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Today marks the third day Jack hasn't heard from Mac, and he's starting to get worried. Bozer is at some training thing Matty sent him to, so Mac is home on his own. While Jack knows that Mac is perfectly capable of being on his own, Mac has a habit of getting distracted and forgetting to do important things like eat, sleep, or, Jack thinks to himself, text his worried partner. Ordinarily, Jack would have gone home with Mac after their last op so they could keep each other company. But the op had ended with a dislocated shoulder for Jack, so Mac insisted he go home and rest. That was the last Jack heard from him. Shoulder having healed enough for Jack to be bored, he decides to stop by his partner's house.
On the drive over, Jack decided to stop at the bagel shop to pick up some lunch. He orders a ham and cheese sandwich on an everything bagel for himself and a plain bagel with butter for Mac. After a minute's hesitation, Jack also grabs a bottle of chocolate milk from the drinks case for his partner. While Mac would never buy it for himself ('how is chocolate milk childish?' Jack wonders), it is one of few non-water drinks that he actually enjoys. Jack considers it an added bonus that he can get the high protein kind into the skinny kid without him noticing. Jack has been trying to bulk up his partner for years, but none of his attempts have really worked. Mac is a somewhat picky eater, and while Jack understands that it's not his partner's fault that he has sensory sensitivities, Jack still worries about the kid. With the level of saving the world activity they do, Jack figures there's no way Mac is eating enough. Bagels and chocolate milk purchased, Jack heads towards Mac's house.
Jack knocks before opening the door, unlocked again, he notes. As Jack wonders through his partners house looking for Mac, he isn't surprised to hear a clank from the direction of the garage. Opening the door between the house and the garage, Jack calls out to his partner. Mac doesn't reply. Jack walks around the truck Mac's working on so that his partner can see him. As Jack comes around, Mac notices him.
"Hey, Jack! I wasn't expecting you, does Matty need us?" Mac asks.
Jack taps his ear, signaling for Mac to take off his noise cancelling headphones, and Mac complies. "No, haven't heard from her. My shoulder was feeling better, so I figured I would bring by some lunch for you and we could watch a movie or something. You up for that?"
"Okay, I guess. I was going to finish up on these repairs, but I can do that later."
"How long have you been working on the truck?"
"I don't know, probably about a day, we only got back from the mission yesterday morning."
"Mac, have you eaten or slept since the mission?"
"I don't know, probably. Why?"
"The mission was three days ago. Mac, you can't do this to yourself."
"Oops?"
"Oops, Mac, I just don't was you to get sick or hurt or something. Think you can take a break on the truck and join me for a bagel and some Die Hard?"
"Okay, sorry, I must have lost track of time. I would say it won't happen again, but we both know it probably will."
"You're right. I'm not mad, I just worry about you."
"I know, thanks Jack."
"Go ahead and wash the grease off your hands, I'll meet you in the kitchen."
Mac meets with Jack in the kitchen to see his favourite bagel and a glass of chocolate milk with it.
"You got my favourite! Thanks Jack!"
"You're welcome, buddy. I'm glad you're okay, I was starting to wonder if some Murdoc-like psychopath had kidnapped you again."
They settle into a comfortable conversation about past missions as they enjoy their lunch. Once both men have finished their bagels, they go to the couch to finish their day off with yet another Die Hard movie marathon. While Mac may complain about always watching the same movies, he secretly enjoys it. He is able to predict when the bright flashes and loud explosions are, so he is able to actually enjoy the movie without wondering what is going to come next.
