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mac was 19 and had just finished 3 years at MIT he had skipped two years in school and had gone to high school earlie that was how he had met his now best friend bozer. Bozer had caught some of the older students trying to stuff him in his locker and came to his rescure and they became friends form then on. He graudated at 16 and was snapped up by MIT were he did a degree in scrince and engernering in 3 years. Now he was home in time for the summer holidays.
“hay man nice to have you home” smiles bozer

Bozer had been living in macs grandads house what mac had been left when his grandad had sadly died the year befor. Mac had felt his whole world had crashed around him but bozer was their to help him thew and mac had asked bozer to move in and look after his grandads house when he was away.
“nice to be home man” he smiles
“and guess what we have new naibourse silighty older then us at 26 jack Dalton and nick stokes cousions form texets they are great man you will love them ive invited them round for a bbq tonight so you can meet them”
“cool sounds great”

Mac felt nervous his only friend had ever been bozer he didn’t even have any friends at MIT he had told bozer he had made friends with in his classes but that was a lie he just didn’t want bozer to worry about him but meeting these older men scared him what would they think of him probably what everyone else thought of him some geeky kid too young for his age who should still be in school not graudating collage already.
The bbq came all to quickly for mac and as he went out on to the decking were the others were he saw bozer at the bbq with two well built men next to him
“mac this is jack and nick guys this my man mac” said bozer

“mice to meet you” said nick offering his hand witch mac took nervalsy then shook the over texens hand what was offered to him
“so you’re the gerniouse we here so much about” said jack “bet you will find me and nick borroring compered to your friends at mit we may not be as smart as them but we no some stuff don’t we nick”
“well I do not sure on old Jackie boy here”

“hey who you calling old your older then me by 3 months old man”
Mac smiled lisning to them both he wasent use to family life his mum had died when he was 5 dad left age 10 and was raised by his grandad till he passed the only other family life he had known was bozers family,and even then he didn’t feel like he fitted in.
Once the food was eatern and the beers were following the guys even let mac have the odd one maybe 2 but no more so that young geniuse brain of his wounded go to waste. Plus bozer did not want to deal with a hung over mac and as jack pointed out numouse times he was just a kid.

Mac didn’t like been called a kid he was 19 that’s an adult but even bozer mothered hend him at the slightest sniffle. But mac had been one for looking after himself yes he had his grandad but his grandad was getting on in years so mac made sure he took care of himself while sick never mentioned any wants or needs and made sure to make the guys life easier as tecncaily he was dumped on the guy how ever much his grandad said he loved having mac around mac always felt his grandad took him in out of pitty.
“well now were all fed and mac met you guys how about we tell him our brilliant summer plan” said bozer getting excited
Mac looks at bozer this wasent going to be good his plans were quitly enjoying the summer and looking for a job.

“yer espaily as hes only got 2 days to pack” smiles nick

“mac were going on a road trip across the states these guys have always wanted to do it you’ve finished collage my collage has also finished were young lets do this” said bozer
“yer lets” said mac he tried to sound excitd he would have been if it had just been him and bozer but their was jack and nick and what if they hated him half way thew the trip and started to hate on him bozer liked these guys would bozer choose these cool guys over him what if they left him behind to find his way home.

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A day later mac was looking at his duffle bag and rucksack he was trying to pack for the next days adventures. Mac didn’t own much in the way of cloths and stuff as he didn’t ask for stuff till he really needed it and when he was at MIT he had no time for a job but he new as long as he had his SAK with him then he be ok. His grandad had taught him how to survive in the wildness on their week end trips they had done together witch he was thankful for.
He just stuffed stuff in and took his bags to the hall way were their be packed in the cars later that day.
Bozer was busy in the kitchen making sure he had cakes and cookies and what ever else he could make and take with them along with stuff they could cook on a daily bases.
The following day bozer and mac were eating their breakfast as nick and jack walked thew the door.
“so me and nicks been giving it some thought and we thought that mac could come with me in my jeep then nick go in bozers gives me time to get to no the kid here better plus don’t want to listen to nick moan are we their yet for the whole trip” smiles jack
Mac nearly choked on the bit of pancake he was eating
“no need to chock on excitement with been partnered with me” said jack hitting mac a bit to hard on the back that he nearly goes face first into his breakfast
As soon as their finished eating jack was telling them to hurry up and let’s go as bozer was quickly doing the dishes mac had wanted to visit the bathroom one last time before they hit the road but was too shy to say so to jack who was already grabbing him by the arm and to the waiting jeep anyways, he didn’t need to go yet he just liked to be prepared and jack would need to go at some point right.
Mac had learnt one thing about jack so far on this trip and it had only been an hour he doesn’t shut up he thought bozer could talk but nope jack out talks him. Mac had learnt so much about jack in that one hour about his family and the ranch his family-owned mac just hoped the whole trip wasn’t going to be like this as mac did like quiet time.
After a while mac manged to tune jack out and get lost in that brain of his thinking out projects he would love to try when they made it home from this trip. He was brought out of his thoughts when he felt the car come to a sudden halt and jack cursing witch also alerted him to the fact that his bladder was getting full and would like to be empty soon.
Mac looked up and saw the miles of traffic in front of them.
“must have been an accident or something no biggy we should be in Montgomery by nightfall to set up for the night maybe just a little later then planed. I can’t wait till we get to Texas you will love it my mama will have a smashing spread laid out for us and we can do any washing and stuff while were their as well”
“were err going to your parents”
“well yer didn’t bozer tell you its on the way and mama wouldn’t be to pleased to no that id passed by and not stopped and said hello. You would here her all the way back to Atlanta I promise you this”
Mac was about to say how that was not possible but jack had start to go on about the nice spread of food his mum would lay on for them. Mac was finding this trip with stranger going to be hard anoth but throw in jack and nicks family his anxiety levels were rising.
The more his anxiety rose the more he felt his needed for the bathroom witch he counted do anything about. He was stuck in a car with a guy he barely new apart from that he was like the coolest kid and captain of the football team in high school. Also mac new jack had decided to go with him as nick apparently complained to much in cars and mac didn’t want jack to hate him mac had worked out along time ago if your not good anoth people leave and jack could easily leave mac on the side of the road. Plus what could jack do about it anyways nothing.
After 2hrs the car finally started to move mac was so glad he was beyond desperate by now and was doing everything he could to not move about and indicate to jack something was wrong.
“see that layby up a head I’m pulling in as I don’t know about you but I got to drain the tank” said jack
Mac looked at the layby up ahead nope not a lot of courage mac liked to be hidden if he did have to do it outdoors and with so many cars on the road from the traffic jam he new how ever much he wanted to he could not just go.
“you need to go?” asks jack as he pulls in
“nope I’m good” mac manages to say his brain screaming at him to tell jack to find some were with more covered or a gas station but he just counted hed just wait till lunch their be stopping soon for that right
Jack wasn’t gone long and mac stares at the road in front and tried to tune jack out he was soon back and starting the jeep up
“lets go we got a few hours to make up” he cranks up the radio and starts singing along to what ever song was playing
Jack is made to stop singing when he here’s a little whimper come form mac and looks over at the teen who now has his hands firmly between his legs what are crossed tight. Jack could already work out the problem before he had to ask. He had anoth niece and nephews and other young family members to learn that but his concern was why didn’t the kid ask to stop as he clearly needed to go.
He knew their was dinner coming up in half a mile hell pull in their for the kid and they could get some lunch as well.
Mac was getting stressed out if he was in a car with bozer he could of just asked and they would of found some were for him to go bozer understood him he was partly glad when he felt the jeep coming to a stop and looked out and saw the dinner but this posed mac a new problem what if their were teenagers in their wanting to hurt him. He went and sat at the table with jack
“thought ured be heading that a way” said jack nodding in the direction of the men’s
“no” stammers mac
“so your telling me your not dying for a piss like me and this whole restaurant no’s and your not going to go to the toilet that’s just stupid I thought you were a genius”
Mac goes red and looks at the table wishing so much bozer was here to protect him tell him it was safe at collage hed only go toilet in his dorm room jack sees the sadness flash across macs eyes
“what is it man as you’re a bit old for me to be cleaning you up if you piss your self” said jack he ment it in a joking way but he saw the way mac looked at him with a mixture of anger and sadness mixed in all at once.
“fine ill go.. but.. but.. It be your fault if” mac never finishes his sentence as his body lets him no he needs to go toilet now and mac makes his way to the men’s with jack stiering after him confused while jack waited for mac he rang bozer who picked up amedilty
“your friend is weird man”
“what’s he done”
“I had to make him go bathroom before he pissed himself like a kid then he goes on to say something about it been my fault but he don’t finishes as hes now finally in the bathroom” said jack
“oh yer that I was hoping him been at collage he may have grown out of that oversell hasn’t”
“grown out of what”
“well when were were at school the bullies would deny him access and try and flush his head down the toilet hed only use them or public ones if I was their with him for protection other wise well hell just wait till he can go at home or has to say something and hope he don’t get hurt”
“shit poor guy anything else I should no about been in a car with this kid”
Bozer list of all macs weird ways and by the end of it jack was wishing he had nick in the car and not mac as this was the kind of guy who would do his head in if they were at school together. Hed just have to be nice to this kid as he liked bozer and unfonally the kid came with him.

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Once mac was back from the bathroom jack noticed he still looked on edge but had lost the tense I’m about to pee my self look.
“lets eat” said jack grabbing a menu
“I’m not hungry” said mac he was so used to missing meals at collage to avoid people he was seriley going to have bozer on his back about that one.
“u said that about not needing a piss when I stopped that time so I’m guessing ur lying about this to” said jack more harshly then he wanted to
“you don’t know me” said mac getting up to head back to the jeep
“I no you well anoth to no youred rather wet yourself like a baby in my car then be a grown up and tell some one as your two scared to go on your own your meant to be some genius yet your really not are you well don’t complain to me when your hungry”
“I won’t your just like everyone else “snaps mac grabbing jacks keys and leaving the dinner with people staring at him and jack
Jack watches mac leave this is not how he wanted it to go but the kid just got under his skin.
“would you like to order” said a waitress coming up
“sure could I get the cheese burger please with a coke and could I also get a chicken sandwich meal to go with a water please”
“of corse you can sweetie”
Once jack got his meal, he made quick work of it not wanting mac to sit in the jeep to long on his own he dread to think what the kid would be telling bozer. He pays the bill and collects the food he had got for mac he may of said some things but for any one who no’s jack no’s his bark is worst then his bite he puts it in the bag he had brought in with him jus in case the kid got hungry he didn’t want the kid to starve. Jack had also planed via his phone some pit stops he could make what may give mac the chance to go if he needed to as well.
Jack noticed mac was sitting in the fount seat knees pulled up to his chest and his hair fallen in front of his eyes and he saw the boys shoulders shake that made jacks hart break he had made the kid cry. Jack gets in to the drive seat putting his bag on the back seat
“look mac I’m sorry I’m an idiot just ask my mama, hell even ask granny when you meet her shell tell you how I speak before I think look I no I came of as a jerk but I’m not really I promise can we start over?”
Mac looks at him and jack feels his heart break as seeing macs big blue eyes swim with tears was like looking at a sad puppy a look he never wanted to see again.
“only as bozer likes you we can be civil for his sake”
“that’s all I ask man hey you never no you may get to like me”
“I doubt that”
The rest of the afternoon went by in mainly awaked silence apart form the radio playing and the odd pit stop what mac was thankful for mac was secretly please when jack handed him the sandwich he had got him when his stomach glowed loudly
“thanks”
“no problem”
They didn’t get to the first camp out place till nearly 9 were bozer and nick were already their and bozer was busy cooking dinner
“finally I thought you guys had got lost”
“nah hit some traffic” said jack as mac got out the jeep and started to get the tents up jack was impressed at how good he was at it he thought mac would be more booksie and less outdoorsy maybe he was wrong.
Mac decided to head to bed once food was finished he didn’t want to stay up for beers he would be allowed at least one but still be told hes still a kid and to young for anyways.
“so tell me more about mac he don’t talk much I no that” said jack once they were like 3 beers in
“oh he never dose hes not had the best upbringing his mum died when he was 5 dad left when he was 10 he was left with his grandad as you no died last year I met him when he was 12 two years to young to be at high school some jerk was trying to stuff him in to a locker and counted let that happen to him then we just bonded form their having a name like angus you’re a target for bullies plus been here two years before he should”
“wait your telling me hes named after a burger”
“well never no that one but bullies beat him up a lot for it think the closest he got for a family was if he spent time with mine. His grandad tried but dint have a lot of money and was sort of getting to old to raise mac so mac raised him self he got a soclaer ship to MIT his grandad left him his house and the little money he had so mac would be ok till he found a job. Between me and you two don’t think mac enjoyed MIT he said hes made friends and stuff but never invited any back think he just wanted me not to worry about him. So when you mentioned this trip I counted just up and leave him hes been left to many times and I’m not doing that to my boy”
“poor kid” said nick “don’t worry when we get to jacks parent’s ranch our family will make sure he don’t feel left out or lonely there’s to many for them to get space form anyway”
“yer mama or granny will take a shin to him and fuss over him no end” says jack he felt even worse now about the harsh words he had had with mac earlier no wounder he was like he is but jack made it up in his mind he was going to give this boy the best trip ever.
Mac snuggled further down into his sleeping bag he couldn’t believe bozer had just brought him on this trip as he felt sorry for him and how dare bozer just blurt out macs past like that to those men they could use the information against him. Could mac even trust bozer anymore. He falls into a restless sleep just 30 more days to go.

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The following morning mac went about his morning routine long before the others were up then packed away his tent and things ready for the day of travel ahead he was in no mood to talk to bozer or jack or nick for that matter it he could go home he would. He didn’t need people to feel sorry for him plus he had to find work as his grandad money was slowly going down.
Jack was surprised to see mac packed and sitting ready by the jeep ready to go.
“well some ones eager to get going” said jack to nick
“hes probably use to getting up early from been at collage any way bozers doing us all breakfast before we move on”
“sounds good”
Mac declined breakfast saying he already had eaten a cercal bar witch bozer said didn’t count as breakfast but mac just walked away he didn’t want anything to do with bozer right now.
“so have I got a sulky teenager today” joke jacks
But mac don’t respond.
Jack make regular stops mainly for macs sake not his and at one of the stop mac stocks up on food what doesn’t need to be cooked or stuff he could probably cook himself he manged beans on toast and super noodles at collage he was sure he could do this.
That evening mac cooked his dinner over a little camp fire he had made they were staying in McComb tonight then tomorrow their be at Round Rock were jack and nick was from and their family’s still are. Mac was not looking forward to meeting jack and nicks family he didn’t belong in a family his own family didn’t want him so he never had hight hopes of making one of his own or been expected in to another he only thought bozers family put up with him as they felt sorry for him.
Mac woke up at 2am in the morning with pains going thew his stomach and he felt hot and sicky. No he counted be ill here in the middle of the woods that was not happening. He didn’t mind doing his business in the woods as long as it was quick as he didn’t like people knowing what he was up to. Maybe if he tried to go back to sleep he could sleep it off but his body had other ideas.
Manging to just in time make a hole to do his business in his stomach lets him have it both ways. He tries to think what made him so sick and puts it down to his cooking skills or lack off. Witch means he has food poisoning and that can last from 48hrs onwards great!
Jack woke up at 3am for the call of nature. As he was doing his business in the woods he heard what sounded like some one been sick. Jack new him and the lads were the only ones out here so it had to be one of them. Once he was finished and had put himself away jack goes to investigate it doesn’t take long to find mac swaying a bit as he crouches over his hole. Jacks concerned the kid don’t look good. He then remembers the travel toilet him and nick had packed for situations like these he could set it up and mac could sit down and not have to try and keep his body weight up over a hole.
“mac its me jack” said jack not wanting to startle the kid but mac looked at him horrified and sickly
“go away” he manages to say before been sick again
“look I can help you we got a travel toilet packed in the jeep you can use I can go and make it all private for you as you look seconds away from keeling over” said jack
Mac just nods
“ill be back to help you get back to camp ok”
Jack was gone no more then 10 minutes and in that time mac had manged to clean himself up the best he could and bury it then jack helped mac back to camp as he could hardly stand jack could feel the heat radiating off him.
“the toilet tents their and theirs a bucket in their for you as well and ive put a bottle of water in their as well just shout if you need me”
“thank you but ill be ok” said mac stumbling to the toilet as his stomach makes its self known again.
Jack goes and grabs his sleeping bag from his and nicks tent and makes himself confery on one of the camping chairs. Its not till 5 in the morning when macs stomach gives him some rest and he makes his way back to his tent and curls up in his sleeping bag.
Bozer and nick are surprised when they find jack asleep on a chair outside and mac dashing past them to the little tent on the out skirts of their camp
“what you doing out here jack” askes nick
“woke up for a piss and then heard the kid been sick something up set his stomach a goodden so put up that toilet tent were hes spent half the night think he got a bit of sleep but not sure”
“poor mac wounder what got him so sick he was fine yesterday” said bozer “ill do him some buttered toast for breakfast and hopefully hell keep it down”
“what we gonna do about traveling cose if hes as bad as you say he won’t want to be in the car all day” asked nick
“true but then mama knowns how to make anyone feel better with that merical soup of hers” replied jack
Mac comes out the tent ten minutes later looking worse for wear and collapsing in a chair away from everyone else
“you ok” said bozer gently handing mac the toast he had made and some water
“fine” said mac he wasn’t in the mood for bozers pity he delt with been sick plenty of times on his own before just this time he was trapped outdoors on a road trip
Mac only manged two bites of toast before his stomach repealed and hes throwing up in a bucket jack hastily shoves at him.
While bozer and nick packed up and put things in the jeeps mac keeps repeatedly saying sorry as he noses by now hes holding them up by not been able to help.
“mac its fine remember its not your fault your feeling poorly it never will be” said bozer crouching down in front of mac he remembered having to do this a lot with mac as macs dad had drilled it in to mac that been sick was a weakness.

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Once everything was packed and ready it was decided that nick and bozer would go on a head and let ma Dalton no that jack would be arriving later with a sick teenager.
Jack weighted for mac to finishes one last stint in the toilet before helping the poor lad into the jeep before sorting out the toilet and the tent he put it on top of everything else so in a hurry he could get to it fast.
“if u need to stop let me no and ill just pull over” said jack as he started the jeep
Mac just nods their was no way he was going to get jack to just randomly pull over on the side of the road. They weren’t even 20 mins down the trail to the main road when macs stomach decided it needed to be emptied as soon as jack pulled over mac made a mad dash to the wooded bit.
Jack put his head on the steering wheel what had he got himself in to they were never goanna make it to the ranch at this rate. Plus he counted give the kid anything to settle his stomach as hed just bring it back up again.
4hrs after they were meant to arrive jack was pulling up Infront of the ranch. He was glad when mac had fallen asleep the last 2hrs of the journey his patients was wearing thin with all the stopping and just wanting to get to his childhood home.
Mac was woken by the ranch door been thrown open and ma Dalton coming towards them. Just before she reached them mac had to open the door and throw up on the ground
“oh you poor boy nick said you were poorly I hope jack here been looking after you” said ma Dalton as she helped mac out the car “lets get you inside ive made a bed up for you with all you need and once we get you settle ill bring you up some of my home made crackers and tea worked wounders on my kiddies when they were little and sick and still works now”
Mac just lets ma Dalton lead him inside hes feeling to out of it to protest he don’t need help plus she sounds like a women who shounted be messed with.
“I thought I was never goanna get here think I no every layby , gas station etc form McComb to here” grumbles jack as he walks in to the living room were bozer and nick were.
“that bad?” asks bozer
“you could say that”
“jack that’s no way to talk about your friend like that” said ma Dalton coming down to get the tea and crackers for mac
“sorry ma”
“I thought I raised you better then that jack the poor boy is ill and needs some one to look after him”
“I have all day”
“I didn’t stop taking care of you if I was tried no I was with you day and night till you were better, now your foods been kept warm in the oven I’m going to see to my patient” said ma disappearing in to the kitchen and coming back out with what she needed and headed back to mac
Nick gives a low whistle “well your in her bad books”
“when aignt I”
“maybe I should go help your ma look after mac hes not the easiest of patients”
“nah Aunty Pats fine jack use to drive her mad when he was ill so mac be a breeze”
The next day bozer came down to start breakfast as he had heard ma Dalton up most of the night to a poorly mac and was surprised to see her already up and cooking breakfast
“”let me do breakfast it’s the least I can do for letting us stay here and looking after mac I no its not an easy job”
“all the boy needs is some love and attention and I’m use to it raising my kids and helping out with other family members but if you want to help start on the bacon”
“yes ma” smiles bozer
Over cooking breakfast bozer tells ma about macs past and her heart just broke for the boy how could some one let a child have a child hood like that.

It took mac 3 more days to get fully better and even then he felt like he ruined the trip as he new jack had said they were only going to be their a few days and now it was 5 days.

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Mac had gotton up earlie and had found a list of chorse what had jack, nicks and bozers name on he new that ma Dalton didn’t like people not pulling their wait she didn’t mind people coming to stay but if she could get some help to run the ranch she would and no one says no to ma Dalton. Mac felt bad the women had looked after him for like 4 days even thew the night even when he told her he was fine on his own. Was this what having a mum was like or a perent who cared maybe bozer or on of the others had told her his past and she just felt sorry for him.
Mac grabbed the bit of paper and decied he was going to do everyones chrose he needed to repay ma’s kindness to him his dad had tought him you get nothing in this world for nothing you always have to repay them macs dad use to get mac to do all the house work and anything else he felt like if not mac would get a hit or no food he found it odd when he first met bozer his family didn’t expect anything from bozer living their or hurt him if he forgot to do something or didn’t do it right. That was when mac began to relise his dad was not a great dad but it was all he had to go on apart form his grandad who showed kindness but left mac to his own devices.
Mac worked on the quicker chorse first and by 6am 2 hrs after he stated he was now on the bigger chorse for the day witch inclided mucking out the stables and feeding the horses. Mac had never done this befor only experience he had with horses was the 2 times his grandad had took him pony trecking for the day.
By the time mac was half way done doing one of the stalls he heared a bell he new that was ma Dalton letting everyone no breackfast was done and to come and get it. mac new he had had plenty of meals over the last few days more then what hed have in like a month at collage so he new missing breackfast wasent a big deal for him and chrose always came befor food another thing his dad had drilled in to him and he was no were near finished the list.
“no chorse for us today” said jack notching no paper on the table when he walked in
“yes I made a list and put it by the sugar bowl on the table”
“their isent one their”
Ma came to check “well were did that go”
“you sure you wrote one”
“jack I may be getting old but I not lost my marbles yet”
“is mac down here hes not in his room” said bozer walking in
“no” said nick who had been watching his cusion and aunt “you don’t think macs got the list do you”
“I hope not he maybe better but he still needs to take it easy jack go find him befor he colspes or something”
“ma we went back to help out the day after we felt better”
“yes but you found it easy to fight of things and wernt under nousided and stuff that poor boy has bearly got any meat on him and had a rought few days so you go find him jack wyatt Dalton or its bread and butter for your breackfast”
“fine”
Jack went out looking for mac he then saw the kid pushing a wheel barrow full of horse dung to the manure pile. Jack shakes his head and heads towards mac
“hey kid time for breackfast”
Mac looks up srupised to here jacks voice
“im fine im not hungery and I need to finish this” said mac
“bullshit” said jack
Mac looks at jack then dediceds to ignore him and head back in to the stables with the now empty wheel barrow
Jack gose in and grabs mac by the shoulder
“I no you and your not hungery its lies and you shouldn’t be doing chorse you just been ill and your still weak from it” said jack
“im not weak” snaps mac “ and how do you no if im hungery or not”
He pulls himself away from jack only to trip and fall in to a pile of horse manure
Mac feels like hes trapped like hes back in the days of school and the bullies jack comes to words him to help him up but mac cowers away. Mac begins to panick and curls in on self making sure his his head is protected for any blows jack may thow at him he doesn’t care is hes getting covered in horse muck.
Jack looks at the kid whos cleary having a panick attack and by the persion the kids put himself in he thinks jack was about to hit him jack may look like he gose around hitting people but truth be known he only hits people who truly deserve it and mac agiant one of them or not yet at least as the kid is trying his patients.
“mac mac im not going to hurt u I was going to help you up” said jack but mac was to lost in his head to here him
“ANGUS” shouts jack
Mac looks up at jack tears falling down his face
“hey its ok” said jack his heart breacking at the big blue watery puppy dog eyes it was this moment jack deiced he needed to protect this kid how ever annying he was as no kid deserved to look that sad ever and espaily if he was the one to corse it.
Jack helped mac up and ended up pulling mac in to a hug he didn’t care that mac was covered in horse muck. He felt mac tence at first then slightly relax in to the hug then try and get out of it
“im getting u all dirty your ma will be cross”
“mac were on a ranch its all good kid”
Mac nods
“lets head back then you can get cleaned up and have some breackfast even if it’s a bit of toast cant have you getting ill again”
“ok”
Mac follows jack back inside were he heads upstiers for a shower he decides to shower in cold water as a punsiment for his stupied weak panick attack and making jack cross about doing the chorse. He never let on to anyone how he still keeps up with his dad old punishments when he thinks hes done wroung. Once washed mac gose to looked for some cloths unfornally the ones he had on when he came hadent been given back to him from the wash or his more decent pair of shorts his touers and top he just had one were filthy and needed washing and they were old he relctanly grabbed his old shorts with the broken zip and no botton and an old t shirt what had seen better days and slipped them on.
Mac new he counted afored new cloths and his grandads money if he was very very careful would last another 2 months maybe 3 at a push as long as he found a job as soon as he was back home hed be fine.
He tried to look persenable as he took his dirty cloths down stiers so he could wash them then try breackfast as jack really wanted him to eat. He put his closths in to wash and then headed to the kitchen were everyone was waiting on him.
“took your time” said jack “some of us want to eat today” he ment it as a joke but mac just looked at his feet
“sorry”
“don’t lisent to him” said ma “ now come sit down and have some breackfast” it didn’t miss her notich that the cloths he was wearing looked past their best but it wernt here place to say.
Mac only manged a small glass of orange jucie and a slice of toast. He got worried glances of ma and bozer but they didn’t push him to eat more.
“so when will you boys be leaving me” asks ma
“tomorrow ma were all ready a bit behind but weve manged to resculde things so tomorrow were heading to big bend national park were the following day were wight water raffing on the rio grande, then we got zip lining planed and all sorts”
Mac gulped all this was expensive he counted afored all these treats he was use to growing up with if he was lucky a treat out was a cinema trip or bollowing on bozers birthday or his nothing to expensive if he had all this to pay for he was not going to be able to afroed bills and food he felt bertrayed by bozer he new mac counted afored things like this yet bozer made him come.
Mac was quiet the rest of the day and even manged to sneek his bits of cake and biscuits what he was given thought out the day in to his pockets he new he wasent going to be able to afored food for a while so hed just ration this when he was really hungery for food the human body as long as it had water could go days with out food as long as it had water thought it was best not to try it.

Chapter Text

The following day ma Dalton had packed aoth food for them to feed an army and told jack to look out for mac and he promised he would she gave mac one last hug telling him to look after himself and waved them good bye.
“I need to get some gas bozer did tell you were taking it in turns to fill up the tank each time”
Mac trys to hide his shocked expression and this was news to him “ yer”
“cool just to warn you she takes 60 dollars of gas that ok with you hoss”
“yer fine”
Mac was doing calcolations in his head hed found out at breackfast that the raffing was 150 each now this at 60 that’s 210 dollars gone he only had 2000 dollars left of his grandads money and hed looked up ziplines on the daltons very old pc as he only had an old nokia no internet nothing just pay as you go and found out it could cost from 30 to 100 he hoped it was the 30.
Mac soon had filled up jacks jeep and they were soon on their way. Jack notiched how quiet mac was. The kid was just stering out the window just last in thought, indeed mac was defently lost in thought he was trying to work out how to make his money last he thought about not eating at restaunts and cafes they stopped at but then that would annye jack who tell bozer maybe he could get the cheapest thing on the menue that could work. It never acured to mac to just tell the boys but mac had never asked for help in his life he only ever took help if he really had to and that was if it was litauly forced apon him.
“hey kid you ok” said jack
“yer just watching the screeny” mac lied “I not been out here before”
“well your in for a treat” said jack and he starts telling mac all about what he new about places they passed.
It was night fall befor they reached big bend national park as mac helped with the tents bozer cooked them tea. Mac wolfed it down as hed only had a sandwich all day as he kept pocketing the other food for days he counted afored to buy food and just hoped it kept.

That night mac didn’t sleep well he tossed and turned worried about tomorrows expensives and if he could get a job when they got back as at the moment bozer was paying most the bills as he lived this on his own but they were going to spilt them when mac moved back form uni permantly.
Getting to the wright water raffing at rio grande came all to quickly for mac and he was soon getting kittered out after speding more money then he had done in a long long time.
Out the 4 of them mac was very light for his age and hight the other 3 were well bilt and every time they went over one of the rabits mac nearly almost fell out and one of them had to grab him to keep him in. mac must admit this was the most fun he had in years. And was soon smiling with the others even jack notich mac smile and look carefree for once on his young face maybe the kid just needed to have fun like this after all what he had been told the kid didn’t get much of it so jack dedied if ok with the others they should put more things in like this for the kid.
“im starving” said nick as he got of the raft
“same and could do with a confert breack” said jack
“well toielts are that way” said bozer “and im sure we passed an eating house a few miles befor we got here we can stop their on way home”
“sounds good to me” said jack heading for the toielts well the others headed to get dressed
Mac could bearly keep his eyes open an afternoon of physical activity had worn him out and he wanted nothing more but to crawl in to bed and sleep.
“think someones tried” wsipers nick to bozer
Bozer looks at mac “yer I don’t think macs use to so much qhiscail activity”
“and you are” joked nick
“I have you no I work out it takes a lot of musel to be able to flip burgers and stuff builds up my musles just fine”
Nick just laths
Once their all ready they head to the restaunt mac takes one look at the menue its not as cheap as he likes to be able to survie another 3 weeks of traverling so he shuts the menue and lays his head in his arms on the table and shuts his eyes hoping thierll just think hes asleep and forget about him eating
“well think todays worn some one out” said jack
“yer I don’t think you get much sleep at mit as he slept a lot when he was at home from collage so all this fresh air and activity be doing him good”
“”yer im going to order” said jack
“ill come with you” said bozer “ill help carry the drinks”
Nick told them what he wanted and they left to head to the bar
“we getting mac anything or letting him sleep”
“he needs to eat get him a cheese burger he likes them and a coke” said bozer
Jack paid saying bozer could get the next one
Mac was amzed when nick woke him and food was been put in front of him and befor he could say he didn’t order anything bozer gave him the look and mac just excepted
“how much do I owe” said mac once they had all finished eating
“nothing you just get one of meals next time were out we all take it in turns” said bozer
Mac felt like he was going to be sick he might as well hand his bank card over now and just go take it all
Mac didn’t say anything on the way back to camp or even said goodngith he just went stagitht to his tent.
“some ones moody” said nick
“hes just tried” said bozer “hell be ok after hes slept”
“ive had an idear did you guys notice how happy mac was on rafting and I no you said he didn’t get treats as a kid growing up but we can make sure he has fun and get to do them with us on this trip what you guys think” asks jack
“I think hes going to love it” said bozer
“sounds like a plan” said nick
When mac woke up in the morning their was a text on his phone your remaining collage balance had now been paid in the sum of 1500 dollars. Mac cant believe it hes got less then 300 dollars in his account now 3 weeks of this stupied trip to go and bills to pay when he gets home and still no job. Yes he had got a scoller ship to mit but he still had to pay some fees he just didn’t resile how soon they would be taking them.

Chapter Text

mac bearly ate his breackfast and didn’t talk at all he was so lost in his thoughts he was glad it was just a day of driving today to their next place were they would cross the broader in to new Mexico were they would be camping in vado down by the river.
Mac was very grateful of the food ma Dalton had packed them as ment they didn’t have to stop to buy food jack did most of the talking and mac found himself liking listing to the tales of what jack and nick and the rest of the Dalton family kids got up to when they where gowing up.
Mac only dishes himself a small portion of what bozer makes that night as he don’t think its fair on the others he wount be able to contribute soon to get more food and stuff but he noses he can live on a few mouthfuls he did it at mit. And the others are to busy talking to notice.
The following day was a day of from tavel the boys had decided to camp here for a few days plus it gave mac more time to get to no jack and nick. Once breackfast was all packed away and stuff jack had decied it as it was hot it be a good time for a dip and the others agreed. Mac came to the edge of the water in his shorts he had on minouse his t shirt
“swim trunks hoss” shouted jack
“they are” said mac
Jack looked at bozer who shurged
They played chiken fight were mac was on jacks shoulders and nick was on bozers. Nick easily nocked mac off and as mac went in to the water he hit his head on a rock hard it knocked him out for a second but he soon was swimming back up just now feeling sicky with a head ach he manges to get out the water
“hay were you going were about to have a remach” shouts jack
Mac just vaguly points to the trees and jack gets the message plus it’s the first time the kids told him hes ever had to go so it’s a win in jacks books.
Mac heads for his tent and gets out his wet things and thows on his jeans and t shirt as it may be hot but hes got no other cool cloths to put on. He nose hes got a concusion hes had plenty befor form his dad he just has to ride it out make sure no one finds out and act like hes fine he cant ruin the trip for a second time well be a 3rd once they find out about his money.
Jack was worried when mac don’t come back and gose to find him he smiles when he finds him asleep if jack had nown mac had a concussion he sulry would of woken him up and would of looked after him like the promise he made to his mum.
“weve worn him out” said jack going back to the others “hes fast asleep”
“well when he wakes up well have lunch and maybe head in to town for surplies were running low on some stuff and it be nice to expolore as well”
“sounds good”
Jack has to wake mac for lunch and mac manged to force himself to eat the little bit he had taken as he felt so sicky and his head ach was killing him he was thankful for his sunglasses keeping the sun out of his eyes.
“you want any more mac” said bozer
Mac just shook his head
Once everyone had finished eating they head of to town even thought mac was not in the mood for it he went along anyways.
It didn’t take long to get to the town. Mac was baking hot in his tshirt and jeans with the afternoon sun beaming down on him the others were lucky they had on summer cloths but then mac told him self he had shorts he just used them for swimming and had to waight for them to dry.
They looked around a few shops and mac was glad they had air conditioning he loved looking at all the curtiousies and was so excited when he came across a puzzle box with a lovely design and very interesting hard way to open it he stood their trying to work it out wheile the others carried on looking it didn’t go unotiched by jack how intrigued and fasniated mac was with the box. As the others went up to the till jack expected mac to follow with the box but all he saw was the kid look at the price and put it down with a sad look in his eyes. And head out side to wait for them.
Jack went over to the box and looked at the price 20 dollars it wasent expensive so why didn’t the kid buy it jack deicied to buy it as he new mac would regret it.
Over the cosre of the afternoon jack saw mac buy nothing not even some more cloths like proper swim shorts or even more toieltirys and stuff for the road as their be seeing no towns for a few days.
“mac you may want to pic atleast a few things uo we wount be seeing another town for a few days” said jack
“ive still got stuff”
“what like your one pair of shorts you doubled up as swim shorts and now melting in this heat in jeans I can see your sweating buckets hoss you could atleast by a couple of pairs of them as its just going to get hotter and don’t want you complaing your hot or get sick again from heat stroke or something” snaped jack getting fed up mac not been prepared
“fine ill do as you say but let me tell you this I hate you I don’t care if bozer likes you we were fine till you and your cusion came along” sanps mac his head was pounding and he kept blinking the black spots out his eyes
“really well see how you like this see you back at camp” said jack jumping in to his jeep and driving off

Once jack had left mac relsied that nick and bozer had left as well but right now he didn’t care he had to do this shopping aprently and macs dad had dumped him in plenty of places in the past growing up so he could easily find his way home. But never when he had a massive head ach and had to keep blinking black dots out of his eyes. He manges to go and buy some cloths and get food and stuff also check his bank he had 5 dollars left to last him. Mac sat on a bench his body now ached and he just wanted to sleep this head of but the darkness was creaping in on him he decied to go find shelter to lay down and sleep as he got up and started walking his body getting heaver with every movement he manged to find an ally and curl up using one of the bags as a pillow
When jack arrived back at camp he was still cross so headed for his tent it wasent until bozer called everyone for tea that jack relsied mac wasent back
“weres mac?” asked nick
“agint he come back”
“come back from were” ask bozer
“the town”
“you were bringing him back jack” said nick
“well you see we kind of had an agument” said jack
“you go find my boy now jack” said bozer poking him with the large serving spoon “and don’t come back till you do”
“ok ok im going”

Jack heads back to the town and see no sign of mac he wounders up and down the hight streets and down the side roads then jack decids to call him to see were he is mac don’t pick up but jack dose here macs nokia ring tone faint coming not to far from were he is jack runs to wear he can here it and he worries when he comes to a stop at an alley way praying mac is not hurt down their he walks causily donw it to find mac asleep clutching on to his shopping bags dryed tears on his face and a puddle of sick nest to him.
“oh kid im so sorry” said jack when he see him and trys to wake him.
Mac opens his eyes slowly and just manges to get on to his side and thows up.
“you’ve been in the sun to long hoss lets get yu back to camp cooled down and a good sleep” said jack helping the kid up and grabbing his bags.
It took mac the rest of their time their to feel better.
“glad your feeling better man” said bozer as he was cooking their last meal befor they hit the road again
“me to concsuions suck”
“concusion thought u had heat storke”
“errr I did”
“mac…..”
“fine I hit my head when i fel in the water but it wasent anything I ounted handle”
“wether you can handle it or not you tell me next time”
“yes boz” smiles mac

Chapter Text

Day 15 ment travel and mac was glad he had food stored away from when they were at the daltons it may have been a bit stale but still edible and and gave him food what he counted afored. By the 3rd day of on the road traverling macs stomch was grumberling thew lack of food as hed had bearly any breackfast as he didn’t take what he wounted give back it never acored to him to come clean but then hed be in dept to people and well 2 of those people well tecnially jack hated him so hed rather not.
Jack had heared macs stomch and noted the time was bearly 9am they had only been on the road a few hours.
“you hungery all ready hoss”
“no just digesting” said mac
Jack didn’t believe him but didn’t press the matter by the time lunch rolled around mac was so hungery.
“you ok if we just grab something and eat on the way” said jack “ thiers road closers up ahead and don’t want to be to delayed”
“yer that’s fine”
Once pulled in mac followed jack in then muttered about the bathroom while jack was ordering hoping jack would forget he needed to order as well. But luck wasent on macs side as jack did remember and asked him to go order
“not hungery”
“bullshit” said jack
“its not”
“then why you not ordering”
“stomchs iffy” said mac
“hell no not again im not stopping every 2 seconds for you again u need to watch what you eat hoss” said jack annyed
“what ever” said mac he grabs the keys from jacks hands and gose back to the car trying not to let the tears fall he manges to find the last bit of food he had and ate it hoping jack would leave him along and not talk to him
Once jack back in the car he glears at mac
“do you no what ive tried to be nice to you ive tried to get to no you but everything is about you ive never known a 19 year old to be so needed, your like a child if your not told to do it your don’t your don’t tell people when you need something and you act like its all you you you well guess what tjhiers 3 others on this trip who want to enjoy them selfs you need to grow up. This is a great exprince and your running it for us all”

Mac just looks at jack tears form in his eyes
“that’s it cry” snaps jack
Jack qkickly eats his sandwich and pulls off again he don’t brother making the stops he do normally incase mac needs the bathroom and macs to scared to ask. Jack remined him so much of his dad he counted believe bozewr would like someone like this
He was glad when they reached camp as one as he could be away from jack and two he could go for a much needed wee.

“that kid is a pain in my ass” said jack grabbing a beer
“what he done now” said nick
Jack sat and told him and bozer
“im sorry jack I onestly thought mac would like this trip not hate it maybe we should head back”
“head back and ruin our holiday nah if he wants to go home fine but he cant ruin it for you and the rest of us”
“ture but…”
“no buts about it hes 19 and he acts like hes 2 he needs to learn even you wount be around 24/7 to mother him”
“ur right jack”
Mac counteld believe bozer was agreeing with jack jack had taken his best friend away and how was he suppose to get home he counted afored a train or plane home he could possibly hitch hike or something.
Mac just put up his tent and went to bed he was not going to hang out with people who didn’t like him.
Over the next 5 days mac stays out the the other boys way and just watches them when they do activities. On the out side mac new how to look fine but in the inside he was crumberling espaily when he saw how much fun the others were having on the zip line that he would of loved to go on and watch them round the camp fire lathing and jokeing it was like he didn’t excisit. Jack didn’t even talk to him in the jeep. He was so glad his grandad had tught him what you could eat in the wild and how to make the water safe to drink but even he could tell the lack of food since they left the daultons was taking its tole on him. As every so offtern hed get black spots in front of his eyes that luckly he could blink away or the odd dizzy spell whart no one noitched. Just ten more days to go and hed be home and could find work and well be alone yer bozer would still live with him but when he looks at bozer now he could see how much fun he had with jack and nick and how he was just a distant memory.

Chapter Text

“were going to have to stay at a hotel” said bozer “ they say a storm is coming this way and to stay indoors could turn in to a hurricane and our equipment owunt survive that”
“yer thiers a town half way to our next detination well stop their and find a hotel” said jack
Mac was surprised when they pulled up to a hotel
“were stoping here tonight or longer storms coming in not safe to camp” said jack
Mac nods then relsies he cant afored a hotel room. he follows jack in to the hotel behind bozer and nick maybe he should just tell them but maybe they wounted believe him and they hate him they wounted care if he coulted get a room maybe he could get hold of jacks keys or bozers and sleep in one of the jeeps.
“4 rooms if you have them” he heared bozer say to the recpnist “yer that’s fine and paying seprtaully”
Mac lets the others go first he didn’t fancy them seeing his card get declind
“were going to get settled and have showers meet you at dinner” shouts bozer to him the first time in days hed acnoglyed mac as him and the others head to the lift
“im sorry sir your cards been declind do you have another”
“no sorry”
“also may I ask your age you need to be 21 or over to rent a room or shear if younger”
“19” said mac going red he new why they didn’t like to rent to under 21s and he was more trust worthey then most but it’s the rules and they didn’t no him.
“im afired one of your friends will have to upgrade to a double and shear with you would you like me to call one of them”
“no its fine ill call them” said mac he could just imaion how aywed their be if they found out.
Mac heads back out side when did his life turn out like this he was always told he was a geniouse and would do great things in life buy people but so far all hes done since leaving collage was lose all his money and his best firned had new friends and here he was out side on the street when a storm was on its way. He could here his fathers words now your nothing but a failer angus and nobody likes a failer. He new that’s why everyone left him they could see him for who he really was a ffailer a nobody.
Mac gets up of the bench and begins to walk to hopefully find some kind of shelter he lost hope in trying to grab the keys to ither of the jeeps of the night.
At dinner time the boys come down for food and wait for mac who don’t appear
“ill go and ask the recnist to call his room maybe hes gone sleep” said nick
“no ill go” said jack he was so fed up of mac yer on the farm he had that thought maybe the boy needed some protecting yet he acts like a little shit.
“do you mind thowing up to angus macgyver room please” said jack to the recnist
“we don’t have anyone staying by that name”
“you must do he booked in with us” said jack
The recnist who had delt with mac earlie over hears as she leaving to go home for the day
“didn’t your friend call you his card got declind and because hes 19 we cant rent a room to him he was going to call one of you to sort our shearing a room”
“ah right thank you” said jack he gose back to the others and tells them
“why didn’t he call us and ask us to help him” said bozer
“well its not like you’ve been talking to him over the last few days” said nick
“well you haven’t ither” said jack
Jack thinks back over the last few days and befor they stopped including mac the way the kid looked at the box whats now buried deep in jacks bag and how he put it back and he didn’t want to buy stuff but then he went and did so did he have money and just hated using it or did that leave him penniless and all the times mac said he wasent huingery even thought jack could swear he heared the kids somthcah growl. Jack began to feel bad he had a kid next to him everyday needing help he remembers the terrified look mac gave him back in the barn how his mum said the boy needed fatterning up and how mac cloths were well old jack new mac had had a tought child hood form bozer and here he was just been as bad he had money so did nick and bozer they could of helped the kid out they wountedof minded instead jack had shouted at him and made sure mac had been to scared to ask for help when he needed it.
Jack looks out the window and sees the rain had started
“we need to find him” said jack
Mac was wondering round the streets the wind had picked up and the rain now started he didn’t no the area and finding shelter was walking thew the park and his black spots were back but this time blinking didn’t get rid of them and with a wave of dizziness rushing over him mac colasped on to the wet ground benith him the rain fallng harder on him.
The boys had nearly given up hope of finding mac as the storm got worse and macs phone was off the last place they decided to look was the park befor giving up and hoping mac had found shelter as it was getting ddanourges out
“over their look I can see something on the path” shouts nick about the rain
“omg please don’t be mac” shouts bozer
They run towards the object and see it is indeed mac jack dosnet waste time in picking the kid up and taking him back to the jeep were he strips him and wraps a blanket round him.

Chapter Text

Jack holds mac close to him to let the kid have his body heat and jack was glad they had sorted mac in with him before they left. Yer mac would of probably preferred bozer but jack felt this was all his fault and wanted to make it up to mac.
Once back at the hotel jack lets bozer give mac a warm bath with the help of nick as mac hadn’t come round much in the jeep while jack ordered room service for them all especially some nice warm soup for mac hopefully having something warm inside him may perk him up a little.
Jack had gotten his warmest cloths he had with him out and laid them on the bed ready for mac once mac was tucked saftly in a nice warm bed the others relaxed silightly.
“I messed up big time” said bozer
“ not just you well did Ive sepnt the last few weeks driving him around ive hearesd his stomch growl and stuff and I didn’t call him out on it or offer him something to eat” said jack
“from what I no about mac hes good at hiding things and form his past it seams like has to do everything for himself and never ask for help even thought hes has bozer here for most of it he still feels like he cant trust people anoth to help” said nick
“that is ture and when I did help him hed want to repay it in some way plus I always had to promise not to tell anyone” said bozer
They here a small goran come fotm the bed and see mac starting to wake up
“mac buddy you ok” said bozer russing to his side
“boz?” said mac weekly and gorggerliy
“yep im here how you feeling? You scared me”
“what happened?”
“wefound you passed out on a path in a park in the storm” said bozer
It all suddlenly came back to mac how he counted get a room how he decied to leave to find some were to sleep and not be a brother to anyone
“im sorry”says mac looking down at the bed spread trying to keep his emtions in check
“why you sorry”
“I ruined your trip”
“hey you’ve not rueind anything” said bozer
Mac then relsies hes in a bed a nice soft warm bed. This isent good he cant afored to be here in this room he feels his panick levels rise and he trys to get out the bed that’s when he reliese hes in cloths what are far to big for him but their warm and soft unlike what he owns whos cloths is he wearing he nose their 2 big for bozer omg he must be wearing nicks or jacks. Jacks going to kill him.
“hey hey were you think your going” said bozer
“ I cant afored this” said mac trying to sound stroung and tought instead it came out more like a moody teenager
“mac its ok”
“its not ok this whole trip I cant afored yet I had to go on it forced to buy cloths and stuff and fill up cars eat out and do expensive activiys I was never asked if I wanted to go no I was told I was going I was told to do this and that when I get home I cant afored the bills for the one place I had my home that be gone have to sell as I needed this time to find a job and keep safe what little money I had left my student loan was taken out of it what I didnrt rlesie so was left with a few houndered but was then told I had to buy stuff what I didn’t need like cloths and toieltys I no how to survive in woods with just my kniff but no that’s not good anoth im never good anoth im just a failer always a failer” snaps mac tears freely falling down his face
Mac manges to get up and past bozer and lock himself in the bathroom he slids to the floor he cant believe he just let all that out he was ment to keep it in yet he had just shouted at bozer his best friend he pulls his knnes up to his and lays his head on them and just crys

“hes right I never did ask him if he wanted to go thought it be nice for him after studding so much I should of known thiers not much of his grandads money left mac said he didn’t have much and he counted get a job when he was busy at mit so the money wasent been toped up” said bozer
“bozer its not your fault yes maybe we should of talked about it with him first but he probably wounte of turned it down as thought hed be letting you down in not going so ither way he would be in this mess” said nick gently “all we can do now is help him and if he wants to go home well go home if not well work on giving him a trip he doesn’t have to worry about stuff on”
Bozer nods
“and I should really talk and apolisge to him ive said some things to him what I shounted have” said jack
“we need to try and get him out the bathroom ready for some food” said nick
Jack gose over to the bathroom door “mac its me jack can you let me in we don’t have to talk or anything and im not going ot have a go at you I just want to make sure your alright”
But nothing just the sound of muffled sobs.
“hoss I no you probably feel embrassed but you got nothing to be embrassed about some times we get in these situations and get embrassed to tell people. Like when I was at school I played football and helped at the ranch but I needed to get a week end job so I did but when ur pracing for big games you cant work all the time so I missed time at work and it was mas birthday and I hadnet got her anything as id spent my money on going out and the date crept up on me and i had to go to my pops to ask for help he was so proud of me when I got that job and told me not to let football get in the way and I did I had to tell him id messed up that I let football get in the way that I counted aofred my only ma a card let alone a present. I thought he was going to be so dispointed in me yet he told me he was proud of me for telling him that id messed up and actually helped me ma still don’t know till this day but I learnt that even thought I messed up and felt id failed I could still ask for help and not be seen any less for doing so.” Said jack “and i got plenty story were ive messed up like their was this one time in the stingray me and my old man were fixing up and I took her out befor she was ready just to inpress this girl I liked and well I was driving down this road to make out point..”
Befor jack got to finish yet another one of his meny tails jack heared the lock click. Jack smiles at bozer and nick and gose inside shutting the door behind him and sitting down next to mac the sight jack sat down on the closed toilet seat and looked at mac, mac crying just broke his heart the kid looked younger then his years when he was crying and jack new that no one this young should have this meny worrys he should be having fun not worried about money and bills and were his next meal be form.
“mac im so sorry I shounted have gone off on you like that or had a go at you about not buying things and then leaving you their. You can ask nick hell even ask me ma and shell tell you I open my big mouth befor I think I no you probably don’t want to and id ill understand but id like to start over” said jack gently
Mac looks up at jack he can tell in jacks eyes hes telling the truth and really wants to try again
“ok” says mac quietly wipping the tears away with the back of his hand
Jack smiles and befor mac can say or do anything else hes been hugged by jack the hug felt nice he cant remember a time when he was hugged like this. Jack could feel the kid start to relax in his embrace and he new this time he was defently going to look out for this kid and not mess it up like all the other times he had thought this over the last few weeks.
The both here a knock on the main room door and jack lets go of mac much to macs dispaoiment as he didn’t no when or if hell ever have a hug that good again.
“now that be dinner we got you some soup and some pizza if you were up for it and some orange jucie as bozer says you love the stuff when your not feeling to good” smiles jack
Mac just nods
“and mac don’t worry about the money or anything right now as I say it all comes right in the end”
Mac just nods again and lets jack put him back in to bed were bozer hands him a tray with soup and bread on.
“I say lets have a movie night and I highly recomd die hard mathron”
Beofr anyone could say anything the hotel lights flickered and went out
“well I think that’s your aswner jacky boy even the hotel thinks you watch that movie to much” laths nick
They were thankful were a few seconds later the hotels eminency lighting came on
“now we may not be able to enjoy jacks die hard but maybe he could tell us what he did to the car on the way to make out point” said bozer
“oh its good you should of seen uncle jacks face” said nick
“oh now got here” said bozer
Mac looked at the 4 older men as he dunks his bread in to his soup for the first time this trip and since coming home he felt things may be going to be all right no matter what happens.