MacGyver had no idea how long he´d been sitting on the breakwater when he suddenly heard someone coming up from behind. He hadn´t cared about keeping track of time since he was still on medical leave and had nothing else but cruising home on his bike planned for today. At first, he suspected the young lifeguard on duty, probably wanting to tell him that this shift was over. But after only a few seconds, his senses told him that something was off. The training for the DXS had finely honed his perception and his observational skills. The steps on the rocks behind him weren´t caused by something soft like jogging shoes, but rather by hard leather soles and heels, you´d find on dress shoes. Shoes that weren´t suited all too well for climbing rocks or walking on the beach. MacGyver´s body stiffened involuntarily with a little alarm.
Why would anyone approach me out here… in shoes like that? And who would?
He resisted the urge to turn around for another second but then a single name popped up in his head. Mac quickly shifted his weight and looked up and behind himself only to find his suspicion confirmed.
"Hey, Pete," he greeted the older man.
"MacGyver." Pete only barely glanced at Mac to return the greeting while he crossed the rocks.
Thornton´s initial greeting is curt and tense, but that´s probably caused by the concentration he needs to walk over the rocks in those shoes, Mac assessed internally. On the other hand… it could also be caused by pent-up anger.
He drew in a deep breath and nervously licked his lips as he waited for Thornton to make it to his side. His inner tension rose again. Mac just hoped it wasn´t too much of the latter.
The senior agent stopped on the boulder next to the one Mac was sitting on, took a moment to catch his breath, and eyed his rookie all over. The young man looked up at him with a carefully guarded expression – which concerned Pete a bit. Does MacGyver really expect me to tear his head off, he mused. I thought we´d gotten way beyond that point.
"Took me quite a while to find you this time," Pete stated and decided to sit down as well.
"I wasn´t hiding from you on purpose, I was just…" MacGyver started to defend himself but broke off when Pete raised one hand.
"I wasn´t saying so." Pete stopped his protest and drew in a deep breath. He settled on the rock and noticed that MacGyver had returned his gaze to the waves.
"Sorry," the young man muttered once Thornton had found a somewhat comfortable position. "No offense meant." Inwardly, he scolded himself for how he´d just let his nervousness and unease show.
"None taken," Pete instantly assured. Somehow, he had to get the young one to calm down. "Since I haven´t seen you for almost a week," he chose to start the conversation. "How are you doing? How´s the knee?" His eyes followed MacGyver´s out to the ocean.
"Better," Mac answered after a second. His superior´s tone had softened, and Mac sensed himself relax a bit with the honest concern he´d heard in the older man´s voice. "I´ve overdone it a little at the beginning… but by now… the knee´s doing fine."
Subconsciously, one of his hands rubbed over his healing leg. Pete noticed the gesture out of the corner of his eye and looked sideways at MacGyver. The young man´s face seemed pensive, even withdrawn.
"Glad to hear that." Pete strove to keep his tone positive but decided to get to the most important issue, now that he knew that Mac´s physical recovery was going well. No point in beating around the bush, he thought. "On my return from Washington this morning, Agent Carlyle told me you had come to the office and wanted to see me."
MacGyver straightened himself as his thoughts started running wild in his head.
"Yeah," he replied slowly and shyly lowered his gaze.
He was still thinking about how to begin when Thornton pulled the envelope, Mac had left on his desk, out of the inner pocket of his suit jacket and laid it down between them. MacGyver´s eyes instantly caught on it. He held his breath for a moment.
The envelope is torn open. So Thornton must have read the letter.
"I suppose, what you wanted to discuss has to do with this letter?" Thornton asked when Mac didn´t continue.
"Yeah," Mac said sheepishly. His hand found a small stone next to his knee, and he picked it up and turned it around between his fingers. "I´m sorry, I hadn´t planned to just drop my resignation off on your desk… but you were out of town… and I also didn´t want to arouse Carlyle´s suspicion by pulling back."
Pete sighed at MacGyver´s apologetic reaction. Somehow, he had to encourage the young man to open up and speak more freely.
"Listen, MacGyver…" he replied calmly after a few seconds. "I´m grateful you dropped this off at my desk… and not at our department chief´s."
MacGyver shot Pete a quick, surprised sideways glance but then concentrated back on the stone in his hands.
"You are?"
"Of course," Pete shot back immediately. "He would have just forwarded it to your staff department… and I wouldn´t have been able to do anything about it."
"Do about it?" Mac echoed without looking up.
"You can´t seriously expect me to agree with this." The words left Pete´s mouth a lot harsher than he had intended to.
"Well, it is my decision," Mac replied low, but determinedly and continued to fiddle nervously with the stone. Pete´s sharp words fueled his defiance. "I do have some rights concerning…"
"Yes, you do." Pete cut him off. "But I can´t accept your resignation… certainly not for the reasons you have given in your letter."
MacGyver´s hands stopped moving, his head snapped up, and he finally met Thornton´s gaze. He found Pete watching him intently and without any anger, but rather concern. The older man´s expression puzzled him.
"But… I´ve almost blown the whole case," Mac countered a little hesitantly. "I got caught."
"Getting caught happens to the best of us," Pete shot back firmly and then drew in a deep breath. "Before that, you gathered way more information than we had hoped for, which will help us close that case… for good."
Mac was silent for a couple of seconds with Pete´s appreciation, but the self-doubt Pete still saw in the younger man´s dark brown eyes worried him. They lacked their usual sparkle. Then MacGyver broke the eye contact and lowered his gaze to his hands again. The stone started moving between his fingers once more.
"Which would have been lost completely…" he answered slowly. "Hadn´t you come to my rescue."
"I would have gotten caught as well with the camera in my hands," Pete stated. "Had you not noticed and distracted Moreno and his goons."
"Disobeying your order to stay put," MacGyver interrupted low.
"Yes… but saving me and the intel." Pete nodded, but then was silent for a beat and sighed. He strove to stay calm despite the young one constantly opposing everything he said. "And you´ve also kept me and the information safe on the following day when you insisted on distracting those goons alone."
Mac remained quiet this time and seemed to concentrate on the details of the stone in his hands.
"MacGyver… don´t you have any idea what you´ve achieved?" Pete asked after another moment of tense silence. "You´ve stopped a worldwide network of arms smugglers… single-handedly. Given the short time, you´ve been a certified agent, that´s quite impressive."
"Not single-handedly." Mac protested and looked up again. "I wouldn´t have been able to hadn´t you been there."
Pete was relieved to finally see a flash of energy in the young man´s eyes. Even if it was caused by defiance.
"That´s why we´re partners, Mac," Pete argued firmly. "And I´m not willing to let you quit."
"Some kind of partner." Mac snorted with frustration. "I got you into trouble. You´ve even been summoned to the headquarters because of this case. You sure gotta face some kind of punishment for choosing me… and then having to go in yourself to save me… Face it, Pete. I´m not ready for this job."
But his sudden anger at Pete´s unwillingness to see his failure morphed into confusion as a genuine smile widened on the senior agent´s face.
"Actually, MacGyver," Pete chuckled. "We both got a commendation for our work." He let his words sink in and enjoyed the baffled expression on MacGyver´s face for a moment. "And as for you being ready… I´ve told you before… you´ve been among the best recruits we ever had during training and certification. You´ve got all it takes to become one of the best agents I´ve ever met. But you´ve got to believe in your abilities… and you´ve got to allow yourself some time. You´ve gained some experience during your time in the military, but that was a couple of years ago… You´re new to this line of work. You´re still learning. You´ll find your stride."
MacGyver was speechless for seconds at Thornton´s encouraging words, but a big part of him was still caught up with blaming himself.
"Learning?" he echoed self-deprecatingly. "I got careless, let my emotions interfere with my judgment, and those goons almost got to continue smuggling their guns to terrorists and crisis areas all around the world… which would have cost hundreds and thousands of innocent lives."
The disappointment about his failure mixed with some anger about Pete not seeing it. To top it off, Pete was still smiling at him, although his smile had sobered up. And he didn´t reply.
"What?" Mac asked impatiently after a few moments. "Why are you smiling?"
"Because you care about those people, even if it´s not likely you´ll ever get to meet any of them," Pete told him earnestly. "Your desire to save those lives is what made you go in deeper than you had been assigned to."
"Deeper than I should have," MacGyver said bitterly, lowered his gaze to the stone in his hands, and then angrily threw it out into the waves. "I didn´t think about making sure I had a safe way out. At least, I cared about hiding the camera."
"A safe way out." Pete calmly repeated his words. "Something very important in our line of work… You´ve granted it to me and the intel twice, at the camp and on the following day. You´ve learned quickly."
MacGyver sat still, staring out to the ocean. Inwardly, his thoughts went berserk. Pete sitting there next to him and singing his praises partly fueled his defiance, but in another small part of his mind, he sensed his decision to resign wavering.
"And you´ll continue to learn," Pete carried on after a moment. "If you don´t quit now."
"But Pete… bottom line is…" Mac protested instantly, yet kept his eyes directed at the waves. "Given all you´ve expected from me after training and certification… I´ve failed to complete the assignment. I´ve disappointed you." His voice dropped low until the end.
Thornton´s head snapped around to MacGyver and he stared at the young man stunned. He was speechless for a moment; his jaw dropped. Reading how Mac had assessed his actions during the mission as a failure in the letter had been one thing, but hearing from him in person how convinced he was about it and how much it bothered him that he felt like having disappointed the senior agent sent a sting to Pete´s heart.
"You what?" he asked for confirmation.
"I´ve failed," Mac repeated quietly and apologetically. "I´ve disappointed…"
"Now stop it right there!" Pete suddenly growled at him. The young man´s self-recrimination was testing his patience. "MacGyver, have you listened to anything I said to you during the past minutes?"
MacGyver nodded sheepishly but stayed silent. Pete drew in a deep breath and urged himself to calm down.
"You´ve done anything but fail or disappoint me." Pete then assured firmly. "Your decisions made sure those arms dealers never knew about me until it was too late for them. That's what made stopping them possible in the first place. Hadn´t it been for your determination, ingenuity and stamina, they would still be going on with their business. You made the change and risked your life while doing so. I was just along for the ride… If anything, you´ve exceeded my expectations… you´ve impressed me… and our higher-ups! Mac, once again… we both got a commendation on this!"
MacGyver´s head slowly turned to the senior agent after Pete was done with his speech. He met Pete´s gaze but his expression stayed pensive.
"But it was you who got me out." The young man insisted low after a moment.
"Well, as your partner, I kind of had to." Pete smiled lopsidedly. "Since you care more about saving innocent lives than your own."
A bit of a shy and insecure grin spread over MacGyver´s face as Pete Thornton´s words and their meaning finally registered in his mind. But it didn´t reach his eyes yet.
"So… no punishment from headquarters in Washington?" he asked cautiously.
Pete puffed out a breath as the memory of how intense the board had questioned him returned before his mental eye.
"No," he confirmed. "Although defending some of your methods wasn´t easy… Well, let´s say it´ll take some time for them to get used to your unique way of handling things… and to your special approach to our work."
MacGyver´s grin widened a bit before he lowered his eyes. They briefly caught on the envelope before he looked out to the ocean. Pete noticed it and granted him another few moments to sort his thoughts.
"So, MacGyver," he then probed slowly. "What are we going to do about this letter?"
Mac drew in a deep breath and sat up straighter. He hadn´t allowed himself to see his doing the way Pete had. He wasn´t sure about his decision to resign anymore. Once again since he´d met Pete Thornton, he was surprised how their conversation hadn´t felt the least like talking to his boss. It seemed Pete was becoming more of a mentor to him; someone he could look up to. The older man seemed honestly concerned about his tendency to doubt himself. MacGyver realized, maybe it would have been a good idea to talk to Pete about all this before writing the letter. He slowly let out a long sigh.
When Mac still didn´t respond for another few seconds, Pete picked up the envelope and turned it in his hands.
"Mac?" he asked quietly.
His action brought MacGyver´s gaze back to the letter and then to Pete. Nothing like admitting that you made a mistake in admitting a mistake, he thought.
"I´d like to have it back," he finally confessed.
Thornton´s relief was almost palpable to MacGyver when the older man handed the envelope over.
"Glad to hear that," Pete sighed. "I never wanted to have it in the first place. Let´s never mention it again."
"Agreed." MacGyver shot Pete a quick, sheepish smile that finally reached his dark eyes while he folded the envelope and stuffed it into the back pocket of his jeans.
"Now that this is settled," Pete stated with a smile. "There´s something else I need to give you."
Mac raised his eyebrows curiously as the older man reached into his pocket. A moment later, a mixture of surprise and gladness spread over his features when Pete held out a bright red, but well-worn Swiss Army knife to him. Mac recognized it instantly as the one Moreno had taken from him.
"I retrieved it for you from the evidence collected at the camp. Thought, you might want to have it back," Pete said, now smiling broadly. "Thought, you might need it the next time you get yourself into trouble – or me, partner."
"Trouble?" Mac asked with feigned innocence. "Who? … Me?"
Mac couldn´t help but flash Thornton a mischievous grin with his remark, but his face sobered up as he took the knife from the older man´s hand. His grandfather Harry had given him this one long ago, when he´d still been a kid. Pete was relieved to see the energetic sparkle return to the younger one´s dark eyes at the sight of the knife, even if his expression went serious quickly again.
"Thank you," Mac said after a moment. "It means a lot to me. This is the oldest one I´ve got." He squeezed his fingers closed around it before he pocketed it and directed his eyes back to the waves.
"You´re welcome," Pete answered and followed MacGyver´s gaze. "You just looked as if this one bears a lot of memories."
"Yeah," Mac agreed slowly. "It does… way back to when I was a kid."
For a couple of seconds, the two men sat silently looking toward the sunset before thinking about long-ago memories reminded Thornton of something else.
"By the way, MacGyver," he started out. "You still owe me something."
Mac turned his head and faced the older man with questioningly raised eyebrows.
"I do?"
"Of course," Pete answered with only a sideways glance. "An explanation for your aversion to guns."
Within the blink of an eye, MacGyver´s open and interested expression morphed into disgust, and then his gaze went dark and haunted before he hid his emotions behind a carefully controlled façade. He held his breath for a couple of seconds. Although Mac didn´t move as much as an inch, Pete abruptly felt him withdraw. The easy camaraderie he´d sensed a minute ago seemed to snap.
"I said, someday," Mac replied curtly.
"How about making that 'today'?" Pete probed, not willing to drop the topic that quickly this time.
MacGyver turned to the sun nearing the horizon and let out a long, quiet sigh.
"MacGyver?" Pete tried again when the young man remained silent for another few seconds.
MacGyver didn´t react. A flurry of pictures, of childhood memories, raced through his head faster than he could suppress them. The pain, the grief, and the guilt he suddenly felt were almost as intense as back then. He struggled with himself. He´d already refused to tell Pete about it once, a couple of weeks ago, during his training, when the older man had sought him out in the evening. They´d been a lot more distant then and their relationship had considerably changed since then, but had it changed enough to open up to Pete that deeply? After all, he was still Mac´s boss.
"Mac?" Pete pressed on, albeit softer this time. "You promised."
"I know," MacGyver finally sighed. "I was just under the impression that you already know about each and every detail of my past life." The words left his mouth a little harsher than he had planned.
Pete drew back a bit with the younger one´s reply. Mac´s sharp tone surprised him even if he knew it was just a defense mechanism.
"Maybe… maybe not," Pete answered, urging himself to remain calm since he saw how hard the young man fought to keep his emotions from showing on his face. "It seems I´ve missed something that´s important to you," Pete continued when Mac didn´t respond. "MacGyver, I was under the impression that we´ve made it past the boss-subordinate relationship… and that you trust me."
MacGyver´s head snapped around to meet Pete´s eyes. The sudden flash of pain in his brown eyes worried Pete.
"Of course, I do," Mac assured after a second.
"Then talk to me!" Thornton urged instantly. "As your partner, shouldn´t I know if there´s something that´s bothering you? … We need to be able to rely on each other when working together… as partners … and also as…" He stopped himself before he finished the sentence.
Pete´s hesitation puzzled MacGyver a little, and he suspected it was because the older man was trying not to press him too hard, although he had a hunch which word Thornton had avoided. It had been floating around in his head since Pete had used it soon after they´d made it to the helicopter. But since then, Mac´s respect for the older man had kept him from bringing up the topic. On the other hand, maybe now was the time to talk about it. MacGyver raised his eyebrows inquiringly.
"Friends?" he asked when Pete didn´t complete his sentence even after a few seconds. "You´ve called me that before… in the chopper."
"You remember that?" Now it was Pete´s turn to look baffled. "I didn´t think you would notice… you were pretty out of it by then."
"I noticed… and I do remember." MacGyver´s gaze stayed locked onto Pete´s when he softly nodded. His voice dropped low. "Friendship is something I don´t take lightly, Pete. It´s too hard to come by."
"That´s true," Pete agreed. "Especially in this dangerous business, we´re in… I´ve been disappointed a few times and also lost some good friends during my career."
For a couple of seconds, they just looked at each other silently in mutual understanding. Then Pete reached out to Mac with his right hand.
"But I´ve never met someone like you before. You´re a very special person," he said earnestly. "I´d be honored to call you my friend, MacGyver."
For a moment, Mac hesitated. The months that had led up to this assignment had proven that Thornton really cared about his well-being, physically as well as mentally. The days out in the forest had proven that they worked fine together as a team and that he could truly rely on the older man. He had to agree that they´d moved way beyond the boss-subordinate relationship. Mac briefly considered the closest friends he had – the somewhat flaky Jack Dalton, for example – and realized how much of a different, probably stabilizing presence Pete Thornton had become to him. He allowed himself to give in to the older man´s offer.
"Likewise, Pete." Mac took Thornton´s hand and nodded with a smile.
Pete returned the smile but held on to MacGyver´s hand a little longer than necessary. He scrutinized the younger man next to him intensely.
"Thank you." Pete then continued. "And now that we´re clear about this as well… What´s keeping you from telling me why you despise guns?"
MacGyver´s smile died in an instant. He remained silent even as Pete slowly let go of his hand, but drew in a deep breath. I should have known, he wouldn´t let go of the issue that easily, Mac thought. Might as well get it over with and tell him that I´m responsible for the death of one of my best pals.
"I don´t know," MacGyver admitted low after a moment. "Pain… grief… guilt… judgment."
"Guilt?" Pete echoed incredulously as he watched the emotions flash over the young man´s face. "Judgment? … But why?"
"Yeah," Mac sighed. "I made a very bad decision about a gun when I was a kid."
He broke eye contact with Pete and shifted his position a little so he could stare out at the ocean waves again. Pete gave him some space and waited patiently for him to carry on.
"My dad taught me how to handle and shoot a gun," MacGyver carried on after a moment. "My mother kept his revolver after he had died and I knew where it was hidden. When I was eleven, my three best friends and I wanted to have some fun with it one afternoon, shooting at bottles and cans… but when one of them suddenly aimed at a bird, I knocked the gun out of his hands. It went off as it hit the ground… and the bullet hit Jessie right in the chest." He lowered his eyes to the rock he was sitting on and swallowed hard. His voice was thick with emotion when he continued. "Neil and Chuck were so scared that they ran off… I managed to build some kind of tricycle out of our bikes and take Jessie to the roadside… but it took too long until I managed to stop a car and get the driver to call an ambulance… the paramedics couldn´t help him anymore. I couldn´t save him."
MacGyver pressed his eyes shut, rubbed his hands over his face, and then ran his fingers through his unruly hair to ease some of his inner tension.
Pete Thornton observed quietly how the pain and grief Mac had concealed well only a minute ago now showed clearly on his features. His mind matched what MacGyver had just told him to an old police report he´d come across while he´d done his research on the young man right after the 'Murdoc incident', when he´d considered recruiting MacGyver.
But that old police report had labeled the whole thing as an accident. There had been no mention of blame on anyone, so Pete hadn´t paid much attention to it. Yet now, it was obvious to Pete that it was of the highest significance.
"It was my fault," Mac added low after a couple of moments. "My life hasn´t been the same ever since… that´s why I refuse to use guns. I hate them."
When he turned sideways and found Pete´s gaze again, there was steely determination on Mac´s face, besides the grief and pain still visible in his dark brown eyes. Pete nodded slowly.
"Alright," he said sympathetically at the sight of the young man´s inner emotional turmoil. "Thank you for sharing your side of the story."
"So you knew," Mac stated with a tinge of disappointment and irritation in his voice. "Then why did you push me…"
"I came across the police report when I put your dossier together months ago," Pete gently cut him off with the raise of one hand. "It didn´t provide much detail. Since it was considered an accident, I didn´t put too much meaning into it… seems I was wrong."
"Accident," MacGyver angrily snorted under his breath. He shook his head and moved his gaze to the waves lapping against the boulders. "It was my fault."
"MacGyver…" Pete sighed deeply. "You were eleven years old. You did all you could to help your friend. It wasn´t your fault."
"I knocked the gun away," Mac shot back bitterly. "I should have kept in mind it might fire."
"You had to act quickly to spare the bird," Pete argued. "You probably didn´t have enough time…"
"I shouldn´t have brought the gun in the first place." Mac didn´t let Pete finish. His voice grew a little louder and sharper.
"You were kids." Pete did his best to stay calm. "It´s quite normal for kids wanting to try out exciting things, wanting to have adventures."
"Right, and that´s why one of my pals got killed," Mac muttered low and tonelessly.
Pete Thornton drew in a deep breath and silently watched MacGyver for a few moments. The guilt and grief Pete still noticed in the younger man´s eyes made his throat tighten. He could almost physically feel how much Mac was hurting. He´d realized quite a while ago that Mac was inclined to blame himself if anything went wrong. And for someone with a fine mind like his, he was surprisingly stubborn. Pete had tried to reason with him. To no use, he realized now.
"Mac, it was an accident," Pete gave it another shot. "But I won´t be able to convince you that you´re not responsible for your friend´s death, right?"
MacGyver´s jaw was set as he slowly shook his head. Pete saw how his expression grew even darker; witnessed how bitterness took over his features. He knew that Mac´s pent-up anger was directed at himself, not at Pete. For the most part, he hoped. Maybe some of it is caused by me pressing him to tell me his story.
"I´m sorry your friend died," Pete apologized slowly. "I´m sorry for bringing back all those emotions and memories."
Mac just nodded silently. His expression relaxed a bit, but the sadness lingered.
"Well, now I can certainly understand why you refuse to use guns," Pete added after a few seconds. "I promise not to pester you about it again."
"Thank you." MacGyver shot him a brief sideways glance.
For a couple of moments, the two men sat silently next to each other on the breakwater, both staring out to the sun that was almost touching the horizon by now.
"Thank you for trusting me deeply enough to tell me about it." Pete then said low and soft.
"Thanks for not judging me for it," MacGyver replied evenly low.
Pete Thornton puffed out an exasperated breath.
"Mac, I can´t and I won´t… not even as your boss," Pete assured quickly. "But as your friend, I´m trying to make you see that your own judgment is a lot worse than…"
He broke off when MacGyver raised one hand in a defensive gesture. The young man couldn´t take any more of it. He turned his head and met Thornton´s gaze which was still tinged with concern.
"I´ll be alright, Pete." Mac forced a smile onto his face. "I´ve learned to live with it. I´ve learned my lesson and made my decisions. I´ve drawn my consequences."
"I won´t question them." Pete´s expression stayed serious and honest.
Slowly, MacGyver realized how much Pete Thornton had sounded like his father probably would have throughout their whole conversation. The father, that MacGyver had lost way too young. How much respect the senior agent had shown. How he was already becoming much more than just his boss or his partner, even his mentor. How much he really cared about setting up a reliable and solid foundation for their friendship. And how much Mac was grateful that he´d met the man a few months ago for the second time, although it had turned his life around to a completely unexpected direction.
"I appreciate that," Mac nodded as his smile widened. "Friend."
Pete returned a relieved smile as he noticed how Mac´s inner tension slowly left him. He raised one hand, laid it onto MacGyver´s shoulder and squeezed softly in a silent gesture of comfort. He was grateful that the young man had finally found enough confidence in their relationship to trust him that far. He looked forward to where their growing friendship might take them both.
For another few minutes, they sat quietly side by side before Mac remembered that he still had some way on his bike ahead of himself. If he wanted to arrive at his apartment before dark, he ought to get going. He straightened himself and shifted a little on the rock, readying himself to get to his feet.
"The sun is setting," he announced. "I should head home."
"No light on your bike?" Pete glanced sideways at him puzzled.
"Well, yes… but for some reason, it´s not all too reliable since I´m back." Mac shot him a quick, sheepish grin before he pushed himself off the boulder and stood up. "Haven´t gotten around to fixing it yet…"
He reached out with one hand and helped Pete up to his feet as well.
"Haven´t gotten around to fixing it?" Pete repeated unbelievingly once he´d found a secure footing. "You?"
"Been busy." Mac shrugged and walked off toward the beach.
"Busy?" Pete echoed surprisedly as he followed MacGyver. His dress shoes forced him to be cautious on his way but he noticed gladly that the athletic fluidity had returned to MacGyver´s movements. "You´re on medical leave! You´re supposed to recover!" he protested nevertheless.
"I am," Mac assured while he climbed down to the sandy beach. "But a neighbor´s kitchen sink was busted and another needed help in…" He broke off as he turned around, wanting to assist Pete, but saw the older man shaking his head incredulously.
"Why doesn´t this surprise me at all?" Pete answered once he had also made it to the sand.
MacGyver only gave him a silent, boyish smirk and picked up his red bicycle. Pete fell into step beside him as they walked off toward the parking lot and the Ocean Front Walk. Pete noticed MacGyver wave a quick goodbye to the lifeguard just before they reached the pavement.
"I could give you a ride home," Pete offered.
"No, thanks." Mac shook his head. "I gotta stick to my training plan. I´ll manage." He mounted his bike once he was on the walk but sat up straight and faced Pete.
"I´m sure you will." Pete nodded with a smile. "But take your time to recover."
"I will." MacGyver´s grin widened on his face. "Doctor´s allowed me to start training."
"I know," Pete sighed. "But there´s no need to rush anything."
"I might be back after the weekend," Mac thought out loud. "For some 'light duty' as you call it."
"Mac, I just told you to take…" Pete protested but didn´t get to finish.
"Are you trying to tell me no case files are waiting on your desk?" MacGyver asked as his grin turned mischievous.
"Well, of course there are, but…" Pete started to argue but was cut off again.
"I could help you with research… and learn more about mission planning until I´m ready for field work again," Mac suggested.
"I´d appreciate your help, but…" Pete sighed.
"So?" The young man interrupted Thornton again, now offering a broad innocent smile. "What´s wrong with me doing some paperwork?"
"Nothing." Pete drew in a deep breath. "I just didn´t imagine it to be one of your favorites."
"It´s not," Mac admitted. "But it´s part of the job… and it´s better than sitting around at home and getting bored."
"Bored?" Pete asked exasperatedly. "You just told me you haven´t even had time to fix the light on your bike during the last few days, and now you´re telling me you´re getting bored?" He´s got a penchant for testing my patience, Pete thought. Guess, I´d better get used to it real soon.
"I should find some time to take care of the light during the weekend," Mac assured with a mischievous grin. "So?"
"Alright. Fine." Pete puffed out a breath. "But make sure you get some rest and relaxation until then."
"Yes, Sir."
MacGyver formally agreed to Pete´s advice, but his voice had a teasing undertone, and he was still grinning. He gave the older man a sloppy salute before he leaned forward and grabbed the handles of his bicycle. Pete stared at him silently for a moment and then sighed deeply.
"Why do I have the feeling that working with you will regularly be putting my nerves to the test?" the senior agent asked.
Mac shot him a lopsided smile and shrugged.
"Who? … Me?" he asked innocently which only earned him a snort from the older man. He then readied himself to take off before he looked sideways at Thornton with a broad, disarming smile. "See ya on Monday, Pete."
Pete couldn´t help but return the smile.
"See you." He waved a quick goodbye and watched the young man drive off.
Pete still smiled to himself when he turned to the parking lot, walked off to his car, and thought about which cases he could hand over to MacGyver. He would have to find something challenging to keep the bright and sharp-thinking mind of the young man occupied.
As he unlocked his car and slid into the driver´s seat, Pete Thornton realized that a small part inside of him was grateful to someone he´d never thought he´d thank for anything. But hadn´t a certain, now dead hitman chosen to take a ride in MacGyver´s taxi cab that day, a couple of months ago, he probably wouldn´t have met the remarkable young man for a second time. And he´d never have gotten to know him any closer or even to work together with him. Pete drew in a deep breath and turned the key in the ignition. He put the car into gear and drove off.
"I can´t admit that to anyone… ever…" he muttered low to himself. "But… thanks, Murdoc."
++++++++++ THE END ++++++++++
Well... this is it. I want to thank my two fellow MacGyver-fans who have taken the time to read my 'first draft' and offer their thoughts and constructive critizism so I could improve my story. Jody... Mark... I really appreciate your help!
I also want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read along. Although there has been only little feedback on all sites so far - I´m still looking forward to your comments!