mac knowing that somewhere, deep in the back of his mind, thats he’s utterly in love with jack.
mac not fully realizing those feelings until jack is declared dead. all he has left are the memories he carries, the dog tags and what remains of jacks possesions.
mac keeping those dog tags close to his heart at all times, constantly looking at all the photos of him and the others with jack, sleeping in jack’s favorite band tees and clothes, listening to his favorite music and getting caught off guard when hearing those songs in public.
bozer, riley, and matty watching him decend deeper into his depression, but not able to do much of anything to pull him out of it. even with bozer having known mac the longest, jack was always the only person with the power to pull mac out of a spiral.
mac eventually realizing that jack wouldn’t want him to rot in bed all day and make himself suffer. mac working on himself and healing, and eventually going back on missions with his team, now including desi, and moving forward with his life. even though the jack shaped hole in his chest can never be closed, he lives on, forms new friendships and bonds, and refuses to give in and give up.
matty revealing that jack has been found alive, and is in a hospital halfway across the world. and suddenly his world is crumbling down around him all over again. he has done all this moving forward and healing for what, just to leave jack behind? he shouldn’t have given up on him, he should have second guessed everything and searched harder. but now isn’t the time for regrets or sorrow, he has to go to jack.
mac walking into jacks hospital room just to break down in tears of pure joy and relief. to be able to see the face and smile of the man he’s loved so deeply all these years. finally getting to hug and feel that jack is truly here, truly alive.
jack slowly recovering and finally getting the okay to return home. mac offering to let jack stay with him for as long as he’d like, all his stuff is there anyways, mac couldn’t being himself to throw any of it away. mac worrying about not being able to hide his feelings while living with jack, but not being able to refuse the comfort of having jack nearby at all times.
mac never returning jacks dog tags, still keeping them close to his heart. theyve become too dear to him to let go of.
mac and jack having movie nights with take out and beers on the deck by the firepit, just like old times. talking about what they had gone through in the past few years. the grief, the pain, the trauma, everything but ache in his chest that mac so dearly wishes he could ignore.
mac and jack stargazing one summer night, leaning into each other and telling stories of growing up and lighter things. accidentally locking eyes during a lull of silence. mac breaking and deciding to let jack finally see the love and affection in his eyes that he’s always tried so hard to hide. jack knowing exactly what mac is trying to say with just his gaze; they’ve always been able to communicate with just a glance.
jack caressing macs face with a gun calloused hand and leaning in for a tender kiss. the kiss is salty from their mixed tears, but they’re too happy to truly care. jack pulling away first and wiping away macs tears. putting out the firepit and huddling into macs bed. being able to finally hold each other, and talk about the feelings they’ve both held onto for so long. a tender night of confessions and cuddling, one they’ll cherish forever.
mac waking up by the sunrise and turning in the arms holding him, and finally getting to see the man he loves so closely and intimately. seeing jacks sleeping face lit up by the gentle sunbeams of the early morning, and realizing that the night before wasn’t merely a dream.
mac finally feeling whole once again, the jack shaped hole in his heart finally filled.
