WIP Lines - Happy Christmas Eve
Dragging a shaky hand through his hair, he watched Jack pace back and forth in front of him. The pressure building within his partner. Mac knew a quiet Jack was a deadly Jack and it had been years since he’d caused this reaction.
The creaking of the floorboards abruptly stopped as Jack froze. His eyes were dark and indescribably hard. Pointing at Mac, he flatly ordered, “You just sit there until I’m ready.”
Mac’s head wobbled more than nodded.
Perhaps it was finally happening. After years in each other’s pockets and Jack being whatever Mac needed in the moment: partner, brother, friend, father, confidant, was over. He’d finally screwed the pooch. Of all things, he never pictured it would go down in a blaze of Jack’s anger.
While his back was to the kitchen island, the support was nowhere was he was starting to need. Mac hand fumbled to securely grasp the edge of the stool as he steadied himself; determined to stay seated and wait his partner out however long it took. God, Mac hoped it wouldn’t be too much longer.
Guilt swirled in the heat of his gut, it’s churning only added to the discomfort. He’d done this. Whatever it was, it was his fault.
Jack’s path started again at a brisk pace. A couple times, he paused, his mouth agape as if to speak, only to close it with a click, stopping himself. Pivoting back, he went back to pacing. The pattern repeating a few more times. The pressure expanding like a balloon.
Unable to stay silent, Mac whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Standing still, Jack kneaded the back of his neck with his hand. His brown eyes softened minutely. “Do you even know why you’re apologizing, Hoss?”
In truth, he didn’t. Growing up as he did while being who he was, he learned that most of the time things were just his fault. Things that didn’t have a why.
