Heirs to a Nightmare

by Cindy Combs

  For several minutes, Blair stared, studying the face of the man he now knew was his father. In his mind, he could hear Jim's words, "Mac is the same cool guy you knew a month ago, Chief." Blair pondered a moment, deciding that was both true and false. Mac was still the supportive friend he knew, yet now he was more. Now he was his father.

  How would his life have been different, if he had known Mac as a kid? Would he have felt so out of place in his mother's world, trying so hard to be a scientist? Would he have avoided all the wounding remarks from the other kids, picking on the absence of a father? Would he have become bitter, because Mac couldn't be there all the time? Would he be where he was now, an anthropologist, a police observer, a sentinel's shaman guide?

  No way to know. This was the hand fate had dealt them. Now Blair had to figure out how to juggle the new pieces into his hectic life. He smiled. Life could only get more interesting with Mac and Sam in it. As if it wasn't interesting enough hanging out with Jim.

  Worried that Mac wasn't warm enough after the hypothermia yesterday, Blair walked over to the fireplace, adding a couple more logs. Turning, he met Mac's eyes. For a moment, they studied each other. Then Blair asked, "How are you feeling?"

  "Still a little woozy and chilled, but all right. How are you doing?"

  "All right. ~cough~" Seeing Mac frown at the deep cough, Blair reassured him, "Honest, it sounds worse than I feel." Another moment of silence passed. Again, Blair was the first to break it. Standing and brushing off his jeans, Blair awkwardly asked, "Why don't I dig us up something to eat?"

  "I'm not all that hungry yet." Mac sat up and swung his injured leg to rest on the coffee table. He then patted the couch cushion next to him. "Why don't we talk?"

  Blair paused a moment, studying the silent plea in the warm brown eyes. "Okay." He sat down, finding himself in the highly unusual position of not knowing quite what to say.

  "I guess you've talked with your mother?" Mac tensed, certain Naomi couldn't have said anything positive about him.

  "Yeah, we talked. I also talked a little with Jim and with Sam. And read your letter." Blair pulled out the precious papers from his jeans pocket.

  "You read the letter?" Mac asked, stunned. He took a deep breath. "I wanted to tell you those things in person. I only wrote the letter, well, because..."

  "I know. Still, I think it's the best letter I've ever received. I'm going to hang on to this for the rest of my life." Blair ran a finger over the edge of the paper, not looking at Mac.

  "How do you feel about all this?" Mac asked, again tensing for the answer.

  "I don't know. It all hit kinda sudden, you know? I mean, I really like you and Sam, always have. I'd really like to get to know you better. But I don't want you to feel like you have to accept me."

  "There is no 'have to' involved here," Mac stated firmly. "You are always welcome to be a part of this family, whenever you feel comfortable enough to join it."

  Blair paused a moment, thinking. Then he turned to Mac. "How about now?"

  Mac smiled widely and embraced his son. Hugging back, a piece of Blair that had always been floating aimlessly finally found it's place to anchor.

  A few minutes later, a voice asked, "Guess this means it's all settled?" Blair and Mac moved apart and looked up. Sam stood there, right eyebrow lifted and a huge smile on his face.

  Mac and Blair looked at each other and smiled. "Yep, it's settled," Mac told him.

  "Great!" Sam jumped and plopped into the upholstered chair next to them. "I just wish one of us didn't have to break an arm every time we gain a new family member."

  "Huh?" Blair's eyes narrowed in puzzlement. The cabin door opened behind him.

  Mac chuckled. "I broke my arm soon after I met Sam."

  Blair glanced back and forth between Mac and Sam. "Well, that will be the first family tradition I intend to break, no pun intended."

  "I'll second that." Jim rolled the wood from his arms into the basket. "I think all three of you have been beaten up enough on this trip. Anyone feel like eating?"

  "Always," Sam announced.

  "Me, too," Blair seconded.

  "Okay, why don't you three invalids rest up by the fire. I'll handle the food."

  "Thanks, Jim," Blair called out, knowing Jim was giving him a chance to be with his new family.

  Jim smiled as he walked back to the kitchen. He could easily hear Blair from the living area. "Okay, now that I'm a member of this family, I have a question. What does the 'A' in your names stand for?"

  "I don't know if we should tell you..." Sam's voice teased, meeting Blair's protests. Jim's smile grew as he opened a cupboard. He enjoyed seeing such a friendly relationship developing between the two younger men. He wished he and Steven hadn't gotten so far off track.

  "Okay, we'll tell you on ONE condition: You do NOT give it to any of your future children." Mac's playfully stern voice rumbled.

  Jim softly chuckled as he examined the can goods.

  "Okay, sure, no problem. Though, I don't see how it could be THAT bad."

  Jim paused, listening to Sam whisper the name.

  "ANGUS?" Blair exclaimed.

  Jim joined the laughter.

  The End

  Author's note 3/27/98: Finally, Blair knows who his father is! On that note, I feel it is time to take a short break from this series. I'm not quitting the writing gig - I promised Zadra I'd write a pre-sequel to her 'The Sentry and The Thief' fairy tale featuring Nadira; I also have ideas for a pure TS story involving Steven, and an TS Alternate Universe tale which I am still debating on whether it should see the light of day. However, I do have three more TS/MacGyver stories in mind, and plan to work on the next one (Hot Time in Chicago) this summer.

  Cindy