Jack's Close Encounter

It was late afternoon on December twenty-seventh when MacGyver maneuvered his Jeep into a parking space in front of a prominent Los Angeles hospital. Hair mussed, clothes rumpled, dead tired, and smelling like a monkey cage, he eased out of the vehicle and headed for the main entrance. A shower and sleep would have to wait. First, he had to see Jack.

The hospital room was dimly lit, but MacGyver could make out a sophisticated, middle-aged, blonde woman sitting in a chair next to the bed paging through a magazine. Mac stood in the doorway and cleared his throat.

"MacGyver!" Francine Dalton exclaimed. "Thank you so much for coming!"

She quickly rose from the chair, skirted the edge of the bed, and embraced Mac in a motherly hug before holding him at arm's length.

"My, you're a bit of a mess, aren't you?" she observed.

"Um, yeah," he agreed sheepishly before turning his attention to Jack.

His friend lay flat on the bed, his pale face blending in with the sheets. His right arm and left leg in plaster casts.

"How is he?" MacGyver asked softly as Francine led him into the room.

"Better, actually," she answered, a lightness in her voice that hadn't been there when he had initially spoken to her. "Thankfully he doesn't have any internal injuries and this morning he woke up briefly for the first time since the accident. They're keeping him on pain meds and sedatives, so he'll be out for a while, but the doctors are optimistic that he'll make a full recovery."

"What happened?" Mac asked softly as he grabbed a second chair and sat down beside Francine.

Jack's mom shrugged her shoulders. "All I was told was that he had been returning to L.A. after delivering a load of toys to a Mexican orphanage and crashed outside the city. As you can see, he has a broken arm and leg as well as broken ribs and a concussion."

MacGyver studied his once jovial friend now lying expressionless as he tried to process the information Francine had just given him. Unfortunately, this new knowledge just led to more questions. Was Jack's trip truly just an innocent flight to deliver toys or part of a larger scheme? And how did the plane crash? Something had to have gone wrong, but what?

"Why don't you go clean yourself up and get some rest," Francine suggested, patting Mac on the shoulder. "The doctor said he's going to keep Jack sedated for at least twenty-four more hours. Do you have a place to stay?"

"Where's Jack livin' these days?"

The blonde woman sighed. "He's been living out of his office at the hangar."

"Then that's where I'll be," Mac declared. He leaned in to give Francine a kiss on the cheek before standing to leave. "You'll call if anything changes?"

"You'll be the first to know," she assured him with a small smile.

XXXXX

It was evening by the time MacGyver pulled his Jeep into the empty hangar at a small municipal airport. He pulled his duffle from the backseat and made his way to Jack's office. A scarred wooden desk, straight-back chair, and old Army cot greeted him along with a coffee pot and hot plate.

"Home sweet home," he mumbled, dropping his bag next to the desk.

His body yearned to rest on the cot, if only for a few minutes, but Mac knew his overactive brain would just keep him awake. Something about Jack's accident wasn't sitting right with him, and he needed to find out why. Sitting down behind the desk, MacGyver shuffled the papers that haphazardly covered the surface. It wasn't long before a bill of sale and a loan application caught his eye. Mac grabbed the papers for a closer look. According to the bill of sale, sporting Jack's signature, his friend had just bought a very expensive, well-appointed Cessna. MacGyver frowned. Even if Jack used his life's savings and lived out of this grungy hangar for the next hundred years he still couldn't afford a plane like this. Mac's attention quickly turned to the loan application. The amount listed made his jaw drop. He skimmed through the legal mumbo jumbo until he got to the bottom line and the co-signer: Francine Leyland Dalton. Apparently there had been a lot of familial bonding over the past few years for Francine to put her name on a hefty loan for the son she had abandoned as a baby.

The words of the document began to blur and MacGyver suppressed a yawn. He had been awake for the better part of three days and, during that time, had driven two thousand miles. The cot in the corner was calling his name, and this time it was impossible to resist. He spread out, fully clothed on the makeshift bed.

"Oh, Jack, what have you gotten yourself into this time?" he mumbled before sleep quickly claimed him.

XXXXX

MacGyver arrived at the hospital early the next morning clean and well-rested. As he stepped off the elevator, he saw Francine and a well-dressed middle-aged man talking animatedly outside Jack's room. He automatically quickened his pace.

"Whoa, what's going on here?" he asked, coming to stand next to Francine.

"MacGyver, meet my lawyer, Robert Littelmann," she said disgustedly.

The two men sized each other up before hesitantly shaking hands.

"Nice to meet you," Mac offered.

"Same here," replied Robert.

Francine crossed her arms and glared at the attorney.

"Mr. Littelmann has just informed me that the NTSB has concluded their investigation of Jack's accident and ruled it pilot error. We won't get enough insurance money to even cover the loan," she huffed

"Wait a minute," MacGyver replied, shaking his head. "It's only been a couple days. You can't tell me that they closed the investigation already."

"They said it was an open and shut case," Littelmann explained.

"There's no way it's Jack's fault," Francine insisted. "He's an excellent pilot."

"Look," Robert pleaded. "It was late, he was tired, even the best make mistakes."

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with Mrs. Dalton on this one," Mac spoke up. "As much as it pains me to say it, Jack is too good of a pilot to lose a plane without extenuating circumstances. That man could land a sardine can on the Hollywood Freeway in the middle of rush hour if he had to. I suggest you reopen the case."

"I'm sorry, Mr. MacGyver, but that is beyond my control," Littelmann replied firmly.

"All right, how about if I take a look at it, unofficially? Maybe I can find something the government boys overlooked," Mac asked.

"You can't. They've already cleared the scene."

"What?!" Mac exclaimed loudly, earning himself a scolding look from the nurse at her station three doors away. "And who are 'they'?" he asked, lowering his voice.

"Mr. Dalton's plane crashed on the outskirts of an Air Force base. The plane, such as it is, is now property of the United States Military. I'm sorry, but as I said before, the case is closed."

With that, Robert Littelmann turned and walked toward the elevators.

"They're wrong, Mac," Francine seethed.

"I know they are," he agreed. "Why don't you check on Jack while I make a phone call."

MacGyver headed to the small lounge at the end of the corridor. Thankfully it was empty. He plunked a coin into the pay phone and dialed the number he had used so frequently when he worked for Phoenix."

"Phoenix Foundation, Willis speaking."

"Hey Willis! It's MacGyver! How you doin'?"

"Mac?! I can't believe it! Are you back with the Foundation?"

"Not really, but I'm working on something and need some information. Think you can help?"

"I don't know…" Willis hedged.

"Aw, c'mon! For old time's sake?"

"All right," Willis relented. "What do you need?"

MacGyver rattled off a list of reports related to Jack's accident.

"Think you can manage that?" he asked.

"I'll do my best."

"Great. I'll swing by later this afternoon."

In the meantime, Mac had some questions for Francine. He made his way back to Jack's room and once again claimed the chair beside her.

"I was going through some of Jack's things," MacGyver began. "That's a pretty expensive plane you helped him buy."

"So? Can't a mother help out her son?!" she replied defensively.

"Of course," Mac soothed her. "But Jack is the king of bargain basement cargo aircraft. Even you have to admit this Cessna was way out of his league."

Francine sighed. "Jack wanted to start a new venture. Dalton Air Limo Service. You know, shuttle overpaid CEO's back and forth across the state, country or wherever they pay him to go. He came to me with a solid business plan. I had Littelmann look it over and he said it was a good investment." Here she paused. "He had flights booked beginning next week. Now we have no plane, no pilot, no nothing."

"Maybe not," MacGyver mused. He could feel himself getting tangled up in Jack's business again, but this time it seemed legit and deserved a fighting chance.

"What are you thinking?" Francine interrupted his thoughts.

"I'm not sure, but I might have a plan."

XXXXX

It felt weird using the visitors' entrance, signing in, and clipping on a temporary ID badge.

"Do you need an escort, sir?" the young security guard asked.

"No, I think I can find my way," MacGyver replied with a smile.

Within minutes, Mac was standing in front of the door to the lab watching as Willis intently studied something under a microscope. Some things never changed. Mac tapped lightly on the glass to announce his presence before entering the room.

Willis looked up and soon he and MacGyver were vigorously shaking hands.

"It's great to see you again Mac! C'mon in and have a seat."

Willis led MacGyver to his desk.

"Did you get the stuff I asked for?"

"Yep," he nodded toward a stack of files. "But I'll save you some time. The NTSB ruled pilot error. There were no records or reports of any bad weather in the area and an appropriate flight plan was filed."

Willis frowned at his last statement.

"What is it?" Mac asked.

"According to Dalton's flight plan, he was several miles off course and strayed into restricted air space. An experienced pilot would never do that."

"So you're saying something must have happened to take him off course."

"I'm no expert, but it looks that way."

"Was there a cockpit recorder or anything?" Mac asked in desperation.

"No. Planes that size are not required to have one. And I couldn't find any radio communication either."

"So we have no way of knowing what really happened," MacGyver sighed.

"Jack's the only one who knows, and even if he wakes up and remembers it'll be his word against the government's."

MacGyver jammed his hand through his hair in frustration.

"Mind if I take these files with me?"

"Be my guest."

As Mac reached to grab the files, he accidentally knocked over a picture frame.

"Sorry Willis," he said as he picked up the frame. A pretty redhead looked back at him. "Who's this?"

"My wife," Willis replied with a wide grin.

"You're married?!"

"Yep, going on two years now. Listen MacGyver, don't pay attention to what other guys say. Marriage is great! I highly recommend it. You bachelors don't know what you're missing out on!"

Mac simply nodded as thoughts of Joanna suddenly slammed into his brain. He hadn't called her since before he arrived in Los Angeles.

"Mind if I use your phone?" he asked.

"Go right ahead. Need to check in with a special someone?"

"Something like that," MacGyver muttered as he dialed Jo's office number.

She answered on the second ring.

"Hey, it's me," Mac said, cutting her off in the middle of her formal greeting.

"Oh, hi Mac," she replied, still using her professional voice.

"I'm sorry I haven't called, but things got kinda busy here."

"No problem. How's Jack?" she asked in a clipped tone.

"He's gonna be fine."

"That's good."

"I promise I'll call you soon with all the details."

"Sounds good."

"Okay, I'll talk to you later then." MacGyver hung up the phone, a sense of uneasiness settling into the pit of his stomach. Joanna had sounded cold and distant…because of him?

That night, after checking on Francine and Jack, Mac laid on the old cot and stared at the ceiling, replaying his conversation with Joanna in his head. Maybe he should have let her come along. He always felt better when she was with him. Then he considered what Willis had said and promised himself that he'd make things right with Jo as soon as he got home.

XXXXX

MacGyver spent the following morning studying the reports Willis had given him. Nothing made sense. When he arrived at the hospital, he found Jack sitting up in bed chatting with his mom.

"You sure bounce back fast," Mac observed from the doorway.

"Mi amigo! Enter! Enter!" Jack urged.

MacGyver walked over to his friend's bed, a huge smile on his face.

"Nice accessory," he commented, motioning to the aviator hat Jack wore.

"Why thank you, my boy! Felt downright naked without it! I'm glad it didn't get lost in the wreck."

"Speaking of the wreck, do you remember anything about it?"

"Remember anything? Mac, I remember everything! It was incredible! I've never seen anything like it before in my life!"

"What are you talking about?"

"The UFO!"

MacGyver shook his head. Surely he hadn't heard right. "UFO?"

"It was beautiful! All the lights and—"

"Whoa, back up," Mac commanded. "Are you saying a UFO caused your plane to crash?"

Jack nodded emphatically. "I know you don't believe in that stuff, but I saw it Mac. I really saw it!"

"Why don't you start from the beginning," MacGyver prompted as he sat down in the chair next to the bed. "What happened after you left the orphanage?"

"The flight was as smooth as a baby's bottom. Couldn't ask for better conditions. I was in the homestretch when all of a sudden everything conked out. The engine, electrical system, the works. The plane was just floating, like a giant hang glider, when I saw the lights."

"The lights?"

"Of the UFO! Lit up the night sky like a Christmas tree and just hovered there in front of me. I gotta tell ya, Mac, I was scared those aliens were gonna suck my brains out or something!"

"Hold it, Jack! There's no such thing as aliens, and even if there were, what would they want with your brain?!"

At MacGyver's remark, Francine, who had been silently listening to the conversation, covered her mouth with her hand and giggled.

"Maaa!" Jack whined.

"I'm sorry, dear, but MacGyver does have a point."

"Okay," Mac interrupted, trying to get back on track. "What happened next?"

"It flew away. Fast. Like warp nine fast and everything went dark. I could feel the plane losing altitude but there wasn't anything I could do about it. Next thing I know I wake up here."

Mac stayed silent as he struggled to make sense of what he just heard. Electrical and engine failure could certainly have caused Jack to drift into military airspace, and he could have easily mistaken another aircraft for a UFO if he was tired.

"You do believe me, don't you Kemosabe? I swear I'm not making this up!"

MacGyver had been keeping tabs on his friend's left eye as he told his story and it hadn't twitched once.

"I believe that something happened to your plane, and I believe that you saw something. But it wasn't a UFO."

"Then what was it?" Jack challenged.

"I don't know," Mac replied thoughtfully. "But I'm gonna find out."

As soon as he arrived back at the hangar, MacGyver placed another call to Willis asking for more specific information. Then he called Joanna and related everything he had learned.

"You certainly don't believe Jack's story, do you?" he asked.

"I want to believe," she responded solemnly, but he could hear the laughter she tried to hold back in her voice.

"You're not still hooked on that TV show with those two FBI agents chasing flying saucers, are you?"

This time Joanna did laugh. "Guilty as charged! But really, Mac, it's all in good fun. However, you do have to wonder…"

"That's my cue to hang up!"

"Listen Mac," Jo turned somber. "I'm sorry I was kinda short with you earlier and I'm really glad to hear Jack is doing better."

"No problem. I'm sorry for bailing on you like I did. Especially during the holidays. I'll call back soon, I promise."

MacGyver hung up the phone, his conscience feeling lighter. Joanna had sounded like her normal self again. And he missed her terribly.

XXXXX

The ringing telephone woke MacGyver before dawn. He tumbled off the cot and grabbed it mumbling a half-awake "Hello".

"It's Willis. I have some information I think you'll find interesting."

"Great, let's have it!" Mac was wide awake now.

"Not over the phone. Meet me at Rosie's Diner in thirty minutes." The line went dead.

MacGyver stared at the telephone. What was up with all this cloak and dagger stuff? Were all his friends going nuts? He put on his shoes and headed to Rosie's.

"Whatcha got?" he asked as he slid into the booth across from Willis.

The researcher pulled out a large, brown envelope from underneath his jacket. MacGyver rolled his eyes.

"Your friend's plane was found on the Air Force base where the Space and Missile Systems Center is located." Here he stopped, as if it was supposed to mean something.

"Sooo?" Mac asked, his patience wearing thin.

"So, I managed to hack into their computers enough to find records of recent tests and activities. On Christmas Eve, a high tech satellite was launched from there shortly before Jack's plane went haywire. It must have passed close enough to interfere with the plane's systems."

"Okay, I'll buy that. But what about the lights Jack said he saw?"

"Transcripts show that his plane was picked up on radar as an unidentified aircraft. A military chopper was sent up to intercept it."

"And…?" MacGyver prompted.

"And, that's all the information I could get."

"But Jack said the lights, um chopper, flew off. Why would the pilots abandon a plane in distress?"

Willis shrugged. "I don't know. Like I said, this was all the info I could get."

"I understand," Mac replied. "But next time could we just meet in the lab like usual?"

"You got it," Willis laughed as he slid out of the booth and left the diner.

MacGyver entered Jack's hospital room to find a tall, fit man with short brown hair wearing a dark suit and tie standing at the head of his friend's bed as said friend waved his uninjured arm in the air as he spoke.

"Hey, Mac!" Jack interrupted himself. "This is Agent Millder, uhhh, Muller, er, Mildew?"

"He's from the FBI," Francine informed him in a loud whisper.

"No kidding?" Mac replied cynically before Jack started speaking to him.

"The G-Man here wants to know about my close encounter!" Jack excitedly explained. "He said there were dozens of reports of UFO's in Southern California on Christmas Eve!"

"Actually, most claims turned out to be alleged sightings of Rudolph instead," the agent replied drily.

"You don't really believe Jack saw a UFO, do you?"

"No, I don't," Millder/Muller/Mildew said evenly.

"You don't?!" Jack deflated in front of MacGyver's eyes.

"No, sir. I believe you accidently came upon a secret military exercise that interfered with your plane's electrical system and you drifted into restricted airspace before crashing."

"I've been doing some investigating myself," Mac asserted. "It seems a military chopper intercepted my friend's disabled plane and then deserted him. Why?"

"I don't know, but I promise you, the truth is out there."

XXXXX

"You know, Mac, you don't have to babysit me. I can take care of myself. Better yet, that pretty blonde nurse on the nightshift can take of me," Jack waggled his eyebrows and smiled as MacGyver offered his friend another spoonful of Jell-O.

"I'm not 'babysitting' you, I'm spending some quality time with my best friend," MacGyver retorted.

"Yeah, by force feeding me that vile green stuff only hospitals serve…and maybe you. But it's New Year's Eve! You should go out! Eat, drink, be merry!"

Mac glanced sideways at his friend.

"Oh, that's right. You don't drink and you frown on merriment, but you can still eat!"

"That's enough, Jack," MacGyver replied with fake annoyance. "I'm exactly where I want to be." Sort of.

Mac glanced down at his watch. It was a little before ten. Almost midnight in the Midwest. He stood up and headed for the door.

"I'm going down to the lounge and make a quick phone call," he told Jack.

"Give her my regards!"

"Who?" Mac asked, snapping his head around.

"Joanna, of course. That's who you're calling, right?"

"How do you know?"

"C'mon Mac, you've been hot for her for almost two years now. I saw it with my own eyes at Pete's wedding, or was it a re-wedding?"

"Shut up, Jack. You have no idea what's going on between me and Joanna."

"Aha! So there is something going on between you two," Jack smiled looking like the cat that swallowed the canary.

MacGyver groaned. Why did he keep letting himself get caught in Jack's verbal traps!

Minutes later, Jack was forgotten as MacGyver happily chatted with Joanna. In the background he soon heard the tinny strains of Auld Lang Syne coming from her television. He ached to hold her and kiss her senseless as the old year passed away and the new one entered. Unfortunately, words would have to do this time.

"Happy New Year," he said into the telephone, his voice husky. "I miss you."

"I miss you, too. Happy 1997, Mac. Love you." The line went dead.

MacGyver stared at the receiver in his hand and was glad he was already in a hospital because he felt as if his heart was about to pound out of his chest. Joanna had just said she loved him!