A/N: Thank you so, so much for reading and commenting! I hope you enjoy.

EPILOGUE

MacGyver slid his hand over the deck railing; feeling every nick and groove. He knew them by heart. He's worried them countless times over the years.

"Hey Mac, you want these with or without blueberries?" Bozer's voice came over the homemade walkie-talkie he insisted MacGyver carry with him. He's gotten dizzy a few times and has ended up on the floor. And when you're as weak as he's been….

His smile was tired, but true as he spoke into the device. "Why don't you surprise me, Boz."

"With, it is!"

MacGyver had offered to help him prepare for his Welcome Home "Feast," but he was firmly told that he wasn't allowed to do anything but…well, breathe. Thankfully, doing so was much easier these days.

He barely remembered a thing from his first couple of days in the hospital before he was strong enough to be transferred to one in L.A.—mainly just a nervous and hovering Jack and a weight on his chest that wouldn't ease. The helicopter ride Matty had sent for them was a complete blank. Perfect timing as usual, he was beginning to think she was some sort of mage.

"You need a blanket out there, man?" Speaking of hovering.

"Nah, I'm good."

Matty baked for him and Riley… He was fairly certain she implanted a GPS tracker into his arm while he was sleeping. He rubbed the suspecting spot behind his bicep before sliding his hand over the railing again.

He didn't feel he deserved such attention, but it felt good to be home.

Unfortunately, that also put him within arm's reach of his father. He had come to the hospital in L.A. while he was sleeping, but Jack had sent him away; wanting to leave the choice to see him up to MacGyver. It was a decision he still hasn't reached. And he didn't know why James was bothering now—after all these years. But when, and if, he ever did decide to face his father, he knew he didn't have to do it alone.

"What about a drink? You need a drink out there?"

Amused, MacGyver replied, "I've got one, Boz."

"Alright, just checking. Don't want my boy to be parched."

"I'm fine," he assured, and not for the first time. "Thank you."

He knew he should sit down. He could feel his legs starting to shake, but he couldn't stop taking in the view. He could map out the buildings as easily as he could the stars. The L.A. skyline was practically a part of him. He's sought solace in its presence countless times over the years. He could say the same about some of the people in his life. Some he owed a great deal to.

His phone beeped indicating he had a voicemail. Pulling it out of his pocket, he smiled as he listened.

"Agnes, papa said I can have as much ice cream as I want when I visit you next week. I suspect there are actually stipulations, but I don't intend to let on. Tell your Jack he can come too, if he wants."

"That Elian?"

MacGyver startled and turned around to find Jack coming up the steps. He waved his phone before slipping it back into his pocket. "Voicemail. You're invited to our ice cream party."

"Sweet." Jack plopped himself down onto one of the chairs and indicated for MacGyver to join him. "I didn't get the chance to thank him for taking care of my boy."

Snorting, MacGyver slowly made his way over to him on increasingly unsteady legs. "Well, you can buy him an ice cream cone." He really shouldn't have been standing for so long.

"Sure will, with sprinkles," Jack declared, watching him closely. "Do I need to come over there and get you?"

"Nah, I can make it." He gave it another thought. "I think."

"If you end up on the floor again, Bozer will have my ass." He looked like he was fighting every instinct in him not to take his elbow and help him the rest of the way. It wouldn't be the first time he's done it. In fact, that was the only way MacGyver got around in the hospital. "Take your meds?"

He rolled his eyes as he finally took a seat. "Yes, Jack." He sunk into the chair with a heavy sigh. He was still sore and frustratingly weak. But he was alive.

"Even the gross one?"

"Yes, even the gross one." Coughing into the crook of his arm, he tried to ignore the chill that raced across his skin despite the warmth in the air.

Jack caught the slight shiver. "Wanna go in?"

Shaking his head, he reached for the glass of water that was sitting on the stand between them and took a sip. It would be awhile before he felt like himself again; physically…and all the other ways. But he was done hiding. "Bozer is making waffles."

"I thought he was making lasagna."

MacGyver smirked. "Oh, he's making that, too."

Jack raised his eyebrows, amusement clear on his face. "Well, maybe if you had bothered to eat while you were bringing all those people fresh water, he wouldn't have to try so hard to fatten you up."

"I ate," MacGyver returned defensively. And never mind he's been sick. "Actually, there was this fruit that wasn't even from the…" he trailed off as something occurred to him. "Wait." He narrowed his eyes on Jack who was trying way too hard to look innocent. "You were there."

"I was…" Jack was looking everywhere but at him. "…in the area," he conceded.

MacGyver closed his eyes. "That's how you found us so easily."

"Oh, nothing about it was easy," the former delta grumbled.

"How long?"

"About three weeks." It had only taken him two weeks to find him. "I settled in a few klicks to the west."

"And the fruit?"

Jack shrugged a shoulder. "Paid a kid."

MacGyver was legitimately at a loss for words. He didn't know if he should be mad, or grateful. Jack was there. He was there nearly the whole time; watching over him while trying to respect the space he sought. And he made sure he ate. Not to mention, he had left the Phoenix to find him. When the words finally came, he knew they wouldn't be enough, but he said them anyway. "Thank you."

Jack waved him off. "Just promise me one thing."

MacGyver was already holding up a hand as if making a solemn vow. "No more sabbaticals." It was a discussion they've already had. At length.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Unless?"

"Unless," he continued easily, having already repeated the promise multiple times, "I take you with me."

"See, I knew you were the smart one." Jack winked at him. "But, oh hey, for the love of God, Mac, please—no more jungles. Next time pick a nice tropical island, or something, will ya?"

MacGyver laughed. "I'll see what I can do."

*MACGYVER*

He looked better; like a hundred, thousand times better than he had since their little jungle tour that scared a good ten years off of Jack's life, but he still had a long way to go before he was back to being Mac, before he was back with them completely. He was still too thin, still too pale and weak, and still too lost in his head. Jack also knew—he could just tell, that he was also still holding onto regrets that he had no business holding on to. Luckily, Jack could help with just about all of those; and where he couldn't, Bozer's cookin' would.

"Oh yeah, here." Pulling it out of his back pocket, he tapped MacGyver on the shoulder with it.

"I was wondering what happened to that." He took the letter. "You—" He hesitated when he realized. "You read it, didn't you."

Jack made a face. "Of course, I read it."

The kid actually blushed. "I, uh…" He scratched his temple self-consciously. "I don't know how I ever could have doubted you, man. I'm sorry."

Jack gave him a sage look.

MacGyver frowned. "What?"

"One: I forgive you. And B: —"

MacGyver crinkled his brow and opened his mouth as if to correct him, but Jack continued.

"—I don't think you were doubting me nearly as much as you were doubting yourself, kiddo."

Clenching his jaw, he looked away.

"If you think you're nothing more than paperclips and Hail Marys to us, you're wrong."

"Jack, I don't think that."

"Well, maybe not anymore. But tell me, what did you doubt more? That I'd come for you, or that you were worth it?"

Jack could see the tears well up in his eyes. They haven't fallen unchecked since that day in the jungle, but they were never far from the surface these days. All of MacGyver's walls had been shattered with the truth about his father. While he fought hard to build them back up, Jack fought hard to convince him to at least put in a few windows this time.

"I feel like an idiot." His voice was hoarse and choked with shame.

"An idiot? No," Jack assured gently, leaning in towards his partner. "But you are human, brother. What'd I tell you back there, hmm?"

MacGyver feigned ignorance while picking at something invisible on his pant leg. "I dunno, something about breathing."

Jack shook his head with a fond smile.

"You were very adamant about that."

"Yeah, well I tend to like my geniuses that way."

MacGyver smiled, but it was mostly sad.

"Mac?"

Swallowing hard, he shook his head and continued to focus on an imaginary something on his pant leg.

"Come on, man; we just went over this." Habits were hard to break, but Jack was nothing if not persistent. "Spit it out."

"I just," he sighed and laughed humorlessly as he scratched self-consciously again at his temple. "I don't know, it…it scares me, I guess."

Chest tightening, Jack furrowed his brow. "What does?" He thought he was going to have to press him to answer again when he finally did…

"How much I depend on you," he admitted thickly. "I, uh, I don't—" He took a shaky breath. "I don't know what I'd do without you, man." Blue eyes full of emotion met his, saying even more than his words could. "Really."

Swallowing the sizable rock that suddenly lodged itself in the back of his throat, Jack nodded. "Likewise, brother, likewise."

They were some seriously co-dependent dudes. And he wouldn't have it any other way. "And let's not forget," he added, shaking a finger, "without me, you wouldn't have that deep appreciation for Bruce Willis that you have today."

"Not to mention my vast knowledge of all things Texas."

Profoundly agreeing, Jack pointed a finger at him and nodded.

A true smile on his lips now, MacGyver closed his eyes and laid his head back against the chair. He still tiredly easily, but at least he was home now. Finally. Watching him, Jack felt like it was his turn for a confession.

"Just for the record, Mac," he confided softly, "that day…that day I met you was the best damn day of my life, brother. Your father had a hand in introducing us, but me staying was all you. I stayed for you."

MacGyver rocked his head towards him and opened his eyes.

"And, I uh…I just wanted to let you know that, well, you'll always be my boy."

It was a direct response to how MacGyver had signed his letter:

Still your boy, (I hope.)

Mac

"Alright?" He refused to break eye contact until MacGyver nodded. Returning the gesture then, Jack slid back in his chair and closed his own eyes. "You can say it, you know."

MacGyver's voice was hoarse, but not from illness. "What?"

"That you love me. I mean, I already said it, but I'll say it again: I love you, Mac," he repeated with slight exaggeration.

He heard MacGyver huff a laugh before a comfortable silence fell between them. Then a few moments later, "I love you too, big guy," he returned sincerely. "I love you, too."

Jack opened one eye to peek over at him and grinned at what he saw. MacGyver's eyes were closed and there was a look of peace about him that Jack hadn't seen in far too long. His boy still had a long way back to himself, but he was definitely on his way; and Jack was going to be there right beside him.

"I know you're looking at me," MacGyver muttered without opening his eyes. "Stop it."

Jack immediately shut his. "No, I'm not, shut up."

"You shut up."

"You shut up."

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