Chapter Text
"You know, it was nice of Frankie to invite us to her speaking event, but she knows I'm not gonna be able to understand over half of what anyone is saying here, right?" Said Jack Dalton as he and his friend, Angus "Mac" MacGyver, walked up to the convention center entrance.
Not even a week after the duo had left the Phoenix Foundation, Mac's friend and former MIT classmate, Dr. Rosalind Franklin "Frankie" Mallory had called Mac up, inviting him and Jack to come see her at the San Diego Forensics Convention. She had taken a spot as a guest speaker for her research in DNA reconstruction with the addition of her experience with cold cases, particularly the one which had gotten her mentor killed and led her to fake her death. It was still a bit of a sore subject for Frankie to discuss with strangers and Mac had jumped at the chance to be there to support his friend. Jack, of course, was going to support Mac and Frankie had been all too happy to add him to her guest list.
"I think she's just looking forward to seeing the look on your face as she explains everything about her DNA technique," replied Mac. He grinned at Jack, the glimmer of excitement and humor in his eyes a welcome sight after the dour mood he'd been in since he'd abruptly resigned from Phoenix.
Said dour mood had been caused by MacGyver Senior's reveal as the head of Phoenix and the all around asshole who'd abandoned his son when he was ten years old for his 'protection.' Mac had quit the Phoenix after learning the truth about his dad and Jack had followed his friend and partner without hesitation. Jack was pretty sure the only thing Mac regretted out of the whole incident was that Jack had resigned for him, but the Delta didn't regret it for a second. His place was with Mac, not the Phoenix, and there wasn't anything in the world that could change that fact.
"Why do I have a feeling you two geniuses collaborated on sticking a camera right near where I'll be sitting just to make sure you capture the increasing look of confusion on my face?" said Jack, shaking off his negative train of thought and focusing on the present.
"How do you know you didn't just give me an idea to do that?" Teased Mac in turn.
"If you do that, I'll make sure you won't be able to sit down for a week," said Jack in mock scolding, "Teach you to disrespect your elders."
"As if you would ever do that to me," replied Mac, still a bit smug, "Besides, you know Frankie and I would never actually do that to you."
"Yeah, same here. I just enjoy messing with you as I know you enjoy doing the same to me." Jack shook his head, proceeding to ruffle Mac's hair and smiling at the indignant growl he received as the genius tried to fix his hair again. "And I know you feel the same, brother."
Mac just rolled his eyes, turning away from Jack, but not before Jack caught the fond expression on his partner's face. It was good to see Mac happy, even if it was just for a moment. The kid needed to smile more again.
The duo approached the front ticket office, Mac leading the way to the guest ticket window. The attendant sat up abruptly as they walked forward, clearly bored as Hell and almost asleep in his chair. "Can I help you?"
"Dalton and MacGyver. Guests for Dr. Mallory," said Jack as soon as they reached the window.
"IDs?" Asked the attendant, his tone now as bored as he looked. Jack and Mac handed them through the tray and the attendant spent all of three seconds looking at them before handing them back. He grabbed two packets from behind him and shoved them back through to the duo. "Guest badges must be worn at all times. Some areas may still be restricted at the discretion of the event coordinators. If you have any questions, ask at the information desk."
Jack frowned as the attendant finished his monotone practiced speech, his own sarcastic disdain for the man's attitude slipping through as he replied. "Gotcha. You take care now."
The attendant just turned away and purposefully ignored them again. Jack rolled his eyes with a sigh, handing Mac his packet. His partner shrugged, putting on his guest badge before heading toward the security gates with Jack in tow. They were through security and on their way to Frankie's display in under two minutes even with Jack's concealed carry permit having to be shown. Soon enough, Jack found himself struggling to keep up with a practically bouncing Mac as the young genius moved rapidly thought the crowded hallways. Jack smiled, his mood lifting once again at seeing his friend's excitement. Happy Mac was better than Mopey Mac any day.
"Slow down there, partner," Jack finally said as he almost lost Mac for the third time in the crowd, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder to slow him up, "I can't wait to see Frankie either, you know?"
Mac gave Jack a sheepish grin, but slowed up, eyes still bright with excitement. "Sorry, Jack."
"I ain't saying you shouldn't be excited," added Jack quickly, "Just...wait for me before you go running off and I have to hunt down Einstein or something to find you."
Mac rolled his eyes, clearly amused by the absurdity of Jack's statement which had been the Delta's intent. "Maybe security. Kind of doubt you'd find Einstein here."
"Maybe. Or maybe I'll find some of those bobblehead Einsteins like in Night at the Museum 2," suggested Jack.
"True. Except it'd be highly unlikely that we'd find talking bobbleheads or a mystical Egyptian tablet here, much less-" Mac stopped abruptly with a grunt of surprise as a woman suddenly ran around the corner and straight into the genius, Jack's quick reflexes the only thing stopping Mac and the woman from tumbling to the floor.
Instantly alert, Jack looked the woman up and down and took in everything from her attire to her flustered appearance. He spotted the blood on her left upper torso and her panicked eyes and he knew she was in trouble.
The woman, in turn, took one look at Mac and Jack, clearly scared out of her mind, and latched onto Mac tightly. "Please help me! He's trying to kill me! Oh God, please help me!"
As if on cue, a masked figure in black burst out of one of the conference rooms to their right, leveling a silenced pistol at the woman despite Mac and Jack's presence.
"Gun!" Mac shouted and pulled the woman down to the floor. The gunman fired passed them, the bullets flying somewhere into the now panicking crowd.
The instant Mac moved, Jack didn't hesitate to draw his weapon, leveling his gun at the shooter. Unfortunately, he didn't see the two security officers coming up behind him that suddenly tackled him to the ground and knocked his gun away from him. Another shot rang out as the gunman fled, firing behind him to cover his escape, and Mac let out a short yell of pain. "Mac?!"
"Just a graze, Jack!" Picking himself up off the floor, Mac immediately took off his dress shirt and began pressing it to the woman's wound. As soon as his shirt began to soak up the woman's blood, he turned, yelling at the stunned and still very confused security guards pinning Jack down. "Let go of him! You've got the wrong guy! The real shooter is getting away and this woman needs medical attention now!"
Without delay, the two guards let go of Jack and stood. One of the security guards spoke quickly into his radio, calling for an ambulance while the other gave chase to the now long gone shooter. Neither made eye contact with the duo or bothered to stop Jack from retrieving his gun where it had fallen to the floor.
Jack stood and kept his weapon drawn as he moved to Mac's side again, noting the bleeding gash on the boy's arm. "Graze my ass. Don't think I'm not having those paramedics take care of you too."
Mac gave him an annoyed look, but didn't argue, especially as Jack started tending to the kid's arm. "Not how I thought this trip was going to go..."
"Me neither, buddy," said Jack solemnly. He spotted the first team of paramedics and a pair of police officers arriving and allowed his thoughts to drift, knowing for the moment that Mac was safe and the threat was over. He had no idea what kind of shit show he and Mac were involved in now, but one thing was for sure. Whatever this was, was only the beginning.