Sota sighed frustrated that he had to deal with Jack Dalton all evening long. Kagome had been trying to get him and Jack together for a while, hoping to repair the rift that had formed between the two of them. Sota was not happy that his sister had gotten back together with Jack after he had hurt her. He rubbed at the lines developing on his forehead feeling a headache forming behind his eyes about the inevitable upcoming meeting. He had finally complied with having Jack and Kagome over for dinner tonight after refusing multiple times earlier in the week, when his wife Mai-Lin stepped in to be the voice of reason.

Earlier That Week...

Mai-Lin started the touchy subject of Kagome's beau not wanting to start a fight but wanting to make a point. She had listened to Sota droll on long enough about this particular situation and had come to the end of her patience. "You do know what you're doing, right?" Sota stopped pacing like a caged tiger at his wife's calm words. He was avoiding the ringing telephone and let it go to voice mail for the third time in a row knowing it was Kagome and she was going to once again ask to come over with Jack.

Hefrowned at Mai-Lin not understanding her meaning. He also knew that this wasn't his wife's fault but couldn't keep the waspish tone out of his voice. "What are you talking about?" Mai-Lin straightened her back until she was standing at her full height. She was done with playing nice.

"What I mean is," She started with the same tone that Sota had used with her. "that you are treating your sister, the only family you or I now have left, like my parents did to me when we started dating." Emotion thickening in her voice. She missed her sister-in-law something fierce and if this kept up she was worried that Sota and herself wouldn't be able to heal this resentment before it caused irreparable damage. They might not even be allowed to come visit after the baby was born if this continued.

The solemnity in her tone had him stilling from the pacing he had started back up. "I'm not...I mean that's not..." He trailed off as he made the connection in his mind. The numerous phone calls, the heartfelt yearning that they would be able to just speak to her parents even if it was just for a few minutes. Well, fuck. What was he supposed to say to that. He turned and regarded his wife. He took a moment to really look at her and found her countenance lacking. He hadn't thought that his stubbornness would be affecting his wife so much. But he should have, Kagome was her family too.

Kagome had welcomed Mai-Lin with open arms family or no. His wife came from big money and his sister hadn't even batted an eyelash when that money went away with Mai-Ling's parents, even though she was severely broke at the time. Kagome had just comforted the brokenhearted woman whose parents had just disowned her for falling in love with someone.

Sota heaved a large sigh, feeling defeated as he reached for his cell phone watching as he did so at Mai-Lin's appearance brightening with every inch he reached towards his cell phone which turned into a large smile when he started dialing. His sisters phone rang a couple times before Jack's voice crackled down the line. "Hello, can this wait?" The immediate impatient tone had Sota raising his hackles ready to give the man a piece of his mind for being ill-mannered, on Kagome's phone no less, when he heard Kagome sobbing nosily in the background.

Sota felt like he'd been doused with a bucket of ice water. He had made his sister cry, weep more like it really. His tone was as even as he could make it when he replied. "No. I don't think I can wait anymore." He heard some muffled sounds before Kagome came on the line sniffling a little. The tender hope in her tone crushed Sota a little, "Is that really you, Sota?"

He could feel the heat of tears building behind his eyes so he clenched them closed tightly to ward them off. He had to swallow and clear his throat a couple times before he started talking about wanting to plan a nice get together with both her and Jack for later in the week. He thought Kagome perked up some when she instantly responded a yes for them both. He felt a little better when he heard Jack grumbling that she hadn't asked him.

Now...

So here he was waiting for Kagome and Jack to arrive. He crossed and uncrossed his arms multiple times as he waited, brooding at the inevitable upcoming confrontation until Mai-Lin put him to work helping her in the kitchen. He started to relax a little under Mai-Lin's gentle guidance so he hadn't noticed the swift passing of time until the doorbell rang. Mai-Lin made him be the one to go open the door knowing he would rather not have to. He took in a fortifying breath, here we go he thought as he plastered a stiff smile on his face.

As they waited for the door to be opened Jack couldn't help but feel a storm of butterflies roll around in his belly. He swore he never felt this nervous not even when he kissed a girl in kindergarten for the first time. He wanted to make a good impression on Sota since he knew for a fact that Sota did not like him one bit. Hell he wasn't happy with himself for hurting Kagome. But, at the time of the incident, as he'd taken to referring to it in his mind, he was well not afraid but concerned about his, hers, their future. So he had high tailed it like a bat outta hell, as his pappy would've said. He was now trying to do right by Kagome and really work on their relationship.

He glanced over at Kagome to see how she was holding up, well he only meant to glance but every time he turned to look at her lately he couldn't look away. He just couldn't shake how beautiful she looked. She was now 20 weeks along and firmly in her second trimester. She seemed to have this glow about her all the damn time. Like some sort of light from within her that just wanted to be let out.

Sota chose that minute to fling open his front door. Jack knew he was gonna have to be the bigger man and offer the olive branch when Sota crossed his arms not wanting to shake his hand or offer him even a nod of acknowledgment. Kagome breezed past him and grabbed Sota in a hug, made slightly difficult with her protruding belly bump. She flitted off to the kitchen most likely following her nose to food.

Sota stared after his sister in shock his mouth a jaw that she wasn't even going to call him out on his rudeness, but he'd take a free pass anytime he could get one. The two men stood in the doorway a little awkwardly not really knowing where to start until Jack broke the silence. "Thank you for inviting us. It means a lot to Kagome." Sota sniffed distastefully, "I'd do anything for my sister." Jack saw an opening. "I would too, that's why I'm here." Sota moved them further into the house. "We'll see."

Sota didn't want to like Jack. But as the night wore on he couldn't discount the fact that he doted on his sister. Conversation was a little strained at first but Mai-Lin kept up a steady chatter about any topic she could come up with, catching Kagome up on all of the information she had missed out on since they last saw each other. After the food was finished and the plates were being cleared, Jack made Kagome sit down instead of try help clean up by washing the dishes and went to help Sota's wife himself. He was unprepared for when tiny 4' 11'' Mai-Lin shoved him out of the kitchen telling him to go bond with Sota, and that she'd keep an eye on Kagome. Jack didn't really want to start a confrontation, he'd been avoiding Sota all night long for that reason. But he also knew that he needed to clear the air with Sota, and he had a pretty good idea on how to go about it.

Jack's impromptu suggestion they go outside to talk took Sota all of one minute to agree having been caught off guard. When they stepped outside the lateness of the hour had lengthened the shadows in the yard giving everything an abstract appearance. Sota was trying to wait patiently for Jack to start but was getting aggravated at the continuing silence as time seemed to drag on. He was about to snap at Jack when the other man began, the words shocking him into stillness.

"I want you to hit me." Sota shook his head a little unsure if he really heard him or if his imagination started whispering what he'd been wanting to do since he found Kagome weeping on his porch months ago. Jack continued, "I mean it. I want you to sock me in the jaw real good." As Jack stood braced for the impact of Sota's fist, Sota took the time and really looked up into Jack's face and saw the earnestness in the look he had. "Look it's not that I don't want to punch you in the face, but why?" Jack replied simply, "I hurt Kagome. I would do the same to someone who hurt her myself."

Sota really, really wanted to punch Jack but, "If that's the case then someone should hit me too. I also hurt her, I've made her cry." Sota heaved a heavy sigh. "Look, I'll make you a deal. We'll both agree that if either of us screws up again in the future that we will get a freebie to deck the other person. But lets call this a draw for now." Jack sighed as he lifted his hand for Sota to shake, somewhat relieved. He did not want to have to explain a bruise to Kagome or to Mac for that matter.

Kagome cried at the tiniest thing lately, and Mac would laugh his ass off. Sota grasped his hand in a firm handshake and pulled him closer to whisper in his ear, "If you do screw up I'll be collecting, with interest." The 'I will keep Kagome away from you for good' hung in the air between them left unsaid. Kagome's brother wasn't the scariest person he'd ever come up against, not by a long shot but he ultimately and most definitely had the most leverage to use against him.

Kagome looked up when Sota and Jack came back inside worried she'd see a busted lip or a sign that they'd been fighting. Jack came over to her with a little half smile that told her things were getting better between her brother and him. Her hormones being wonky from pregnancy had her sobbing and clinging to Jack. Sota strolled in behind Jack and stopped when he saw Kagome in tears, demanding to know what was wrong. Why was his sister crying now?

She couldn't get a breath in without it coming back out as a sob to explain and even if she could what would she say? Happiness made her do it? Jack answered for her. "She'll be alright. She's just relieved." She nodded her head emphatically, Jack really was starting to know her so well.

Sota wondered out loud at her emotional state and Mai-Lin piped up across the room still drying dishes. "Pregnancy hormones can mean you react to everything or nothing." Jack guffawed unable to hold it in and Kagome smacked him in the ribs hard. Sota asked Mai-Lin why she knew so much about pregnancy, slightly dismayed to think he'd have his own ankle biter soon.

When she replied that she was going to be an aunt soon and in order to be the best one she had purchased multiple books on the subject so that she could help Kagome out with things as they came to her. As Kagome and Jack spent the next few minutes collecting themselves, Sota walked over to Mai-Lin and helped to finish the dishes talking softly to one another. They left soon after, the air mostly cleared for now more than before definitely, and maybe Jack and Sota weren't 100% alright with the other but they were heading in the right direction.

Later that Same Night Jack's Apartment...

Jack groaned as he slid home inside Kagome. She had jumped him as soon as they walked through the doorway of his apartment. She had been so appreciative at his attempts to heal the rift between himself and her brother that she couldn't stop talking about it the whole way back. As Kagome rolled her hips in an endeavor to get his moving Jack moaned low in his throat. He started a steady movement that left them both breathless.

Kagome's pregnancy hormones had been leaving her horny as all get out lately. Almost more then his aging body could keep up with. Jack kissed her with a fervent passion as he slowly slid a hand up to tangle in her long black hair. Gently caressing her belly with his other wandering hand as he moved towards her leg to lift it higher on his hip. As they lost themselves in the heat of the moment time seemed to slip away until just the two of them remained in the world centering on where they were connected as one.

A little while later found Jack wrapped around the back of a sleeping Kagome, she was slightly snoring but he found it more adorable then disturbing. His hand kept a gentle caressing over her belly. He really needed to know what they were going to do and soon. The baby was going to be here before either of them knew it and he, or she his mind supplied, would need both parents living in one place. Not bouncing back and forth between dwellings like they were doing now.

His mind began to swirl with all the overwhelming and daunting tasks of what he would need to do, he'd have to look into purchasing a house, and buying all the baby stuff they would need. Would he have to get a new car that was more baby friendly, like an unsexy minivan? Was he even ready to let that part of his life go? His mid continued to wander, what about a marriage proposal? He had always thought of marriage as the end.

No more goofing off, no more putting himself in danger, and no more Phoenix Foundation. He would most likely have to retire. Did he want to do that at all? What about going out with guns blazing in an almighty glory? He thought that would be his end. What about MacGyver and Bozer and Riley who would watch their backs if he wasn't there?

Panic started building up in his chest. Was he ready for this? Jack was immediately drawn out of his whirling thoughts groaning low in his throat when Kagome ground down into him from behind. He thought she was still sleeping until she peeked over her shoulder and he took the invitation wanting to shake all the thoughts out of his head. He just needed to not think right now. This woman was going to kill him as she moaned lightly when he answered her need. But man what a way to go.

Mac knocked on Jack's door at exactly 8:09 AM. Mattie had tried calling Jack but Mac sheepishly reminded her that Jack's cell phone had been 'destroyed' on their last mission and he most likely hadn't had the time to replace it yet. Mattie raised an eyebrow and told him that the one responsible for the said destruction would have to go and pick Jack up then. Mac sighed at not getting an answer to his knocking so he tried the door knob a little surprised to find it unlocked. He opened the door slowly and surreptitiously looked around room hoping to find everything alright in the world of Jack Dalton. Jack never left his door unlocked.

There was clothing strewn around all over the condo but the running of the shower in the distance had him relaxing a bit. He walked over to the bathroom door and knocked loudly calling out a warning to Jack that he was there. He heard a thump then a loud curse then distinctly female giggle that followed. Mac blushed a bit and moved away not wanting to interrupt.

It took another fifteen minutes before Jack appeared in nothing but a towel. Striding into his room emerging wearing only a pair of jeans and carrying a bundle of clothing back into the bathroom waving Mac toward the kitchen as he slipped back inside. Mac smiled a little, thinking correctly, that Jack wanted him to make coffee.

Five minutes after Jack brought in the clothing, Kagome emerged wearing one of Jack's Metallica t-shirts lightly stretched over her belly and a pair of Jack's boxer shorts. Mac lightly blushed but smiled happily that Kagome felt comfortable around him enough to wear short sleeves and shorts.

Mac couldn't help but stare a little at the more severe scars that traced down her arms but was pleased to notice that there wasn't very many scars on her legs and what was there was very faint. It still boiled his blood to think that there were people out in the world that would or could willingly hurt the other. Although, he did witness a lot of that while in the army, it was why he chose his current carrier path even.

Mac made himself put all of this out of his mind for now, not wanting to upset Kagome with his starring or Jack with his irate mood of late. Although, he smirked lightly, Jack should be in a better mood today.

Jack half listened to Mac bullshitting a story of what the 'think tank' had to do today when Kagome took a phone call mouthing to Jack that it was from work. She pecked him quickly on the lips then wandered off towards his bedroom agreeing to the person on the other end that she'd go into work today. He didn't like when she went in to work when he had to leave for a mission. He liked her boss, George Louis was a balding portly, forty plus man with a pleasant disposition and his pretty wife Maura, was extra sweet to Kagome.

But he absolutely hated the mans' secretary with a purple passion. Kimberly 'Kimmy' Howell was more overweight then the clothing she wore was able to cover, but her fashion sense (or lack thereof) wasn't what he didn't like about her. No, she was downright mean to Kagome when Mr. Louis wasn't around. He had listened to Kagome come over crying more than once about something 'Kimmy' said to her or about her behind her back. He had picked Kagome up a couple of times wanting to meet and get to know the people she worked with. Really, just his way of making sure everyone there was on the up and up.

Jack couldn't shake the feeling of Kimberly's eyes roving over his body when he went there. He shivered at the memory of 'Kimmy' dragging her long perfectly polished finger nails down his arm and implying the she could make his day, there was a broom closet on the floor a few doors down. He was appalled at the horrible overt wink she sent his way at the same time she had made her 'proposition'.

Jack shook himself and started picking up all around the apartment, putting dirty dishes in the sink and all of the clothing strewn around into the hamper. He was not going to make her pick it all up before going into work. Kagome was dressed and out the door with another kiss and a quick goodbye MacGyver's way. He sighed a bit not able to shake his bad feeling when he caught Mac's sly glance.

As he started to his room to get ready to go on another trip to who knows where he called out, "Say one word Angus, and I'll tell the team about an incident from when we were enlisted together that involved homemade fireworks, a quick lesson on how to put out sparking flames, and a personal reprimand from the general himself." Jack smirked at the pout he received.

Currently in Midair...

The handsome well dressed gentleman winked at the young stewardess as she passed by his seat for the second time. She giggled and blushed waving slightly as she walked to the other end of the plane. Jose Galasso was a prominent politician, he lived the high life and with his lithe 5'9" height he towered over his competition. He was told repeatedly that his dark looks paired with his pitch black hair and blue eyes made him look handsome and trustworthy.

He hoped so, he didn't want his supporters to know the he had been embezzling funds out of his community budgets set aside for the new elementary school and playground project he promised to build upon being re-elected. Oh well, he'd just tax them later saying his funding had been cut and he needed to renegotiate new terms.

His smile turned sinister as he heard the pilot request everyone in first class to fasten their seat belts for landing. They were beginning their decent into LAX airport. He looked down at the thick manila file of information he had been compiling over the last few months. The poor business man that had given up most of the information at the first crack of brass knuckles hadn't survived after his beating.

Sad really but he couldn't leave anything leading back to himself not when he was so close to his prize he could practically taste it. When he finally tracked down the owner of the face in the file he'd been pleased as punch. To think that Kagome Higurashi had been in his back yard this whole time. He had numerous phone calls to make. He would not be leaving LA without what he wanted and if she didn't have it. Well what he had had done to the business man would look like nothing more then child's play.

Somewhere Outside the United States...

The young man jolted awake at an old nightmare that had plagued him ever since his childhood. He shook his head a little to rid himself of the sleep still clinging to his mind, and paused to brush the strands of hair off of his face. The sound of distant shouting, which had awoken him, continued to come nearer to where he was resting until his 'door' for a lack of a better word to call the curtain hanging up to create the illusion of rooms was brushed aside and the din of angry chatter flowed into the space along with numerous people.

He was getting frustrated trying to decipher what the cacophony of multiple voices were saying when a deep baritone cut through the commotion. "Someone is hunting the Miko." The red haired man jumped up off of his perch an angry fire in his eyes. "What did you just say?" There was no way he had heard correctly. The voice replied again obviously annoyed at repeating himself. "The Miko. She has been found."