?" Mac looked up from the file he had been given to read and stared accusingly at his new boss. Next to guns, drugs was the next worst thing MacGyver could think of.

"I'm not defending him, I'm merely representing him," Leroy explained.

"What's the difference?" Mac asked gruffly, not satisfied with the response.

"If I were defending him, I would be pushing for a jury trial and not guilty verdict. However, I know he's guilty and I don't make a practice of putting dealers back on the street. I am, however, acting as his representative when he goes to court to agree to the plea deal the judge and I arranged. He'll get a lighter sentence in exchange for testifying against his supplier whom we've been trying to get behind bars for years."

"So where do I come in?"

"Jorge is scheduled to appear in court Monday morning, but he's getting nervous. Worried they might come after him. He's refused protective custody but has agreed to a safe house."

"Let me guess. You want me to babysit Jorge for the weekend and make sure he gets to his hearing."

Leroy nodded. "My firm rents a motel room for these situations. It's small, quiet, and out-of-the-way."

"What about security?"

"I'm looking at it," Leroy replied with a grin.

Terrific. "With all due respect, it doesn't sound as if you're taking Jorge's fears very seriously."

The lawyer sighed. "This happens more often than not. It's usually a sign that they're gonna run."

"So what you really want me to do is make sure he doesn't jump bail."

"Basically. And of course be prepared to neutralize any security issues that may actually arise. Now, if you don't have any further questions, go home and pack a bag. I want you checked in to the motel by 1pm. I'll arrange to have Jorge arrive a couple hours later and I'll see you both at the courthouse on Monday."

After receiving his assignment, MacGyver stopped home just long enough to throw some clothes in his duffel bag and call Joanna to let her know what was going on and have her look in on Frog. He arrived at the motel earlier than planned so he could scout out the area. The nineteen unit, one-story structure was located on the outskirts of town next to a truck stop. The land was flat and barren, the population transient. Only a handful of rooms appeared to be occupied.

Mac stopped at the office to pick up his key and proceeded to the room Leroy had reserved. Upon entering, he did a quick security survey. One large room with a plate glass picture window, two double beds, a dresser and TV. The bathroom was small with only a ceiling fan for ventilation. One way in. One way out. Good to keep the bad guys at bay, bad if they needed an alternative exit. The place wasn't ideal and, though MacGyver liked Leroy, he was having trouble respecting the man's judgement, or lack thereof, at the present time. They hadn't even set up a communication system. Mac pulled the heavy drapes across the front window and parked his Jeep a few doors away. No need to advertise which room they were in.

A couple hours later there was a knock on the door. MacGyver looked through the peep hole at a man in a suit standing next to a lanky teenage boy. Recognizing the man from Leroy's office, Mac opened the door and invited them in.

"You must be Jorge," Mac said in greeting, putting out his hand. "Name's MacGyver."

"Whatever," the dark-haired boy mumbled as he slunk past, dropped his backpack on the floor, and tossed himself on one of the beds.

"Not much of a talker, hey?" Mac asked the man in the suit.

"Nope. Didn't say two words the whole drive over. Good luck with this one." He patted MacGyver on the shoulder and headed out the door, no doubt relieved to be free of his young charge.

"Just so you know, this wasn't my idea," Jorge blurted out as soon as they were alone. "I don't need no babysitter."

"Ah," Mac replied simply, choosing to pretend he didn't know what the boy had told Leroy. He took a seat on the bed across from the young man.

"So, how old are you? Fifteen? Sixteen?"

"What's it to you?!"

"Nothin'," Mac shrugged. "Got any brothers or sisters? Any family?"

"They hire you to give me the third degree or somethin'?" Jorge shot off the bed and into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him for good measure. MacGyver glanced at his watch. This was going to be a long forty-two hours and eight minutes.

Later that evening, Mac and Jorge walked over to the truck stop for a quick supper. The boy scarfed down his meal before inhaling a piece of pie for dessert making MacGyver wonder if he was the boy's bodyguard or meal ticket.

When they returned to their room, Jorge pulled out a Walkman and pair of head phones from his backpack, laid back down on the bed, closed his eyes and shut out the world. MacGyver clicked on the TV, leaned back against the headboard of his own bed, and dozed off watching reruns of that year's Stanley Cup finals.

Sunday morning MacGyver awoke to the sound of rain pounding on the roof and thunder rumbling in the distance. He glanced at the empty bed next to him and then to the closed bathroom door. Mac got up and tapped on the doorframe.

"Everything okay in there?" he asked.

"Geez, can't a guy do his business in private?" came the aggravated reply.

"Sorry," Mac muttered as he turned away and headed back toward his bed.

When Jorge emerged from the bathroom several minutes later, MacGyver tossed him an apple. "Breakfast," he explained. Jorge grunted.

"Wanna tell me about the guys that are after you?"

"Nope," Jorge replied curtly, tossing the apple core in the waste basket before reaching for his Walkman and resuming his position from the day before.

MacGyver spent his time channel surfing and pacing the room, stopping occasionally to peek out the front window to ensure they were still alone. By mid-afternoon, Jorge was complaining that he as hungry and MacGyver was glad for the opportunity to get out of the claustrophobic room. Since it was still raining, they drove the Jeep the short distance to the truck stop restaurant where they indulged in a hearty, homemade meal. On the way back to their room, Mac stopped at the motel office to pick up a newspaper to help pass the time.

"Did you meet up with your friends okay?" the clerk asked as MacGyver paid for the paper.

"Friends?"

"Yeah, two guys. Said they knew you and the kid so I gave them your room number."

"Thanks," MacGyver said as he tucked the newspaper inside his jacket and hurried out the door.

"What are we doing?" Jorge asked as Mac slowly guided the Jeep behind the long, low motel building.

"Just checking something out," MacGyver replied, coming to a stop.

A dark, late-model sedan was parked outside their room.

"Looks like we got company," Mac observed.

"That's them!" Jorge exclaimed. "That's the guys who are tryin' to kill me!"

MacGyver put the Jeep in gear and made a quick turn out of the parking lot. Unfortunately, the driver of the sedan must have heard the squealing tires and was now behind them and closing fast. MacGyver pushed the accelerator as far as he dared just as a head popped out the passenger side window of the sedan.

"Get down!" Mac yelled, reaching over to push Jorge's head down to his knees just as the sound of bullets exploded behind them. MacGyver swerved to avoid the deadly projectiles and sped out of the parking lot and onto the interstate.

"They're still behind us!" Jorge cried, his cool veneer crumbling into panic.

"Hang on and stay down," Mac instructed the teen as he expertly guided the Jeep in between lanes of traffic in hopes of losing, or at least delaying, their pursuers.

"Where are we going?"

"There's a state park not far from here. You like camping?" MacGyver chuckled at Jorge's stare which had now turned from panic to disgust.

With each passing mile, Mac put more distance and traffic between them and the sedan. When he saw the sign for the state park, he veered onto the rain-slicked off-ramp a little too fast causing the Jeep to slip onto the muddy shoulder of the narrow road before once again gaining control. Confident they were no longer being followed, MacGyver followed the signs to the state park and soon pulled up to the entrance.

"Whatcha doin' man?" Jorge asked, calmer now. "We can't just walk in the front door!"

"Sometimes the best way to hide is in plain sight," Mac responded confidently.

After registering and paying for a campsite at the property office, MacGyver drove into a wooded area and parked the Jeep in their assigned spot.

"We gonna sit here all night?" Jorge asked, defiant once again.

"No way! We can go hiking, catch some fish, whatever we want. There are over four thousand acres out there just waiting for us to explore."

MacGyver chuckled as Jorge crossed his arms over his chest and slouched down in his seat as if sitting in the Jeep for the next twelve hours wasn't that bad after all.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The driver of the sedan slammed his hand against the wheel. "We lost 'em!" he shouted.

"Take it easy man," his partner tried to calm him down. "They can't disappear into thin air. Take the next off ramp."

"Why?" the driver shot back.

"The boss said this MacGyver is a real nature lover. There's a sign for a state park. Probably thinks he and that punk can hide out in there."

The driver suddenly slowed the car. "Look. Tire tracks in the mud. Could be him."

Determined and gaining confidence, the driver headed toward the entrance to the park and stopped at the registration booth.

"Afternoon, gentleman. What can I help you with today?" the park ranger asked.

"We're looking for a friend of ours," the driver replied with a friendly smile. "Should have come through in a Jeep a short while ago. Had a teenager with him. Name's MacGyver. Could you tell us which site he's at?"

"I'm sorry, sir," the ranger responded. "I'm not authorized to give out that information."

"No problem. We understand," the driver replied. "But before we go any further, I think one of my tires is going flat. Mind if we get out and have a look?"

"Sure, go right ahead." The ranger returned to the booth, his back to the men.

The driver quietly got out of the car, reached into his waistband to grab his pistol, and hit the ranger on the back of his head with the butt of the gun, knocking the uniformed man unconscious. He then located the registration log and found MacGyver's name.

"They're at campsite 31," he told his partner.

"What about him?" the passenger asked. "He can ID us."

"Don't worry. We'll go in, off the kid and MacGyver, take the Jeep and find us another way outta here." The driver resumed his place behind the wheel and drove slowly down the narrow, winding road. "Keep your eyes peeled," he instructed the man next to him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Joanna awoke from a fitful slumber Monday morning. Disturbing dreams had haunted her sleep the night before, but she couldn't recall any details. She quickly performed her morning routine before going over to Mac's to let Frog out to do his business before she went to work. Upon arriving at the townhouse, she heard the dog whining through the closed door. She made quick work of letting herself in and found the chubby canine looking mournfully up the winding staircase.

"Aw sweetie," she bent down to pet the bull dog. "I know you've missed him, but he'll be back today. Now let's go do your business." Jo hurried to open the patio door, but Frog refused to move.

"C'mon baby," she urged. Frog glanced between her and the stairs before slowly waddling out into the back yard. Joanna clamped his lead onto his collar and waited for him to get done. After watering a small bush and snuffling the grass, he lumbered towards her. But instead of returning to the house, he went over to the garage, whining and scratching at the utility door.

"You know he's not in there," Jo said sternly, tugging at the leash. "You've been so good all weekend, now get inside before I'm late for work."

Frog worried the door for a couple more minutes before following Joanna into the apartment. He stayed at her feet, almost tripping her up more than once while she prepared fresh food and water bowls for him.

"Honestly, what has gotten into you?" she asked, wishing that he could answer. But all he did was whine and gaze at her with pleading eyes. It was all she could do to tear herself away from the sad pup. She crouched down, kissed his snout, and promised to check back during lunch.

Joanna was out of breath by the time she reached the suite of offices belonging to Leroy Jackson's firm. "Sorry I'm late," she greeted the receptionist.

"Mr. Jackson wants to see you in his office immediately."

Jo glanced at her watch. Granted it was just her second week of work, but she was only five minutes late. She squared her shoulders and knocked on her boss's door. Leroy called for her to enter, and as she crossed the threshold she saw him sitting at his desk, a worried expression on his face.

"I'm sorry I'm late," she began to explain, "but Frog was being exceptionally difficult—"

The lawyer held up a hand, effectively cutting her off. "That's not why I called you in here," he told her soberly.

Joanna instinctively knew this was about MacGyver, and it wasn't good. Suddenly, her restlessness and Frog's odd behavior began to make sense. "Tell me," she demanded.

Leroy sighed and rubbed his forehead before beginning. "Late last night I received a call that there had been an incident in the parking lot of the motel where MacGyver and Jorge are staying. The desk clerk said that two guys were looking for them. MacGyver sped away followed by a sedan. A man in the car was shooting at them. A few hours later a ranger at the state park was found unconscious in the registration booth and MacGyver's name was listed as a new arrival. Authorities have been searching the park since dawn, but there are literally thousands of acres to cover."

"So Jorge was right. Someone is after him."

"I'm afraid so," Leroy shook his head in dismay. "This is all my fault. I didn't believe Jorge and now I put him and MacGyver in danger."

"Mac is in his element. If anyone can get them out of this, it's him," Joanna said, not certain if she was trying to reassure Leroy or herself.

"Why don't you go home," the lawyer suggested. "Everyone is doing everything they can to bring Mac and Jorge home safely. I promise to call you immediately with any news."

"What about the hearing? Jorge was supposed to be in court this morning?"

"I've already requested a continuance. Now just go home and try not to worry."

"Fine," Joanna relented. "I'll be at Mac's if you need me."

She numbly retraced her steps and drove to the apartment as if on autopilot. She opened the door to find Frog once again lying at the foot of the stairs. He looked up at her beseechingly.

"I'm sorry," she patted his head. "You knew Mac was in trouble and I ignored you."

The pudgy dog stood up and licked her hand as if in forgiveness before turning his attention back to the stairs.

"Okay," she sighed. "I'm sure Mac won't mind if you use his bed just this once." She followed Frog up the spiral stairs, her hands patting his butt encouragingly as he struggled to the top. Joanna awkwardly lifted the heavy dog up onto the bed. After sniffing every inch of the comforter, he finally settled himself on a pillow with a huff and closed his eyes. Soon he drifted off to sleep, snoring lightly.

Joanna felt a chill run up her spine as exhaustion settled around her shoulders. It was still morning, but the news from earlier and lack of sleep was already taking its toll. Slipping off her heels, she climbed onto the bed beside Frog, curled into a ball, and let her tears fall silently as she waited for sleep to overtake her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

MacGyver and Jorge lay flat on the forest floor as the summer sun continued its ascent above the horizon. It had been hours since the two goons had flushed them from their campsite. Either Frick and Frack were smarter than Mac had given them credit for or someone was feeding them information. All had been quiet for a while now so Mac sat up, leaning his back against a tree trunk. He had to think of a way to get out of here. His surroundings offered a plethora of opportunities, but he daren't take a chance on setting any kind of trap. Tourist season was in full swing and curious hikers and campers were everywhere. The way he saw it they had two choices: Circle back to the campsite or draw the thugs deeper into the wilderness and take them on alone. MacGyver's sense of self-preservation voted for the former, but his overriding concern of hurting innocent people voted for the latter.

"Jorge," Mac called in a loud whisper, "ready to move?"

"You got a plan?"

"No. But I'm workin' on it. Come on!"

The two took off deeper into the woods. MacGyver began breaking tree branches and shuffling his feet to scatter the brush.

"Whatcha doin'?" Jorge asked.

"Making an easy trail for our friends to follow."

"What?!" the teen shrieked.

"Sometimes, in order to survive, the hunted need to become the hunters," Mac explained.

Jorge frowned but followed MacGyver, helping to mark the trail as well. They had hiked for a couple miles before Mac heard a cry behind him. He turned to find the teen sitting on the ground by a rotten log holding his ankle.

"What happened?"

"I wasn't paying attention and tripped on that log," Jorge replied disgustedly.

"Can you walk?"

"Sure man, no problem."

But when the boy went to put weight on his ankle, his leg buckled and he fell into MacGyver who lowered the injured teen to the ground.

"Wait here, I'll be right back," MacGyver promised.

Within minutes, Mac returned with a handful of twigs and one long, thick tree branch. He got out his Swiss army knife and cut the twigs to the same length. He then took a roll of flattened duct tape from his back pocket.

"I'm gonna splint that ankle," Mac explained upon seeing the questioning look in Jorge's eyes. "And you're gonna use that branch as a crutch."

Soon the two were on the move again, albeit a bit slower to compensate for Jorge's injury. It wasn't long until the trees gave way to open land by the bank of a small river. An idea clicked into place. It wasn't much, but with any luck it would give Mac and Jorge the element of surprise.

"Stay back and watch me," MacGyver instructed. The shoreline was muddy from last night's rain. Mac stepped into the wet dirt, putting one foot firmly in front of the other until he reached the edge of the water. He then walked backwards, matching his steps to the imprints he had made.

"Okay, your turn," he told Jorge. "This way it will look like we crossed the river."

Once that task was completed, MacGyver went about collecting baseball sized rocks and heavy, solid tree branches which he shared with Jorge.

"Ammunition," Mac stated as they each stepped behind a large tree for cover. And then they waited.

MacGyver was beginning to think the thugs had given up tracking them when he heard a rustling in the forest behind him. He listened intently. There were two voices. One was stern and commanding, the other hesitant and unsure.

"You go that way, I'll go over there," the stern voice instructed.

Good. They were splitting up. Maybe this plan would work after all.

Mac watched as an average looking man in a suit emerged from the woods and spotted the footprints in the mud.

"Over here!" the man called to his partner just as MacGyver hurled a heavy rock at the back of the man's head. The projectile found its mark and the man fell over head-first into the muddy riverside.

Mac leapt from his hiding spot and ran towards the unconscious man, pulling his arms behind his back and wrapping his wrists and ankles together with duct tape. One down, one to go.

"Mac, look out!" Jorge yelled.

MacGyver turned around and found himself looking down the barrel of a small but potentially deadly hand gun held by thug number two. As Mac quickly processed the situation, Jorge tossed a rock towards the threatening man, hitting him in the shoulder. It wasn't a hard blow, but enough to be a distraction. MacGyver grabbed the tree branch, planted his feet and swung, knocking the gun from the man's hand. The man quickly recovered and lunged toward Mac who swung again, this time hitting the man square in the stomach. He grunted but did not go down. Apparently he was stronger than he looked. MacGyver went to swing the branch again, but this time the man was ready for him and grabbed the end of the make-shift weapon and wrenched it from Mac's grip. Adrenaline flowing in full force now, MacGyver deftly ducked and avoided several of the man's attempted swings at him until his foot slipped on the mud. The man landed a sound blow to Mac's ribs and he went down writhing in pain. The man stood over him, raised the heavy branch and prepared to deliver one last blow just as MacGyver tossed a handful of mud in the thug's face and rolled away. But the fight was not over.

The thug dropped the branch to wipe the mud from his eyes before lowering his head and barreling into Mac's mid-section which sent both men to the ground before righting themselves and exchanging a volley of hits to the face and kicks to the gut. After several rounds, both men were on all fours, exhausted, bleeding, and breathing heavily. MacGyver wondered how much more he could take, but he didn't have a choice. He had to keep fighting. He had to protect Jorge. Just then he caught movement from the corner of his eye. Jorge was limping quickly toward the thug, heavy tree branch in hand. The boy slammed the branch down hard on the man's back, knocking the wind out of him. Mac quickly crawled onto the man's back, pinning him to the ground as he once again secured hands and feet with duct tape.

"Thanks for the help, kid," Mac said to Jorge just as a pair of park rangers emerged from the tree line.

"Looks like we missed the fun," the elder ranger quipped. He headed straight to MacGyver to assess his injuries while his partner did the same for the incapacitated thugs. More rescue personnel arrived and soon the small, battered group was headed back to the campsite where they would be questioned, examined, and some taken into custody.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The ringing of the telephone startled Joanna awake. She glanced at the clock, surprised to see it was already late afternoon. Frog groaned his displeasure at the offending noise before tumbling off the bed and following Jo downstairs.

"Hello?" Jo knew this had to be about Mac, but she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the news.

"Hey, it's me," a masculine voice she had grown to love replied.

"Mac! Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just a few bumps and bruises. The usual."

"Where are you? What happened?"

"That is a really long story. I'll tell you about it when I get home. I just wanted to let you know everything's okay. See ya soon."

Joanna paced the apartment anxiously, waiting for MacGyver to arrive while Frog chowed down on kibble, much calmer now that he sensed his beloved master was safe. After what seemed like an eternity, a police cruiser pulled into the driveway and Mac stepped out from the passenger side. Jo flew out the front door to greet him.

"What's going on?" she asked, frowning at the car.

"He's just dropping me off. I need to pick up my Jeep in the morning."

Joanna had a ton of questions all wanting immediate answers until she saw the bright white gauze pad taped to Mac's temple. She also noticed how gingerly he was walking beside her.

"You're hurt," she stated.

"Just a scratch," he smiled crookedly at her, but this time her concern made her immune to his charm.

Once they got inside, Mac seated himself carefully at the breakfast bar.

"You must be starving," Joanna observed. "Can I make something for you?"

"I'm not that hungry. Don't worry about it."

"I'll decide what I worry about, MacGyver. How about scrambled eggs and toast?"

"That sounds good," Mac agreed. "Make enough for yourself, too. Leroy told me you spent the day here."

"Well somebody had to take care of that dog of yours." Jo hoped she could mask her concern with annoyance.

As if he knew they were talking about him, Frog raised his head from his dish and ambled over to MacGyver, pawing his leg. Mac bent over to greet the dog, but winced in pain which did not go unnoticed by Joanna.

"Hurt your ribs again?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant as she poured them each a glass of milk.

"Just a bruise," he answered, slowly straightening.

In the bright light of the kitchen, Jo could see the fatigue in his eyes and the strain on his face even though he tried to pretend he was fine.

Over the next couple of hours, MacGyver explained, in detail, the events that had taken place since he had last spoken to Joanna on Saturday, taking time to answer her questions and reassure her as needed.

"So as of a few hours ago, everyone is in custody. Jorge's hearing has been rescheduled and his ankle will be fine in a few weeks," Mac concluded.

Joanna was sitting on the couch next to him, still trying to mentally digest everything he had told her. Mac had spoken as if this was just an ordinary assignment, and she supposed that to him it was, given his previous adventures at the DXS and Phoenix. Now she could understand how difficult it must have been for the women in his life. But what she couldn't understand was why they all left. How could they not want to be there for him? To welcome him home and take care of him? Granted, she had been a nervous wreck when she had learned of his situation, but being with him now was worth all the worry in the world, and the fact that she could have lost him today made this time together that much more special.

"Hey, you okay?" Mac broke into her thoughts. He put his hand on her knee and squeezed it gently.

"Yeah, I was just thinking."

"About whether or not you want to hang around and risk going through this again?" MacGyver asked soberly. "'Cause I can't promise you it won't happen."

"I know that," she replied softly, turning so she could look into his eyes and cup his cheek in her hand. "But quite honestly, I can't see myself anywhere else but here. With you. I can't be scared off that easily."

To prove her point, she leaned in gingerly and grazed his lips with hers.

"Stay here tonight," Mac whispered huskily.

Jo glanced at the couch they were sitting on. Well, she had slept on it before and if Mac wanted—

"Not on the couch," he amended. "In my bed. With me."

Joanna's heart fell to the floor and she wanted to cry. "But Mac, we agreed—"

"I don't mean like that. I'm not going to break our agreement. I just want you near me." He reached to brush the bangs out of her eyes. "After an assignment, I always came home to an empty house, and I was fine with that. But having you here tonight to make me dinner and listen to me talk about…well, it just felt good. I'm not ready for you to leave yet."

And Joanna wasn't ready to go. She clearly saw the pain and loneliness in MacGyver's eyes and longed to comfort him in any way she could. Jo knew he seldom, if ever, reached out for help. Now that he was asking, how could she turn her back?

Jo emerged from the bathroom, the hem of the Calgary Flames jersey brushing the middle of her thigh. She tugged at it self-consciously. Facing away from her, Mac had already changed into sweatpants and was pulling a white tank top over his head as he turned toward her. She gasped when she saw his torso covered in black, blue, and purple bruises. His eyes followed hers and he quickly covered himself with the shirt.

"It looks worse than it is."

"Really?"

"Really. Now let's get some sleep."

MacGyver turned out the light and crawled into bed a bit more carefully than usual due to his injuries. Joanna was also mindful of them as she gingerly curled up on the other side of the bed. She felt incredibly awkward at first, but as she tuned into Mac's strong, solid presence beside her she felt her muscles relax and her heart warm with a sense of rightness. She was relishing this feeling when she heard a thunk and a snuffle coming from the foot of the bed. Jo turned her head and met Mac's gaze.

"There's no way," Mac whispered.

Jo slipped out from under the comforter to investigate. There on the floor at the end of the bed sat Frog looking wistfully up at the mattress. Without asking MacGyver's permission, she hefted the dog onto the bed while threatening to put him on a diet.

"You're spoiling him," Mac complained as she slipped back under the covers.

"He's had a hard day," she said in the dog's defense. "If he goes, I go."

"Alright, he can stay," MacGyver replied sleepily.

That was all the encouragement Frog needed to wiggle his way between his two humans and grace them with slobbery doggie kisses before lying down and falling fast asleep.