"You're leaving? Why?" You ask confused. It was after a lecture and you were in the schools library with Mac like usual to study, but studying was not what was being done.
"I want to make a difference in the world somehow and not be in a lab all day I guess," Young MacGyver says nervously while staring at you.
"But the military? Angus, you're one of the most talented students here you would be the one to actually change the world with some scientific breakthrough," you argue still trying to keep your voices down. You were the closest to Mac more than anyone he was your friend and was about to leave on some life chase to find meaning.
"Angus, please. You don't even look like a military type of guy. You'll get hurt."
Mac's eyes also showed signs of sadness as well but knew well that this was his final and only decision.
"I promise I'll come back. By the time you finish University my term will be over," Mac says grabbing your hands and holding them across the table. You knew this was serious from this gesture and loosened your expression.
"I can't stop you but I don't want to lose you," you say coming to terms with his decision. "We can still keep in touch. Though I don't think to send a 90-page essay for me to proofread won't work," MacGyver chuckles. You slightly smiled knowing Mac he'll be cautious.
"We'll send letters, every week I will. Updating you on everything that happens as if you were still here," you say confidently. You both agreed to send letters while apart. This was truly a special friendship that you didn't want to lose over distance. You'd had thought Mac would've had some time until he's off to training, but within a few days, he was boarding a plane, leaving. You remember that day as being one of the saddest. You were left sitting alone in the library to study and proofreading your own 90 pages essays yourself. But within the first week, you began to write.
-.
Your head was pounding it was painful to wake up to along with the stinging from coming from your arm. You were slowly able to crack open your eyes slightly through the pulsating headache made it nearly impossible to. Your eyes scanned over the room seeing it empty.
You wondered who brought you here? Most likely a bystander in their car. You don't remember much most of it being a blur or fragments of just walking endlessly.
A nurse had come in and given you morphine for the headache, which helped greatly.
"How are you feeling? You were sleeping for almost an entire day," the nurse asks typing on her computer.
"Other than the headache I think I'm fine," you say on a soft voice. "Who brought me in here?"
"Erm they didn't sign off on anything but it was two men, one brown hair the other blonde they were here a few hours ago," the nurse says before exiting.
You knew exactly who it was. Mac and Jack. How'd they come upon you, had no idea? After another hour of observation from the nurses, you were freed to go, under the condition that you were to drink plenty of water.
You headed to your apartment to rest more. Though you couldn't get your mind off your terrible decisions and what you would be doing to move past this. You didn't know what to do still. It was like you had lost everyone, including yourself.
-.
In the past few months, the letters had gotten less and less. Mac was getting deployed, no more training. It was time for the real stuff. You were worried and voiced that in many of your letters. Though you are assured in every letter that he'd come back in one piece.
On the other side of the world there sat MacGyver on the small bed he was assigned opening up another letter to which read "I was cleaning out my dorm and found these, first a picture of both of us sitting at our usual library seat. Both of us too concentrated on studying we didn't even realize Maverick taking a photo. Another when we were at the top of our class with the science project. Thought you'd want these as a token of good luck. Please be safe out there, and come back soon! It's getting expensive buying all these stamps! Anyways I miss you, I wish you the best of luck out there -Y/n L/n"
MacGyver smiled and took a look at the photos. Seeing how happy you were and concentrated you both were. Not being able to remember how many times you both had studied together at the same seat. At times like those Mac wished he could just quit and go back but instead stayed.
-.
-a few days later-
You've had no contact with Mac, Jack had called you a few times making sure you were okay. And basically explaining to you that Mac was also not in a good place either with you not talking to him. You didn't want to go and confront Mac and apologize again, he was really mad the last time you saw him. You thought it was best for you to just stay away for a few days. You kept to yourself, looking through your apartment and cleaning a bit. You didn't leave your house unless it was to shop for groceries.
"You know how he is. He says stuff that he doesn't mean and then beats himself over it for weeks. Now, I know you two are like the bestest of best friend nerds there are but c'mon Y/n I know you're smart. Just go talk to him," Jack says.
You knew what he was saying was true. You knew that Mac was probably hurt about everything still and so were you.
"I'll go and see him later today."
-
You drove to Mac's house to talk. You didn't text or call just in case he'd go out just to avoid you. As you approached the door you stood there for a moment taking a deep breath. You've walked in and out from that door thousands of times but this has got to be one of the hardest moments, besides the last time you walked out a year ago.
You knocked lightly but no one answered the door. Not even a sound came from the house. Although, MacGyver's car was still in the driveway meaning that he was at home. "Mac? I'm sorry I just wanted to talk to you," You say loudly hoping that he'd come to the door. You wanted to make sure that he was okay.
You reached for your keys and got out the spare key that he had given you a while ago when you were looking for a place to stay while you were looking for an apartment. "I'm coming in!" You say. You unlocked the door and slowly walked inside. The living room and kitchen were empty including the outdoor deck. You sighed and slowly walked down the hall peering into every room before stopping at the slightly opened bedroom door. You didn't want to just barge in but you wanted to talk to him and fix everything or at least try to.
You slowly opened the door and saw that he was sleeping still. Although, It was already around 4PM. You were glad that he looked okay. You walked in noticing an opened box left out on the desk. Usually, the desk is cluttered with things that Mac's trying to fix or make. As you approached It just seemed like journal writings that he had done for his projects but you soon realized that it was your own handwriting.
You picked up the box and found every single letter that you sent to him while he was in Afganistan.
"I really miss you. Stay safe and remember...I'm only one letter away."
Was one of the endings of the letters. You surprisingly remembered writing every single letter and feeling excited every time you had received a letter in the mail. Underneath all of the letters were the many photos that you sent to him. You smiled looking at the photos and how genuinely happy both of you were. The only worries were how we would fit our experiments in our backpacks.
You were surprised that he had kept all of this after the many years. You were more surprised by how this was just sitting out now. You knew that he was looking back at all of the letters and photos. There was rustling behind you as a groggy voice talked behind you.
"Hey?" MacGyver says waking up. You turned around and faced him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to touch anything I just wanted to see if you were okay," You say. You saw how tired he looked as it seemed like he hadn't slept for days.
"Look, you don't have to listen to me and can tell me to leave and I will. I'll leave until you want to talk to me but I need to say that I'm sorry for lying and hurting you. I guess I was just so oblivious on how everyone had been hurt and not just me. I really should've told you everything before you had to find out yourself. I understand if you don't want to see me ever again and I'll go back to New York if you really want me to," You say having your heart break as you say this.
It was silent. Neither of you spoke but you knew that his silence meant something.
"I understand. Your silence speaks volumes. Sorry that I just barged in here I'll leave now. I'm always a phone call away." You walked out of his room and felt tears escape your eyes. Was this really over? Years of friendship just gone in an instant because of your stupidity? As you were down the hall footsteps were heard behind you as Mac tapped you on the shoulder.
"Wait," He says. You turn and face him. "You don't have to apologize. I was being mean and really don't mean for you to leave again. Can we just forget that any of this ever happened?"
You smiled and your eyes dried. "Yes I'd like that," You say agreeing. MacGyver smiles. You hug him glad that you didn't have to pack your things back to New York.
"Before you said that I wasn't telling the whole truth on why I left and you're right. I left because I was scared to break your heart," You say breaking from the hug. "I know I know it doesn't make sense but I was scared that if we were to start something like a relationship I would somehow ruin everything," You continue.
"Relationship?" Mac asks confused. "The thing that you told me before I had left. I'm not stupid, silly. I know what 'I feel like there's something between us' really means."
"Right, not embarrassing at all then," MacGyver cringes at the thought of what he had said. "I'm sure all of that had faded by now but that's the reason. The real reason."
"I'm just glad that you're back. Don't worry about it. Let's all just move forward and not dwell on stuff like that in the past," Mac smiles.
Posting this since I found it in my drafts. Not refined at all, but if you've been waiting for an update here it is! Hope you enjoyed some of my works from 2018!