Soooooo good, thx

Awwwww loved this. Thanks for writing this and make Mac and Jack relationship so awesome.

James MacGyver is an a-s-s. His reason, the real one, for living Mac makes me feel like I’m watching (or reading the fanfics) about Jim Kirk of Star Trek Reboot all over again.

Lost your spouses, couldn’t look at the kid who reminds you of the love you lost, got anger and decided you don’t want to have sth to do with your kids anymore, leave your kids, brilliant and innocent kids, in the hands of the other (and thank the stars that they turn out alright in the end, no thank to their own parents)

How could people do that to a child? I don’t wanna find out myself, though.

I love this sooooooooo much omg

I love this sweet talk between the guys. I love Jack's wisdom and caring. You go to such depth on this. I admire the way you really pull apart the issues and how you had Jack help Mac sort it all out. It's masterful. The pandora's box reference to hope was a really nice touch. I'll be looking for more!
M

Great tag. You know these characters so well and I cherish these interactions. Can't wait for your next story. You write so well.

A few thoughts on the episode (I could write pages but I won't lol ) I really don't like Leanna and I don't buy her as an agent. She has no edge; she's a cutesy, giggly model type. I didn't like the dad. He thought it ok to be a puppet master. No real emotional attachment. Love how Jack pulled his hand away. I think Mac was justified in quitting. He put his feelings on hold for the mission but did dad really think Mac could work thru 15 years in a day? My God, he needs to process all that he learned. His dad's answers were weak. Mac must be questioning his whole life. Awful. I also think he'll be back because of Jonah.

Loved the story. Jack was right, Senior brought them together but he didn't make their relationship. Can Jack give hell to Senior? Please?

Great story!

Aww, this story is so sweet! I think we all really needed some good ol' bromance

I love this story ! James is a horrible man !

I was really hoping you would write a story for the finale. This was great! You always manage to add another layer of depth to the events of the episode. I really enjoyed all of the dialogue and I liked that you touched on their time in Afghanistan. I really hated James. I think one of the things I hated most about him was that he acted like he could take credit for Mac and Jack's partnership. He also acted like their pairing wasn't anything special. I'm glad you addressed that in this story, because I definitely think their bond is something special. I also loved the line from Mac saying his father wished he had a Dalton. Just everything in this was great. I look forward to your other stories:)

Loved it.

James Macgyver isn’t just a horrible father, he’s a horrible man!

Tell it like it is.

You're writing is the 'one in a million' kind as well... :) I can rest easy now, knowing that 'the conversation' has been had, and that all is on it's way to being right, or at least more better, in our Mac and Jack world.

So much to love here. The dialogue was so in character and the way you describe the scene makes the reader feel like they can hear each crackle of Jack's water bottle and feel the tension radiating off of a totaly distraught, confused and vulnerable Mac.

Associating all that happened with the story of Pandora's Jar was brilliant-quite the metaphor and to bring in Nana Beth just made me love it more. That woman is a peach and I can so see her retelling a very squirmy young Jack the story and using it to drive home a Biblical truth or two. and I love the way Jack remembered-and the emphasis on the hope that was hiding within, and that Mac got that.
There's so much more to Jack Dalton. He never gets enough credit, so thanks for another glimpse of what's really there. Jack's trepidation with this entire conversation and the direction it was going could be felt-my heart was breaking for him as he had to endure seeing his best friend work thru the events of the last 15 years and the feelings of betrayal and helplessness, But Jack took the high road, waiting patiently for Mac to work thru it, offering his help when he could, but just being there to do damage control and to reassure him that he isn't like James-couldn't be like James-would never be like James.

The entire conversation about Jack re-upping was so logical-of course Mac would go there, wondering why anyone would do such a thing. In his frame of reference, people didn't just do that- "What you did had no logical expanation or motive"-Mac's brain needed logic and facts and what Jack did made no sense. but Jack's answer was perfect:

"I get that it didn't fit into your specific parameters of how humans responded to certain stimuli and you sure as hell weren't used to people coming back for you instead of turning tail and running, but you were the only reason I signed on for another tour. YOU brought me back to Afganistan. Only you." Oh, just break my heart. Jack is unconditional love all wrapped up in a wookie Delta badass
soldier.

and then Mac trying to process that his father was developing a super soldier weapon and realizing what kind of person would do that and feeling so opposed to it. That was just so in character for him-right up there with not carrying a weapon and feeling that 'soldiers are not interchangable'. He must have been soooo like his mom...I can totaly see her as being this brilliant, beautiful, peace loving comforter for Mac. No wonder his world was shattered when she died. He is the best of her. So glad Jack knows that and makes sure Mac knows that it's an asset, not something to run away from, like his father had done.

"He had no impact on your heart, son. That's all you." Oh, if Mac could just believe that. So glad Jack is there to drive it home, as many times as it takes.

So many wonderful insights into these guys-thank you so much for sharing! I will try to wait patiently for your next tag-multi-chapter-yay! Always a pleasure reading your work!

This was wonderful. I love how you were able to work through your own triggers from cannon and weave plausible reasoning into the 'why' of it all. I LOVED how wrecked Mac was here. And how Jack was basically the best big brother/partner/father figure ever.

This allowed me to process some of my own issues (and when I say issues, I don't mean with the show...I mean those that the show reminded me of IRL). The whole metaphor with Pandora was poignant and powerful (and the literary comparison to mythology and Biblical stories-thank you, professor! that was awesome). And even though Jack wanted to throttle MacGyver Senior, he knew that doing so could further shatter an already fragile Mac so he did the best thing for his partner: he gave him hope. I loved that.

Really well done. But...when is a story by you not? :)

I like it.